PLANNED REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY: Don't play with fire,Labour, others tell FG

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61843

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

INCEST: How 49-yr-old man defiled daughter, grand-daughter •P.6

High Chief Bayo Akinnola passes on @ 78 •P.49

PLANNED REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY:

Don't play with fire, Labour, others tell FG

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, AHIUMA-YOUNG, OLA AJAYI, DAPO AKINREFON, IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI,GBENGA OKE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

•NLC, Afenifere, David-West, Sagay, NBA, Fasehun, Keyamo, Junaid Mohammed, L Reps, Aturu, others caution Jonathan

AGOS—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan’s insistence on removing fuel subsidy, a

matter that drove the polity to the edge of the precipice in January Continues on Page 5

•P.25

COLUMNISTS:

Is'haq Modibbo Kawu

•P.17

OCHEREOME NNANNA

•P.19

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

MADALA BOMB BLAST: Prime Suspect of Madala bomb blast, Kabiru Sokoto (R), led by Operatives of the Department of State Security at Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. See story on Page 14.

Bomb blast: Igbo in Kano on three-day mourning

•P. 47

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 —3

4— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

In his contribution, Lanre Odubote (ACN, Lagos) noted, “ yes, he is empowered but crude oil theft, vandalisation of pipeline, functional refineries and other challenges must be in place before withdrawal can be justified.”

PAINTING COMPETITION—The 13th Vision of The Child Painting Competition organised by Diamond Bank Plc in conjunction with Black and African Arts Festival press briefing took place at the Freedom Park in Lagos, yesterday. From Left: Mr Uzoma Dozie, Executive Director Diamond Bank; Prof Wole Soyinka, Chairman, Black Arts Festival; Dr Alex Otti, GMD/CEO Diamond Bank and Mrs Ayona Trimnell,Head, Corporate Communications, at the event. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Don't play with fire, Labour, others tell FG

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL: Continues from page 1 2012, is eliciting mixed reactions from all sections of the polity with Organised Labour and some leaders warning him not to dare Nigerians as doing so would be playing with fire..

Speaking at the 2013 Nigeria Summit on Tuesday in Lagos, President Jonathan unveiled a platform of economic development for the country, which he predicated on full removal of fuel subsidy.

Reactions to the president’s statement, yester-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Those who don’t learn from history will definitely repeat history, and end up being history.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

T

HINK of some of the people you like and are drawn to you. Now attempt to look at each of them as if you were seeing them for the first time, not allowing yourself to be influenced by your past knowledge or experience of them, whether good or otherwise. Look for the things in them that you may have missed because of familiarity. You cannot love what you cannot see afresh — Anthony De Mello Take note, that the people we meet in our everyday lives who rub us the wrong way are our teachers. When you have a feeling of dislike to someone, observe what is it in this person that you dislike, for it is your nature to love and love only; so try to do this with detachment and sincerity to yourself. Make sure of your objectivity and you will realise the defect you see in them may not be a defect at all, but really something that your upbringing and conditioning have led you to dislike and these are actually a reflection of your own self, faulty thinking and perception lies in not being aware. each person you live and work with, observe how each of them is transformed in your eyes when you look at them in a new way with reverence and love despite your differences. This is an infinitely more loving gift you can offer them than any act of service; for in doing this, you have transformed them as divine beings of love like yourself.

day, were varied. While some completely opposed it and warned that Jonathan was playing with fire, others backed removal of fuel subsidy.

And yet another group premised their support on conditions that must be met by the government.

There is nothing like fuel subsidy – David-West Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof.

Tam David-West advised President Jonathan not to rupture the peace of the country by increasing pump price of petroleum products.

Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, yesterday, the don said the increase of fuel price was nothing but fraud.

“I expected the President to have been converted by now that there is no subsidy and that it is all fraud. He should be converted to save the poor people from suffering. Even the government investigation has confirmed that there is no subsidy. The government has also given the public 10 different figures. The inconsistency of the government is like amoeba; the subsidy has no fixed shape. As

amoeba changes shape, so does President Jonathan’s fuel subsidy change. This shows that they are not sure,” he said.

Reps divided Members of the House of Representatives were divided over the issue.

While some lawmakers condemned the president’s planned total withdrawal of oil subsidy, some insisted that he could go ahead provided the rail transport, bad roads and oil refineries are fixed.

Chairman, House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Abiodun Faleke said: “It is absurd and should be rejected. What has been done with SURE P funds? He should concentrate on recovery of the looted funds by the subsidy thieves. He should block all loopholes in the subsidy process.”

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mohammed Ali Wudil, simply said, “on this I am totally against Mr President.”

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Zakari Mohammed, said: “This issue is rather too sensitive but we will treat it based on its merit on the floor of the House. We will not do anything on that issue until it is brought to us for deliberation.”

It’s uncalled for —Sagay

Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), chided President Jonathan’s insistence on removing fuel subsidy, saying such decision was uncalled for.

His words: “I think it is totally uncalled for and in my view it is an illustration that government is not learning from experience. I am sure the presidency has forgotten what happened in 2012 when he abruptly removed the subsidy. He seems to have forgotten. I don’t see why the head of the government will deliberately make up a crisis when there is none because that is what he is trying to do.”

Subsidy must go – Ikokwu Speaking on the matter, Second Republic politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, said subsidy must give way for the country to develop.

His words: “Subsidy will go. It has to go and it will go because we found out what we did not know before. Corruption has deepened in Nigeria because of the subsidy issue. The forces using subsidy to enrich themselves have become a powerful cabal and we will be living in false hope if we think we can live with them without checking them.

“There are things that can be done to lessen subsidy removal pains.

We need more refineries to refine more fuel internally, which makes fuel subsidy necessary. Sub-

sidy will be removed the moment we produce more fuel ourselves.

Why should 40 per cent of our national budget go for fuel subsidy? The National Assembly should make a law prescribing life imprisonment for those benefiting unjustly fro fuel subsidy.”

He’s playing with fire – Afenifere Also, Pan-Yoruba sociocultural organisation, Afenifere, called on the Federal Government not to toy with the idea of hiking fuel prices, saying he would be playing with fire if he dared it.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “He is threading on a dangerous ground and if he has a sense of an adequate interpretation of the situation, that is not an issue to toy with at all.

People are now suffering with the level of poverty in the country which has been deepened by laxity in government. At a time when he is pardoning crooks, he raised a sum of N6.2 billion for his Church in Bayelsa State. To now ask the people to pay more for fuel this time is playing with fire and he should shelve the idea.”

Don’t dare Nigerians – Labour Oganised Labour, yesterday, advised President Jonathan not to dare Nigerians with another fuel pump price hike, warning that the country was on the verge of a mass revolt and Nigerians were waiting for the slightest opportunity to vent their frustrations and anger on political leaders.

Speaking under the

Continues on page 16

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

3 Bolivians, 2 Nigerians docked over iilicit drug

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS — THREE Bolivians and two Nigerians have been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, for production, possession and illegal distribution of Methaphetamine, an illicit drug.

The Bolivians, Reuben Jorge, Yhugo Moreno and Yerko Dorado alongside Solomon Uzoka and Basil Ikechukwu are facing a threecount charge of engaging in the illegal production of Methaphetaminen, a narcotic similar to cocaine.

The prosecutor, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, told the court that the Bolivians were apprehended by officers of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on November 2011, following a tip off.

Meantime, trial judge in the matter, Justice Ibrahim Buba, has ordered the remand in prison custody of the accused persons, pending the commencement of their trial.

Bullion van driver in court for alleged theft of N17.3m

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — A 45-year-old bullion van driver, Olusegun Fatoki, was yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, for allegedly stealing N17.3 million, property of Guaranty Trust Bank.

Fatoki, who was docked before Magistrate Demi Ajayi, is facing a one-count charge bordering on stealing.

Fatoki was said to be a staff of the bank at the Adeyemo Alakija, Victoria Island branch where he worked as head of cash movement department.

The police prosecutor, Corporal Sunday Ibrahim, told the court that Fatoki allegedly stole $100,000 and 10,000 Euros, while he was on duty with five of his colleagues, who were off loading the money from other branches.

He said the crime happened on March 8, 2013, at Adeyemo Alakija, Victoria Island branch of the bank.

Ibrahim further claimed that Fatoki was inside the bullion van, while they were offloading the cash and he left the equivalent of N17.3 milion behind in the van.

The accused

The children

His wife

INCEST: How 49-yr-old allegedly defiled daughter, grand-daughter He threatened to blind me if I tell my mother —7-yr-old daughter My wife is lying — Accused

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — EMOTION ran high, yesterday, at the Oduduwa office of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikeja, following a starling revelation by a seven-year-old girl of how her father had been having carnal knowledge of her since she was six.

Aside this, her 49-year-old father, Sylvester Ehijire, who was paraded before newsmen, was also alleged to have had carnal knowledge of his one-year, three month-old grand daughter, in their one-room apartment, 13, Kolawole Street, Ejigbo.

The seven-year-old girl (names withheld) told a bewildered crowd that her father usually committed the sacrilege whenever her mother was away.

According to the primary three pupil,“every time my mother was not at home, my father will call me, dip his finger into my anus and his manhood inside my virgina. He would then promise to buy me biscuit and toy cars if I did not tell anybody. There is no Sunday that he did not do it.”

He threatened to blind me if I tell my mother Asked why she did not tell her mother, she replied: “Anytime I wanted to tell my mother, he would hold my mouth and remind me of the things he promised me.

But I would challenge him that he had never bought any of the things for me. At times when he finished and I threatened to tell my mother, he would tell me he would pluck out my eyes if I told anyone.

“Sometimes, he would even beat me whenever I attempted to open my mouth and also beat my mother with cane.”

Her 45-year-old mother, Mrs Ehijire, who hails from Iseleuku, Delta State, corroborated her daughter’s claim, disclosing that the abominable act became known in 2006 when her first child, (now married) informed her that her father had been having carnal knowledge of her.

“I travelled to Abuja for a catering job because I am a caterer. At about 1 a.m that fateful day, my daughter called me to say she had just been raped by her father. Then, she was 17 years old. I had to leave the job and travel back to Lagos the next day. I informed my husband’s parents but all of a sudden my in-laws turned against me, saying I was lying.

“This continued until I could no longer bear it. I had to leave the house with my children in 2007. But I came back in 2011, after entreaties by my in-laws.

“Since then, I did not know he was still doing it until my sevenyear-old daughter told me, saying he even threatened to blind her if she opened up to anyone.

“When I confronted him, he started beating me. I went to his family members at Okota to report again but they did not do anything.

"The height of the abominable act happened last Wednesday after when I returned home to meet my one-year three-monthold grand-daughter crying.

“In a bid to pacify the baby, I took her to the backyard for a bath only to discover that her pampers were stained with blood and semen.

“At that point, I screamed and alerted my co- tenants. That was the last straw. I quickly rushed to the Ejigbo police station to report the case.”

Asked why she did not make

an effort to protect her female children against such abuse, she explained that after reconciling with her husband in 2007, she usually left her daughter and grand-daughter in a creche until her return at about 6 p.m.

She said: “I gave a clear instruction to the proprietress never to allow anyone pick the children but me. But last Wednesday, I was told my husband went there and requested to pick them. Even when they resisted, he picked quarrel with them,asking if he had no right to pick his children.

“When I asked my seven-yearold daughter what happened thereafter, she told me that on reaching home, the father sent her and her elder brother who is nine to go and buy bread. She said when they returned, they met the net-door locked.

"While they were waiting for their father to open the door, the baby was yelling inside.

Neighbours at this point became suspicious because they were aware of his antecedents. They started banging on the door.

“When my husband opened the door, they said he was sweating.

One of them asked him to bring the baby and he did. They tried to pacify her to no avail. Can you imagine that my baby started crying from 3 p.m until 6 p.m when I returned.”

Medical test To ascertain the claim, policemen at Ejigbo reportedly took both children to the hospital where the medical result made available to journalists showed that both of them had their hymen broken.

While the report of the sevenyear-old read: "normal virginal and vulva, broken hymen (dis-

virgined), that of the one-year three month-old baby read: “ bruised perineum, hymen broken, absent.”

My wife is lying – Accused But when approached, Ehijire who hails from Uhumwonde area of Edo State, denied the claim, saying it was a mere ploy by his wife to ruin him.

He said: “She is only doing this because I am jobless. I used to be a truck driver. But when the truck engine had problem, I started staying at home. This was exactly what happened to our first daughter who is now married. My wife told the children to lie against me. I did not do it.

“What happened was that last Wednesday, I was at home when my two children came back from school. I told them to show me the creche where the baby was kept and I went to bring her, with the hope that I was helping my wife.”

He, however, told Vanguard in confidence that “I swear I did not know what is wrong with me. I believe this is not real. I believe something above the natural is using me to achieve its devilish purpose.”

A mild drama, however, ensued when all of a sudden his wife started pleading on his behalf, after she over-heard the command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, briefing journalists on the legal implication of the man’s act if he is found culpable.

At that point, Mrs Ehijire said she did not want her husband dead. “If he dies it will affect me as well. I want him to be dealt with and not be killed,” she said.

But Braide hinted that the suspect would be charged to court soon.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—7

Teacher, wife die after a meal of pigeon pea

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — A SUMPTUOUS dinner has reportedly sent a couple to their grave in Arigidi Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government area of Ondo State.

The death of a Primary School teacher, Alhaji Awogbemi Akadiri and Busili Awogbemi, according to sources, occurred early Monday morning.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased, on that faithful night, ate pigeon pea with pap for dinner before they both retired to bed but did not wake up the following day.

Awogbemi, aged 55, was until his death a member of Nasfat Islamic organisation and a teacher at Holy Rosary Primary School in the town.

A neighbour to the deceased who spoke in confidence said: “Nobody could believe what happened because on Sunday, we saw both of them hale and hearty and there was no sign that such a thing would happen. It is

still a mystery to everybody in the town.“ The source said it was the wife that prepared the dinner for the family. But our source could not confirm if other members of the

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI — VIOLENCE erupted again, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday, as gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect shot dead a tea vendor (name withheld) at his Maduganari T-junction shop at 6.30am.

Maduganari is one of the peaceful areas of Maiduguri Metropolis, until of recent that it witnessed two killings by suspected terrorists.

The gunmen, according to an anonymous eyewitness, came in a tricycle from the Maduganari neighbourhood and fired four shots into the vendor’s head and chest, he died immediately.

He said: “We were waiting at this bus stop, when gunmen in a tricycle fired several gunshots at the tea shop, 55 metres away and people started running in different directions, before soldiers rushed to the scene at 7am and evacuated two other people injured by stray bullets to the hospital.

"The area was also condoned off to prevent further attacks and killings, but the gunmen had already fled into the neighbourhood without being arrested."

Our correspondent also learnt the tea vendor was in January threatened with a warning letter to vacate the area, but the reason to vacate the neighbourhood was, however, not stated in the threat letter of the Islamists sect.

Ogodo, confirmed the death of the couple, adding, however, that police were still investigating the matter.

He said nobody had been arrested.

Petroleum tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of fuel which crashed into a residential building at Danmagaji in Zaria, Kaduna State, Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Hermaphrodite causes stir in Sapele

BY GODWIN OGHRE

Gunmen kill S tea vendor in Maiduguri

family partook in the dinner.

The corpses of the couple have been deposited at the specialist hospital in Ikare.

Contacted, the state Police command image maker, Wole

APELE — The police in Sapele, yesterday, saved an hermaphrodite who is partly man and partly woman, from being lynched by a mob, when the figure suddenly showed up along New Ogorode road, by Total Filling Station, in Sapele.

An eye witness said the incident led to traffic jam along Sapele/Warri ever busy expressway and the New Ogorode road as commuters and

drivers stopped to catch a glimpse.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the fellow was completely naked, with hair covering most part of the body and a mustached face like a man but with a pair of big size breasts dangling on the chest as well as female and male private parts side by side in the pubic area.

Shortly the crowd began to swell as more people trooped in to catch a glimpse until some attempted to lynch the fellow but

for the timely intervention of the police who arrived the scene and whisked the fellow away in a police car.

At the Sapele Police Area Office where the fellow was taken, he identified himself as Pastor Henry Enuta but refused to disclose his mission nor why he was naked.

All efforts to get words from him by newsmen failed as the fellow only occasionally shook his head regretably.

The DPO of the Sapele Police Station, CSP Kenneth Akubue confirmed the rescue of the fellow.

Police uncover fake drugs factory in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN & UJU MBANUSI

L

AGOS — POLICEMEN attached to Ejigbo division in Lagos have uncovered a fake drug manufacturing outfit in the areas, recovering large quantity of counterfeit drugs which are distributed to pharmaceutical stores across the nation.

Arrested was the alleged manufacturer, a 58-year-old man who said he learnt the skill in India.

Recovered from the factory situated at 5, Arochukwu Street, Ilamoshe, Ejigbo, were five large cartons of fake Zentel tablets, thousands of packs of Zentel tablets and a large quantity of printed packets for packaging Postinor tablets.

But the suspect, Nne Ikenna, who was paraded, yesterday, by the image maker of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, denied manufacturing the drugs, saying he only packaged them.

Ikenna said: “The drugs are not fake. They are effective. I use them myself and they work for me.

I even administered them on my children.

“I repair machines for pharmaceutical companies and I’ve even worked in a company in India. I, however, do not produce the drugs. The machines

are owned by one Uche who brought them for repairs but he left them in my workshop and told me to assist him in packaging the drugs.

For each drum of drugs I package, he pays me N20,000 and N35,000 for using my place every month. I don’t market the

drugs neither do I produce, I only package them.”

He also revealed that the drugs were imported from India and China, adding that he seized the last goods the said Uche brought, following his refusal to pay him for previous job done.

Explaining how he was

3 killed in intra-communal clash

BY BOSE ADELAJA

L

AGOS— THREE people were feared dead while several others were injured, yesterday, during a communal clash at Bayeku in Igbogbo/ Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Also, movement in the area was halted for hours as people scampered to safety during the clash that lasted for about two hours.

Prior to that day, two families, the Ajibodes and Ayetoros, who have been jostling for ownership of Ayetoro village, a community in Bayeku, were said to have recorded series of clashes as a result of land ownership until the clash, yesterday, gathered

momentum when some land grabbers believed to have been hired by the Ajibodes arrived the village around 2pm with dangerous weapons.

According to eye an witnesses, the land grabbers on arrival, barricaded the entire village and put it in disarray.

In the process, the Ayetoros felt uncomfortable with the happenings and engaged the hoodlums in a reprisal attack but this was too late as the Ajibodes gained supremacy and killed three members of the Ayetoros including the son of the Baale of Ayetoro. Also, several others were said to have sustained injuries.

Eye witnesses said Policemen from Igbogbo division arrived the scene and moved the corpses to the mortuary.

54-yr-old monarch arraigned for kidnapping

BY EMMA UNA

C

ALABAR — A 54-yearold traditional ruler in Calabar, Muri Maurice Eyo, two others said to be his accomplices, Francis Orok and Eyo Okon, were, Tuesday, arraigned before a Calabar Magistrate Court for kidnapping.

In the first of the four-count charge brought by ASP Augustine Timin at Magistrate Court 3, presided over by Magistrate Kate Ephraim, the three were alleged to have conspired to commit felony on May 23 at Eneobong Avenue in Calabar South by kidnapping Muri Francis Effa Bassey, Chief Archibong Effanga and Chief Effnaga Egfio Henshaw, an offense punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code.

On count three, the traditional ruler was singled out and charged for failing to use his powers to prevent the kidnap of the three traditional rulers.

Muri Francis Eyo who pleaded not guilty was given conditions to be fulfilled before being granted bail. These include that the person must be a civil or public servant on grade level 15 and must own a landed property .

Fire kills mother, 5 children in Kaduna

D

ANBABA (KADUNA )– A mother, Mrs Zuwaira Yakubu, and her five children were burnt to death in the early hours of Tuesday in Danbaba village, near Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

An eyewitness disclosed this, yesterday, when Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family.

The father of the children, Imam Yakubu, was too distraught to speak.

The eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the fire occurred when Zuwaira carried a kerosene lantern close to a generator.

He said the fire razed the house completely.

The governor directed that the burnt house be rebuilt.

He also ordered that a well be provided for the family.

Yero told newsmen that the visit was to commiserate with the family and the people of the village on the “tragic” loss.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Otedola vs Farouk: Court adjourns suit indefinitely

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—JUSTICE Pe ter Kekemeke of the Abuja high Court, yesterday, adjourned further hearing in the suit between oil mogul, Femi Otedola and the embattled erstwhile Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawan, indefinitely.

The court took the decision following an appeal that was lodged before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal by the embattled lawmaker.

Farouk had gone to the appellate court to challenge the jurisdiction of the high court to entertain the action which he said was incompetent and baseless.

In a motion for stay of action, his lawyer maintained that the trial judge erred in law when he assumed jurisdiction to hear the case despite separate preliminary objections that were filed both by himself and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Man, 36, jailed for touching a lady's breast

A

BUJA—A 36-year-old man, Abdulkareem Abdulsalam, was yesterday sentenced to two months in prison for indecent assault by a Senior Magistrate Court in Karu, FCT. Police Prosecutor Stephen Eimoga told the court that on March 19 at about 9 a.m, one Juliet Sunday, 18, of Karu Village reported the matter at Karu Police Station.

“On March 18 at about 6 p.m., Sunday was coming out from the bathroom and Abdulsalam also of Karu Village, assaulted her by holding her breast without her consent,” Eimoga said.

He said the offence contravened provisions of section 285 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.

Citing section 157 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Eimoga applied for summary trial of the accused.

Asked if he had any cause to show why the court should not convict him, the accused pleaded for leniency.—NAN.

Oteh: Lawmakers remain adamant over 2013 budget amendment

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH BUJA—HOPES of seamless implementation of the 2013 budget fizzled yesterday following insistence of President Goodluck Jonathan that the National Assembly must reconsider its tough stance and approve funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. President Jonathan asked the lawmakers to remove the clause asking the Accountant General of the Federation to furnish the National Assembly with details of funds released to any agency of government.

Jonathan told the lawmakers that those conditions were unnecessary and could halt the executive from working effectively.

It was learnt, however, that the request from Jonathan was not likely to be granted by the lawmakers, who had vowed never to revisit the Oteh matter.

A senior member of the National Assembly said while members might be willing to reconsider other issues raised by the President on the controversial budget, the issue of Oteh and SEC would never be revisited.

The member, who heads a powerful committee, pointed out that there was no need for the issue to be brought back by the executive after they had resolved not to approve any amount for SEC until the embattled DG was removed.

He said: “Look, let me tell you that most of our members may not be ready to be blackmailed by the Oteh issue and would therefore keep a safe distance from that matter.

“As far as we are concerned, Oteh is a closed case. That woman is not qualified to head SEC and we will insist she leaves the place.”

Indication that the amendment being sought by the President had run into trouble emerged as members began to murmur as the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal was reading the letter sent to the National Assembly.

A

Recurrent expenditure

One lawmaker wondered why the President preferred to make recurrent expenditure higher than the capital vote, thereby giving less value to Nigerians.

The members were also worried that the Presidency has refused to rollover the funds not utilised in the 2012 budget but wanted the lawmakers to forget about the projects that were not completed.

“It appears to us they are frustrating the rollover of our projects for which money was appropriated but not backed by cash release.

“That is why we want to know what happened to the money in the previous budget,” a senior lawmaker noted.

Although the amendment was read, no date was however set for discussion in plenary, which some

believe would be stormy.

The thorny issues, which the President sent back to the National Assembly were the same that led to over two months of disagreement between the lawmakers and the Presidency.

Meanwhile, members had pleaded with Jonathan to assent to the appropriation bill and forward an amendment to them for immediate passage instead of withdrawing his signature from the fiscal document, with far-reaching consequences for Nigerians because of several areas of disagree-

ment.

While the Presidency has kept mute over the oil benchmark of $79 per barrel, it is unwilling to accept a zero budget for Oteh and the condition that the OAGF should brief the National Assembly on all releases to MDAs.

Landmines

Jonathan, it was gathered, had accused the lawmakers of laying landmines for him in the budget and had vowed to keep a safe distance from the document until the lawmakers as-

sured him that they would accept an amendment from the Villa and give the reviewed document an accelerated passage.

It was with that assurance that Jonathan reluctantly signed the budget two weeks ago, ending months of deadlock with the lawmakers.

But the revised budget from the Presidency tabled before the lawmakers on Tuesday, has not addressed the areas complained about by the lawmakers, thereby setting the stage for another long drawn debate over the fiscal document.

From right: Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum; Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy; Marianne Mazou, EMEA Conferences Director of the Economic Events and Mark Eddo, Co-Chair, Economic Events Nigeria Summit during the Nigeria Summit at the Eko Hotels Lagos.

Northern CAN condemns Kano blast

BY SAM EYOBOKA

C

HRISTIAN Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 Northern states and Northern Christian Elders Forum have condemned the violent blasts that have left scores of people dead in Kano, as well as a motion at the House of Representatives, calling on the Federal Government to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram.

Spokesman for the group, Elder Sunday Oibe, told newsmen yesterday that the group condemned the motion, saying that the arguments of the mover of the motion were suspicious because the South West which he represents has a large number of Muslims. “Why have they not allowed their own children to join Boko Haram? Or is there no poverty in the South West?”

Similarly, Chairman of NOCELF, Evangelist Matthew

Owojaiye, while condemning the coordinated bomb attacks in Kano and other places said: “These people just want to plunge the nation into another conflagration. They want to provoke the Ibos and set the country on fire again. Could it be that the perpetrators are just looking for an opportunity to throw the nation into another civil war by provoking the Ibos in the North?” Owojaiye asked rhetorically.

According to him, for the theory of poverty to hold water, there must be certain questions the masses in the North must ask themselves; “certain individuals like Governor Rochas Okocha made his money from the North and in return established empowerment projects including schools in the place.

“What have all the northern leaders who have held the nation captive over the years, done to improve the lot of the people from that region? Until the mass-

es rise up to say enough is enough, I am afraid, this regime of violence may not stop.”

Angered by the report from the House of Representatives, Oibe asked: “What is the offence of the victims of Boko Haram attacks in the North? If you grant amnesty to the Boko Haram members what becomes of the countless widows, motherless babies and burnt churches and business premises that litter every part of the region?”

Elder Oibe said Christians have vehemently opposed the Sultan’s call for amnesty, adding that CAN also gives thumbs down for the call for the removal of JTF from the North East, noting that the latest violence avidly counters such calls.

According to him, the Borno Elders are nothing but a bunch of failed politicians who are seeking relevance through an amnesty agenda which is why they are clamouring for funds to rehabilitate themselves.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—9

Terrorism: Britain to partner Nigeria

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—THE British govern ment has vowed to help Nigeria reduce terrorism particularly in the northern parts of the country, just as it condemned the level of insecurity following activities of members of the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking yesterday when he paid a visit to the Wuse private residence of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock said as he assumes office in Nigeria, his government would pay attention to three key areas of security, prosperity and development for Nigeria.

According to him, security has been placed on the top burner against the backdrop of its importance, adding that once there was insecurity, where the unity and continued existence of the country was threatened, investment and growth would in turn be held to a standstill.

Pocock noted that for Nigeria to achieve what he described as industrial revolution, there was the urgent need for the power sector to be privatized to enable the private sector take charge of the economy which will in turn lead to growth and development in all its ramifications.

The new British high commissioner also promised that in line with Nigeria’s history with Britain, the British government has concluded plans to key into the Centenary celebration where Nigeria would roll out drums to mark 100 years of nationhood.

Earlier, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur noted that the envoy was not invited for politics and business, but the visit was to enable him socialize with him, interact with him as well as welcome the new High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Tukur, however, told his guest that Nigeria and Britain have a long history of relationship that must be sustained in trade and investment, adding that the lost glory of some companies like Costain that were owned by Britain in Ni-

geria and have long become moribund, must be revived.

At the meeting which was tagged get together were former

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia; Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Malaifa; Acting National Sec-

retary of PDP, Onwe Solomon Onwe; Honourable Ndidi; the new South Africa High Commissioner, among others.

Mali operation: AU takes over from ECOWAS

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

From left: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, and Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Power: Nigeria gets 24m Euro grants from EU, Germany

BY NOEL ONOJA

A

BUJA—THE European Union, EU, and the German Agency, GIZ, have agreed to provide grants worth about 24 million Euro to boost Nigeria’s Energy Support Programme, NESP. While the EU is willing to offer 15million Euro, the GIZ is offering nine million Euro.

Speaking at the Nigerian– German Energy Programme, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said the proposed grant will assist the Federal Government to achieve core objective of privatization of the sector.

He said the EU fund would not be utilized to build plants, but could be used to provide pilot schemes and other related projects in at least nine locations spread evenly across the country.

While ensuring the donors that the grants would be judiciously utilized, he said, “We

VACANCY

A reputable pharmaceutical company based in Asaba, Delta State with outlets in major cities of Nigeria requires two (2) licensed and experienced pharmacists for immediate employment, to undertake community pharmacy practices within Asaba and its environs.

Attractive salary and fringe benefits, including free accommodation, etc. await the right person for this position.

Interested applicants should forward curriculum vitae to: The Advertiser Email: community_pharm@yahoo.com or Call 08026714776

to reach him within two (2) weeks of this publication.

need more support and partnership from Germany and the rest of the world, donor agencies, development partners and the EU as we do not have the capacity to solve the problems alone.”

In the area of capacity building, he said there is a huge gap in practically all aspects of power, hence government in postprivatized power sector must stand firmly to close the gap to realise its privatization objectives.

He added that the energy sector remained the key issue in the German–Nigerian relations, while recalling agreements and Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and President

Goodluck Jonathan, the Permanent Secretary said the Germans will assist in diversifying Nigeria’s energy.

He said the country is naturally endowed with solar, bio mass and hydro energy resources, adding that there are 254 dams in Nigeria, and only a few had turbines provided in their designs; even at that the turbines are not activated, hence they are not in use.

“Noting that the level of renewable energy use in Nigeria is minimal in spite of our endowment, he commended past donor agency’s assistance in providing grant for Millennium Development Goals projects on energy mapping in the 774 Local Government Areas across the country”.

720,228 jobs created in housing sector in 2012 — Minister

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—VARIOUS re forms in the housing sector have created 720,228 jobs in 2012, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple said.

In a presentation to the Federal Executive council on the performance of her ministry last year, the minister also revealed that the ministry through its agencies built 8,069 units of houses across the country.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal executive council, Ms Pepple who was represented by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mahel Ibrahim said the Federal Executive Council also approved N1 billion to upgrade slums in Kano,

Badia in Lagos, Port Harcourt in Rivers, Kogi and Abia.

He noted that while 2, 141 Certificate of Occupancies were issued by the ministry and her agencies for Federal Government houses, the Federal Government has also concluded plans with the World Bank to establish a Mortgage Refinancing Company to deliver mortgages to Nigerians.

In his remarks, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said one of the key achievements of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was the review and approval of new housing policy in 2012 and Council commended the Housing Minister's drive to deliver housing through public private partnership.

BUJA—THE Afri can-led International Support Mission to Mali, AFISMA, which was initially under the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is now an African Union, AU, mandate.

The transition from ECOWAS to AU followed a review of the mission’s concept of operation by the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.

A statement by the Defence Headquarters, explained that “The new development was made known by AFISMA’s Force Commander, Nigeria’s Major General Shehu Usman Abdulkadir in Bamako, Mali.

According to him, the implication of the decision is that there is now a widening of participation by brother-African countries in the prosecution of AFISMA operation.

Teacher bags 6-month jail for stealing phone

A

BUJA – A Christian Religious Studies teacher, Honest Alam, was yesterday sentenced to six months imprisonment by a Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court for stealing a Techno handset worth N5,000.

The court gave Alam, 29, who works at Covenant Nursery and Primary School located in Kpeyegyi Community in the FCT, an option of N25,000 fine.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Oyeyipo Ademuyiwa, pronounced the sentenced after finding the accused guilty of the one-count charge of theft under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

Ademuyiwa based his decision on the testimony of the complainant, Mr Endurance Abode, who said the accused admitted stealing the phone during the trial.

Alam was arraigned on Jan. 17, by the police in Jikwoyi, a Satellite town in the FCT.

10—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Dragnet, BusinessDay partner on job fair

D

RAGNET Solutions, Nigeria’s leading erecruiting and computerbased testing firm, will partner BusinessDay for the 2013 BusinessDay Job Fair.

The fair, holding from March 27 to 28, at the Landmark Event Centre, is aimed at building capacity for Nigerian graduates and will create a platform for graduates and potential recruiters to interact.

Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director, Dragnet Solutions, Mr. Robert Ikazoboh, said the fair, which would feature organisations from different sectors of the economy, was an opportunity for both corporate bodies and job seekers to experience the e-recruiting concept, which he described as the future of recruiting in Nigeria.

He said: “This fair is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring recruiters and job seekers together and expose them to the gains of e-recruiting.

"As the paradigm is shifting globally with respect to the recruiting process, Nigeria has to be a part of the revolution."

Inauguration

C

HRIST International Divinity College, CINDICO, Erinmo, Osun State, Lagos Campus, will inaugurate its Alumni Association on Saturday, March 30.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. J. A. Abegunde, told newsmen that the inauguration will hold at the premises of Christ Apostolic Church, Agbala Itura, Ile-Epo, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Oke-Odo, by 11.00am prompt.

General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, and the Founder of CINDICO Prophet Samuel Abiara and other dignitaries would grace the occasion.

Prophet S. K. Abiara.

MEETING: From left— Prince Lanre Tejuoso, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment; Mr. Fancois Sostourne, Consul-General, French Embassy; Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, wife of Ogun State Governor; Mr. Marcel Hochet, CEO of Schneider Electric, and President of Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Segun Odubela, Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, during a strategy session at the embassy office in Lagos.

Jonathan, PDP plotting APC's fall — Tinubu 'We made President's Borno, Yobe visits possible'

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

L

A G O S — N AT I O N A L leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, accused President Goodluck Jonathan and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of plotting to destabilise the newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC. He also said members of the newly-formed APC paved the way and gave President Jonathan and his team the courage to visit the violenceravaged Borno State.

Tinubu argued that members of APC went to Borno and Yobe states, against all odds and security reports allegedly orchestrated by PDP to distract the 11 APC governors that visited the state, after which the president visited the state.

The former Lagos State governor spoke through ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the commissioning of ApapaIganmu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, ultra-modern council secretariat, at Ijora Badia, Lagos.

He said: “APC is not two months old yet, but Jonathan has since then became uncomfortable. For several years, he has refused to visit Maiduguri, but because some of our governors in the APC visited the place and they were welcomed, he also decided to visit the place.

“Eventually he was disgraced. He went there to say what he was not supposed to say. The President got to know that our APC governors were going to visit Borno and Yobe so they told the SSS to convince us not to go there

due to security threats.

‘PDP sponsored APCs’

“We went there without any issues and we donated N200 million to the people.

We discovered that PDP is behind all the sponsored APCs that have surfaced since we formed our party.

“The original APC was formed on February 6 and we no longer have six governors. They are now 11.

On the threats from by the newly-formed APC, Tinubu said PDP had used all forms of antics to discourage them against the party and that they would not work.

He also stressed that APC was in alliance with Governor Rochas Okorochas of Imo State's APGA and "not the PDP version of APGA." He said: “They have been talking about other fake APCs, but we must let them know that the only recognised and original APC is the one formed by the ACN, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; and All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. “We have alliance with the original APGA from Governor Rochas Okorocha and not the PDP version of

APGA. Initially, they said the alliance won’t work and that there won’t be agreement between us.

“But we have put them to shame and now they are no longer comfortable. We are progressing and we are already out with our logo.”

Tinubu, however, used the occasion to disclose that the National Convention of ACN will hold on April 18.

He said: “By then we will let our members know and seek their indulgence to become APC. Afterwards, we will write the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to inform them that we have become APC.”

Lagos First Lady speaks

First Lady of Lagos, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, said the commissioning of the building further vindicated the decision to create additional local government under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She said: “Today’s celebration has further vindicated the decision to create additional local government under the visionary leadership of our father, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of

our party, Action Congress of Nigeria.

“Definitely, without any iota of doubt, governance has been brought closer to the people at the grassroots.

“As we celebrate the progress that has been recorded in governance at the local government level through the inauguration of this complex, it is very important for all staff who will occupy the office spaces, to be aware that the new conducive working environment must translate into effective and efficient service delivery.”

Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Samuel Adedayo, in his speech, urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to consider the interest of those affected by the demolition in Ilu Eri area of the LCDA, in the redevelopment plan assured by the state government.

He said: “It is indeed worrisome that in spite of our close proximity to the economic nerve centre of the nation, substantial number of our people still live in slums.

“There is so much prosperity around us yet our people live in abject poverty. The time for change is now and it begins with reorientation.”

Lagos to reduce GHG emission by 45%

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS has commenced ef forts to reduce Green House Gas, GHG, emission by 45 percent in the state by 2030.

The transport sector is said to be responsible for much of the emissions.

Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area

Transport Authority, L AMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who made the remarks, said by 2030, emission from commercial yellow buses, known as danfos, and commercial motorcycles, Okada, was expected to be at zero level if all the propositions in the state’s transport master plan were implemented.

According to Mobereola,

by the Lagos Air Quality Monitoring Study conducted by the Authority between 2007 and 2009, it was discovered that vehicles contribute approximately 43 percent of ambient air pollution in Lagos.

Mobereola spoke through the Technical Adviser, Transport Planning, LAMATA, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, at the just concluded 5th Lagos State Summit on Climate Change.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—11

More ghost workers uncovered in Ondo

Ekiti varsity expels 50

Pupils in LGs' payroll Cost state govt N500m monthly

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—CONTRARY to earlier reports, 10,000 ghost workers instead of 6,000,

were uncovered by Ondo State government in the 18 local government councils of the state.

Already, chairmen of coun-

cils where unauthorised recruitment of unqualified workers or non-existing individuals’ names were used to defraud the local councils

BOOK LAUNCH: From left— Rev. Julius Adeniji, President, Lagos West Baptist Conference and Book Editor; his wife Mary, and Mr. Wale Abegunde, Chief launcher, during the launch of a book, Team Strategy an Effective Technique for Church Expansion, by the Conference and secretariat fund raising for the Church, in Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

Investors pay N73bn for PHCN successor firms

BY EMMA UJAH

E

LEVEN bidders for the successor companies of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, have paid $469, 031,940.46 (about N73,638,014,580 billion), representing the mandatory 25 percent of the offer of their bids.

The deadline for the payment of the initial deposit expires today.

It was learnt that the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, received payments from seven investors yesterday, to beat the deadline. Five others paid earlier.

The bidders that paid the mandatory 25 percent of the bid value, yesterday are: Vigeo Consortium, the preferred bidder for Benin Distribution Company, which paid USD $32.25; Transcorp/Woodrock Consortium, $75 million for Ughelli Power Plc; CMEC/EUAFRIC Energy JV, $50,249,965 for Sapele Power Plc; Kann Consortium, $41 million for Abuja Distribution Company; Aura Energy, $20,464,968.15, for Jos Distribution Company; Mainstream Energy Ltd, $59,467,500, for Kainji Power Plc; and Sahelian Power SPV, $34.25million for Kano Distribution Company.

Other bidders that had earlier paid the mandatory 25 percent are Amperion Power Company Limited, USD$33 million for

Geregu Power Plc; Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Company, USD$42.25 million for Ibadan and Yola Distribution Companies and for Ibadan and Yola Discos respectively; NEDC/KEPCO, the preferred bidder for Ikeja Distribution Company, USD$ 32.75 million and USD$14.75 million, respectively; and West Power & Gas, USD$33.75 million for Eko

Distribution Company.

Payment is expected from Power Consortium (PortHarcourt Disco); Interstate Electrics Limited (Enugu Disco); and North-South Power Company (Shiroro Power Plc).

National Council on Privatisation, NCP, had on October 23, 2012 announced its approval of the preferred bidders for the PHCN successor companies.

are being investigated.

According to the outcome of a staff audit committee set up by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, over 6,000 of them were junior staff, while 4,000 were in the senior cadre.

It will be recalled that the House of Assembly recently suspended some council chairmen in the state for failure to carry out staff audit.

This, according to investigation, spurred the state government to set up the staff audit which later discovered the fraud.

The staff audit also discovered “unauthorised recruitment of unqualified workers or non-existing individuals whose names were being used to deduct salaries from the local government accounts on monthly basis.”

It was discovered in the course of the audit committee’s investigation that the difference in nominal roles of the local councils between December 2008 and December 2012 was over 10,000 staff claimed to have been employed.

Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Rotimi Adelola, said the fraud, which caused government between N400 and N500 million naira monthly to augment salaries in the third tier, was worrisome.

He said: “The names given as workers recruited at the time of the illegal recruitment are fictitious being used by the council operators to defraud the state.

"And the few names that could be traced are those of school pupils and family friends who collect salaries for rendering no service.”

50% of Nigerians at risk of heart diseases

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & MONSUR OLOWOOEJO

A

S Nigeria, yesterday, joined the rest of the world to mark the 2013 World Oral Health Day, Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Dental Association, NDA, raised alarm that over 50 percent of Nigerians were at risk of heart-related diseases.

They called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the newly-formulated National Oral Health Policy aimed at improving oral healthcare in the country.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, spoke at the flag-

off of the Lagos World Record Tooth-Brushing Challenge to mark the World Oral Health Day, on the theme Healthy Teeth for Healthy Life, 2020 Begins Now, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

He said: “One of the unspoken complications of poor dental hygiene is heart disease.

"A lot of people do not know that if you do not take care of your teeth, if you don’t brush your teeth and visit the dentist at least once a year, you may be prone to getting a heart disease which may kill you.

“The mouth is actually one of the passages into the body from where we take nourishment and other things. We

have a big gap between the educated and the non-educated members of our community in the importance of dental health.

“The way we brush our teeth have been trivialised to the point that over the years as we get older we build germs, we build bacteria and we build diseases in our mouths that may kill us without our knowledge.

“Due to this neglect, we are marking the world oral health day with the intention to sensitise Lagosians on the need to brush their teeth twice daily.

"Nigerians would understand that as they place much attention to their diet, oral hygiene mustn’t be abandoned.”

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO-EKITI—NO fewer than 50 students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, have been expelled for alleged examination malpractice, among other crimes.

The students, mainly from the part-time unit of the institution, were said to have committed the offence during the first semester examination.

They were said to have been found guilty by a disciplinary committee set up by the management of the university.

The students were said to have committed the offence in connivance with some of the officials of the university.

Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr. Olubunmi Ajibade, confirmed this development and said the list of the affected students would be made public soon.

Vanguard gathered that two more students were arrested on Monday during the ongoing second semester examination for alleged impersonation and complicity.

Lagos Assembly probes council boss

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS—LAGOS State House of Assembly has set up a seven-man ad-hoc committee to investigate allegation of misappropriation of public funds leveled against Surulere Local Government Council Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Ajide.

This was sequel to petition forwarded to the House by the Legislative Council, entitled Resolution of Surulere Legislative Council Notification/ Request for Approval to Commence Suspension Process Against the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Mr. Tajudeen Ajide.

Some members, who spoke on the matter, wanted the council boss to step aside pending the determination of the matter by the Assembly.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Boat mishap: We were in water for three days —Survivor

BY EMMA UNA

C

ALABAR—TWENTY-SEVEN people were rescued in the boat mishap, which occurred at Malabo, 40 nautical miles off the Calabar water ways on March 15, Vanguard has learnt.

Mr. Olayemi Abass, Coordinator of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, said, yesterday, in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, that the survivors were rescued by Adax Oil, which has an oil rig in the area.

He said: “Some of the survivors were taken to Oron and two brought to Calabar. Those in Calabar are receiving treatment at Bakorm Medical Centre, Calabar.”

At Bakorm Medical Centre, one of the survivors, who gave his name as Kieve Sani, a Togolese, said the boat started its ill-fated trip at 9am on Friday and sank at 3pm, adding that they were on the sea until 3 pm on Sunday, before help came their way.

He said there were 128 passengers and five crew members on board.

He said: “I was in Nigeria for one month and assisted the crew members who became my friends in recording the names of the passengers in French and answering phone calls for them when somebody called from Gabon. So I know the number of passengers that stared the trip that Friday morning.”

Sani, who said he was being taken to Gabon from Togo by a ‘master ’ whom he paid 500 cfa after selling his car, attributed the boat mishap to engine failure, which, he said, caused the boat to become stationery. It subsequently took in water and sank after a while.

“When the engine stopped, the deriver asked us to pray while some prayed to Jesus, others prayed to Allah but this did not help as the engine did not start working.”

Sani, said the boat which started its voyage in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, had only three passengers from Nigeria, a man and two ladies, who were taking textiles

to Gabon, while most of the passengers were from Togo, Ghana and Niger, all going to Gabon in search of job.

He said he and the lady that was rescued, held on to a cylinder, along with two others but as the days went by, the two others became too weak and unable to hold on to the cylinder and were swept away by the sea.

“My master and another lady held on to the cylinder with us but as time went on, my master could not continue and told us that he was going and later another lady went and only two of us were left and held on to the cylinder until the Adax people came,” Sani said.

Clark urged to push for Urhobo minister

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME ORT HARC O U R T — I J AW leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has been urged to push for a ministerial appointment for the Urhobo nation.

Mr. Mark Ikpuri, who made the appeal, noted that Urhobo does not have a ministerial slot in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.

Ikpuri, who blamed the situation on what he termed the inconsistency of some Urhobo politicians, said Chief Clark should use his relation-

P

ship with President Jonathan to secure a ministerial slot for the Urhobo nation.

He said it was not politically palatable that Urhobo, being the fifth largest ethnic group in the country and second in the South-South region, was completely shut out of Jonathan's cabinet.

He urged Urhobo leaders to explore the maternal relationship Chief Clark has with the Urhobo to press on him to help push for the appointment of an Urhobo as a minister.

Lori-Ogbebor petitions Olu of Warri over Okere land dispute

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

N

IGER Delta activ ist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has appealed to the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, not to allow the Warri traditional institution to be dragged into the land dispute between Okere community and Delta State Government.

Lori-Ogbebor, in an open letter to the monarch, said that dragging the name of the tradition-

al ruler into the matter, was a ploy to intimidate the people of Okere.

Her words: ‘’The matter between Okere people and the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, an Itsekiri man, is now a public matter. We are in court and everybody is interested and waiting for the outcome of the case. I am very pained to see the institution being dragged in the mud over the case. Your name, which spells hope, justice and fairplay, is be-

ing displayed on a controversial school, which the Okere people will always look upon with great pain. ‘’You have six chiefs in Okere and we are all united in our resolve.

Your name being displayed on the controversial school is to intimidate, marginalise and blackmail Okere people.

As your chief, I am resolved to stand and protect the throne from dirty politics, which will erode the confidence and love of the Itsekiri people for the throne.’’

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—13

We didn't dredge Obubu river —Developers

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—MAN AGING Director, SPFM International Limited, developers of Delta Leisure Resort, Oleri, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, has said that they did not dredge Obubu River, contrary to recent media reports.

Reacting to the reports, credited to the people of Obubu community in the council, Oyefusi said: “We did not pollute the source of drinking water of Obubu people. Westminister Dredging and Marine Limited, a renowned dredging organisation, is handling the dredging job for us.

We are dredging from our land.”

She described the allegations as baseless and unfounded.

C M Y K

Students protest to Rivers House as fresh crisis rocks RSUST

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT— STUDENTS of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, protested to Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, to draw the lawmakers' attention to the fresh crisis brewing in the institution.

The university has been enmeshed in crisis, following the reappointment of Prof.

Fakae as Vice Chancellor, with the RSUST branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, condemning Fakea’s retention which they described as “against due process” and had boycotted lectures for nine months. They had also called for the reversal of Fakae's reappointment.

The fresh crisis involves students, who are now under compulsion to repeat the 2011/2012 academic session at the institution over de-

layed payment of tuition fees.

Mr. Godspower Njokwu, a 300 Level student of the Faculty of Management, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said the bone of contention was that RSUST management was asking them to repeat the session after the authorities had accepted

payment of the delayed fees from some of the affected students.

He noted that the management's stance was taking a toll on affected students, especially final year students, who may not be able to get their results and proceed for the

National Youth Service Corps programme at the right time.

“We are calling on the House of Assembly and Rivers State Government to assist us. Even if it requires our paying extra fees for the delay, we will pay rather than repeat the session," he said.

I didn't receive N458m bribe from Jpros Ltd as a certificate would be —Agbaso raised and other steps folBY INNOCENT ANABA

E

MBATTLED Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, yesterday, denied receiving N458million bribe from a contractor in the state, Jpros Limited, saying that the allegation was part of a plot to paint his family in bad light ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Agbaso, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, said: “The allegation is not true. I never solicited for such payment from the company or any contractor for that matter and at no time did I

receive such money from the company.

“What gives me concern is why the company could claim to have paid such amount to a person that has no interest or was not in any way connected to the company. N1.5 billion was approved by the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who directed the state Accountant-General to pay the company, which he did.

“Usually, upon the approval of such money, same is communicated to the Accountant-General, for it to go through the normal process,

lowed. I was not the governor who gave the approval for the money to be paid orally.

“The contractor claimed I promised to give him jobs in the local governments. Mind you, in Imo State, such contracts are awarded by the council chairmen or influenced by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs or better still the governor.

How can the contractor claim that I, who was then the Commissioner of Work, have had the power to influence contracts, when it’s obvious that I didn’t?"

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Boko Haram: FG docks Kabiru Sokoto on 3-count terrorism charge ….I want my lawyer, accused insists

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — The Federal Government, yesterday, docked the alleged mastermind of the Christmas day bomb explosion that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011, Kabiru Umar, a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The government, through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, entered a threecount amended terrorism charge against the alleged kingpin of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, a year and three months after he was arrested by the Police.

Kabir was initially arrested by the Police in Abuja on January 14, 2012, only for him to be declared missing two days later, a development that culminated in the sack of erstwhile Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim.

Following his alleged complicity in plans that aided the escape of the accused terror suspect, a former Commissioner of Police incharge of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Zakari Biu, was equally dismissed from the force.

However, the suspect, who was also accused of training over 500 men on how to manufacture and detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, was eventually rearrested on February 10, 2012, and had remained in the custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, since then.

He was said to have instituted his terrorist training camp at Abaji, a suburb town

in Abuja.

Brought to court amid tight security, Kabir, could not enter his plea to the threecount amended charge, dated March 19, 2013, owing to his inability to secure a lawyer.

Shortly after he mounted the dock, the suspect, who was clad in white Kaftan, told the court that he did not understand English language, thus forcing the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, to stand-down the case to enable the court produce an interpreter for him.

When the matter resumed, Kabir insisted on engaging a defence lawyer, alleging that since the day he was arrested, the security agency barred him from speaking to any lawyer.

Besides, the accused person told the judge that it was only yesterday morning that he was informed that he was going to court, even as he pleaded the court to give him two weeks to perfect his defence strategies.

At that juncture, the prosecuting counsel, Mrs.

Chioma Onuegbu, served a copy of the charge to the accused person right inside the dock.

Before adjourning till April

19 to take the plea of the accused person, Justice Ademola expressed his displeasure with the Federal Government, noting that even

though the initial charge against Kabir was filed since March 6, 2012, the prosecution only filed its amended charge yesterday.

Kano explosions: Senate advises Jonathan, lampoons Kwankwaso over indifference

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, condemned Monday ’s multiple bomb blasts in Kano which claimed many lives, leaving others injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency, adopt another possible approach in addressing terrorism in the country.

According to the Senate, it has become imperative to look for another formula against the backdrop that current methods being used by the government may have failed and no longer result-oriented.

The lawmakers, however, regretted that terrorism activities in the country had assumed a more worrisome dimension, in

spite of government’s efforts at nipping it in the bud.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP, Abia North, while raising a point of order at yesterday’s plenary, however, lampooned Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State over what he termed the governor ’s indifference on the killings in his state.

He said that 80 per cent of victims of the attack were Igbo and that the remaining 20 per cent were Southerners from different ethnic groups.

He added that the issue of insecurity in the country was threatening the land as well as putting the unity of the land under threat, even as he advised the Federal Government to multiply its approach to the menace which, he said,

needed to be effectively tackled with a sense of discipline.

According to Senator Chukwumerije, it was s sad that the governor had vehemently refused to make himself available 24 hours after the ugly incident took place.

The Senator noted that it was unfortunate, sad and unheard of that a sitting governor will refuse to express sympathy with people and families of people who fell victims of such tragedy under his nose. ‘’Why has the governor of Kano not considered it fit to pay a condolence visit to the motor park more than 24 hours after the event? The governor’s failure to do this has robbed the state (Kano) of the opportunity of projecting the terrorists as a fringe clique outside the mainstream of the society,” he said.

Minister lauds Stallion Group’s VON automobile plant in Nigeria

L

AGOS — THE Ministry of Trade and Investment has expressed satisfaction with the proficiency and quality of manufacturing operations at VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited, local manufacturers of buses, trucks and light commercial vehicles, including brands such as Ashok Leyland.

Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, made this remark when he and his team visited the plant in Lagos.

He said: “I have inspected and seen what VON

Automobile Nigeria is doing and I am quite impressed with the quality of work here as well as the capacity of the plant.

"I have toured other parts of this country and I am saying that what I found here is of international standards. We can now encourage people from other African countries to import from Nigeria. The products are of the best quality and can be used in any part of the world.”

"So, I am impressed with this and secondly, they are into expansion and they are not just into buses, they are

looking at other lines that will produce various types of automobile vehicles.”

The minister, who led a high powered delegation of members of the Committee on Mass Transportation for Nigerians to VON Automobiles, also applauded the vehicle assembly plant for transforming the defunct Volkswagen of Nigeria, VWoN, plant within a relatively short period of time.

VON is a subsidiary of Stallion Group which is a 45 year old multi-billion conglomerate, with a presence

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

in 18 countries, employing in excess of 10,000 staff and engaged in diversified businesses, including commodities, agri-business, automobiles, industries, food, FMCG products and services.

Pointing to mass transit as a major part of economic development worldwide, Dr. Ortom said: “Nigeria can’t be an exception, hence the reason I’m here to supervise and to see your capacity, quality and quantity of what you can supply to the Nigerian market.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Sultan's call for Boko Haram amnesty

I

do not believe in granting amnesty to armed extremist groups such as Boko Haram. They have murdered innocent lives and destroyed much property. What then happens to the families of those victims who were murdered?— Prof. Itse Sagay, Lawyer.

G

RANTING amnesty to Boko Haram members is the best, as long as they are ready to lay down their arms. Federal Government should consider the amnesty option for the sake of peace and unity in our nation.— Mr. Azuka ThankGod, Computer Engineer.

W

HY should the government grant amnesty to murderers that have no regard for the life of others? Amnesty only works when the rebellious ceases fire and comes to dialogue with the government.—Mr. Rasheed Bankole, Retiree.

I

must say without equivocation that the Sultan’s plea for amnesty on behalf of Boko Haram is mala fide, misconceived and premature at this stage because amnesty cannot be granted to a group that is in hiding and has no face.— Mr. Usman Izugie, Lawyer.

D

ID Boko Haram sect seek for amnesty? Did they say they will lay down their arms if they are granted amnesty? Which of the sects will they grant amnesty? Are they ready to make themselves known publicly?— Mr. Monday Ubani, Lawyer.

L

OOKING at the way innocent people are being killed in the troubled parts of the North, it makes no sense granting amnesty to the perpetrators. It could mean encouraging violence and more of such groups will spring up.— Alhaja Adenike Babalola, Trader.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 —15

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL: Don't play

with fire, Labour, others tell FG Continues from page 5 aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, workers cautioned the President against provocative and offensive utterances, like full deregulation of the downstream sector, which in government language means fuel price increase.

NLC Deputy President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said Labour ’s position before and after the January 2012 protests had not changed and the socio-economic situations in the country instead of improving since then had worsened.

His words: “NLC’s position has not changed. We remain opposed to deregulation of the downstream sector of the economy. This has been our position before the January 2012 fuel hike crisis and it has not changed till today. As we speak, nothing has changed. In fact, things have gone worse. The infrastructure is further decaying by the day, the security situation has worsened, the road networks have remained in a state of disrepair, the power situation has not improved and with all these, including high rate of unemployment and job insecurity, the President is still threatening us with another fuel hike. This country is on the verge of mass revolt where people are waiting for the slightest opportunity to vent their frustration and anger on the political class. The President should not dare Nigerians with another fuel hike because Nigerian workers will not accept it and we will fight against it even with the last drop of our blood.

“NLC’s position has been further enhanced

by Tuesday’s ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, which ruled that the Federal Government’s deregulation of the Downstream sector of the economy is illegal and unconstitutional."

The president will uphold the law — Aturu On his part, human rights crusader, Mr Bamidele Aturu advised C M Y K

the Presidency to respect a subsisting court order.

Speaking with Vanguard on telephone, he said: “By the time he was making that statement, I am sure he had not known that there was a judgment in court but I am sure the president will uphold the law of the land. And so, he would not do any such thing. When he was talking in Lagos, the judgment was being delivered in Abuja but I am sure the Presidency will withdraw that plan and will not allow it to go on since the president respects the rule of law.”

Nigerians should rise up and fight — Mohammed To Dr Junaid Mohammed, the president’s plan was a declaration of war on Nigerians. He also said Labour movement wich allegedly took bribe to call off the protest against fuel increase in January 2012 must explain to Nigerians why they believed Mr President. “For me, I think it is time for Nigerians to stand up and fight for their right".

Prove cabal innocent before…— Fasehun To founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, President Jonathan should not remove fuel subsidy until he had shown that the fuel subsidy cabal is innocent.

“I don’t think he should remove fuel subsidy until he shows that the cabal is innocent.

Why should people suffer for the misdeed of a few? Before subjecting Nigerians to more suffering, he should prove that the cabal is innocent."

Don’t remove subsidy in haste – NBA The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, the umbrella body of legal practitioners across the country also opposed the move.

Speaking through its National Chairman Chief Okey Wali, SAN, the NBA said the action

would be ill-advised since the government had not provided the necessary palliatives it promised Nigerians early last year.

Consequently, NBA, implored President Jonathan to focus his attention on the provision of basic infrastructure, adding that, “we believe that the government must first and foremost, do what it has promised to do.

“You will remember that the action that various groups took against that same decision last year was coordinated action, we believe that the government must, first of all, do what it has promised to do. It is not enough to say that subsidy must go, all those promises must be fulfilled first, among which included enhancing the transportation system in the country.

“The NBA believes that since we have not seen the infrastructure that was promised, it will be ill-advised for the government to proceed on that track without putting infrastructure in place.

We advise that it will be a bit shameful in this 2013 for us to go back and start demanding for what we think was already agreed upon since 2012,” he added.

Keyamo, lawyers, SERAP speak In his reaction, another Lagos-based human right activist, Mr Festus Keyamo, said: “the decision is anti-people, it is wicked and it will promote poverty in the land.”

Another activist, Barrister Umoh Umoh said: “It is really pathetic that this government has by its recent declaration shown that it doesn’t have the interest of the masses at heart."

Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a human rights group, urged the government to tackle corruption in the oil sector. “It is not the increase of the price of fuel or the removal of subsidy that is our problem. The starting point should be the blocking of the leakages and other corrupt practice in the sector,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013— 17 “My brother governor, Uduaghan said our members are hungry and that we must put food in their stomach so that they don’t stray to other parties.

I am giving all the state chairmen of the party N1million each for lunch. Our members must not be hungry”Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom governor, at the recent South-South PDP gathering UR quotation above was taken from the impromptu speech made at the weekend, by Godswill Akpabio, the Akwa Ibom governor, during the South-South leg of the PDP’s reconciliation tour. As newspapers all reported last Monday, the six SouthSouth PDP chairmen all chorused that they were truly “hungry”, and before anyone could spell Uyo, Akpabio gave a total of N6 million to the “hungry” chairmen for “lunch”. It was an act that ordinarily should rile the sense of decency, but the PDP hierarchy came out in defence of Akpabio, who was also recently made chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. Politics, according to the PDP was “an expensive” venture therefore the “small sum” of N6million for lunch, should not raise an eyebrow. Godswill Akpabio has carved a niche for himself in recent times for his “donations” of funds and vehicles. A fortnight ago, he donated two SUV jeeps to musician Tuface Idibia and wife, after their celebrity marriage and just last Saturday, he gave N230m on behalf of PDP Governors, to President Jonathan’s hometown fund raising project.

Indecencies have become a major presence at the heart of Nigerian political life since the 1999 transition to civil rule. We have almost become numbed to the point where people literally do not seem to care anymore.

But we must continue to care! And there can be no gainsaying the fact that in Akpabio’s statement, is the

'Our member memberss are hungr hungryy, our y' member memberss must no nott be hungr hungry' underlining context and content of the politics of our ruling elite and why they continue to under-develop Nigeria.

When he said the “hungry”chairmen should not be allowed “to stray” to other parties, he conjured the image of mongrel dogs straying from control; and who can deny that this imagery represents exactly how these local, governor tyrants see the individuals they impose as party chairmen and other party hacks; who often depend almost completely on handouts from their ‘principals’.

In my M.Sc. Political Science class in the 1990s, we studied the prebendal content of Nigerian politics of the Second Republic, 1979-83; but things evolved for the worst with the emergence of civil rule in 1999. The “Executive Governor ” phenomenon gave birth to monsters; and these caricatures of Nigerian dictatorship, from the colonial and military regimes, were transformed as a result of huge sums of money they sit atop, especially in the oil-producing states, where there is so much money to buy loyalties; bribe communities and individuals or to create a whole generation of thugs and ‘militants’, used to settle political scores and steal elections or even threaten the life

blood of the nation’s economy. If any individual has represented the best and worst of the “Executive Governor” phenomenon, it must be Godwill Akpabio. Last year, I attended the Nigerian Guild of Editors conference

,

O

It is this level of impunity along with the continuing underdevelopment of Nigeria by the Akpabios and their PDP politics of hunger, that have been at the base of the crises phenomena in Nigeria today

,

in Uyo. There was considerable evidence of the infrastructural improvements the state has witnessed under Akpabio. But there was also the sickening level of sycophancy; the personality cult of the governor and his

Iraq: 10 years after the illegal Anglo-American invasion and occupation

T

HIS week, the world has been remembering the tenth anniversary of the illegal Anglo-American invasion and occupation of Iraq. The invasion was one of the greatest crimes of the beginning of the 21century; an invasion/occupation which violated the UN Charter and was conducted on the basis of lies, about alleged Iraqi possession of weapons of mass destruction and the even more absurd lie of an Alqaeda presence in Iraq.

George Bush and his sinister poodle Tony B-Liar, cobbled together what they called a ‘coalition of the willing’ to invade Iraq and in the ten-year occupation, destroyed the fabric of Iraqi society. The country with the oldest civilisation and nationalism on earth was systematically dissembled and turned against itself. Iraqis were proud of their country; its old civilisation; high level of education and a huge reserve of scientists, men and women. The invasion turned Iraq against itself and the confessional differences were played up: Sunni against Shia; Arab against Kurd, Turkoman and Jew; Muslim against Christian.

On the eve of the Anglo-American invasion, I was editor of DAILY TRUST newspaper and I had been the only Nigerian journalist invited along with other media representatives from around the world, to travel extensively C M Y K

in Iraq. The country had been under a UN flight embargo, and arriving in Baghdad was some experience; we travelled through Egypt and Syria and then joined a group of Shiite pilgrims from Iran, visiting the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, and using an unreliable, Soviet-era aircraft from Damascus to Iraq. Our fifteen-day sojourn in Iraq took us to Baghdad; Samara; Ur; Nineveh; Babylon; Najaf; Karbala and Basra. It was clear that the invasion was inevitable and while Iraqis detested the Saddam Hussein dictatorship, they hated even more the imperialist powers, USA and Britain, who had imposed the punishing sanctions that had killed half a million Iraqi children, a crime that the American Secretary of State Madeline Albright, had described as justified!

The invasion led to the death of over 120, 000 Iraqis, the displacement of millions and the systematic assassination of Iraqi scientists, especially when they refused to go work for imperialism. These killings, according to an international conference on the assassination of Iraqi scientists, were systematically carried out by the Zionist secret services. Before the war, Iraq’s oil industry had been nationalised and out of the claws of the western oil monopolies; but one of the outcomes of the war, is the opening up of Iraqi

oil to imperialist oil monopolies. As Editor of DAILY TRUST, I authored a frontpage editorial condemning the illegal invasion/occupation of Iraq, and while most Nigerian newspapers moved on to other stories, I feel proud to say that we kept up an antiimperialist coverage of the crimes being committed against Iraq for years.

I

t is the crime committed against Iraq that hurts me very deeply everytime the war monger, Tony B-Liar saunters into Nigeria, pretending to be a “do-gooder” statesman. Tony cannot even walk freely on the streets of London and yet, he is received as some kind of international superstar in Nigeria; he comes to do deals here when the most decent thing is either to arrest or bar him from entering our country. Nduka Obaigbena’s THISDAY newspaper has been responsible for some of the invitations as well as that of the other war monger, George Bush!

Such invitations always call to question the consciousness of these individuals and institutions. But ten years down the line, it is gratifying to note that the world continues to condemn the illegal invasion of Iraq by the USA and Great Britain. What remains is for the war mongers, George Bush and Tony B-Liar to get their day in court and their time in prison for the crimes they committed against Iraq and all of our humanity!

immodesty in speech. The statement about hungry partymen who should not be hungry was therefore true to type.

In the past two weeks, the performance of the Lagos state head of the NSCDC, Mr. Obafaiye Shem, went viral on the net. The faux pas about “MY OGA AT THE TOP”, led to the emergence of video re-mixes; tshirts and dance steps. Everybody apparently saw the absurdity of the poor man’s performance, but I wonder just how many of us bothered to interrogate the fact that his statement spoke to the Nigerian condition. We have a country littered with puny dictators of all descriptions. The OGA AT THE TOP is available in all corners of the country, running his position with shades of cruelty and petty dictatorship. The “OGA” knows it all!

After the 1999 transition, these closet dictators were let lose on our society, while the indecency at the top is then spread around by their subordinates.

There was a governor I knew, who slapped one of his commissioners, between 1999 and 1983. Routine visits to Government Houses often kept commissioners and other top officials of government waiting for hours; while it is normal in many states, for these officials to go back and forth for days, before getting the opportunity to see OGA. In turn, the commissioners and LG chairmen visit the same or greater indecencies on their own subordinates.

State activities do not get done on time, while the recruitment pattern ensures that the least qualified and sycophantic get a look in. Of course, the quality of service delivery suffers. That is why subordinates hold the OGA AT THE TOP in awe, doing everything possible to be in OGA’s good books. It is the level of groveling surrender that might determine promotions or access to lucrative postings and perks!

This is the situation in Nigeria today and when Godwill Akpabio said“our members are hungry; our members must not be hungry”, he spoke for the Nigerian ruling elite and the mindset with which they run our country. It was therefore no surprise that the PDP leadership lept to his defence with the absurd statement that politics is an expensive business. The question they will not answer is whether the money came from his pocket or was it the fund of Akwa Ibom state? And furthermore, was that the right reason to expend state funds? It might be “good” PDP politics to throw one million naira each to the PDP chairman from the SouthSouth, so they won’t like s**t-eating local dogs “stray” to other parties. But it dishonours the whole concept of politics as service to the Nigerian people. It is this level of impunity along with the continuing underdevelopment of Nigeria by the Akpabios and their PDP politics of hunger, that have been at the base of the crises phenomena in Nigeria today.

Governor Godswill Akpabio

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

O

TUOKE, village of President Goodluck Jonathan is in the news for the second time, in less than a year. The issue remains the same: a church.

National outrage rained on an Italian construction firm, Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, that in June 2012 built a church in Otuoke. The President then confirmed that he had asked the company owner Domenico Gitto, for a befitting church in Otuoke.

Public anger centred on the fact that Gitto was a contractor to the Federal Government.

It was thought its owner was seeking ways to win more contracts or be paid the billions of Naira he was owed. Gitto passed on last year.

The anger this time is no less so. More than N6 billion was raised for another church in Otuoke, again at the instance of the President and similarly by contractors and other favour seekers.

They claim gratitude to God and possibly divine prompting that all that Otuoke requires is a church. Nothing can be further from the truth. The President’s village suffers

N6 Billion – All In God’s Name the retarding poverty that weighs down Nigeria.

Otuoke was one of the places last year’s floods submerged, not sparing the President’s mansion. The devastation left marks that neither the President nor his friends has done anything to ameliorate. Could this explain why the launching had to be held in Lagos?

The village hosts a federal university; one of the more poorly funded nine universities government sprouted in 2011. One road that the flood ravaged last year, serves it. There would have been no befitting place to

accommodate the President’s friends.

Is another church the need of Otuoke?

What is the motive of the donors? What is the thinking of those behind this launching, righteously done in God’s name? Could a development project, an endowment to the new university or financing for the ignored East-West Road not benefitted Otuoke better than another church?

Did anyone think about the future of the flood victims who live in dread of another rainy season? Is a church all there is to the needs in Otuoke? Would God be against a church built in a flood free Otuoke?

The donors have been defending their giving as if we all do not know that a church in Otuoke is their concern because they are rallying behind the President. We are not questioning their right to give their money as they wish but do the donors pay appropriate taxes?

Donations of this magnitude, even for a church, will offend God in the midst of the raging poverty and on a terrain that flood sweeps away because governments are busy paying lip service to serving the people.

OPINION

BY ABDULLAHI GARBA

W

E are in the season of political anomie in Nigeria and the vultures are already searching for carrion. The alarm bells are ringing where normality is undisturbed and the names and reputations of innocent people are the subject of sadistic imaginations of the character assassins. But it is all too familiar because it didn’t start today and will not end now that the lies are exposed. With 2015 fast approaching the do-or-die politicians are hitting and running without rhyme or reason.

The latest media sleaze prominently bandied in The Nation newspaper targets the unperturbed Vice President Namadi Sambo with a trumped up story of ongoing moves to drop him from the presidential ticket ahead of 2015 elections and even identifies his supposed replacement as “a fair complexioned governor from the North-West zone”. The VP, according to the warped imagination of the writer, is out of favour because a phantom committee working on the PDP’s 2015 strategy has suddenly found him to be politically unsuitable.

Were it not for the exclusive prominence the paper devoted to this fairy tale it was worthy to be ignored by any discerning mind. But using it as a lead story indicated much more than meets the eye. It is,

2015: Jonathan/Sambo ticket rattles opposition therefore, certain that the formidable political power charging confidently ahead under the Jonathan-Sambo PDP flag is sending shock-waves into the ACN ranks sufficient to necessitate malicious propaganda and wishful imagination. This rabid reaction is to be expected from a party that is so unsure of its chances at the next polls that it hysterically hounds other parties into a merger of desperate bid oblivious to its disabling incompatibilities.

Even the reporter loses his bearing as he cooks up improbabilities to support his untenable analysis. So in one sentence he refers to VP Sambo as being more technocrat than politician, a positive attribute which actually vindicates the assignment of enormous onerous responsibilities in strategic sectors to him by his impressed boss, Mr President and debunks any notion of election liability. In another reference, he ridiculously states that the PDP’s 2015 strategy is to get a VP “like Atiku” was to Obasanjo! Anyone else with even rudimentary political wisdom would recall the Atiku-Obasanjo partnership in presidency as the perfect recipe for treacherous political disaster.

Such a cock-and-bull story, however, may also be feeding on the subterranean

sentiments of certain elements whose loyalty to the PDP is shallow and highly dependent on their selfish interests. The mention of a fair- complexioned NorthWest governor is indicative of such fifth columnist antics because the unnamed governor has a track record of autocratic egotism that recognises no other interest than personal. In his state he is despised in political circles for temporary loyalty and brazen betrayal which he crassly displayed to his deceased benefactor in politics as well as high intolerance of superior performance and personality among his compatriots in the state. This faircomplexioned governor has a dark mind of intrigues and insatiable lust for power which perfectly fits his being touted as a “favourite” of the phantom committee.

E

ven at the national level and the very base of PDP incumbency there are characters whose frequent indiscretions and political philandering have earned them so much disrepute that their survival is solely a factor of the statesmanship of their bosses and yet they are incurable in their machinations of seeking undeserved favour by foul means. Any well-healed political prospector can hire their services

and they will not hesitate to betray their benefactors. It is quite reasonable to posit that these are the spurious sources on which The Nation relied on in concocting its tall story of dissent in the Presidency which, however, still remains a mere figment of its editors desperate to be seen to be aiding and abetting the desperate political agenda of its ambitious owner.

As far as the core leadership constituents of the PDP are concerned, the Jonathan-Sambo presidential team is unassailable both on account of the tight interpersonal comradeship of the two personalities as well as the undisputed track-record of focus and performance in the execution of their acclaimed transformation agenda.

Unlike the Atiku-Obasanjo odd mix, we have never heard of any crisis or dissatisfaction since President Goodluck Jonathan wisely chose Sambo, an accomplished architect, as his vice. It will take more than editorial dreams and ambitious fifth columnists to create smoke without fire.

*Mr. Garba, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 —19

, G

ODSWILL Obot Akpabio is something else. When you are around him there are no dull moments. He is very hyper and pays attention to small details, a quality that often gets him bursting out at his officials even at public functions for allowing avoidable hitches to mar events, such as noisy public address systems when speeches are being made.

He is a very humorous person.

When he gets going he sometimes goes beyond the borderline and cracks jokes that are “ungubernatorial”. He is also an excellent salesman, especially of his achievements as the Chief Executive Officer of Akwa Ibom State. He can stand on his feet for hours reeling off all that his regime has accomplished, complete with facts, figures and the accompanying verbal superlatives.

Some Akwa Ibom commentators have often shown their displeasure in the unending streams of VIP visitors to the new

Akwa Ibom at Governor Akpabio’s instance. They say he is wasting their state funds on his personal political jamborees. They believe that the Governor is selling his candidature to the ruling class in case of a future when the elite looks around for a suitably qualified, generous and accommodative person they can trust. Akpabio’s supporters argue that it is because he has a lot to show for the huge sums of money his state collects from the federation account that he can afford to invite people to come and see. His visitors are invariably full of praises for him on television cameras after their sojourns round the state.

There is no doubt that Akpabio is a visionary leader. I am a reportorial witness to his transformational development of Akwa Ibom State. Sometimes it is not only about the amount of money a person has. Vision is more important than money. But when uncommon vision meets a lot of money things do happen as they are happening in Akwa Ibom in almost all sectors, particularly

,

infrastructure. The roads built by Akpabio have a standard of their own compared with what he met.

But to me the most impressive thing the Governor has done is in the area of education and the total social repositioning of the image of the state and its people. The Akpabio administration offers free education to all RESIDENTS of the state, not just INDIGENES. This is happening in a country where majority of the states are offering free education either to their indigenes alone (such as Imo and many Northern states) or only to girl children (such as Jigawa State).

A

kpabio makes bold to invite any Nigerian child from any part of the country desiring free

When amnesty is unsolicited

C

ERTAINLY, there is something the Northern Governors Forum and Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, know about the Boko Haram which the rest of us do not know. That's how it should be, though.

It is not everything they know about their people that we should know.

Otherwise, in a land where everyone denounces witchcraft, how can some people suddenly jump out, wanting to go and deliver a message to the coven?

Originally, these men have jointly and severally been in the forefront of those condemning the atrocities of the terrorists.

And suddenly they want unconditional amnesty for the same terrorists that they have been condemning. One is not quite sure if their condemnation could also have been a tacit endorsement of the activities of the same terrorist gang. No questions should be considered too harsh at this point.

What on earth is the wisdom in granting unilateral amnesty to unrepentant criminals who have not asked for it? Suppose they reject your offer? By the way, have members of the Boko Haram told anybody that they are tired of fighting? The facts on ground indicate otherwise. If anything, the group is diversifying for greater strength; and more efficiency and effectiveness in its operations.

They have just birthed a new chapter, Ansaru, which is considered more vicious and whose specialty is the abduction and killing of foreign elements.

Whoever gives amnesty on a platter of gold? It is normally after a big and protracted fight that the weaker side, at the point of surrender, begs for amnesty. By their call, the Northern Governors and the Sultan could as well be short-changing their principals because, unknown to them, we might get to the point where Nigeria would surrender to the terrorists, the way things are going.

But how did we get to this sorry state?

Normally, it is only after a sore is healed that the pain is forgotten, even where the scar remains. In the case of the Boko Haram, the sore is getting wider and the pains, more intense. We wonder if the people now asking for blanket amnesty for the sect have forgotten the pains that this sect has taken this nation through since 2009 when it first struck. Could they have forgotten so soon how members of this sect have dispatched thousands of innocent Nigerians to their early graves? Time was when Jonathan probably reckoned that the same people who are now calling for amnesty for Boko Haram held the ace to his 2015 ambition.

Apparently, Nigeria has a President who is not propelled by any interest for his nation; but who is loyal only to his personal ambition. For 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan has gone for broke. If he were told that a blanket amnesty to Boko Haram would take him there, he would grant them amnesty before we wake up tomorrow morning.

The President got early warnings of the need to take a decisive action on the Boko Haram, the type of action that former President Olusegun Obasanjo took at Odi. Nay! Instead, it took more than a decade, in fact, only after Obasanjo touched on the nerve-centre of his ambition, for him to inform us that the Odi massacre was a fiasco, which affected only old women and children.

A man came to destroy your people and devastated the land and you remained mute for more than 10 years; and it was only when he touched on the sore-point of your selfish ambition that you began to shout thief, thief!

If Obasanjo had not challenged you, we would never have heard of what he did to your people. Where, then, is the interest of the people?

See how Jonathan has led us into the deep

education to come get it in his state under his watch! His logic is simple. If only Akwa Ibom children enjoy free education, over time the children from surrounding states will fall behind and become social threats to Akwa Ibom people.

Akpabio is also extending the tarring of federal or inter-state roads into neighbouring states, such as Aba and Arochukwu in Abia State and Calabar in Cross River State. He swore to end the “Okon” and “Ekaette” syndrome, whereby hundreds of thousands of Akwa Ibom youth are serving as houseboys and housemaids in distant lands. He called on all such people to return to Akwa Ibom and enjoy its newfound bounties. A former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, George Izobo, on a recent visit to the state, said very soon it is Akwa Ibom people who will be going to other states to look for house-helps.

There are so many reasons to appreciate the generosity and statesmanship of the man. But in recent times Akpabio appears to have gone rather berserk with “generosity”. A joke taken too far is no longer a joke.

Just about two weeks ago, we heard that Akpabio offered to sponsor the wedding of Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay. The package included two Sport Utility Vehicles, SUVs, bankrolling the trip of 30 wedding guests to Dubai, donation of N30 million to the couple and tarring a road to her family house in the state.

According to the Governor, it was his show of appreciation for Tuface, the “in-law” of Akwa Ibom State!

While tongues wagged that such benefits were being extended to a musical star who is already

wealthy from his talents, Akpabio released another “generosity bomb”. At a zonal meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of the South-South in Port Harcourt, Akpabio responded to a call by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan that the stomachs of PDP party chieftains needed to be regularly “filled” to enable them continue working to maintain the Party “strangle” on the zone, Akpabio impulsively got up and invited each state chairman of the party to meet him and collect one million naira each to go and eat at Mr Bigg’s!

The danger in all these outlandish splurging of Akwa Ibom State funds is that with just over two years to the end of his gubernatorial venture, the outrage over these spending might overshadow the great contributions of this ebullient lawyer who put Akwa Ibom State in the “A Class” of the most rapidly developing states of the federation.

Threatened with the possibility of being hounded to come back and answer questions to anti-graft agencies or the next regime, the Governor might be tempted or forced to impose a relation on Akwa Ibom people in order to avoid harassment in retirement.

If that happens, he will be falling into the same problem his predecessor, Victor Attah, did which led to many face-offs with his successor, Akpabio. But this time, Akpabio’s successor may not be as restrained as he has been towards Attah.

To reduce the post-power mess Akpabio must sober down. He must tread with caution and focus more on the good works he started.

He does not need the negative publicity he has brought upon himself.

woods by his inaction? Is it not clear that in Boko Haram, the effect of the Odi massacre may have been surpassed 10 times over?

Truly, whether

,

Akpabio should sober down

The danger in all these outlandish splurging of Akwa Ibom state funds is that with just over two years to the end of his gubernatorial venture, the outrage over these spending might overshadow the great contributions of this ebullient lawyer who put Akwa Ibom State in the “A Class” of the most rapidly developing states of the federation

We wonder if the people now asking for blanket amnesty for the sect have forgotten the pains that this sect has taken this nation through since 2009; how members of this sect have dispatched thousands of innocent Nigerians to their early graves?

,

the Odi massacre caught up with only mosquitoes and cockroaches, we are not swayed by the lousy argument that the massacre did not change the character of the Niger Delta militancy or that it did not contribute to the eventual amnesty, which the militants begged for.

I

t takes only a President like Jonathan not to react to the massacre of 12 soldiers, the way Obasanjo did. After killing 12 soldiers, maybe Jonathan would have awarded the militants a gold medal. The Odi incident remains painful to those of us connected to the area but a duty had to be

done and Obasanjo did it. That's a President!

Boko Haram and the Odi massacre have good parallels in history. Today, Branch Davidian, which was a replica of Nigeria's Boko Haram, only exists in the history books. Following their killing of four American policemen, a raid was carried out on them in the wee hours of Monday, April 19, 1993, with tanks, armoured vehicles and chemical weapons. The entire area of Waco, Texas with everybody and everything thereon was reduced to ashes. All those calling for Obasanjo's head over Odi should be reminded that Bill Clinton who was America's President during the raid on Branch Davidian still moves around the world, a free man.

This call for amnesty imposes a duty on all Nigerians: First, the President is right that a blanket amnesty cannot be granted in vacuum to a faceless lot. He should tell us his next line of action. With a sitting government, we certainly cannot continue to roast blindly under the rule of Boko Haram as we have done in the past four years!

Secondly, the new found agents of Boko Haram/Ansaru must quickly bring out their principals and encourage them to come and properly request for amnesty if they so desire.

Thirdly, while the rest of us wait for the gladiators, we must remain more prayerful and ever vigilant because the game-plan of the principals and their agents can never be finally known. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty!

20—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MARCH 21 , 2013

South-East: Worsening plight of erosion-prone communities •Houses submerged, many rendered homeless

By LAIDE AKINBOADE, Abuja

G

ULLY erosion is one of the ecological challenges affecting almost all the states in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. The problem is, however, most pronounced in Anambra and Imo states. For example, at Ezioko Nanka in Anambra State, the deep gully created by erosion measures more than 20 feet.

Members of the Presidential Committee on Erosion and Flood Control who visited the community recently almost fell into one of the gullies. A resident of the community had to shout on them to move away from the edge of the gully because there was another deep gully underneath which could cave in any moment.

When Vanguard Metro, VM, sought to know how long communities in Ezioko Nanka have faced the erosion problem, a resident who introduced himself as Anthony Nwankwo, said the problem has lasted over 50 years.

“When it started, it was like a deep gutter. Whenever it rained, there will be water inside the gutter and as children, we used to play in the water. But with the passage of time, the gutter started expanding until it got to this stage of swallowing houses,” he said

Flood control The traditional ruler of Ezioko, Igwe Laz Ekwueme who was close to tears appealed to the Presidential Committee on Erosion and Flood Control in the South East zone, to take immediate actions to save his community from going under.

Igwe Ekwueme re-lived a sad story of how over 27 houses were submerged by the erosion and the pains members of his community have been going through as a result of the erosion menace.

At Nikisi erosion control project in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Governor Peter Obi, who was at the site with the committee members, said work is going on smoothly although a lot still needs to be done. The project is being handled by Messrs Grunz Link Nigeria Limited.

The Committee also visited Alor flood erosion control site in Anambra State. The contractor, Prince Tony Ventures urged the Federal Government to give him 14 days to complete the remaining part of the work.

The Chairman of the Commit-

tee, Mr. Emeka Eze, an engineer, said the Federal Government is spending N11.5 billion to tackle 15 erosion sites in the South East. He commended Governor Obi for his commitment to the realisation of the projects in the state. Eze who noted that the work so far done is based on the availability of funds, told non-performing contractors that they risk revocation of their contracts.

At Onitsha main market (Saka Mori/ Nwangene flood control and dredging) project being handled by Beneiafinter Limited, the Committee’s leader condemned the filthy attitude of the people living in the area. He noted that erosion can be self- inflicted because of the way people live. He, therefore, called for proper disposal of refuse in the area.

Umuozu Ugiri erosion control project at Isiala Mbana Local Government Area of Imo State was another project visited by the team. Work on the N272 million project was said to have started in 2011.

Slow pace of work The project consists of about six kilometres of road and drainage.

The committee was not happy with the slow pace of work at the site. The contractor attributed this to the delay in getting funds released.

At St Kizito Secondary School, Umuchima in Imo State, the Chairman of the Committee told journalists that while the team was happy with the Nekede project, the same could not be said of the one at St. Kizito where, according to him, the engineering work fell short of expectation. ”As you can see, while we are happy with the Nekede project, the St. Kizito project falls short of the required engineering expectations. The contractor did not have programme of work, site meeting reports, schedule of work and actual programme of work,” he said. But the contractor, Messrs Umez-Eronini claimed that 95 percent of the job had been done.

During a courtesy visit on Governor Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Eze said his committee undertook the tour to fast-track the on-going ecological projects in the zone.

He particularly criticised the consultants for failing to mediate between the Federal Government and the contractors. He accused them of taking sides with the contractors, alleging that no consult-

•Collapsed reinforced concrete at Umuoza-Ugiri in Isiala-Mbano, Imo State. ant has ever reported a contractor for doing a shoddy job. “The moment you make a wrong choice of contractor the project has already failed.

What is most important is the capacity of the people, design-

ing the solutions, those who are doing project definition and those who are project consultants. If the consultants don’t package the project properly no matter the experience of the contractor, he would not build what he was

asked to build,” he said.

Eze wondered why similar erosion projects, executed under the Shagari administration, have lasted for over 30 years while those recently constructed in the area are failing.

For 100 Ilaje women, joy comes at noon

BY BOSE ADELAJA

M

RS Dodo Esther, one of the less-privileged women in IlajeBariga, a Lagos slum, had lived from hand to mouth for 28 years. She used to be a petty trader until she developed passion for midwifery which she learnt from her mother-inlaw.

Esther became independent about three years ago and has been operating as a registered midwife in the area. Her challenges include lack of fund, apart from the fact that most Ilaje women usually prefer herbal to orthodox medical treatment. Consequently, patronage for her services was low until recently.

But as patronage increased, there was the challenge of funds to acquire a power generating set and needed medical equipment.

Happily succour came her way last weekend as she was among 100 less-privileged women who were empowered by two nongovernmental organisations, Bayo Fatusin Foundation and New Canterbury Consult Limited. The organisations also donated public toilets and bathrooms, borehole, public taps and a generating set to Isale-Akoka community who had lacked these social amenities for years.

At the event which took place around noon, each of the women received a loan of between

N40,000 and N100,000.

In a chat with Vanguard Metro, VM, some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Kehinde Goroth, Adeola Zeblom and Elizabeth Samuel, said the philanthropic gesture came as a surprise to them. “Many people, especially politicians, have made empty promises in this community; as a result, we initially found it difficult to believe Bayo Fatusin and New Canterbury when they informed us about their offer. We thank God for making this a reality,’’ they said.

Esther, who received the sum of N100,000, said she had assisted in the delivery of about 70 babies within a space of one year. ‘’The money will be used to purchase a generating set, a baby weighing scale and Sphinx, among others,’’ she said.

Making the donations, Bayo Fatusin said the Foundation, which came into existence about 10 years ago, is not for political gains but to demonstrate Christ’s love, especially to the less-privileged. “I am happy that today’s exercise is taking place in Lagos State. I am an Ilaje man but not a Lagosian, this is part of my contribution to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged ones,’’ he said.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of New Canterbury, Mrs Tokunbo Ogunsanya, said the organisation was founded with a passion to collaborate with well-meaning Nigerians to promote the potentials of the less-privileged ones through quality service.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 21

Contract to link ports to rail will soon be awarded — FG

By GODFREY BIVBERRE & VICTORIA EDEMA

T

HE Federal Government has said that it will soon award contract for the connection of the nation’s ports to the rail line as a means of easing

the pressure on port access.

Disclosing this in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the NIMAREX EXPO, President Goodluck Jonathen, said that arrangement for the award of the contract is almost completed as the initial work has

been finalised.

The president, who was represented by the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said that the existing line is still there but needed to be reactivated. The president explained that the contract

when awarded would be completed in just three months.

President Goodluck noted that it is as a result of his desire to ensure the development of the maritime industry that he held a retreat with key stakeholders last year, adding

From left: Omolara Elemide, Managing Director, Chemical and Allied Products (CAP Plc); Mr Larry Ettah, Chairman, and Mr Joe Dada, Executive Director at the launch of Dulux 2013 colour of the year in Lagos, Tuesday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

LCCI, NACCIMA urge Lagos to stop frequent closure of markets T

HE organised private sec tor in Lagos State has urged the state government to stop frequent closure of markets. The call was made by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). The two chambers said in Lagos that government should provide facilities to take care of the environment rather than the frequent closures.

The chambers were reacting to frequent closures of Ladipo Auto Spare-parts market, Mushin, Mile 12 and other markets in Lagos State. The Ladipo Auto Spare-parts market was shut on February. 25, but re-opened March 11. Mr Muda Yusuf, the Director-General of LCCI, urged the government to provide better fa-

cilities for sanitation at the market. Yusuf said that some of the markets were in a terrible state due to lack of facilities to cater for the teeming traders.

He said that the sanitation problem of many markets in the state was due to the massive population migration to Lagos.

Yusuf said that the provision of infrastructure would solve so many of the disturbing issues in the markets. “There is a need to look at the issue of the markets holistically. The government may need to provide more space, toilets, stores and waste disposal vans. We know that the government must have given warnings to the traders before the closures, but on the long run, the effects of the closures are still negative,” he said.

Dr John Isemede, DirectorGeneral, NACCIMA, said that

the closure of markets meant losses to both the traders and the government. Isemede urged the government to inten-

sify its efforts in fashioning out other sanctions to replace closure of markets.

that a committee was set up after that to put the thoughts of the meeting into a working document.

He further disclosed that the committee has completed its work and its finding, which has implementation schedules for each of the recommendations, has been submitted to the Economic Team, stressing that action on the recommendations would soon commence.

The president further pointed out that as a result of the concern of government to the congestion at the nation’s ports, stakeholders meeting was held recently where certain measures were taken.

He said the need to use the Inland Container Depots (ICDs) for de-congesting the ports was canvassed.

According to him, “We recently convened a meeting of stakeholders where certain measures were taken. It was decided that there is need to actualise the act of freight forwarding in accordance with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Act.” “In our continued efforts to ensure development of ICDs, a committee has been constituted with its members drawn from the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to address the legal status of these ICDs so that they can be properly recognised and declared as ports of origin and destination of choice by importers and exporters.

As a means of making the cargo clearance from the ports easier and faster, he said government recently streamlined the number of agencies operating in the ports.

134.15

-0.2

2,099.00 +11.00

UNDP chief calls for new development strategies

U

18.34

0.05

108.18 -1.33

N Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Helen Clark, has called for new development tar92.99 -0.75 gets that focus on how growth, poverty alleviation and sustainability can complement one another. “At UNDP, we CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING believe it is critical to link the poverty eradication, social equity and environmental sustainability agendas together,” DOLLAR 154.76 155.26 155.76 POUNDS 233.9507 234.7065 235.4624 Clark was quoted as saying.

200.3832 201.0306 201.678 Clark stated this at the opening of a two-day conference EURO FRANC 1.6219 1.6271 1.6324 in San Jose, Costa Rica. A statement in New York said: YEN 1.6219 1.6271 1.6324 “Environmental sustainability cannot be a mere add-on to CFA 0.286 0.296 0.306 231.7928 232.5417 233.2906 a new global development agenda or stand alone in a ver- WAUA RENMINBI 24.8965 24.9774 25.0583 tical silo.

RIYA 41.266 41.3994 41.5327 The imperative now is to move from a discourse focused KRONA 26.8695 26.9563 27.0431 on trade-offs among growth, poverty and environment to SDR 232.5424 233.2937 234.045 one that looks at how to advance the three strands of sustainable development together.”

CBN Exchange rate as at 20/03/2013

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Nyako lists challenges associated with off-balance sheet

BY CHINEDU ONYESOH

T

HE Secretary General and Director, Legal Department ,Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, (NDIC) Alheri Bulus Nyako has attributed various risks associated with most offbalance sheet transactions in Nigeria to the principles behind their operation.

Speaking recently in Lagos during a programme Organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria tagged “Guarantees, Bonds and Indemnities”, Nyako said that Guarantees, Bonds and Indemnities are classified in the financial statement of banks as contingent liabilities and it presents a variety of risks to a bank as an institution.

He maintained that for the banks to manage the challenges associated with off-balance sheet, the Board of Directors should put in place a written policy on the type and level of off-balance sheet risks a bank will undertake and should be regularly informed of such risk exposures in the bank.

He further opined that “The management should ensure that there is a well defined division of responsibilities between dealing accounting and internal supervision, adding that the bank should identify risks inherent in new products and activities and ensure that they are subject to adequate controls before being undertaken.

A “Major initiative should be approved in advance by the Board or it should establish and enforce operating limits and other practices that maintain exposures within levels consistent with its risk appetite”.Nyako said.

He said that the system should be adequate to capture monitor and report all off-balance sheet exposures and related risks, while internal controls should be regularly evaluated for adequacy and intergrity.There should be an effective internal audit” he added.

Finally he said that banks should also evaluate the legal structure of the countries in which it is operating, to ensure that its customer ’s obligation can be legally en-

forced and that the management should ensure that the structure of the bank’s business and the level of interest rate risk it assumes is effectively managed.

In addition, Nyako talked about addressing risks arising from contingent liabilities. He said contingent liability refers to a liability that will only occur if a specific event happens. And that it is also a liability that depends on the occurrence of a future and uncertain event. When asked about the roles of supervisors and regulators in the banking industry, He said that supervisors and regulators in the banking industry play a critical role in ensuring that a bank management reduces the risks inherent in of-bal-

ance sheet transaction such as guarantees, bonds and indemnities.Also,some of the risks inherent in off-balance sheet transaction are, credit risk, interest rate, risk liquidity, funding risks and foreign exchange risk. and in other to limit imprudent risks taken by banks, supervisors and regulators should be satisfied by banks having in place a comprehensive management process (including appropriate board and senior management oversight) to identify, measure, monitor and control all off-balance sheet risks.Finally, he said regular view and supervisory policies are necessary to ensure that they take full accounts of developments in off-balance sheet business.

From left: Mr. Tunji Olugbodi, CEO, Verdant Zeal; Mr. Emeka Okafor, CEO, Platform Branding; CEO, Xtrata Consulting and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN at the induction of newly registered advertising agencies in the association’s corporate office in Lagos.

CIBN partners NOUN on world class services

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has expressed the desire to partner with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in key areas, with a view to ensuring that the Institute renders world class services to its members.

President/Chairman of Council of the Institute Mr. Segun Aina gave this hint during a stakeholders’ engagement with NOUN in Lagos.

Aina who led the CIBN delegation to NOUN stated that the Institute was ready to partner with the Institution on joint Certification programme as well as collaborate with it to set up its B.Sc. degree in Banking and Finance programme.

NOUN and CIBN are also expected to collaborate on e-Learning project. CIBN

C M Y K

International Centre for Financial Studies, among other vital academic and professional areas that would further enhance the profiles of the two institutions will be undertaken, while adding values to their members and other stakeholders. “The challenges in the global financial sector necessitated the need for the CIBN to professionalize banking”, said Mr. Aina. In his response, Vice-Chancellor NOUN, Prof. Vincent Tenebe expressed satisfaction over the proposed partnership and collaboration with CIBN. He observed that distance learning through Open University has become a global phenomenon which is embraced in some advanced countries including USA, UK, India, China, among others, noting that China successfully educated over 500 million of its citizens through Open Univer-

sity within a period of 10 years.

According to him, “The international community is interested in giving responsibilities to those who need minimal or no supervision.”

Among the key officials who participated in the CIBN/NOUN engagement included Dr. ‘Uju Ogubunka, Registrar/Chief Executive, CIBN, Mr. Tade Fadare, FCIB, Deputy Registrar, CIBN, and Mr. Akin Morakinyo, Assistant Director, Capacity building, CIBN while Prof. Mba Okonkwo, OON, Deputy ViceChancellor, Academics, Prof. Chuks Maduabum, Dean, School of Management Sciences and Mrs. Josephine Akinyemi, Registrar were part of NOUN team. A joint Committee comprising top CIBN/NOUN officials was formed to work on the modalities for the partnership.

BRIEF:

Chartered accounting firm repositions, adopts new name

BY MICHAEL EBOH

A

N indigenous accounting firm, Balogun Badejo and Co, BBC, has announced that it has changed its name to BBC Professionals as parts of effort to reposition the firm.

According to a statement signed by Dr Joseph Asaolu, Chairman/ Managing Partner of the company, the name change became imperative in order to reposition the firm towards world-class technical and quality performance and also render excellent professional services to its clients.

He said the new name also reflects its partnership with the third largest association of accounting firms in the world, PrimeGlobal.

He also disclosed that its global partner, IGAF Polaris has undertaken a transformation and has launched a new image and name — PrimeGlobal.

He said the transformation is a reflection of its status as the third largest association of accounting firms in the world.

He maintained that the new PrimeGlobal provides BBC Professionals with significant expertise and resources to meet growing clients’ needs, both locally and internationally.

Also speaking, Kevin Mead, Chief Executive Officer, PrimeGlobal, said, “The new PrimeGlobal name, logo, and website set us apart in the same way that the expertise, relationships, and global connectivity of firms like BBC Professionals set us apart from many other associations in our market space.

“Underlying the new look and feel are all the core values our association stands for: international reach, strong personal connections, technical depth and experience, and elite quality and service.

“The PrimeGlobal name and image clearly express how we are viewed as an association both by our membership and by the clients that we serve.”

PrimeGlobal is an association of independent accounting firms, presenting international reach, strong personal connections, technical depth and experience, and elite quality and service to its members.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 23

Importers fret as flying of containers return STORIES BY GODFREY BIVBERE

I

MPORTERS using the ports in Lagos State are fretting over alleged resurgence of flying of containers from the ports.

Container flying is an illegal clearance of containers from the ports with fake papers.

A clearing agent, who spoke with Vanguard on the issue, said that container flying is beginning to re-surface at the Lagos ports, attributing it to the existence of a cartel in the industry that has began to grow more confident in their activities.

The agent said the recent one was at Tin-can Island Command where the issue of container flying seems to be more rampant.

A maritime programme on radio alluded to the allegation on Monday, when it said that container flying has resurfaced at Tin-can port.

Although efforts to get the reaction of the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi, on the issue proved abortive, the Public Relations Officer of Tin-can Island Command of the Service, Chris Osunkwo, said “it is not true.”

Osunkwo, who told Vanguard that his boss has called his attention to the said report, wondered why anyone should report a case like that without getting the reaction of those involved.

He challenged anyone with any proof of such incident to make it available, saying that the

Command would take responsibility if the allegation is found to be true.

Speaking further, Osunkwo said that no one has come to him to complain about missing container or anything like that.

National President of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, told Vanguard that they have been hearing about flying of containers. Shittu stressed that it is not possible for such acts to succeed without the active involvement of government agencies. He noted that there are people who will continue to develop ways of subverting the clearing process and therefore security agencies should work at over coming whatever these people come out with..

He explained that if there is a cartel, the security agencies must work at unveiling those behind it.

Similarly, Chairman, Presidential Monitoring Taskforce of ANLCA, Dom Obi, said he is not aware of such incident, querying, ‘Why will someone want to do that.’

On whether it is impossible to fly containers from the port, Obi said “Nothing is impossible” but insisted that he was not aware of such a practice presently. When informed that some of such containers are moved out of the port without the knowledge of the owners, the ANLCA chieftain said in that case, it is not container flying but outright stealing.

Media Consultant of

•Customs, terminal operators deny allegation APM Terminal, Bolaji Akinola, denied the allegation saying, “To the best of my knowledge, there is no such occurrence.” Akinola observed that such acts were rampant in the past just after the terminals were handed over to private terminal operators.

He said those who were caught then were exposed, adding that no terminal operator would condone such occurrence in their domain, as it is not only an economic crime against the nation but also against the interest of terminal operators and shipping companies.

On whether it is possible for containers to be taken out of a terminal without the knowledge of the management, the APM Terminal consultant said “As I said earlier, am not aware of any such thing.”

l-r: Hajia Lami Tumaka, Dep. Dir Public Relations, Mrs Obi, Dep Dir Legal Services and Exe. Dir AML Bonded Terminal, Affi Ibanga at the just concluded NIMAREX Expo in Lagos.

Shipping sector needs competition to grow, says Ezekwesili H

AVING taken a cursory look at the shipping sector, which has contended with stunted growth in Nigeria, former World Bank’s Vice President for Africa Region, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said that it is only competition that can drive development in the shipping industry.

Ezekwesili, who delivered a paper on Financ-

ing Options for Shipping Development at the second day of the just concluded Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2013 held in Lagos, said that the sector has not opened up effectively, because the players have not formulated effective communication strategy with other players in Nigeria.

Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education,

ANCLA explains Customs’ role over capacity building for members association had earlier

BY IFEYINWA OBI

T

HE Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has dismissed the reported criticism of its recent capacity building training course in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, sponsored by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), saying the agency only came to the rescue of the association at its point of need.

National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Obi-Cee Okonwo, who spoke on behalf of the president of the association, Prince Olaywola Shittu, in Lagos, said the capacity building programme is an initiative of the incumbent leadership of the association and several

members had gone to Greece without anybody raising an issue, adding, “Just because we are able to secure NCS sponsorship this time around, people are beginning to take note and are getting interested. It is good for the industry because knowledge is important if we must raise our standards to international level.”

He disclosed that the association has many more countries lined up for members with South Africa being the next in the series.

He commended the management of NCS for coming to the assistance of the association at that crucial time, saying the Dubai training was just one in a series of training programmes lined for

members of the association in the capacity building initiative of the incumbent leadership.

He said: “For the records, the training is the initiative of ANLCA leadership and Nigeria Customs Service was just one of the organisations we wrote for assistance for the Daubai training.

We are grateful for the support and I can assure you that our members are better for it in terms of updating of their knowledge with modern day Customs Brokerage and trade facilitation.”

Okonkwo further said that one of the aims of the capacity building programme was to expose Nigerian Customs Brokers on the practice of the trade across the world, adding that the

taken some members of the association to Greece, while South Africa, United States have been scheduled for more training.

He stated that the upcoming South African training is compulsory for qualified members, saying the association is determined to be at par with the officials of Nigeria Customs Service under the current administration of Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi.

He said, “We cannot afford to lag behind in terms of updating our knowledge with modern Customs operations because the CGC has done so much in that regard with his officers; that is why we are so grateful he assisted us when we sought for it.

also advised Nigerian ship owners to do away with sentiments and rely less on government in taking control of trading on Nigerian waters.

She advised operators in the shipping sector to drive their arguments with economic data to attract funds, while encouraging them to make use of alternative sources such as issuance of bonds to finance ship acquisition and other capital projects in the sector.

While lamenting low participation of indigenous operators, the former World Bank chief said: “Confronted with

the low indigenous participation in the shipping trade, the Federal Government is, typically, planning to throw tax payers’ money down another black hole, a plan being hatched by apparatchiks for yet another special intervention fund to bail out local ship owners is misplaced and alarming in a country where such funds have been serially embezzled. ”Stimulating the maritime industry requires a more creative policy framework that will make shipping attractive to investors, ease access to cheap funding and encourage mergers.”

NPA board members tour terminals, agencies

S

OME members of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently embarked on a tour of port facilities of terminal operators and some government agencies as part of measures to keep themselves abreast of happenings in the sector.

The Board members which include Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi and Senator Lekan Mustapha were led on the tour by top Management team of the Authority including the Executive Director Ma-

rine and Operations Engr. David Omonibeke, Executive Director Finance and Administration Mr. Olumide Oduntan and the General Manager Board, Mrs Oby Anubi amongst others.

According to Capt.

Iheanacho Ebubeogu, NPA’s General Manager in Charge of Public Affairs, the Board members went from the Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL) where they were briefed about the activities of LCM, to ENL Consortium Ltd. within the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), on a boat ride.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

MITI, NASS move to nail substandard products’ importers T

From left: Director, Commodities and Products Inspectorate, Mr. Julius Apanisile, Ag. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olakunle Sogboola, Mrs. Omololu Opeowe and Mrs. O.F. Ogunbella at the SPS Capacity Building in Africa to Mitigate the Harmful effect of Pesticide Residues in Cocoa and to Maintain Market Access held recently in Abuja. trial raw materials across the value chain in all sectors of the economy.

The major problem we had many years ago was that when it was fixed , we were not as developed as today in terms

of our production .So, we only focused mainly on imports and didn’t focus on all the issues across the value chain.

“If you look at the Information and Communications Technology for

example, the tariff for bringing in some finished accessories is lower than for the raw materials and we have it in so many other sectors, including publishing.”

Coke distributors in Nigeria to access N15.5bn credit facility D

ISTRIBUTORS of Coca-Cola products in Nigeria are among the five million women entrepreneurs in Eurasia and Africa that will access $100 million (about N15.5 billion) credit facility to expand their business over the next three years.

In a statement, Nathan Kalumbu, President of Eurasia and Africa Group, The Coca-Cola Company, said “We are excited about this opportunity to har-

ness the collective power of our organisations to positively impact women in Eurasia and Africa.”

“Women entrepreneurs represent significant untapped economic potential in developing countries; they are essential for creating jobs and achieving sustainable growth,” said James Scriven, IFC Director of Financial Markets.

“This innovative partnership with Coca-Cola

will help expand access to finance for thousands of women who are part of the company’s supply and distribution chain.”

“In Nigeria, Coca-Cola and IFC are working with Access Bank to provide financing to women micro-distributors (MDCs) in the Coca-Cola value chain, in close collaboration with Coca-Cola’s bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company.

Private sector should step up capacity building “for SMEs — Segun-Lean stitute the foundation of mandates of public advo-

T

HE Chairman, Training Committee of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Business Education, Services and Training (BEST) unit, Mr. Larry Segun-Lean, has called on the private sector to step up their efforts in training small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-up firms to improve on their operations.

“These enterprises must be given business

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

M

STORIES BY FRANKLIN ALLI HE Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI) and the National Assembly (NASS) have set in motion machinery to impose stiff penalties on importation of sub-standard goods into the country.

Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of MITI, who made this disclosure during the week when he presented his ‘’Industrial Revolution Plan (IRP) to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, in Lagos , said that things would soon change as the ministry is working with National Assembly to introduce stiffer penalties against importers of sub-standard products in order to improve the productivity of local manufacturers.

“Part of the strategy is to look at the tariff and the implication on smuggling. In some cases, high tariff is not necessarily the answer when you cannot control smuggling because smuggling does more harm than the high tariff. We are looking at the overall implications and impact of all these to the manufacturing sector in particular and the economy in general,” Aganga said.

According to him, the ministry is carrying out a comprehensive review of tariffs charged on industrial raw materials across all sectors of the domestic economy.

“We are doing a comprehensive review of the competitiveness of the tariff regime for indus-

Mr Bigg’s launches Naija Meal

support and developmental services, especially training, to increase their chances of developing from small to medium sized, and then into large companies, thus creating the next generation of fortune-500 companies in Nigeria,” he said.

“The world over, governments are working hard at sustainable growth of their economies. Since small and medium enterprises con-

economic growth of any country, the private sector must step up their efforts to ensure this is achieved.”

He disclosed that LCCI, for instance, has commenced a systematic and qualitative training programme for established and budding entrepreneurs who wish to develop their businesses and add value to services provided for their clients.

This, he said, is in addition to the Chamber ’s

cacy, research, and arbitration and trade promotion. He said LCCI had realised the need to further support businesses to improve on their operations.

He further disclosed that BEST unit would also offer free counseling to business owners to ensure survival and meaningful growth of their enterprises, thereby contributing positively to the national economy.

R Bigg’s has launched a new offering called ‘Naija Meal.’ ”Naija Meal is currently available in Jollof and Fried rice meal options and we would be extending it to other meals on our counter like our farm house beans, heritage pottage etc. We will continue to innovate to guarantee consumer satisfaction at all times,” said Managing Director UAC Restaurants, Derrick Van Houten.

Speaking during a media launch held at its Illupeju restaurants, the Managing Director noted that the product will be available in all its over 170 restaurants nationwide starting this week.

“Innovation remains our watchword as a business and we will con-

tinue to respond to the changing needs of our consumers at all times,” he said.

Marketing Manager UAC Restaurants, Mrs. Nnenna Azuka-Onwuka, explained that Naija Meal is a meal developed with the Naija Man in mind.

“The everyday Nigerian is stuck with the challenge of meeting up with his numerous financial obligations from his shrinking disposable income and the need for satisfying meal out of home that is hygienically prepared at a very affordable price.”

It is a dream come true for the brand because at the heart of our business lies our consumer. Every innovation that comes through the funnel to the consumers is the transformation of what seemed like a dream to reality for us.”

Neimeth gets ISO Certification

N

EIMETH Interna tional Pharmaceuticals Plc has been certified by the International Standard Organisation.

The company was awarded the certificates in Quality Systems Management (QMS) and Environmental Quality Management (EMS) even as it bagged Best Kept Industrial Premises competition.

By this, Neimeth becomes the first Pharmaceutical Company to be awarded both certifications at the same time as other companies have received theirs one at a time.

The certification has endorsed Neimeth as having improved the efficiency and effectiveness

of company operations.

The above Award additionally is in line with our Environmental Policy Statement which reflects that Neimeth operates effective healthcare products manufacturing system which ensures that our facilities provide accident free, safe and health work environment that is less hazardous to man and the Ecosystem.

According to the ISO Management representative, Miss. Chinenye Okoronkwo, Neimeth has always work hard to maintain the highest level of standards expected of her as a manufacturing company in such a way that would impact positively on the company ’s operations and the environment.

Game company expands outlets

I

SIS Gaming, a new player in the lottery, market has expanded its outlets from Yaba in Lagos to other parts of the state.

In a statement, the company ’s Marketing Executive, Ms Okharedia Otibho, said that the expansion was in line with the company’s growth plans.

She said that as part of its growth process, the company will excite and engage its alternate market audience with its offerings.

“This Alternate market includes students, housewives, workers and “The Lagos Big-Boys”

”Also at Isis Gaming, the games are not only fun and exciting they are also rewarding because of the nature of the games, which are scratch cards. ”Its lottery tickets comes with instant wins, we are in business talks with major supermarkets, malls, fast-food restaurants, cinemas and other retail outlets, in order to partner with them.

With social media being a key contributor to the growth of successful start-ups, the company is already active on some platforms with the objective of informing and engaging its audiences.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 25

learning@vanguardngr.com

Nigerian invents fastest, safest oil spill cleaner T

he days of spending tons of money and between 11 and 12 months to clean up an oil spill on our waters, seem to be over as a Nigerian researcher, Engr. Taslim Owonikoko, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Iseyin, Oyo State-based Berekotry Detergent Limited, has come up with a solution, interestingly made from agricultural waste. He spoke with Vanguard Learning in his office recently on his new invention.

Excerpts:

Motivation: Call it serendipitous discovery and you will be right because according to Owonikoko, he did not set out to look for an oil spill cleaner. He was actually looking for a local, more environmentfriendly and cheaper alternative to phosphate in his detergent formulation and also to create jobs for the teeming technical workforce. ”The oil spill cleaner came up as an offshoot of trying to impact Nigerians positively and satisfy Nigerian customer base. Nigerian consumers are very meticulous and know the dynamics of the market more than the technical workforce. We wanted to knock off phosphate from Nigeria to save our waterways which are usually covered by water hyacinth.

Many people do not know that water hyacinth on our waterways is caused by waste laundry water laden with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) in detergent formulations. At that time, nobody knew the negative effects of STPP in detergent formulations. So we were trying to create something that will be a plus to the environmental wellbeing of Nigerians using as much local content as we can.

We wanted to really make an impact on the society through our interest in Research and Development (R&D) and based on the fact that we work on agricultural waste round the clock to create very good industrial products.

We have been working tirelessly to ensure that we impact the rural dwellers and the unemployed graduates roaming the streets through agriculture, Nigeria being an agrarian society,” Owonikoko said.

Searching for an alternative: Engr. Owonikoko explained further; “Carboxyl cellulose is the most expensive aspect of detergent formulation so if we had increased that, as requested by the market, we would not have been able to compete with those coming from Asia so we needed to look inwards. We started working on cellulose from agric waste

C M Y K

and instead of the cellulose giving us the required result as additive in our detergent formulation, we were getting a different ‘disappointing’ result which now turned out to be diamond and gold in our R&D pipeline. The cellulose was now turned into several products. The oil spill cleaner was made from cellulose, it was a spin-off mistake of trying to increase the quality of the detergent that led to the production of oil spill cleaner from agro waste. That is why in research, at times when you think you have reached a dead end, you can

continues on pg 31

,

BY EBELE ORAKPO

go and sleep and really dream, because that dead end may equally give you a block buster which we have achieved by our product. This is world’s fastest and safest oil spill mopping agent that has been certified by all regulatory bodies in the OPEC world and the DPR in Nigeria. So we have not only just produced a mopping agent, we have created one of the best in the oil industry. The DPR bio-assay analyst said our product on touching crude oil on water surface in Nigerian environmental condition, reduces toxicity of oil by 200 per cent which means that the oil has been totally arrested and coagulated and therefore, no longer toxic to aquatic life. Based on the information we got from the National Oil Spill Detection

This oil spill mopping agent has been certified by all regulatory bodies in the OPEC world and the DPR in Nigeria

, *Engr. Owonikoko explaining a point as he displays the oil spill cleaner in a bottle.

Education sector lags behind in ICT — Expert

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

A

ny educational institution that is not moving with the tide of information and communication technology has outlived its relevance and should be shut down. This is the view of IT specialist, and chairman, Lean Sigma Concepts, Mr. Chibunna Ezenwa.

In an interview with Vanguard Learning, Ezenwa said; “The world is moving very fast, and schools cannot keep on making excuses for lagging behind. No doubt, the education sector is grossly neglected,

Academics blame piracy on poverty, weak laws Page 27

especially in the area of ICT. We must understand that things are changing and that if we don’t keep on moving technology-wise, we will be left behind as far as education is concerned.”

It is in lieu of these challenges that his company went ahead to partner with India-based company, Siva Group, to champion ‘ICT for School Transformation.’ “ICT for School Transformation,” he said, “is not just a software, but a programme. Embedded in the programme is a software, but we are very clear about the terms because we don’t just install the software and walk away, but we give the whole package. It transforms the way students approach their studies, the way teachers

d As croppegrow…

pants

Page 28

deliver their lectures as well as the way parents and administrators communicate.”

While expounding on the programme, Ezenwa said that the programme “basically has about 42 models ranging from centralized administration to knowledge management, enterprise resource management as well as communication and collaboration. It involves a single console web-based digital administration of all the operations of the school. In other words, you don’t have to keep on using different software for different aspects of school management, Continues on pg 26

Why Nigerian students excel abroad –Engr Oni Page 30

26 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

H

E who opens a classroom door closes a prison door.’ This seems to summarise the guiding principles of Lagos State Government’s collaboration with its private sector partners in moving the education sector forward.

Presiding over the state’s Support our Schools Initiative’s Corporate Social Responsibility Award/Breakfast Meeting last Thursday, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State expressed satisfaction that the initiative was helping to improve the standard of education in the state.

In his keynote address, Fashola said from all indications, the state was heading in the right direction in the education sector though investment in education has a long gestation period.

“When you invest in education, it takes almost 20 to 30 years before the results begin to show. Also, when the first wrong step is taken, you’ll see the result at around the same time.

“But we have walked quite a distance and the results are glaring for all to see and this is a testament to the level of commitment we have towards this project. This gathering is to give account of what we have received in terms of support from our partners to re-build our primary, junior and senior secondary schools and technical colleges and the impacts are already being felt. If this is a measure of success, then we are heading in the right direction.

“It pleases me every year for us to gather in the morning like this when there is no food, no champagne, no musician and we still fill this hall yearly, which is a testament to the level of commitment that we have demonstrated to this cause.

“We are here to render account of what we have received; the support we have taken and for people to understand that their efforts are not only acknowledged but purposefully deployed. That is why we have chosen to show everybody as much as we can gather, big or small what we have received and from whom and also to express our appreciation.

“What we put in is what we will get.

As we invest in these children, we are also investing in ourselves because whether we like it or not, we will age someday and if we don’t train the right doctors now, be very sure that we would not find them when we need

Day Lagos honoured education partners

*From left: Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Governor Babatunde Fashola and Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule at the CRS/ breakfast meeting with private sector education partners.

them. When you look at the kind of care Nelson Mandela is getting now, it’s because he ensured that the care providers were trained, otherwise, he would have been shipped to India.

“Who will produce water for us to drink when we can no longer work?

Who will guard this City-State and the nation when we exit the stage? Who will have the knowledge to manage our pensions and investments that we have worked for all our lives? Who will build the roads and keep those roads built and maintained on which you can drive all of the fancy cars that you acquire? Who will manage the air traffic so that the private jets we have all acquired do not crash mid-air?” the Governor queried, pointing out that all would depend on a well educated next generation.

“Government is doing its best to support the students and contracts to build and refurbish their schools are

Education sector lags behind in ICT Continues from pg 25 teaching, and administration.

“It also provides a learning management system for effective knowledge management, lesson plans, lecture notes and assignments; on-line exams for student-centric formative study and evaluation; virtual classrooms for collaborating with the best of teachers around the world, interactive parent portals for news, curriculum, child progress, fee schedules; integrated SMS and email services for event based alerts; in addition, parents can check their own children’s progress from any location via multilingual web support at any time and do not have

,

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

Who will produce water for us to drink when we can no longer work? Who will guard this City-State and the nation when we exit the stage?

Who will have the knowledge to manage our pensions and investments that we have worked for all our lives?

,

no longer going to contractors but the students. And I am very proud to tell you

to wait for the report sheet at the end of the term.”

According to Ezenwa, the programme has already begun to make an impression on the Nigerian education sector. “There isn’t anyone we have made a presentation to who isn’t interested in the programme,” he said, “it is just that there is a lot of bureaucracy in the sector. You have to make the same presentation to the school administration, parents, teachers, in some cases government officials and board of directors. It is always a very arduous decisionmaking process.”

The Lean Sigma boss also commented on the affordability of the programme. “It is very affordable, we *Mr. Chibunna Ezenwa, MD/CEO, Lean charge about N7,500 per student, and Sigma Concept Ltd and Mr. Chitari Chitin, we make concessions depending on Director, SIVA Group. the number of students each school

that they have demonstrated, by the finished works, what they can do. So impossible is not an option for us. It is possible and we will deliver.”

Thanking the partners and calling on more organisations to join in the noble cause, Fashola said there is some work that also needs to be done at the1001 primar y, 329 junior, 312 senior secondary schools and 5 technical colleges.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, expressed joy that the partnership has grown to become an enduring one and the decision to use the initiative as a vehicle to garner public support for the education sector was not misplaced.

Thanking the partners for their support, the Commissioner pleaded; “Like a growing child, we need more of your support and assistance especially in the area of creating more hygienic condition for our school children.”

Highlights of the event included a lecture delivered by the Director, Legal Services, Etisalat, Mrs. Adeola Idowu, titled CRS: Adding value to life through education and presentation of awards to supporters of the initiative, among whom were the Iya Oge of Lagos, Mrs. Opral Benson, Sir. Kesington Adebutu, House on the Rock Church, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Access Bank, Julius Berger, Flour Mills, Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Nigerian Bottling Company, MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd and Techno.

provides. There is a certain percentage off if there are over 500 students in a school. Schools can decide to spread their payment across terms, making the already light burden much easier. We met a school administrator in Festac who spent sometime working in the U.S before coming back to Nigeria. When we told her the price, she laughed because she knows how expensive this programme is over there. She even said that she would pay for the students with her own money.”

Training of teachers and administrators in the schools also comes as part of the package.

According to him; “We start training them from the basics of computer use to the rudiments of the programme until we are sure that they are conversant with the entire package.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 27

Academics blame piracy on pover ty, weak laws

By FREDERICK OKOPIE

BY OLASUNKANMI AROWOLO & JIMOH FOLAJOMI, LASU

N

F

OLLOWING the rising spate of piracy in the country, coupled with its socio-economic effect on the intellectual works of original copyright owners, academics at the Lagos State University-Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication (LASUAASOC), Surulere, have blamed poverty, weak laws amongst others, as factors that encourage piracy in Nigeria.

Present at the recently held 3rd monthly Departmental Lecture Series of the faculty were Prof. Lai Oso, Dean of the Faculty, Mr. Jacob Adeoye, Sub-Dean; Mr. Olujimi Kayode, Head, Department of Journalism; Dr. Yinka Alawode, Head, Department of Broadcasting; Dr. Yakubu Awodele, Head, Department of Public Relations/ Advertising; Dr. Muyiwa Ajaga, lecturer at the Department of Journalism; Mrs. Omolade Atofojomo, lecturer at the Department of Broadcasting and other teaching and non-teaching staff of the faculty.

Dr. Ridwan Adeyemi, the guest lecturer, who presented a 34-page paper entitled; Video Piracy in Nigeria, took a critical examination of the causes and factors responsible for video piracy in Nigeria, using in-depth interview, critical analysis of document, triangulation and diffusion of innovation as the theoretical framework.

Earlier, the Dean, Prof. Lai Oso averred that the seminar serves as a platform for lecturers to embark on academic research, debating on the findings of the research, in order to acquire and share knowledge on that particular topic. He further added that the faculty will soon commence the publishing of its own academic journal.

*Oriade Youth Essay competition award ceremony Meanwhile, in his paper, Dr. Adeyemi disclosed that “some socio-economic factors such as the urge to make good money, greed as characterized by high poverty rate, make people succumb to piracy. Moreso, Nigerian laws are weak concerning piracy and there is no active law enforcement agency. Even the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is not helping matters and piracy has come to stay in Nigeria but can only be reduced.”

On her part, Mrs. Omolade Atofojomo blamed buyers for the rise in rate of piracy in the country. She said; “A lot of awareness has been created on radio about piracy, yet people still go for it and the working class tends to subscribe more to piracy,” adding, “people don’t feel guilty about

Frequently Confused Words REQUEST - REQUEST FOR Request can be used as a verb or noun. The verb request ‘to ask for something or to ask somebody to do something in a polite or formal way’ is not followed by ‘for’. We request something NOT for something. Request can be followed by ‘that’. The noun form of request ‘the action of asking for something formally and politely’ (Oxford Advanced Learner’s

C M Y K

Delta Poly matriculates 1,500

piracy and are not ready to pay for the original.”

She, however, opined that members of the academia have a lot to do towards reducing incidences of piracy, noting that “our problem is basically not that of the will of the government, as even the citizenry will regard as harsh governance, when the enforcers of piracy laws are being strict in the enforcement of the laws in the country.”

Lauding the guest lecturer for a job well done, the Dean of the faculty who was on the same page with Adeyemi said piracy has over the years reared its ugly head in the country, owing to the socio-economic situation. Blaming piracy on poverty, Oso noted that “poverty has given room for corruption and the proliferation of fake production of intellectual works.”

Dictionary 7th Edition ) is followed by ‘for’. We made a request for something. Do not add ‘for’ to the verb request.

Examples: 1.

The Governor requested an emergency meeting with the leaders of the community.

2.

She made a request for the deferment of her admission on health grounds.

3.

The contractor working on the road project made repeated requests for money.

4.

The letter requested that Mrs. F.A. Parrot be posted to another office.

5.

I request a free copy of the magazine.

DEFILE - DEFY Defile and defy are two distinct lexical items. Pay attention to the meaning and spelling of each word. Defile is about making the holy, sacred or hallowed dirty, impure or unholy. Defy, according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 7th Edition means (1) to refuse to obey or show respect for somebody in authority (2) belief, explanation, description, etc . to be impossible or almost impossible to believe, explain, describe, etc. (3) to successfully resist somebody or something to a very unusual degree. From the verb defy, we have defies, defying,

O fewer than 1,500 National Diploma and Higher National Diploma students respectively, out of over 15,000 candidates who applied for admission at the Delta State Polytechnic OtefeOghara into different areas of study have subscribed to the matriculation oath administered on them by the Registrar of the institution, Mr. Benson Omonode.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. (Mrs.) Clara Ewo Sogbaike who admitted the students into the institution in a colourful matriculation ceremony first of its kind since the inception of the school 11 years ago, told the matriculants to desist from unproductive and unwholesome activities such as cultism, examination malpractice, acts of hooliganism and such other scandalous acts inimical to their stay and growth in the polytechnic and as well, apply themselves diligently to their studies by participating in all their class assignments, attending lectures regularly and above all, conduct themselves in a manner befitting of students in tertiary institutions.

She further advised them that the institution has zerotolerance for examination malpractice, as it is a serious offence that attracts severe penalty, pointing out that the polytechnic shall not relent in its effort at stamping out of their midst any fibre of examination malpractice.

defied. Members of the word family are defy (verb), defiance (noun) and defiant (adjective). Do not choose defile instead of defy and vice-versa.

Examples: 1.

“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy” Revelation 3:4 (King James Version of the Bible).

2.

Rape defiles the victim.

3.

The sanctuary had been defiled by vandals.

4.

His political moves defy explanation.

5.

Her health problem defies solution.

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

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

d e p p o r c s A … w o r g s t n pa

By WINIFRED IMONLUAMEN

A

re cropped pants worn by everyone?

The answer is quite difficult, because everybody wants to wear what is in vogue; nobody wants to be left out.

Cropped pants are jeans, trousers or capris that aren’t full length.

These short pants style may end up just below the knee or at the upper or mid calf. People may not know this but cropped pants were first worn by Italians and became popular in the United States in the 1950’s. Before they became 21st Century campus fad, cropped pants were worn for bicycle riding. The cropped pants made riders comfortable riding bicycles.

The 21st Century has re-branded cropped pants in the sense that it’s being worn in different styles. Some cropped pants can be worn with a T shirt tucked into the pants, holding it firm with a lovely tiny belt.

You can also match your cropped pants with a blazer, a pair of wedge shoes and jewellery. In some campuses, the cropped pant is known as regular outfit for lectures, parties, or casual wear.

Everyone is wearing it, not everyone look good in it. But I tell you, cropped pants should be worn with uniqueness and fabulosity.

Unjust disparity between poly, varsity graduates in Nigeria

By CHUKWUMA NWALI

M

OST secondary school leavers seeking admission into higher institutions in Nigeria would hardly choose polytechnics as their preferred institution, and it is easily understood why it is so. Why should they choose polytechnics when the university is there for them? Why go to the polytechnic to obtain Higher National Diploma that will take additional two years to go for post-graduate diploma that will make it degree equivalent?

Why would you go through all these and still not be sure about gaining an employment after all the rigorous exercises? Some of these students have vowed not to go to polytechnics for any reason. I know people who graduated from secondary school for over four years and have not got admission into the university, although they have been offered admission into

C M Y K

polytechnics but they rejected the offer.

It is very degrading that graduates from polytechnics go back to start university from first year. Why not, when polytechnic graduates are regarded as mere secondary school products? All these are because of the undue preferential treatment to university graduates in Nigeria.

Now, one may try to ask questions leading to why the polytechnic system was even created or adopted in Nigeria.

An answer to this question will probably lead us to what we have to do to remedy this situation that makes mockery of our education system. Was it to train less intelligent students or just to keep people in school for five years with little or no gain or to come and face unjust disparity in the labour market, especially in big companies or banks if you are opportune to be employed?

The polytechnic system was originally adopted or rather inherited from our colonial master. However, our colonial

master, the UK, where we copied the polytechnic system from, intended the system not to be more than intermediate institution to train technologists and middlelevel manpower. So, the UK system of education limited the HND to be only equivalent to a bachelor’s degree without honours, that is the lowest rank in the British university system which is a 'pass.' This means that the HND is only equivalent to a pass in the university system, even if it is the best grade in polytechnic which is distinction.

This unjust disparity continued to create ill-will in the British educational sector until 1992 when it was abolished under the Higher Education Act, hence all the polytechnics in the UK were subsequently elevated to conventional universities. So, there are no polytechnics awarding HND in the UK.

Group holds convention

BY GILBERT ALASA, UNIBEN

A

GROUP of students under the aegis of The Undergraduate League (TUL) has held an annual symposium for secondary schools in Benin City, Edo State.

The event themed; Be Inspired, Be Challenged Young Leaders Summit, took place at the Parliamentary Hall of the University of Benin. A total of 89 students and administrative representatives from various schools were in attendance.

In his welcome address, TUL President, Ambassador Daniel Opiti said the forum was aimed at inspiring young people to recognise their innate potentials. He said; "As a nation, we are confronted with leadership crisis. Young people are forced to follow the footsteps of depraved public figures and this poses great danger to their future aspirations.’’

While the event lasted, facilitators were on hand to educate the students on topical issues. President of the UNIBEN-SUG, Osifo Favour Osasere, Kennedy Odia and Commandant of The Nigeria Red Cross Society (UNIBEN Chapter), were among the facilitators.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—29

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

Promote our arts, culture for economic devt, don charges govt

C

oncerned with the denigration of African arts and culture, owing to colonial imperialism, former Dean, School of Arts, Printing & Design, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mr. Noserime Rukeme has charged government and other stakeholders to combine efforts towards the promotion of tourism in the country, noting that this will foster economic development.

Delivering the 2nd Inaugural Lecture of the College entitled, African Aesthetics: The Romance of Body Adornment, Rukeme opined that as the world is now a global village, with cultures moving in and out of various countries, there is need for Nigeria to boost its economic wellbeing as a nation with the stabilization of its rich tradition, arts and culture. This, he said, is achievable if only the nation goes back to the cradle and taking what it wants that will boost her economic well-being.

Earlier, the Rector of the College, Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, represented by the Deputy Rector (Academics), Mr. Innocent Akuhemokan, said the first and last inaugural lecture in the college was held in 2001 noting that “the increasing status of the college made the management to revisit the need for inaugural lectures by academic staff of the college. This is to enable them keep abreast with new trends and development in their areas of specialization, as well as boost academic activities in the institution.”

Particularly concerned on how Nigeria can tap into her

rich cultural heritage within the six geo-political zones making up the country, thus providing massive employment for its teeming unemployed youth populace, the inaugural lecturer said; “If we look at the peculiarity of each geo-political zone, each state, there are peculiar cultural affinities, the youths and populace can develop them to become a popular tourist attraction. These arts and artifacts can be produced into souvenirs just like it is being done in countries like Kenya and Namibia. If done, these works will become exotic and unique and people will be looking for them all over the world.”

However, in his one and half hour interactive discourse, the Chief Lecturer at the Department of Fine Arts, YABATECH, further

*Mr. Noserime Rukeme, while presenting his paper

explained that the uniqueness of African arts, is brought to fore by its recognition and influence on modern European artists. His words; “African arts refer to all the artistic production prior to the advent of Europeans (the pre-colonial era). It also refers to traditional (classic or indigenous) art produced by Africans for Africans within the framework of ethnic aesthetics, intellectual, moral and social values and institutions.

“African art is distinct the world over because it cannot be separated from the very traditions and values that produced it. Perhaps, it is on this premise that it came to European notice in 1905, when artists such as Vlaminck, Derain, Picasso and Modigliani recognised the aesthetic value of African sculpture.

“These artists were greatly influenced by African art forms, even as interests in the arts of Africa have flourished and many modern artists have rediscovered the enduring qualities of African art. Today, African art has come to be appreciated the world over for its intrinsic aesthetic value as well as continuing to be a source of inspiration for the works of western artists.”

Stressing the need for Nigeria and Africans in general to enhance her rich cultural heritage to free itself of poverty, the don held that “Africans should debunk assertions by the Western world that African arts and

Students urged to embrace technology education for greatness

BY DAYO ADESULU

E

ngineer Babatunde Odufuwa has urged students who are aspiring for greatness to embrace technology education despite all odds even as the country faces bad times amidst spate of violence, armed robberies, inter-tribal clashes, religious intolerance and kidnapping. Odufuwa who made case for qualitative education at all levels said that education is a prime mover of any modernizing society adding; “the natural resources and accumulated capital of the country will invariably remain dormant unless its human resources are adequately developed and utilised to exploit the non-human resources into consumable articles.” In order to improve the quality of life of Nigerians, he maintained that the country must tap into the global system of generation and transformation of knowledge, which will generate indigenous knowledge, diffuse and transfer information as well as utilise the knowledge in productive activities.

According to him, if Nigeria wishes to participate in the knowledge-intensive global economy, it must be able to produce large numbers of scientifically C M Y K

and technologically literate, innovation receptive, highly adaptable and problem solving minded people with a predisposition to life-long learning.

Speaking at the 7th convocation ceremony of Lagos City Polytechnic (LCP) where a total 1,226 graduands were churned out, Odufuwa who spoke on the need for students to imbibe entrepreneurship skills said that the tendency has been either to subsume the youth into the general adult population or to ignore

*From left: The best graduating student of the Faculty of Management Science, Lagos State University (LASU), Mr Adisa Olugbenga, LASU Branch Manager of Sterling Bank, Mr Tolu Bamgbowu; Relations Officers of Sterling Bank, Mr Uchenna Umeugochukwu and Bose Olayiwola and Vice Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa during the presentation of a cheque to Olugbenga at the institution's 18th convocation.

culture are primitive, tribal, native, fetish, black or idolatry and should be relegated to the background.”

Asked if the proliferation of modern religious belief systems such as Christianity and Islam won’t downplay the promotion of Nigerian arts and culture, Rukeme noted that there must always be a balance. He said; “In belief system, that was the confusion that came upon Nigerians and Africans in general, because we became confused when we were faced with Christianity and Islamic religion. But the Papal declaration noted that anything which is not against God that is cultural with values of African society should be inculcated into the worship. That is why you see decorations of wood carvings in Catholic churches and other churches.

“Even if you go to the Northern part of Nigeria, indigenous instruments are still being used in worship places.

So I want to state here, that there can be a marriage of tradition, culture and modern religion. So, we don’t need to discard everything on the premise of fetishness, primitivity and uncivilization. ”

their effort to forge a livelihood through enterprise activities saying, this has resulted in the lack of understanding of the potential benefits of youth entrepreneurship as a means of improving youth livelihood.

According to him, the Lagos City Polytechnic students have demonstrated creativity and skills by designing and building an electricpowered car via solar energy. He added that other projects of the students include; designing and conceptualizing another version of ‘Facebook’, paint production, academic gowns, shoes and bags.

On research, he noted that the link between research and the productive sector in Nigeria is either weak or not in existence, recommending that government and other stakeholders should retrace their footstep and go back to the basics rather than neglect and discriminate against polytechnic education, which emphasizes more practical disciplinary concepts and assures of greater adaptability and relevance.

On his part, the keynote speaker and Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Mr. Muhammed Taofeek Oki who was represented

by Mr. Babajimi Benson spoke on the theme Human Capital and National Development: The Role of Polytechnics.

He said; “Although polytechnics were modeled to be institutions where multiple skills are taught, however, for reasons ranging from underfunding, mediocrity, corruption, wrong prioritization and lack of vision, Nigerian polytechnics have lost their natural role and are now the alter egos of universities.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Why Nigerian students excel abroad – Engr Oni

By DAYO ADESULU

F

ormer Chairman of Odu’a Investment Group, Engr. David Oni who is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Dave Abion Consulting, in this interview with journalists, sheds light on some topical educational issues.

C M Y K

from a world class university and you get a good job anywhere. If you have an MSc or Phd from say Glasgow University, you are simply irresistible in terms of employment; there is nowhere in the world you cannot get a job. Some Nigerian universities are very good and well known abroad, others are not.

So I think the craze for foreign education arises from the fact that people know that if you struggle and make a good grade from a British University, you are more or less made for life!

A lot of Nigerians go to Ghana for their education. The qualification of Ghanaian universities is very good,

,

What inspired you into the education consultancy business?

I was educated in the UK where I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Greenwich, London with a scholarship from British Petroleum Co. Ltd. When I got there and saw the method of teaching and learning and the facilities that were available in terms of books, library materials, laboratories, workshops, etcetera, it dawned on me that the UK is the perfect study destination. I worked for many years in British Petroleum and other companies when I came back. On my retirement, I decided to set up my own consultancy so that many Nigerians can enjoy what I enjoyed when I studied in the UK. There have been numerous instances whereby Nigerians who had their secondary education or first degree programme here, emerge the best students once they go abroad for studies. What do we attribute such development to?

What I would say is that most Nigerian students excel when they travel abroad more than they would have excelled here. This situation can be explained through the statement of an American management consultant.

“Success is equal to opportunity plus capability.” Many Nigerians have the capability but they do not have the opportunity when they are here in Nigeria. So when you add their capability to the opportunities that open to them when they are in the UK, I am not surprised that they excel.

World-class libraries, good lecturers, good facilities and excellent environment. I won’t compare them to UK students but most of them do excel beyond the expectation of many people.

How do we explain the current craze for overseas education in which Nigerian students now move out in droves even to countries like Togo and Benin Republic both of which are not better than Nigerian in terms of educational infrastructure?

We are selective in terms of the countries we send Nigerian students to and specialize mostly on UK institutions. Nigerians tend to love everything foreign. Whenever some students talk to me, I always ask them whether they want to go abroad for the hope of heaven or for the fear of hell; hope of heaven because there are better libraries and better laboratories, etcetera or the fear of hell because there is no electricity here and you are tired of armed robbers and bad roads. I always appreciate a situation where students want to go abroad for the hope of heaven.

Once you get your qualifications from a top British University, you are

*Engr. David Oni

A lot of Nigerians go to Ghana for their education. The qualification of Ghanaian universities is very good, their educational system is stable and they hardly go on strike unlike here in Nigeria

,

their educational system is stable and they hardly go on strike unlike here in Nigeria where you can go in for a four-year programme and may not finish in seven years.

Education is not only about reading, writing and arithmetic, you also want to make friends. Later on in life when you graduate, you discover that you have developed life-time opportunities through your network of friends. Many Nigerians may not be aware of the value of such networks because they believe that they are only there to read their books and nothing more. We always counsel them before they leave that they are not going to read only physics and chemistry, they are also going to read the chemistry of life and make friends that will be useful to them for the rest of their

lives.

What is the possibility of Nigerian universities fulfilling those needs that make our students go to UK universities?

There is nothing impossible. I met Prof. Peter Okebukola at Lancaster University in 2005 and that was the same question he asked me. “Engr.

Oni, you are taking Nigerian students to Britain to study, why are you not bringing British students to Nigeria for studies?” This is a possibility. The world has become a global village, not only in the field of education but in the field of technology, culture and almost every sphere of life. People can come here and study our culture, language, etcetera and we should also be able to travel out and study. At the moment, the trend is one way: people want to travel to China, US, Germany and UK. It’s one-way and may remain so until we are able to improve our infrastructure, security, health services, power and safety consciousness. If these facilities improve, there is no way the flow which is uni-directional at the moment cannot become bi-directional, so that people come here and we go there. That’s the way it is supposed to be in a globalised world. People are not coming to Nigeria for reasons we all know.

Nobody will hear of Boko Haram and decide to risk his life coming here.

Educational consultancy for foreign students seems to have become an allcomers’ affair. Are there factors that make Dave Abion consulting to stand out from the crowd?

In every sphere of human endeavour, there are always cowboys: cowboy doctors, lawyers, bankers and teachers.

We stand out for a number of reasons.

First, our organisation is recognised by the British High Commission and the British Council. We are also affiliated to the ICEF, an international body that recognises quality and brings quality education consultants in contact with quality education providers. I attended the ICEF seminar for a week in Dubai last January. People know us in the industry and we also know our students and their parents very well.

We operate nationwide and are fully registered with the authorities. We have offices in Ikeja, Victoria Island, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

How do you keep tab on your students after their graduation to know how they are faring?

We encourage the students to keep in touch with us through emails, letters, telephone, text messages etcetera.

When you are still studying, we ensure that there is regular communication between us and we keep that up after your graduation. That’s how we are able to learn that four or five of our students came out with First Class degrees in their undergraduate studies last year. When they finish, many of them prefer to stay abroad for a while at least to get quality job experience.

Assuming you studied engineering, by the time you come back, you must have got a job over there with a quality engineering firm here in Nigeria. We are interested in all our students. Apart from piloting them towards a quality education that will make them stand out anywhere, we are interested in how they progress in their careers overseas and on their return to Nigeria.

What do you consider as the basic problem of Nigeria’s educational system?

The problems are numerous. But essentially it is the problem of leadership of the country. There is no articulated philosophy of education. It might have been stated in the constitution but that’s not enough. I know that the United Nations Organisation stipulates that any country that is serious about education must devote at least 26 per cent of their annual budget to education. I am sure that what Nigeria devoted to education this year is not more that 8 per cent! In the last 10 years, the story has not been different.

One of the key problems therefore is

French lecturers flay neglect of learning the language in polytechnics

BY LAJA THOMAS

T

HE Nigerian Polytechnic French Teachers’ Association, NIPOFTA, has urged the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, to wake up to its responsibility by setting up a panel of experts drawn from polytechnics to fashion out standard and uniform French curricular for Nigerian polytechnics.

This was one of the resolutions at its maiden three-day national conference held at Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, from March 7 to 9,, 2013.

In a communiqué signed by its publicity secretary, Mr. Oluremi Eruanga, the French teachers condemned what it called the nearneglect of the teaching and learning of French in the polytechnics, deliberate removal of French language from among core courses of programmes that ordinarily ought to include the learning of French; non-inclusion of French in the General Studies curriculum by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE; the redesignation and/or redeployment of French lecturers to areas where they are not relevant; and marginalisation of French lecturers in the polytechnic system.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—31

Nigerian invents the fastest, safest oil spill cleaner Continues from pg 25 and Response Agency (NOSDRA), we got to know that the imported enzymatic cleaning agent takes between 11 and 12 months to clean oil spill especially in the riverine areas but our own solution will clean within just 10 minutes.”

Process: “In research, if you are really working towards product development, you will go through four or five different stages which we refer to in chemical engineering as Front-End lobby or field gauge analysis. In field analysis, you first of all start from discovery which emanate from R&D, then you go to the second stage called scoping, then to feasibility assessment/analysis. The fourth stage is what we call establishment of capability ie, is the expertise behind this R&D up to the task? Berekotry Detergent Limited is primarily a chemical engineering enterprise and we are not only into manufacturing, we are equally working towards making a global brand and according to an old adage, if you want to go global, think local,” he said, adding; “the fifth stage is testing and validation which we have secured presently.

In Nigeria, I don’t think there is any start-up company that has surpassed what we have achieved by Nigerian

C M Y K

standards and by small size on a global scale. I think we have surpassed whatever anyone may have expected,” he enthused.

The company which won the maiden edition of the National System of Innovation Exhibition in Lagos organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund, has secured six national patents,

with several others pending, and three Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) certifications. “We have equally gotten one approval from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); we have multiple trademarks pending which is a plus to us.

“We may not have the wherewithal, but we are working towards making ourselves known by attacking the local market,” he stated.

Cowbell holds first stage of Maths contest

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

HE first stage examination of the 13th edition of the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) took place last Saturday, March 16, in over 200 centers across the country.

A visit by Vanguard Learning to one of the centers at Oriwu Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu, saw eager students waiting to be registered for the examinations which had officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Education and staff of Promasidor, promoters of the competition, as observers.

Commending Cowbell for its efforts at trying to make students enjoy mathematics, an Assistant Director of

Education, District 2, Mr. Odebode Isiaka, said this year’s edition is better organised and would also help prepare the students for external examinations.

“We know that no school from Lagos State has won this competition since its inception, and to ensure that Lagos wins this year, Education District 2 has been training its teachers on better teaching methods that would facilitate learning among the students.”

In his opinion, a teacher at Oriwu Senior Grammar School, Mr. Odenike Rasheed, said the competition would help boost the confidence of the students, especially in external examinations because the questions are comparable to what is set in WAEC and NECO.

Bowen varsity solicits for N6.75bn

BY DAYO ADESULU

P

ROPELLED by the vision to rank Bowen University among the best universities in the world in the next 10 years, the university has formulated strategies to raise N6.75 billion in five years.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Bowen University, Dr. Gamaliel Onosode said: “The Bowen Challenge has become necessary to sustain the successful strides that the university has recorded in its first 10 years celebrated in November 2012.

"It is in consonance with the philosophy of the university, ‘Excellence and Godliness,’ that Bowen University is committed to the challenge to remain one of the few universities in the world that equips her products to be great leaders wherever they find themselves.”

In its quest to achieve this, he said the N6.75 billion project would be launched at a dinner tomorrow at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island at 5pm.

Onosode noted that the fund- raising had become necessary as the institution’s Medical School and Law Faculty have been granted accreditation, making Bowen one of the few private universities to have a full fledged Medical School in Nigeria.

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Council chairperson charges pupils to aim high

Next Reality show to revive reading culture

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

he dwindling reading culture amongst Nigerian youths which has become a major source of worry to stakeholders in the sector has further attracted the attention of ‘The Next Scholar Reality TV Show,’ a show aimed at reviving the ailing reading culture in Nigeria.

Lamenting the deplorable state of our reading culture, the Project Manager, Mr. Chinedum Ogboruche while speaking with journalists at Sheraton, Lagos acknowledged that Nigerians, *From left; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; Miss Olamijulo especially the youth, are no longer Feyisayo, a beneficiary, receiving her certificate from the Director, MTNF, reading as most of them have been Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and Executive Secretary, MTNF, Ms. Nonny brought up to see reading as Ugboma at the formal presentation of scholarship to the studentsby MTNF. necessary only for the purpose of passing examinations, adding that scholarly car plus scholarship to character votes from the public. when they grow into adults, they end study overseas in one of our However, the contestants will up viewing reading as a necessary participating universities; the have the power to keep evil or task that can be avoided at second position gets $20,000 and themselves in the house through the slightest opportunity. scholarship to study overseas in their excellent performances in According to him, The Next Scholar one of our participating weekly tests from recommended TV Show is a television reality show universities, while the third textbooks of different disciplines.

Top performers for every week that is fully packed with fun and position will get $10,000 and an lively activities designed for general all expense paid family holiday will get immune against public family viewing. It will involve weekend to one of Africa’s best votes, as the public decides who leaves the house from the participants living together in a house resorts.” and displaying scholarly skills to Explaining the workability of the remaining contestants, until five avoid being evicted in order to get to programme, Ogboruche said ; remaining scholars are left to battle the next level. Ogboruche said that “The Next Scholar is a for the 1st prize ‘which will be during this period, students will be surveillance cum competition style determined in a game show tested on their ability to read while reality TV show with 20 episodes featuring questions from all the having an active lifestyle in the and it follows a group of 45 readers books read in the house.”

For people that would want to house. living in a controlled environment Apart from the show being in competition for the 1st prize as participate in the first season of designed to creatively incorporate a they demonstrate their literacy ‘The Next Scholar TV’ show, the habit of reading into the everyday skills and strength of character. Project Manager said that lives of the participants, he noted that The contestants are tested from the registration forms would be made it will develop and revive reading books and journals read in the available at designated banks; and culture amongst viewers.

Academic house and are expelled will also be available online on at He said; “The winner goes home one after another based on www.thenextscholar.com. with $30,000 and a brand new

670 students get MTN scholarship as 80 others make disabled list

N

O fewer than 670 students over the weekend benefited from the MTN Foundation scholarship scheme. While 590 students were from Science and Technology institutions in the South-West region, 80 blind students in Nigerian tertiary institutions made the list of the phisically challenged scholars.

Speaking at the awards ceremony held at the National Arts Theatre, Lagos, the Chairman, MTN Foundation, Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu said the organisation celebrates academic excellence in students who have worked extremely hard and who definitely deserve an opportunity to pursue their dreams of higher education. “We recognise the exemplary effort of a special group of students who have to overcome daily challenges in their quest for a

emerge in Ejigbo

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

W

...as winner gets $30,000

BY DAYO ADESULU

...as 2013 Spelling Bee winners

brighter future,” he said.

According to him, over the last two weeks, scholarship awards have been presented to 238 successful candidates in Abuja, representing the Northern part of the country and 350 successful candidates in Owerri, representing the Eastern region. On the whole, he noted that the foundation this year alone has awarded scholarship to 1,087 science students and 171 brilliant blind students. The gesture, he explained is about shaping Nigeria’s future through education and making an investment in the lives of tomorrow’s leaders, by providing them with an opportunity to pursue their dreams despite financial limitations.

Ahmadu who urged the recipients not to rest on their oars said the scholars' chances of enjoying the

yearly N200,000 is based on the maintenance of 3.5 GPA and 2.5 GPA for the blind.

On her part, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma explained the process of obtaining the scholarship adding that applicants must be full-time undergraduates in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Also, applicants from public universities and colleges of education must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) score of 3.5 or its equivalent 2.1. For Polythenics, she noted that applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 upper credit from the Ordinary National Diploma programme and have secured admission into the Higher National Diploma (HND) programme.

IFE of the chairman of Ejigbo Local Coun cil Development Area, Mrs. Fatimah Bamigbetan has charged the winners of this year’s Spelling Bee competition in the council area, to work towards clinching the coveted position of overall winner in Lagos State, as part of improving the educational standard in the area.

The winner of the competition has the opportunity to be crowned the next one day governor of the state among other awards.

Mrs. Bamigbetan gave the charge recently at the premises of Ejigbo High School,venue of the local government edition of 2013 Spelling Bee competition.

All the 10 public primary schools and four public secondary schools in the local government participated in the spelling contest.

“I want to remind you that our local government has produced two former one day deputy governors in the state through this competition. ”Last year,our representative, Miss Titi Ogedengbe emerged the 1st runner-up at the state grand finale and was crowned the one day deputy gover nor,” she stated.

She continued; “In view of this,I want to urge you to put in your best in this competition,to enable our council produce this year’s one day governor in Lagos State.”

She commended the present administration in Ejigbo LCDA, for improving the standard of education in public schools through its numerous initiatives in the education sector,and also commended the teachers for their commitment towards ensuring a brighter future for the children.

At the end of the keenly contested competition, Miss Daniella Nwodi of Low Cost Housing Estate Primary School II came first in the primary school category.

Sidiq Abubakar of Ageke Primary School came second,while Oriaku Chidera of Ejigbo Model Primary School got the third position.

In the secondary school category,Miss Omotola Michael of Ejigbo Senior High School got the first position and she will represent the local government during the state grand finale.

Rotary Club mentors students

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

T

HE Rotary Club of Amuwo Main ( District 9110), Lagos has embarked on a career mentoring campaign in schools across Lagos state.

According to the club, the mentoring programme known as ‘Aspire’ was initiated to educate and guide students to make informed career choices.

The President of the club, Mr Adebayor Oduntan who spoke at Christhill College, Festac, Lagos, said the programme has become imperative to let students know what every profession entails as that would help them in choosing careers.

“Aspire is basically secondary schools initiatives where we go to schools and give students practical insights about the professional world. What we do is to educate the students as to what they will see in the real world, tell them the things they need to know, the criteria for what they want to study in school, and help them develop the passion for whatever they have chosen to be in Life” he explained.

Oduntan who listed guidelines to follow in choosing future careers, advised the student to put passion first and avoid unnecessary distractions from social media so as to actualise their dreams in life.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—33

LEADERS OF TOMORROW:

Persons of character or criminals? (4) This is the fourth and concluding part of the paper delivered by Ifowodo at Oleh, Delta State, under the auspices of the Solomon Ogba Peace Group in Collaboration with Flomat Books. The third was published last Friday

By OGAGA IFOWODO

I

HAVE taken up much of the time and yet there is more to say, so I must move on to ask whether the militarization of the campuses from without aside, the confraternities are in any way complicit in the rise of this deadly culture of violence. I raise this question because, clearly, it is time to move beyond the lazy and mendacious blaming of the Pyrates for the degeneration into gangsterismand cultism, or indeed any mutual finger-pointing by the spokesmen of the confraternities.

The “foam” in their eye: hierarchical structure, machismo and chauvinism of confraternities: As seen at the beginning, the manifestoes of the five oldest confraternities, taken as the model of most if not all of the others that followed the Pyrates, are highly idealistic. There is hardly anything to fault in them, other than, perhaps, in mere matters of style.

So how then did they become so

OGAGA IFOWODO easily prone to co-optation for ends diametrically opposed to the ideals of freedom, justice, egalitarianism, racial pride and authenticity, fair play, non-discrimination, solidarity and service to humanity in general that they so stirringly espouse? I will not waste time here. I have two speculations; I will hazard them and move on to the concluding part of this lecture.

Firstly, it seems to me that the hierarchical organizational structure of the confraternities, borrowed wholesale from the Pyrates despite any accusations of undemocratic leadership or betrayal of the original ideals levelled by the Buccaneers, rendered them easy targets for infiltration, being in that way akin to the command structure of the military.

“Odas is odas,” say the Pyrates,

who explain that it is merely a byword for “discipline,” but you might say the same thing of the military too! “Blud for blud,” the Buccaneers say, claiming divine retribution or karma for all evil deeds, but in the reality of daily existence, this might more easily connote a unilateral sense of right and wrong to justify unreflective acts of vigilante justice, echoing as it does the Mosaic injunction of an eye for an eye which the latter teacher, Jesus Christ, felt compelled to rewrite as “turn the other cheek” for an ethic of forgiveness.

This hierarchical structure betrays the tenets of freedom and democracy that their respective creeds trumpet. And the names and nicknames of their leaders as well as of the groups themselves are revealing: Cap’n Blood, Grand Eye, Seadogs, Sea Lords, Air Lords, Axe-men, Supreme this-and-that Confraternity. Indeed, one confraternity, the Eiye, an Afrocentric philosophy notwithstanding, observes a Rambo Day! And then there is the ethnological marvel of Norsemen, a branch of the Germanic race to be found in the Nordic countries of Europe, who, unknown to the world, turned all black at some point in history, relocated to Nigeria and formed a club (kclub, that is) that also goes by the name of Vikings! Secondly, there is the tendency I can only describe as unbridled machismo, a vaunted masculinity that undergirds the exclusion of female students from membership, a practice at variance with the non-discriminatory, radical egalitarian humanism proclaimed by their manifestoes.

It is not enough to disavow male chauvinism; the very exclusion of females from the social activities that promote fellow-feeling and group solidarity, from the internal deliberations on issues during which questions of power within and without the organization are resolved, has to have some bearing on the structure of

National Association of Seadogs

thinking of the male members regarding daily collective existence in the larger society. In particular, the impact of that mode of navigating the civic space, which is necessarily a shared one, on the weaker minds among them, the sort allegedly expelled from the Pyrates, leading to the chain of factionalisation and mimic groups. But let me be clear: I am not levelling a specific charge of chauvinism against individual confraternity brothers but only making a general observation as to the way our mode of existence, of social interaction, can affect, mostly unconsciously, our attitudes.

Is this contradiction, perhaps, what the metaphorical inaptness or rhetorical excess of confraternity self-naming points to? I am speaking here of the outlandish notionof pirates, buccaneers, sealords and air-lords who only “sail” and “fly” on land! No more than puffery, probably, and a pointer to the “boys’/men’s club” spirit of the whole thing for a start, the idea of a male-only society devoted to bonding and camaraderie and so well-served by tall tales. Indeed, one might wonder if all members are at least required to be swimmers or “astral travellers.”As the faithful majority of confraternity

,

•On Confraternities as secret cults

ates, of the idea of a university, its ultimate purpose. I hold that this is true, by and large, even if the one and only purpose of entering a university - as is so often the case - is to obtain a meal ticket, a certificate that guarantees a better job and higher salary. And I can think of no better authority to turn to here than Cardinal John Newman, an Anglican turned Catholic who became a towering figure in the history of the modern university. With the blessing of the Pope, he founded and was rector for five years of the Catholic University of Ireland (the present University College of Dublin). Though a “man of God,” he insisted on the separation of the church from the university: the latter, he insisted, was not the place for making moral beings; that office, he rightly asserted, belonged to the church and priests and not to the non-seminary classroom and the professor.

Knowledge, which he saw as its own end, was the ultimate justification of a university. According to Newman, education “makes not the Christian, not the Catholic, but the gentleman.” How many of our prosperity pastors, owners of a good number of the new universities that are the rage today, one of which insists on virginity tests for its female students (mercifully, it appears all right for boys not to be virgins!), would accept this proposition?

As Newman argued, “To open the mind, to correct it, to refine it, to enable it to know, and to digest, master, rule, and use its knowledge, to give it power over its own faculties, application, flex-

University education, in particular, of the liberal kind, Newman insisted, “brings the mind into form.” For him, the function of a university properly called, or, in his words, ‘taken in its bare idea,’ is ‘intellectual culture’

members ponder the metamorphosis from the charitable organisations envisaged at their inception to the diabolical gangs and cults that they have become, I hope that such members will at minimum consider these speculations as an invitation to further self-scrutiny.

Cults and the idea of the university: on learning and character: Indulge me for one more minute as I turn to a key idea of the topic. Since what we know today of the confraternitiesturned-cults is antithetical to learning and character, we need to remind ourselves, as well as present and future undergradu-

,

ibility, method, critical exactness, sagacity, resource, address, eloquent expression, is an object as intelligible (for here we are inquiring, not what the object of a liberal education is worth, nor what use the Church makes of it, but what it is in itself)… as the cultivation of virtue, while, at the same time, it is absolutelydistinct from it.”

Given our subject, I would underline the opening phrase about opening and refining the mind to enable it master and have power over its faculties. In plain words, the age-old goal of knowledge for self-mastery (though one cannot wholly master one’s self it

is nonetheless a worthy goal) or personal discipline, which in turn prepares the individual for a life of dignity and service to the common good.

University education, in particular, of the liberal kind, Newman insisted, “brings the mind into form.” For him, the function of a university properly called, or, in his words, “taken in its bare idea,” is “intellectual culture.” Not, it bears reiterating, a “culture of violence,” for a university “educates the intellect to reason well in all matters, to reach out towards truth, and to grasp it,” the knowledge that it imparts being an “indispensable condition of expanding the mind.”

Newman offered these and many other profound insights into the nature and purpose of the university in a series of lectures he gave as founding rector of the Catholic University of Ireland; they were subsequently published in a book entitled The Idea of a University Defined and Illustrated in Nine Discourses Delivered better known by the shorter title, The Idea of a University.

I commend it to our heads of state and governors (elected and unelected), and our private proprietors (especially the daddy overseers, bishops, archbishops, menof-God) - honourary intellectuals, all, as visitors or the final authority of our universities.

Enabling environment Newman’s ideas will help clear some of the thick cobwebs that clog their thinking and prevent a healthy understanding of university education.

Perhaps then we would return to the urgent business of expanding the minds of our young men and women; of creating an enabling environment that would promote learning and character.

Given this, and all the foregoing, I shall not bother with the tedious and perfunctory exercise of proposing a “way forward.” That way, at any rate clear directions to it, are implicit, I believe, in all that I have said. And if not, definitely in the reams of paper full of such proposals that abound in our archives. Let us then look to any sense I may have made this afternoon, and to the solutions that brighter minds than mine have proffered and will surely proffer again, voluntarily or on demand, with the sworn determination of eradicating the culture of violence that has wrecked our universities and restoring them to their old glory as places of learning and character.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH, 21, 2013 pressure.

Shade, (43), Civil Servant, was married briefly to a guy she was romantically attracted to. How did she get out of it? Find out in her story: I lived that life for about a year before I woke up, thanks to my parents and friends.

Everything happened so suddenly such that, up till now, I still don’t really understand it. I believe something must have happened to the two of us. But for God’s intervention, my relationship with Ian who I finally married would have been shattered beyond repair.

I had been going out with Ian for about six years when I met Bimbo through some friends at a Beach party over the Easter holiday. He had come from London for the holidays. Though he did not appear as the kind of guy I would be interested in, nonetheless, I was attracted to him and he swept me off my feet. The two weeks he spent here was used to woo and shower me

Married but living single (7)

A relationship after his marriage broke down produced another female child making three girls from three mothers.

The lady tried very hard to make him marry her but he refused and she finally left with her child.

It was after this that we met.

It was meant to be a casual relationship but after walking in and

,

Nike, (40), Business woman is married to Layi, (50), who resides in the USA. She has been living single for almost seven years now. Why?

out of each other’s lives for three years, we decided to make it serious. And here we are today.I cannot say it is a pleasant arrangement but it is a good one since it suits both of us. We talk almost every day and he tries to visit once a year if possible.

When he can’t come, our child will go and visit him.On such occasions, he gets to meet with his other siblings and everyone is happy.

I also travel but not to the USA yet.

When I’m in London, he comes over to spend time with me. I know it is a matter of time.

He will eventually come around and I will visit him there too. Be-

Living separately does not necessarily mean that couples will be unfaithful to each other, what it can do is make the heart grow fonder as the saying goes, It means that when you are together, you will use the time wisely .

HI! IT is the dream of every wom an to find her own Prince charming, get married 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. We will be taking the story of three women who are trapped in unions with guys who reside outside the country.

Dear readers, if you or anyone you know of have been through a similar experience, please write in and share with us. We also offer our readers an opportunity to share their problems with other readers whose advise will also be published on this column. this is because this column is not only reader participatory, it is also because we believe in the power of numbers, the more, the merrier.

So, we are anxiously waiting to read from you. Our adress remains, The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, and our e-mail address: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com Happy reading!

,

sides, what if he decides to return to Nigeria finally? After all, he is starting a construction project and might change his mind after it is completed. So, I am not closing my mind to all the possibilities. As for sex? I want to say that relationship has moved beyond the level of couples sticking together like glue just so they can be faithful to each other.

If he is living in Nigeria and wants to be unfaithful, he will. And mind you, its not only men who are unfaithful these days, many women are and its usually the ones you least think can do it, or expect to do it that do so.

Living separately does not necessarily mean that couples will be unfaithful to each other. What it can do is make the heart grow fonder as the saying goes. It means that when you are together, you will use the time wisely.

You will always spend quality time together, as they say. Any man or woman who goes about thinking that my husband or wife is being unfaithful or might be unfaithful will just kill themselves of high blood

gifts and loving promises. At first, I told him I was in a long term serious relationship but he told me he also was but our meeting had nulified that. He took me to meet his mum and before I knew it, everyone was singing about Bimbo and how good we were together.

If Bimbo was serious about me, why stay on in a relationship that had little potentials of going anywhere with Ian? So, I gave in.It was a whirl wind romance.

Bimbo’s mum and the family came to perform the introduction and engagement ceremony exactly four months after we met. Bimbo did not come, his younger brother represented him at the ceremony.

However, since we had not performed the final church wedding, everyone agreed I would stay at home until I travel to join Bimbo.

Bimbo’s mum sold clothes and jewelry at Gutter market in Lagos and my mum did not like it. Not because they were not rich, but because she considered them uneducated and exposed enough.

City, needs an attractive lady, aged 22-26, for a serious relationship. relationship. 08099405441 •Dickson, 40, 6.6ft tall, dark in complexion and a writer, needs a successful business woman, for a serious relationship, aged 32-45.08033426298 •Paul, 40, employed and resides in Edo state, needs an employed and God fearing Christian lady, who is ready to become a catholic or already a catholic and ready for marriage.

08170225005 •CC,based in Lagos needs a sexy and wealthy lady, for a serious relationship.08024505720 •Martins, nice and resides in Delta state, needs a sexy, busty and pretty lady, for fun. 08137187094 •Tersoo, 23, needs a lady, from Benue state, aged 16-20, for a serious relationship. 08109610469 •Igho, 30, needs a busty and sexy lady, who is from Asaba and environs, for a serious relationship.08030587959 •Klinton, 26, a student from Delta state, needs a

BY ONOZURE DANIA

H

AVE you messed up with a man and now you are freaking out and wondering if you can get him back or not? Because you started discovering new things about yourself and the mistakes you have been making, it’s very easy to start thinking that things are even worse than you thought they were. Don’t allow this to stop you from continuing to learn and grow.

There is a funny thing that happens to us in life and It’s that any time you develop a new awareness and you start seeing your behavior in a new light, you first feel like kicking yourself, getting down on yourself, feeling overly frustrated and hopeless, and dwelling over the lack of control you have in your situation. What helps in this kind of situation, is learning from your mistakes and realizing a few important things about men.

A man’s feelings can change very quickly. If the man you were dating pulled away after you said or did something, you need to remember that this man liked you and was attracted to you for some reason and as much as it might seem like his feelings have changed forever towards you, you should realize that a man’s feelings can change very quickly, whether you want them to or not.Most women don’t handle this reality about men, dating, and relationships very well at all, In fact, a lot of women let this completely freak them out and take over their emotions and how they act and talk with a man.

The fact that a man’s feelings can change so quickly has two sides to it and you can use this to your advantage. See, if a man’s

feelings can quickly change from feeling interested and attracted to a woman, to feeling that “eww” feeling where he wants to get away from her, then it’s also true that a man can quickly change from feeling unattracted and uninterested in a woman to feeling intensely attracted and wanting to spend time with her again. In other words, men’s feelings and their reactions and responses to a woman can change quickly in either direction, from good to bad, or from bad to good.I’m not just telling you this because it sounds like it makes sense.

The point is, you can either let the fact that a man’s feelings can change as a result of your behavior scare you and make you anxious and insecure, which will only make things worse for you or, you can see that the fact that a man’s feelings can quickly change can work to your advantage, and you can use this fact to have a man very quickly go from not feeling it for you to feeling that gut-level attraction for you in a few short moments and interactions.

Getting communication back on track If you want a man to really listen to you, then starting a conversation with him on a fun, positive note. Sets the stage for a positive interaction. It sounds like common sense, but I’m sure you can think of a couple of times where this hasn’t happened in your relationships. To get yourself in the right frame of mind, think about what you appreciate in this guy.

There has to be something you appreciate about him if you are thinking about having a future with him.

Then, let him know it. It’s called an “ego stroke”, and it works.

To be continued

Friends Searching Males

•Justin, 31, tall, slim, employed, resides in Benin

Keys to getting him back

caring, God fearing and understanding lady, from Delta state, for a serious relationship.08136143623, 08060130884 •A guy, 30, a graduate, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a pretty girl, aged 22-26 for a serious relationship.08105991515 •Tony, fair in complexion and a student, needs a beautiful, caring, loving and wealthy lady, aged

•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.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

20-35, for a serious relationship.07067159341 •Adekunle, 47, a trader and contractor, needs a lady, who is employed, aged 30-40, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.08068734627, 08123261053 •Frank, 27, needs a woman, aged 20-26, for a serious relationship.08063671952 •Michael, 23, a student, needs a girl that is caring, lovely and romantic, for a serious relationship.

0813162042 •Julius, 25, from Delta state, resides in Warri, needs a God fearing, pretty, caring and romantic, lady, who is financially ok, aged 25-40, for a relationship.

08189577753 •Olawale, 51, a businessman, from Ogun state, needs an employed lady, aged 35 and above, for marriage.08089344432, 08160794827, 08026818107 •Tolulope, 30, resides in Akure, needs a cool and responsible lady, aged 23-30, for a serious relationship.08062229008 •Adewale, 23, reside in Lagos, needs a good girl, for a serious relationship, in Lagos, aged 17-23.

Vanguard Vanguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; Similar to yesterday but, today more emphasis’ll be on money. Thus those of you who are more financially ambitious’ll have better and rewarding day than others. However that is not to say you should neglect your health.

SCORPIO; Positive things are happening from (and around) you. The more enterprising you are the better for you today. And some of you will be mixing business & pleasure without harm. Lovers can have their way moderately.

SAGITTARIUS; This is your day when things’ll go according to your plans. And you’re advised to hit very hard not minding minor pressure from your base.

CAPRICORN; Once again success would come if you experiment with good ideas rightly at the right time.

Those of you travelling are in for an exciting day.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

— 35

LEISURE THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

GUESS for some time now, you have been thinking of doing that new thing. And anytime you think about it, you console yourself by saying, it is not worth it, you don’t need it now, it will

A new thing never work, it has never worked.

Haba! Are you God? How do you know it will not work when you have not tried it?

Is there any harm in trying?

My friend go

ahead and do that new thing you have never done before today! Learn a new thing, read that new book; learn that new skill, improve yourself. Do not remain in one place or posi-

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

tion for too long. Always add value to who and what you are. Where are you now? Are you still where you were last year?

Do a new thing today and experience new excitement.

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Early part of the day may bring you good opportunity along your business/business lines. Work and your health must be taken very seriously PISCES; Like yesterday the Moon will operate from your Star sign again to the betterment of your cause.

Think of both your immediate and far future now.

ARIES You can still count on the supports of your tried and trusted friends. But it’s imperative you keep secrets as much as you can positively do.

TAURUS; The more receptive and willing you are to give and take co-operation the better for you today. It’s wrong of you to neglect your friends in need now.

GEMINI; You’ll have the needed opportunity to consolidate on progress you have recorded yesterday along your career/business lines. Try to work harder.

CANCER; Element of luck will work favourably for you. Therefore you’re advised to expand the scope of your tentacle for better results. It’s another fairly favourable day for lovers who are more enterprising today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; Joining forces with other people is not a sin but it’s important everybody knows the clear term of the venture , be it of short or longer duration. Be very practical.

VIRGO; Many of you’ll travel either physically or within your mind; whichever one you’re involved with the out come will be favourable. Be more receptive, especially if your priority is commercial success. Take your new ideas more seriously today.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AQUARIUS Aquarius is ruled by freedom loving Uranus-the planet of unpredictability, eccentricity and genius. Aquarius is friendly, loving, hopeful and very altruistic in nature. That is why they are nice persons who truly care for others, especially the less fortunate ones. They are loyal friend willing to belong to powerful social clubs or reasonable community.

The quality of Aquarius is fixed. That means it is important for them to watch the way they change their minds on important issues; Uranus factor makes all Aquarius natives freedom loving and whoever tries to impose any idea on you will be resented The element of Aquarius is the air. That makes you an intelligent person with fair share of sense of humour. Aquarius is the star sign that rules considerable social influence, and the natives of this star have better chances to have at least some influential friends.

Then, Aquarians are truly good friends and bad enemies; it is not in the best interest of anybody to frustrate an Aquarian..

Aquarius being a scientific sign. Aquarians can be inventive. Any Aquarian who falls to take his sudden flashes of ideas seriously is doom (to fail eventually) because, Uranus the ruler of Aquarius, usually bring success to Aquarians unexpectedly through ideas that come suddenly, and unexpected luck usually accompany their sudden inspiration and/or ideas.

The most dangerous weak points of Aquarian are the tendencies to procrastinate things and willingness to take opponents or enemies for granted I mean you must not believe that some body you might have had heated argument with will not try to undermine your progress after what will look like intervention of peace makers.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

36— Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EGCDF crisis: Gbaramatu Advisory Council orders withdrawal of court cases

BY DANIEL GUMM

W

Mr. Obinna Chukwu, flanked by Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and Dr. Abiba Lawal, as they the took the oath of office as Federal Permanent Secretaries before President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Monarchs deserve constitutional roles, Porbeni, LG boss charge lawmakers

BY EMMAAMAIZE

PATANI — FORMER Minister of Transport and Aviation, Admiral Festus Porbeni (rtd) and Chairman of Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, have charged lawmakers saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the 1999 Constitution to ensure that traditional rulers get their deserved roles in the constitution for peace and stability in the country.

Porbeni, chaired the reception ceremony of the silver jubilee coronation of the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, Patani, HRM Major L. Erebelu (rtd).

Ekiyor, who was among the five persons that were conferred with chieftaincy titles by the monarch, threw his weight behind Porbeni's position, urging recipients to live up to expectations of the people.

He was conferred with the title of Ezonebidouwei of Kabowei Kingdom.

Others conferred with titles include Chief Abraham Oki - Egberigeowei of Kabowei Kingdom, among others.

ARRI — Following the crisis that had rocked Chevron Nigeria Limited established Egbema Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation, EGCDF, the Advisory Council of Gbaramatu Kingdom has ordered the withdrawal of all litigations, warning that EGCDF council should not be inaugurated until all contending issues were resolved in the next two weeks.

Chairman of Pere Advisory Council of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Alfred Bubor, gave the order while addressing newsmen in

Warri.

He noted that the stipulated maximum two tenures of the last executive of EGCDF expired last August and wondered why the out-gone executive was making moves to extend its tenure.

Bubor, who is also the spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom, described as shameful, a situation where the other seven Chevron established Regional Development Committees had signed the renewed GMoU and are fully operational, yet the EGCDF was embroiled in endless litigation, thus denying Chevron Ijaw host communities in Delta State, the needed development.

Alleged rape at Abraka police station: AIG deploys DPO, DCO

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN— SEGUEL to Vanguard’s publication last week of the alleged raped of a middle aged woman, Mrs. Ese Isaiah by four men while in the custody of the police at Abraka Police Station in Delta State, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone

5, Benin, Alhaji Hamisu Argungun, has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Chris Sogbara and Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, Mr. Olise, pending proper investigation into the case.

It will be recalled that Mrs. Isaiah, in a petition through her counsel, Mr. Ejomasuvwe Efe, to the AIG

Police Zone 5 office in Benin, Edo State, had alleged that she was locked in a police cell with men, who repeatedly raped her without the policemen on duty protecting her despite her shouting and cry for help.

Confirming the transfer of the DPO and DCO, Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Francis AIG Zone 5, said the AIG took the action to

allow peace to reign in the area, adding that the AIG had called for the case file and ordered full investigation into the case.

Vanguard further gathered that all parties involved in the case, including Mrs. Isaiah, her husband, her counsel, as well as all the police officers, who were on duty on the fateful day had been invited by the AIG, Alhaji Argungun, for interview.

Commercial boat operations grounded over pirates’ attacks in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

YENAGOA — COMMERCIAL boat operations in communities on the Atlantic fringe in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been grounded, following the recent upsurge in sea piracy in the area.

Sources from the coastal enclave told Vanguard that the situation, if not urgently tackled could lead to famine in the area, which relies on food supply through the troubled Dodo River and creeks from neighbouring Warri in Delta State and Yenagoa, the state capital.

It was gathered that boat

Incorporate us in major political decisions, ex-LG office holders tell Delta Govt

BY FESTUS AHON

UGHELLI — FORUM of Ex-Local Government Political Office Holders, Delta State 1999-2002, has appealed to the state government to incorporate them into major political decisions in the state, insisting that they should be made to benefit from the state’s political

arrangement.

The Forum in a statement after its enlarged meeting, said they were in support of good governance and peace in Delta State and Nigeria, adding that “any Deltan irrespective of social, religious, ethnic, political affiliation, who meets the eligibility as provided by law, has the right to aspire to the highest political office in Delta State.”

operators in the area plying the Dodo River-Warri route were forced to withdraw their services last Thursday in the wake of the renewed onslaught on passengers and cargo boats by sea pirates.

According to sources, passenger boats plying the route from Aghoro, Agge, Ogbotobo, Letugbene and Bilabiri had repeatedly fallen prey to the hoodlums in the old Orugbene Zion axis, prompting the boat operators to pull out of the route.

A victim of the recent attack, who gave is name as Tonye John, said “some armed men came from the small adjoining creek in a passport fibre boat to disrupt our trip last Wednesday, dragged our boats into the thick mangrove and dispossessed us of our cash and other valuables.”

Some other unlucky victims it was learnt, were not only robbed of their cash and personal belongings but also had their boat engines

removed and carted away by the pirates.

An indigene of the area, Chief Franklin Simon, who is also the spokesman for the Mein Cluster Board, lamented the sad turn of event in the area. He told Vanguard that they could no longer travel to Warri for commerce due to the upsurge in pirates' attacks and withdrawal of commercial boat operators from the route.

Anniversary The second anniversary of Seasons of Prayer and Grace Ministries, Lagos, takes place on Sunday, March 24, 2013.

Venue is the Church auditorium at Femi Olawoyin bus-stop, Bayeku road, Igbogbo-Bayeku LCDA, Lagos.

General Overseer, Pastor Femi Olawoyin, said the event which is billed for 7am will be celebrated on a low key.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—37

Anti-riot policemen take over Ogoni communities

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— HEAVILY armed anti-riot policemen have been deployed in B-Dere and K-Dere communities in Gokhana Local Government Area in Rivers State, following a clash between the two communities.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, who told newsmen of the troop deployment, noted that there was a clash between the two communities on Tuesday, though no life was lost.

He said the Police had to quickly deploy its men to avoid further break down of law and order.

Asked to state the reason for the clash between the two communities, he said investigation was still on to get to the root cause of the problem.

Meantime, it was gathered that the communal clash was caused by an argument over a piece of land.

Insecurity: Nigeria needs good governance not prayers —Ikimi

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—NATIONAL Coordinator of Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, has faulted the call for resort to prayers as a solution to the security and social challenges facing the country made by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.

Gowon had made the call at the American University, Yola, where he was a guest speaker.

Ikimi said, “I beg to differ, not because I do not believe in the efficacy of prayers, but the solution to our security and social challenges lies in good governance and rule of law, and not in prayer per se."

C M Y K

Urhobo youths fault Okojie on appointment of indigenous VCs

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—URHOBO youths, under the aegis of Coalition of Urhobo Youth Organisations, UYO, have described as mischievous and untrue, alleged claims by the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, that government had demonstrated its abhorrence for indigenous Vice Chancellors by ensuring that none of them was appointed head of federal universities in their home states.

Okojie, who was reacting to calls by the Urhobo youths for the appointment of an Urhobo indigene as VC of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Effurun, Delta State, said that the reduction of such key officers to sentiments of origin would diminish their true essence and had in the past proved counter productive.

Spokesman of the group, Mr. Stephen Ohwokirerhuo, faulted Okojie’s position, noting that there were many federal universities in the country that had indigenes of states where they are located as VCs. Ohwokirerhuo, who spoke

with newsmen shortly after a meeting of the group in Ughelli, yesterday, said: “Federal University of Dutse, Jigawa State, one of the new federal universities, has Prof.

Jibrilla Amin from Jigawa State as VC; Federal University of Technology, Yola, in Adamawa State has Prof. Bashir Usman from Adamawa State;

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun from Abeokuta.

“Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State has Prof.

Bamidele Omole from Osun State; University of Benin has Prof. Oshodin, a Bini man, from Edo State; University of Nigeria Nsukka has Prof. Bar-

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, (middle), Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay (left) and Project Director, Asaba Airport, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor, at the Airport on Tuesday.

IYC, ex-militants picket oil firm over sacked N-Delta staff

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT— IJAW Youth Council, IYC, joined by a throng of Niger Delta ex-militants, have picketed the Rumuokurushi operational base of Trans-Ocean Company in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, over alleged unfair sack of Niger Delta staff of the oil company.

The angry youths disrupted the company’s operation

for the day as wokers, who had arrived before the protest scampered through the company's rear gate for fear of assault by the rampaging youths.

Expressing their anger, Mr. Bristol-Alagbariya Emmanuel, National Director of Mobilization, Strategy and Planning, IYC, who led the protest, said they would not vacate the company's premises untill the sacked workers were recalled.

He said: “Trans-Ocean Company has chosen violence rather than dialogue

after ordering our youths to leave the company without telling them their sins. When the report came to us, we invited them but they refused to honour our invitation.”

He added that both parties had been summoned by the Minister of Labour and Productivity to address the issue to no avail, accusing the company of failing to honour the minister’s advice to make peace with the aggrieved youths.

When contacted, Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr. Hyacinth Aloko, said “Sorry, I will not react to the issue for now."

Oyerinde: Edo natives in UK seek Jonathan's comment on conflicting reports

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State natives in the United Kingdom, have described as worrisome, President Goodluck Jonathan's seeming silence over the conflicting reports presented to the public by the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Security, DSS, on the investigation into the murder of the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr.

th Okolo from Nsukka. There are many of such cases in federal institutions, so why is the case of FUPRE different?

“After seven years of its establishment, there is no meaningful development in the school because the VCs that had so far been appointed in the school are non indigenes, who do not see themselves as stakeholders in the development of the school."

Olaitan Oyerinde.

In a statement, Odaro IzeOmoregie, who also is a chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, recalled that President Jonathan had ordered the probe into the murder but wondered why the President had not spoken out on the reports presented to him by the relevant agencies.

Commending Governor Oshiomhole for his search for Oyerinde's killers, he urged Nigerians to join hands with the governor in finding the

killers, noting that several Nigerians have been killed in similar manner without any effort to find their killers.

He said: “We in the UK are not happy that Mr. President has kept quiet over this matter because he ordered the probe. It is more worrisome that a governor of a state is finding it difficult to get justice, so what happens to the common man in Nigeria, who finds himself in a similar situation?"

Court to hear UNIBEN’s suit against Edo govt

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AN Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, has adjourned till March 22, further hearing in the suit by University of Benin against Edo State Government, over the threat by the government to evict its staff occupying 18 landed property, which it alleged were given to the institution as a gift by the state government.

Trial judge, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, adjourned to allow counsel to parties exchange pleadings within three days on issues to be determined in the suit.

UNIBEN, in the suit, is contending that the said 18 landed property located at the Government Reservation Area, in Benin City, were a gift given to the institution in1974 by the then Brig- General Samuel Ogbemudia administration, following the establishment of the Mid-West Institute of Technology, now University of Benin.

At the resumed hearing in the matter, Justice Ikponmwen advised parties to maintain status quo.

38—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Lagos ANPP faults Yerima's arrest

A

LL Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, Lagos State Stakeholders Forum, has condemned the recent arrest of Senator Sani Yerima by police for routine questioning in the course of discharge of their duties.

Lagos chairman of the party, Mr. Ajayi Adekunle, in a statement, said: “We see this as a violation of the senator ’s right of freedom of expression and a direct insult to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by a supposed people’s police.

“We demand an unreserved apology from the Inspector-General of Police.

"On the ongoing merger of ANPP with progressive opposition parties, the Lagos State chapter wish to express our support for ANPP national executive council led by Dr. Ogbonaya Onu for their actions and commitment towards giving Nigerians a better alternative to the ruling party.

“We also commend the efforts of the Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau Merger Committee."

RECONCILIATION: From left— Governor Ibrahim Shema of Kastina State, Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, during Peoples Democratic Paarty, PDP, South-West reconciliation meeting.

Killings in North, politically-motivated— APGA

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday, condemned what he described as the senseless killings of Igbo in Northern Nigeria, saying they were politically-motivated.

According to him, the incessant mass killings that began since the past few years were a result of disagreements on power sharing in the country.

Speaking with newsmen in Enugu against the backdrop of Monday’s multiple bomb blasts in Kano, which claimed several lives, Umeh said it was wrong for anybody to blame the daily blood letting in the north on religion, insisting that the reasons were purely political.

He said those behind the ugly trend were those who disagreed over power-sharing.

Calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve his differences with

Ebonyi CP cautions over land dispute

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police Commissioner, Moses Ndagi, has said his visit to the troubled zone between Ebonyi and Cross River indicated that dead bodies did not litter the area.

Ndagi, who disclosed this during his maiden press briefing, said the police post built at the borderline of the warring communities of both states, Adadama and Amegu, was completely torched by the attacks that allegedly took place.

He said after a peace meeting with the people of Amegu of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, he warned them to desist from fomenting any form of mayhem as such development could lead to loss of lives and property.

He said: “If somebody was killed in Cross River, it should be somebody in Cross River who witnessed it and saw the dead bodies that can authoritatively talk about it.

“I went there and saw the de-

struction of the police post built at the border. But I never saw any dead body.

“If somebody from this side is killed, then I can authoritatively say that a particular number of policemen or indigenes were killed.

“The Command was at the border where we have a conflict between Cross River and the people of Ebonyi State. I went round to see what was happening between the two states. It is obvious that there was a fight there.

“I was able to talk to the people of Ebonyi State over there after assembling all of

them. I warned them against the risk of trying to embark on any attack; that they might move out and not come out again or maybe return to their homes with injuries.

“We have gone there and there is a real border conflict between the two states which is very difficult to manage. What actually happened there is that people normally sneaked out and attack.

“This is the period where farmers are putting their farms in order waiting for the rains to start falling and during this period such incidence of attacks usually happen.”

those killing innocent Igbo in Nigeria, especially in the north, Umeh warned that Igbo would not continue to be guinea-pigs in the political chessboards in Nigeria where they were killed daily for committing no offence.

He said: “Let nobody deceive the Igbo that what is happening is not politicallymotivated. We have received with sadness and shock the news of the unfortunate massacre of Igbo people in Kano on Monday.

“After a careful review of the way the Igbo had been killed in the past few years, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that the killing of Igbo people in Nigeria is purely for political reasons.

“Every year, month after month, anytime such senseless killings take place, Igbo constitute over 98 percent of the victims.

“Just on Monday, from the reports we have received, almost 100 Igbo people have lost their lives in Kano through the same mass killing.

“Last year, in my Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State alone, we had to bury 14 people from one community, Adazi-Nnukwu, who were killed in Mubi in Adamawa State.”

Abia spends N530m on flood victims

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, said yesterday that it spent more than N530 million on relief materials for flood victims in the state.

Executive Secretary of the agency, Mrs Ada Achi, told newsmen in Umuahia that of the 53 communities affected, 40 benefited from the relief materials.

Achi said though the distribution of materials began in November 2012 and ended in February, plans were underway to reach the remaining 13 communities.

She explained that an average of 39,121 persons in 8,409 households in 14 local government areas, including 19,000 hectares of farmlands, were affected by flood.

Achi said government had already rolled out relief measures for the affected communities “before the Federal Government’s intervention.”

She said in view of the predictions by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, on flood this year, the state government had initiated measures to “mitigate” the expected effect.

Varsity don, Police trade blames over alleged assault

BY PETER OKUTU

A

N Associate Professor in the Department of Soil and Environmental Management, Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki, Emmanuel Ogbodo, was al-

legedly beaten and dragged to Kpirikpiri Police Division by six armed policemen attached to the state police command, over alleged delay in stopping at a checkpoint along Mile 50 area of the capital.

Vanguard learnt that as the victim came out of his vehicle and introduced himself to the angry policemen, he was allegedly attacked.

He sustained head, limbs and eye injuries as a result of the assault, which took

place last weekend.

Narrating his ordeal, Ogbodo said he was going to seek redress in court and petition the Commissioner of Police in the state, describing the actions of the police as brutal and uncalled for.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 —39

CONFAB—From left: Representative of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Engr, Mohammed Amate and Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Moses Alake Adeyemo, during the 49th Annual International Conference & Exhibition of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, NMGS, at the University of Ibadan.

LAUNCH—From left: Mr Jude Anele, Head of Retail Banking, Diamond Bank Plc; Ms Nneka Okekearu, staff of Enterprise Development Centre; Mr Uzomo Dozie, Executive Director, Lagos Business, Diamond Bank Plc and Mrs Ayona Trimnell, Head Corporate Communication, Diamond Bank Plc at the launch of Enterpreneurs Today in Lekki, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

AUDITION —Cross section of participants at the audition of Big Brother Season 8 held at Protea Hotel Leadway, Maryland Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

PRESENTATION —From left: Chief Keith Richards, MD/CEO Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Michael Ajereh, a.k.a Don Jazzy, Loya Brand Ambassador, winner, Mr. Abereoje Kabiru Sunday, student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Mr. Kachi Onubogu, Commercial Director Promasidor, during presentation of car gift to the winner in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

MEDICAL SCHEME—From left: Special Duties Commissioner, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC; Member, representing Ndokwa Nation in DESOPADEC, Revd. Chukwudi Eke and representative, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Felix Melenu during the flag-off of DESOPADEC free medical scheme for Ndokwa East and West Local govt Areas at Ashaka, Delta State. Photo: Goddy Umukoro.

BRIEFING— From left: Ayokunle Okusanya, Head, Finance & Corporate Servives, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Ltd; Danjoma Saleh, Vice Chairman and Abdulrazaq Isa, Chairman/CEO, during a briefing on the completed first phase of Ibigwe field development in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

REMITTANCE—Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Abdulmumuni Jubrin (middle); Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (right) and Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Osita Chidoka at the presentation of certificate of commendation to the CBN, FRSC and NTA for remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund at the National Assembly Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

INAUGURATION— From left: Mr Lolu Akinwunmi, Chairman, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON; Mr Goddie Ofose, New Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN; Alhaji Jimoh Babatunde, Vice Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council and Mrs Neta Nwosu, Outgoing Chairman BJAN, during inauguration of the new executive of BJAN in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

BRIEFING— From left: Mr. Stephen Ogundele, Secretary-General, NANTAP; Chairman, NANTAP Lagos State, Mrs Eki Eboigbe and Chairman of WTD2013 Planning Committee, Mr Dada Ajai during the World Theatre Day media briefing in Lagos.

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Nasarawa gov signs N110.484bn 2013 budget into law

Banks to inject N17bn into rice cultivation in Niger

M

BY ABEL DANIEL

L

AFIA— GOVER NOR Tanko AlMakura of Nasarawa State has signed the N110.484 billion 2013 budget into law.

The N110, 483, 672, 720 budget tagged, "Budget of Redemption II," was approved by the state House of Assembly against the N109,960,850, 627 proposed by Al-Makura in December, 2012.

Speaking at the Lafia Parade ground, venue of the ceremony, Tuesday, the governor said “the focus of the 2013 budget is the provision of basic infrastructure, employment generation and confidence-building in governance."

AlMakura, however, indicated that the state government would access loans and bonds from financial institutions on favourable terms "to fasttrack the implementation of critical development projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people .”

North west NAPTIP laments poor funding, logistics

BY ABDALLAH ELKUREBE

S

OKOTO—THE North-West zonal office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic In Persons and other related matters, NAPTIP, comprising Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, has said that shortage of funding and poor logistics were militating against the operations of the agency in the area.

NAPTIP Commander in the zone, Mr Hassan Tahir stated this on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy call on the Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

DINNER—From left: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President of Brazil; and Aliko Dangote, President/CE Dangote Group, at a lecture and dinner organised by Dangote and AG group on Tuesday.

Reps slam trial of job seekers by federal ministries

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—The House of Representatives, yesterday, condemned the ongoing trial of job seekers who were defrauded thousands of Naira to secure appointments from some federal ministries and agencies, saying it would throw its weight behind the Senate which was probing the alleged money- for- jobs scandal in federal institutions in the country.

There had been reports that some ministries had resorted to charging some unemployed graduates, who paid between N300,000 and N500, 000 to secure jobs, to court following the exposure of the scam by the Senate in a bid to scuttle the investigation by the National Assembly.

However, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed told Vanguard in an interview in Abuja, yesterday, that ”whatever decision reached by the Senate on the issue will get the full support of the House.”

He said: “We decided not to embark on the probe because we do not want to duplicate investigative enquiries into the same matter."

On victims that were duped

but now being arrested and to be prosecuted, Mohammed said: "No, I do not think the Senate will allow the victims to suffer a kind of double tragedy. They should, instead, be given reprieve."

On Tuesday in the House, a motion on "abuse of recruitment process in Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA," was sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Suleiman Abdulrahman K a w u .

Kawu had through his motion, asked the House to investigate the alleged lopsided recruitment exercise by NAMA which he said was a breach of Federal Character

principle as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, "the recent recruitment exercise in the NAMA, which took place between September 2012 and February 2013 as reported by blueprint of March 5, 2013 was fraught with irregularities and manipulation in favour of certain states, whereby 292 persons employed in the Agency, Abia and Anambra (home states of the Managing Director and the Minister of Aviation/Supervising Minister of the Agency respectively) got 32 slots each, while some states of the federation did not get a single slot”.

INNA—THE Niger Government said, yesterday, that it had entered into agreement with some commercial banks to inject N17 billion over the next three years into rice cultivation in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, said this at Kuchin Woro village in Lavun Local Government Area during the disbursement of relief materials to victims of 2012 flood.

This came as the Zamfara State Government also said, yesterday, that it awarded road contracts valued at over N7 billion as part of efforts to open up the state.

Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji, told newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council meeting in Gusau that the projects would be completed within 18 months, adding that the government has also awarded contract for the construction of the 38.3 km Tashar Abu-Kekun Waje-Bingi Road at the cost of N1.5 billion.

However, his Niger State counterpart, Alhaji Matane said the contract by the state government included the 31.5 km Gusau-Kasuwar Daji Road, and the GusauZurmi-Katsina Road which were awarded for N2.5 billion.

He said 200, 000 hectares of land would be cultivated with an expectant annual yield of one million tons of rice.

Striking Bauchi teachers celebrate release of detained members

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI- IT was jubi lation galore in Bauchi State, yesterday, as thousands of striking teachers gathered to celebrate the release of 11 of their members detained by the police on the promptings of the state government, following their work-to-rule action over al-

leged deduction of workers’ allowances to fund government projects. Vanguard sources said that the jubilating workers chanted solidarity songs as they gathered at the famous Re-insurance House located along the Ahmadu Bello way, in Bauchi metropolis before they escorted each of the released teachers to join their respective families in Azare.

Apart from escorting the 11 members home, it was also gathered that the union was now planning to embark on aone-million-man-peacefulmatch, involving all stakeholders including parents and students to compel the Isa Yuguda-led administration to meet their demands to save public school from disruption of their academic calender.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 41

0805618011 dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

Awa Kalu, SAN a cherished diamond at 60 (2) — 43

Former Lagos AG Osinbajo unravels self — 43

'Story of five teenagers'

Saved from hangman’s noose

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

E

IGHTEEN years ago, precisely, February 2, 1995, when Tony Atalaye, a 16-year-old boy was arrested by the police with five other teenagers and accused of murder of one Daniel Obi of 22b, Amaechi Lane, Layinka, Ajegunle, Lagos, little did they know that the alleged offence could earn them death sentence by hanging.

As minors, rather than being arraigned in juvenile court as required by law, they were charged before a Magistrate court and subsequently arraigned before the High Court on February 5, 1998.

Few years into their trial, they were convicted and sentenced by late Justice James Odunneye who found them guilty of one count of murder preferred against them.

Those sentenced to death by hanging alongside Atalaye were Anefok Ukpa,16, Amaike Doripolo, 16, Ikechukwu Nwogu, 17, and Williams Owodo, 17.

On February 2, 1995 at about 7.30pm, the deceased, Daniel Obi was allegedly murdered by the accused persons. The teenagers were subsequently arrested and taken to Ajegunle police station, where they were investigated and their statements taken by the police. After initial

•Aniefok Ukpa not impressed by the defence counsel’s argument, the trial judge overruled him, ordering the defence to open it.

The late Justice Odunneye in his ruling then said, “Ï therefore rule that the prosecution has made out a prima facie against all the accused persons.

The no-case submission is therefore overruled and I call on each of the five accused persons to enter their defence.”

They held a common purpose to prosecute an unlawful act. I, therefore, sentence all the five accused persons to death by hanging. May the good Lord have their souls

,

intervention by their family the five boys were released on bail, few days latter they were rearrested by the police, and were latter charged with murder before the magistrate court which ordered that they be remanded in prison.

On February 28, 2002, exactly seven years after they were arrested, the prosecution closed its case after presenting four witnesses against the accused persons.

On its part, the defence counsel entered a no-case submission, urging the trial court to discharge and acquit the five accused persons. However,

•Amaike Doripolo

,

In its defence, counsel to the accused person raised some alibi in order to stave off punishment for his clients, however, the presiding Judge was not persuaded by their defence submissions. The trial Judge eventually found the five boys guilty as charged and sentenced them to die by hanging.

Justice Odunneye held, “I hold that there is a common purpose or common intention by all the accused persons.

This will make the act of one accused be the act of the other as the offence committed is in furtherance of the prosecution of this unlawful common

purpose….

“As to whether confessional statement by the accused can on its own ground a conviction the case of Adio Vs.The State which is to the effect that if the said statement is held to be voluntarily made it will ground a conviction….The other four accused (a) Willaim Owodo 1st accused (b) Ikechukwu Nwaogu 2nd accused, (c) Anefok Ukpa 3rd accused and (d) Amaka Doripolo, 5th accused are also guilty of the charge by section 8 of the Criminal Code. They held a common purpose to prosecute an unlawful act.

I therefore sentence all the five accused persons to death by hanging.

May the good Lord have their souls.”

Dissatisfied with the conviction and sentence passed on them, the Convicts filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Lagos, predicated upon six grounds of appeal. In their appeal filed on September 27, 2011, they prayed the Appeal Court to determine whether the trial court was right in holding that the prosecution had proved the charge of murder against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt despite manifest lack of evidence.

Whether the trial court was right in sentencing the appellant to death on the purported confessional statement, challenged by the appellant as being involuntary, same having been extracted under torture and duress.

They also prayed the court to determine whether the trial court was

•Tony Atalaye right to have convicted the appellant and sentenced them to death by hanging despite their ages range from 15-16 years at the time of the alleged offence and their conviction thereby violating their right to life and dignity of human person under the constitution and other international charters to which Nigeria is signatory.”

In determination of the case, the three-man Justices-Amina Augie, Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa and Adam Jauro in their unanimous decision set aside the conviction and the death sentence imposed on the five of them and subsequently discharged and acquitted them.

One of the grounds that the appellate court hinged its decisions was that the lower court failed to

Continues on page 42

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Saved from' hangman’s noose •Continues from page 41 corroborate the issue of confessional statement allegedly made by the appellants during the investigation of their case by the police.

In its opinion in determining issues one and two raised by the appellants, the appellate court held, “It is a trite fundamental doctrine, that for any confessional statement, so called, to be capable of admitting the guilt of an offence, it must be seen to be voluntary; not resulting from any form of inducement, threat or pressure….

“I think the trial court’s finding and relying on the purported confession of the co-accused persons to pindown the Appellants is equally erroneous, to say least. Most regrettably, the trial court came to the conclusion that, “Other accused persons made statements corroborating the statement of the 4th accused.” despite the well established statutory provision under section 27(2) of the Evidence Act, as amended.”

Lead judgment In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Saulawa, the court held, “the whole essence of the concept of justice is predicated upon the equitable doctrine of fair hearing, which has been characterized by God’s benevolent dispensation of justice to mankind.

“Hence, in the light of the foregoing far reaching postulations, and having resolved all the five issues in favour of the Appellants, there is no gain saying the fact, that the present appeal is meritorious. Without any further hesitation, I hereby allow the appeal.

Consequently, the conviction and sentence of the Appellants by the trial court, in charge No.ID/28C/96, are hereby quashed. Accordingly, the Appellants are hereby discharged and acquitted.”

In the concurrent judgment

by Justice Amina Augie Court of Appeal stated, “It is settled that it is the duty of a trial court to consider the circumstances under which a confession is made and decide what weight to attach to it.

“The trial court must look for evidence to corroborate the confession, and the evidence must be independent and capable of implicating the accused in relation to the offence charged.

“In this case, the lower court failed to consider the need for C M Y K

corroborative evidence, and ought not to have convicted the Appellants on their confession, without more.”

Speaking on his conviction and detention, Tony Atalaye denied committing the crime, which he said informed the Court of Appeal to discharge and acquit him. He noted that he learnt so much about the reality of life while in detention. He however regretted that the large chunk of his youthful age has been wasted behind prison’s bars.

Atalaye said, “My experience behind the prison bars for over 17 years was horrendous, having wasted the most functional and youthful age of my life in prison, especially for the offence I did not commit.

Though, I have learnt a lesson, however, I don’t know what to do now, except the programme I embarked on while I was in prison, that is, studying at the Open University. “I am appealing to Nigerians and well meaning organisations to help in making me achieve something reasonable in life.”

Amaike Doripolo, said, “I was 16 years when I was arrested. I went to my aunt place in Ajegunle, but on my way back, I saw people running, but I did not run, thereafter, I was arrested by some policemen where I was taken to the police station and was beaten, to confess to an offence I did not commit.”

Asked about his experiences in Ikoyi prison, where he was detained, he said, “after I was convicted, I always feel that a day will come that I will be taken to the hangman noose. I was always felt agitated day in day out, until a lawyer, Mr Lanre Akinsola took up our

•Chief Justice Aloma Mukhtar case up at the Court of Appeal, where we were freed.

“As at I am talking to you, I have nothing to do. I am just waiting for God’s mercy to come down on me so that my life will not completely rust away, after wasting 18 years in prison.”

Another youth,Anefok Ukpa

•Lagos Attorney General, Ade Ipaye who was also set free, described the wheel of justice at the High Court as slow and unfair to them.

He noted,"When I knew, I may die, I was scared.

However, I was saved by the Court of Appeal, Glory be to God. I have to thank the lawyer, Mr Lanre Akinsola,

who eventually assisted in securing our release from prison. I want Nigerians, government agencies and institutions to come to our aid." The two other freed convicts were not available for interview, as they were said to have travelled out of Lagos.

Former Anambra CJ for burial

BY MICHAEL OLADEPO

T

HE remains of Justice Emmanuel Araka, a former Chief Judge of Old Anambra State will be committed to mother earth on Saturday, April 13, at his family home, Odoje Quarters Inland Town, Onitsha.

The late jurist died on January 21, this year at the age of 87 years at his home town, Onitsha, Anambra.

He attended the prestigious Hope Waddle training institute, Calabar, before he opted for his secondary education between January 1934 and 1942; he completed his

•Late Justice Araka secondary education at Ills Grammar school in 1943.

In 1946, he attended the Trinity collage, Dublin Ireland and graduated in 1950, thereafter he was

enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in March, 1951.

According to the family spokesman, Mr. Martins Araka, a court valedictory session for the late jurist will take place at the Anambra State High Court on April 12.

The younger Araka, said the late jurist who puts in 62 years of distinguished post call held admirable tenure as Chief Judge until his retirement in March, 1985.

He is survived by 11 children, 14 grandchildren, sisters, brothers, in-laws and other relatives too numerous to mention.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 43

Awa Kalu, SAN a cherished diamond at 60 (2)

BY SONI AJALA

A

WA Kalu commands commendable followership both as a lawyer, a law teacher, a jurist, an administrator and a technocrat. This probably is because of his forthrightness, sense of humour, humility, candour, loyalty to friends and unique style of leadership which is rooted in competence, genuine concern for others, admirable character and team spirit. He preaches and practices teamwork and collectivist aspiration for excellence.

Awa Kalu, SAN belongs to the very colourful ‘1978 set of Nigerian Law School that has been admirably celebrated and indeed described as “able generation of lawyers” of uncommon excellence. This very amazing ‘1978 set is reputed to have produced the three serving Justices of the Supreme Court; about nine

•Awa Kalu, SAN Justices of the Court of Appeal; four past NBA presidents; three past AttorneysGeneral of the Federation;

about 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, a Deputy President of the Senate, a serving Chair of the African Commission on

Peoples and Human Rights; Senior Civil Servants, etc.

What an illustrious legacy!

As the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Government of Abia State between May 1999 till 2005, Awa Kalu repositioned the administration of justice in the state for greater efficiency. He consistently and courageously led the state team in many legal battles challenging one perceived constitutional infraction or the other that enriched the jurisprudence of our Laws as well as advanced the institutions of democracy.

As a community leader, he has awarded numerous scholarships to deserving indigent students from his Ohafia community. In recognition of his unflinching willingness to contribute meaningfully to his community, Awa Kalu was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Onochie 1 of Ania Ohafia in 1993.

Alamieyeseigha’s pardon legally correct but morally wrong — Quakers From a legal point of view, journalist said, that it is of Mr Norrison Quakers SAN is a member, National Committee on Reform of Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria, whose litigation ability also earned him the position of Secretary , National Working Committee on the Review of Nigeria Law of Evidence. He is also serving as a member of Negotiation and Conflict Management Group and Member Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The Senior Advocate is also Consultant, Abolition of Death penalty in Nigeria, Reform of the rules of Court and Court Martial proceedings in Nigeria.

In this Interview, he spoke on the fate of Anti-graft agencies in the country, following the state pardon granted to former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, whom a Nigeria court tried and convicted for financial crimes. Excerpts:

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE WHAT is your position on the state pardon granted to former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and six others?

The position of the law is very clear on this. Section 175 (1-3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is very clear, particular sub section 1 of section175. The President has a singular prerogative of granting presidential pardon to any convict. And the operating word there is “the President may” so it is discretionary.

Now when the President is upright morally, he could consider a number of factors where an application of that magnitude comes before him through the prerogative of mercy board committee that is responsible to filter and make recommendations to him.

Is it possible for the President to reject the names recommended to him for the

exercise of prerogative of mercy?

When the President looks at the recommendations, before he presents it to a National Council of States, he could decide otherwise and say that these names are not comfortable because of numbers of moral issues involved. He could decide on his own not to take such names to the National Council of State. When the President now takes it to the National Council of State, the constitution in that sub-section 3 now says “the President shall”.

So whichever way that you look at it, everything boils down to the President. He is the final determiner of whatever he presents to the National Council of State. First, (1) says “the President may”, (3) now says “having presented the National Council of State, “the President shall implement”. In other words, the President is bound to implement and enforce whatever the National Council of State has agreed.

how would you then describe the President’s action?

For me, it is not a legal issue.

Legally, the President is correct.

Morally, it is questionable. So it is more of a moral issue than a legal issue. You know, certain things can be legally correct but morally wrong. With due respect to the Presidenct, the way and manner that he seem to be going about the justification, for me, it is like almost insulting the intelligence of Nigerians. And that for me is wrong. And I like what one

cynical motive for one to inject into the list of those to be pardoned. People have been convicted for betrayal of public trust. People have stolen, now what example are they giving to the Nigeria public? What example are you giving to International community? It is no longer about Nigeria; it is now a global issue.

The Federal Government has said that the state pardon won’t weaken Anti-graft war, what is your perception on that?

Alamieyeseigha absconded

The attainment of the age of 60 years by our teacher, mentor and friend, Awa Kalu, calls for celebration on account of his outstanding achievements and contribution to legal education and character profiling of generation of Lawyers in particular and several youths that their paths crossed his.

For his ex-students, his friends, his admirers and well wishers, we take immense pride in holding out the splendid torch of knowledge, competence, ethical uprightness, fibre of integrity and selfless service that are the hallmark of Awa Kalu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria as he celebrates the attainment of the age of 60 years today.

We pray God to keep and sustain Awa Ume Kalu, SAN a treasured diamond at 60.

Happy Birthday, our beloved teacher and friend.

Dr. Soni Ajala, A Legal Practitioner writes from Abuja

from the United Kingdom, when he was granted bail, because there was a trial pending against him. He came into Nigeria and a Nigeria court tried him and convicted him, now the President has granted him pardon. What statement is the President making to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, whose responsibility it is to address economic and financial crimes? What is the President saying to the Nigeria public?

Former Lagos AG Osinbajo unravels self

W

HEN a man with 31 years of litigation experience, a professor of law, a former Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner of Justice, becomes a pastor and even leads a parish, he invokes powerful imagery.

The man who address such issues, who is himself a subject of the debate, is Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He speaks about his life, including the turning points, his career, Christian journey and his navigation through the corridors of power at the premiere edition of the Man-in-the-Mirror programme of the Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Banana Island, Lagos.

Professor Osinbajo is the Pastor of the Parish. The programme is to have carefully selected people share their experience in life with others as a means of motivation and handling challenging situations.

And there is a lot for Professor

Osinbajo to talk about. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Senior Partner in the Law firm of Simmons Cooper Partners. His tertiary education was at the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics and Political Science obtaining the LLB and LLM degrees respectively.

He was appointed Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in 1999 and reappointed for a second term in 2003. During the period of his public service, he commenced the Lagos State justice reform project.

A prominent feature of that project was the establishment of the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights (DCR) which provides free legal services and legal representation to indigent citizens of the state.

This initiative gave a voice to many who would otherwise not have a way to access their rights.

Prior to that appointment,

Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, was the Head of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos. Between 1988 and 1992, he was the Special Adviser to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also served as a staff member of the UN and Member of the UN’s Secretary General’s Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of UN Peacekeeping personnel around the globe, including UN Centre on Transnational Corporations, the United National African Institute for Crime Prevention, the International Criminal Court for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the UN Peace Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM).

Professor Osinbajo has authored, co-authored and edited several books and publications.

C M Y K

44— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 45

The new focus of governance in our Delta —Ogeah L

AWYER, aviation industry stakeholder turned politician, Chike Ogeah is the Commissioner for Information in Delta State. Since his advent into government about two years ago, Ogeah has combined an unusual suavity and straightforwardness in giving positive perceptions of the affairs of the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan administration. It is an enchanting candour that prompts even the persistent critic into a peep of what Mr. Ogeah unfolds as the legacies of the Uduaghan years in Delta. He spoke in an impromptu interview with Vanguard last Tuesday. Excerpts:

W

HAT is the focus of the administration this year?

Well, somehow due to the ingenuity of this governor, we have been able to have a 70 per cent capital budget for this year Are you serious?

Yes, that is the kind of structure we have done with our budget right now; about 65 per cent to 35 per cent capital to recurrent because we have been trying to bring down the recurrent.

And I can assure you that a lot of work is on-going on that, because for a long time, we found out that we were practically putting most of our budget on recurrent expenditure and you obviously know that that is not going to get us anywhere.

So, his Excellency the governor believes that in the next two years, we should be talking about the completion of all the major projects including the mega projects.

Mega projects Even if some cannot be completed, we want to get them to stages where they become totally irreversible because these are projects that have been universally acclaimed.

We are talking about the urbanization of most or our capital cities, getting them back to what they used to be in the years of old, we are talking about all our cities, Sapele, Warri, Asaba, Ughelli, Agbor.

We are even talking about the Asaba Ughelli dualisation, which is a major economic road because that road is supposed to connect Ughelli round like a ring road round the state; connect Asaba, where the airport is, connect to Warri area where we have the free port zones and the port as well.

Of course, we are also doing everything that is humanly possible to get the Warri Industrial Park which is a gigantic project to a stage where it will become irreversible.

The Oghara Teaching Hospital will start doing kidney dialyses and it has all the latest

instruments and gadgets and even we have first class professors, Deltans leaving best paying jobs in Europe and in America, they are all there in Oghara.

Because what we have decided on, is that what we call ‘Medical Tourism’ should now start happening in Oghara.

People from everywhere in the world, not just from Delta state, will now be going to Oghara for different kinds of the highest level of medical treatment.

Have they started coming?

Oh they have started coming, we have started seeing all that.

Even the ‘Good Governance Tour’ people came and they went there, they saw the kind of equipment in that place and they themselves screamed.

What impact is the medical tourism going to have on the economy?

Oh the impact is going to be huge.

You recently conceived the idea of putting the state’s economy beyond oil. What are the indicators of a success in this direction?

Well the truth is that that is our slogan. It is ‘Delta beyond oil’. We are just saying that the resources we are getting from oil today, we don’t know how long the oil will last, or we don’t know when an alternative for oil as a resource will be gotten and if for instance those revenues begin to dwindle, what would we have done with those monies we have earned?

And we thought that the best thing is to take these monies and plough them in those other critical areas where we have comparative advantage. And of

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & UJU MBANUSI

Modern equipment

•Ogeah:We are now pushing medical tourism maintained that leadership in sports and you know sport is big business in the world today.

That is why when the Eagles came (from South Africa), we could count from the coach to how many players that were of

We have first class professors, Deltans leaving best paying jobs in Europe and in America, they are all there in Oghara

course, one of such areas is in agriculture. Another area where we’ve had a great success is the area of the Delta micro credit scheme. In fact there is a ministry that is dedicated to this.

Then of course, don’t forget that always, we have always

ones at the rooftops shouting about the negatives in Delta state.

There’s not more kidnapping in Delta than there is in Anambra, or in Imo, or across the Niger or indeed in Edo or other parts.

You are comparing your state to others that have taken deterrent measures against kidnapping, (cuts in) No I don’t think any state has done more in the area of assisting the security agencies, both in terms of preemptive and in terms of providing gadgets for intelligence gathering, because we have found out that most of these violent crimes whether you call it theft, kidnapping, armed robbery, what we think is even paramount now is intelligence gathering and having the right kind of modern equipment.

,

Delta origin.

Same thing, you saw the last sports festival, how we excelled, and these were because of certain things His Excellency did, that are not open to the naked eye.

Then this area I told you about, tourism and

entertainment and I think that is why His Excellency in his wisdom, got a Nollywood icon like Mofe Damijo to come and assist in that wise. Because we found out that just in Hollywood or even Nigerian Nollywood, you can see the kind of economy and the kind of job that is being done.

You’ve talked about all the positives, but kidnapping remains an issue in Delta.

Why? Yes it is a big issue in Nigeria.

You know the politics of Delta had been vile. The fact that some people in Delta believed that an ethnic minority had no reason being governor in Delta and that was what led to a campaign that was fuelled by the greatest extent of ‘ethnic hate’. And that is why you noticed that Deltans are the

For instance, you need to see the kinds of equipment his Excellency has put in place and made available to the anti riot kidnapping squad. And that is why most of these things are solved in no time.

But many are unhappy with the governor for not signing the bill on death penalty for kidnappers (cuts in) What the governor is saying is most kidnappings are not done that easily. You don’t just call someone and say come, and they follow you, there is always a threat of force, there is always a threat of violence, no matter how mild it is, maybe a gun somewhere or some instrument of coercion and that obviously falls under the purview of armed robbery.

And there is already a legislation on armed robbery.

So what are we saying? Maybe what people should do in Delta State is once you charge anybody for kidnapping, you have two or three counts.

There’s kidnapping, there is armed robbery, because all he is saying is that these laws for armed robbery have been there since the ‘onyenusis’ of this world started stealing in Nigeria, and there is still armed robbery in Nigeria.

The point we will want to make, which we will not stop making from here from the executive is that this death penalty has been there in Nigeria for all these offences, whether its armed robbery, but are they not only getting more and more sophisticated?

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Bourgeois unionists: Not trade union culture — Ejiofoh BYVICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

ON February, 28, 2013, Labour Vanguard published a piece about the takeover of trade unions by bourgeois labour leaders. At the end of the report, Labour Vanguard promised to publish an interview with Comrade Sylvester Ejiofoh, immediate past General Secretary General Secretary of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE. Here is the interview for your reading delight.

T

HERE are emerging trend where elected or appointed officials have now taken control of the unions and have grown bigger than the unions. They now use the unions for personal aggrandizement rather than union growth and development. What is your take?

The issue is not about the extent the elected office bearers of unions or the full time officials of the union have taken control of any particular union. First, none of these two should take over control in the sense which is being discussed because trade union leadership historically and globally is a collective

is a manifestation of abandonment of the movement character of the trade unions.

But luckily, we are having this discussion in a union office, Amalgamated with a long history. Former technical workers’ union is a major component of this amalgamation and the union has never shied away from ideological unionism in which the movement character of the union becomes a cardinal principle of running the union.

In unions where you have maximum president, the union is ran like master servant relationship, why?

That is the proprietor mentality which is strange to the movement, same as the aristocratic mentality on the part of some of those appointed. Both characterizations are manifesting a serious deficiency in terms of union culture in particular on leadership style. These two tendencies manifest something else. Normally, we say that leadership should be transformational and inspirational. That is, the leadership cadres in trade unions should have this attributes of being transformational and inspirational. But there is a third style, which is called transactional leadership. In which case, they run union movement as a transaction in which personal gains reigns supreme. This has become global. Ideally,

,

If those elected or appointed manifest proprietor mentality that we own the union that manifestation leads to transactional relationship

leadership style in the overall interest of the employees, the members who are the actual owners of the union. What you are raising is that, yes it is being with us for a long time. In some unions, appointed officials become highly aristocratic in which case, they administer the union in their own interest. In some other unions, the elected officials manifest proprietor mentality in their own interest. Both categories do not emphasis the interest of members.

But trade unions do not exist in a vacuum. Trade union is supposed to be a social movement. If all leadership cadres of the union elected or appointed conceptualise the union as a social movement in which case, there will be no room for aristocratic leadership or proprietor leadership. But you know as organization grows overtime, they lose the culture that essentially promotes the attainment of its objectives, or they accentuate such culture. But you know like Nigeria, we have virtually lost all institutions. We have institutional crisis in this country.

Virtually all institutions, political parties, governmental even corporate institutions are dysfunctional. Trade unions that are supposed to pose a counter culture being a movement of social change could become victim.

In a nutshell, what you are seeing as take over by those elected or appointed,

,

unions that do not manifest bureaucratic character or proprietor character are supposed to be transformational while also being inspirational. That is, they inspire the membership to justify why they are members. Do not forget that the average worker is a rational human being.

He has legitimate expectations and can assess when the union has done certain things and say, yes, our union tried but failed.

If those elected manifest proprietor mentality that we own the union that manifestation leads to transactional relationship, equally, if those appointed manifest bureaucratic or aristocratic style again, they manifest transactional leadership style. In this place (Amalgamated union) for instance, we pay union dues. It has been a culture. So, we are members of the union as a movement. But some unions may not see the need for it. We say here that appointed union officials are first and foremost, servants of the workers, not of the executives, not of the president.

Two, they are teachers of the worker which means they should be able to inspire the workers. They should be role models. Three, they are leaders of the union which means, as leaders, they should take the risk. They should be the ones to be arrested first and detained, not those elected.

Bits Fears for unionism after privatization grips PHCN workers

W

zComrade Sylvester Ejiofoh So, I think overtimes, unions manifesting these tendencies, crises will continue to be endemic in those unions. Once union becomes aristocratic or bureaucratic or proprietor mentality enters, crisis sets in. But essentially, trade union is a democratic institution in which decisions should be taken democratically in the interest of the members. You have attended AUCPTRE conferences; we will not print hand bills or manifestoes.

Whose manifesto?

Who can the ordinary workers; the owners of the union reclaim the unions from these aristocrats and proprietors?

The essential thing is labour education and the right type of labour education. Labour education cannot be value free, while addressing the technical issues like how do you resolve grievances with employees, how do you gain concessions from employers by way of collective bargaining, etc, but collective bargaining has a class character, it has a social character. So, you do not just teach collective bargaining in the formalistic sense.

You must look at its underlying factors. Collective bargaining is essentially or to some extent, a procedure which manifests power relations. You cannot have meaning bargaining or bargaining process that ends up in a balanced or shared gain. A weak union cannot bargain with a strong employer. A nondemocratic union in which the leadership does not represent the aspirations of the rank and file members cannot bargain meaningfully. So, you have to use appropriate labour education, which is a combination of techniques, knowledge, skills and the context of trade union as a movement.

Anything short of that, the problem will persist. It is not a phenomenon which is to a large extent, a Nigerian development. It is a global development.

To be concluded.

ORKERS of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, have expressed fear that successor companies that will take over facilities of PHCN may not respect employees’ rights as enshrined in the nation’s constitution especially freedom of association of workers.

At the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC’s 2nd Triennial Delegates Conference, in Calabar, Cross Rivers, they said the fear was based on available evidence that showed foreign investors operating in the country have great apathy towards trade unionism in their organisations.

However, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, assured that organized labour that unions in the power sector would still remain even after the transfer of the power facilities to private investors.

President of SSAEAC, Mr. Bede Opara, who expressed the workers’ concern, warned that the unions would not tolerate any contract that could turn Nigerian workers to slaves in their fatherland, insisting insisted that all contract of employments in the new regime must be in accordance with the provision of the country’s labour laws.

He urged all agencies involved in the process to be patriotic while signing agreements with foreign investors, stressing the need for such contract to attract local content in its provisions.

South African trade unions call for end to apartheid wage system

T

HE Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called for an end to the apartheid wage system which worsens inequality in the country. “We have come to call for the abolition of the apartheid wage structure, the creation of strong collective bargaining institutions in all sectors of the economy, and a comprehensive social security protection for the unemployed,” COSATU President Sidumo Dlamini said.

Dlamini stated this at the COSATU Bargaining, Organising and Campaigns Conference taking place in Boksburg near Johannesburg.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—47

Shem not sacked —FG SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

A

BUJA —THE F e d e r a l Government said, yesterday, it had not taken any disciplinary action against the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr. Obafaiye Shem, over the interview he granted a Lagos broadcast medium.

The government’s reaction followed claims that Shem had been sacked on the orders of the Minister of Interior, who supervises the NSCDC. Findings by Vanguard revealed that contrary to the rumoured sack or suspension of the officer, who was becoming popular by the day as a result of the controversial but hilarious interview with Channels, the government had not taken any steps to sanction the man.

Shem, who resurfaced earlier in the week after burying his father, was quoted as saying, ”I am still the State Commandant of NSCSC and I am determined to work hard to expose the vandals across the State."

Soyinka berates Presidency over Alams' pardon, First Lady Mission Mansion

BY JAPHET ALAKAMBY JAPHET ALAKAM

L

AGOS — NOBLE laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to those criticising President Goodluck Jonathan over the controversial pardon granted convicted former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieseigha, even as he

urged the Federal Government not to make any budgetary allocations to the First Lady Mission Mansion.

Prof. Soyinka, who made his feelings known, yesterday, in Lagos, while speaking with the press, lamented that corruption remained Nigeria's intractable challenge, which some people in the corridors

of power were benefiting from.

He said: “I want to announce that I want to join the band of such ignorant people.I am not aware that I am an ignorant person, but I am happy to be counted among such people.”

The Nobel laureate also took a swipe at the controversial N4billion being

budgeted for the construction of the First Lady Mansion project. He described the move as part of the corrupt mentality currently plaguing the country.

Continuing, Soyinka described the office of the First Ladies as constitutional ghosts, saying, “President Goodluck Jonathan must be stoutly applauded for declaring that he cannot grant amnesty to ghosts.

Let me add also that you cannot make budgetary allocations to ghosts.

"Like ghost workers, through whose invisible entrails billions have vanished into Nigerian burial grounds, First Ladies are nothing but constitutional ghosts, and that means that their pet projects wherever they lay claims on national budgeting, individually or collectively, however, lofty sounding, are nothing but spectral emanations, already dead on arrival."

From left: Rev. Fr. Eugene Anowai, Diocesan Catholic Laity Chaplain, Awka; Mr. John Nwosu, Founder, Ebube Foundation and CEO, Jetlink Group; Chief Omeife I. Omeife, National Coordinator, Ebube Foundation and Alex Ocho, Director, Fertilizer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, at a one-day seminar organised by Ebube Foundation, in Awka, to sensitise farmers and youths on the 'Growth Enhancement Scheme' of the Ministry.

Bomb blast: Igbo in Kano on 3-day mourning

K

BY Clifford Ndujihe& Abdulsalam Muhammed

ANO — THE Igbo community in Kano, yesterday, commenced a three day mourning over last Monday’s bomb attack at Sabon Gari bus attack which claimed more than 70 lives who were mostly people from the Southern part of the country.

Chairman of Ohaneze in Kano, Mr. Tobias Idika who announced the three day mourning said during the period, all Igbos are expected to remain at home while they will also fast and offer special prayers to avert future occurrence of the ugly incident.

The three day mourning which commenced yesterday was complied with as schools, shops were closed in the Sabon Gari area of the city. Commercial activities were completely paralysed as all the Igbos did not open their shops while security was also beefed up.

According to Idika, “what happened was a calamity and we must fast and pray to God that such a thing will not happen again.”

Mr. Idika also explained that the Igbo community was opposed to the plans by the state government to conduct a mass burial for the victims of the blast.

The state government had argued that some of the victims were burnt completely beyond recognition as their relations could not identify them.

Meanwhile, Ndigbo have been advised against avenging the terrorist attack. Making the plea yesterday, the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) in a statement by its President, Evang Elliot Uko said any form of retaliation would aid the terrorists in achieving their goal of setting Nigeria on fire.

ACN’s National Vice Chairman kidnapped, N30m demanded

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has raised the alarm over the kidnap of its Vice Chairman (South-east), Dr. Chudi Nwike, in Anambra State on Tuesday In a statement issued in Lagos Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party quoted Nwike’s younger brother, who has been contacted by him (Dr. Nwike), as saying the kidnappers are demanding N30 million (in foreign currency) as ransom. ‘’We appeal to the security agencies to do everything within their power to ensure the safe release of Dr. Nwike, while assuring his family of our prayers and support at this very difficult time,’’ the statement said.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

Emissaries as totemic narrative Stories by JAPHET ALAKAM

Photo -documentar y artist, Adolphus Opara salutes the gods as he brings together portraits of traditional Yoruba priests from three different western states in Nigeria in a solo exhibition at CCA, Lagos.

A

I

N continuation of its bid towards the promotion of lens based media, the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos last week opened another unique and visually compelling photographic exhibition by Adolphus Opara tittled: “Emissaries of An Iconic Religion”.

The photo-documentary series which brings together portraits of traditional Yoruba priests from three different western states in Nigeria opened on 9th March, 2013, at CCA,Lagos and will run till 21st April 2013.

The exhibition which is the first major solo exhibition in Nigeria of the Lagos-based photographer shows series of portraits of diviners from the regions of South-Western Nigeria which invoke the symbols and narratives of indigenous religious beliefs, as well as its relevance and function within the society.

Complex issue of religion The exhibition which is in line with the Centre’s past records of organising exhibitions that generate debates, as usual, looks at the complex issue of religion; especially as practised by Africans.

Emissaries features fifteen images from the twenty strong “Emissaries” series made by the artist between 2009 and 2011 that offer a unique and visually compelling photographic portrayal of the custodians of indigenous religious beliefs.

Some of the works include ; Orisa Imole(deity of defence and judgment) with a young man, Chief Aderemi Awogbemi pictured with several shrine objects, Orisa Lajoomi(deity of children), Orisa Odu(deity of blessing and protection) and others.

Through the body of work which pushes the boundaries of contemporary portraiture, Opara highlights some of the existing tensions between the cultures of animistic belief and organised religion.

The works also engage the

Emissaries of an Iconic Religion goes beyond the reportage and documentary style characteristic of Opara’s work.

It stands apart from his “Rugbol” (2009/10) series, or his ongoing projects Shrinking Shores (2011–) and Cocoa (2011–) in its contextual assertions and stylistic composition.

Opara attempts to re-assert the importance, the centrality and the vitality of local belief systems despite the incursion of external pressures.“

•Orisa Odu, (deity of blessing and protection)

sensitive debate surrounding the demonisation and denigration of traditional religion instigated by colonial and missionary rhetoric.

The exhibition according to the curator, Jude Anogwih offers opportunity for viewers to share diverse views about religion particularly the Yoru-

•Orisa Imole, (deity of defence and judgment)

ba traditional religion.

Though the artists is not calling for a return to the local system of worship, he says, “I want to tell the story of our roots and need to know it and preserve it, if possible, document it before it finally goes into extinction.”

One important statement

about the images, is that apart from the artistic work and colour, Opara created photographs that exude confidence, pride and dignity for African religion unlike most presentations by the West that present Africans in the way they want to see Africans.

rresting and uncanny, these images of diviners from the regions of SouthWestern Nigeria engage our identities in the 21st century and its evolving meanings.

Whilst a return to traditional belief is not advocated nor rejected, an engagement of their role within contemporary society is warranted.

These large-format, painterly images, imbued with luxuriant colours attempt to re-assert the importance and vitality of local belief systems, in spite of external pressures.

Adolphus Opara has exhibited widely, both locally and internationally. His recent exhibitions include Contested Terrains, 2011, Tate Modern, London; African Lace, 2010, Museum fur Vulkerkunde, Vienna, Austria; African Photography Encounters, 2011, Bamako, Mali among others.

Beyond bounds of Nation’s illness on canvass

A

FTER her first solo exhibition in 2006 titled, Patterns of Life that tried to draw the attention of the female folk on the need to catch up with others in the events of life, one of Nigeria’s female studio artists that is bent on making a statement in the male dominated art world, Chinyere Ofodile Okanume is out again with another solo exhibition titled Beyond Bound, an exhibition of paintings, oil on canvas, mixed media with fine stones, fabrics and native mat.

The exhibition which can be seen as a great innovation compared to her previous exhibition where she centered on paintings on canvass, is scheduled to open on 23rd March and runs till 5th April 2013, at the National Museum Onikan.

Featuring about 30 recent works through which the Fine and Applied Arts graduate of Institute of Management and Technology Enugu tries to artistically comment generally on some of the issues happening in the country.

According to the artist, who said that she is greatly influenced by her environment , the works really address some of the ills in the society. Some of them include; Journey of life, I better pass my neighbour, Last sacrifies , Empowerment, Irony of life 1&2, I did not do it,

Togetherness, Scarcity 1&2, The Friendship etc.

On why the exhibition is coming up seven years after her last show, the experimental artist said : “I try to express myself by being creative in so many ways, not just the conventional way of painting with oil ,acrylic or water

•Empowerment, one of the works to be exhibited

colour, though this is my first time working with stones, I still make the works appealing to the eye.” A look at the works reveals that she has really added new forms to her works. For example, She has added installation, mixed media, stone paintings and some figures which she did not do before.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013—49

TRIBUTE

High Chief Bayo Akinnola passes on @ 78

By AYO ONIKOYI

High Chief Bayo Akinnola

generation of leaders that have contributed and are still contributing, in shaping the destiny of the nation.

One of his students back in the Ibadan Grammar School, and former Librarian of the University of Lagos, Mr. Goke Adeniji, describe the late High Chief Akinnola as a man who made learning so easy in those days. He said: “He was a flambouyant teacher who had a touch of panache both in his

highly loved by the students and his diction was something that always mesmerised the students.”

Born in Ondo town on August 1, 1934 to the Late Princess Alice Morinola Akinnola (Leyo Royal Ruling House) and the Late Chief Danial Ladapo Akinnola

,

I

NFLUENTIAL and highly respected Lisa of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief Bayo Akinnola, died on Wednesday, aged 78. High Chief Akinnola breathed his last at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos yesterday morning having checked into the hospital on Sunday.

Since his death encomiums have been pouring in eulogising the exemplary attributes of the man many believe belonged to the golden generation of nation builders.

High Chief Akinnola was a vibrant persona who lived life to the fullest. Be it at work or play, the Ondo kingdom prime minister was a man who knew the rules of the game and he was a man who played fair, with a bit of panache about him. He had a royal birth, lived a royal life and there was always the touch of nobility in everything he touched and did. He nurtured many businesses which grew into blue chip concerns. He was also a teacher who bred a

He had a royal birth, lived a royal life and there was always the touch of nobility in everything he touched and did. He nurtured many businesses which have grown into blue chip concerns

personality and his teaching methods which made learning so simple. He was

,

(Baba Ijo All Saints Church, Ogbonkowo, Ondo), High Chief Akinnola attended

High Chief Bayo Akinnola

Ibadan Grammar School where he later became the Vice-Principal. He was at Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology Ibadan for his ‘A’ level in 1955; and at the University of Ibadan where he bagged a B.A. (Upper Division) in 1960. He was in University of Manchester England, for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

High Chief Akinnola served at the Nigerian Tobacco Company as PRO, Marketing Manager, and later Personal Assistant to the Chairman between 1964 and 1967. He was appointed Commissioner for Information and later that of Industries in the Western Nigerian Government between 1967 to 1976. Some of his other appointments include: Member of Council of the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti; Chairman, Board of Directors of Oluwa Glass Company Plc; Ondo State Industrialization Committee; Board of Trustees, Ondo State Education Endowment Fund and Metal Packaging Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.He was an elected member of the 1994 Constitutional Conference.

On the business front, High

Chief Akinnola was Director and or Chairman of many business concerns both within and outside Nigeria.

These include Atobi Enterprises Limited; Atobi Metal and Paper Industries Limited; Okegun Farming Enterprises; Cutler-Hammer (Nig.) Ltd; Gem Limited; Stanmark Cocoa Processing Company Limited and West African Portland Cement Company (WAPCO).

Awards won Some of the awards he won include the Wither’s Prize for Professional Teaching at the University of Manchester; Roll of Honour of Ondo State; National Productivity Merit Award; Ondo Town and Community Merit Award; Distinguished Alumnus Merit U.I; Honorary Doctorate Degree in Management Teaching by the Federal University of Technology, Akure and National Award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).

He was appointed a member of RMAFC in 1999. He was installed the Lisa of Ondo Kingdom in the year 2002, the second in command also known as Prime Minister of the Traditional Institution of Ondo Kingdom.

50 — Vanguard, THURSD AY, MARCH 21, 2013 THURSDA

‘Kidney failure leading cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria’

A

S Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World Kidney Day with the theme: Kidney for Life: Stop Kidney Attack”, expert has raised alarm that kidney failure in pregnancy has become a leading cause of maternal mortality in the country even as it called for the enactment of a solid organ transplant edict as a matter of urgency.

A disclosure at a seminar/free kidney screening organised by St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos to mark the Day in Lagos said over 10 years study by Dr. Bamgboye and colleagues at the Lagos University Teaching, LUTH, hospital showed that about 175 cases of maternal death was as a result of acute renal

failure. Bambgoye, a Consultant Nephrologist, noted that most times the diagnosis of the problem are usually delayed and inappropriately managed leading to non – resolving renal failure. Bamgboye identified pre- eclampsia, (high blood pressure in pregnancy) ante – partum haemorrhage, (bleeding in pregnancy before birth) and post partum haemorrhage (bleeding after delivery of the baby) as leading causes of kidney failure in pregnancy.

He stressed the need for massive awareness on the need for early detection of Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD. On World Kidney Day, he said: “This day tend to encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes

and hypertension from CKD, encourage preventive behaviours as well as encourage government to take action and invest in further kidney screening.

This is why St Nicholas is carrying out free screening exercise for about 1,000 people today.”

Dismissing fears about kidney donation, he said since inception, St Nicholas has done 123 transplants in Nigeria more than any other hospital in the country. Calling for the enactment of a solid organ transplant edict, he cited the declaration of Istanbul on organ trafficking and transplant tourism adding that although; organ transplant one of the medical miracles of the 20th century has

How to ensure healthy eyes

Y

• L-R: Matro St. Nicholas Hospital Mrs. Sola Fashola, Corporate Relations Manager Mrs. Joke Olaleye, Consultant Nephologist Clinical Dr. Ebun Bamgboye and Chief Oladipupo Balogun at a Seminar and Free Screening by St. Nicholas Hospital as part of activities to mark World Kidney Day.

prolonged and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide there is need to take measures according to the WHO to protect the poorest and vulnerable groups from transplant tourism and the sale of tissues and organs, including attention to the wider problem of international trafficking in human tissues and organs.

He further called for the establishment of a renal registry supported by government to compile data on the burden of the disease as well as including End Stage Renal Disease in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

OUR eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best.

These simple steps can help you maintain healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam: You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure.

Know your family’s eye health history: It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary.

Eat right to protect your sight: Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as

spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy.

Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.

Quit smoking or never start: Study has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage. Give your eyes a rest: If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

M

Y husband came home with some sex things he said that he bought from your company and I am very angry. Please we don’t use such things.

Stop selling them to him. We are God fearing people and don’t want to be a part of all these sexual items – Mrs Akpan Dear Mrs Akpan, your husband spoke with us a few times and explained that your sexual relationship with him has been difficult. He complained about your lack of libido after your fourth child and he wanted products that can help your marriage. He also wanted something for premature ejaculation. So I recommended Max Desire supplement to help with your libido, Probe lubricant to eliminate the vaginal dryness you suffer and Stay Hard delay Cream for your husband’s premature ejaculation. These are good products for helping people and are doctor recommended.

It is only a man who cares about his marriage that will go through the troubles of trying to find a solution. Your husband is trying his best but he cannot do it without you. Let me ask you a question. If your pastor in church told you that you will have an accident on your way to work and that the accident will be caused by a fault in your car, what will you do?

Will you try to fix your car or will you ignore his warning and go to work anyway? I ask you this because many marriages have failed and many women have been cheated on. When these things happen, they always wonder what they have done to deserve such bad luck. The truth however is that before things go wrong, many a time the warning signs are there. But many of us refuse to do something about them.

Your husband is deprived of sex because you don’t feel like having sex. He has been tempted to cheat many times but he has resisted. He is reaching out and trying to do something about it and you are frustrating his efforts. One of these days, you could be the victim of cheating or a broken marriage. And when

that happens, I am sure you will ask God why. You have a chance now to save your marriage and it is your responsibility. You have been given the help you need so you have no excuse anymore. You can either take advantage of the help that has been given to you and save your marriage or you can continue to use religion as an excuse not to fix your marriage – Uche Hello sir. I read your last column about the new products Exploding Thunder and Max for Men Arousal Oil. I am 62 years old and healthy. Which of these products is best from me? I have not had an erection in two years – Jonah Dear Jonah, Exploding Thunder supplement is a stronger enhancer and is best for you because your type of erectile dysfunction is quite serious – Uche Please what is your best penis enlarger and can I use it with my Exploding Thunder erection supplement? James Dear James, if you are taking Exploding Thunder supplement already, then it is better to enlarge with a pump like the Rock Hard Pump kit or a cream like Max Width penis enlargement cream – Uche Hello sir. I had wanted something for hard erections and I also wanted a penis enlarger. I started with the Max Size penis enlarger and noticed that my erections have improved since I started taking Max Size. Do I still need Sex Voltz? Thanks – Uzo Uzo no you don’t. Max Size enlarges and strengthens erections too – Uche Hey. I have received the Jelly chocolate vibrator. I don’t usually kiss and tell but I had my first orgasm last night and I am very happy - Angela You are welcome. And that’s it for today. Adults in need of these novelties can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 —51

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21 , 2013

Obama arrives Israel, restates US suppor t M

AKING his first official visit to Israel, President Barack Obama yesterday pledged unwavering commitment to the security of the Jewish State where concern over a nuclear-armed Iran has clouded U.S.-Israeli relations.

He also stressed the need for Middle East peace at the start of a three-day trip, which is aimed at resetting strained relations with both the Israelis and Palestinians, but is not expected to provide new initiatives or substantial policy moves.

Descending from Air Force One in bright Spring sunshine, Obama briefly embraced Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has notoriously testy ties, before offering smiles and handshakes to

T

HE Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos Professor Bola A. Akinterinwa has called for assistance from government institutions, agencies and public spirited Nigerians and international donors to enable the institute accomplish its goals in areas of research and capacity building.

Prof. Akinterinwa spoke at the 13th brainstorming session in Lagos said paucity of funds is hampering the operations of the NIIA which is Nigerian in design and global in research focus.

According to Akinterinwa, “The management and staff of the institute have decided to seek outside help in their development efforts.”

He said, efforts are being made to construct a 21-storey building that will accommodate an interpretation and

Z

ENITH Bank yesterday backed the hosting of Africa Youth Athletics Championships otherwise known as AYAC Warri 2013 with N20m. ’’It is part of our contribution to sports development in Nigeria,’’ Managing Director of the Bank, Godwin Emiefilie, told Amaju Pinnick, the

chairman of the Local Organsing Committee for AYAC. ’’Zenith Bank has been tremendous in trying to develop the Nigerian youth through sports and share the vision of Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan in the area of sports,’’ Amaju said while thanking Emiefilie for his contribution.

Joe Penawou of First Marine Engineering Services Limited also parted with N10m as part of his company ’s sponsorship of the African championship.

His company will also supply juice drinks to the over 450 athletes and 200 officials who will gather at the Warri Township Stadium from March 27 to 31.

D r ogba ttold old ttoo regain fform orm bbyy Ivor Ivoryy Coast coach Lamouchi U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport Airport in Tel Aviv yesterday. waiting ranks of ministers.

“I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations, to restate America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to speak directly to the people of Israel and to your neighbors,” Obama

said at a red-carpet welcoming ceremony at Tel Aviv airport.

“I am confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal, is forever,” he said, adding the Hebrew word for forever — “Lanetzach” — to emphasis the upbeat message.

NIIA seeks support for infastructure development

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor

Zenith Bank joins AAYYAC 20 13 201

translation centre for training of career diplomats and professional journalists, as well as conference diplomacy; NIIA Council Secretariat, Research committee, Meeting Rooms, and wellequipped research offices, two standard research situation rooms, coordinating centre for all African Research Institutes, as well as a floor for depository for all doctoral theses successfully defended all Nigerian universities.

He said “The Bolaji Akinyemi Auditorium will also be raised to about ten floors. There have been seminars, conferences, colloquia requiring different committee rooms for focused attention on some critical questions.

We currently do not have such rooms. There is the need also to provide for rooms for meetings on the margins of main conferences” Above all, the need for another bigger and better equipped conference hall

is already in the making at the institute. The current directorate building will be raised by one floor. The new floor is to serve two main purposes: put a stop to the water leakages from the concrete roof and then serve as a new conference hall.

Our Error

O

UR story entitled “Bill Gates cancels trip to Nigeria” published on March 19, 2013, page 8, contained an error.

The part attributed to the US Consul General, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins who was cited as source in the story was incorrect.

We have since discovered the mix-up and we retract any attribution to Mr. Hawkins in the copy.

We regret all inconveniences this may have caused the Consul General.

D

IDIER Drogba has been challenged by Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi to return to his best form and force his way back into the national team.

The 35-year-old striker has been left out of Lamouchi’s squad to face Gambia in a World Cup qualifier this weekend.

“Drogba is a huge player with a bigger status than any other player but he has had a difficult last eight months and he now needs to work,” Lamouchi said.

“He needs to get back to his competitive standards.”

Drogba was also dropped during this year ’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which the Ivorians started as favourites but suffered a surprise quarter-final exit.

Lamouchi feels the Elephants skipper has been unsettled by recent transfers from Chelsea to China’s Shanghai Shenhua and then to Turkish club Galatasaray.

And he is keen for Drogba to get some game time to regain his fitness before he pulls on the Ivorian jersey again.

“He has had three different clubs in the last eight months and his

•Drogba time in China cost him a lot of fitness. It means he was not the Didier we know at the last Nations Cup,” said Lamouchi.

NNPC/Shell Cup draw holds today

D

RAW for the semi finals of the 2013 All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship tagged NNPC/Shell Cup holds today in Lagos with four schools in contention for the top prize, according to Shola Akinwale, National Co-ordinator of the competition.

The four schools contesting for the two semi finals ticket are Government College Ibadan, Purple Krown College, Enugu, Government Secondary Wuse, Abuja and Government Arabic College, Gwale, Kano.

The two semi finals hold tomorrow at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere. The first match kicks off at 2 p.m. while the second holds at 4 p.m just as the organisers have promised the first 500 spectators very attractive

prizes at the entrance.

The champions of this edition, Mr Akinwale disclosed, will take home total prize money of N3.5m, the runner-up

will get N2.3m while the third and fourth placed teams will go home with N1.2m and N1m respectively.

TomTom tasks Eagles to beat Kenya

T

OM Tom, the Official Candy of the Nigerian National Teams, has drummed out support for the Super Eagles as they continue their bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup when they take on the Kenya’s Harambe Stars this weekend in Calabar.

Speaking ahead of the match scheduled for the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Ugochukwu Nwankwo, Cadbury ’s Brand Manager TomTom said “the Super Eagles have what it takes to qualify for and succeed

at the 2014 World Cup. The team’s recent triumph at the AFCON 2013 is very indicative of the depth of talent available in the squad” “The World Cup qualifier against Kenya on Saturday is a match to further demonstrate the superiority of the team, since it would be the first major outing after winning the Nations Cup. As such, the Super Eagles must remain focused, breathe deep, go for it, and come out victorious”, Nwankwo added.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 —53

54— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 — 55

Ex stars unite in Warri for AYAC 2013 T

HE city of Warri was a sight to behold yesterday as far as track and field is concerned in Nigeria.

Many of those who had a hand in building the sport and raised it to the level that placed Nigeria in the world map were there.

A two day refresher course for technical officials who will officiate during the March 27 -31 Africa Youth Athletics Championships had brought them to Warri.

Commodore Matseye Nesiama, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Technical Director who is also a member of Local Organsing Committee for the AYAC 2013 is the facilitator of the event that will continue today.

Professor Lucas Ogunjimi, Alex Onyewenwa who are IAAF lecturers were there. And so were big names like Elias Gora, Rotimi Obajimi, Emelia

Edet, Henry Amike, Tina Iheagwam, Jide Josiah, Akin Folarin, Mary Onyali, Gabriel Okon, Yusuf Ali, Solomon Agbari, Eric Mayuku, Ben Majekudumi, Beatrice Molokwu et al.

They were more than 100. They gathered at the Warri Township Stadium for the course.

Onyali is in charge of ceremonials for the event. ’’It’s an international championships and we are here to support Delta,’’ Henry Amike said with excitement. ’’We are here to get everybody up the stage,’’ Okon said. They were once the star athletes who gave Nigeria name before the plunge that Mary Onyali hopes events like the AYAC Warri 2013 will help the country recover from. In her time, the stadium stood to watch a 100m final that had her and the likes of Iheagwam, Falilat Ogunkoay, Faith Idehen

and Beatrice Utondu on the tracks. And for the men would be the likes of Chidi Imoh, Olapade Adenikan, the Ezinwa brothers, Gabriel Okon.

Those were the days Nigeria challenged USA in track and field. They are a dream now. ’’I have been waiting and searching for the next

Mary Onyalis, the next Chidi Imohs, the next Olapde Adenikans, Falilat Ogunkaya etc. I have not found them.

But with events like this, we have a chance. It will take some time that the AFN has started and with help from the governor of Delta State (Dr. Emmanuel

Uduaghan) I think we will be there. We can’t thank the governor enough for what he is doing for sports not only in Delta but also for the country,’’ Onyali said.

She was a product of youth development and the sports programmes in Delta State excite her. ’’We have an

i n t e r n a t i o n a l championship here in Warri and what we are doing here is to prepare the officials and I can tell you that everybody is ready,’’ Professor Ogunjimi said.

Warri is hosting Africa and those who matter on the beat can’t wait for the show to start.

Harambee Stars arrive Continues from BP A delegation of 20 players and 11 officials slept over in Lagos before flying into Calabar today, to be accommodated at Channel View Hotel.

However, the Kenyans were not happy that they had to spend the night in Lagos having thought they would be given a chartered flight by the Nigeria Football Federation to fly to Calabar immediately.

“They have put us in a two star hotel here in Lagos but we don’t mind since it is just one night and then we leave for Calabar. We are trying to prevail upon them to give us a training ground,” an official, identified as Hussein told Goal.com.

He said the weather was very hot and this may affect the Kenyans especially coming from cooler Nairobi.

The supercharged Nigerians, with a full house training in Canaan City for the showdown, believe they have all going for them as they file

out against a side that has never beaten them.

Nigeria and Kenya have clashed at senior level 13 times previously, with Nigeria coming out tops in 11 of them, the remaining two drawn.

Their first-ever meeting was on May 8, 1968 when the Nigerians, on the way from an Olympic Games qualifying match in Ethiopia, stopped by in Nairobi for a friendly and inflicted a 2-1 defeat on their hosts.

Another friendly in Nairobi eight years later ended 1-1, but in August 1981, Nigeria won yet another friendly in Nairobi 3-1 with goals from Henry Nwosu, Ifeanyi Onyedika and Emmanuel Osigwe.

Fatai Amoo and Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) scored in a 30 defeat of the Harambee Stars in a World Cup qualifier in Nairobi in April, 1985 with the Eagles completing the rout 3-1 in Lagos two weeks later.

Athletes competing at the Osaka 2007 meet

Mikel, Martins plot Harambee’s fall C

HELSEA star John Mikel Obi and newly acquired Saunders of America striker in the MLS have been businesslike since

they joined the Super Eagles camp Tuesday evening.

While Mikel trained with the rest of the squad and expressed

Beckham floors Messi Continues from BP giving his wages at current club Paris SaintGermain to charity.

Beckham leads the charts when it comes to the most affluent footballers in the game, making annual earnings of £30.8m.

The 37-year-old eclipses youngster stars like Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (£30m) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid (£25.7m), despite having handed over his salary at PSG to local charities in Paris.

The recent survey in France Football magazine revealed that Beckham’s

wages from PSG and former club LA Galaxy make up just five per cent of his total earnings.

Other sources of income such as endorsements, image rights and ambassadorial exploits - such as his current visit to China to promote football in the country - are estimated to add up to £28.3m.

The former Manchester United star is expected to contribute around £4m to charity from his fivemonth contract with PSG, in his sixth year of topping the rich-list having made the top ten every time since 1999.

readiness to give his all in the game against Harambee Stars of Kenya, Martins started training with rest of the squad on Wednesday and his impact was immediate, going by his quickness on the ball

Imoke Continues from BP presented, gave a whopping N25m gift to the squad.

He also gave each member of the team a plot of land in choice areas of Calabar, confirming his consistent saying that Calabar is the home of the team.

The Super Eagles team that won the trophy for the first time in 1980 were also given houses and cars by the Alhaji Shehu Shagari government.

and general concentration throughout.

“There is no small team anywhere in the world, but we will give our best against Kenya."

Royal Schools hold inter-house sports

T

HE Royal Group of Schools will hold its 4th inter-house sports competition on Saturday, March 23, at Unilag Sports Complex, Akoka, Lagos.

According to the Director of the Schools, Pastor Christian Ekeh, Pupils from four houses: Sapphire House in blue dress, Diamond House in White,Emerald House in green and Topaz House in yellow , will be competing for many trophies and gifts.

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Ex Stars unite in Warri for AYAC — P55

Harambee Stars arrive, fume over flight schedule K

ENYA’s ambitious Harambee Stars flew into Lagos on Wednesday afternoon hoping they would not be too much of a mincemeat for African champions Nigeria in Saturday ’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Calabar.

Continues on page 55

CHIC ... Serena got kitted out in the unusual garb for a Miami photoshoot

Beckham floors Messi, Ronaldo in football’s rich-list

D

ARRIVAL: Harambee Stars of Kenya outside the arrival hall of the MM International Airport Lagos yesterday

AVID BECKHAM has been confirmed as the highest-paid footballer in the world, despite Continues on page 55

Imoke splashes Eagles with cash, land T

HE governor of Cross River State, Lyel Imoke, had kept his promise of rewarding

the Super eagles for winning the Cup of Nations.

The governor at the reception that was organised for the team,

PUZZLE

1) David Beckham (PSG - £30.8m) 2) Lionel Messi (Barcelona - £30m) 3) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid - £25.7m) 4) Samuel Eto’o (Anzhi Makhachkala - £20.5m) 5) Neymar (Santos - £17.1m) 6) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City - 16.3m) 7) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United - £15.4m) 8) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG - £15m) 9) Yaya Toure (Manchester City - £14.2m) 10) Fernando Torres (Chelsea - £14m)

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

where the Nations Cup trophy was officially Continues on page 55

Top 10 highest paid players

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Thespian (5) 9 Whole (6) 10 Preferably (6) 11 Unsoiled (5) 12 Pace (4) 15 Naked (4) 17 Local (7) 20 Offer (3) 21 Perch (5) 23 Accepted (4) 25 Footwear (4) 26 Torment (5) 28 Limb (3) 30 Utmost (7) 33 Genuine (4) 35 Close (4) 36 Temptress (5) 38 Sugary fluid (6) 39 Lampoon (6) 40 Grasp (5)

DOWN 1 Banquet (5) 2 Precipitous (5) 3 Curve (3) 4 Vault (6) 5 Spoken (4) 6 Managed (3) 7 Bush (5) 8 Avarice (5) 13 Anguish (7) 14 Axle (5) 16 Predicament (7) 18 Lax (5) 19 Donkey (3) 22 Prickle (5) 24 Knowledge (3) 27 Surplus (6) 28 Stadium (5) 29 Advance (5) 31 Weird (5) 32 Strayed (5) 34 Lass (4) 36 Pouch (3) 37 Doze (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Finish 5, Ribbon 9, Eased 10, Rotter 11, Flared 12, Melee 14, Eros 17, Mar 18, Rage 20, Tonic 22, Lined 23, Tangled 24, Asset 26, Terse 29, Read 30, Tic 32, Reed 33, Medal 35, Beacon 36, Bandit 37, Debit 38, Eyelet 39, Neared.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Forget 2, Notion 3, Seem 4, Harem 5, Refer 6, Idle 7, Barman 8, Nudged 13, Languid 15, Rouse 16, Sited 18, Rider 19, Geese 21, Cat 22, Let 24, Arable 25, Savage 27, Render 28, Editor 30, Tenet 31, Cabin 33, Mode 34, Late.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K