How we saved Dasuki IBB, from assassins— DSS

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...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61823

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

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LAGOS EXPLOSION: Legendary Police nab suspected actor, Justus mastermind •Pgs.6&7 Esiri dies •P.8

How we saved Dasuki IBB, from assassins— DSS •DSS parades suspected assassins; to be charged •Suspects targeted Israeli and American interests •Sponsored by Iranians to form terror cell in Lagos

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—THE De partment of State Security, DSS, yesterday

narrated how its operatives saved former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, Continues on page 5

•P.25

COLUMNISTS:

Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA •P.19

THE HUB •P.19

Mr & Mrs

SUSPECTED TERRORISTS— From Left: Saheed Aderemi Adewumi and Sulaiman Olayinka Saka recruited by Abdullahi Mustapha Berende (right), paraded by the Department of State Security in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

2013 BUDGET: Presidency, NASS talks deadlocked

•P.9

Senate okays death penalty for terrorists —P.14

2— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013— 3

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4—Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

1

2

4 MARRIAGE RENEWAL: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his wife, Roli, renewed their marital vows at First Baptist Church, Warri, yesterday. PHOTOS: Henry Unini.

(1) Governor Uduaghan and his wife (middle) taking marriage vows.

(2) Governor Uduaghan and his wife Roli shortly after the exchange of renewal ring.

(3) Governor Uduaghan and his wife, Roli (middle) flanked on the left by the Dein of Agbor and Mrs. Otumara on the right.

3

Yakasai denies comments on alleged Jonathan one-term deal

K

ANO—ELDER statesman, Tanko Yakasai, Tuesday, denied comments attributed to him last Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan did not sign an agreement to serve a single term.

Responding to the news report, Yakassai said he could not have made such a comment given that he was not privy to the discussions between the governors and the President.

Yakassai also said he was not a member of the Northern Elders Political Forum, NPLF, as was reported.

He said: “I am not a Governor neither do I receive brief from any of them on what transpired between the two interested parties during the build up to the last general election.”

(4) Governor Uduaghan and his wife, Roli, cutting their marriage cake.

Amnesty Int'l, Keyamo, others hail N37.6bn Odi judgment

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT— AMNESTY International has described the outcome of the court battle over 1999 invasion of Odi community in Bayelsa State as a victory for human rights in Nigeria.

Legal luminaries have also reacted to the judgment. Sebastian Hon, Festus Keyamo have also hailed the victory, while Mike Ozekhome added that it was up to the Federal Government whether or not to appeal the judgment.

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, ordered Federal Government to pay N37.6 billion to the people of Odi, Kolokuma/ Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa for the human lives and property lost to soldiers’ vengeful invasion of the community during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

In his reaction, Mr. Joseph Croft, Coordinator of the Stakeholders Democracy Network of Amnesty International, said the victory for the Odi people shows Nigerians can get justice in their land for violation of their rights not minding how long it took.

He said: “It is a very important judgment for human rights and the sufferings of people in the Niger Delta, where the military used excessive force against unarmed population. It sets a precedence to check other attacks in the region.”

Justice Lambi Akanbi of the Federal High Court, had in the suit by the people of Odi community, ordered Federal Government to pay the N37.6 billion compensation within three weeks.

Invasion unjustified, says Hon

Sebastian Hon said: “That was a very good judgment though I have not had the opportunity to study it carefully. Everyone knew that the Odi invasion was highly

unjustified and illegal to say the least.

“Therefore, it will be highly immoral for the Federal Government to go on appeal against that judgment when the scars that were left by the invasion are still staring the people in the face. What the Federal Government needs to do is to pay the damages immediately so as to show the Odi community that it is committed to their well being.

“Paying the damages will certainly give the community a sense of belonging and reassure them that they are also Nigerians. Oil was discovered in Ijawland and they have borne the economic burden of this country for a long time.

“The Federal Government should equally make it bold to also settle the Saki-Ibiam community over a similar atrocity that was committed against them.

“The high court had also decided that case and awarded the sum of N41.8 billion to that community, though the

government told an appeal court in Abuja that it intended to settle the matter out of court. It is unfortunate that till today nothing was done.”

Keyamo reacts

Festus Keyamo said: “I want to say that it was a very bold and courageous judgment. I want to thank the judge for his courage.

“The Odi case has affirmed that the government is not above the law. The Federal Government should pay the money instantly and should not even think of going on appeal.”

It's up to FG— Ozekhome

To Mike Ozekhome, “the fact is that the Federal Government is entitled to appeal any judgment it does not like.

“The hierarchy of courts in the country is clear; it is only when the Supreme Court has decided on a matter that we can say the court of law has finally decided.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

RALLY—Members of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), North West Zone at a rally in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

How we saved Dasuki, IBB from assassins — DSS Continues from Page 1 from being assassinated by Iranian-trained Nigerian terrorists.

Deputy Director, Public Relations of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar who paraded the Iraniantrained Nigerian terrorists yesterday in Abuja said: “General Babangida and Alhaji Dasuki were among prominent Nigerians targeted by the group for elimination because they were said to be showing support for Israel and

the United States of America”.

The 50-year-old local leader of the Shiite Sect in Ilorin, Kwara State, Abdullahi Mustapha Berende, who was arrested last December before he could execute his deadly act, was paraded by the DSS in Abuja, yesterday. He was said to have been trained and funded by elements with strong connections in international terrorist activities.

Berende, the DSS

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Determine what you want!

How you handle life is how life will handle you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

D

O you find yourself frustrated that you’re not further along than you are at present?

Have you set amazing goals for yourself that just never came to fruition? When you fall short of a goal that is important to you, it weighs heavy on you like a big, wet blanket, doesn’t it? You feel like you let yourself down — Mary Jaksch It’s important to realize that we’ve all been there at one time or another. You’re not the only one who feels this way and it certainly doesn’t make you a failure. It is a matter of perspective.

The real problem could very well be your perspective. You see, most of us set ourselves up for this feeling of failure by the way we set and pursue goals. Something about the modern psyche has us all believing that we need to conquer the world and surpass even our most ambitious goals in one fell swoop. And that, frankly, is unrealistic.

For whatever reason, we tend to focus on our goals with long-term vision but short-term expectations.

Marion Edelman sups it aptly: If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it, beginning with yourself and you only have to just do it one step at a time.”

said, was commissioned by his sponsors to identify Nigerians and institutions sympathetic to Israeli and American interests in Nigeria for possible attack, was paraded with two of his accomplices - Sulaiman Olayinka Saka and Saheed Aderemi Adewumi while the third suspect, Bunyamin Yusuf, is still at large.

Mastermind trained in the production of IEDs According to Marilyn Ogar, “investigation shows that Berende gained admission in 2006 to study a sixmonth course in Modern Shia Islamic Teaching (Da’awa) at Imam Khomeni University Iran and was thereafter recruited by some Iranian elements when he returned for further studies in 2011 and trained in the use of AK-47 assault rifle, pistols, production of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs. “Upon his return to Nigeria, Berende was invited by his sponsors for further briefing in 2012 and asked to establish a terrorist cell in the South-West part of Nigeria with specific emphasis on Lagos.

“In a bid to set up the terrorist centre, Berende

recruited Sulaiman Saka, Saheed Adewumi and Bunyamin Yusuf to assist him in accomplishing the tasks.

“Part of the deadly group’s brief included identifying and gathering intelligence on public places and prominent places frequented by Americans and Israelis to facilitate their attack

by Iranian terrorists and providing specific details on US agencies such as USAID, Max, Zim International Shipping Company, A.A. Consulting, Peace Corps and the Jewish Cultural Centre in Lagos.

“The suspected terrorist was given $24,000 and E3,500 as well as coded names such as “Uncle” for Israel and “Aunt” for the United States of America by his Iranian handlers so as to facilitate their dastardly mission in Nigeria.

“Berende confessed that Lagos was chosen for attack because the Iranians believe that Israel has an intelligence facility in the area for spying on Iran and that he personally took pictures of the Israeli Cultural Centre in Ikoyi and forwarded them to his sponsors in Iran.

“The suspect added that in a bid to cover up his malevolent activity in Lagos, his handlers offered him financial support to establish a small business as a decoy”.

Berende regretted that they could not carry out their wicked act before they were apprehended and asked for forgiveness, adding that he would assist the security agencies to work for a safe, peaceful and united Nigeria.

Ogar, however, said the suspects will soon be arraigned in court, and charged with engaging in heinous

crimes against Nigeria and the people.

“From the foregoing, there is conclusive evidence that Berende in collaboration with his Iranian handlers were involved in grievous crimes against the national security of this country. Accordingly, Berende and his accomplices will be charged to court soon,” Ogar said.

Pope may change conclave rules before leaving — Vatican

P

OPE Benedict XVI may change Church rules governing the conclave where cardinals from around the world will meet next month to secretly elect his successor, the Vatican said yesterday.

Benedict was studying the possibility of making changes to two laws established by his predecessor Pope John Paul II before he abdicates on February 28, a spokesman said.

The changes may affect the timing of the start of the conclave.

Spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi said Benedict was considering making changes that would “harmonize” two documents approved by his predecessor.

One governs the period while the papacy is vacant, known as the “Sede Vacante,” and another is more specific about the running of the conclave after it begins.

A 1996 apostolic constitution by Pope John Paul II, called “Universi Dominici Gregis,” stipulates that a conclave must start between 15 and 20 days after the papacy becomes vacant, meaning it cannot begin before March 15 under

the current rules.

Some cardinals believe a conclave should start sooner in order to reduce the time in which the Roman Catholic Church will be without a leader.

Cardinals around the world have already begun informal consultations by phone and email to construct a profile of the man they think would be best suited to lead the Church in a period of continuing crisis.

Some 117 cardinals under the age of 80 will be eligible to enter the conclave, which is held in the Sistine Chapel.

The date of the conclave’s start is important because Holy Week begins March 24, with Palm Sunday Mass followed by Easter Sunday on March 31. In order to have a new pope in place in time for the most solemn liturgical period on the church calendar, he would need to be installed by Sunday, March 17, because of the strong tradition to hold installation Mass on a Sunday. Given the tight time-frame, speculation has mounted that some arrangement would be made to start the conclave on March 10 or thereabouts, earlier than a strict reading of the law would allow.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Kidnappers kill two Mobile policemen, abduct four Agip staff in Delta

BY EMMA ARUBI

W

ARRI — UNKNOWN gunmen, Monday, killed two escort mobile policemen and adopted four other staff of Agip Oil Company in Okpai, Kwale in Delta State.

The gunmen, numbering about six, were reported to have accosted the coastal bus conveying the workers back home from work at the Agip Okpai/Beneku field operated by Agip and Sterling at about 4 p.m. and short dead the two mobile escort policemen before

carefully selecting about four members of staff from the bus and taken to an unknown destination.

The identities of the two dead mobile policemen and the four abducted Agip staff could not be ascertained Though no contact had been made at press time, no ransom had also been demanded by the abductors.

Delta Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Famous Ajieh could not be reached for confirmation but security sources and staff confirmed the abduction of some of their colleagues.

Oil bunkering: Court remands two Indians in prison

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, remanded two Indians, Kamal Sharma and Ashok Agarwal, in Kuje prison following their alleged involvement in illegal diversion of petroleum products from Nigeria.

The duo who were docked alongside three Nigerians, Fatai Afolabi, Emmanuel Igbokwe, Tukur Mohammed and a company, Prism Steel Mill Ltd, pleaded not guilty to a four-count criminal charge preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

Specifically, Agarwal who is 66 years old and the other accused persons were accused of committing felony to wit: dealing in petroleum product without appropriate authority or licence and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 1(7) (a) (b), 3(6), 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous offences Act Cap M17 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Besides, the accused persons were said to have on or before January 15, 2013, damaged the oil pipeline in Okene as well as interfered with free flow of petroleum product from the oil pipeline in Okene.

Meanwhile, shortly after their arraignment, yesterday, the accused persons begged the high court to release them on bail, a request that was turned down by Justice R. A. Mohammed.

The Indians had, through their lawyer, Chief Lawan Rabana, SAN, urged the court to allow them to go home pending the determination of the substantive charge against them.

However, their bail request was vehemently opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Friday Ibadin, who insisted that their application was not ripe for hearing.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Mohammed remanded the accused persons in prison and adjourned till February 25 to rule on their bail application.

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — AN alleged mastermind and prime suspect of Monday bomb explosion at Miracle Sand Beach in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State,which killed the chairman of Sand Dredgers Association, Chief Oladele Pius, and injured a Police Inspector, has been arrested.

The suspect whose identity could not be ascertained was alleged to have orchestrated the explosion with the help of nine other persons. Surprisingly, he was discovered to be one of the deceased oldest staff.

Vanguard gathered that he was arrested at the scene of the blast, yesterday, while retrieving some wires buried under the sand, suspected to have been connected to the explosive device which rocked the area.

None, at first, raised an eyebrow when he was sighted loitering around the explosion scene, which has been vacated by the deceased colleagues. But all of a sudden, a man later discovered to be an undercover policeman reportedly appeared from nowhere and apprehended him with the wires.

Although it could not be ascertained what his mission was, Police sources hinted that it could have been a ploy to further hinder the already difficult attempt by bomb experts to ascertain the type of explosives used.

Effort to reach the Lagos State Police Command Public

Sacked workers of National Identity C arrival to address them after two days o

Police Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, on the arrest failed. But sources at the Police Headquarters, confirmed the arrest, hinting that investigation at the end would ascertain the real position.

Igando murder: Suspect threatening to kill me too —Sandra’s in-law

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — THE husband of late Praise, one of the eight people allegedly killed by one Henry Chibueze, in Igando area of Lagos last week, Mr Henry Ekene Ozor, has raised an alarm that the wanted gunman has threatened his life and those of his surviving children.

Praise was eight months pregnant when she was murdered.

But Sandra’s twin sister, Katherine Ijedinma, although she was also shot, survived.

Another set of Sandra’s relations including Mrs Ngozi Odia, Sandra’s elder sister and her three children were also wiped out.

In the latest development, Praise’s husband, Ozor, who said he was not at home during the incident, yesterday, beggedfor police protection as his life is at stake. He pleaded that government should come to his aid and that of his family as Chibueze sent a text to him on Monday through the late Sandra’s phone which he took away after killing her.

The text message, according to him, read: “Henrri if U don’t want to pic my call eni place u like run enter I wil get U.”

The deceased's husband, who was crying during a visit to the mortuary where the corpses of his wife, daughter, elder sister of the wife and her three children and Sandra, are kept, said his life was at risk.

Ozor said the late Sandra was an optician with Madonna University, who met Chibueze about three to four months ago, brought him to his place and introduced him as her lover.

According to him, when Sandra discovered that he was a kidnapper, she said she was no longer interested in the relationship, which led to his killing her and some members of her family.

He said Chibueze had earlier asked Sandra to resign from her job but the parents refused..

Henry Chibueze, is said to be a native of Imo State.

Since the incident, Ozor said he had not been able to eat any food..

He described the whole incident as terrible, saying he had never seen anything like that in his life.

He said: “ Thank God I wasn’t at home because if I was there I won’t be here today telling the story. When the incident occurred, they said my late wife tried to run away but this man

pursued her and shot thrice at her.

“I have been trying to transfer the corpses, but it is not easy. I don’t know how I manage to do

all the work that I do, going from one ward to the other to attend to them and to other places. It is only by God’s strength.”

He added that since the

incident occurred he had not been able to brake the news to his in-laws but that they are being guarded by the police in Agbor in Delta State.

12 nabbed over cult clash, 11 others killed in gun duel

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA — DELTA State Police Command said it has arrested 12 suspects in connection with violent clash that occurred at a college premises last Friday, which led to the death of a 23 year-old-man.

State Police Public Relations

Officer, PPRO, Mr. Famous Ajieh, who stated this while appraising the activities of the command within the past one month assured Deltans that the command was determined to ensure adequate security in the State.

According to him, “the command has continued to record successes in its battle

against all forms of criminalities due to robust security measures put in place. In January 2013 alone, 18 notorious hoodlums terrorizing parts of the state were arrested, 11 others were gunned down during gun duel with the police while 21 firearms including one AK 47 rifle and one pump action gun were recovered.

Police go after woman’s abductors in Lagos

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

L

AGOS — OFFICERS of the Nigeria Police, yesterday, went after the abductors of a young woman who was kidnapped at the Mafoluku area of Lagos State.

The search further created heavy traffic gridlock along the Murtala Muhammed Airport road as men of the Police Force frisked every car on the road in search of the kidnappers.

Vanguard’s investigation

revealed that the woman who was simply identified as Aisha and whose age could not be ascertained at press time was kidnapped around 4:40p.m.

It was further learnt that the woman was said to have been driving in a black SUV before she was attacked and abducted by the kidnappers.

The woman was allegedly bundled into the car booth of the kidnappers before they drove off on high speed.

Meanwhile, the Deputy

Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr. Aliru Gwandu who confirmed the incident said the kidnapping led to the dispatch of policemen to strategic positions in the state, affirming that the incident did not happen under his command.

“The information got to the police authorities. The commissioner just called that we should designate our men. A black SUV was snatched. I don’t know the numbers of people involved in the crime."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—7

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 AIDUGURI — THE law abiding residents of Borno 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Joint Task Force, JTF, on State.”

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Musa also urged residents to 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Operation Restore Order, 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 disregard leaflets being 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 yesterday, confirmed the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 circulated by suspected terrorists killing of three persons after an 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 on impending attacks in explosion in Maiduguri.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Maiduguri.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 He said: “The attention of the Sagir Musa, stated this in a 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 JTF has been drawn to some statement in Maiduguri.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 He said: “An explosive leaflets allegedly printed and 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 devise targeted at the JTF circulated by Boko Haram 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 patrol team exploded at the terrorists group containing a 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Post Office roundabout in message from their leader 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Maiduguri at about 1.00 p.m., Abubakar Shekau.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 “The message contained 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 yesterday.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 threats and warning to civil “The explosion led to the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 death of three civilians, servants, politicians, traditional 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 comprising the bomber and two rulers and security agents that 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 others, and a JTF vehicle was the sect has not made any 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 reconciliation with the damaged.”

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 government and has not He assured the public that 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 declared a cease fire.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 the JTF was on top of the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 “The JTF wishes to advise law situation in the state, in spite 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 abiding members of the public of the development.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 He noted: “Consequently, to disregard such publications 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 the JTF reiterates its and consider them as part of the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 determination to ensure the terrorists propaganda strategy to 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 maintenance of law, order and keep the civil populace in 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 safety of lives and property of captivity.”

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 demanding to see the speaker.

BY TAYE OBATERU 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Apparently determined to 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 OS — SPEAKER of the demonstrate that they meant 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Plateau State House of business, the gunmen fired shots 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Assembly, Mr. John Clark into the congregation inuring 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Dabwan, Tuesday night, many, which resulted in a 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 narrowly escaped death when stampede, a source said.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 gunmen, suspected to be 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The source added that the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 robbers, stormed a Christian 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 speaker on sensing trouble 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 retreat he attended in the state quickly made his exit before the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 capital, demanding to see him. gunmen could fish him out from 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 About nine worshippers were the crowd.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 reportedly injured as the Men of the Special Task Force 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 gunmen shot into the crowd at (STF) were said to have arrived 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 the retreat held at the Christian the scene after some time, forcing 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Rural and Urban Development the gunmen to beat a retreat.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Association of Nigeria, They subsequently conveyed 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 (CRUDAN) Guest Inn at Sabon the injured to the Plateau 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Barki in Jos South Local Specialist Hospital for treatment.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Government Area of the state 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Confirming the incident in a 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 capital. statement, the speaker’s Press 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Eyewitnesses said the Secretary, Mrs. Nandak 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 suspected robbers came in Chingle said the gunmen struck 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 shortly after the speaker drove at the scene between 9 and 10 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 into the premises and started pm when the speaker and some 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 ordering the people around at church ministers were holding 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 the top of their voices, a retreat.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456

BY EVELYN USMAN 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 AGOS — POLICEMEN attached to Igando Division have 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 arrested a business man who allegedly raped a recuperating 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 mentally ill teenager, where she was chained in an apartment at 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Egan, a Lagos suburb.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 The suspected rapist identified as Gowo Ewhe, sneaked into 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 the teenager’s apartment (names withheld) located on 14 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Akindele Street, Tuesday, after her parents and other occupants 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 had gone out and allegedly had carnal knowledge of her.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 But the bubble burst following the discovery of the teenager’s 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 blood stained underwear by her mother on arrival in the evening.

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 Out of curiosity, she asked what happened only to be informed 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456 by her daughter of what transpired earlier.

Explosion kills 3 in Maiduguri — JTF

Asks residents to disregard

leaflets on impending attacks

M

Card Commission, NICM hailing the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on his of protest at the gate of National Assembly, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

LAGOS EXPLOSION:

arrest suspected mastermind Suspect names 9 accomplices It was also gathered that during interrogation, the suspect mentioned nine other persons as his accomplices. At press time, it was gathered that the

investigative team headed by the Area ‘E’ Commander, Mr Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was on the trail of the suspects mentioned. It was, however, said that some of them had bolted.

“Yes, it is true that we are holding someone in connection

with Monday’s explosion. We are still quizzing him. From the way he is talking, he looks suspicious.

But we cannot outrightly state whether he is the prime suspect or not now until investigation is concluded,” Police sources told Vanguard yesterday.

Police confirm abduction of six foreign sailors As kidnappers demand $1.3m ransom

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — THE Bayelsa Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the Sunday attack on a foreign vessel by suspected armed pirates along the coastal areas of Brass and Southern Ijaw local councils of the state, with the kidnapping of six sailors on board vessel.

Police sources also confirmed that the kidnappers had made a ransom of $1.3 million ransom to effect their release.

The attacked vessel identified as Armada Tuah operated by the Lagos-based Century Group had a 15member crew.

Though the position of the vessel could not be confirmed as at the time of the attack, the police, according to the company ’s report, stated: “Three of those abducted are from Ukraine, two from India, one from Russia.

“One of the kidnappers called to demand N200 million (one million euros, $1.3 million).”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, (DSP) confirmed the incident.

He said “We have deployed intelligence personnel in search of the six workers as

well as arrest the kidnappers.”

Five Indian sailors it would be recalled were also in December kidnapped in a pirate attack around Bayelsa waterways and were later released.

Plateau Speaker escapes death as gunmen storm retreat

J

Police arrest bizman for allegedly raping mentally-ill teenager

L

Officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, burning stalls at Doyin Busstop, on Lagos-Badagry expressway, in enforcement of the ban on street trading, in Lagos, yesterday.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Jonathan, Biya in talks to free French hostages

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

C

AMEROON President Paul Biya has started talks with his Nigerian counterpart, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to free the French hostages kidnapped last Tuesday in Cameroon. Cameroonian officials in Waza, where the French nationals were on tour visiting a national park, told newsmen that the family had been separated, with the adults and children taken to separate unknown locations. The seven French nationals are from one family and include four children. French energy firm GDF Suez SA, GSZ.FR, confirmed last Tuesday that one of its employees had been kidnapped with his family.

Cameroon said the hostages have been moved to Nigeria. “The kidnappers have gone across the border into Nigeria with their hostages,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Government and military officials in Cameroon’s farnorth region also said that military helicopters were being used to track down the kidnappers and the hostages.

They were seized at Sabongari, seven kilometres from the northern village of Dabanga near the Nigerian border, the foreign ministry said.

Biya said on Tuesday that his government was in talks with Nigerian authorities to free the seven French tourists. He also ordered that increased security measures be deployed to rescue the tourists, according to the state-run television. The kidnapping is the second such incident in the region in four days.

“Immediately informed of the situation, the president of the republic, Paul Biya prescribed urgent measures to search for the hostages,” said a statement by Cameroon’s Minister in-charge of the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute.

The statement added that security in the region has been reinforced and “the Cameroon government in is permanent contact with the authorities of Nigeria and France,” confirming that the hostages had been taken to Nigeria.

Legendary actor, Justus Esiri dies

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU & ANOZIE EGOLE

L

EGENDARY actor, Justus Es iri, died suddenly Tuesday night, throwing the entertainment industry into mourning. He was 71 years. His death was preceded by the death of Lugard Onoyemu and songstress Goldie Harvey.

Esiri, 71, reportedly died of complications resulting from diabetes at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.

The president of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Miss Ibinabo Fiberesima confirmed the death of Esiri in a statement she made available to Vanguard.

Ibinabo said: “We regret to announce the passing away of our member and veteran actor, Justus Esiri who died last night (Tuesday). He was said to have died of complications resulting from diabetes at a hospital in Lagos.”

“Declared as one of the strong men of the African film industry, Justus Esiri is widely known for his role in the now rested popular TV series, The Village Headmaster. We commiserate with the family and pray that God gives us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Also, announcing Esiri’s death online, one of his sons, popular pop singer, Sidney ‘Dr SID’ Esiri put up a photo of the veteran actor on his Twitter avatar and updated his bio as ‘RIP Dad.‘ Meanwhile, reacting to his death, former president of AGN, Mr. Ejike Aseigbu described Justus Esiri as “one of the best actors this country has ever produced .”

He said: “I’m pained because we have lost a legend. Last week, we lost the pioneer Secretary of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Lagos chapter, Lugard Onoyemu, who slumped and died during a football training at the National Stadium, Surulere. However, I found Justus Esiri quite inspiring, he was a loving man.”

On his own, Segun Arinze said “It is so bad. Uncle Justus Esiri was a figure and a great motivator to us. He left a legacy that needs to be sustained. Justus Esiri contributed his quota to the growth of the industry. It is a very bad news, we will miss him.”

Monalisa Chinda, who expressed shock when she heard of Esiri’s death said, “I don’t really know what to say at the moment. I am totally devastated.”

In a career that spanned decades, late Esiri, shot to lime light in the early 80’s through the popular TV series, Village Headmaster which aired on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. He also featured in many interesting Nollywood movies.

Two years ago, the late Esiri was one of the actors who ran to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye for

a special prayer session against consistent deaths and sicknesses in the industry. The event was held at the church’s headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

Born on 20 November 1942 in Oria-Abraka, Delta State, Esiri attended Urhobo College, Effurun, Warri in Delta State. He travelled to Germany to study engineering at the Maximillan University, Munich, Germany, 1964, where he developed an interest in thea-

tre.

Esiri started his acting career in Germany. He was the only Nigerian male that performed on stage between 1968 and 1969. He also worked for Voice of Nigeria VON, German Service, as a translator.

The veteran actor won several laurels including THEMA Awards, NTA Honours Awards and AMAA awards. He was also the star actor in acclaimed productions such as “Wasted Years”,

Justus Esiri

“Forever,” “The Prize”, “Six Demons”, “Corridors of Power”, “Last Knight”, “The Tyrant”, ‘The Investigation”, “The Ghost.” He was also reputed to have performed on more TV Network drama programmes than any Nigerian actor.

Assassin’s Practice, one of the most recent movies where he featured, was produced last year.

Late Esiri was last seen at a social function few weeks ago when a delegation of the Federal Government led by Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, met some major stakeholders in the Movie industry in Lagos, to inform them of the forthcoming centenary celebration and to seek the support of the Nollywood industry.

At the close-door parley, Esiri bubbled with life. He sat next to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, and did not show any sign of failing health.

Esiri’s death came two months after another veteran actor, Enebeli Elebuwa, a.k.a Andrew died in an Indian hospital and 18 months after legendary actor, Sam Loko Efe also took his bow.

In one of his last interviews, Esiri had lamented his deteriorating health condition, saying “I had to be rushed abroad. But since I came back, I’ve not been fineit’s either one sickness or the other. But thank God things will get better.”

He was married to Omiete and had six children, one of them being Dentist-turned pop artiste, Dr SID.

....Goldie died of hypertension, autopsy reveals

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU & CHARLES MGBOLU

C

ONTRARY to reports that Goldie Harvey, former Big Brother Africa housemate who died last Thursday, in Lagos, might have died as a result of pulmonary embolism and apparent misuse of drugs, an autopsy carried out at the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, has revealed that the pop singer died of complications resulting from hypertension.

According to the report of the autopsy which was conducted on Tuesday, February 19, and signed

by Dr. O. O Oyewole, the late singer suffered from ‘Intracerebral hemorrhage’ which led to a ‘hypertensive heart disease.’

A statement from the late singer’s music label, Kennis Music also confirmed the autopsy report.

It has put paid to speculations that the musician died of doping complications, a suggestion her widower, Andrew Harvey, vehemently denied as he insisted that his late wife was never into drugs “Goldie never used drugs in the last 10 years I knew her and I was as close as you could get,” he said.

According to Wikipedia, intracerebral hemorrhage, ICH is a subtype of intracranial hemorrhage that occurs within the brain tissue itself. Intracerebral hemorrhage can be caused by brain trauma, Non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage is a spontaneous bleeding into the brain tissue.

Symptoms include a rise in intracranial pressure which causes a severe headache followed by vomiting. Some patients may go into coma shortly after the symptoms arise.

It will be recalled that a statement from the president of Kennis Music, Mr Kenny Ogungbe after Goldie's death clearly stated

that the pop singer complained of a severe headache after arriving the country from the United States where she attended the Grammys.

The songstress died at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos on February 14. She reportedly returned from the U.S. the previous day before she suddenly took ill and was rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.

Susan Goldie Harvey

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 9

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly were yesterday weighing their options following a deadlock in negotiations to find solutions to the impasse over the 2013 budget.

At the end of the negotiations in the Presidential Villa yesterday, both sides it was learnt were unable to reach a compromise on the issues raised by President Jonathan on why he could not sign the 2013 budget as presented to him by the National Assembly.

The deadlock was despite optimism raised earlier this week by the Senate of a breakthrough, despite the concession by the president that constituency projects would be channeled to the Minister of Special Duties for speedy execution.

Last night’s meeting which was the second in as many days left the two parties dejected, raising prospects of an override of what is now considered to be a presidential veto.

The budget was transmitted to the president on January 14, more than a month ago.

2013 budget: Jonathan, N-Assembly weigh options following deadlock Presidential spokesman, Dr. Rueben Abati, however, insisted that the president’s restraint was essentially to en-

sure that Nigerians get the best from the budget.

He quoted Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

as saying that the grey areas in the budget had yet to be overcome.

Sources, however, disclosed

FEC MEETING—SGF, Senator Pius Anyim (right) discussing with Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade; Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Nurudeen Mohammed; Housing and Urban Development Minister, Amal Pepple and Minister of State Power, Zainab Kuchi, during the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

that the president was worried over several mistakes in the details presented to him, some of which were attributed to typographical mistakes.

45,000 ghost workers The president it was learnt, was also concerned that personnel cost in several cases were rolled over to capital cost by the legislators. The legislators, it was learnt, however, insisted that the discovery of 45,000 ghost workers in the federal civil service had freed a personnel budget of as much as N30 billion to be rolled over to capital.

“Going by the discovery of 45,000 ghost workers it means that as much as N30 billion would now have been freed from the personnel budget and where else to take that money but to capital?” the legislators were quoted to have argued at the meeting.

The legislators, Vanguard learnt, were said to have argued that whatever mistakes the president saw should be addressed in the form of a supplementary budget to be forwarded to the National Assembly for passage. The presidency, it was learnt, was still mulling over the issue as at last night.

Continued hesitation by the president to sign the budget could spur the legislators to exercise their power to override the apparent veto of the president on the budget.

Section 59 (4) of the budget stipulating the powers of the National Assembly in the

event of the president wielding a veto on the budget states: "Where the President, within 30 days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by twothirds majority of members of both houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required".

The president of the senate, Senator David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal led the National Assembly delegation to the meeting that also had the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala among others to the meeting.

Jonathan working for best interest of Nigerians — Abati Speaking with newsmen after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, Abati said “the position remains the same as articulated previously by the Minister of Finance that there are grey areas in the document that are being discussed by the Executive and the Legislature and that once these are clarified, the budget will go to the next stage.

“There is really no problem although I see that in many of the reports, some are trying to insinuate whether there is conflict or whether there is a problem.

“When two arms of government are involved in something that is strategic as that, you can be sure that there will be need for clarification, there will be need for further consultation to ensure that the overriding objective is met.

“What is that overriding objective? It is the best interest of Nigerians to ensure that what comes out is the budget that serves their interest.

“So this is not about conflict, or territorial conflict.

It’s all about making sure that the best is done in the interest of Nigerians,” he said.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

LASU graduates 23 1st class, 1106 2nd Class Upper, others

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE & IKENNA ASOMBA

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AGOS — TWENTY-ONE out of 8,160 of the La gos State University, LASU, who graduated yesterday, bagged First Class Honours, while 1106 others received made Second Class Upper.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor John Obafunwa, who disclosed this at the award of diplomas and degrees during the school’s 18th Convocation ceremony, said 5341 made Second Class Lower, while 1592 received Third Class Honour.

According to him, while 88 graduated with pass, the College of Medicine graduated 12 students.

Addressing the graduates, he said: “To all graduands, there is the need to draw your attention to the significance of a day like this in your life as individuals and members of the society.

"In summary it is by the special grace of God not by your own efforts that you are here today.

From left: Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, Ogun State Commissioner of Police; HRM Oba Timothy Akinsanya, "Since education does not end with the granting of a Owusi of Makun; Mr. Basile Kouamen, factory manager; Dr. Samuel Adenekan and Chief Patrick Emuruse, degree, you must be ready to face the challenges by Factory Human Resource Manager, during Nestle Nigeria Plc's official presentation of two Hillux pick-up not only looking forward, and be focused but also lookpatrol vans to the Ogun State Police Command, at Flowergate Factory, Shagamu. Photo: Shola Oyelese ing back, to build on your experiences in life.”

Prof Obafunwa noted that University intended to commence its Faculty of Agriculture at Epe, and its School of Nursing by the beginning of the 2013/ 2014 academic session.

He added arrangement had been concluded for smuggle money out of the country in con- been handed over to officials of the EcoBY DANIEL EFEGHE the establishment of the travention of extant regulations in 2012. nomic and Financial Crimes Commission, Departments of Civil and PERATIVES of the Nigeria Custom Ser Disclosing this development at NCS EFCC, for further investigation.

Aerospace Engineering vice, NCS, Murtala Muhammed Inter- office at the airport, Area Comptroller, Giving detail of activities of the comand the Department of national Airports, MMIA, Command, yester- Mr Charles Epowei Edike, identified the mand in 2012, Edike said in 2012, the Civil Engineering at the day arrested a passenger with $1.1 million at passenger as Professor Ofoegbu NCS, MMIA Command intercepted over Epe Campus.

MMIA, Lagos on his way to Kenya.

Charles Ononuju, who claimed to be $12.1 million from 14 persons who tried He added: “The UniverThis came as the command intercepted over the director of an oil firm (name with- to smuggled money out of the country in sity has also concluded $12.1 million from 14 persons who tried to held). According to Mr. Edike, the pro- contravention of extant regulations. plan for the establishment fessor with passport registration of the School of Film, Pernumber A04008969 claimed that forming Arts and Culturhe was travelling with such a al Studies which would huge amount of money to solve probably be the first in a dispute with Kenya communiAfrica.” ty over oil blocks.

Edike said “the passenger deAGOS — A businessman, Alhaji clared the currency both on forms Lasisi Ayomumoye, has asked a CDF1A and CDF1B, but claimed Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, to he was travelling with Kenya Airways flight number QR542 to order a first generation bank to pay him Kenya, to solve dispute with Ken- compensation for allegedly demolishing his property without authorisation. ya community over oil blocks” Ayomumoye said no alteration would The Comptroller noted that the HE PROTRACTED passenger and the currency had be made on the property without a industrial crisis written consent of authorisation from rocking Chevron Nigeria him.

Limited, CNL, and PetroThe claimant, whose testimony was leum and Natural Gas translated from Yoruba language to Senior Staff Association English, said he was surprised when the of Nigeria, bank breached the agreement and

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI PENGASSAN, over wholly demolished the structure. strained industrial which Ayomumoye said he wrote series of AGOS — OFFICIALS of Vanguard gathered conletters to the bank after he discovered the Lagos State Task Force cerned negotiations on that the bank had demolished his on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and the conditions of service, building and constructed a prototype Unwholesome Processed has been resolved. office in its place.

Foods, have sealed 32 illegal The resolution was He said the construction of the drug shops and carted away made possible through structure had breached Clause 2 (ix) of fake drugs worth millions of the intervention of the the Sub-lease Agreement between him naira during the enforcement Minister of Labour and and the bank. exercise in Ikorodu local Productivity, Chief Counsel to the bank, Mr. O.U. Inneh, government areas of the state.

Emeka Wogu. while cross-examining the claimant, This came as Commissioner PENGASSAN had noted that the translation of his testimony for the Environment, Tunji earlier picketed all from Yoruba language to English Bello, threatened that facilities of CNL nationlanguage was not accurate enough. government would close down wide which led to the Inneh said:” I crave the indulgence of Ladipo Market, in Mushin conciliatory meeting the court that a proper interpreter be Local Government Area over from January 22 - 24 appointed because the court’s registrar continued degradation of the 2013 in the office of the appears not to be “educationally ” environment by traders.

Minister. qualified to interpret this proceeding.”

Customs arrests professor with $1.1m at Lagos Airport O

Businessman sues bank over demolished property

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Chevron, PENGASSAN resolve crisis

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Lagos seals 32 illegal drug stores

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013— 17

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“I actually died. I passed out for more than a week. My intestines and tummy were opened. I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his.

My doctors said all hope was lost. It was God himself, in His infinite mercy, that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days”– Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan; Nigeria’s First Lady.

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AST Sunday evening, Nigeria’s nomenclatura gathered inside the Banquet Hall of the Aso Villa, to celebrate one of the wonders of modern Nigeria; the return from death of First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. It was a solemn spiritual event; a power show; a fashion statement extraordinaire and a political gathering, all rolled into one.

Never mind the weeks of spin and outright lies by the presidency and the First Lady’s handlers, an “in-yourface” celebration of Madam Patience’s life brought to a head, all that was kept away from Nigerians, in a show of disrespect and contempt, as the First Lady had her near-death experience.

For watchers of presidential body language, there was a lot to deconstruct in last Sunday’s display at the Aso villa. Why did the presidency and First Lady handlers persistently tell Nigerians lies for weeks on end as the normally intrusive Dame Patience suddenly went AWOL and all kinds of speculation filled the national space? Wasn’t there something fundamentally defective in the inability to learn lessons from the recent past, when Umaru Yar ’adua also disappeared into a black hole of illhealth that tragically consumed him, but was similarly mishandled? Why did the administration feel disrespect was the best way to deal with Nigerians?

And didn’t the trend of lies continue when the returnee First Daily openly stated that she never entered a hospital? What then changed that led to a manipulative expression of “openness” by the First Lady and the elaborate celebration that dominated national television last Sunday night?

Out-dying Lazarus

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hat was Dame Patience intention telling us how she “out-died” the Biblical Lazarus? Lazarus died for only three days, while Nigeria’s First Lady was dead as a dodo for SEVEN whole days? There is political advantage in the manipulative use of religious symbolism and President Goodluck Jonathan recently confessed that Nigerians politicians regularly exploiting religion to serve their selfish ends. Madam Patience who brazenly told the lie that she did not go near a hospital, then regaled her listeners with “testimony” of how she went through “eight or nine operations within one month(for an ailment about which Nigerians were still kept in the dark)” which she courageously demanded: “people are always afraid of operations (surgery) but in (her) own case, while (her) travail lasted, (Dame Patience) was begging for it”.

The reason was that “after the third operation…I was going to the theatre everyday ”. It was without doubt a reason for a liberal dosage of piety: “it was God who saw me through. I did eight or nine operations within one month”. And to underline the Biblical parallels, Dame Patience whose “intestine and tummy were opened”, matter of fact said “I actually died, I passed out for more than one week”, reminding that “I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his”.

It was no wonder therefore, that C M Y K

The wonder world of Dame Patience Jonathan the lives of the lessprivileged”. Well, the multi-million Naira “celebration” was a controversial start to touching the lives of the less-privileged; the original lies told will make it difficult for the “less-privileged” to trust Dame Patience and the “not-too-good-atcelebrating” President Dame Patience Jonathan: In coma for days.

Jonathan.

What President Goodluck Jonathan decided the wretched and thieving ruling elite, that such a day as last Sunday must it was indeed a Who -is-Who of be shoved down our throats. It was a Nigeria’s bandit elite that “graced the day “to appreciate what God has done”; occasion”. Dame Patience claimed she President Jonathan is “not too good in got a second chance from God who celebrating, but for this particular one, knew she had not completed “the I think we have to thank God for assignments”. Henceforth she vowed, keeping the life of my wife”. And trust “I will be doing things that will touch

Well, the multimillion Naira “celebration” was a controversial start to touching the lives of the lessprivileged; the original lies told will make it difficult for the “less-privileged” to trust Dame Patience and the “not-too-good-atcelebrating” President Jonathan

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Nigerians deserve from those in power ostensibly on the basis of our votes, are respect and openness; unfortunately, Dame Patience and President Jonathan failed the test with the lies which accompanied the First Lady ’s illhealth. Last Sunday ’s in-your-face multi-million Naira celebration, merely underlined the vulgarity of the entire episode. The wonder world of magical realism that our First Lady resides in, must really tickle the fancies of the Latin American writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

No agreement; there is agreement

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HERE must have been some indigestion at the Aso Villa on Sunday at the Dame Patience’s Thanks Giving bash, when Sunday newspapers reported the Niger Governor, Mua’zuBabangida Aliyu’s revelation, that President Jonathan reached an agreement with PDP leaders and governors in 2011, “to serve only one term as president”. Not only was such an agreement signed, according to Aliyu, the president also said in Kampala, Uganda, that he would do only a single term. The revelation was the political equivalent of a scud missile scoring a direct hit on the presidential bedroom inside Aso villa. Naturally, there will be serious collateral damage, especially since other governors were quoted by the media, as having concurred that they had copies of the said agreement, which they promised to release at the appropriate time.

Aso Villa swiftly replied that those

campaigning to stop Jonathan from contesting in 2015 (never mind that Jonathan has not explicitly declared an intention, even when body language states the obvious!), “ were either ignorant of the law or were doing so out of selfish political interest to intimidate Mr. President out of the contest”, according to Ahmed Gulak, Special Adviser on Political Affairs.

Gulak (who sounds out of Solzenitzen’s Gulag?!), said Jonathan’s “tenure would have been abridged if he does not contest in 2015”; his political mathematics would befit an inmate of those Stalinist Gulags, but they make for interesting calculations in a “democratising” Nigeria: “Jonathan would have done only five years if he decides not to run in 2015 and would have done ONLY NINE YEARS even if he contests and wins (in) 2015, WITHOUT VIOLATING ANY SECTION OF THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION (all emphasis are

Kaduna teachers fail primary four tests

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AST week, Kaduna State Education Commissioner, Alhaji Usman Muhammed, revealed that 1,300 teachers failed in tests generally set for primary four pupils. A total of 1,599 teachers selected from across the state were given primary four tests in Mathematics and Basic Literacy. Only one of them scored 75 percent; 250 scored between 50 and 75 per cent and 1, 300 scored below 25 percent. The same exam was conducted for 1,800 primary school pupils with a larger percentage failing woefully. That was no surprise “because how can they know it, when their teachers don’t know it”. In November 2011, it was revealed that “no fewer than 2, 000 teachers with fake certificates were employed in (Kaduna) public schools”; while “out of the 36, 000 teachers in the state, 15, 000 are not qualified”. These are mind-boggling facts about Kaduna’s educational sector. The Kaduna state governor, Muktar Ramalan Yero was scandalised sufficiently to warn that if needs be, he would declare a state of emergency in the education sector. I don’t know how a state of emergency in a sector works, but there is need for urgent and radical rupture in the way we have been doing things. We are gradually becoming a Federal Republic of Illiteracy and Half-baked citizens!

mine), because his first tenure actually started in May 2011 and not 2010 as often claimed by ignorant and mischievous politicians”. Our man from the Nigerian Gulag, Ahmed Gulak added the interpretative powers of the Supreme Court to his calling as presidential political adviser.

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he most absurd defence of President Jonathan must be that from the Niger Delta chauvinist, Aniko Briggs, who suggested that were there to be an extant agreement signed between Jonathan and the PDP governors and leaders, then such an agreement must have been extracted from Jonathan, under duress.

Therefore, it would be null and void.

From that springboard, Jonathan should naturally get “ONLY NINE YEARS” that Gulak said he was entitled to without violating any section of Nigeria’s Constitution. As for the Niger Governor, wasn’t he shouting long after the horse has bolted from the barn? We had warned Northern Governors between 2010 and 2011, that by supporting Jonathan, they were taking Northern Nigeria to a fate worse than what befell Northern Cameroun, after power slipped from Ahmadou Ahidjo to Paul Biya. They ignored the portents and today, the consequence is the Hobbesian State of Nature that dogs Northern Nigeria. The emerging scenario is that Jonathan will run; the likes of Gulak will fervently work to save their own personal perches and as is the wont of the PDP, the elections will be rigged and warts and all, Jonathan will sit pretty for a total of nine years! “No agreement; There is agreement”. The political dice is loaded heavily against those who abandoned principles for expediency in 2011; Nigeria’s sorry state under Jonathan’s watch is an expression of their folly and utter contempt for our country!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 THE Catholic Church and indeed the world are coming to grips with the fact that Pope Benedict XVI will exit the Papacy by the end of February. The impact of the rare decision on the future of the Papacy, the 1.5 billion people the Pope leads and the entire global community which his words and actions affect remains a matter of conjectures.

Even without such mounting concerns as nuclear armaments and authoritarian rules, the Papacy remains one of the most powerful social, political, and religious institutions in the world. The position is too entrenched to change with a new man in the saddle.

At 85, the Pope shocked the world with news of his retirement on grounds of failing strength to perform his papal duties. By this action, Pope Benedict XVI followed after Pope Benedict IX, 1045 AD, Pope John XVII, Pope Gregory VI 1046 AD, Pope Celestine V, 1294 AD and Pope Gregory XII 1415 AD. The departure of the Pope also appeals to the

Beyond The Papal Exit moral hubris of civil politicians who see public service as a terminal enterprise.

We commend Pope Benedict XVI and wish him well in his deserved rest. He has played his part in the growth and development of the Catholic Church and faith in God. His place in history is guaranteed, regardless of whatever facts that may surface about his leadership as the Vicar of Christ, one of the Pope’s other numerous titles.

What is paramount now is who succeeds the Pope and the vision he brings to the Papacy. The

growing and embarrassing revelations of paedophile among the priests, and his butler’s leakage of financial misdeeds in the Vatican seriously troubled Pope Benedict XVI and may have added emotional stress to the Pontiff.

It is doubtful if the exit of Pope Benedict XVI would douse attacks on the Catholic Church and on the Papacy. We live in a world that has increasingly become scientific and secularised and the Catholic Church, which ruled the world for centuries, will remain a subject of curiosity, so will be the lifestyle of its priests.

The forces of liberalism feel offended by the haughty and puritanical stance of the Church – they would not relent in their assault on the Catholic Church, if only to weaken its authority on moral issues.

We support the views that an African or Asian should be the next Pope, considering that only these parts still pursue the moral traditions that sustain humanity. A Pope of these origins would also align with the Church’s universality.

OPINION

BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

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OLITICAL balancing in a heterogeneous polity as we have in Nigeria has over time become an acceptable method for ensuring equity, justice, peace and harmony. In the case of Nigeria, the founding fathers of our political system from both divides, that is North and South found a way to guarantee that all sections of the country at one time or another have access to political offices, whether at state or federal levels. Even during the military era, it was the need for balancing that informed General Ibrahim Babangida’s decision to appoint then Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe as his deputy, and when the intrigues of power play led to his exit as number two man, another Southerner, Admiral Augustus Aighomu, still replaced Ukiwe.

This balancing tradition continued even during the Abacha era with General Oladipo Diya and Mike Akhigbe occupying the number two position. Prior to the military interregnum, the Shehu Shagari civilian regime had contemplated the emergence of a Southern President to succeed the Sokoto born Shagari except that the military putsch of December 1983 thwarted the plan.

This genre of power balancing played out greatly when Nigeria rested on a tripod as we had North, East, and West and later Mid Western regions. Since the six zonal

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Merger talks: Implications for Igbo presidency structure reared its head in our political lexicon to the extent that today, resources are shared based on this structure, it is common knowledge that apart from the South East, all the other geopolitical zones have had a shot at the presidency, either during the military or civilian era. Simply put, since 1966 when the late General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi’s short-lived regime was toppled, the Igbos constituting about 45 percent of Nigeria’s population have yet to produce a president (Head of State). With the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan from the South South geopolitical zone, it is expected that to guarantee equity and political balancing, the next president after him will be an Igbo man.

Regrettably, this dream still remains far fetched, especially with the latest merger arrangement being worked out by the opposition parties. It is still a puzzle how the merger will guarantee geopolitical power balancing and ensure justice in our heterogeneous society. Or do we say that zoning, power sharing and balancing have been sacrificed at the altar of opposition merger. Even the ruling party, from all indications, seems not to have a clear-cut plan to ensure that all the six geo-political zones are assured of having at least a two-

term shot at Nigeria’s number one top seat.

This is taking into consideration that all the zones have tasted the coveted seat with some even double as with Obasanjo. If Umaru Yar’Adua had been alive, obviously he would have done a second round.

Admittedly, in other climes, ethnic origin may not be a criteria for ascendancy to the presidency, but for heaven’s sake this is the reality of things in Nigeria, and a necessary burden on our shoulders.

It is indeed funny, if not contemptuous that despite several decades of outcry over marginalisation by the Igbos, Nigeria is yet to address the issues at stake. For example, the South East has only five states, while all other zones have six, with the North West having seven states. What an injustice?

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ack of federal presence in the entire South East is equally a cause for concern, as well as appointments into key Federal Government positions. Yet, we pretend as if everything is alright. I beg to differ like millions of Igbos and other wellmeaning Nigerians that the status quo should be maintained.

In truth, Nigeria as a nation needs a surgical operation and a redefinition before we can truly count ourselves as one united and

indivisible country. Truly, it is disgusting to hear some Nigerian leaders say that Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable. This is outright falsehood and deceit, for in the evolution of man and history of countries, one issue that has always been on the negotiating table is the continued unity of such a state. Recently in America, the State of Texas and some others started contemplating secession from the United States. Same can happen in Nigeria where all indices of disintegration are ever present.

It is not possible to subdue a group of determined people forever with incidences like the Ezu River floating corpses still occurring. While it may not be wise to embark on armed struggle to gain independence, it is still in the best interest of Nigerian leaders to make necessary amends by addressing areas of neglect, or else nature will throw up revolutionary situations which may be unavoidable. It is indeed better to remain one indivisible nation, but not on the terms of those who see themselves as oppressors, as no evil deed lasts for ever. Only truth endures.

It is time for restitution in Nigeria, not deceit; it is time for equity and justice not avaricious manipulation by opportunistic politicians. And as the sage, Uthman Dan Fodio said: “Conscience is an open wound, only truth will heal it”.

Mr. Enekwechi, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—19

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IRST, they lied to us. Then, they owned up. We waited for their apologies but got none. That is why we are asking the question: Why tell us? By not apologising, or showing remorse for the earlier lies they told or delegated lackeys to tell on their behalf, it is clear they had no regrets lying to us. They would obviously do it again, were the circumstances to repeat themselves.

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, Governor Sullivan Chime, the Enugu State helmsman who was away from his duty post for 150 days, called a press briefing in Enugu when he returned. He disclosed that he was actually in London receiving treatment for cancer of the nose. To many Nigerians this was shocking news, not because people did not already know he was sick. It was jolting because the Governor and his administration officials, notably his Commissioner for Information, Mr Chuks Ugwoke, had lied repeatedly to the public, debunking the notion of his being sick and asserting that he was

enjoying his accumulated annual leave abroad.

Ugwoke did not spare any vitriol in describing those who continued to maintain that Chime was away on a serious medical vacation over a life-threatening affliction.

Clearly, this was not a personal lie.

Rather, it was exactly what the Governor wanted the public to believe. It was the story the Governor left with the state when he left for overseas in September 2012. He simply wrote the State House of Assembly, fibbing them that he was going on his accumulated annual leave when all the while he was embarking on a medical mission from which he was not sure if he would return alive. It was this official story that Ugwoke told the public, until the principal came back, months later, to make him look like a liar. That Ugwoke was neither censured nor sacked attested to the fact that he did his job the way his principal wanted him to do it: Keep the truth from the public until the danger was over.

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olitics was the reason behind it all. Chime probably felt that if his cancer story was told, and he had to stay away from office for nearly five months, some dormant political forces could wake up to hasten his removal from office, either on grounds of medical incapacitation or barefaced intrigues by power grabbers. He told the lie to the public in order to protect himself politically, perhaps because he feels Nigeria’s democracy is not matured enough to endure the truth. But luckily for him, the State House of Assembly, which is one of his acolytes, does not have the gumption to charge him with gross misconduct and commence impeachment proceedings against him for lying in his letter to them.

If there was a clear political motive in Chime’s deception of the people of Enugu State one wonders what was the motive behind the dissembling carried out by the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan and the Adviser to the President on Media Affairs,

The pepper soup legislature

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VERY beginning, no matter how small, is difficult. That explains why our generation has aptly been described as the era of cruel and unusual punishment; and the age of torture. Everything we had came the hard way.

Today’s children would find it difficult to believe that every morning, we had to trek to the village stream, which was some three kilometres away, to fetch water before preparing for school, which was another one kilometre from home.

In our book-keeping class of latter years, we had to cast the Trial Balance (a foolscap page long of nerve-cracking figures) off head; whereas all you need now is to know the formula and at the touch of a button, the answer appears.

This phenomenal growth has been an allround one, not just on the positive side alone.

Lying and stealing, for instance, have become easy. Somebody can be next door to you in Benin City and he will be telling you that he is speaking from Abuja.

The few cashiers who embezzled their organisation’s money in those days arranged to have themselves severely bruised all over their bodies as a proof that they were attacked by armed robbers on their way to the bank and the money was taken from them. A good part of the stolen money was recovered and they still went to prison for seven years. But today, people are stealing billions without lifting a finger and nothing is happening to them.

We have consistently tongue-lashed our legislators for their bogus salaries and allowances. That is because the figures have been standing alone. There has been no basis for actual comparison. In a more civilized clime, a central bank governor who complains that legislators are overpaid would start by telling the people how much

he earns. He would tell them how much the President and his ministers earn. We do not have any of these. Meanwhile, our Central Bank has become a republic within a republic.

Until we accept that it takes at least two to tango, we shall continue to scratch corruption on the surface. How does somebody steal N50 billion? Does he haul it in a trailer or in a tipper or simply on his head? Or is it by telegraphic or telephonic transfer? Who does the paper work? All those who aided the stealing must not go unpunished.

And this foolish oil money is apparently inexhaustible. Otherwise, in a local government setting, for instance, anytime the chairman steals, you must look downwards to find how much the council secretary, accountant, treasurer and internal auditor have stolen. The practice of holding the politician and leaving the officials who aided and participated in the crime simply begs the question.

The truth is that we don’t have a system yet. Until we have a system, this rot continues.

At the end of a maximum stay of eight years in Government House, the Governor goes to jail while the legislators who gave him his annual appropriations walk home in full freedom. There is something wrong.

A system is a chain which can only be as strong as its weakest link. The approval of this year’s budget presupposes that the legislators are satisfied with what the governor did with last year’s appropriations.

That is the essence of the legislative oversight of the executive, so called.

Essentially, the once a year jamboree which our legislators currently undertake is more of a visit or legislative tour than an oversight. For the purpose of oversight, what we have now could, at best, only qualify for

Dr Reuben Abati over her ailment.

For over three months, Mrs Jonathan, a woman I admire for her unwavering commitment to her chosen causes, was away in Wiesbaden Germany. The media were filled with stories that she was being treated for such ailments as food poisoning, fibroids and cancer.

Jonathan, in a presidential media chat, admitted that his wife was ill and being treated abroad.

In November 2012 Jonathan had also openly disclosed to members of the Board of Trustees, BOT, of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that Chime was seriously sick and might not return to the country before February 2013. Our President distanced himself from the muckle of lies concerning the ailments of his wife and Chime. But when the First Lady came back from the first treatment she denied ever being sick, saying she did not even know anything about the hospital named.

One wonders what led to a change of heart. She went as far as sensationally declaring she was “dead” for a whole week before God showed her mercy and permitted her to recover from multiple surgeries. Perhaps it was the sobering atmosphere of a lavishly-organised thanksgiving service that led to the no holdsbarred torrent of disclosures. She even said “some people” were already selling her property because they were convinced she would never come back alive.

I have been wondering to myself how those “people” gained access to the properties of this Bayelsa State Permanent Secretary to start

selling? Why would our beloved Dame give title deeds of her property to other people and putting them in a position to sell?

That was quite an interesting earful.

Both the Governor and the Dame ended their confessions without apologising for earlier misinformation to the public. They thanked God for His mercies but did not show regret for manipulating the truth. That is very unfortunate.

Nobody is above being sick.

Nobody who is sick will fail to get the sympathy of majority of the people. Only the few evil-minded people in society will rejoice at the suffering of their enemies, let alone people like Chime and the Dame who have been identified with a number of positive contributions to development.

Beyond the moral imperative of disclosure, an office holder is duty bound to truthfully inform the public of his or her illness because of the public office they are occupying and the public funds being used to tackle the condition.

This is one particular truth that public office occupants conveniently ignore. The Nigerian public is still very much in the dark about its rights and the importance of vigilance over the activities of those they elected or appointed into public office.

In developed societies public officers disclose sensitive information about their health not because they want to but because people are watching and will not tolerate being lied to. It is a scandal that leads to the disgrace of erring officials.

One day soon, it will start happening here.

pepper soup legislatures. Our legislatures are not yet equipped to carry out any oversight on the executive. Until we are ready to put our money where our

,

Why are they telling us now?

An office holder is duty bound to truthfully inform the public of his or her illness because of the public office they are occupying and the public funds being used to tackle the condition

Our legislatures are not yet equipped to carry out any oversight on the executive; until we are ready to put our money where our mouth is, it will continue to be corruption unlimited; and stealing unabated

,

mouth is, it will continue to be corruption unlimited; and stealing unabated. The watchdog cannot be less sophisticated than the thief.

B

y nature’s arrangement, the legislature is supposed to be the eldest son in the government family because it makes the law which the executive implements and it is when there is question on interpretation that the Judiciary intervenes. The incessant intervention of the military has destroyed all that. The legislature has been reduced to the weakest son in the family. Each time the military intervened, the Legislature was dissolved while the Executive and Judiciary remained in place. Whereas the two other branches of government have gone ahead

to acquire their Masters degree and PhD, over time, the legislature has remained stunted at the level of BA (Begin Again) each time the military returned to the barracks.

Whereas in the US, for instance, some senators and congressmen have retained their seats for upwards of 30 years, with the expertise and experience that go with such long periods, our National Assembly members are, by comparison, all freshmen.

Again, to catch a monkey, you must behave like a monkey. To be able to carry out real oversight on the Executive, the Legislature must be equipped with equally qualified and experienced staff. In the US, each senator has close to 100 staff and there is no way they can be outwitted by the Executive. This is in addition to the committees that are also equipped to the teeth with men and materials.

But in Nigeria, a senator has a budget provision for five staff and there is no control over how many he actually engages and their competence. The committees are virtually zero on equipment and personnel. A lucky committee may have one functional car attached to it. When the committee members go for the so-called oversight, they must rely on the organisation they are visiting to provide them transport and that is the very beginning of compromise.

In all this, we have a clear choice between spending real money, building a virile legislature that can truly carry out proper oversight that will in turn minimize corruption; and remaining in the dark alley, where dubiety, corruption and confusion shall continue to reign supreme. Which way, Nigeria?

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Essence of Urhobo beauty pageant HE first ever Urhobo Beauty Pageant, which saw the rich and buoyant Urhobo culture on display couldn’t have come at a better time. This assertion is borne out of the fact that the Urhobo culture and custom has faced sharp decline and erosion since the last two decades, a development that could be attributed to the overwhelming and corrosive influence of Western culture. In every aspect of our lives- be it in our dressing, mannerism, way of talking, or way of doing things, there is always a hint of Western influence.

Most affected are the youths who see everything good about Western culture and civilization, and nothing good about our own culture and tradition. Our customs and traditions no doubt face the danger of imminent extinction unless something is done to stem the tide. It is against this background that I want to commend Senator Pius Ewherido and the organisers of the recent Miss Urhobo Beauty Pageant for their wisdom and thoughtfulness in organising this event which has become very imperative. If anything, the Miss Urhobo Beauty Pageant re-echoed in our hearts theneedtopreservetherichUrhobo culture and tradition. It is disheartening that a lot of Urhobos, particularly the youths cannot

On President Jonathan’s visit to Police College

Thank God, we now have a president that has the interest of the people at heart. He should not be angry with Channels or police officers that exposed the rot. The President should not stop at the Police College alone. He should now pay surprise visits to at least two Federal Universities to see the horrible hostels where the nation’s high level manpower are to be produced. It is a disaster waiting to happen. The Vice Chancellors and the Minister of Education ( previous and present) have failed this nation.

Dedemo 08074490347

FG to provide mobile phones for farmers

The statement by the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adeshina, on page 15 of January 15, of Vanguardthat there is no going back on cell phones for farmers is ridiculous. Most farmers in Nigeria already have cell phones.

Even in the remotest part of Nigeria, they have phones. I feel the minister has never

We could even do better by making the Urhobo language a standard of interaction in all of our gatherings

,

The truth is an individual is nothing without a root and culture, especially as the African society is concerned. If we are not proud of whom we are, then, what else can we be proud of? I’m always amused when I see youths of other ethnic extractions, particularly the Igbo’s, Yorubas, Ijaws, Hausas, and even Itsekiris speaking their languages with dignity and

visited the peasant farmers in the villages. It is a plan to mismanaged our funds. Where will the money come from if not from the budget. If the ministry has this amount to throw away, why not lend it to farmers to improve their production?

Mani 08078921911

pride notwithstanding where they are. In my own estimation, there is everything to be proud of being an Urhobo.

When I, x-ray Urhobo sons and daughters, both dead and living who have made the Urhobo nation proud in their respective fields and endeavor, I can’t help being an Urhobo man! There is nothing I could ever wish for more than being an Urhobo. I want to admonish that more than ever before, effort should be geared towards sustaining and preserving the Urhobo culture, custom and tradition. Everything about us— our dressing, language, local festivals and other traditional ceremonies should reflect and reverberate every inch the Urhobo culture and custom.

We could even do better by making the Urhobo language a standard of interaction in all of our gatherings. It is however sad that rather than eulogize Sen. Pius Ewherido, for an initiative as this, some of our brothers still found reasons to criticise him, asserting that he could have done more. In my own opinion, I think the people who hold this view missed the point and the essence of the event.

The essence of a ceremony of this

nature should not be seen from the prism of material benefit and gains, but rather from the standpoint of celebrating, promoting and preserving the Urhobo culture, custom and values.

Rather than criticize and castigate we should learn to encourage our sons and daughters who have good intention of promoting and preserving the rich Urhobo culture no matter how sparse the effort might be. In my own estimation, I think Sen. Pius Ewherido deserve encouragement and a pat on the back. Presenting a brand new car to the eventual winner of the event, and as well as well as handling out consolation prizes to other contestants is no mean feat!

its position, the issues of corruption, Boko Haram and militancy can be put under control. The present administration should also pay more attention to education, power supply and telecommunication sectors for a better Nigeria.

Fidelis 08037235403

ICPC for rapid and pragmatic transformation and development of our country as their effort over the years have not yielded any visible result.

Obire 08079018001

Oil subsidy probe

Its quite unfortunate that the check and balance of the legislative arm of govt have been bought over by corruption at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians. Where is the hope of the ordinary Nigerians in the Nigeria polity? It is high

,

T

speak the Urhobo language fluently.

And as if that is not appalling enough, a good number of them are shy speaking the Urhobo languageinpublic,particularlywhen among their peers from other ethnic extractions. What could be sadder than this development!

,

Dear Sir,

Thank God, we now have a president that has the interest of the people at heart. He should not be angry with Channels or police officers that exposed the rot. The President should not stop at the Police College alone. He should now pay surprise visits to at least two Federal universities to see the horrible hostels where the nation’s high level manpower are to be produced. It is a disaster waiting to happen.

,

Corruption in our society

If only President Jonathan would allow the law to take

time the Nigeria masses took the war against corruption to the next level by assuming the functions of the EFCC and

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene ohwevwoufuoma@ymail.com 08127029122

Leave Oteh alone Dear Sir,

K

INDLY oblige me the use of this medium to express my indignation over the rancor between Ms Arumah Oteh and the members of the House of Repre-

Corruption and fuel subsidy probe

No doubt, the subsidy scam was the most dominant issue last year. But it is unfortunate that none of the two powerful men, Femi Otedola, who offered bribe in dollars or Farouk Lawan and who was rubbished by the bribery allegation have been prosecuted.

The failure to prosecute them will rubbish President Jonathan’s fight on corruption.

Mukoro 0803774299

sentatives. Her offence was exposing the Chairman Ad hoc Committee set up by the House to investigate the abysmal performance of the Security & Exchange Commission, SEC. Her undoing was bringing to light the chairman’s alleged unbecoming habit of extortion. Her action seemed to have infuriated other colleagues in the lower chamber. Consequently the committee was dissolved and another one set up.

Since then, there’s been witchhunting against Ms. Oteh.

Even the SEC management. accused her of financial recklessness since her resumption of office, which prompted the Federal Government to set up an audit committee to examine SEC’s accounts while Oteh was sent on compulsory leave.

The auditors found nothing incriminating in SEC’s accounts and recommended her recall.

Based on this, the Federal Government recalled her as the Director General of SEC. With due .respect to the lawmakers, they became obstinate and resorted to harassing Mr. President. They stated that unless Oteh is sacked according to their last recommendation, there won’t be 2013 budgetary allocation for SEC. This is apparent abuse of office and disservice to the nation.

If I may ask, when has the executive duties become the functions of lawmakers? I want to advise the lawmakers not to personalize the issue of SEC Emmanuel Ekeh 59 Dauda Street Ira, Ojo Quarters, Lagos posed protectors are under fire they would not be focused enough to plan attacks on members of the sect. The question now is for how long will the sect continue to call the shots in the country?

Anonymous writes via email

Nor therners battle Jonathan over 2015

Given the records of northerners who ruled Nigeria, the North has no locus morally, to aspire to the presidency again. The various periods they held power were marked by utter misrule and brazen plundering of the country ’s resources. Why should we trust them with another opportunity?

Onoriode 08097021649

Boko Haram insurgency

It is indeed worrisome that the Boko Haram sect has taken its mayhem to military and police facilities. The logic is not hard to fathom: when the sup-

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.The feathers on a fowl do not let one know that the fowl sometimes sweats.

Amarachi (08162271104), Ebonyi State.

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 21

80% of local shipping firms have closed shop — Molap boss

By GODFREY BIVBERE

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HAIRMAN and Chief Executive Officer of Molap Group, Chief Isaac Jolampamo, has said that 80 percent of indigenous shipping companies in the country have folded up as a result of illegal activities and the domination of the industry by foreigners despite the Cabotage law.

Jolapamo noted that these foreign companies, most of which are operating illegally have gradually succeeded in driving their local counter parts out of business. He explained that all his counterparts in the shipping business have their fleets depleted because they have been deprived of jobs for a long time.

He pointed out that he had six vessels 10 years ago but that the number has since depleted to just one. He said the normal thing is for a vessel to do three or four jobs a month but noted that in the whole of last year, while one of his vessel did just two jobs through out last year, the other did six the same period.

He however cried out to security agencies in the country to save his only remaining vessel which is alleged to be involved in stealing of petroleum products from a stolen ship.

Jolapamo who is also the Chairman of Indigenous Ship owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said that a Lagos based firm had approached his company for the chartering of the vessel, and he obliged since he did not suspect any fowl play.

He said that the ship was supposed to sail to the Lagos off-shore where it was to load 15,000 metric tons of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for discharge at Lome.

According to him, “I managed to speak with the Captain of our vessel, M.V. Mor Prosperity on 21st of January, 2013 through the Turaya phone with the charterers super cargo onboard where the Captain informed me that the vessel did not find the mother vessel at the position given on her voyage instruction but instead of returning to Lagos anchorage, went further at the charterer’s instruction to an-

other location to receive Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) cargo from a ship he could not tell me the name or International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Number etc, except that the name is written in Arabic before the phone went off at my barrage of questioning.”

Jolapamo further noted that he contacted both the Benin

and Togo Republics Maritime Authority’s to help him locate the ship but that it was not until the 24th that one Mr. Jubril Rowaye of Brilla Energy contacted him “saying his DPK cargo onboard his widely reported missing vessel, M.T. Itiri has found its way to my vessel. This prompted our official request to Nigerian Maritime Administration and

Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Navy for assistance to locate our vessel.”

He said it took the combine efforts of both bodies and the Nigeria Airforce for the missing ship to be located back in Lagos where it was abandoned deep off-shore Escravos after extensive wilful damage to it and the equipment in it to make it appear like a pirate attack.

From right: Executive Director, Corporate Banking and Investment, Mainstreet Bank, Roger Woodbridge; a management staff of Caverton Helicopters, Tolu Osunsanya; GMD/CEO, Mainstreet Bank, Faith Tuedor-Matthews; Chairman, Caverton Helicopters, Aderemi Makanjuola; ED, Operations & IT, Anogwi Anyanwu and Chief Risk Officer of the bank, Kevin Ugwuoke, during a visit to Caverton Helicopters, Monday.

Our commitment to housing for Nigerians is a priority — Resort MD

T

HE Managing Director of Resort Savings and Loans, Mr. Abimbola Olayinka has affirmed that the commitment of the bank to providing affordable housing to Nigerians takes priority over many other things in its agenda.

He made the disclosure while explaining to journalists the giant steps taken by the bank so far on its housing projects across the country.

Olayinka whose bank is rated as one the leading mortgage banks in the country with a pedigree of financing housing projects said the impact of the bank has spread to the nook and cranny of the country.

He said, “We are proud to be associated with the housing needs of Nigeria. For instance the Pearl Garden Estate at Sangotedo in Lekki area of

Lagos is within the Lekki Trade Zone recently declared open by the State Government.

“The estate stands to benefit from some of the infrastructural developments earmarked for the free trade zone, which include construction of a coastal road and the improved ferry system. The estate is also ten minutes drive from the Lagos Business School, which is also known as Pan African University.”

On the quality of the buildings in the estate, he said, “The apartments in our estates and their ambience conform to what you have anywhere in the world. The road network, the buildings and the interior, the security system and the recreational facilities are excellent.

It is also good to note that there are worship and health centre in our estates.”

Epileptic power supply, insecurity bane of industrial growth

E

PILEPTIC power supply and insecurity in Nigeria have been identified as a major challenge affecting investment and growth of industries in the country.

A Nigerian China – based industrialist and Chairman/ Chief Executive, Uzotex Group of Companies, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu who spoke during the company’s Annual General Meeting/Award recently lamented that 60 to 70 per cent of the company’s profit goes to fueling of generators as well as maintenance of electricity.

Mbisiogu said most investors are discouraged to invest in Nigeria due to insecurity and unreliable power supply.

He further called on the Federal Government to put in place workable structure that would not only encourage stable power supply but also encourage investors to invest in the country ’s industrial sector.

Lamenting the effect of poor electricity on companies, Mbisiogu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Diamond Logistic said the company paid close to N10 million to Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, just to have electricity to operate one its factory, noting that “abroad, the government over there provides electricity, access road to investors immediately they indicate interest in establishing a company.

He said further that limited units of the es-0.25 136.7 tates are in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 22,172.00 +31.00 Yola, Ogun and Adamawa states.

18.29 0.29 While urging Nigerians to invest in their tomorrow, he explained that getting these 116.98 -0.40 houses is not as difficult as some people are 96.00 +0.14 made to believe. “It is true that it could be ex- CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING pensive, but for those who bank with us they DOLLAR 154.74 155.24 155.74 have certain privileges POUNDS 239.3828 240.1563 240.9298 206.3613 207.0281 207.6949 that a lot of others may EURO FRANC 167.3227 167.8633 168.404 not have. But the truth YEN 1.6543 1.6596 1.665 is that the average Ni- CFA 0.2954 0.3054 0.3154 235.315 236.0753 236.8357 gerian who earns some WAUA 24.9403 reasonable salary can RENMINBI 24.7793 24.8598 41.2596 41.3929 41.5262 still afford some of these RIYA KRONA 27.6588 27.7482 27.8376 houses through mort- SDR 236.2106 236.9739 237.7371 gage created for them CBN Exchange rate as at 20/02/2013 through resort.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Market regulators should accelerate adoption of risk-based supervision — Oteh

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

D

IRECTOR General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Arunma Oteh, has called on capital market regulators to accelerate adoption of risk-based institutionalisation of risk – based securities market regulation model.

She made this call while addressing the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Africa and Middle East Regional Conference (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) held at the Dubai International Financial Centre, DIFC, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

Speaking on the thematic focus of the AGM, which is: “Risk – Based Supervision as a Global Agenda”, Oteh, who is also the Chairperson of AMERC, recalled the rationale for the adoption of risk – based model as residing in the weaknesses in the compliance –based supervision approach of old, which (weaknesses) were highlighted by the recent market meltdown. She remarked that though the momentum of recovery appears slow in some jurisdictions, most markets in the Africa and Middle East Region had recorded considerable and sustained recovery. The renewed investor interest can only be sustained through application of objective and effective risk – based regulatory standards.

Tracing the market trends which threw up the urgent imperative of adopting risk based model of market oversight and regulation, Oteh observed that,“The global markets had in the two decades before the financial meltdown, recorded significant growth and dynamism.

As a consequence of the growth and expansion, there emerged new markets, new intermediaries and a host of complex financial products and instruments which promoted creative financial engineering and the exploitation of new avenues of financial leveraging that were accompanied by greater risk appetite and improved information technology. ” Oteh further recalled that,“The need to effectively police the emergent complexities of the market while also ensuring the efficient allocation of supervisory resources, led regulators to seek ways and methods of identifying, measuring and mitigating the likely risks

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that may be posed by the advancements in market composition and transactions.

The aim being to move away

from the rigid rule based compliance regime to one that relies on the regulators professional assessments

and discretions through the adoption of a risk based supervisory model of market regulation covering issues

such as licensing, capital requirements, risk assessment and inspection methodologies.”

From left: Mr Henry Omoragbon, Chairman, Partnership Investment Company Plc; Chief Godwin Anono, Shareholder; Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, Managing Director and Mr Ayo Alaka, former Chairman, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation at the Partnership Investment Company Shareholders' Forum, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Nestle invests N5.4bn to expand product distribution

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

N

ESTLE Nigeria Plc has expended N5.4 billion to build its Distribution Centre with a view to expand its operational base and boost value for shareholders.

Speaking at the inauguration of its ultra-modern Distribution Centre in Agbara, Ogun State, Mr. Martin Woolnough, MD/CEO of the company said the new facility will

further strengthen Nigeria’s role as the largest manufacturing operation for Nestle in the West and Central African region.

He said that the new Distribution Centre is key to Nestle’s growth in Nigeria and in Africa as a whole.

According to him, the distribution centre is spread over an area of four hectares, adding that the new 17,000pallet capacity warehouse

facility is designed to manage the capacity increases following massive infrastructural upgrades at Agbara factory in the last five years for volume increase.

He said, “The Agbara manufacturing complex is one of Nestle’s biggest factories in Africa. The company is growing and in order to sustain the growth, we need the warehouse. The factory has witnessed unprecedented infra-

Oando assures of improved dividend payment

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

ANDO Plc has assured of its commitment to continue to deliver on its promise of value creation through unbroken dividend payment to shareholders in the coming years.

The Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wale Tinubu, who gave the assurance at the Facts Behind Figure presentation on the on-going rights issue on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, said the need to reward shareholders was the reason for the projected payment of about 50 percent of its revenue as dividends in the next couple of yeras.

He noted that the failure to declare dividend in 2011 fi-

nancial year had seen shareholders dumping the company ’s shares, adding “ we have suffered greatly as a result of that error.’

“That decision not to pay dividend sent the wrong signal to the investing public, and that is why going forward, we have decided to ensure that we provide good cash flow to shareholders in terms of dividend payment,” he said.

Continuing, he said, “Please be rest assured that there will be substantial effort to reduce the cost of capital in our business in order to generate more profit for all stakeholders.”

He stated that the company ’s target was to achieve capital appreciation of

about 50percent to n35.00 per share from the current market price of N14.00.

Explaining the decline in the share price, Tinubu said, “Several reason are behind the slump. We have had a situation where capital projects which we embarked on took longer than anticipated. One simple example was our rig operation, we required two rigs, it took approximately $40 million per rig to refurbish them, bring them to international standard before we take them to Niger Delta. So we suffered delay in the amount of capital which we have borrowed from the banks before we started to earn money from the rigs.”

structural upgrades since 2010 which includes the following: N4.56 billion MILO Raw Material Handling Facility; N4.134 billion Cereals Processing Line Expansion; N3.60 billion Tri-generation Power Plant; N3.26 billion Integrated Malt Extract Plant; N1.80 billion Cereals Milling Plant; and N1.48 billion MILO 4th Vacuum Band Dryer.”

The Head of Nestle Central and West Africa region, Etienne Benet said: “Nestle has been operationally present in Nigeria for over five decades, bringing significant value to society at large by sourcing locally, creating employment, offering high quality, nutritious products and helping in the further development of the region. By opening our new distribution facility in Ogun State we will be closer to our consumers and can better adapt our products to their needs and preferences.”

The Managing Director of Nestle Nigeria, Martin Woolnough, added: “The new state-of-the-art Distribution Centre reflects more than just an important investment to broaden our nutrition, health and wellness business platform; it illustrates also our commitrent to the growth of Nigerian economy.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 23

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24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Use of cassava flour in biscuits’ll pose a challenge — MD, A & P Foods ited, manufacturers of HAANSBRO brand of biscuits, chewing gums and sweets, spoke with FRANKLIN ALLI on how he has turned around the ten years old company from five staff to 1,500 workers. He also bore his mind on other salient issues affecting local biscuits and bread manufacturers.

IS HAANSBRO a subsidiary of A & P Foods?

No. A & P is the company and HAANSBRO is the brand. They are one and the same company.

We started operation ten years ago. We are into manufacturing of biscuits and confectionery locally in Nigeria.

How did you come about the name HAANSBRO? I was born in Lagos in 1973 at the St. Nicholas Hospital, and my family has been here for over 40 years. When I was four years, my father moved to Hong Kong, and I went along with him where I grew up. When I finished my education in the UK and moved back to Nigeria in 2002, to start the com-

•Mr. Sameer Vaswani, MD, A &P Foods Limited pany; I lived with my brother and the names of his two sons ended with HAANS. I added brothers to the name to form HAANSBRO. What motivated you to go into biscuits manufacturing?

I have always been in the food business. After university education, I went into the restaurant business; I love to cook; I love to eat and food is in my blood; so I moved to Nigeria to start a new busi-

ness. Of course, I was very much into food. I looked at the food sector and I found a huge opportunity in the biscuits sector. As I said in the speech the biscuits that were being produced as at that time were of low quality; very uncreative, not very exciting; the packaging was boring and dull. I saw an opportunity to introduce a very popular idea from around the world and introduce it to the Nigerian markets. I started this company in

2002, from nothing and with five employees; but today we have 1,500 employees and we have two factories and 25 different products. I believe that it has been a significant achievement to have started from nothing and navigated through 10 years of difficult business environment.

What’s your assessment of the biscuits industry in Nigeria?

Well, there have been a lot of challenges. We have grown this market when we first started biscuits in 2002. Then the market was a N5 market, very uncreative and un-innovative and there were few types of products available, but we have developed this business and taken the business from N5 to N10.

We are now taking it from N10 to N20.

Could you tell us the percentage of local content in your products?

Well, the three main raw materials required for biscuit production are flour, sugar and palm oil. Of these main ingredients, flour is purchased locally, sugar is also refined and we purchase locally. Packaging is also done locally, but only palm oil and some flavours are imported from

abroad. The particular type of palm oil we need for a biscuit is not produced locally; however, this will change this year. There is a new company that is sup-

,

N this interview, Sameer Vaswani, the Managing IDirector, A &P Foods Lim-

The use of cassava flour in biscuits is not done anywhere in the world; it is new territory

,

plying the type of fats we need for biscuits and we will start purchasing from them this year.

The Federal Government is trying to encourage use of cassava flour in bread and biscuits making, what is your take on this?

Well, again, we agreed it is a good policy for the country but there is a huge challenge. Although cassava flour has been tried and tested in small quantities, using bread. However, for the use in biscuits, it is still ongoing experiment.

It is not easy to combine cassava flour with regular wheat flour to produce a good quality biscuit. There are a lot of challenge in the technical side of it, especially in baking, ensuring that the biscuit rises to the right level.

All that research and development is still going on to try and use cassava flour. We have not given up, but a solution has not been found yet. We are working on it. So the solution to using cassava flour for making biscuits has not been found yet. Any policy that encourages local agriculture and other sectors of the economy is always a good policy. We just have to be patient. I urge the government to be patient and give operators in biscuits industry the necessary time that is required to develop the use of cassava flour in biscuits production. While it is good policy, local manufacturers need to plan research and development because the use of cassava flour in biscuits is not done anywhere in the world; it is new territory and there is no precedence, there is no history and there is no information facts to rely on in order to use cassava flour in biscuits making.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—25

learning@vanguardngr.com

FG plans UN jobs for skilled corps members

BY DAYO ADESULU

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government, under an arrangement with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will recruit young professionals that will work on a variety of UN programmes in various parts of the world under the UNDP. Jonathan who disclosed this at the Batch B passing out parade of National Youth Service Corps in Lagos said this will expose the youths and make them serve as Nigerian ambassadors not only in the international civil service, but also in many other respect.

He explained that those who will be privileged to get the job are those who have given themselves to acquire professional skills, urging corps members to reduce the level of unemployment in the country by engaging in skills acquisition programmes.

Skill acquisition programmes Speaking through Dr Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Special Duties and Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Jonathan said this administration remains focused on youth empowerment, which will be pursued, using the platforms of the various employment programmes.

“The NYSC scheme has over the years contributed immensely to the growth and development of our country. Apart from fostering national unity and integration, the scheme has become a veritable tool for the implementation of very important national developmental programmes.

"This administration remains resolute in tackling the issues of insecurity and corruption headlong to ensure that there is a conducive atmosphere for sustainable economic growth that will result in the greater Nigeria we all dream and hope for.”

Meanwhile, no fewer than five corps

Education is top priority – FG -— Page 30 C M Y K

Batch ‘A’ corps members at their passing out ceremony. members have lost their lives during their service year in Lagos State, even as 28 of them were to repeat their service year for various offences committed.

Delivering her farewell address during the 2012 Batch ‘A’ NYSC passing out ceremony at Iyana-Ipaja Orientation Camp, the Coordinator, NYSC, Lagos, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi said that out of 4,528 corps members in batch ‘A’, five lost their lives while 28 of them are to face disciplinary actions.

She said; “28 corps members will face disciplinary actions ranging from two to four months extension of service to repetition of service year.”

Adeyemi, however, explained that the purpose of the disciplinary actions was to serve as a deterrent to incoming corps members who will not live by rules and regulations that guide the scheme.

Giving a break down of the 4,528 corps members, the State Coordinator said 4,528 corps members comprising 1,486

males and 3,042 females are being disengaged from service.

Adeyemi, who took up the leadership of NYSC, May 2012, said since assumption of office a year ago, she has ensured that basic amenities with the support of the state government are provided adding that right now, renovations of the NYSC buildings are ongoing to prepare for the next batch.

Continues on page 26

Don calls for education funding reforms

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & TOBI ODEJAYI

T

HE President, Nigerian Academy of Letters and former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Munzali Jibril, has called for funding of reforms in Nigerian higher education system to diversify its recourse base and deliver the quality output that is needed to

make Nigeria a respected player in the knowledge economy of the 21 st Century.

Speaking at a convocation lecture of the University of Lagos, Jibril urged stakeholders to deregulate the system and untie the hands of the universities and other tertiary institutions to allow them charge realistic fees for both tuition and staff and student accommodation.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Turn your plastic wastes to synthetic crude oil -— Page 31

How media can be responsible in conflict reportage — Stakeholders -—Page 27

“Government should improve the public funding of higher institutions for them to meet the minimum staffing and facilities levels recommended in the minimum academic benchmarks.

“Government should commit itself to provide full financing for every approved programme and for approved enrolment levels at the rate per student recommended for full accreditation to be achieved.”

Jibril said the funding reforms would be implemented in three phases.

Phase one will involve the full deregulation of staff and student accommodation charges and the reintroduction of minimal tuition fees so that the government’s contribution is reduced to 75 per cent. This should take place during 2013-14.

The second phase, which should run from 2014-17 should involve the raising of fees levels beyond the token levels introduced in phase one. This would reduce government’s contribution to 60 per cent while internal revenue should rise to 40 per cent.

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Stakeholders make case for ‘digital campus’

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

T

I

magine a digital campus where students’ history can be accessed by the click of a mouse; where parents, students, teachers and school managements can be integrated on one ICT platform.

With the recently gathering of stakeholders in education sector to discuss ICT for school transformation, it is no longer difficult to imagine.

CEO, Lean Sigma concepts, Mr. Chibunna Ezenwa, who spear headed the conference said: “We decided to venture into this because we saw a need in the education sector of this country. We developed this programmed to guarantee quality learning and development to learners and stake holders in the industry at a cheaper cost.”

The programme developer, Mr. Chitari Letin, said that his company, Siva Group, has a blend of qualified professionals “ who have worked and reworked this programme for about 15 years.”

While expounding on the programme, Letin said that the programme “basically has

Certified UK agents debut

Pupils of Candid Montessori Academy, Magboro, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway during their visit to SOS Children's Village, Isolo, Lagos as part of their Valentine Season celebration. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

about 42 models ranging from Centralized administration to knowledge management, enterprise resource management as well as communication and collaboration.

"The Digital Campus

reaches society, students, parents, governing bodies and administration.”

Allaying the fears of school proprietors present that the programme was not out to change their curricular, Chitin said that it is structured

to work the way the school works and not the other way round.

"We would design our learning programme based on your already existing curricular."

Lagos tasks parents on free education

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

HE Permanent Secretar y, Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, has urged parents to take advantage of the free basic education offered by the state government and send their children to school.

Speaking to journalists at the recently held workshop for education stakeholders in the state, Erogbogbo said the state government has put measures in place to ensure that no

child is turned back from schools in the state.

“There are challenges in basic education, which is the crucial stage of education but we are doing our best by urging parents to key into the state government’s drive to provide free education in the state by sending their children to school.

“The state government has spent a lot of money in providing infrastructure, furniture, textbooks, among others and all these would amount to waste if there are still a lot

of out-of-school children in the state.”

Calling on parents and other education stakeholders to support the state government’s free education initiative, the chairperson, State Universal Basic Education Board, Lagos State, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu, said; “the law is there but we need the support of all to enforce this law because we would not force parents to send their children to school, neither would we kidnap children from the streets and take them to school.”

FG plans UN jobs for skilled corps members Continues from page 25 “It has always been good, but this time, it will be better through the help of the state governor who is ever ready to attend to the needs of our corps members.”

She said that it was within her first year in office that the skills acquisition programme was introduced to reduce unemployment rate amongst our graduates, adding, “right now, many of them that engaged in the skills acquisition programme are self employed as they have set up businesses for themselves.”

Adeyemi pointed out that the State NYSC Secretariat has a demonstration fish farming programme where it is not just theories but also practicals.

"With the passion with which we

handle the skills acquisition programme and the cooperation of the corps members, unemployment digits have since reduced drastically in the last one year because many of our youths no longer wait for white collar jobs that are not available.

"The skills acquisition programme will be sustained because entrepreneurship drives the economy.

Not only will you create job for yourself but also for others. Even if the person eventually gets a job, he can continue with the job to add to his income.

"It will be sustained because there are agents of government who will give grants or soft loans to corps members to enable those who need money to set up businesses.

"The Central Bank of Nigeria

collaborating with NYSC, National Agency for Employment, Millennium Development Goals also give loans for agricultural projects to alleviate poverty.

But any corps member that needs to access the fund must write a proposal of what he intends to do.

“Some of the challenges encountered in the last few months were on the skills acquisition programme as few corps members have not keyed into the vision which is the future of this country.

"We also have the problem of people coming to mentor and serve as trainers.

We are looking for exceptional trainers.

Leaders are to come up to be trainers to the younger generation. If these leaders could come and tell the corps members how they got to the top, they will definitely learn and be motivated."

HE Nigerian Association of UK Certified Agents, NAUKCEA, has formally inaugurated their association with the aim of protecting the interests of parents and students schooling in the United Kingdom.

NAUKCEA’s major objectives are to enhance Nigeria’s image which has been in the negative by quacks who parade themselves as agents; sanitize the UK recruitment industry; demonstrate creditability, unity, progress, and strength for performance; create a strong voice and identity for agents in Nigeria; protect the interest of agents, students and parents; provide professional service to the Nigerian students; and reduce drastically the emergence of fraud.

President of the association, Mrs. Roselyn Omonubi, explains that NAUKCEA is an association of education agents who represents and recruits students for universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.

The treasurer of the organization, Tina Udoji, said “according to World Bank report, Nigeria’s population hit 162.5 million as at December 2011, and this is huge market that the world cannot afford to toy with.

Don advocates review of Penal Code

A

Professor of Criminology, University of Abuja, Femi Adekunle, has called on the Federal Government to urgently review the nation’s penal code if the country is to be rid of corruption.

Adekunle spoke against the backdrop of the recent sentence to two years imprisonment with an option of N750,000 fine of Mr. John Yakubu for stealing N23bn Nigeria Police Pension Fund.

Adekunle who spoke in Abuja said the nation’s criminal justice system must be restructured in order to effectively tackle corruption.

“The body of laws relating to crimes and offences and the penalties for their commission encourages corruption and provides escape for criminals.

There is need for more certain punishment for corruption, with less cumbersome/ technical procedures that provide loopholes for ‘escape’ of such criminals.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—27

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

D

EEPLY worried by the unethical attitudes displayed by members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm towards reporting conflict situations across the world, Ufuk Dialogue Foundation and Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Abuja, recently brought together media practitioners, media scholars, captains of industries, politicians and students to discuss possible ways that the media can be socially and ethically responsible in reporting conflicts.

The two-day event entitled; Media Panel: Reportism in Conflict, was held at the Lagos State University-Adebola Adegunwa School of C o m m u n i c a t i o n (LASUAASOC), Surulere and in Abuja at Nigerian Turkish Nile University.

At the Lagos event, held in collaboration with Lagos State University (LASU) and the Nation Newspaper, the facilitators were Mr. Abdulhamit Bilici, General Manager of Cihan News Agency and Zaman Media Group, Turkey; Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Online Editor, The Nation Newspaper and Mr. Tunde Akanni, lecturer at the Department of Journalism, LASUAASOC. In his paper titled, A Responsible Media: Is it Possible?, Bilici noted that the agenda-setting power and role of the media in shaping people’s lives cannot be underestimated.

Positive role He was bothered about how the media could play a positive role in ethnic, ideological, religious or sectarian conflicts, despite a popular media aphorism which says ‘bad news is good news and sells more.’

“There is no need to reiterate that the media have become a part of our lives. It is present in every field - in politics, sports, entertainment - and it is everywhere - at home, in the office and on the street.

"The media not only influence our private lives, but also give shape to our social relations. It can bring different political opinions, beliefs or cultures closer or tear them away from each other. It can even make countries enemies or make them close friends.”

The media guru categorized into two, the aphorism which says ‘bad news is good news.’

“The first category is very real and in most cases unavoidable.

Under normal conditions, if a C M Y K

How media can be responsible in conflict reportage — Stakeholders

Founder/President, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation, Engr. Noah Dallaji (middle) receiving a memento from a pupil during the 13th annual inter-house competition of Chrisland School, VGC, Lagos. With him, from left are Prof. C.D. Jacobs, Director of Studies; Mrs. Ibironke Adeyemi, M.D. Chrisland Educational Organisation; Mr. Chris Mamah and Mr. Babatunde Fatai-Williams. prime minister is healthy, this is not news. If any paper or TV station reports that the prime minister is healthy today, people will laugh or start wondering if there is a hidden message behind all this. But if he faces a health problem, then it becomes news.

“The second category

involves the case in which the media plays an active role to instigate, deepen or provoke potential problems or conflicts with an economic motivation to increase circulation, ratings, hits, etc. Or with an ideological motivation to take sides with one side against another more as an activist rather than as a

journalist…”

In both situations, the Zaman boss advocated that “publishers, editors in newspapers, on TV, on radio and on the Internet, should act responsibly toward themselves, toward individuals, toward society and toward humanity.

If after the publishing of the

caricatures in Denmark unjustifiable attacks were made on the Danish Embassy in Syria, then the seriousness of this situation should be understood.

While citing the operation of his media organisation, Zaman Media Group, in its handling of reports of conflict situation in Turkey and the world over, Bilici averred; “We have a clear position on terrorism and violence.

Irrespective of the motive, we condemn any terrorist act, whether it is al-Qaeda or ethnically oriented separatist PKK terrorism.

"We do not hide our Islamic identity, but we do place a distance between Islam and terrorism. Prominent figures such as Fethullah Gülen condemned such terrorist acts in the name of Islam and we have published this several times as a headline story despite death threats.

“The Zaman Media Group strongly supports initiatives for dialogue among different cultures, religions and civilizations. We invite representatives of such groups to our conferences and editorial meetings.”

Corps member builds ICT resource centre for community

BY DAYO OJERINDE (NYSC corps member, Nasarawa State)

A

Batch A corps member, Tom Samuel serving in Gadabuke Development Area of Nasarawa State has built an ICT resource centre for the residents of Kullo Village in Gadabuke Development Area, Nasarawa State as part of his determination to affect his place of primary assignment and to leave the place better than he met it.

The computer resource centre offers all computer services with modern facilities in place such as; digital computer laboratory, digital computer almanacs, design cottons, window nets, generator, flash drives, computer parts, etc.

While speaking during the commissioning of the resource centre, the NYSC state coordinator, Mr Stephen Alabi represented by the NYSC Local Inspector, Gadabuke Development Area, Engr.

Moses Adamolekun showered praises on the initiator of the project, Tom Samuel. He said; “When he first discussed the project with me, I thought it was impossible, but through the determination and zeal of Tom Samuel, the dream has come to fulfillment,” he submitted. He, however, challenged other corps members who are yet to take up any community development projects to do so and affect their place of primary assignment positively.

Speaking on the rationale behind the project, Tom Samuel said; “When I resumed at Government Secondary School, Kullo, I discovered that there was no computer education in the school curriculum, this prompted me to ensure that all the students learn the rudiments of computer.

So I took them through the practical aspects of

computer using my personal laptop. So far, no fewer than 252 students have been trained in different computer applications such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power point), Corel draw, internet concept, etc.”

Speaking on what the school and the community will benefit from the computer

resource centre, the Principal, Mr. Abubakar Adamu said; “With the computer resource centre in place, the school need not waste money on typing or printing examination questions or any official document. Also, the cost of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, UTME registration will now reduce.”

Samuel giving instructions to some students

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

A denim affair

BY LAJU ARENYEKA a point every student wants to prove. * Light blue is red hot: In ONE are the vogue now are light blue days when denim wears. This fashion denim jeans were just shade seems to go with pair of every day practically any colour. They trousers that you could also provide a mature, classy, wear without washing yet playful look that is quite for days on end. A trip appealing. round any campus * Sleeveless is much cooler: worth its salt will Forget the confused climate. reveal a love affair More often than not, the with denim than weather in most parts of the never before in country is hot. So, help campus fashion Nigeria and yourself of history. In actual fact, course. Go for a sleeveless a denim jacket is jacket instead. After all, more or less the most what’s beauty without sought after fashion comfort? accessory by * A case for the maxi: u n d e r g r a d u a t e s . Nearly every girl on campus Denim jackets who wears a denim jacket convince you that you does so with a maxi dress, can be formal without and with good reason too. The necessarily being denim-maxi combo is the most unserious, and that’s genuine fashion idea since

G

Lawmaker promotes technical education

BY MUSLIUDEEN ADEBAYO, IBADAN

A

MEMBER of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiodun Awoleye, in his efforts to promote technical / vocational education has embarked on free technical education programme for both employed and unemployed youths of his constituency through Hon. Awoleye Technical and Vocational Education Centre (HATAVEC).

Awoleye, who represents Ibadan North Federal Constituency under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said during the orientation programme for the trainers and the first batch of 500 students of the center that the aim of the centre is to curb youth restiveness due to illiteracy and unemployment.

He stressed the need for provision of workable, as well as functional training and C M Y K

vocational materials for the people in his constituency, adding that the intention of the programme was to see that adults and young school leavers are self-dependent and employable in both the public and private sectors in the country.

"This programme is designed to be a continuous exercise with different batches, and after every batch is trained, the beneficiaries would be provided

with necessary equipment to start their own businesses.

“Also, 50 students will also be enrolled for NABTEB examination for May/June and the successful candidates will have the opportunities of either to continue with their technical education in tertiary institutions of their choices or choose to seek employment with the certificate in either public or private sectors.”

Some of the students receiving lecture at the center

tops and trousers. * Some fitted things: Surely, you do not think that the subject matter here refers to those jackets that look just like the NYSC uniform but are only a different shade! Fitted jackets with cute designs and buttons are band wagon here, the NYSC jacket should wait till after school. * One is enough: If it’s the same outfit, on denim item is

enough, at most two depending on what the second is. If it’s a jacket and cute sandals with a touch of denim, that’s acceptable. But denim jackets and denim trousers together are a no-no.

KwaraPoly launches sachet water amidst mixed feelings

BY ADEKUNLE OLADUNNI, KwaraPoly

I

N its bid to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base, Kwara State Polytechnic this semester launched its sachet water product named ‘Kwarapoly Water ’ into the market. As this came as a surprise package to students, the management has swiftly barred other sachet water products from being sold within the school community.

The Kwarapoly pure water industry was built inside the campus beside the Department of Hospitality Management. Recall, the management sometime ago, revealed to the school’s campus magazine, The Campus Echoes,of this dream, which came to pass recently. In the same vein, the school management has stated that Kwarapoly Bread will soon hit the market.

However, as it was reportedly alleged that the first batch of product of the water was bad, Ahlaja Rukayat Jimoh, a campus trader who spoke with Quadlife allayed students’ fears saying;”The school management really tried by producing Kwarapoly Water, but the most painful thing was that we made some losses in sales due to the first batch that was bad. Since then, students have refused to buy the product from us. But I can assure you that the product has been improved now. So, I urge students to please start buying.”

Also speaking, an Office Technology student, Oyetunde Ifeoluwake commended the efforts of the school management in establishing the sachet water industry, but advised that the business should not be monopolized, to allow students have options.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—29

Globally, education ran by govt never work —David D

r Lorenzo Manuel David, Jr. is a filipino who has been living in Nigeria for over 30 years. From 1988 to 1998, he taught Geophysics in the University of Benin. Presently, he is the principal of White Sand School, Lekki. In this interview, he spoke of his personal commitment to education and the way forward for education sector in Nigeria.

Excerpts.

BY DAYO ADESULU

H

OW would you assess our education sector in Nigeria?

The education sector is improving. I do not see Nigeria in its glorious days. I said this, because in 1982 when I came to Nigeria, the sector was in low ebb. During that time, if you mention private school, it will look as if you are talking heresies. At that time, government had taken over the schools. History has proved that government cannot sustain education, because all over the world, education ran by the government never work. But right now, government has realised it and given licences to private individuals to run the schools. Government cannot do everything, except if it is rich enough to do so like in Finland.

There, schools are built by the government and given to individuals to run. Government should realise the role of NGOs and civil society groups who can help in certain things. They

Dr Lorenzo Manuel David, Jr will run it better because there will be commitment. Good education is when you have the flourishing of many private schools simply because the government cannot do everything unless the government is rich like in England or Singapore or Hong Kong. This is part of the reasons why just about 13 per cent of students pass their WAEC examinations. But in our school, you not only make 100 per cent credit but 80 per cent of them get distinction in five

subjects including English and Mathematics. If you go to some of these schools, you will find students always playing without teachers teaching them. Why is there no teaching going on? It’s simply because the teachers are not around.

Why are the teachers not there?

Probably because they have not been paid salary, probably because they have been paid but busy doing other businesses. I could not see that in the private schools. Because it is small, it has less

Beloxxi launches simulation laboratory

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

W

ORRIED by the need for students have good grasps of the theories of their disciplines as well as the capacity to practically apply theoretical knowledge acquired to solve problems in a variety of situations, Beloxxi Industries has commissioned the Beloxxi Business Simulation Laboratory Project at the University of Lagos.

The Laboratory, which is the first of its kind in any Nigerian university, was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’i.

The Beloxxi Business C M Y K

Simulation laboratory, to be run by the African Institute of Business Simulations, is a 53seater non-traditional classroom facility designed, furnished and equipped to afford students and lecturers of the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Lagos, a conducive environment to integrate business theory with practice using business simulations.

The lab features several facilities including: flat screen work stations, an electronic board integrated with the work stations, motorized projector screen, multimedia systems including video and audio, independent back up power systems, borehole, wired and

wireless internet system for accessing the web based simulation software portals.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Founder, African Institute of Business Simulations, AIBS, Richard Obire, the aim is to help universities produce more students who are industry ready or self-employable before they graduate from school.

“Simulations help bridge the practical side of the learning equation for students by giving them experience without which they will be unable to connect their studies to real world needs.”

The programme would be run in two parts. The first part is to assist tertiary institution access the use of simulations

bureaucracy. It is not like that in the public school. I am not at all looking down on the government, but what I am trying to say is even as we see it now, government should increase her budget allocation to education.

Why should government hand over schools to missions?

Government should hand over schools to missions so that the government can concentrate on what it does better. They should concentrate on governance, provide basic amenities and infrastructure to the people and make laws. If after they have done all these and they still have the finance, then they can think of building schools. Education is first and foremost the duty of the parent and when I talk of education, I’m talking of all those activities that you have to do that is important to move ahead . We all need education. Education is not getting WAEC certificate, not getting a first degree.

Because you can have a first degree and then join 419. The real education that I am talking about are activities that parents have to do in shaping the child to be a better man.

During our graduation, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola emphasised the importance of character building which he said will help our children.

However, by what we are seeing now, it is better than what it was in 1982.

Could you please highlight the difference between Nigeria’s education and that of the the Philippines.

The first difference is that, there is no effort of Philippine Government to monopolise the for teaching by helping them set up suitable infrastructure such as this and providing them with affordable simulation software licenses. Here, the process of training and retraining lecturers in the use of business simulations for teaching would be facilitated.

The second part is to help interested schools and universities introduce simulation software development curriculums in their ICT Departments to produce local manpower with the capacity to build local simulations for problemsolving in business, education, engineering, environment, medicine, a g r i c u l t u r e , transportation management, etc.

sector. Secondly, the difference is 633. It is done well and that is why we have many Nigerians going abroad for studies. The problem is that when its not done well, then its a disaster.

How would you access the Nigerian students compare to that of western world?

The Nigeria student are brilliant. For me to have stay here for 30years in Nigeria, it means that I appreciate the black race and I think you have a fantastic family and very very resourceful. Nigerian are talented people and resourceful people. I can mention some few that I know that are very good resourceful, diligent and wise. If you have somebody who has a very good talent, it is a good opportunity to get good education.

Good opportunity For example, we have some parents and families who cannot afford a school that is well equipped and then we have teachers that are dedicated, if I have the opportunity as other people who have good talents, they take advantage of all.

Meanwhile, we have the handful of people who happen to have good families and they themselves are very talented and also get the advantage of it. Here in White Sand, we have already produced Harvard student full scholarship and I don’t think they have problem. We have another one in Oxford.

If you find yourself as Minister of Education, how best would you improve education sector?

To tell you the truth, I have not imagined it. We have not arrived yet, there are still a lot of things to be done. Given the economic situation of Nigeria now, Nigeria is probably in the state of economic development, you have to bring the private sector to run side by side a healthy competition which will boost the sector. I will ensure that teachers are given the right conducive atmosphere to practice their profession.

Teachers should be motivated by pay them well so they can concentrate on their core job.

If you put the whole budget of Nigeria into education, it will still not be enough for the sector. However, it doesn’t mean that you cannot have a good education. You can, but then there has to be more diligence on the people doing it.

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

From left: Dr. Mrs. Duro Aina, Mr. Abiodun Toki, Mrs. Jelilat Lasaki, Mrs. Clementina Doregos (Proprietress) and Mr. Olatokunbo Doregos (Executive Director – DPA) at the 16th speech making and prize giving day of Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, Lagos.

Education is top priority – FG

BY DAYO JOHNSON

T

HE Federal Government has said that it will continue to pay high premium on education as part of its transformation agenda

geared towards making Nigeria one of the largest economy by the year 2020.

Education Minister Prof.

Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai said this during the nd 32 convocation ceremony of Adeyemi

College of Education held at the campus of the institution in Ondo town.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala, Rufai said

the present administration is committed towards the repositioning of the education sector for better service delivery.

She disclosed that as part of effort aimed towards addressing

some the challenges facing the Nigeria education system, her ministry embarked on the development of four years strategic plan, spanning the years 2011-2015, for the development of the sector.

While noting the importance of teacher education in the society, Prof. Rufai stated that this form of education remains the bedrock of sustainable human resources required for the attainment of national development goal.

The minister added that the attainment of Education For All, M i l l e n n i u m Development Goal objectives and vision 20:2020 would be a mirage if not hinged on excellent teacher education and development.

She listed the various initiatives taken by the Federal Government towards its commitment to teacher education to include increment in budgetary allocation for capacity building of teachers across the federation and the recruitment of new teachers under the Federal Teachers Scheme.

ASUSS blames education woes on corruption

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASUSS) in Ogun State has blamed the crisis rocking the education sector on massive corruption of the l e a d e r s h i p , describing the nation’s educational system as dysfunctional.

ASUSS called on the Federal Government and other education stakeholders to urgently address the challenges facing the sector.

Addressing its members at the annual congress of the union in Abeokuta, the State President, Comrade Tunde Folarin, said the development had prompted many parents to send their wards abroad to study.

He pledged to partner with the government in revamping the education sector to put an end to what he called avoidable capital flight under the

C M Y K

guise of quest to acquire foreign education by many rich and well to do Nigerians.

“Rich parents now send their children to Ghana and Europe for schooling while private schools are daily propagated as our poorinfested public schools have become shadows of themselves. We must rise for change of all these things.”

Speaking on the crisis rocking the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Folarin called for means of giving the secondary school teachers a legal entity status like their counterparts in the u n i v e r s i t i e s , polytechnics and colleges of education as a way of moving the sector forward.

“We have an undying conviction that going back to NUT is not a viable replacement for our welfare to be guaranteed.

"The placement of square peg in a round hole does not drive m o n u m e n t a l

development. Grouping secondary school teachers with primary school teachers as one union is no more fashionable; it is retrogressive and therefore represents perversion of system."

Urging the state

government to do the needful for the teachers, Folarin demanded that the state government should consider the over 13,000 teachers in the state by giving them 20 Permanent Secretaries with each in the local government areas of

the state.

“There are 40 Permanent Secretaries in Ogun State Civil Service, so teachers should have 20 Principal-Generals.

What stops over 13,000 members from having 20 Principal-Generals, we want 20 Permanent Secretaries.”

ICT ICT:: Expert says Nigeria can be better than India

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

N Information Communication Technology, ICT expert, Dr. I.K. Oyeyinka, has said that Nigeria can be far better than India in technology if the right institutions and government agencies properly manage computer gurus in the country.

Oyeyinka, who is the director of Centre for Information Technology & Management, C.I.T.M., Yaba College of Technology,, expressed optimism at the nation's ICT and advised that the energy of those with computer prowess be channeled to positive developments.

“ICT in Nigeria is at the beginning stage, which I am optimistic that soon we shall get to our expected point.

Nigeria has the best brains in science and ICT. We have the resources and the human resources to make our ICT the best in the world.

“I tell you, what we have in Nigeria just need to be properly manage by the right institutions and government agencies, so that we can be far better than India. The kind of brains we have in our ICT are far better, we only need to channel their energy to positive developments."

Our school mates want to be like us — Cowbell Maths winners

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

M

ASTERS Ben jamin Uwa and Akintokun Adegboyega, have become superstars in their own right, having won the 2012 edition of the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) which has made them more popular among their peers in their individual schools and homes.

Uwa, a student of Iganmode Grammar School, Ogun State, said winning the competition has improved his relationship with

people and increased his social circle.

“The students in my school see and treat me as an important person,

and most of them want me to teach them mathematics. Even parents in my neighbourhood urge their children to emulate

Akintokun Adegboyega and Benjamin Uwa

me.”

For soft spoken Akintokun, winning the competition has brought him new friends who aspire to be like him.

“Winning changed a lot of things in the school and I automatically became the JETS Prefect of my school for winning the competition.”

Advising students who have phobia for mathematics, Uwa said; “nobody is born dull because God has given us brains to think with. The fear can be overcome by studying hard and asking for assistance.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—31

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

BY EBELE ORAKPO

W

ater sachet n y l o n s , polythene bags, plastic bottles, broken plastic buckets, basins, cans etc., litter the streets and gutters leading to blockage of drains and generally making the environment unsightly and unhealthy.

It was so bad that the former Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili called for the banning of sachet water because of the amount of waste generated. Sometimes, these wastes are buried in the ground but the problem is that they render such land infertile because they do not decompose easily. At the recently held Nigerian Secondary Schools Science Fair organised

by Genius Illumina at the University of Lagos, students from various secondary schools from across the nation showcased their works.

Most of them were geared towards solving the nation’s power and security challenges.

Government Girls’ Secondary School, Dutse, Abuja, one of the participating schools, showcased their project which was on generation of synthetic crude oil from plastic wastes.

Although the principle has been in use in some parts of the world, but the girls made it so simple that it can be done in remote places and by anyone. The girls Chukwumerije Chisom, Felix Blessing and Patience spoke with Vanguard Learning.

Excerpts: According to Chukwumerije Chisom, the device was fabricated for converting waste plastics into alternative source of fuel. “Plastic waste materials are the most common wastes in our environment.

They litter everywhere.

They are nonbiodegradable, i.e. they cannot be decomposed by microorganisms and as a result, they last for decades in the soil without decomposing and occupy a large land mass thereby making land scarce and expensive.

Burning of these plastic materials is not a solution because they release C M Y K

From right: Chukwumerije Chisom, Felix Blessing and Patience showcasing the device fabricated for converting waste plastics into an alternative source of fuel.

Turn your plastic wastes to synthetic crude oil some gases such as sulphur and carbon dioxide into the environment.

The sulphur combines with water vapour in the atmosphere and comes down as acid rain which is harmful to living things.

Also, if the carbon dioxide is inhaled by living organisms, they compete with the haemoglobin in the red blood cells for oxygen which leads to suffocation and death.

We thought of a better solution to this problem i.e. making use of a combustor to transform these wastes into an alternative source of fuel which can help sanitize our environment and as well serve as a source of fuel in homes and industries.”

The process: Describing the process, Felix Blessing said; “We have two combustors – Step A and Step B combustors. There is one for absorption of impurities, anhydrous cobalt (ii) chloride for absorption of the steam.

The Step A combustor is further divided into two chambers - upper and lower chambers.

In between the two chambers, there is a membrane which allows

the passage of gas from the lower to the upper chamber of Step A combustor.

In the lower chamber, there is an inlet through which the plastic wastes are deposited and in the upper chamber of Step A combustor, there is a delivery tube through which the gases migrate from the upper chamber of Step A combustor to Step B combustor.

The process is called cracking. Cracking is the breaking down of larger hydrocarbons into smaller hydrocarbons.

When the plastic is placed in the lower chamber of Step A combustor, and as the heat increases, there is a change of state, from solid to liquid state and as the heat persists, the liquid changes to gases which then evaporate.

There are some gases that are present during the thermal cracking process in the Step A combustor because of the presence of heat.

Catalytic cracking takes place in Step B combustor because of the presence of oxidants.

The gases formed in Step A combustor are the organic and impurity gases. The organic gases are the smaller molecules of hydrocarbons like

methane, butane and propane.

The impurity gases are the sulphur and carbon dioxide. What gives rise to the formation of the carbon dioxide is the heating of the carbon compound. And what gives rise to the formation of the sulphur is the vulcanization of the plastics.

The sulphur is added to

plastic to make it hard so as the gas migrates to the upper chamber of Step A combustor, it passes through the delivery tube to Step B combustor.

Now, the carbon present in Step A combustor is oxidized to carbon dioxide in the Step B combustor while the sulphur present in Step A combustor is oxidized to sulphur (iv) oxide.

So the smaller

hydrocarbon molecules pass through the delivery tube with the oxidized impurity gases into the dilute sodium hydroxide where the carbon dioxide is completely absorbed while the sulphur (iv) oxide is partially absorbed.

We are left with the organic gases and the partially absorbed sulphur dioxide which come into the iron (iii) oxide and the sawdust.

The iron (iii) oxide is deliquescent that is why the saw dust is added to it to prevent it from becoming a solution. If a deliquescent substance is exposed to the atmosphere, it absorbs water and becomes a solution so the function of the iron (iii) oxide is to absorb completely the sulphur dioxide that was partially absorbed in the dilute sodium hydroxide.

“We are now left with the organic gases which come along with steam. They pass through the delivery tube and go into the anhydrous cobalt (ii) chloride where the steam is absorbed leaving us with the smaller molecules of hydrocarbon (organic gases) which pass through the condenser and come out as crude oil.”

Benefits: Said Patience; “We can get kerosene, petrol, bitumen, asphalt and gases from the crude oil when it undergoes fractional distillation. We can use kerosene for cooking in homes, bitumen and asphalt for road construction. When the steam being absorbed by the cobalt (ii) chloride is separated, it can be used by hydroelectric stations to generate electricity.

Tompolo Foundation donates education materials

BY LUCKY OJI

N

O fewer than 46 public schools including primary and secondary schools in Warri South- West Area of Delta State benefited from Tompolo Foundation’s donation of educational materials.

This was revealed Monday at Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South-West by Mr. Job Bebenimibo, Director of Education, Tompolo Foundation during the second round of donation of school materials.

According to Bebenimibo, “in fulfillment of our objective, on behalf of

the Tompolo Foundation, we donate these items to support learning and to make public schools more competitive.

“We are making this donation to over 46 schools, both primary and secondary schools; 14 schools will get full education materials while others will get textbooks, exercise books, charts, biros, dictionaries and so on.

“The 14 schools will get complete school uniforms, sportswear, recreational equipment, sandals, belts, school bags and books. It is our aim that all schools will get full materials later, this is the beginning of great things to come from us.”

Responding, Mr.

McDonald Akpojevwa, Chief Inspector of Education, Warri SouthWest Area said; “On behalf of the Commissioner, the principals, students and pupils, I humbly thank you for this kind gesture.

“It is marvelous that in these hard times, an illustrious son is donating these items.

The items will be put to judicious use for the benefit of the children.

Adding his voice, Mr. G o d s p o w e r Uyabribinde, Secretary of LGEA said; “Today is historic. We are proud to be associated with this foundation in their stride for developing education in the area.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

52-year-old Nigerian wins master’s I want more of you! degree scholarship But how?

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

52-YEAR-OLD board member of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Honourable Charity Shekari, has won a £15,000 scholarship for a master’s degree programme abroad.

Shekari, who beat 70 others that also applied for the same master ’s programme put together

by Global Training Consulting, GTC, was shortlisted among four other finalists from different countries before she finally emerged winner.

The other finalists are Mrs Lena Asantewaa and Mrs Patience Senaya both from Ghana; Mr Mesfin Gebremedhin Birru from Ethiopia; and Mr Ahmed Mushtaq from Pakistan.

The GTC £15,000 UK work-based learning master ’s degree

scholarship to Nigerians and other nationals is particularly in core areas of human capacity-building and development.

Shekari who already has a master ’s degree in I n t e r n a t i o n a l Administration and Diplomacy, commended

the unbiased way in which the GTC scholarship was conducted while she promised to put in her very best during the programme and make the country proud.

The British capacitybuilding organisation is

currently making in-road in supporting the efforts of President Jonathan’s administration in training and re-training of personnel in the country’s public sector in order to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

From left: Manager, Ibadan Home for the Handicapped, Mrs. Oyinlola Ogunkunle; Corporate Affairs Manager, Fan Milk Plc, Mrs. Olayide Bello, with the children of the Home during Fan Milk's visit to mark the Valentine Day. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Osun Dep Gov tasks lecturers on professionalism

BY ADEKUNLE ALIYU

U

NIVERSITY admin istrators have been urged to always give back to the society and live up to the demands of the ethics of their profession.

This call was made in Ile-Ife by the Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs).

Titi Laoye Tomori at the 2013 Get-Together Ceremony of the Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter of the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators.

Otunba Titi Laoye Tomori who was represented by the Tutor-General representing Osun East, Mr. Kola Buari told university administrators they owe so much to the management of “our citadel of learning in the bid to prevent them from being turned into hot spots for chaos.”

In her presentation entitled; Delivering the University Mandate in Nigeria in the 21st Cen-

tury-Issues of Standard and Quality, the guest lecturer and the immediate past Registrar/ Chief Executive of WAEC, Alhaja Mulikat Bello maintained that quality inputs, if taken through quality processes, will most likely produce quality outcomes.

The ANUPA 2013 get together ceremony had registry lecture series, conferment of awards, send-forth for the retired members, induction of new members and the launching of N25 million development fund for the purchase of ANUPA bus and construction of an events centre as part of the activities.

Otunba Laoye Tomori received the Caring Mother award. Other awardees were Professor Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, who received the Outstanding Performance award and the Distinguished University Administrator Award went to Mrs. Adenike Temitope Fatogun.

T

here are two vital things under the sun that man is never satisfied with. These two vital things have a great similarity and also great disparity; they are similar because both are resources which humans cannot live effectively without them and the more you utilize both wisely the more rewarding your life becomes.

However, they also have contrasting qualities in the sense that the intangible one is irreplaceable and unrepeatable which suggest that if lost is gone forever; there is no remedy in getting it back.

While the other that is tangible can be replaced if it is lost and can even be multiplied. These two vital resources are interrelated with each other; you trade one for the other.

In fact the better you are at trading on the intangible resource the greater the tangible resource is increased. Show me how you spend money and I’ll show you how you spend your time and I can predict the direction of your life.

These two vital things are time which is an intangible resource and money which is a tangible resource.

Until you budget your time and money life becomes like a roller coaster; always in motion but never making progress.

Down in history human beings have overvalued money and devalued people. When you overvalue money above people your mindset will be saturated with greed, selfishness and pride; this demeaning qualities will choke the seed of enduring success and render it dead.

Remember, enduring success which is living a life that your usefulness outlives you; is having more of what money can buy and all the things money cannot buy.

While the other kind of “success” which is temporal is having more of what money can buy and none of the things that money cannot buy. Poverty consciousness and fear of poverty which is a destructive state of mind gives birth to envy, greed and selfishness.

However, the prosperous man is one who has an abundance mentality climbing high on the ladder of the maturity continuum births generosity, benevolence and the nobler and finer virtues.

Humanity is yelling; I want more money! I want more time! But their “wants” is never gratified; they seem to never get enough.

All humans have been allocated 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year. However, the extent to which you are able to utilize time effectively determines the quantity of money you get and the quality of life you live.

To get started; the foremost responsibility of humans is self discovery. Your learning capacity determines your earning capacity.

To learn effectively, you need to explore your talent; discover your purpose and concentrate in the area of your gifting. The more value you put into your work in terms of quantity of time and quality of service the higher will be your earning capacity; the more of yourself you put into your work the greater will be your earning capacity.

Your earning capacity does not determine your financial freedom but rather financial intelligence which has it foundation on self mastery or self control.

Irrespective of how much you earn if you throw your money around; spend it impulsively; living beyond your means; utilizing your money to ruin your health and character; your money becomes a snare to you trapping you in bondage of wretchedness.

Therefore, you need to think long term; sacrificing today’s pleasure for tomorrow’s happiness and freedom.

Never live to impress people or compare yourself with another but rather develop the habit of saving part of your income consistently for investment opportunity; invest your money in the area you understand and believe in; allocate money to improve yourself; in terms of knowledge and skill; allocate money for charity purposes.

I N S I D E

The Supreme Court's approach to exemplary — 35 damages (2)

Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria? (5)

Execute convicted corrupt officials —Ladi Williams, SAN

BY ONOZURE DANIA

CHIEF Ladi Williams, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in this interview, lamented the degeneration the country had suffered over the years due to corrupt ion.

He advocated stiffer steps to be taken to address the corruption scourge by killing those found guilty of the practice to reduce its prevalence in the country.

He also called on the National Assembly to investigate the allegation that the $67 billion left behind by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration was squandered by successive administrations.

Excerpts:

T

HE judiciary came into spotlight recently over the two years jail term passed on former Director of the Police Pension Board, John Yusuf, by an Abuja High Court for stealing N23 billion pension funds. What is your reaction to the judgment?

The truth is that I have not read the judgment other than what I saw in the newspapers. Before I can comment on that judgment as a lawyer, it is important for me to have read the judgment because it will contain the reasoning of the judge. I really don’t know what is the content of the plea bargain between the alleged defendant and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and I, don’t know why they agreed on what was agreed upon. I know that the general opinion of the populace is that the man should have been given a longer jail term and more money should have been recovered from him and so on. Again, the High Court is allowed to make mistakes, that is why we have Court of Appeal.

If the prosecution feels that the judge did not use his discretion judiciously by sentencing the man to a very minimal jail term, what the prosecution can do is to appeal the sentence. The Court of Appeal is there to correct the wrongs by the High Court. So, the ball is back to the court of the prosecution. There is no need attacking the judge. It is only the Supreme Court who theoretically cannot make mistake. Even they themselves have admitted that in certain circumstances, they too can make mistake. So, the judge should be left alone. I don’t believe in attacking judges. They are doing their jobs the way they know it and understand. I will not levy any allegation against any judge unless it is substantiated.

As a way of tackling corruption in Nigeria, some people have called for capital punishment. Do you share this idea?

* Chief Ladi Williams, SAN For me, desperate situation like this requires drastic steps to be taken. If you are a judge and you are found to be corrupt, and you bring shame to the judiciary, if you have no integrity or you are habitually breaking the code of conduct of your office, we should apply the Chinese solution. That is execution.

In China if you are corrupt, you will be

,

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—33

The government will have to brace itself to its duty. It is the duty of the government to provide security for its citizenry and they should go the extra mile to do so

,

executed because you constitute danger to the larger community. Once you are convicted of corruption, it is not enough to retire you. No. If you are corrupt you should be executed, otherwise this nation will not move forward. I think the law of the land should be revised to deal ruthlessly with corruption and nothing short of execution will stop corruption.

There is no reason why the children of the poor must remain poor. It is wicked, inhuman for anybody who is put in a position of trust to be corrupt. That is why I think of the death penalty, if only

for a short while, let it be a short term therapy and you will see that there will be a change.

Only recently, the Presidency tackled former minister, Oby Ezekwesili, over her claim that the governments of the late Yar’adua and Jonathan wasted away $67 billion savings left behind by former President Obasanjo. How do you think the public can benefit from the arguments?

I think the National Assembly should look into the matter. The National Assembly under the constitution has powers of oversight on broad range of matters, one of them is how public funds are expended. They can call on the Accountant-General of the Federation to enlighten them on how the money was spent within the periods mentioned.

Ezekwesili herself can make herself available once the National Assembly invites her to come and explain. Mr. President can, if he so wishes sends one of his aides like the Minister of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor whose duty is to keep the documents pertaining to these funds to explain where the funds are lodged. The National Assembly can also set up a committee on Finance to meet and examine all these documents with the assistance of those who are in power and those who were in power then.

Boko Haram recently declared a ceased fire but the Federal Government said it will watch closely to determine their sincerity. What is your reaction to this?

— 35

The first question to ask is ‘Who is Boko Haram’? Nobody has come out to say that he or she is a member of Boko Haram. Now, it looks as if every crime committed in the country is carried out

by Boko Haram. Every criminal now appears to take his operational license from Boko Haram. Who are they? Who can the government talk to? Some people have said ‘no, we cannot negotiate with criminals,’ but all these happenings that are coming under the auspices of Boko Haram, are they really the ones doing it? Is the country degenerating into a failed state? This Boko Haram is so nebulous. We have not been able to know who their leaders are. Are we fighting guerrilla warfare? Honestly, we need a thorough investigation to know what exactly Boko Haram wants. The literal meaning of the word Boko Haram is ‘Western education is a sin.’ But we all know that everybody has borrowed one form of education from another. So, when you now go around throwing bombs amongst people and targeting someone like the Emir of Kano, can these people be said to be doing it in furtherance of Islam? I think the answer is obvious. So, the government will have to brace itself to its duty. It is the duty of the government to provide security for its citizenry and they should go the extra mile to do so. So, telling me that a group of people that we don’t know their names and address tell the government that they are going to cease fire is unacceptable. I think until they identify the leaders, we can’t even begin to talk of giving them a month to determine if their cease-fire talk is genuine. So, the important thing is good governance.

Once we have good governance, a lot of these unfortunate and needless killings will considerably abate.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo had been quoted in an interview that President Jonathan should adopt the ‘carrot and stick’ approach in tackling Boko Haram insurgency. Do you think that is the best solution to the problem?

The answer is yes and no. Yes, because we have a Joint Task Force, , that is operating in several areas of the North.

Continues on page 34

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

C M Y

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Book Title: Deregulation Law, Economics and Politics Editors: Epiphany Azinge and Bolaji Owasanoye Publisher: Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Pages: 230 Chapters: 9 Reviewer: Laura Ani THIS book is of intellectual fascination and practical importance. The book further reviews the economic, political and legal basis for the deregulation exercise in Nigeria. The chapters in the book reflect the banking sector, Electricity Sector, Broadcasting as well as other essential utilities. Also addressed in this book are the issues on corporate governance, deregulation of infrastructure and deregulation of public corporations. Herewith below is the review of each of the chapters of the book. This book has nine chapters and 230 pages.

In chapter One titled Regu-

lation or Deregulation: Which way Nigeria: An examination of Trends in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The authors Olawale Ajai and Bolaji Owasanoye adequately review the conceptual considerations undergirding the regulation of the economy, the political economy of legal regulation of the economy and the Nigerian experience. The authors states that an absolutely de-regulated economy in the sense of withdrawal of state intervention in the regulative process, the institutional context and the infrastructural sense according to Whites typology is probably an unattainable ideal. The article concludes by stating that the real issue is not one of regulation or deregulation but of whose benefit and in whose interest the ordinary Nigerians or the comprador class as such exercises necessarily have to be relative and not absolute.

The authors indicate that the return to regulation either of the whole or part of the erstwhile deregulated part of the economy is an admission of the failure of the SAP.

The second chapter on Deregulation of Infrastructure

by Paul Idornigie, further encapsulates that Privatisation and commercialisation in Nigeria and the attraction of private investors to infrastructure delivery will be a mirage unless institutional reforms take place.

He further states that the duty of government to provide infrastructure or public

Book Review

utilities or public goods that was efficacious in the past has paled into government retreating and providing the regulatory environment in modern times to enable the private sector to provide the infrastructure.

Chapter Three titled issues in Deregulation of the Nigerian Electric Power Authority, the author Odiase Alegimenlen states that the capacity for realizing national development, Nigeria’s Electric Power sector requires substantial reform to modernize its infrastructure and administrative capacity which is to be achieved by sector wide deregulation and privatisation of the government holding which is to be divested and replaced by private ownership. The author concludes that Politicisation by the elites and distrust of the reforms by the people, especially by the employees of NEPA/PHCN are endangering the process of deregulation. He also contends that a successful completion of the reform process up to full competition can only occur if all the

affected parties are fully in agreement that there must be change. Also a concurrent issue to the success of deregulation of the sector is that the Nigerian electricity market requires the entry of viable competitors before the full process of deregulation is implemented.

The dichotomy faced in the banking industry in this chapter on Deregulation, Corporate Governance and the Nigerian Banking Sector by Konyin Ajayi, Nnamdi Dimgba and Femi Gbade, asks very pertinent questions - does liberalisation and deregulation lead to growth and higher investment or does it lead to macroeconomic instability, bank failure and capital outflows in the countries which they are implemented? These questions are answered using the experiences in the Nigerian banking sector, identified by the unbridled deregulation in the banking sector which led to an empowerment of a new class of super rich, whose activities led to a near collapse of the banking system and the economy.

•To be continued

Execute convicted corrupt officials —Ladi Williams, SAN •Continues from page 33 They go after perceived Boko Haram members and there is usually exchange of gunfire leaving so many people dead. I am sure that the ones we don’t know is probably far more than the ones we know. They will tell you that ’30 Boko Haram members have been killed.’

How are we sure that these ones killed are members of Boko Haram? Do they carry a card? Do they write it on their foreheads? We don’t know.

There might be some mischief makers who will point to a village and say ‘those five people are members of Boko Haram.’ JTF will come there and attack them and later it will turn out that they are innocent farmers, who might have some problems with some of their neighbours.

So, obviously there is a miniwar going on between the JTF and certain elements in the far North. At the same time, the problem that President Jonathan may be faced with is that he may be thinking ‘How can I sit down and be negotiating with criminals? How will the families of the victims feel if they hear that Mr. President is negotiating with them?

It is not an easy problem to solve. People believe that it is okay to talk to Boko Haram, but nobody has pointed out the leaders of this sect, so that the president can negotiate with them. Since that has not happened, who are we going to talk to? At least in Syria, Assad knows the people that are fighting him, some of them are abroad and they have been talking to him. The whole world knows them; even government has recognised some of them.

In Libya when Ghadaffi was

overthrown, we knew who the oppositions are, in fact they were given recognition by Arab countries. But in this instance, who are we going to talk to? I am sure that if somebody comes out today and identified himself as a leader of Boko Haram, the government will just arrest him.

So, what should the president do in such circumstances? Until we know the leadership of Boko Haram, there is no one to talk to.

It was alleged that the Federal Government had spent $40 million in the on-going war in Mali. Do you think this amount is justified?

The sum of $40 million that we spent is nothing compared to the kind of income Nigeria make from our resources, especially crude oil. The problem of Mali is not for Mali alone. Instability in Mali can also affect Nigeria. We only need to take a cursory look at

the map and you see how proximate Mali is to Nigeria in far North. From what I saw in the media, they destroyed ancient libraries, ancient books that can never be recovered again. If it is not curtailed and if possible annihilated, it can flow into Nigeria. You will not be able to fly from Lagos to Abuja because these people will shoot down the plane, saying it is a western invention.We are talking here of people who are well armed, people who have missiles to shoot down aircraft.

So, $40 million spent on security, provided it is used for what it was budgeted for, I believe it is money well spent.

But don’t forget the Nigerian factor which is very important.

How much of this money will actually go directly to prosecuting the war and how much of it will go into private pockets? A year from now or so, you will hear that EFCC is

looking for one person or the other, who was supposed to have bought certain things for the prosecution of the war in Mali but he had bought a house in California enjoying himself. To say that 100 percent of that money will be used for the prosecution of the war in Mali, it is not possible. So, I think that is why a lot of Nigerians are skeptical about the intervention in Mali, but the objective is good.

Are you saying in essence that the fight against corruption in Nigeria cannot be won, if you said we should allow 20 to 25 percent pilfering?

Corruption has become part and parcel of our system. I have said it before and I will say it again, until we establish a proper social security system in this country, corruption will always be here. And we are not even moving towards that at all.

By social security system, I am

talking about a welfarist state where nobody can die for nothing simply because he cannot get adequate medical assistance, which some people call health-care delivery system.

It was late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti of blessed memory who tried to lay the foundation, but no sooner had he left office that his dream died. I just used that as an example. We need to fight poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, power failure among other, until we do that, I am afraid corruption is here to stay. You set up EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, these are just palliatives. You are not really addressing the cause of corruption. It is only when you attack the cause of corruption and you diagnose it that you can now cure it. But the way we are doing it, corruption can never be defeated.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—35

Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria? (5) Odinkalu continues this week with this article on Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria?

I

N a sure sign of a country in crisis, the government turned was hit particular hard. As the English Court of Appeal put it with characteristic understatement in 1977, this kind of mess could only have been caused by “some mis-management somewhere.” Rather than find out and fix the source of this obvious mis-management, Nigeria’s leaders sought new frontiers for money without adjusting the way government business was conducted.

While the full import of this debacle was unfolding, the military turned over power to a civilian regime following elections in which the counting was characteristically “tainted by the sort of voterigging and intimidation that have marred all post-independence Nigerian Polls.”

Faced with national bankruptcy, the civilian government of President Shagari declared “Austerity” in 1981.

To ameliorate the resulting difficulties for working Nigerians, his federal government established a taskforce to import and distribute rice at subsidized prices to

Nigerians. The quantities were undetermined. Cement Armada was now replaced by Rice Armada and a few more millionaires were made at the expense of the public interest.

Under the combined assault of these various difficulties, the Nigerian economy reportedly shrank at an annual average of two percentage points or a cumulative eight percentage points in the four-year period from 1979 to 1983.24 Immiseration became democratized, the middle class never quite recovered, and having turned out the foreigners, it was not long before we would turn on ourselves. The consequences for our politics were predictable. The elections of 1983 were even more flawed than those of 1979. In a familiar reprise of our incapacity to count, the then ruling party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), manufactured what it called a landslide “characterized by rigging, violence, bribery, and wildly inflated voter turnouts.”

Promising to put the country (and then President, Shehu Shagari) out of our collective miseries of leadership and institutional ineptitude, the military overthrew and replaced the civilian regime on December 31, 1983.

By the onset of the third decade of Nigeria’s independence, the consequences of this history

instances constituted a rape of democracy perpetrated through the law courts.

Allegations of corruption in high places were freely made.

A major victim of this arbitrariness was Nigeria’s criminal justice and penal system and the death of dignity as the bases for

,

BY CHIDI ODINKALU

•Chidi Odinkalu had percolated into the failure of public confidence in judicial decision making in the first evidence of what would become a gangrene of allegations of judicial corruption. In 1986, the report of the Bolarinwa Babalakin Commission of Inquiry into the then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), found, in relation to judicial decision making in the 1983 elections as follows: As the verdicts began to be pronounced, the general public often expressed shock and dismay. Some commentators in the nation’s newspapers took the view that the verdicts in a number of

These days, prison authorities are not allowed to do their job according to their training and their rules

,

justice. Bola Ige, who, as counsel to J.S. Tarka in the treason trials, and later as governor and political detainee, had more than a calling acquaintance with this system over a long period, writes in his book, People, Politics, and Politicians of Nigeria, 1940-1979 (1995), that: “Looking back on the cooperation I got from the prison authorities in Jos in 1961 during the (JS Tarka) case) and the humane treatment the accused persons got even though they were being tried for the worst

offence that anyone could commit against the State, and comparing them with what had been my person experience in prison since 1984, I must say that Nigerian authorities have become more inhumane, more intolerant and more callous in their treatment not only of those standing trial but also of those detained for months without trial…. These days, prison authorities are not allowed to do their job according to their training and their rules. They even receive instructions from the highest authorities to make life difficult for those on trial by not providing facilities for their defence and by making it almost impossible for counsel to see their clients.

Detainees are treated worse than criminals. They are held incommunicado.”

4 THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE STATE By the end of the third decade of Nigeria’s independence, with the country once more under military rule, state terror would emerge as a new dimension to arbitrariness. On 19 October 1986, a parcel bomb killed Dele Giwa, founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, in his residence in Talabi Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

•To be continued

The Supreme Court's approach to exemplary damages (2) PROF LAWRENCE ATSEGBUA

A

LSO in Shugaba Abdul Rahman v.

Minister of Internal Affairs (1982) NCLR 502, the learned trial Judge awarded exemplary damages.

In this case, his Lordship treated Rookes v. Barnard as binding on the courts in Nigeria.

This was the position before the decision of the Supreme Court in Eliochin (Nigeria) Ltd v.

Mbadiwe[1986] 1 NWLR, p. 47. In this case, the 1st plaintiff appellant claimed N100,00 exemplary damages for unlawful entry on the premises at No. 1 Goriola Street, Victoria Island and an injunction restraining the defendant, his servants and agents from continuing such trespass. The 2nd plaintiff claimed N50,000.00 exemplary damages for trespass of his goods while the 3rd plaintiff also claimed N50,000.00 exemplary damages for trespass to her goods. The 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs also claimed an order of injunction to restrain the defendant, his servants and agents from continuing such tres-

pass.

The evidence before the court was that 1st plaintiff company occupied the premises in question with the acquiescence of the defendant. The 3rd plaintiff gave uncontradicted evidence that both herself and her husband lived in the premises and had their (1st plaintiff company) office in the premises with the consent of the defendant, that her husband was a Director of the 1st plaintiff company. There was also uncontradicted evidence that the 1st plaintiff company took a sub–lease of the premises from the defendant.

The 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs led evidence that while they were temporarily away from Nigeria, the defendant authorized the ejectment of the plaintiffs and removed the personal effects of 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs without their consent.

The trial judge held that since the 2nd an d 3rd plaintiffs were not Directors of the 1st plaintiff company, they had no right to sue the defendant for trespass, and that the 1st plaintiff who on the evidence might have any issue to join with the defendant was not before the court.

The trial court dismissed the claim for these reasons.

On appeal to the Court of Appeal, that Court held that on the evidence before the trial court, the plaintiffs were in lawful occupation of the premise by virtue of the tenancy agreement between the 1st plaintiff and the defendant. The court held that being in lawful occupation, they cannot be ejected by the defendant before the

expiry of the tenancy.

The Court of Appeal therefore held that the ejectment was wrongful and the defendant was a liable for damages. The Court of Appeal held that it could not award exemplary damages because their was nothing pleaded in the statement of claim which brings the case within Lord Devlin’s three categories.. On appeal to the Supreme Court it was held inter alia,

(unanimously allowing the appeal) that: (i) The primary object of an award of damages is to compensate the plaintiff for the harm done to him. (ii) The secondary object of award of damages is to punish the defendant for his conduct in inflicting harm on a plaintiff. This secondary object can be achieved by awarding in addition to the normal compensatory damages,

exemplary, punitive, vindictive or retributory damages. (iii) Exemplary damages are awarded whenever the defendant’s conduct is sufficiently outrageous to merit punishment such as where it discloses malice, fraud, cruelty, insolence, flagrant disregard to the law and the like.

•To be continued

Lawyers sue NBA over practicing fees

S

OME lawyers in the country, yesterday, dragged the National President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Okey Wali, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, challenging the increase in practicing fee payable by legal practitioners in the country.

Plaintiffs in the matter are Mr Seth Amaefule, Miss Amaka Aneke, Mr Celestine Nwankwo, Mr Charles Ola-Oni, and Mr Tayo Arojo.

Counsel to the plaintiffs is asking the court to restrain the defendants from collecting the new practicing fee, which they argued was

foisted on lawyers by the General Council of the Bar. Defendants in the suit are Registered trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association, (General Council of the Bar, Attorney General of the Federation, Chairman of the Lagos branch NBA, Mr Taiwo Taiwo, and Chairman of the Ikeja branch NBA, Mr Onyekachi Ubani.

The plaintiffs are contending that the Legal Practitioners Act created an obligation on every lawyer to pay the Bar practicing fees in each year, between January 1 and March 31, contending that the General Council of the

Bar had by a circular dated April 6, 2012, made an upward review of the practicing fee payable by lawyers in the country.

They argued that prior to the review, lawyers with less than five years standing at the bar were liable to pay a practicing fee of N2, 000, while those above five years at the bar but less than 10 years, paid N4,000 and lawyers above 10 years but less than 15 years at the bar paid N7, 500, those above 15 years at the bar paid N10, 000 while Senior Advocates and benchers paid N20, 000.

According to them, by the circular issued to

lawyers in April 2012, the fees have now been outrageously increased, as lawyers less than five years at the bar by the upward review are now to pay N10, 000, those above five years to pay N20, 000, those above 10 years N35, 000, those above 15 years N50, 000 while Senior Advocates are to pay N100,000.

The plaintiffs argued that these fees were rather too exorbitant for lawyers, who cannot afford same, as a handful of lawyers will suffer hardship if the defendants were allowed to proceed with the collection of the new practicing fees.

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36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Fuel scarcity hits Warri

Primary school teachers’ salary not LG responsibility —Ekiyor

BY EMMA ARUBI

W

A R R I — AC U T E fuel scarcity has crippled commercial activities in Warri, Delta State, following the non-distribution of petrol by Product and Pipeline Marketing Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, due to nonavailability of the product.

Most of the filling stations in Warri and its environs have shut down their operations due to scarcity of the product while the few that have petrol now sell for between N120 and N150 per litre. A source that craved anonymity said only diesel and kerosene were currently being loaded at the depot.

The only depot supplying petrol to about five states is Matrix Energy, located at IfieKporo community in Warri, Delta State, and reliable sources told Vanguard that Matrix does not have sufficient products to cover the states at the same time, adding that the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, product vessels were already on their way to Warri.

Sources said with the expected arrival of the WRPC oil vessels, the scarcity would be reduced, by today.

EGCDC: Chairmanship aspirants, stakeholders not on war path —Johnny

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ONTRARY to re ports that stakeholders and the chairmanship aspirants to the Egbema Gbaramatu Development Council, EGDC, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, are on war path, an aspirant, Chief Michael Johnny, has refuted the claim, and called on the people to ignore such rumour.

Johnny, in a statement, said the report was a deliberate move by enemies of Gbaramatu to cause confusion and disharmony among the people.

He said it was the intention of the enemies to make prominent personalities of Gbaramatu Kingdom to be at loggerheads.

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BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ATANI—CHAIRMAN of Patani Local Government Area, Transition Committee, Delta State, Mr. Chris Ekiyor, has said that it was not the constitutional responsibility of local government areas to pay the salary of primary school teachers.

He called on the Federal and State Governments to remove the burden from the councils to enable the third tier of government address pressing developmental needs at the grassroots level.

Ekiyor, in an interview with Vanguard in Patani, on how to improve council administration in the country, said: “First, the burden of teachers’ salary should be taken away from councils. In Patani, we lose N33 million, whether you have higher or lower allocation, which ordinarily can go to infrastructural development.

“I looked at the provision on funding, the constitution says local government should assist in education, it

did not say that it should pay teachers’ salaries. The local government can assist in many ways, either by renovating dilapidated structures or donating educational materials, but not the burden of paying salaries.

“I think primary school teachers’ salary should be paid by State and Federal Governments as they do in a unified salary

scheme. Why should the councils pay salaries of teachers that are not under our control? Even after appointing a secretary to the Local Government Education Authority, he is no longer under your control.

“The other thing is that there should be upward review of funds to councils for

ABIA PRODUCT EXHIBITION: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and wife, Chief Mercy Orji, with other top state functionaries at the first Made in Abia Product Exhibition, in Umuahia.

Itsekiri laud Reyenieju on move to immortalise Okotie-Eboh W ARRI—ITSEKIRI Development Congress, IDC, has supported the House of Representatives member, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, for calling on the Federal Government to immortalise the late former Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, with a federal university or institution in any part of the country named after him.

IDC said that Okotie-Eboh’s vision for the nation was legendary and all encompassing, adding: ‘’We note

with pride that the ideals represented by this man, had outlived him and had stood the test of time. We see his death as the handiwork of the imperialists, who did not want the country to develop. Also, his assailants saw him as a threat to achieving their evil purpose. Louis Edet House is the headquarters of Nigeria Police Force.

“We are sure this man had done well for the Police. The naming of the Nigerian Finance Ministry or even the Central Bank of Nigeria after Chief Okotie-Eboh will not be out of place

and will, in fact, encourage not just the Itsekiri or the minorities in the Nigeria nation, but all Nigerians to put in their best for the greateness of the nation.’’

The association, which enumerated late Eboh’s achievements, said: "In practical terms, one of the schools he founded, was named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, his bosom friend. The school had people from every part of Nigeria, who were educated with scholarship from this great man.’’

Crown Prince Erediauwa backs Odubu for continue from where you 2016 Edo guber race stopped.”

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THE Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa, has said that he expects Governor Adams Oshiomhole to hand over power to his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, after the end of his tenure as governor of the state in 2016.

Expressing support for the tax regime of the state government, which according to

better development of the grassroots; this is the core of the problem facing the people. Councils are supposed to be stopgaps for the state government, and state governments are stopgaps for the Federal Government.

Therefore, revenue allocation should be re-adjusted to favour local governments.”

him, will fast-track the development of Benin Kingdom and the state in general, he said that Dr. Odubu had shown unflinching loyalty and understood Oshiomhole’s vision for the state.

Commending Oshiomhole for his developmental efforts in the state, at the seminar, he said: “I congratulate Oshiomhole and your amiable and supportive deputy. I hope that when the time comes, the governor will not forget his deputy because if he is used to your principle and your way of doing things, he can

He supported government’s plan in taxing the extremely rich in the society, saying, “I have absolute confidence in the governor and I am sure he will deliver on all he promised. You all know that I don’t normally speak in public, but when I do, I speak beyond the oracle. When the oracle speaks, he speaks on our behalf.”

Erediauwa urged the Chairman and members of the state Board of Internal Revenue to be bold in their revenue generation drive.

Youths picket UniCem production plant

O

PERATIONS of United Cement Company, UNICEM, have been disrupted by youths from its host communities, who protested the poor welfare package and abuse of expatriate quota by the company.

The youths, numbering over 2,000, from Akamkpa and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of Cross River State, barricaded the Calabar-Mfamosing-Ekang Road, close to the plant.

They also prevented UniCem staff from entering the plant, forcing the company to put production on hold.

It took the intervention of operatives from Operation Pulo Shield, and the police before workers could access the plant.

Soldiers and anti-riot policemen were deployed at the instance of the company to disperse the protesting youths, who continued their protest.

Eyewitnesses said the youths barricaded the entrance to the cement factory at Mfamosing as early as 6am, preventing workers from entry.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 —37

DPP passes vote of confidence on Ewherido

Yoruba youths blame S-West PDP crisis on Jonathan, Tukur

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — DEMOCRATIC People’s Party, DPP, Delta Central Chapter, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on Senator Pius Ewherido, the Senator representing the Central Senatorial District of the state.

A faction of DPP, led by the State Secretary of the party, Engr. Lance Orhiero, had on Tuesday passed a vote of no confidence on the Senator over his alleged failure to attend meetings of the state executive committee of the party and nonempowerment of party faithful.

Moving the vote of confidence, which was seconded by Chairman of DPP in Udu Local Government Area, Mr. Peterson Idiaka at a meeting of the party in the district, Mr. Cyril Ogodo, noted that there had never been any time when any senator had bought over 50 vehicles for his followers.

Chairman of the party in the senatorial district, Chief Henry Olori, said the motion for vote of no confidence passed on the Senator was null and void.

He pointed out that the meeting was convened with utmost disregards to the provisions of DPP constitution.

He noted that the Senator had done so much in initiating empowerment programmes and scholarship scheme worth over N25 million for over 250 students in tertiary institutions.

Olori stressed the need for the state executive of the party to “look into the activities of the people, who are trying to draw the name of the party to disrepute and call them to order, so that wrong signals are not sent to the people.

“We know that these people are doing these things for selfish reasons.”

On the allegation that Ewherido had not been attending the party ’s meetings, Olori explained that invitations to such meetings had never been extended to the Senator.

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ORT HARCOURT— YORUBA Youths Alliance has blamed the crisis rocking Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West on President Goodluck Jonathan and National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

The group said the President and Tukur's seeming poor handling of the situation created the problem, urging them to take urgent steps to address the situation.

Leader of the group, Mr. Jackson Ojo, told newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, that it was sad that some highly-placed members of the party could choose to destroy the party because of the “inordinate political ambition of one man.”

Lekan, who said that his group was disturbed by developments in the party in the South-West, said if the situation was not brought under control, it could force many founding members of the party to pull out. He said efforts should be made to ensure that the party makes meaningful impact come

2015.

He alleged that the crisis was part of a well-orchestrated plan to dislodge those perceived to be loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the

party.

He said: “My advice to the President and the Chairman of the party is that they should think twice; if the party had been mutilated and

poisoned by those ahead of them, Jonathan would not have had this party’s platform to become president. They should not kill the party because of one man’s ambition.”

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) presenting a plaque to Mr. Chris Cooter, High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Uyo.

‘Bini artworks may never be recovered’

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE move to retrieve looted ancient Benin artifacts, now adorning European museums, by Nigeria appear bleak as a meeting between Nigerian officials and representatives of five European museums on Benin bronzes ended, yesterday, without hope of getting back the priceless artworks.

Professor Emeritus and Consultant to the Nigerian National Commission on Museums and Monuments, Prof. Folain Shyllon, who cited the United Nations Economic and Social Cultural Organisation, UNESCO’s 1970 and 1995 Conventions, during an interactive meeting with journalists in Benin, Edo State, explained that the issue of getting back the stolen artifacts was complicated.

Nigeria being a signatory to the two Conventions, he explained, could only employ mediation and negotiation through UNESCO’s Inter-Conventional Committee on the return of the arts works to pursue its goals of

retrieving Benin artifacts carted away by the British during its invasion of Benin Empire in 1897.

Fielding question on the matter, Director-General of National Museums and Monuments, Mr. Yusuf Usman, insisted that the Benin meeting and others before

it were giant steps aimed at discovering where the arts works were in the various Museums all over the world.

His counterpart, Dr. Peter Juuge of Ethnological Museum, Berlin, Germany, said the new dialogue will change the minds of people

on Benin objects, assuring that “the objects will be in Nigeria for public display” in future.

The interactive meeting with journalists was attended by officials from Nigeria, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany and Austria.

Govts accused of abandoning non-violent youths

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—A group, Coalition of Non-Violent NigerDelta Youths, has lamented that the Federal, state and local governments have no plan, vision or programme for non-militant youths in the region.

In a statement in Warri, Delta State, President of the group, Mr. Dan Sagay, said it was common knowledge that government set up the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ministry of Niger-Delta and Presidential Amnesty Programme to address the issue of youth restiveness in the region.

“The reality on ground in the Niger-Delta is that government at all levels and their related agencies and parastatals do not have plans, vision or pro-

grammes for youths, who have not professed militancy.

“It is now the norm that to attract government patronage, a youth has to be violent, kill a number of people, issue threats and he will be called and given a contract or

political office.

“Political offices, juicy contracts and even oil wells were given out as carrots to pacify militant youth activists.

“However, peace cannot be bought; it must be entrenched as a way of life.”

Edo to get new Commissioners

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State House of Assembly has received the list of 18 commissioner-nominees from Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The list was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker of the state House of

Assembly, Mr. Uyi Igbe.

Ten persons, who served in the first tenure of Governor Oshiomhole, including former Commissioner for Information, Lous Odion; former Commissioner for Environment, Clem Agba and former Commissioner for Finance, John Inegbedion, were among the commissioner-nominees.

38 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Anambra PDP guber aspirant makes case for LG polls

S-East govts, armed forces, Police owe PHCN N15bn debts in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

A

S the race towards Anambra State Government House hots up, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, who has declared his intention to run for the plum job, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu has reaffirmed the sanctity of having a democratically elected executives in local government areas.

Obiogbolu noted that the chief executives were elected into office to protect the constitution. According to him, seeing to the conduct of local government election is one of such responsibilities.

He reasoned that the constitution had no room for a sole administrator except when a state of emergency was declared in a state.

The Oganiru exponent said conduct of council poll will ensure that the dividends of democracy really got to the grassroot and that the council areas would be better equipped to empower more people.

Amnesty: Orji canvasses inclusion of Abia youths

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—GOVER NOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has called on the Federal Government to include youths in the state in its amnesty programme.

According to him, the peace and security in the state is only a temporary relief as failure to get the youths who were involved in armed robbery and kidnapping busy with amnesty training programme may bring them out of their hideouts.

The governor, who made the call when he received members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, also tasked the NDDC to complete several abandoned projects in the state.

Orji said: “The boys behind the criminal activities in the state years back are still around, but they are lying low because of the security network we have put in place and the only way they will be kept quiet is for them to be cued into the amnesty programme".

C M Y

E

NUGU—THE Power Hold ing Company, PHCN, Enugu Electricity Distribution zone, has raised alarm over the huge debts owed it by the armed forces and the police in the South East states, saying about N15 billion was outstanding as unsettled debts from electricity bills.

Chief Executive Officer of PHCN Enugu Electricity Distribution zone, Mr. Suleiman Yahaya, who disclosed this during the launching of the EMS2000 post-paid scheme, said the five state governments in the zone also owed the company about N1 billion.

He said: “We have about N15 billion outstanding for the zone comprising five states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, even from the military, industrial and residential customers.

“All the five state governments in the South East combined are owing us about N1 billion. Everybody that we are providing services for must pay. It is the law and everybody knows that. And they know that there are a lot of correspondences going on. The armed forces pay to our headquarters and they advise us to credit their account. This has not been happening for sometime now.

Abia Housing corp duped citizens — Panel

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—THE judicial panel of inquiry set up by Abia State government to examine activities of the State Housing Corporation has discovered how the outfit ripped off citizens by collecting money from them for houses and lands without providing any.

The panel also discovered that the corporation borrowed over N1 billion without due process and approval by the state government.

These were some of the observations in the panel’s report which was submitted to Governor Theodore Orji.

Chairman of the panel, Justice Emele Uka Onuoha, said the panel also discovered that management of the corporation and board members were at loggerheads and, therefore, worked at cross purposes.

His words: “We discovered that the management borrowed more than N1billion without approval and due process from government. We also discovered that many people were being owed payment for land and house allocations as land and houses were not given to these people".

“So we are appealing that our debtors should see whatever they are owing us as a responsibility and pay. We have the records and on our part, we are talking with the state government but you know that it is difficult to collect money from the armed forces. We are working hard on that and hopefully they will yield to our pressure.”

Yahaya, who noted that the electricity supply situation had

improved appreciably in recent times, attributed the feat to improved power generation which has made it possible for Nigerians to have supply.

He noted: “It is of general knowledge that our supply situation has improved greatly because we have records of what we are giving everybody especially in Enugu Distribution Company because we have opened up everywhere and we are lucky to have

enough generation to give everybody”.

Explaining the reasons for setting up the EMS200 electricity bill payment scheme, the PHCN CEO, said that having realized that many people were finding it difficult to pay their bills, owing to inconveniences, the company decided to create an easy access for paying such bills either through ATM, mobile phones, and other e-payment methods.

From left: Jeffrey Daniels; Femi Kuti; Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans; Yinka Davies; Nigerian Idol Host, Ill Rhymz and Head, Events & Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Modupe Thani, during the unveiling of Etisalat sponsored top 12 Season 3.

APC, a political liability—FCT Minister

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, said the newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC, was a politically party dead on arrival.

Bala stated this while flagging off the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, area council election’s campaign in Abuja.

He said in as much as he would not underrate any political party, APC was already a still birth.

He said: “The election is not going to be conducted by PDP rather the election would be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. “I don’t underrate my own opposition or those I’m going to contest against because this election is between me and the so-called APC which I believe that between today and March 16 you are going to see how we are going to bury that so-called still born baby that has no leg, no eyes and no sense.

“It’s just a vegetable and therefore it is political liability to the opposition and the party is not

practicable”.

He assured the people of the area councils that his administra-

tion would continue to ensure the development of the six area councils in the FCT.

Flood: 55 Anambra communities get N400m

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—ANAMBRA State government yesterday began disbursement of N400 million to 55 communities in eight local government areas affected by last year’s flood in the state.

The State Flood Emergency Fund was approved by the Board of Trustees, BOT, of the committee set up by the state government.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who is the chairman of the committee, said in a statement in that the disbursement would begin with Anyamelum and Awka North LGAs. Other communities to benefit from the money include those in Anambra East, Anambra West, Ekwusigo, Ihiala, Idemili South and Ogbaru local government areas.

According to the SSG, the funds to be disbursed will be weighed, with 50 percent going directly for intervention in the agricultural sector and the other 50 percent to areas of priority and unmet needs to be determined by each recipient community.

He also explained that allocation of funds would be based on the post- disaster needs assessment impact report.

Under the disbursement arrangement, each affected community appointed a seven-man committee responsible for taking delivery of the bank draft on behalf of their people.

Obaze said that based on the size of the community and impact of the flood, the amount to be disbursed to the respective communities would vary, with the mostaffected communities getting more in both cash and other relief materials.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 39

Oba Dapo Tejuoso, Osile Oke Ona Egba (celebrant, right), Olori Omolara, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egba Land; Olori Yetunde and Olori Olabisi, during the Special Thanks giving service to mark 75th birthday of Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Osile Oke Ona Egba, at St James Cathedral Church, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta. Photo: Wumi Akinola

Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egba land, Oba Aderemi Adeniyi, representing the Ooni of Ife; Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu and Paramount Ruler of Yewa land and Oba Femi Omolade, Olubara of Ibara, at Oba Tejuoso's birthday celebration.

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, guest lecturer (left), presenting a birthday card to the celebrant, Alhaji Lateef Olufemi From left: Gov. Babatunde Fashola, guest lecturer (left) discussing with Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, former Minister of Works (right), during the public lec- Olufemi Okunnu, celebrant and former Minister of Works (right), during the public lecture to mark Alhaji Okunnu’s 80th birthday. ture to mark Alhaji Okunnu’s 80th birthday.

From left: Mr. Clement Iloba, JBN Manager, Public Affairs; Mr. Andrew \From Right: Mr. Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Mr. Yakubu, GMD, NNPC; Engr. Olu Mustapha, JBN Divisional IGO and Bayo Sulaimon, Chairman, Lagos State Task Force and Law Enforcement, during Dr. Peer Lubash, during the exhibition tour, at the on-going 2013 Oil a visit to Ladipo Market, in preparation for 2013 rainfall in Lagos State. and Gas Conference, in Abuja.

From Right: Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Oba Babatunde Lawal, Onigbanko of Igbankoland; Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Executive Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin LG; Hon. Sultan Adeniji-Adele, member, Lagos House of Assembly and Alhaja Qudrat Dada, Vice Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin LG, during the distribution of hospital equipment and drugs to Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, in Lagos by Senator Solomon. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From left: Mr. Jelle Kleefstra, Finance Manager, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc; Mrs. Ore Famurewa, Corporate Affairs Manager; Mr. Peter Eshikena, Managing Director; Mr. Sharman Jha, Marketing Manager and Mr. Robert Maduekwe, Human Resources Manager, during the first Fitness Walk of the staff and managers of the company, at Hermitage Beach, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos

From Left: Mr. Debo Omonijo, Chairman, Anthony Residents Association; Mr. Akin Adeoya, Prince of Anthony and Chairman, 1960 Hotels Group, and Mrs. Bose Bisoye Balogun, Iyalaje General of Kosofe, during Anthony Security Stakeholders' forum. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi C M Y K

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Apprehension in Sokoto over planned cabinet reshuffle

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI— THERE was apprehension within government circles in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday, following alleged planned cabinet reshuffle by the state Governor, Kashim Shettima.

Vanguard sources said the planned cabinet reshuffle was as a result of pressure from some quarters who reportedly want former governor Modu Sheriff ’s loyalists dislodged to enable them position themselves properly towards 2015 general elections.

A group claiming to be concerned youths in Biu, home town of state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, accused the number two citizen of the state of allegedly not carrying everybody along, saying that Mustapha was reportedly using his position to further his personnal and family interests.

Sources close to Government House, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the recent clamour by some faceless youths calling for the impeachment of Alhaji Mustapha was the handiwork of some hangers- on, who wanted to take total control of the government.

How to check pipeline vandalism, by Plateau SSG

BY TAYE OBATERU OS—THE vandalism of pipelines and other public utilities would continue unless the alienation of the citizenry by leaders which has resulted in the frustration of many Nigerians is addressed.

Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Prof.

Shedrach Best, stated this, yesterday, in a keynote address at the opening of a conference on “Ethnicity, Religion and Peace Building in Nigeria” organized by the Centre for Peace Management and Peace Studies of the University of Jos. He said: “The state alienates its citizens by failing to provide basic services like security, food, housing, water, education, healthcare and jobs.

J

Teachers demand sack of Bauchi Education College Registrar Vow to continue strike

B

BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI—THE Academic Staff Union of College of Education, Azare, Bauchi State, COEASU, has demanded the immediate removal of Alhaji Aliyu Shehu, as registrar of the college, warning that it would not call off its strike unless its demand was met.

Chairman of the union, Mr. Sanusi Ibrahim, disclosed this, yesterday, while addressing newsmen at the NUJ secretariat in Bauchi.

He said that the measure was necessary to restore the falling standard of education in the institution and prevent a situation whereby the system would be polluted by saboteurs.

The union accused the Governing Council of the college of insensitivity by reappointing Alhaji Shehu as the registrar inspite of the fact that it was fully aware of the situation on ground.

He said: “A letter dated January 30, 2013, was officially written to the governing council of the institution warning them to bury the interest of re-appointing Aliyu Shehu as registrar,

since he has lost the acceptance of the college. The call for his removal from office is not intended to smear the image of the administration of Alhaji Isa Yuguda, but to add value to the educational development in the state.”

He said that the union was

ready to call off the strike and sheath its sword as soon as the government announced the disengagement of the registrar.

“Already academic activities have been grounded in the institutution with the announcement of the re-appointment of the registrar. The strike action by the

union is to press home the demands of the association. We see the reappointment of Alhaji Shehu as unacceptable because it lacks the approval of the generality of the staff, hence Governor Yuguda should intervene to restore academic activities in the institution,” Sanusi said.

MEETING: From right: Sen. Helen Esuene, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and others, during a meeting of Senate Committee on Works on the motion to investigate the imminent collapse of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos in Abuja.

....As pensioners in Kogi demand sack of political appointees

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA—KOGI State Government has been given a 14-day ultimatum to sack all the political appointees by the National Union of Pensioners, NUP. The NUP said the appointments contravene the Pension Reform’s Law. Addressing newsmen, yesterday, in Lokoja, Chairman of the NUP, Alhaji Onu Abdullahi, said the ultimatum became necessary due to illegal appointment of politicians into both the Bureau for Local Government Pension and State Pension Boards.

Abdullahi said that pensioners were being owed N8.9 billion in arrears, adding, however, that the N50 million released by the government for off-setting the debt was being misapplied as the history of pension management in the state was riddled with fraud. He said the union was saddened by the negative development.

According to Abdullahi, the pension fund in the state had been managed as if it belonged to private individuals, warning that the ugly

development would henceforth be resisted.

He further said that the state Pension Reform Law 2007, provides that only retired or serving civil servants, not below the level of permanent secretary, could be appointed into the board, stressing that the appointment of politicians into the board was to afford government the opportunity to milk pensions’

fund.

He said: ”On December 27, last year, we met with the governor and agreed to harmonize pensions in the state; offset backlog of gratuity and pension, review same and also appoint either career civil servants to the board. He never fulfilled all these but went ahead to appoint politicians into the board. We protested against the appoint-

ments and the governor promised to look into it, only for him to inaugurate the same board.”

Abdullahi further explained that pensioners in the state received as low as N2,600 monthly even as they were being owed N8.9 billion pension and gratuity. He said that the state government released N50 million every month to offset such debt.

Shema signs 2013 budget into law

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A T S I N A — KATSINA State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, has signed into law, the 2013 appropriation bill.

The law empowers the government to spend about N114,171,627,790 as approved by the State House of Assembly.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Shema commended members of the House of Assembly for their interest in the development of the state, assuring that his administration would commit 72 per cent of the budget to capital development, while 28 per cent would be for human develop-

ment, including payment of salaries of civil servants and other entitlements.

Reviewing what he described as the success story of last year, Shema spoke of the successful implementation of the free education policy, the provision of highly subsidized fertilizer, farm inputs and insecticides, the free Health care policy, the delivery of infrastructural facilities at the door steps of the common man as well as the enhancement of the peoples welfare.

While thanking the good people of the state, the Legislature and the traditional and re-

ligious rulers for their support and cooperation, the governor called for sustenance of such cooperation in the future.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Ya’u Umar Gwajo-Gwajo, who led other members of the house to the signing of the appropriation law assured of the loyalty of members to the Executive to ensure quality service to the people through provision of democracy dividends.

Gwajo-Gwajo also expressed appreciation to the various ministries and departments for their cooperation during budget defence exercises.

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 —11

Munroe on leadership

Sack of National Auditor not targeted at Obasanjo — PDP faction

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN & HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday said the sack of the National Auditor, Alhaji Bode Mustapha and the dissolution of the zonal executive of the South-west chapter of the Party had nothing to do with former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

This came as loyalists of Obasanjo threatened to bring down the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party.

PDP explained that the move was neither designed to humiliate the South-west zone nor an act of vindictiveness, but in obedience to a court order and to avoid being charged for contempt .

Speaking while swearing in the new national auditor of the party, Adewole Adeyanju and the inauguration of the Southwest zonal Caretaker Committee, Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja said, “the NWC is only implementing the directives of the court in the removal of Bode Mustapha as national auditor and the dissolution of the Segun Oni led South West zonal executives.

What we did was in obedience to the court order and to avoid being charged for contempt of court.”

Jaja urged the Chief Ishola Filani led Southwest Zonal Committee to reconcile all the aggrieved parties and individuals, saying “reconcile all members of the zone, make personal sacrifice where necessary. Let there be no victor no vanquished, let there be no offender or the offended. Don’t be vindictive because what we are

doing is not vindictive, but in obedience to court order.”

Though the PDP has a Na-

tional Legal Adviser; Victor Kwon, the new national auditor, Adeyanju was sworn- in by Chief

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Joe Gadazama in the presence of the National Organising Secretary,among others.

….Obasanjo loyalists vow to bring down PDP’s NWC

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HE OBASANJO loyal ists issued a seven-day ultimatum to the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to rescind the removal of their loyalists from the National Working Committee, NWC of the party or face contempt of court.

They are also threatening to instigate court processes to

bring down the national executive on the premise that the basis used in removing their acolytes from office also affected the election of the members of the NWC. The letter entitled “Purported removal from office of the National Auditor and the dissolution of South West Zonal Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic Party,” dated

February 18, 2013 reads in part: “We have the instruction of our client to request for a reversal of the said decision, which should also be given adequate publicity within seven days, failing which our client shall take further steps in protection of the pending judicial processes and the Constitution of the party.”

ENOWNED INTER- national author and motivational speaker, Dr. Myles Munroe, will be the guest of Thrive, an enterprise development platform.

Put together by Harvesters, the event will hold at Harvesters International Christian Centre, on Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway, Gbagada, Lagos on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the convener, Bolaji Idowu, “Thrive is about raising people who will take the leadership roles in their various businesses.

From left: Barrister Stephen Kola Balogun, Commissioner for Youth Sports and Special Needs; Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori, Osun State Deputy Governor and the widows of Oba Ashiru Olatunbosun Tadese, the late Oluwo of Iwo, when the Deputy Governor led a team of the State Executive Council to condole with the family, in Iwo.

Police to arrest Maina with INTERPOL — Abubakar

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar vowed yesterday to enlist the services of International Police, INTERPOL, in tracking down the fleeing chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina The Police boss made the vow while he was being drilled for over one hour by the Senate following his failure to execute the bench warrant issued by Senate President David Mark for Maina’s arrest.

According Abubakar, the police will soon declare Maina wanted through the involvement of the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL). IGP Abubakar who appeared before the Senator Paulinus Igwe led Senate Committee on Police however promised to go after Maina with International Police, INTERPOl to help track him down wherever he may be hiding abroad.

He also told the Senators that

he was prepared to place monetary ransom on the head of the fleeing Maina if that will help the police to apprehend him.

The IGP told the senators that he tried to get Maina but he jumped through the window of his house and all efforts to get him in Maiduguri and Kaduna proved abortive. He stressed that he was handicapped by the delay in the signing of the 2013 budget to be able to place a handsome reward for whoever apprehends Maina.

He however assured the senators that the force would deploy every available means to arrest him.

Giving a timeline of the hunt for Maina in compliance with Senate’s directive contained in a warrant of arrest, the IGP told the senators that he withdrew the police from Maina immediately the senate issued the warrant of arrest and since then the man ab-

sconded and has not been seen.

He however, explained that they were yet to ascertain which country Maina ran to. According to him, the police team trailing Maina had extended its dragnet to Biu, Borno state, his home town on January 31, 2013 in search of him.

“At about the same day, the team arrived the family house of Alhaji Maina in the heart of the town, two elderly persons in the compound informed the Team that subject had not visited them for long.

Further inquiry revealed that subject has a home in Kaduna and the Team immediately proceeded to Kaduna on February 2, 2013 in search of him, but with no success.

“Having established that subject was in hiding, the Force vide letter No. CZ: 5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/ V.4 of February 1, declared Maina wanted for failure to appear before the National Assembly.”

Traditional rulers, others drag Ajimobi to court over land

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—SOME tradi tional rulers and 50 families in Ibadan have dragged Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and two of his aides to court over ownership of the plots of land covering 404.74 acres at IdiIshin Alalubosa area of Ibadan,

value at N16billion.

The rulers, Baale Asaani Lasokun and Chief Kazeem Akintayo, among other claimants are demanding justice in the land dispute. Asaani represented Lasokun family while Akintayo represented his family. Other families involved in the case are Omo, Abaya, and Kehinde, Odunjo,

Ajia, Kadelu, Aregbeomo, Eleyele, Aboke, Abeni, amongst others .

They are praying the court to declare them as the original owners of respective portions of land and adjoining land occupied by Nigerian Institute of Horticultural and Research Training, NIHORT and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, FRIN.

12— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 13

Rivers replaces N120bn bond with bank loans

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HAR COURT— RIVERS State Government has replaced its protracted bond of N120 billion approved last year with loans request of the same amount from select banks.

The state government had failed to access the bond approved by the state House of Assembly, a year ago to supposedly fast track the execution of lingering capital projects in the state.

At its sitting, yesterday, the Assembly granted consent to an extended executive request, seeking to replace the inaccessible bond with loans from First Bank, Zenith Bank, GT Bank and Access Bank.

The decision was reached through voting after Mr Michael Chinda, representing Obia/ Akpor Constituency II had picked holes in the replacement request as sent by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Oritsejafor doles out 22 tri-cycles to alleviate poverty

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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N a bid to complement Federal Government’s poverty alleviation programme, Eagle Flight Micro-Finance Bank Ltd has given out 22 tri-cycles under its microcredit scheme to boost transportation in Warri, Delta State.

Speaking at the unveiling of the micro-credit scheme, Chairperson, Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank Ltd., Mrs. Helen Oritsejafor, wife of Christain Association of Nigeria, CAN president, charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity given to them by the micro finance bank to improve their lives and those of their families.

She enjoined the beneficiaries to ensure prompt re-payment of the loan to enable the bank extend the gesture to other parts of the state.

Oshiomhole advocates revolutionary agenda to fix nation’s problems

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said Nigeria needs a revolutionary agenda to fix its problems and urged journalists to continue to probe the activities of those in power.

He said: “What Nigeria needs is a revolutionary agenda because the level of decay in our society and the dysfunction in our society is immense. The gap between where we ought to be and where we are is such that we can’t make up through ordinary reforms. We need a radical strategy to make up for lost ground. We are in trouble, we need to sit up to meet those who have started working while we were sleeping.”

Oshiomhole, who spoke when the new leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Edo State, led by Mr. Desmond Agbama, paid him a courtesy visit, said: “The Nigerian media has taken a position over the years against sit-tight leaders; African leaders, who seek to perpetrate themselves in office, who have behaved like emperors. The Nigerian media is easily one of the freest and most vibrant

in African.” Recalling the crisis that engulfed the Edo NUJ before the election of the current executive, Oshiomhole described same as embarrassing because, “you had leaders who were reluctant to vacate office. People must recognise that the honour of leading a voluntary association

exists when you are freely chosen to lead and that when you are asked to vacate, no one should give you excuses. That is the beauty of democracy, there is time to come, and time to go.

“Journalists must continue to lead by example. We need as-

AWARD: From right: Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, representing Chief Government Ekpemupolo; Mr. Michael Ikeogwu, Chairman, Warri Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, and Mr. Kestin Pondi, GM Oil Facility Surveillance Limited during the presentation of an award to Ekpemupolo, in Warri. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Power privatisation: FG signs agreements with bid winners

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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O sustain investors’ confidence in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Government said it will sign most of the agreements with the bid winners of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor companies today.

The contracts include those for generation, Gencos and distribution, Discos companies, for which bank guarantees were recently verified by

Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, which handled the privatisation exercises.

The newly appointed Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, disclosed this on the sidelines of the on-going Nigerian Oil and Gas, NOG Conference, in Abuja, yesterday.

He said: “Hopefully, by Thursday, most of the contracts will be signed in a very significant function. Agreements with most of the companies that won the bid to purchase the Gencos and Discos will be signed.”

The minister reassured investors that government will ensure

that all outstanding debts owed by its ministries, departments, and agencies, MDAs will be settled by mid-year.

He added, “We will also ensure that regulatory agencies, market operators, system operators and MDAs are consistently delivering on their respective mandates and to ensure that payments are made as at when due.

“It has always been a problem that many of the government agencies are owing billions of naira. This is not going to continue as the privatisation enters its concluing phase.”

Utuama commissions multi-million naira hospital in Delta

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N ultra modern Hospi tal, The Stephen Uche Okoh (Snr.) Memorial Community Health Center, will be commissioned and donated to the Igbodo Community on February 23. The facility was built and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities

by Dr Isioma Okobah.

Dr. Okobah, an indigene of Igbodo, said in a statement that the hospital was built to

sociations, we need groups to organise and mobilise, so that you can interrogate those in power and ensure that democracy is on. Today, the Ghanaians are asking Nigerians to go home. When we were at our best, we said, ‘Ghana must go’ and they went, and they fixed their politics."

immortalise her father, the late Stephen Okoh (Snr), adding that the donation was her way of giving back to the society.

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), will commission the hospital.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei; Chief of Staff to Delta

Governor, Dr. Festus Okubor and Health Commissioner, Dr. Joseph Otumara, will attend the commissioning ceremony as special guests.

Presidential Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Nmonye, two former speakers of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Obi and Mr. Martins Okonta, are also expected to grace the occasion as special guests.

Yusufu: Judge did no wrong, says NBA

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IGERIAN Bar Associ ation, NBA, Abuja Branch, has backed Justice Abubakar Talba of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Abuja, saying it still has confidence in him and the FCT judiciary.

The judge came under fire after he sentenced a former pension fund chief, Mr. John Yusufu, to two years in prison with an option of N250,000 fine after he pleaded guilty in a N39 billion pension fund scam.

NBA, in a statement after its meeting in Abuja, said judges in the FCT judiciary were not only diligent, upright and dedicated to their duties but rank amongst the best in the country.

It said: “The NBA, Abuja, has absolute confidence in the FCT judiciary in general and Justice Abubakar Talba in particular, based on his track record.”

The association in the statement by its Chairman, Mr. U. Yamah and Secretary, Mr Afam Okeke, said, Justice Talba acted within the provisions of Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja , Nigeria , 2007. when sentencing Yusufu.

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14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FUBRUARY 21, 2013

Disolution: CLOs battle Okorocha over unpaid stipends

Senate okays death penalty for terrorists

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—THE Senate yes terday, descended heavily on terrorism perpetrators as it recommended a capital punishment for those found guilty of the act.

Considering a report on “a Bill for an Act to amend the Terrorism (prevention) Act, 2012,” brought forward by its Conference Committee during plenary, the Senate in a unanimous resolution, held that there was no alternative to punishing terrorism offenders than death.

All the senators who contributed to the issue, did not spare persons or corporate bodies linked to any terrorism acts in the country as they said people knowingly in or outside Nigeria directly or indirectly and who “willingly assist, facilitate, organise or direct the activities of persons or organisations engaged in acts of terrorism are liable on conviction to maximum of life imprisonment.”

The Terrorism (prevention) Act 2011 (amendment) Bill, 2012 was passed by the Senate on October 17, 2012 and in the House of Representatives on October 11, 2012 but after the development, some differences were noticed in the two versions of the Bill, prompting it to be re-submitted where the Conference Committee was constituted comprising both chambers on October, 2012 to reconcile the areas of differences, which appeared in six clauses of the Bill.

New amendments to Section 17 of the Terrorism Act, gave a clear distinction between “an act of terrorism” and “an act of conspiracy.”

For the latter, an imprisonment for a term of not less than twenty years is prescribed.

A new provision (section 1A) dealing with national coordinating bodies in counter terrorism designates specific institutions and vest specific powers and functions.

In line with the new amendments, the Office of the National Security Adviser , ONSA, shall be the co-coordinating body for all security and enforcement agencies including the Attorney General of the Federation ,AGF, under the Terrorism Act. The new version of the bill stipu-

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BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—COM MUNITY Liaison Officers, CLOs, appointed by the Chief Rochas Okorocha’s administration are spoiling for war with the state government over nonpayment of their approved stipends for 11 months before their dissolution last week.

Already, the more than 600 CLOs have met in Owerri and issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to pay all their outstanding entitlements.

The stand of the CLOs was made public in a press statement by the President, Secretary General and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chinedu Iwuchukwu, Dr. Chris Ekwueme and Evangelist Ifeanyi Anwuchughum respectively.

Stating that they had been executing their functions since their appointment in 2011, they, however, wondered why the state government had refused to pay them their wages before sacking them.

The aggrieved CLOs equally told government that they had charged their members, who are lawyers, to commence legal action on their behalf, if the administration failed to pay the accrued bill.

Part of their grand design is, with effect from March 1, 2013, to sit in front of Government House, Owerri, for three straight days with their spouses and dependents.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ABBAH-VILLAGE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF NSUGBE, ANAMBRA EAST LOCAL GOVT. AREA The above named community wish to inform the general public, particularly Abbah Village Youths and their accomplices that stone quarrying/ land excavation on any part of our land should henceforth stop.

Any person or group of persons caught violating the above instruction should have him, her or their selves to blame.

The above directive is to take effect 14 days (two weeks) from date of this publication.

Signed: Abbah Management Committee Obi Gab Okafor 08080889745

Sir Obi Emencheta 08037109637

lates that the AGF is to ensure conformity of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism laws and policies with international standards and United Nations conventions on Terrorism as well as maintain international cooperation required for preventing and combating international acts of terrorism.

The Conference Committee added a new section (30) under clause 14 dealing with detention of conveyance. Accordingly, any person who without reasonable

excuse, fails to comply with the requirement of a detention order or intentionally obstructs or hinders any person acting in accordance to detention order shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for not less than five years.

Amendments of Section 26-29 of the prior Terrorist Act produced a new Section 28 which allows relevant law enforcement or security officials to detain sus-

pected terrorist for a period not exceeding forty-eight hours arrest without having access to any person, a medical officer.

Anti-terrorism act, gives law enforcers greater powers to detain and prosecute suspects and gave judges more guidance on handing down punishments.

Also, the bill gives the police and security forces powers to seal off a property or vehicle without a search warrant.

NEW SSG: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State (right) congratulates Mr. Ndako Kpaki, the new Secretary to the Niger State Government, after his swearing in, at Government House, Minna.

PIB: Uncertainties stall Shell’s $30bn investment

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BY NOEL ONOJA

BUJA—THE Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, has said that the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, is among several other uncertainties holding back $30 billion worth of investment in two offshore deepwater projects in Nigeria.

Although Sunmonu did not disclose the particulars of the projects when he spoke on strategies to move Nigeria’s oil and gas sector forward at the ongoing 13th Nigeria Oil and

Gas, NOG-13, conference in Abuja, yesterday, but disclosed that SPDC will rather wait for conditions to be stable and right before it will commit finances to the projects.

However, the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Abiye Membere, told stakeholders at the conference that Nigeria’s current total crude loss to bunkering activities has reduced from 150,000bpd to 80,000bpd as at late last year.

While expressing dismay at the country’s seeming loss of revenue and investments from

such uncertainties as the awaiting passage of the PIB, crude oil theft and bunkering as well as insecurity among others, the Shell boss explained that perhaps, Nigeria’s oil and gas industry may be slipping into the era when it took Mexico about 50 years to recover from such challenges in its oil industry.

He said: “I recall the Mexican story, it took them 50 years to recover from that loss in oil production and my worries is that we are slipping into that, even today if we produce a modest allowance of 3mbpd and just assume a modest decline rate of 10 per cent that leaves us with 2.7mbpd.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 —15

Reps summon Orubebe over SURE-P Insist Lamido Sanusi must appear next week

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—THE joint com mittees on Downstream, Niger Delta Ministry and Local Governments in the House of Representatives yesterday summoned Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to explain his ministry’s role in the Federal Government’s Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. The joint Committee also insisted that governor of Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, must appear next Tuesday, though he had appealed earlier that he would be unavoidably absent.

Dakuku Peterside, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, made this disclosure at a meeting with stakeholders.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the National Assembly’s inquest into the activities of the agency would be guided by national interest.

The meeting, however, provided fresh perspectives on the activities of the benefitting ministries and agencies.

Mike Onolememen, Minister

of Works and Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of State for Health, spoke extensively on their challenges and constraints in the implementation of programmes in their ministries.

In the course of proceedings, it was also discovered that most of the projects awarded by the Ministry of Works were awarded with-

out due process.

However, Ministry of Works agreed that fragmentation of projects, which is fast becoming the order of the day, served nobody’s interest and must, therefore, be addressed in the interest of the people.

Like most people, Pate agreed that many people did not trust

government because of experiences of the past.

He explained that” SURE-P, was meant to help regain peoples’ confidence in government.”

Peterside, nonetheless, identified some troubling issues around SURE-P that had dominated public discourse for a considerable number of months now.

He said: “They include the agency’s inconsistent status with the President’s objectives at the inception of the programme, the perceived duplication of normal activities of ministries, the belief that SURE-P is a political tool in the hands of a certain interest groups. ”The perception that the agency has done little or nothing to create jobs, protect the vulnerable and engender the much needed economic transformation of Nigeria.”

Stop inflating contracts, PDP tells contractors

BY HENRY UMORU B U J A — N AT I O N A L leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday warned contracting firms in the country to desist from fraudulent practice of inflating contract costs to defraud the nation.

The PDP also described the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen’s rejection of N33 billion proposal by a contracting firm for underwater inspection of a section of Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, as anti- corruption posture of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

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CONFERENCE: From left: Mr. Dele Sotubo, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Ltd; Mrs. Sola David Borha, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc; Mr Oscar Onyema CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Mrs. Tokunbo Martin, Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, at the West Africa lnvestors conference in Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

Court remands 2 Indians over alleged oil bunkering

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—ABUJA Di vision of Federal High Court, yesterday, remanded two Indians, Kamal Sharma and Ashok Agarwal, in Kuje prison over alleged involvement in illegal diversion of petroleum products from Nigeria.

The duo, who were docked alongside three Nigerians, Fatai Afolabi, Emmanuel Igbokwe, Tukur Mohammed and a company, Prism Steel Mill Ltd, pleaded not guilty to a 4-count criminal charge preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

Specifically, Agarwal, 66, and the other accused persons were accused of committing felony to wit: dealing in Petroleum product without appropriate authority or licence and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Miscellaneous offences Act Cap M17 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Besides, the accused persons were said to have on or before January 15, 2013, damaged the oil pipeline at Okene, as well as interfered with free flow of petroleum products from the oil pipeline in the town.

Meanwhile, shortly after their arraignment yesterday, the accused

persons begged the high court to release them on bail, a request which was turned down by trial Justice R.A Mohammed.

The Indians had through their lawyer, Chief Lawan Rabana, SAN, urged the court to allow them to go home, pending the determination of the substantive charge against them.

Reps move to probe UNIABUJA crisis

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE BUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, mandated the Committee on Education to probe the on-going crisis in University of Abuja that has brought academic activities to a standstill.

The committee was also directed to conclude its findings and report back to the House within one week.

The motion was sponsored by Toby Okechukwu representing Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency

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in Enugu State.

It stated: “On Monday, February 18, 2013, students of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, for the third time, disrupted the institution’s semester examinations scheduled to commence on the same day.”

The lawmaker said the protesting students had defied every security means adopted to keep them out of the school premises as they forced their way into the university campus at Gwagwalada.

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Gombe Central to recall Sen Goje

BY JOHN BULUS

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CHAMPION'S AWARD: From left— Chief Emmanuel Inwuanyawu, Publisher, Champion Newspaper; Mrs Nwadiato Ihankanwa, MD/CEO; Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State; Princess Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister and Champion's Man of the Year; HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and Senator Ben Obi, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs at the Champion's Man of the Year award held in Lagos, Tuesday.

PHOTOS: Lamidi Bamidele.

O M B E — POLITICAL stakeholders in Gombe Central Senatorial District of Gombe State have started moves aimed at recalling Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje from the Senate.

They said, yesterday, that Goje, who is the immediate past governor of the state, had abandoned the zone which he represents in the Senate and declared his seat vacant.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Dankwambo of the state, Alhaji Ahmed

Yayari, who spoke yesterday in Dadin Kowa on behalf of the stakeholders during a political rally in preparation for the forthcoming local government election in the state, said the 500 signatures needed to kick-start the senator ’s recall had already been collected.

He said: “Senator Danjuma Goje is hereby declared missing, wanted and his seat in the Senate has also declared vacant.”

Yayari regretted that Goje had distanced himself from his constituents since his

election into the Senate in 2011, adding that the people of Gombe Central had never felt his presence in terms of constituency projects.

He further accused the former governor of avoiding People’s Democratic Party, PDP, meetings especially in the campaigns for the forthcoming local government elections.

Goje had recently applied for the transfer of the money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, out of Gombe State for security reasons.

ACF advocates probe of alleged marginalisation in NA

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (left) and Mr. Thomas Imonikhe, Champion's Saturday Editor, at the event.

Chief Henry Odukomaiya, first MD, Champion Newspaper (right) and Tina Armstrong-Ekezie, Commercial Manager, Cleanserve Energy, at the event.

THE SUN @ 10: From left— Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President David Mark, former President John Kufuor of Ghana and former Governor of Abia State and Publisher of the Sun Newspaper, Orji Kalu, at The Sun Newspaper's 10th anniversary public lecture on Religion, Strife and the Future of Democracy in Africa, held in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

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ADUNA—AREWA Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday, asked the Northern Governors Forum, NGF, to investigate alleged marginalisation of northerners in the Nigeria Army.

It also condemned the recent attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alh. Ado Bayero.

This was contained in a communiqué by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the forum after its meeting in Kaduna, Tuesday.

The communique, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani read in part: “The NWC of ACF met on the February 19, 2013 in Kaduna.

“NWC considered the controversies surrounding the exercises of recruitment and promotions in some security agencies as they affect northerners with a serious sense of concern. It was against such backdrop that the forum called on northern governors to use their commissioners in the Federal Character Commission to investigate the allegations with a view to ensuring that the north is not short-changed.

“The meeting also viewed with serious sense of concern and

sadness the recent attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano and the killings and kidnapping of some foreigners in some part of the North.

“The forum, therefore, called on those who derive pleasure in killing other people to lay down

their arms and embrace peaceful means of addressing perceived grievances, lest the whole world decides not to do business with Nigeria as a result of the emerging violent culture that had hitherto been alien to the North.”

CBN earmarks N78.5bn for agric loan scheme

BY TINA AKANNAM

D

UTSE—CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, said it had set aside over $500 million (about N78.5 billion) as risk-sharing incentive for agricultural loan scheme for farmers.

The Head of Development Finance, CBN, in charge of Jigawa State, Alhaji Babangida Jino, made this known during a meeting with top officials of the Jigawa State government, large scale farmers and other farmers’ groups in the state.

He said: “The Central Bank felt it has a duty to support the agricultural sector in order to boost food production.”

Jino further explained that he met with farmers and top executives of the agriculture ministry to fashion out ways of effectively implementing the scheme in the state.

He said: “We are having meetings with a number of farmers on the issue but now some farmers have decided to mobilise large-scale farmers and different farmers’ groups; we hope to fashion out how they can move the scheme forward.

“The programme has gone beyond credit lending and includes agricultural value chain, other financial intermediaries, processing, exporting and marketing of agricultural products.”

He said the NISAL programme had been on for about one year but that the bank decided to come up with a new scheme to enable stakeholders benefit more than before.

On interest rate, he said any farmer who repaid his loan would be refunded 40 percent of the total interest he or she paid.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 41

How Dickson’s Bayelsa works

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

W

HEN Mr. Henry Dickson was inaugurated as the fourth executive governor of Bayelsa State on February 14, 2012, he left no one in doubt on his determination to turn around the fortunes of the state.

“We shall undertake fundamental reform of the governance culture to emphasize transparency, accountability, due process and value re-orientation by all institutions and functionaries of government, beginning with my humble self, he said.”

He also promised to block all sources of corruption which had been the bane of the state’s undedevelopment, noting that he would use the resources of the state to fund road construction, education, promote tourism, generate wealth and develop agriculture instead of funding graft and greed.

Accordingly Dickson said, ‘’to do nothing now about the corrupt and self serving status quo, poses a clear and present danger to the very existence of our state and will be the greatest disservice to our aspirations as Ijaw people.

If Bayelsa fails, the Ijaw nation also fails and so will the Niger Delta with grave consequences for national stability.”

This radical stance not only awakened old passions and pains, it raised fresh hopes.

However some Bayelsans were not convinced that the new

administration would deliver. To this group, the governor ’s message was nothing but rhetoric.

Mistakes of the past: Dickson must have studied the mistakes of past administrations, hence he made an elaborate plan of action to develop the state in line with the dreams of the founding fathers. Being a product of the Ijaw struggle, he seems to be marching his words with actions.

Remarkably, the administration has laid the matrix for rapid infrastructure and human capital development.

Bayelsa symbol Another remarkable feat was the signing into law of the Bayelsa symbols and anthem.

This move however, was seen as a ploy to secede by many.

But the development was however defended by a cross section of Bayelsans including the state Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Mr. Felix Tuodolo.

He said the state flag, coat of arms and anthem were in tandem with the vision of the founding fathers and the administration’s stand on Ijaw mobilization and integration. ”This decision also underscores government’s belief that this state, like any other states is where the Ijaws, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, has as its home. Bayelsa is home

•Dickson: to all Ijaws both at home and abroad. The emblem therefore, will help serve as a unifying force and rallying point for all our people,” he said.

Before now,some observers averred that the development of the state had not kept pace with the resources accruing to it.

For instance, the development of the state was reportedly stifled by corruption in the civil service, unemployment. Crime was also on the increase with cultists

turning Yenagoa the state capital into a killing field and leaving an average of five people killed daily.

Secret cult and kidnapping law But the state governor, who is a former Attorney-General of the state, ensured that the Bayelsa State Secret Cult, Kidnapping and Similar Offences (Prohibition) Bill 2012, was among the first bills sent to the state House of Assembly.

With the signing of the Secret Cults (Prohibition) Law 2012, all cult groups in the state were proscribed. Anybody convicted will serve 10 years in prison without an option of fine.

Similarly, any landlord who allows his building to be used for meeting by cultists, will on conviction, forfeit such building to the state.

The governor is currently pushing for an amendment to the law prescribing death penalty for convicted kidnappers.

The state has also invested heavily in security enhancements in the form of technology and intelligence gathering to ensure that Bayelsa is adequately policed and secured.

Also, the governor ’s zero tolerance for corruption and decision to entrench due process in the use of public funds, has earned him the sobriquet ‘super glue’. His decision to make public, the state’s monthly income and expenditure has won him the confidence of the citizenry.

Observers have lauded what they term the most pragmatic innovation in the governance of the state, which is in line with the promises made by the governor, to initiate the Bayelsa State Income and Expenditure Transparency Bill along with the state Fiscal Responsibility Bill.

Dickson said the bill was intended to entrench transparency and accountability in the business of governance and also place at the doorstep of the people, the right to inquire about any aspect of governance.

Bauchi 2013 budget targets grassroots devt — Dewu ALHAJI Abdulqadir Umar Dewu is the Chairman of the committee on budget and appropriation in the Bauchi State House of Assembly. Following the submission and adoption of his report on the state government’s 2013 budget proposals he enumerated on issues concerning the budget in an interview with Vanguard. Excerpts:

BY SUZAN EDEH

W

HAT were your findings from your work on the 2013 budget of the state government?

The performance of the ministries was not impressive because they were experiencing problems of economic meltdown and dwindling of resources which affected all the states of the federation and since we rely on federal allocation as our major source of revenue, we felt that the House has to take some measures in other to ensure the implementation of the budget

by relevant ministries in 2013 despite all hitches. But I must admit that the performance of the ministries is not encouraging.

During the public hearings, most of the ministries complained of non-release of funds in time which slowed down most of their activities.

How do you intend to address these problems?

Actually this is one of the major areas of concern that disturbed the law makers because we are representing people in rural and urban areas. The people are yearning for development and we want

to see these developmental projects in our constituencies.

I believe the problem is connected with the dwindling of resources but in the year 2013, there is going to be a difference because the state government has taken adequate measures that will boost the revenue of the state internally. At this junction, the House of Assembly wants to commend the office of the SSG for maintaining a wellcoordinated balance sheet that is worthy of emulations by all ministries in the state.

You don’t seem impressed with the performance of some of the ministries. Why is it corruption?

So far we do have not recorded any case of corruption but there is the problem of misplacement of priorities and the committee on budget and appropriation has put all the necessary measures to address

•Dewu the problem. We have made a lot of recommendations and the House will write to the

executives for implementation.

Lawmakers have been blamed for not doing their o v e r s i g h t functions well leading to the nonimplementation of the 2012 budget?

The House has been doing its best in its oversight functions but we as members have noticed some room for improvement in the implementation of such functions and we have made recommendations to the House. The House has directed all the house standing committees to submit a report every quarter on the

Continues on page 42 C M Y K

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Political leaders agreed to cede power to Anambra North — Rep Ogene 2014:

AHEAD of the 2014 governorship election in Anambra State, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Ogene (APGA, Ogbaru Federal Constituency) has dismissed as false claims by some politicians that there was no consensus that the next governor of the state should come from Anambra North, which has never produced the helmsman since the inception of the state. Regretting that only Governor Peter Obi has kept the agreement, Ogene said in this interview that Anambra North has what it takes to fight the electoral battle.

D

OES Anambra North have what it takes to compete with the other senatorial districts in the contest?

I come from Anambra North.

Before the public sessions, the agitation for Anambra North to produce the governor reached a crescendo during the 2010 governorship elections in where all the front runners did promise the people of Anambra North that come 2014, they will support a candidate from Anambra North extraction for governorship of the state.

Today, we have people who are trying to reverse history.

We know that Professor Charles Soludo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Prof Chris Ngige, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN candidate, his Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, the incumbent governor did make promises to the people of Anambra North.

But today as we speak, it is only Peter Obi that is keeping faith with that promise. He is not mincing words that it is the turn of Anambra North for governorship in 2014. And we are not asking on a beggarly note, we are saying that our quest is anchored on justice, equity and fair play.

We have capable human resources. We have people that have the resources to traverse the length and breadth of the state but because politics is a process

of consensus building that is why we are appealing to our brothers from Anambra South and Central to allow good reason to prevail. If we are canvassing for rotation at the centre that there must be power shift between the North and South then it must be hypocritical for anybody in Anambra State to do otherwise.

What is your take on allegations by some APGA members that Governor Obi is responsible for the APGA crisis?

What has indicated that Peter Obi is the mastermind? He is not responsible for the crisis.

Like I told you earlier, Soludo and Ngige are not of APGA but they did promise the people of Anambra North when they were campaigning in 2010 that they would support an Anambra North candidate.

Precipitating crisis So, if Mr. Peter Obi, an incumbent governor is saying that he will keep faith with the promise he made, I don’t see how that can precipitate any crisis. What I think is behind the crisis in APGA is management of substance.

If you recall, APGA didn’t have anybody in the National Assembly. They had one House of Reps member sometime in 2003, but this time we have an APGA caucus, we have an APGA Senator, two governors; we have two state

•Ogene: Houses of Assembly controlled by APGA. When you rise from a position of nothingness to a position of something, then if you don’t manage the attendant success, you might have crisis.

But I don’t see it as crisis I see it as a process, regeneration for a greater APGA. APGA is a movement; it is not just a political party, so it is bigger than any single individual in Igboland. APGA is a mass movement of Ndigbo, so if they localise the problem of APGA as it is today to the governorship of the Anambra State it will be begging the question.

What is your stand on agitation for local council autonomy?

Bauchi 2013 budget targets grassroots devt — Dewu Continues on page 41 performance of government ministries, so I believe we will succeed in 2013.

There have been allegations that funds allocated to the State Independent Electoral Commission were diverted to the SSG’s office. How true is this?

The State Assembly has been C M Y K

making preparations in regards to the forth coming local government election which we hope will be conducted this year in order to bring development to the grassroots.

The money that was allocated to the State Independent Electoral Commission in the state is 2.8 billion. When the House discovered that the money was diverted to the office

of the SSG, it made adequate arrangements for the funding of the election by reviewing the laws of the electoral bodies and discovered that there was no connection the money had with the office of the SSG, so we ensured that the money was returned to the electoral body directly.

The House of Representatives is on the same page with the Nigerian people. We have always said that the Nigerian people are our employers and we are there in the House of Representatives at their behest, to side them.

A member, Hon. Friday Usula had proposed a bill to

,

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

everybody is desirous to have democracy at that level.

On fears that the Niger Bridge could collapse The Niger Bridge is the major gateway into the SouthEast from the West. People from the South-East and South-South all use the Niger Bridge. So the volume of traffic on the bridge gets worse every festive period like Christmas and the New Year and you expect another round during Easter. Aside the man hours that are lost, there are also increasing worries over security and safety. If an accident occurs where you have over 1000 vehicles lined up bumper to bumper, the outcome can only be imagined. We have seen a situation where you have multiple accident of a petroleum tanker.

We should not wait for such calamity to occur. People do not just lose man hours in the traffic at the Niger Bridge but increases the security risk because you cannot get to your destination the expected or estimated time.

For those of them who are driving farther than Onitsha, by the time you spend six hours on the bridge trying to get over the bridge for a journey of about 10 minutes, the meaning is that you are either going to sleep out in the open at or you take the risk of continuing your journey and be left at the mercy of kidnappers, armed robbers and spiritualists.

The situation is no longer funny and because of the load on the bridge fears are increasing daily and that is a major calamity waiting to happen.

But today as we speak, it is only Peter Obi that is keeping faith with that promise, he is not mincing words that it is the turn of Anambra North for governorship in 2014

amend the part of the constitution that dwells on local government administration. As a House, we were not happy with the current situation where we have close to 20 states that are not operating on democratic governance at the local government level and that is supposed to be the third tier of government.

So, the people are now agitating, like my local government in Ogbaru Federal Constituency, they were clearly vehement that the government at the centre should seize funds meant for the local government that are not under democratic watch, so that simply tells you that

,

The President has said that the ground breaking of the Second Niger Bridge will be held soon; now we are not asking only for the groundbreaking ceremony but also for the construction of the bridge.

Although, we hold on to that promise, recent experience on the Niger Bridge has made the calls for the Second Niger Bridge much more important than every other infrastructural project in Nigeria today.

The Federal Ministry of Works should take another look at the existing bridge and ensure that stabilisation work is done by tightening bolts and knots.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013— 43

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44— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013—45

Bits

Sanusi policies killing jobs, impoverishing workers, laments ASSBIFI

Obasanjo’s commendation for Oshiomhole

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

O

RGANISED labour in the Financial Sector, has said the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, will remain in the bad book of labour in a long time to for initiating and implementing policies that have continued to kill jobs and impoverish workers in the banking industry.

Under the umbrella of Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. it lamented that in the last one year CBN’s unstable policies in the sector put financial sector workers under severe threat of job insecurity in 2012.

Speaking through its General Secretary, Obukese Orere, the group said three Banks: BankPHB, Spring Bank and AfriBank were nationalized under AMCON within the year.

According to him: “In 2012, Small Banks were politically made to take over big banks: - Oceanic Bank taken over by EcoBank, Intercontinental Bank taken over by Access Bank. The above actions as a fall out of the CBN direct policy on the sector, seriously affected not only the economy but the workers in these banks who were laid off prematurely and without adequate compensation. The smaller Banks that took over the bigger ones have not been able to cope with the

job load as the software and others are not compatible.

Example is EcoBank that has not been able to accommodate the depositors of Oceanic Bank till now. The failure of CBN misguided attempts to impoverished Nigerians by the introduction of N5,000 notes and coins, was another Obukese P Orere mad policy.

“Cash-less or cash-lite policy was another of the policy Assembly.

“On the constitutional provision, all summersault for 2012 by the CBN. It said the policy initially was for Lagos three tiers of Government – Federal, only and the sum allowable for co- State and Local share huge sums every operate bodies and individuals have quarter. One may be forced to ask what been changed. This is due to financial each of these tiers has done with their policy instability. It showed that Nigeria share in the interest of the poor.

In all, the financial policies by the has grown beyond trial by error policies.

As at December 2012, the workers in CBN on the sector in 2012 have left AfriBank were still protesting the non- financial sector workers and Nigerians payment of their entitlements on the poorer. From the point of view of our streets of Lagos after months of union, we can confirm that all Banks in Nigeria and most of other financial disengagement on CBN policy.

The constitutional autonomy of the institutions retrenched workers in great CBN is healthy but the individual magnitude within the year. Therefore, Governor’s abuse of that autonomy must the financial sector workers were the be looked into by the National worst off in 2012. No thanks to the policy summersault of the CBN.”

Why we want Health Minister sacked — Unions IVE unions in the nation’s health sector have explained that their campaigns for the sack of the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, is to better the health care delivering system in the country, urging President Goodluck Jonathan, to sack the minister before it is too late.

The five unions; Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospital, Research Institutes, SSAUTHURIAL, National Union of Pharmacist, Medical Technology and Professional Allied to Medicine, NUPMTPAM, and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, in a statement, said their campaign had no political bearing.

Operating under the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, they dismissed statement credited to group under aegis of Committee for the Campaign for Good of the Health Workers”, which they described as faceless, saying the socalled group was nothing but the hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob.

JOHESU, said it had instructed its lawyers to institute a law suit against the

,

F

For the avoidance of doubt, our demand for the resignation of Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu as Minister of Health, and for Quality Public Health has no political undertone whatsoever

,

group and its sponsors for libelous publication, over among others, that JOHESU had received N50Million to organise a nationwide rally.

According to JOHESU “Whosoever is behind these libelous allegations might choose to hide behind single finger of an illusory campaign, but he/she/they must have paid for the advertorial on the basis of some identity or the other. We shall institute a case of libel to unmask the faceless mischief makers and pursue it to its logical conclusion. Let us make it clear that JOHESU comprises unions

with the statutory responsibility of defending the welfare and interests of members. The union’s finances are transparent and we are not only accountable to members, the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU) receives annual audited accounts of our finances carried out by extemal auditors deemed as being competent by the RTU.” “But we must ask, where are the socalled campaigners who are supposed to be individuals, coming from? Did they fund the advertorial from their personal pockets? This is food for thought and another pointer to the fact that there is someone behind the piper paying and dictating the tune. For the avoidance of doubt, our demand for the resignation of Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu as Minister of Health, and for Quality Public Health has no political undertone whatsoever.

We have actually been justified by the performance appraisal of Ministers carried out by several impartial bodies in the country. All of them scored the Minister of Health’s performance as being abysmally poor. He should take the honourable step of resigning as he has no clue whatsoever for salvaging the health system.”

F

ORMER President O l u s e g u n Obasanjo’s thumbs up for Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole last week is simply an indication of how situations can change within a short time.

To those who followed closely the tenure of Oshiomhole as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, would not believe that Obasanjo whose men under the watchful eyes of one security officer, Col. Kayode Are was tear gassed at Aso Rock in 1999 in what Obasanjo himself described as “ Bravado Action “ can ever be commended by the former president.

Under the Obasanjo administration, the government claimed the Oshiomhole led NLC was constituting itself into an “ alternative government”.

This was contained in a government statement during one of the many strikes of organised labour and the civil society groups against the withdrawal of oil subsidy by the Obasanjo government.

Organised labour It was during one of these strikes that Obasanjo threatened to quit Aso rock for Oshiomhole and his NLC. He never did.

When Oshiomhole contested for the governorship of Edo state, a very reliable labour source close to the Presidency said, Obasanjo boasted that he would not live to see Oshiomhole in Edo Government House.

Remember, Obasanjo’s ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, stole Oshiomhole’s mandate for 18 months until the later recovered it through the judiciary.

How times change: But for the patriotic position of the law makers, Obasanjo’s government planned to ban the NLC just to get at Oshiomhole. Indeed a bill was sent to the National Assembly for that purpose. However, the relationship between Obasanjo and Oshiomhole did not start as a cat and mouse relationship. Before, the strikes, OBJ invited Oshiomhole to Aso rock and had to rebuke the later for putting on a tea shirt to meet with Mr. President. Then, they had to discuss issues of common interest.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

* Lose extra weight and watch your waistline: Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 4.5 kilograms can help BYCHIOMA OBINNA & CHARLYNE IKPE when a persons systolic blood pressure is less than 120mm/hg and reduce your blood pressure. * Exercise regularly: Regular physical acO you know that there are few natural en diastolic less than 80mm/hg, it is said to be normal while when systolic tivity — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of emies we have to fear? Unfortunately, the and diastolic is 140 to 159 mm/hg and 90 to 99 mm/hg it is regarded the week can lower your blood pressure by 4 worst enemies are the ones we can’t see, such as High Blood Pressure. Also, people with 120 to 139mm/hg and 80 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). And it to 89 mm/hg are said to be pre hypertension.

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Director of the Nigeria Heart Avoid tobacco products and secondhand Foundation/Vice President, smoke: On top of all the other dangers of World Heart Federation, Dr. smoking, the nicotine in tobacco products can Kingsley Akinroye, 25 per cent raise your blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or of adult Nigerians suffer from more for up to an hour after you smoke. Smokhypertension. Worldwide, hying throughout the day means your blood prespertension is seen in about 1 sure may remain constantly high. billion people and the prevaCut back on caffeine: The role caffeine plays lence has been estimated to in blood pressure is still debatable. Drinking increase by more than 29 per caffeinated beverages can temporarily cause cent by the year 2025.

A nursing taking blood pressure of a female patient. a spike in your blood pressure, but it’s unSadly, due to the associated What you can do to help yourself: Often, the cause of HBP is clear whether the effect is temporary or long lasting. To see if morbidity, mortality and economical burden to the society, unknown. Doctors may not discuss the issue, or may write it off to caffeine raises your blood pressure, check your pressure within hypertension remains a sig- your lifestyle, your heredity, or stress. But the very best way to 30 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee or another caffeinated bevnificant public health chal- cure your high blood pressure is to root out the cause and focus erage you regularly drink. If your blood pressure increases by five to 10 points, you may be sensitive to the blood pressure raislenge. According to experts, more on steps to manage the condition. ing effects of caffeine.

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48— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 , 2013

US court won’t apply 2010 immigration ruling retroactively

T

HE U.S. Supreme Court declined yesterday to apply retroactively a 2010 ruling that requires lawyers to tell clients who are not citizens that they can be deported if they plead guilty to certain criminal offenses.

The 7-2 decision was a defeat for thousands of immigrants who might have been able to withdraw guilty pleas in cases alleging ineffective counsel.

These cases predated the court’s 2010 ruling that

immigrants should be told some consequences of guilty pleas.

Federal appeals courts had split on whether that ruling should apply retroactively.

In yesterday majority opinion, Justice Elena Kagan said that the March 2010 Padilla v. Kentucky ruling did not apply to cases that were already final after an appeal.

She wrote that it would not have been apparent to a typical judge before that ruling that the Sixth

Amendment right to a competent lawyer extended to advising immigrants about deportation risks.

“So when we decided Padilla, we answered a question about the Sixth Amendment’s reach that we had left open, in a way that altered the law of most jurisdictions,” she wrote.

Under court precedent, such a shift in the law does not apply to defendants whose convictions became final before the ruling came down, she added.

France asks nationals to leave north Cameroon neighbouring Nigeria of being behind the

F

RANCE has urged its citizens to leave north Cameroon immediately after seven of its nationals were kidnapped by

gunmen on Tuesday.

French President Francois Hollande said he suspected militant Islamists from

Jesse Jackson Jr pleads guilty in campaign money misuse

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O R M E R congressman Jesse Jackson Jr has pleaded guilty to misuse of about $750,000 (£490,000) in campaign money.

Jackson, son of civil rights leader the Rev Jesse Jackson, wept as he entered the plea at court in Washington DC. He faces up to five years in prison.

Prosecutors say Jackson used campaign funds for personal expenses and failed to

report gifts. The 47year-old Democrat resigned in November after acknowledging he was being treated for bipolar disorder.

“Guilty, your honour,” the former Illinois representative said after the federal judge asked for his plea. “I misled the American people.”

Jackson’s father and other family members sat in the front row of the courtroom during Wednesday’s hearing.

abductions.

He added that the seven tourists, including four children, had probably been taken to northern Nigeria.

The abductions come amid a French-led intervention against Islamists in Mali.

At least eight French nationals are already being held by Islamist groups in Africa.

The French foreign ministry said on its website citizens were “officially advised not to go to the far north of Cameroon (the shores of Lake Chad in the South Maroua), and the border with Nigeria, until further notice”.

Mr Hollande said gunmen from Nigeria’s Boko Haram group may have been behind the kidnapping.

Bulgaria government to resign amid growing protest

T

HE Bulgaria’s government has announced plans to resign after nationwide protests against high electricity prices and austerity measures, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov has said.

The PM said he had decided to go after

protesters against rising electricity prices clashed with police in Sofia.

At least 14 people were injured during T u e s d a y ’ s demonstrations.

“I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people,” Mr Borisov said.

“Every drop of blood is a shame for us,”, he added.

The street protests across Bulgaria - the EU’s poorest country which began two weeks ago, were initially over high electricity prices but soon took an antigovernment turn.

NATO may hold mid-2013 summit to mark Afghan handover

N

ATO is considering holding a summit in mid-2013 to mark a milestone in the handover of security responsibilities in Afghanistan to local forces, alliance Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday.

NATO-led forces are expected to cede the lead role for security in Afghanistan this spring to Afghan soldiers, 12 years after the United States invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban government harboring Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda

leader who masterminded the September 11 attacks on U.S. cities.

“No decision has been made but it is an idea that is being c o n s i d e r e d , ” Rasmussen told Reuters in an interview, when asked about the possibility of a June summit.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 , 2013 — 49

Al-Qaeda in the Sahel threatens Nigeria I

N our previous analysis, we have shown why France went to war after Al -Qaeda in Mauritania and Mali, especially, to stop the international jihad agenda and the criminality associated with this agenda. that was being visited on its citizens in its former colony.

Secondly, it was part of the global strategy to stop Al-Qaeda, which has as part of its objectives, attacks on Western nations and their economic interests and cultural values. But the Mali question in the Sahel must be seen from five clear standing points.

•Resolving the contradiction of past colonial rule and concept of development •Restoration of Democratic rule and the political power game between the political and military elite •The crippling poverty and nonexistent economic structure in the landlocked country that is ravaged by climate change The political crisis in Mali dates back to its colonial days. When France colonised and impoverished the country just like the other colonies it had worldwide. The French did not put anything back to promote growth and development in Mali, which has over the years depended on food hand out.

Mali has been in a state of decline the 1990s as the political and economic situation in the Sahel country degenerated. The worsening condition emboldened the Tuaregs who had been funded

by radical Islamic groups within and outside Africa, with the objective of creating an Islamic State of Azawad in the mould of Afghanistan.

The autonomy-craving Tuaregs in Northern Mali, became the arrow head for the Islamists to accomplish that goal. The Tuaregs had been fighting for autonomy since the 1990s, but they entered into alliance with Ansar Dine and other Islamist groups to engage government troops.

The rebel fighters took advantage of the lack of the poor economy, the political will on the part of government to make a push to capture the Capital, Bamako. In the process, they killed so many soldiers and imposed Sharia law in the towns that fell into their hands. The situation of insecurity

,

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR

•A map of the Sahel showing the spread and threat of Al Qaeda. Source: Internet up with the disaffected Malians to wage war against the government. The Islamists introduced acts of terrorism, such as suicide bombings, kidnapping of foreign nationals for ransom using Western hostages to negotiate for the release of arrested militants by western

It is not a coincidence that the leaders of Boko Haram in Nigeria began to consider the idea of a cease fire at the point when there support base in Mali had been destroyed

demoralised the civilian population. But more importantly was the fact that Mali became a training ground for other radical Islamist groups in the Sahel, including the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria. This led to the March 22 military coup by a group that called itself organisation for the Recovery and Restoration of the state led by Captain Diara.

The infiltration into the Tuaregs by troops that fought in Libya, strengthened the Tuaregs while the Al-Qaeda group also teamed

•The first batch of Nigerian troops in Mali

,

governments etc.

According to the Director General Nigerian Institue of International Affairs (NIIA), lAGOS, Prof . Bola A. Kinterinwa told Vanguard that the coup had popular support and in conformity with the concept of utis Postidis but it was opposed by the Western powers and ECOWAS leaders who are today sending troops to fight the Islamists who were becoming too strong for the government troops. He said”It raised the question of what hap-

pens to a country when a government cannot protect the lives and property of its citizens and cannot defend its sovereignity?”

According to him, “Africans have continued to say the same thing over and over again without taking action. ECOWAS has failed to live up to the vision of the founding fathers for faster peace, integration and development, which would have reduced poverty, promote faster mobility of labour and capital”.

Ambassador Segun Akinsanya who directs the South Africa based Institutes for Security Studies (ISS)said security has become a big issue in the entire African continent and time has come for African leaders to take a second look at the situation in the continent.

Colonial experiences He said the time is gone, when African leaders and Africans blamed their problems on Europe because countries in Latin America also had their colonial experiences but they have invested in education, development of science and technology which is what we need to move the continent out of the circle of poverty.

Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel and the United States Prof. George Obiozor said rather than France being accused of any colonial tendencies in Mali, its action against the Islamist groups in Mali we should commend rather blame or accuse France of neo-colonial designs in Mali.

According to him ”What France has done is to clear the way, to ensure safe landing for the African troops”.

A senior Research Fellow at NIIA, Prof. Fred Aja Agwu, agreed with Prof. Obiozor but went further to say that what France has done in Mali has helped to break the back of Boko

Haram sect in Nigeria. Said Agwu: “the action in Mali, shows the strong linkage with the situation in Nigeria. According to Prof.

Agwu, “it is not a coincidence that the leaders of Boko Haram in Nigeria began to consider the idea of a cease fire at the point when there support base in Mali had been destroyed”.

The second battle Experiences in Afghanistan and Iran may be repeating itself all over in Mali where the French troops have flushed out the Islamists from the towns of Kidal, Mpoti, Goa, Timbuktu, Diabaly.

But the second place of suicide bombings, acts of guerrila war fare may be afoot as the Islamists are known to melt into the population and disguise themselves as civilians only to launch deadly attacks.

The Islamists have potent propaganda against the foreign troops whom they accuse of coming to pollut their land and culture. The troops from Senegal, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso etc are not experienced in desert war fare where the Islamists have dug trenches that can sustain their operation. Mali is a country ‘with little resources that is of interest in Mali is not more than denying Al Qaeda a base in the Sahel. It will be a major challenge for the foreign troops to cut off all the supply routes which the Islamists use to smuggle drugs and arms to sustain their criminal acts.

Prof. Bola A. Akinterinwa, the Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs argues that in resolving the Malian crisis, negotiation with Ansar Dine and the Islamists groups must be viewed with caution because religious Islamists do not negotiate their ultimate objective is Islamisation of the state.

To be concluded

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBUARY, 21, 2013

thehumanangle93@yahoo.com

because I was still in school.

I still had a full session to go before I could obtain my degree and they insisted that my education must top my priorities. The other issue was the age difference between us. And though I agreed too, I also was convinced that Kole was a rare opportunity that must not be missed.

He was a bit older than me with about 15 years but it did not matter at all. It only confirmed him as a disciplined and articulate man and I still thought it great that he had never been married and was bent on taking a Nigerian wife.

Everything he said convinced us that he was a good catch. He was almost 41years then and had lived in the USA since he was 20.

He did not only have all his papers, he had his own house, two cars, a job and a small business on the side he did with the help of his mother here in Nigeria. Everyone was of the opinion that life for me could only get better at just 26.

Married but living single I

were always together. By the time Kole returned back to the USA, the affair had been consummated.

On my part, not because I was in love with him but because I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt that he loved me and would return in four months time to celebrate the Easter with me in Nigeria. I was really skeptical because I had seen how many of these guys come for holidays and deceive young girls. However, I was wrong again.

Kole called almost everyday. He told me he was ready to settle down and one of the reasons he came to Nigeria over the Christmas was to find a wife. He wanted someone young and homely who will not give him too much

,

HI! FIND it very cliche to say, ‘its nice to be back’ after three weeks break from the anxiety of trying to meet deadlines and the nerve wreaking and energy sapping hours of wading through Lagos traffic. But then, its the nice thing to say, isn’t it? Or, it’s expected of you to say that. Well, to say the truth, I am very happy.

There is something about the Vanguard family that draws you into its embrace no matter where you are. The love and warmth of friends and colleagues here is something I cherish so much that I find it difficult to stay away for long no matter the seriousness of numerous challenges. However, I am optimistic that challenges are surmountable when you are surrounded only by sincere and well meaning people. So, I’m happy to be back! I pray that this year will be fruitful and fulfilling for us all by God’s special grace.

Every woman wants to get married, to find a husband and be called Mrs. It is a dream they have harboured in their hearts since they were little. And when that husband comes in a package wrapped with success, the promise of life abroad and access to the good things of life, many women are likely to throw caution to the winds. Unfortunately for some, reality may sometimes be different from dreams and they find themselves trapped in between two worlds, neither married, nor single. today, we begin the narratives by three women who met and fell in love with men they thought they would live happily ever after with. They soon discovered they were mistaken.

Arike, (30), mother and graduate tells how she became a single parent living with her inlaws. ”It all started as a joke because I neither believed him nor took him seriously. I had assumed that it would be a brief affair lasting over the Christmas, typical of most holiday romances. But I was wrong.

He stayed for three weeks and we

Kole came with a full box of shopping for me. Clothes, bags, shoes and even makeup kits. I was the envy of everyone. That Easter, I met his parents and everything seemed perfect

,

problems. He said most Nigerian girls in the USA were either too cocky or out to scam men.

Many would take over a guy’s property for silly reasons. Things they dare not try in Nigeria.

Sometimes, we would talk late into the night. The text messages were something else. It made me feel like a queen, someone important and my family and friends were convinced that we were meant for each other. By the time he arrived for the Easter break as promised, I knew I would marry him. Kole came with a full box of shopping for me. Clothes, bags, shoes and even makeup kits. I was the envy of everyone. That Easter, I met his parents and everything seemed perfect. They wanted us to get married as quickly as possible.

There was a problem however. My parents did not want it

That was how I found myself accepting his marriage proposal that Easter, four months after we met. We were married over the Christmas celebration that same year and I moved in with his parents. Now when I look back, I regret that I did not listen to the advise of some of my friends.

In deed, it is good to learn from other people’s mistakes and never from your own. Two different people had advised me on two separate occasions that I should not move in with Kole’s parents.

According to them, there will be problems as such an arrangement was not likely to work in my favour. But I did not listen. In fact, it was difficult for me to listen under the circumstance. Kole was showering me with so much gifts and attention and his mother appeared to be the best mother-inlaw any girl could ever pray for.

To be continued

Much ado about a mission house

T

HE raging controversies surrounding the proposed building of an African First Ladies Peace Mission House in the Federal Capital Territory appears to be generating interesting debates in the print and online media. Opinion, however, appears divided between those who felt the proposed expenditure of a sum of N4 billion to build an edifice for the African First Ladies Secretariat in Abuja is an unneccessary waste of scarce public funds and those who argued that Nigeria has much more to benefit from the expenditure than it got to lose.

Both groups have had public demonstrations held in Lagos and Abuja to draw attention to their views and sway observers opinion either way. One aspect which instantly drew my attention was the claim by those who opposed the project that the building is an illegal project meant to be a donation to the First Lady of the nation who happens to be the current chairperson of the African First Ladies Mission.

Insincere allegations In addition, the group of activists also alleged that authorities of the Federal Capital Territory were also planning to spend another sum of N5 billion on rehabilitation of prostitutes in the nation’s capital. A few days after these claims were made, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Minister came out to deny both and dubbed those making the allegations as insincere. Observers like me have to dig between the two groups to find out where lies the truth and which of the positions will better serve the interest of Nigerian women.

The reaction of the FCT minister which has not been contradicted on this matter is that the African First Ladies Peace Mission House, Abuja, is not a property or NGO belonging to the Nigerian First Lady but it is the Secretariat of the African First Ladies Peace Mission of the African Union (AU). He added that Act Number 6 (formerly Decree No. 6) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which created the FCT and the Federal Capital Development Au-

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08177547235 •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

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thority (FCDA), vests the FCT Administration with the statutory function of designing and constructing public buildings on behalf of the Federal Government for use by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as other national and international organisations which have their headquarters in Nigeria.

I know as a matter of fact that the African First Ladies Peace Mission was created in 1996 to use the feminine appeal to promote peace and social harmony in the African continent. Its birth followed the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women and its subsequent Declaration in Zimbabwe, during which the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU) keyed into the action.

All the African First Ladies had at their conference resolved to make Abuja the seat of the permanent secretariat of the Peace Mission whose importance is underscored by the spate of internecine crises ravaging different parts of Africa. The body is in fact, an organ of the African Union and there is, therefore, no way its Secretariat can be a personal property of the Nigerian First Lady if it is built in Abuja. While one may agree to some extent that the sum of money to be spent on this edifice could be used for some more beneficial purposes, the fact remains that we cannot eat our cake and have it as a nation.

If we desire to maintain our leadership position on the African continent, it will be difficult to avoid the cost responsibility of providing accommodation for these international organisations. There are no two ways to this. The other issue which bothered on the alleged proposal to spend N5 billion to rehabilitate prostitutes in the nation’s capital also appear to have been dealt with by a publication of the relevant portion of the FCT budget estimate currently before the National Assembly. The information made available indicate that what was actually proposed for rehabilitation of prostitutes, destitutes, orphans and widows was just a hundred and fifty million naira.

Perhaps, what we should be looking at is where the N5 billion figure came from!

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013— 51

C M Y K

d, THURSD AY, FEBRU ARY 21 THURSDA FEBRUARY 21,, 2013 52— Vanguard

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

GEMINI; Both your mood and element of luck are as friendly as you would want them to be. Thus success may come the harder way today. Protect your finances.

CANCER; Many will look up to you both for practical assistance and leadership direction thus, you must not ball-up under pressure. Try to reason with your spouse.

LEO; Diplomacy may become very important today as development within your working arena calls for both maturity and cleverness. Be family minded today.

VIRGO; No matter how helpful friends were yesterday it is important you don’t dance to discordant tunes from any quarter today; gamble not with mattersof-the-heart.

LIBRA; Many people are under pressure today but, if you do away with sentiment and give priority attention to money making, your finances will be better for your efforts. Don’t allow misunderstanding within your family circle go out of hands.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

GREAT thinker once wrote that words are the forerunner of our action.

People first hear us talk before they see us act our talk. It is what we say that first captures their attention and ensure that they give us audience.

Talking to people You may be a great actor but if you are not able to market your skill you will have a scanty audience. And if you are a leader, if you can’t communicate your intention,

TERROR MUDA

chances are that you will have a very low followership. This is where ability to speak and communicate appropriately comes in.

It is not enough to know it, the question

in “Never say goodbye”

is can you convince people that you know it?

Talking to people is a skill everyone of us should develop. The leader, the marketer, the politician, the manager etc we all need the skill.

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

SCORPIO; To be on the safer side it is imperative you respect the law and it’s enforcement agents. Some people are trying to deceive you for an obvious reason.

SAGITTARIUS; Early part of the day may bring you good opportunity but for you not to lose it you must exhibit maturity. Protect both your money and source of income.

CAPRICORN; Others will step on your nerves yet it not the best for you to over-react today. It is good to prove reliable but your secrets must remain intact.

AQUARIUS; This may not be the best of days as there will be a few challenges within your working arena. If you rely on luck today, you would be disappointed.

PISCES; You will need to watch what you tell others, especially those friends you don’t know too well. Be more loving but refuse to gamble with love

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; If care is not taken what you have gained yesterday may be lost due to your care-free attitude within your base of operation. Avoid deceit today.

TAURUS; You would fare better if you prepare your mind for possible confrontation from unexpected quarters. Don’t promise more than you can actually deliver.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos

Who do you think I am ?

Dear Joshua, I have been following your write-ups for a long time you can not believe and to be sincere you are good.

Now I wan you to analyse my star and tell me my horoscopic personality. More in to your pen.

Kenneth Jos. Dear Kenneth, What you will find here under will prove useful if you take them seriously and utilise them.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/ PLANETARY PLACEMENT Spiritual Neptune as the only Planet at home when you were born pointed to you as a person with great deal of spiritual energy you can tap at will, especially if you are conscious of it’s presence in your innerself. But then, with majority of (five) planets placed in the Cardinal Zodiacal constellations you are equally an ambitious person who will desire worldly honour and prominence, and luckily for you, you were endowed with abilities to achieve your ambition.

Prominence of Mutable quality and Air Element in this chart are indications of a person with higher pitch of intelligence who can adapt to so many situations without being stressed unnecessarily. And GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY is present here. Although you are a Lady, with nothing-less than SEVENTY PERCENT of PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE in your Horoscope you can unexpectedly become aggressive, especially when issue of freedom is to the fore. Beside 70% of PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE in you, mighty Sun (an indicator of your inner-self) with Uranus (a great freedom lover) conjoined in SAGITTARIUS ( another freedom loving Star Sign) all these are pointers to greater love of freedom in your deeper-inner-self. And whoever is trying to curtail such unnecessarily may unexpectedly court trouble, because you will resist such.

With your natal Sun (your conscious self) and Moon/ Stellium (your emotional state/ sub-conscious self) placed in Sagittarius and Libra respectively, you are mainly a Sagittarian and partly Libran and that is to say basic characteristics of the two Star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 53

Oscar Pistorius Trial ... Oscar Pistorius Trial ... Oscar Pistorius Trial ...

Pistorius fought with murdered partner ‘non-stop’ W

ITNESSES claimed hearing a woman screaming and gunfire at the house of “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius the night he shot dead his model girlfriend, police have told a South African court.

Pistorius’s defence team undermined the reliability of the claims as the South African sporting hero sought bail for the Valentine’s Day killing that he insists was a horrible accident and not intentional, as prosecutors aim to prove.

Police also said yesterday that Pistorius had previously been arrested at his Pretoria home for assault, although he was not charged, and faced further charges of possessing an unlicenced gun.

A woman who lives in the same highly-secured Pretoria complex as Pistorius “heard talking that sounded like non-stop fighting from two to three

in the morning”, hours before she was killed, Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said.Another witness reported hearing gunshots, screams and then more shots, police said. ”We have the statement of a person who said after he heard gunshots, he went to his balcony and saw the light was on.

Then he heard a female screaming two-three times, then more gunshots,” Detective Hilton Botha said.But Pistorius’s legal team disputed these accounts as police said the witnesses were 300 metres from the house.

And the prosecution, which wants to prove that the Paralympian had deliberately planned to kill Steenkamp, was forced to admit that Pistorius’s claim that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder matched the crime scene.

FACE OF A KILLER? Oscar Pistorius breaks down in court as the trial into the murder of his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp began in a Pretoria court. Photo: AFP

Pistorius applied for six gun licences last month

Police retract testosterone claim The spokesman for the state prosecutor in the Oscar Pistorius case says there was an error in a detective’s testimony when he identified a substance police found in the athlete’s bedroom as testosterone.

Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecution Agency, said it is too early to identify the substance as it is still undergoing laboratory tests.

Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha, the investigating officer, said earlier today in court that police found testosterone and needles in the bedroom of the Olympic athlete.

Simasiku said it is “not certain” what the substance is.

Pistorius’ defense said the substance found was not a steroid or a banned substance but an herbal remedy.

C M Y K

P

A R A LY M P I C champion Oscar Pistorius reportedly applied for six gun licences a month before the death of his girlfriend Reeva S t e e n k a m p .

The 26-year-old, who has been charged with the premeditated murder of the model at his home in Pretoria last week by firing four shots through a bathroom door, has previously been open about the fire-

arms he owns due to the high level of crime in South Africa.

It is understood that the double amputee requested permission to use a Winchester shotgun, a Maverick shotgun, a Smith & Weston Model 500 revolver, a Mossberg shotgun, a .38 Special revolver and a Vector .223 rifle, according to the Daily Star.

Pistorius could flee if given bail — Botha

M

The late Reeva Steenkamp and Pistorius at an event

AGISTRATE Des mond Nair asked whether murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pisto-

Pistorius in extreme shock

M

Reeva's relative weeps

URDER-accused Paralympian Oscar Pistorius only started eating on Tuesday night, said his uncle Arnold.

“He only started to eat last night,” he told eNews Channel Africa on Wednesday.

“Carl and Aimee [Pistorius’ brother and sister] tell me they sit with him and he spends a lot

of time reading, especially reading the Bible, as his mother taught him.”

Pistorius has been under arrest since his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in his Pretoria home in the early hours of Thursday last week.

He has been charged with murder, and his bail application is un-

derway in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Arnold said this had been a tough time for the family, but they stood behind the athlete all the way.

He voiced concern over what he described as his nephew’s “public trial”.

“The case is [on]going and you can judge for yourself... the truth will prevail,” he said.

rius would flee South Africa if granted bail. “Yes”, replied investigating officer Hilton Botha. “It is possible, lifetime imprisonment is no joke.”

He said he knew of instances where people had fled to avoid spending even five years in jail.

Nair asked even if a person who had won Olympic gold would jeopardise his career before the case ended. Botha maintained that life in prison was “no joke”.

Pistorius’ bail application has been postponed to Thursday by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

A

Of Durban, raw eggs, juju and football

,

S CAF General Coordinator of Group A that had host South Africa, Cape Verde, Angola and Morocco , I was to move to Durban immediately after the opening ceremony and kick off in Johannesburg.

Durban is a beautiful city. Before January I was of the opinion that Durban was the third largest city in South Africa after Johannesburg and Cape Town.

But at a dinner for CAF members hosted by the Mayor we were told that Durban was in fact the second largest city, with a population of over 4 million people, the busiest port in South Africa and a centre of tourism, thanks to its warm sub tropical climate.

The Ushaka Marine World, Durban Botanic Gardens and Suncoast Casino and entertainment complex are some of the attractions of this heavenly city.

The Gateway Shopping complex, considered the largest shopping complex in Africa and the biggest in the Western Hemisphere is the delight of any lady. Ask my wife!

The Suncoast Hotel, the official CAF Hotel, like most South African Hotels was a study in hospitality, as you were tempted to descend in the evenings and saunter through the sprawling restaurants, marvel at the casinos and end up watching the latest movies. The only thing I have against this hotel is that the day I sent a suit for dry cleaning, they found a kerchief in one of its pockets, dry cleaned it too and billed me 6 Rand!. I told my wife that the hand kerchief should not be used in a hurry.

This is where I was to spend 25 days in January organising high tempo football because South Africa was involved and always attracted a full house including President Zuma..

After the opening ceremony, I knew that the possibility of my handling the closing ceremony depended on Nigeria’s qualification for the final!

Three other Nigerians were scattered all over South Africa, also with less prospects of hosting the Super Eagles. Dr Bolaji Ojo Oba was in Rusten-

In Durban, before the warm up, coach Sylvanus Okpalla noticed that a Malian had broken two raw eggs in the Eagles side of the field . . .

,

burg and the only way the Eagles could go there was if they came out runners up in Group D and this we had prayed against!

Aisha Falode was in Port Elizabeth, venue of the losers final. When the Eagles landed in Durban for the semi final, Aisha was to book a flight to Durban, because as she told Keshi and the boys in the dressing room, she was not ready to host them in Port Elizabeth. The next place she wanted to see them was in the final in Johannesburg.

I had the same experience. By virtue of the draw, the Eagles as expected Group D leaders were not expected in Durban, only for me to wake up and realize that they were heading my way for the semi final against Mali.

On the eve of the match, Ade Ojeikere, Tony Ubani, Timi Ebikagboro and Calistus Ebare paid me a visit in my office in the hotel. They said they had come to tell me that when the Super Eagles visited Dr Ojo Oba in Rustenburg, he “delivered” by making sure they did not falter in his zone.

That now that he had passed the baton to me, I had a responsibility to make sure “ he no spoil for my hand” besides Aisha was on her way because she did not want to see them in Port Elizabeth! I promised them that my story was to be a success one, conscious of the fact that the last time the Eagles appeared in Durban June 22, 2010, they could not beat Korea Republic to advance out of the Group stage of the FIFA World Cup. In Durban, the fears of Team Secretary Enebi were eliminated as the Eagles got to wear their preferred green jerseys with Enyeama’s all blue outfit in tow.

In Durban the Eagles played perhaps their most convincing match in the tournament, in Durban the tension between the technical crew and the NFF big guns was so visible that it weighed down on the usual robust ambience of Nigerians. In Durban, before the warm up, coach Sylvanus Okpalla noticed that a Malian had broken two raw eggs in the Eagles side of the field, so he was told to report to the CAF General Coordinator.

Before ordering the stadium authorities to clean up the grass,I took a picture of the eggs, interviewed the accused Malian who swore it was not him, but most importantly told the coach to keep the incident away from the players as I was convinced it was purely psychological and of no foundation.

At the end of the match as we marched back to the dressing room, I stole a glance at Sylvanus who responded “ I knew juju does not play football. I just wanted to bring it to your notice” Tomorrow, a look at the glory boys.

Isima's unfulfilled dreams – Okpala

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

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YLVANUS Okpala can’t believe that Okey Isima is gone forever.

Okpala’s savouring of the Nations Cup glory was halted Monday by the news of the death of the man he adored in their days at Onitsha and who was to become his bosom friend and room mate throughout their days in the Green Eagles.

Isima died in Abuja at the weekend few years after he returned from the USA where he lived after retiring from football.

He was a member of the 1980 Nations Cup squad and played from the left back position where he scored the only goal that beat Egypt in that tournament in Nigeria.

As far back as 1982, Isima and Okpala hit Europe to play professional football, marking what the media was to term the exodus of Nigerian players to Europe. However,this became prominent when Stephen Keshi led a train

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of Nigerian players to Europe much later.

“I can remember Isima for many things,” Okpala said yesterday while mourning the fallen star.

“He was my senior in football. We used to carry their boots at a popular play ground in Onitsha. It was a play ground that had up to five football fields at Fegge area of Onitsha. It was called Government Field. Football was serious during holidays and we all gathered there to watch them. “They had the likes of Christian Nwokocha who was the elder brother of Nnamdi Nwokocha, Sam Igwenagu, Nwachukwu Onyekwere called Macbeth etc. Later I was to join them and Isima and I became good friends.

When I joined Rangers he was my room mate and we shared the same room in the national team too.

Even during World Cup qualifying matches, Isima was my room mate.

“At the 1980 Nations Cup, coach Otto Gloria converted him to the left

It was a good one and he overlapped from the back to score. Isima worked hard in everything he did.

He had just started football business, trying to

raise an academy before death struck. He wanted to do a lot for Nigerian football by raising footballers in the academy.

That is unfulfilled now but it’s left for us all to ensure his dream does not die.”

Guinness relishes moment with Eagles •Wins Sports Brand Award for January

E

Late Oke Isima back. Before then, he was a midfielder who could play defensively and offensively. He was more of an attacking midfielder in Rangers.

“In 1982 we moved to Portugal. He went to Beleness and I went to Mar-

itimo. Later two of us played for Uniao. It was on Monday that I heard of his death and I’m still troubled. It is a big shock.

I have lost a dear friend and a brother. Nigeria has lost a gem in football. I still remember his Nations Cup goal against Egypt.

VEN Five days after their rousing welcome party organised in honour of the glorious Super Eagles by Guinness Nigeria Plc, the firm, one of the major sponsors of the team still relishes that moment with members of the team when they presented the African Cup of Nations trophy to the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Seni Adetu. at its corporate Headquarters, Ikeja According to Adetu, Guinness had at no point doubted the Super Eagles resilience and strong determination to counter the challenges before them at the tourney in South Africa.

“It is indeed great to be

here today. Our joy in Guinness Nig. Plc knows no bound, we are simply ecstatic”, Adetu said .

He continued “the Super Eagles have definitely made us proud, they have also made millions of Nigerians who shared Guinness’ conviction in the team proud. It is an elated moment for every one of us.”

Meanwhile, the company was announced winner of the maiden Sports Brand award for the month of January 2013.

“Guinness had the best Integrated Marketing Communications campaign during the period under review which included the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013 — 55

NPF vows to produce more stars for Nigeria •4,000 officers ready for Police Games

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EN schools partici pating in nine zonal centres have qualified for the quarter finals of the 2013 All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship tagged NNPC/Shell Cup which comes up March 1 and 2, 2013.

National Coordinator of the championship, SholaAkinwale who disclosed this in Lagos, said that all the zonal

BY TONY UBANI

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HE Nigeria Police Force yesterday brought refreshing hopes that would see Nigeria at the vanguard of sporting excellence in Africa when it pledged to produce officers who would win international laurels for the country.

Addressing the Press yesterday on activities for its 10th biennial Police Games which kicks off in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from March 3 to March 9, CP (Dr) Abimbola Macaulay, Chairman, Police Sports Planning Committee assured that the Force was determined to produce world stars for the country as it were in the past.

“We’re proud to produce eminent national and international sporting giants like CSP Chioma Ajunwa, who won Nigeria’s ever Olympic gold medal in her famous Long jump at the 1996 Athlanta Olympic Games, late SP Sunday Bada who was the anchorman of Nigeria’s relay quartet to the 2000 Sydney Olympics that won the country her third Olympic gold medal (after the disqualification of the American Team). SP Bada had earlier won the World Indoor Athletic Championship in 400 meters, the same year. The Police Games also prides itself of great athletes like the former World Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, DSP Samuel Peters . Re-

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centres produced one qualifier except Katsina which produced two because five teams were group in the centre.

Interestingly too, no former champion qualified for the quarter final with Oyo, Edo, Anambra, Ekiti, Enugu, Bauchi, Borno, Kano, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT producing teams for the knock out stage.

Tunisian ref Continues from BP

L:R - CSP Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s first Olympic Gold Medalist, Mr. Ade Adesina, General Manager, NPF Microfinance Bank, CSP Frank Mba, Force Spokesperson, Nigeria Police Force, Mrs Bridget Oyefeso Odusanmi, Head, Sponsorship and Events, First Bank Plc, CP (Dr) Abimbola Macaulay, Chairman, Police Sports Planning Committee and Mr. Offo, head of Corporate Communications, Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc at the Police Games Press Conference held in Lagos on Wednesday. nowned athletes like Eseme Ikpoto, Robert Ojo, Simon Oyebami, Mamman Makama and Anthony Oyakhire, all played key roles in respective Nigeria ’s teams to the Commonwealth Games at varying times. We’re ready to do it

again”, she said with pride.

The Police Games would feature 24 events at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium and Agabani Darego Sports complex. The sports include Athletics, Football, Volleyball, Bas-

ketball, Table Tennis, Judo, Hockey, Wrestling, Swimming, Weightlifing, Boxing, Tennis and Taekwando. Others are Kick-boxing, Golf, Tug-of –war, Chess, Squash, Shooting, Karate, Polo, Wushu kung fu, Badminton and Handball.

AFN sets up youth development camps

BY BEN EFE

A

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba has revealed plans to set up youth development camps in three zones of the

Osaze

Continues from BP sportsmen who cheat now doping control went from urine to blood test.”

Interestingly, Osaze had a public row with Keshi just before the Nations Cup in South Africa when the coach sensationally axed him from the Eagles.

Osaze also said his commitment to his club affected his relationship with former Eagles coach Samson Siasia.

“Very little thing made me fall out with exEagles coach Siasia, and that’s club commitment.

And that commitment

10 schools hit NNPC/Shell Cup q-finals

was questioned after,” Odemwingie tweeted.

“What did that teach me? You only a good guy and professional when you score and give your teams what they want.

They throw us out after.”

He added: “When I give all my heart and effort to a team and get overlooked after, how could I possibly be happy? Same in Eagles.

Same in WBA. “Well praised and most criticised at the same time. Something is wrong somewhere. And I bet it’s not in my attitude. I believe in transparency.”

country to groom young talents discovered from grassroots competitions.

Ogba who was speaking in Lagos stated that discussions are on with governments of some States in the South East, North and South West to aid the federation in its quest to pursue its “well thought-out” grassroots development programme

that will churn out quality athletes in the next five years.

“We are going to have three camps. We want the athletes that are discovered to be camped there and at the same time be going to school. So we have asked the State governments to help with schools we can put these kids.

Ambrose Continues from BP disclosed from his base that there was need to sustain the winning streak of the Eagles and his teammates must not allow complacency at this stage.

“We are still rejoicing for winning the Africa Cup of Nations but there is a greater task ahead which is the ultimate goal for country and players, the 2014 World Cup slated for Brazil,” Ambrose told Goal.com.

“Playing Kenya will

not be easy because I could remember they gave us a scare during the 2010 qualifiers but we weathered the storm then.

“We need to be very determined and continue to show our commitment and resilience to get the World Cup qualification ticket which I am very confident that we will get at the end of the qualifiers,” Ambrose disclosed.

semi-final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations between Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Jedidi who was speaking for the first time to football365.fr since the tournament stated that he did not collect any bribe as being insinuated. He

also refuted reports that he was expelled from the tournament.

“I did not meet or take money from any Ghanaian representatives.

It is difficult to see that people do not accept that I could make mistakes.

Jedidi admitted that he performed below expectations in that game.

Flying Eagles Continues from BP But the Nigeria U20s fought back thereafter and deservedly drew level in the 61st minute when Sharks forward Christain Pyabara finally smash home a rebound after his first attempt came off the post.

Skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun then extended the Flying Eagles lead in the 77th minute he jabbed home from inside the box after yet another flowing team buildup from the right.

Pyabara then made it 3-1 in the 81st minute when he headed home

a delightful cross from the left by Kingsley Madu.

The two teams will again square up on Friday night at the same venue.

The Flying Eagles will then depart for Tunis on Saturday morning to continue the build-up for the defence of their AYC crown.

Meanwhile chief coach of the team John Obuh has denied abandoning his team in protest of his unpaid salary. He explained that it was family matters that stopped him from traveling with team to Egypt.

Harambe Stars coach Continues from BP Burundi’s coach last February, will have a huge task of changing the team’s fortunes and making sure they improve their 126th position in the World according to Fifa, in the continent and in the Cecafa region.

While unveiling the Coach at Boulevard Hotel in Nairobi, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF)

President Sam Nyamweya said Amrouche is a great coach who understands African football.

The Belgian who handled Burundi 20072012, but quit because of poor working conditions said he was happy to become new coach of Kenya and hoped that all parties will work with him to improve the team.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

We must fight hard against Kenya — Ambrose He urged his

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ELTIC defender Efe Ambrose has said that Nigeria cannot afford to be complacent when they play against Kenya in March in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Watch your back, Osaze warns Keshi W

EST Brom striker O s a z e Odemwingie has warned coach Stephen Keshi he could soon be sacked even after leading Nigeria to AFCON glory.

“A coach the country is praising now will one day be sacked and to his achievements they will say: only one cup? I beg.” Odemwingie tweeted.

“Too much corruption in sports these days.

Because of few

colleagues to approach the match with all the seriousness it deserves to be able to win the match and brighten Nigeria’s chances in the march towards Brazil.

Still in celebration mood Ambrose

Continues on Page 55

Amrouche to lead Harambe Stars against Eagles

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ELGIAN-BORN coach Adel Amrouche was Wednesday unveiled as the new coach of Kenya and will be in charge when they face African champions Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier.

Group leaders Nigeria host bottom team Kenya in a Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier on March 23 in Calabar.

Amrouche, who quit as

Continues on Page 55

•Keshi

•Adel

I did not take bribe at AFCON, Tunisian ref insists

•Osaze

Continues on Page 55

•Efe Ambrose

F/Eagles down ‘Junior Pharaohs’ in Cairo T N IGERIA’s Under20 team the Flying Eagles gave an indication they are set to defend their 2011 African Youth

Championship title next month in Algeria, when they thrashed their Egyptian counterparts in Cairo yesterday.

The match played at

the Degla Stadium outside Cairo was staged to prepare both teams for AYC, starting off on March 16.

The hosts took the lead

PUZZLE

Continues on Page 55

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Leave (6) 5 Revolve (4) 8 Oarsman (5) 9 Donkey (3) 10 Animal (4) 11 Fever (4) 12 Elicit (5) 13 Ogled (6) 16 Stable (4) 18 Discharge (4) 20 Nourished (3) 22 Transgress (3) 23 Managed (3) 24 Broad (4) 25 Hurried (4) 28 Audacious (6) 30 Establish (5) 32 Dregs (4) 33 Tunny (4) 34 Tavern (3) 35 Enjoyed (5) 36 Girdle (4) 37 Thin (6)

DOWN 1 Fatal (6) 2 Plagued (8) 3 Assistance (6) 4 Censured (9) 5 Tutor (7) 6 Impel (4) 7 Want (4) 8 Fish-eggs (3) 14 Disagreed (9) 15 Can (3) 17 Tear (3) 19 Conjuror (8) 20 Suitable (3) 21 Lodge (7) 26 Material (6) 27 Means (6) 29 Block (4) 30 Dropped (4) 31 Defective (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 3, Other 9, Ratify 10, Volume 11, Freed 12, Alas 15, Nice 17, Destiny 20, Dot 21, Timid 23, Rein 25, Lido 26, Noble 28, Hew 30, Dreamed 33, Arid 35, Note 36, Boast 38, Ticket 39, Errant 40, Tardy.

How to Play Sudoku

•Jedidi

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

against the run of play in the 50th minute through a header by Ibrahim El-Sayid Elhadad off a corner.

Continues on Page 55

UNISIA referee, Slim Jedidi came under scrutiny after he generously gave Ghana a penalty, ignoring a foul on Jonathan Pitroipa whom he unduly gave a red card in the

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Bread 2, Atlas 3, Off 4, Tyrant 5, Even 6, Rod 7, Lurid 8, Beret 13, Learner 14, Stain 16, Coronet 18, Yield 19, Nil 22, Divan 24, Now 27, Erased 28, Haste 29, Wince 31, Molar 32, Death 34, Rota 36, Bet 37, Try.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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