FG bows, suspends N5000 note issue

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61715

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

**

N150

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS:

EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT

Govs drag Jonathan to court Page 5

Senate draws battle line •P.8

FG bows, suspends N5000 note issue •To enable CBN embark on more enlightenment •President may reverse administration's plan

By BEN AGANDE

F

OLLOWING the out cry from Nigerians over the planned introduction of the N5,000 note, the Federal Government has confirmed it is stepping down the introduction of the note by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati who confirmed this last Continues on Page 5

OIL SUBSIDY SCAM:

CAC hides suspects' files •P.6 Mr & Mrs ARIK AIR GROUNDED—Aviation unions, yesterday, protested alleged debt by Arik Air to Aviation parastatals at the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos . INSET: L-R, Snr. Vice President, Operations, Arik Air, Mr. Rob Thomas; Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue; and Vice Chairman, Sen. Aniete Okon at a press conference on the suspension of all its domestic operations held at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

What is their problem?

Sweet

& SOUR Donu Kogbara •P.17

C M Y K

Passengers groan as Arik is forced to The story of Bakassi peninsula suspend flight •P.59 Pgs.46 & 47

2—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 3

4—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

FG bows, suspends N5000 note issue Continues from Page 1 night said the move was to allow more enlightenment by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Dr Abati while responding to inquiries, said “the introduction is being suspended for now to enable the CBN do more enlightenment on the issue.

Yes, President Jonathan has directed that the implementation of the new N5,000 note be suspended for now. This is to enable apex bank to do more in terms of enabling Nigerians understand why it proposed it in the first place. So, for now, the full implementation is on hold.”

Only last Tuesday both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed separate resolutions asking President Jonathan to suspend the introduction of N5,000 saying it is anti-people.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku on Wednesday, however, insisted that there was no going back on the issue.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Information Minister said the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is responsible for the planned action should not be crucified as according to him, its head, Mr Sanusi Lamido had not misled the country in any form. He said the CBN boss meant well for the

country, citing the action he took few months after mounting the saddle, which he noted had reformed the banking sector today and built customers’ confidence as well as providing efficient service delivery in the banks. “I think the way the Central Bank of Nigeria has been able to manage our economy without borrowing, is quite commendable and should be appreciated”, he insisted.

The minister said no action of the apex bank as regards currency restructuring in Nigeria’s history had come without criticisms, saying at the end of the day, the same people who had stood against it would see reason and begin to applaud the development. “When the N200 note, N500 note and N1000 note were introduced, people said they were not good for our economy but after the whole thing, they began to see reasons”, he noted.

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

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

"

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

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nigeria to provide leadership, give us what they are to do. It is not a matter of opinion poll but it is a matter that the experts know what they are doing. See the way he (Sanusi) took us through the period of financial meltdown, we were able to survive the situation without borrowing. The Central Bank has exuded a lot of confidence that we should give them support”, he charged.

However, there were insinuations that President

Goodluck Jonathan may agree to reverse his administration’s plan to introduce the 5000 naira note. The President was said to have met with the leadership of the National Assembly hours after the stormy sessions of the Assembly on Tuesday and assured that any “approval given in this regards can be reversed since it is the wish of the people”. It is unclear whether the president has issued a directive to that effect.

Govs drag Jonathan to court

By HENRY UMORU & BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA- THE thirtysix governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, are poised for war with President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government over what they described as excessive deductions from the excess crude account.

It will be recalled that the governors have been having a running battle with the Federal Government over what they said was illegal deduction from the excess crude account jointly owned by both levels of government, just as both parties had opted for an out of court settlement on the matter early in the year.

Rising from a meeting, Wednesday night, at the Rivers State governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja and expressing pain over the action of the federal government, the governors have resolved to drag the President to the Supreme Court to seek redress.

The governors also told Journalists that they were yet to discuss the proposed N5,000 denomination by the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Reading a communiqué at the end of the meeting, Chairman of the forum and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, said the governors threw their weight behind the Good Governance tours designed to showcase their achievements across the States in various areas of service delivery.

The tour was conceptualized by the National Economic Council, NEC. The Communiqué read: “On the Excess Crude Account, Forum unanimously decided to head

back to Court to enforce the Federal Government’s adherence to the constitution.

“Forum supports the upcoming Good Governance tours as conceptualized by the National Economic Council (NEC) and plans to use the opportunity to showcase achievements of the States in various areas of service delivery.

“The tour will be commencing tomorrow (yesterday), September 20, 2012, with States in the North Central Zone.

“Lastly, the Forum resolved to embark on various strategies to deepen advocacy and administration of polio vaccines with a view to eradicating polio in the country.”

At the meeting were governors of Adamawa, Edo, Abia, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Taraba, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Anambra, Imo, Jigawa, Nassarawa, Kogi, Yobe, Plateau, Kebbi; Cross River, Enugu and Gombe. Also in attendance were deputy governors of Imo and Jigawa.

Settle out of court, NEC tells FG, States Meanwhile, the National Economic Council, NEC, has urged both the Federal and state governments to continue the peace talk on the excess crude oil account with the possibility of an out of court settlement.

Briefing State House Correspondents at the end of yesterday’s meeting, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed said “after considering a report by the Committee on the out-ofcourt settlement on the excess crude account litigation on the extent of the ongoing negotiations between the Federal and state governments, NEC

encouraged the counsel of both parties to continue the consultations towards working out an amicable solution.”

He noted that the council’s position was advisory.

Abdulfatah said NEC also considered a presentation on the new Performance Measurement and Results delivery System in Nigeria, by Shamusiddeen, which has begun at the federal level with the recent signing of Performance Contracts between Mr. President and the Ministers and its extension between Ministers/Heads of Agencies and Permanent Secretaries.

The governor said the council emphasised the need for the scheme to transcend the national level to the sub-national level to harmonise performance management and tracking system and adopted a roadmap presented by the National Planning Minister to that effect.

“NEC therefore agreed that the States should establish a functional Monitoring and Evaluation Department to coordinate the implementation of the framework and support Performance Management; Conduct Sensitisation/Induction workshops for all Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies and Parastatals and Directors; Governors Forum to adopt as part of Peer Review Mechanism; the National Planning Commission to co-ordinate the production of templates and provide overall technical support.

The Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman listed the advantages in the process which is being co-ordinated by the National Planning Commission to include improved service

delivery to the public and accountability for results by top-level managers; instilling sense of accountability and transparency in service delivery and utilization of resources; increasing efficiency and focus resources on the attainment of key national policy priorities, institutionalizing performance-oriented culture in the public service through the introduction of an objective performance appraisal system and Ensuring a pervasive culture of accountability, across all levels of government NEC also commended the Governors’ Forum for their decision to fully support and participate in the nationwide Good governance Tour which started today in the FCT. The commendation followed a report by Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom Governor and Chairman NEC ad-hoc Committee on the nationwide Good governance Tour on the preparedness of the governors to support the project with necessary logistics.

The aim of the tour, according to NEC, is to properly project the effort of the administration to the people, seek the buyin of the citizens on Government projects at all levels and sensitise them to support and protect such projects for the welfare and development of the nation.

The Council also yesterday advised the states to embrace the programme of implementation already developed by the Federal Ministry of Environment which includes the establishment of an agency for the implementation of GGW. The programme is conceived as a lasting solution to the problems of desertification in Africa.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Oil subsidy scam: CAC hides suspects' files ...Sons, relatives of top govt officials indicted

BY SONI DANIEL

one of the companies, which was recently ordered by the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments to refund the sum of N2.7 billion to the government for excess subsidy claims, cannot be found on the CAC register.

The company, Pinnacle Contractors, allegedly

A

B U J A — APPARENTLY embarrassed by startling revelations that most of those indicted over the mismanagement of fuel subsidy regime are sons and relatives of top government officials and politicians, the government might have adopted a subtle method to stop further disclosure of the identities of the owners of the companies indicted by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy regime.

Findings by Vanguard reveal that the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, might have come under pressure from the powerful government officials to immediately conceal the data of the individuals and organisations behind the companies implicated in the subsidy probe.

It was gathered that the CAC, which is authorised by law to register and keep the records of registered companies and organisations in Nigeria, had carefully removed most of the affected companies’ files from its shelf and placed a caveat on them.

Vanguard observed that 87 out of the 143 companies indicted by the Lawan Farouk-led committee had been removed from CAC shelf and put away with a notice that the files were not available for public search.

The order to remove the files from the public and place them in a caveat, took lawyers and other clients of the CAC by surprise.

Most of the lawyers, who daily throng the CAC to conduct searches for their clients, were shocked when they demanded for the files of the companies and were promptly told that they were not available for public viewing.

But in a bid to calm frayed nerves and reduce tension over the strange development, the Registrar-General of the CAC has given an unsolicited explanation that the restriction of access to the data of the affected 87 companies was to protect them from being mutilated.

A terse notice signed by one Jamila Sambo, on behalf of the RG of the CAC, pointed out, “The list of

GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON VISITS NLNG—Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (middle), Chairman, NLNG Board of Directors, Chief Osobonye Long John; MD, NLNG, Mr Babs Omotowa and members of the management at the site of Train 7 project by Nigeria LNG Wednesday.

these 87 companies are hereby placed on caveat for reason being that they are files of companies indicted by the Farouk Lawan’s committee that investigated the utilization of PEF.

87 indicted companies' names missing “The purpose of keeping them away from the shelf is to prevent possible obliteration of the affected files, “Sambo explained in the memo.

Some of the lawyers who spoke with Vanguard, however, expressed indignation over the strange development, describing it as a means of encouraging corruption at the highest level.

One of the lawyers, Mrs. Carol Wilson, whose business depends on daily scrutiny of firms licenced by the CAC, said it was improper for the commission to shield suspected corrupt individuals and companies from the public.

“No matter what it is, the CAC should avail Nigerians the opportunity to see those behind the rape of our economy via spurious subsidy claims,” the legal practitioner said.

Among the companies, whose files have been placed on caveat, is Nadabo Energy Limited, whose top official, Abubakar Peters Ali Jeldi, was last week declared wanted

alongside two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The Nadabo top shot was declared wanted along with Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, and Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering running into several billions of naira.

Search carried out by Vanguard showed that Nadabo Energy Limited, was registered on August 16, 2002 with registration number 459261 with an initial share capital of N500, 000, which was later raised to 3,000,000 on April 2, 2008.

Among its major directors at the time of incorporation was Abubakar-Peters Ali Jeldi, who owns 120,000 shares, the son of a former military head of state, with 55,000 shares and a vocal senator from one of the Northern states, with 30,000 shares.

However, for unknown reasons, the former head of state’s son resigned as a director of the company on May 2, 2006 after three others had earlier backed out in 2005.

Surprisingly, the name of Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, who was declared wanted by the

EFCC in connection with alleged subsidy fraud, is not on the list of directors of the company, which was incorporated on July 19, 2001 with an initial share capital of N1, 000,000.

The records show that Olusegun Ogunbambo has the largest share of 950,000 followed by Olamide Ogunbambo with 50,000 shares.

Olugbenda Adesanya who was appointed one of the directors of the company on June 8, 2007, resigned his appointment on January 29, 2008 for undisclosed reasons.

The company made its returns to the CAC in 2010.

Similarly, Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited, who is also wanted by the anti-graft agency, owns the largest share of 250,000 out of the 1,000,000 shares of the company with seven other directors.

His siblings, David and Perpetua, own 240,000 shares while the rest are held by six other directors.

One common thread that runs among the indicted firms is that most of them got their best business deals between 2010 and 2011 when the amount of subsidy payments by the Federal Government leapfrogged from N245 billion to an embarrassing N1.7 trillion, forcing the National Assembly to order a probe.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the name and registration number of

pocketed the huge amount for which mother vessels for the products it claimed to have supplied could not be located in Nigeria or in any part of the world at the time

of the shipment.

Repeated checks for the firm’s name at the CAC threw up another company, which also deals on oil and gas, and was initially invited by the Farouk Lawan committee for questioning but is yet to be indicted by the Imuokhuede panel.

The latter has disowned the one indicted and asked to refund N2.7 billion, saying that it has nothing whatsoever to do with the firm.

It is not clear how the PEF, the PPPRA and the NNPC approved the controversial firm and many others to be lifting oil for Nigeria.

The EFCC is yet to begin the trial of the 25 oil subsidy suspects, whose names have already been submitted for prosecution by the Aigboje AigImuokhuede-led Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Claims.

The son of the PDP National Chairman and another top politician are among the first batch of suspects said to have made away with billions of Naira for products not supplied.

The politician has nonetheless claimed that his son is an adult, who should answer for his deeds, shunning calls on him to resign on moral grounds.

Senate probes Navy over missing assets

BY INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA— S E N AT E Committee on Navy yesterday queried the Nigerian Navy, over the alleged loss of strategic assets at Navy Shipyard, Port Harcourt and Navy Dockyard, Lagos.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Chris Anyanwu during a meeting with representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, led by the Chief of Naval Logistics, Rear Admiral Usman Jibril, asked the Nigerian Navy to explain the reported cases of stripping of its assets in many of its formations across the country.

She specifically mentioned that critical naval assets in Ogogoro Island, Navy Dockyard, Lagos and Navy Shipyard Port Harcourt have been illegally taken away.

She said, “In the past few weeks, the committee has been inundated with reports and protests about what some have perceived as an ongoing stripping of strategic assets of the Navy.

Three major assets are involved. Ogogoro Island,

Navy Dockyard, Lagos, and Navy Shipyard Port Harcourt.

“This meeting is convened therefore to begin the process of investigation into this report with a view to ascertaining a justification for so doing, if any. We want to know the true position of these assets.

Have they been sold, leased or mortgaged for how long, to whom and under what terms and conditions?

“Have these transactions protected the public good and preserved the future?

How will the action affect Navy’s future strategic interest? Has this been well considered and protected?

“As the committee over sighting Navy, our responsibility is to confirm that the best interest of the Navy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is protected and that what has been done does not in any way hamper or jeopardize its future transformation plan.”

She noted that the investigation was meant to position the Nigeria Navy to meet the maritime challenges of the nation.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 7

8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA—THE Senate yesterday drew the battle line with the presidency pledging to use constitutional powers to enforce its resolutions directed at the good governance of the nation.

Yesterday ’s charged session was upon recent comments made by administration officials on the powerlessness of legislative resolutions. The legislative body in a retort to claims by Information Minister, Labaran Maku that the administration was forging ahead with the production of the N5,000 bank note drew his attention to the fact that he was a mere appointee unlike legislators who were in office on the mandate of the people.

For the first time since the advent of the present senate, the threat of impeachment against President Goodluck Jonathan was made when Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP, Abia North disclosed that some senators were already mobilizing signatures for an impeachment notice should the president continue to disregard the actions and counsels of the senate.

The outpouring of disaffection was in the course of a debate on a Bill for an act to amend the Public Enterprise (Privatization and Commercialization) Act 2004 to provide for inclusion of host communities in sales of shares. The bill sponsored

by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, Delta North, aims to reserve five per cent of the shares of any public enterprise earmarked for privatization for the host community.

Senator Okowa in his debate disclosed that the amendment would help the host community and other stakeholders to buy into the privatization programmes of government.

Among the senators that spoke were Senators Chukwumerije, Ahmad Lawan; ANPP Yobe North; George Akume, ACN Benue; Ibrahim Gobir, PDP Sokoto and Isa Galaudu, PDP Kebbi.

Senator Okowa explained that the Bill sought to ensure better accountability through an amendment of the functions of the National Council on Privatization, NCP, to remove contradictions.

"Section 5 (3) of the Act is proposed for amendment to provide for the inclusion of host communities. The amendment provides for not less than five per cent

of the shares to be offered to Nigerians, to be reserved for the host communities of the public enterprises to be privatized, and also proposes not less than five per cent of such shares for sale to be reserved for the staff of the public enterprise".

Non-implementation of Resolutions:

Budget implementation

"And for the first time, there was a bold report that exposed the rot and we called for a reversal of this pattern; unfortunately, it is business as usual. It is, therefore, in the interest of this Senate that in addition to what we are doing on this Act as we are doing now, we must pass a resolution calling the attention of Mr. President to the main body of that report.

Against the background of mutterings by senators over the poor implementation of the resolutions of the senate, the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu who presided at the plenary cautioned Mr. Maku that unlike the legislators, he, Maku was not an elected official of government.

Ekweremadu said: “I do not think we need the Minister of Information, indeed any minister to remind us that our resolutions are not binding just as we do not need to remind him that he was not elected. So we know that our resolutions are not binding, but the decisions we take in this Senate, especially regarding the resolutions are all well thought of.

“They are borne out of patriotism, they are well researched and it is the amalgamation of the views of very responsible Nigerians. And to that extent, it is very persuasive and anybody who is ignoring the resolutions of this Senate is doing it at the expense of good governance and we cannot encourage such a thing.

“We believe that this is an opportunity for Mr. President to go and look for the resolutions of the Senate regarding the BPE investigation. If there are people sitting on it, I think he should use his executive powers and push them out and get the report and begin to implement them for the overall interest of this country.”

Senator Chukwumerije, who noted that impeachment of the President would be the last option if the resolutions were not implemented, said: "the Ahmad Lawan report is the highest moral ground of the Seventh Senate. It was that report that convinced everybody, the public that the hope for this country lies with the Senate; that there is still one body that is concerned with the nation which lies far above sectionalism.

"The pattern in this country all along has been one of siphoning of funds through all sorts of legal subtleties to private pockets and private companies.

Senate draws battle line, threatens to impeach Jonathan

Senate has started gathering signatures — Chukwumerije "Two weeks ago, we started collecting signatures, and if we collect up to two-third of the Senate, we are going to get

a motion that would give marching orders to Mr. President for the implementation of the report or else… We are getting to that stage. They are looting public funds with impunity and nobody is saying anything.

"If the President keeps on not implementing resolutions of the Senate, if it gets to the point of threatening impeachment, I, Uche Chukwumerije will move the motion.”

Co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Lawan said the bill was sequel to the investigation the senate carried out on the activities of the BPE from 1999 to 2011.

Lawan who chaired the

Ad-hoc committee explained that during the investigation, it was discovered that the Public Enterprises Act of 1999 was flawed in about four ways.

According to Lawan, at the end of the investigations, it was discovered that BPE was spending its proceeds without reference to the National Assembly, adding, "In fact we recommended punishment and sanctions for two of the officers who did that because those actions were against section 80 of the constitution.”

Lawan who appealed to the President to implement the resolutions adopted by the Senate with regard to

the BPE report that was submitted to him, said, "Mr President must ignore people who will always tell Nigerians that the resolutions we take here are only advisory and have no weight.

In his own contribution, Senator Galaudu noted that the amendments being sought to the act were in line with international best practices in privatization and stressed that it was only right that certain percentage of privatized companies be reserved to the host communities and the staff of the company.

The Bill was read for the second time and referred to the Senate Committe on Privatization.

NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL MEETING—From left: Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida and other council members during the National Economic Council Meeting at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

2013 budget to wait until...,say Reps zAs Okonjo-Iweala meets lawmakers on 2012 budget

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMA OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives yesterday said the 2013 budget will not be treated until a full oversight function is carried out on Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, within the next two weeks.

Spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed disclosed this at a briefing, saying “the essence of our not treating it is to ensure the full implementation of the 2012 budget”.

Once this has been ascertained through the

oversight of the MDAs, then we can now consider the 2013 budget. “ Mohammed dismissed reports that some members want the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal impeached, adding that the unity of the House was not negotiable.

The House also cleared the air on its Tuesday call on the President to sack the Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh, denying that it was based on personal interests.

He said the House’s position was on the ground of the findings in the recent investigation by the

committee which probed the near collapse of the capital market .

Explaining the stand of the House on the 2013 budget, Mohammed said the focus of the Chamber now is on full implementation of the 2012 budget. “Our focus is on the 2012 budget not 2013”.

Asked if the position of the house was responsible for the non-presentation of the budget to the National Assembly, the house spokesman reiterated that the chamber has resolved not to have anything to do with the 2013 Appropriation until it verifies that” this year’s budget has been

implemented.

M o h a m m e d ’ s submission incidentally came on the day that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, met with the chairmen and vice chairmen of committees of both chambers of the National Assembly to brief them on the level of implementation of the 2012 budget and what to expect in 2013 proposal.

Rep Mohammed confirmed the meeting which lasted till yesterday evening. He, however, did not give details of what transpired in the meeting.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 9

FRSC threatens doctors that reject accident victims

.As Navy says personnel should obey traffic rules

BY EVELYN USMAN

T

HE Federal Road Safety Corps has disclosed that henceforth, any hospital who rejects accident victims rushed there, would have its Chief Medical Director arrested and charged to court, with a fine of N50,000 or jailed for one year.

This is just as the Nigerian Navy yesterday told its men and officers to comply with the new traffic law in Lagos State, threatening that violation of the law was tantamount to double

jeopardy for any erring personnel.

Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda, gave the advice during an awareness seminar on the new traffic Law, at the Western Naval command, Apapa..

The seminar he explained, was borne out of the need to for personnel of the command to be conversant with the new traffic law and the danger of violating them, as well as to create a civil-military relationship.

UNILAG begins golden jubilee celebration

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

T

HE University of Lagos yesterday floated a carnival as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary on the main campus. The event was declared open by the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello.

Students represented the countries of Brazil, China, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and India.

Others were Nigeria, Jamaica, Egypt and South Africa. They were clad in costumes, bikinis, national attires, some on horses, dancing and singing in celebration.

Addressing the carnival

audience before it started, consisting of members of the university community and other stakeholders, Prof. Bello said this is a day of great delight. “As we all look back over the last 50 years, we should be very proud of the great strides recorded by our university.”

He went on: “Today, the University of Lagos can boast of a stable academic calendar which is largely attributable to the peace, and tranquility in our taskenvironment. We are poised to sustain the peaceful and conducive task-environment through team-work, open administration and

Johnson, Jakande endorse Lagoon State creation

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

F

IRST civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his military predecessor Brig.

General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd) have thrown their weights behind growing clamour for creation of Lagoon State out of present Lagos State, during the next state creation exercise.

Both elder statesmen argued that Lagos, being the State of Excellence and the commercial nerve centre of the country, has all it takes to have an additional state carved out of it to be able to spread its wings of governance to all areas of the state.

While expressing his conviction that Lagoon State would soon come to be, Jakande said Lagos State has all the requirements that may be considered by the National Assembly for the creation of a new state in the country, given its enormous natural and human resources.

On his part, Brig. Gen. Johnson (rtd) said he had been under the impression that Lagos was too small to be split into two. "With the statistics on the ground now, I had been convinced that Lagos had been long overdue to have a new state.

“Lagos population is increasing by the day, and there is the need to cater for all of them..."

Represented by the Command’s Operation’s Officer, Commodore Henry Babalola, the FOC enjoined the personnel to subordinate themselves to civil authority, reminding them that the day they were enlisted into the Military, they signed away their liberty.

He however, called on the need for the amendment of some of the stipulated fines in the law, saying it was not proportional to the offense committed.

Addressing senior officers and personnel of the Nigerian Navy during the awareness seminar, the Lagos state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Corp Commander Nsebong Akpabi, disclosed that so far, the Corps had over 3 Million traffic offenders in its database, enjoining the personnel to key into the new law, reminding that road crashes don’t discriminate the personality of individual plying the road.

Right-L: Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard Newspaper; Ngozi Ochokwu, Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs; Mr. Sule Umar Bichi, Managing Director and Mr.Muyiwa Olumekun, Executive Director - all of Fedex Express - during the Fedex Express Management's visit to Vanguard Newspapers office in Apapa, Lagos, to commemorate théir 20th anniversary. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Ashafa debunks rift in ACN senatorial camp

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

S

ENATOR Gbenga Ashafa, a lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, has debunked all forms of disunity amongst Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Senators.

Ashafa clarification came following reports that certain ACN Senators were behind the removal of Senator

George Akume as Senate Minority Leader.

According to Ashafa, "As the Secretary of the ACN Senators Caucus Forum, I can tell you that regular meetings are held not only to discuss national issues but also to foster unity among the senators.

“This is a forum that brings together a group of extremely patriotic individuals elected by the good people of Nigeria to serve.

“As we meet regularly,

issues affecting the lives of common Nigerians have been our focal point and I can’t recall anytime personal issues became an item for discussion.

“Unity is the bed rock that will cause this great party ACN to thrive, win and give the people the desperately needed change.

“We at the senate realise the needs of the masses and are doing everything it takes to enforce this in all that we do.

Driver to die by hanging over lecturer's death

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

T

WELVE years after he murdered a senior lecturer, teaching then at the Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, a driver, Kehinde Olude was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Joseph Oyewole

of an Ikeja High court.

In the judgment, Justice Oyewole found Olude guilty of a one count charge of murder preferred against him and subsequently condemned him to death by hanging.

The trial judge after reviewing the proceedings held that there was sufficient

evidence against the condemned man, who he said murdered his victim, Mr. R. A. Adisa in Alafon Village along Lagos/ Ibadan expressway, while driving him from Lagos to Okene, Kogi state.

The Judge submitted that the murder charge against Olude was proved beyond reasonable doubt by the

Protest in Lawanson over return of NURTW chairman

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

R

ESIDENTS and traders at Lawanson area of Lagos State, at the weekend took to the street to protest against the return of a former chairman of the Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Mr. Rafiu Olohunwa, to Lawanson as the branch chairman.

The placard carrying protesters went round

the streets in the area, as they demanded urgent intervention of the State Government and the state chapter of the NURTW to prevent Olohunwa’s return to the area.

Vanguard gathered that, Olohunwa, was until last March the chairman of Lawanson branch before he was removed after a violent clash between members of his faction and those of M C Oluomo, where several people lost their

lives.

Sources also told Vanguard that Olohunwa has been appealing to several power brokers in the state to assist him reclaim Lawanson.

Some residents and traders who spoke to Vanguard during the last protest expressed their displeasure over Olohunwa’s attempt to return to the branch as chairman, an office they said he held for over five years before relinquishing it last March.

prosecution led by Luqman Sanusi and the defence counsel, Mrs. Femi Ajanaku.

The judge found the defendant guilty as charged and convicted him accordingly.

He held, “In totality therefore, I hold that sufficient evidence exists before the court to come to the inevitable conclusion beyond any reasonable doubt that the defendant murdered the named deceased, Mr. R. A. Adisa as alleged by the prosecution, the defendant is not availed of any defence in respect thereof and I therefore find him guilty as charged and I hereby convict him accordingly.”

In his sentence, Justice Oyewole said, “The only statutory punishment for murder is the death penalty.

“Accordingly, the sentence of the court upon you Kehinde Olude is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

10—Vanguard,

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21,

2012

2015: Igbo must be president – Kalu

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE,

O

Mr. Sanjeev Chhetri, Technical Director, La Casera Company Plc, (left) presenting a flower to Dr. Paul Orhii, at a dinner organised in Lagos yesterday by the company following the conferment of the Officer of the Order ot Niger (OON) on DG of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Akeredolu queries Mimiko’s sense of development

T

he Akeredolu C a m p a i g n organization, ACO, yesterday described the statement credited to Governor Olusegun Mimiko as not only unfortunate but a confirmation of what it has always said that the governor does not mean well for the people of Ondo State. It also stated that the people should not expect any new thing from him.

Mimiko was quoted as saying “ we shall continue to build megawater, mega-hospitals and mega- markets”.

The ACO in a statement by its Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku said; “We challenge him to show us where he has built these mega projects. Is it the

generator- powered fountain at Oba Adesida road that is mega-water? Is it the stalls and markets he has built across the state where rats and goats now find shelter that is megamarkets?

“It seems that Mimiko lacks the capacity to govern a state; he should have been a local government chairman or councilor; perhaps, those misplaced priorities he pursued in the state in three and a half years despite the huge resources available to him would have qualified to be mega projects.

“Besides, Mimiko has not demonstrated that he is prepared to be governor with the litany of failed promises and abandoned projects in the three and a half years

Ekiti PDP organises reception for Fayose

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI r e c e p t i o n is to be organised on Sunday by the Peoples Democratic Party in honour of the former governor of Ekiti State,Mr. Ayo Fayose The ceremony is to commemorate Fayose’s return to the party by the PDP National Working Committee, NWC. According to the statement issued by the committee of friends headed by a former Attorney General of the state, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, over 5,000 guests cutting across party politics are expected to grace the occasion

According to the statement, Fayose’s return to the PDP would strengthen the party and improve its electoral fortunes ahead of the 2014 governorship poll in the state and the 2015 general elections.

Dignitaries expected at the occasion according to the statement, include politicians, captains of industries and well wishers from all walks of life Also, a church service is billed to hold at the Christ Apostolic Church at Afao Ekiti, the former governor’s hometown at 11a.m,while a reception would come up thereafter at 12.30p.m. at the Playing Ground in Afao Ekiti.

SOGBO — FORMER Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday declared that the Igbo will not compromise for any other position other than the post of the President in 2015.

Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after he delivered a lecture on “Leadership: Key factor to a better Nigeria” at the Professor David Ijalaiye annual lecture series organized by the Equity Chambers of the Obafemi Awolowo University,

OAU, Ile Ife, Dr. Kalu stated that the Igbo will not settle for any other position.

His words “In 2015 what will happen is that the Igbo will vote for the Igbo, Yoruba for Yoruba and Hausa vote for Hausa. Then, we will all come to Abuja to discuss and determine who should be Nigerian President.”

“Anybody who thinks that there is going to be a straight ballot thing to produce the President in 2015 is only fooling himself ,” he added.

The former

presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance said although he was currently not in any political party he will continue to fight against injustice and all that is in the interest of the good people of the country.

In his lecture, Dr Kalu recalled that since 1967 when the military came into governance in the country, Nigeria had not been able to produce any good leader, as according to him most of them are either not prepared for the office or reluctant to take over the leadership of the country.

NEC says 1.6m will vote in Ondo guber polls .Presents register to 13 parties

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday presented a voters register containing 1, 654,205 persons that will participate in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State.

Its Director of Voters Registry, Mr. Emmanuel Akem presented the particulars while giving out the soft copies of the voters registers to the 13 political parties that will take part in the election.

Akem said, in Akure, that the agency is acting in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which stipulates that lists of registered voters be published, 30 days before election.

He explained that 1, 646, 666 persons were registered for the April 2011 election.

According to him; 7, 539 voters are those who were registered but could not vote last year because of certain technical hitches and those who transferred their voter ’s cards.

Akem added that the figure had been added into the new voters register.

While analysing details of the information contained in the register, he said female voters constituted 50.20 per cent while 49.80 per cent of the

voters are male.

“About 65 per cent of the voters are below 35 years made up mainly of students,” a situation he said was similar to that of Edo State.

Akem added that civil servants, artisans, and traders also constitute the bulk of the voters.

He appealed to the political parties to approach the state office of INEC if they have claims and objections.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, on the

occasion presented forms of those who will serve as agents to representatives of the various political parties on the occasion.

Orebiyi said that an addendum was added to the list during last year’s verification exercise to accommodate those whose particulars got missing during the initial registration that was carried out in 2009.

The REC added that “Leadership of the political parties are expected to scrutinise the register and raise

objection in case any fault is discovered.”

Meanwhile, the Police authorities in the state has expressed worries over what it called politicising criminalities by the political parties in the state.

This is coming following spate of violence across the state which is heating up the political .atmosphere The Commissioner of Police in the state Danladi Mshelbwala in a statement warned that he will not compromise the subsisting peace in the state.

Fayemi, council workers face-off deepens

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — THE face-off between Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee, NULGE, over the payment of N19,300 minimum wage has taken a new twist. The union has vowed not apologise to the governor for the offence "we did not commit."

The governor had in his recent television programme , disclosed that the leadership of NULGE had sent a private apology for the statement credited to it that he, Fayemi, had been deducting the sum of N1billion monthly

from the allocation to the councils But reacting swiftly, the state secretary of the union, Mr. Victor Adebayo denied ever apologising to the governor. According to him, the union had never accused the person of governor Kayode Fayemi of tampering with the councils' funds Adebayo explained that their visit to the governor was to seek clarification and not to apologise for the offence they did not commit “There is no basis for us to apologise, since in the first instance, we have never accused the person of Dr. Fayemi of deducting the sum of N1billion from the councils' funds monthly.

“The issue at hand came up during the process of negotiation.

Fayemi had in the programme denied allegation that he has been tampering with local governments'' funds.

He revealed that the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has written a letter to him that the allegation of illegal deduction of council funds leveled against him is not true.

Fayemi maintained that he would not accept a private apology from the union insisting the he wants a public apology from the leadership of the local government workers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012—11

Ameachi to striking RSUST lecturers: No work, no pay starts now

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HAR COURT—GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has declared a no work, no pay policy against striking lecturers at Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Port Harcourt.

The governor, yesterday, said the defiant lecturers under the branch chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, were on off duty, halting academic activities in the institution since August 13, LAUNCHING: From left: Former President Ibrahim Babangida (left); Chairman, Blueprint Newspapers Limited, Mallam Mohammed Idris and Babangida's spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, at the public presentation of the newspaper at Ya'rdua Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Itsekiri youths pass confidence vote on dissolved DESOPADEC board

BY ABUTU AGADA

Insecurity: COAS urges Nigerians to S sink political, religious differences

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—CHIEF of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika, has called on Nigerians to shun their political and religious differences in order to find solution to the insecurity problem facing the country.

He spoke as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State described the Nigerian Army as the strongest defender of democracy in the country, noting that the success of the July 14 governorship election in the state could not have been achieved, if not for the vigilance of the Army.

The duo spoke during the commissioning of the Army Primary School, a network of access roads and other projects constructed by the state government, which were sited at the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the

Ekenwa Barracks, both in Edo State.

Ihejirika, who promised that the Army would remain a defender of democratic institutions, said that all hands must be on deck to solve the insecurity problem facing the country.

He said: “During my first visit to Edo State, the Oba of Benin, who has been very supportive, said to me: 'How are you people going to cope with the proliferation of

arms in this place?' I am happy that my officers and men in Edo State are living up to expectation and I assure that all hands must be on deck, irrespective of your party, or religion. We must all join hands to rid Nigeria of insecurity.”

Commending Oshiomhole for his assistance so far to security agencies in the state, the Army boss, added that he was happy the governor did not discriminate against

Bakassi: Activist calls for Jonathan's River State, yesterday, impeachment that it was an infringeBY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR—FOR insisting that the Federal Government will not appeal against the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment of October 10, 2002, that ceded the Bakassi Penin-

sula to Cameroon, a human right activist, Mr. Ofem Obono-Obla, has called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment process against President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged treason.

Obono-Obla told Vanguard in Calabar, Cross

Absence of Board stalls NASS promotions, appointments

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA—THE ap pointment and promotion of staff of National Assembly might have been put on hold due to the non-composition of a new board for the National Assembly Commission.

Findings by Vanguard reveal that the tenure of the last board of the commission ended in October last year and a new one

the military in the provision of social infrastructure, and enjoined the governor to shun all distractions and continue to provide these amenities to the people.

On his part, Oshiomhole said the contributions of Edo State and his administration were nothing compared to the invaluable support the state had received from the Nigerian Army through the officers and men of the 4 Brigade.

was yet to be reconstituted by government.

The delay in reconstituting the NASS Service Commission, it was learnt last night, was causing unease among staff, who fear that the move could jeopardise their service advancement.

A senior official in the National Assembly told Vanguard, yesterday, that they were worried over the situation and were watching to see what the

leadership would do before deciding their next line of action.

He said: “It is almost a year since the last chairman and members of the commission ended their tenure and the government is not doing anything about their replacement.

“The action has not only caused undue delay in staff appointment and promotion, but had also led to apprehension among our members."

ment on the right of self determination of the displaced Bakassi indigenes for them to be forced by the Nigerian government to join Cameroon, when they are not willing to do so.

He said: “It is wrong for the Presidency to say it will not appeal against the ICJ judgment. That amounts an infringement on the constitution, which says that every international treaty entered into by Nigeria must be ratified by the Senate. That so-called Green Tree Agreement has not been ratified.

“If the Presidency says it was not going back, it has committed an impeachable offence. It is treason for government to give away a section of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the pretext that there is a green tree agreement that had not been ratified by the Senate."

over their disapproval of the governor’s reappointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae as Vice Chancellor.

The governor, who maintained that due process was followed contrary to the position of the aggrieved lecturers, said the Rivers State Government could no longer pay the striking lecturers while they remained off duty.

He said: “I have instructed the Commissioner for Finance to ensure that from now on, anyone involved in the strike gets appropriate deduction for any day he does not work based on the strike.”

OME Itsekiri youths have denied insinuations on the reasons for the dissolution of the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, saying that they were satisfied with their representative on the dissolved board.

The group of Itsekiri youths, in a statement, yesterday, regretted that the quality representation they got on the dissolved board was now

being soiled on the altar of politics and other selfish interests.

The youths, represented by Oritsejolomi Make, Tosan Peter, Agambi Henry and James Mobo, approving the activities of Michael Diden on the dissolved board, said: “Since both the House of Assembly which dissolved the board and Delta State Government that acquiesced, have remained silent on the reasons that informed their action, it is sane, fit and proper for the wise to be silent and watch events as they unfold.”

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Delta monarch tasks youths in the interest of peace on peace and development of the

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE Ovie of Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Akpomeyoma Majoroh, Ojeta II, has charged Nigerian youths to shun violence

PRE-QUALIFICATION BID FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS: From right: Mr. Abiodun Farumbi, Head Administration; Dr. Leo Eruhwunsee, Medical Director and Dr. Gabriel Obu, Head of Clinical Service, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, during the 2012 opening of pre-qualification bid for capital projects in Federal Medical Centre, Asaba,Delta State. Photo: Nath Onojake.

FG to eliminate impediments to investment

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, said, yesterday, that his administration had come up with measures to eliminate bottlenecks militating against investments in the country.

Speaking at the opening of an international investment conference at Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Onne, Rivers State, the Presient said his government had harmonised the nation’s trade procedures and documentation to make investments friendly.

President Jonathan spoke through Chairman of Governors Forum and governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi.

He expressed confidence in the ability of operators of free trade zones in the country to make the nation one of the top 20 economies in

the world by the year 2020.

The President said, “As you are already aware, our gathering here is to showcase the success of the Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone with a view to attracting domestic and foreign direct investment to all the Free

Trade Zones in Nigeria and to enhance the role of private sector in driving the economy towards sustainable development, wealth and job creation.”

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, at the event, lauded the

HOSTCOM chair, ex-councillor, differ on dissolution of DESOPADEC

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—CHAIR MAN of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Delta State chapter, Mr. Benjamin Iwetan and a former councilor in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Friday Deinghan, have disagreed on the dissolution of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission,

DESOPADEC, by the state House of Assembly.

The House had dissolved DESOPADEC last week, for alleged nonperformance, an action that had generated mixed reactions.

Deinghan, who is also the Secretary of Odidi Federated Oil Producing Communities, supported the action of the lawmakers, saying: “The dissolved board members were incompetent and arrogant. Throughout

Delta LG poll: Uduaghan constitutes new electoral commission

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

S A B A — D E LT A State Governor, Dr Emmenual Uduaghan, yesterday, sent a list of 10 nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as members of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, but was silent on the re-constitution of Delta State Oil Producing Ar-

achievement of the Onne Oil and Gas Free zone, adding that it had created no fewer than 30,000 jobs and attracted several direct international investments He said the Federal Government will continue to support the concept of free trade zones in the country.

eas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, which dissolution had generated a lot of heat.

A letter from the governor, read on the floor of the House, said: “In compliance with section 3 of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, Law 2012, I wish to convey as hereunder, the list of candidates for appointment as Chairman

and members.”

The 10-member commission, according to the list has Mr. Moses Ogbe as Chairman while Mr. David Johnson, Mr. Ewere Eluebo, Chief John Ulebe, Dr. Emibra Agbeotu, Mr. Bright Igbako, Mr. Anthony Obi, Mrs. Suzan Babajide, Mr. Jude Emurotu and Mr. Peter Okpu are proposed members.

their stay in office, they abandoned their offices and operated from hotels at the expense of the commission."

Opposed to the dissolution of the commission, HOSTCOM chairman, Mr. Iwetan, appealed to Governor Uduaghan to wade into the matter with a view to reinstating members of the dissolved board.

Speaking in Warri, he said the dissolution came as a shock to the host communities.

He said: “The reasons adduced for the dissolution of the commission by the lawmakers demand further explanation because it is untimely and counter-productive considering the time remaining in the year.

“The House ought to have exhausted all means available to reposition the board, rather than outright dissolution, especially now that projects for community development are awaiting bidding process.”

country.

The monarch, who gave the charge during the swearing in of the Oruarivie-Abraka youth executive led by Mr Bayo Eyube, yesterday, said youths as future leaders of the country should keep peace in their respective communities.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 13

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

3 feared dead as flood sacks 30 villages in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—NO fewer than 30 villages in Igbeagu, Ebyia, Izzi, Ominyi and Nnodo Development Centres in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, sharing boundaries with Cross River State, were yesterday, sacked by severe flood, as three persons were reportedly killed in the disaster.

Executive Secretary, Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Elder Igboke Umunna, who confirmed the deaths at a joint assessment tour of the affected areas with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said that the remains of one of the victims had been recovered while two were yet to be found.

Vanguard gathered that property worth millions of naira were also destroyed as thousands of people displaced by the unfortunate incident had been forced to take shelter in other communities.

It was gathered that 40 houses, including food crops such as rice, yams, cassava and other valu-

ables in Igbeagu, Ebyia, Izzi Ominyi and Nnodo Development Centres in the council were affected by the flood.

Some of the victims, Mr Linus Ezeoru from Ndieze Community, and the Coordinator of Izzi Development Centre, Apostle Charles Nwokpo narrated their experiences and appealed to government for assistance.

They said: Everything cultivated this year had been destroyed. We are at the mercy of government.

It is so pathetic. The flood has destroyed property worth millions of naira. It affected some houses. We are appealing to the State and Federal Governments to come to our aid. In the history of our people, we have not had this type of flooding before. If there is

anything like over flooding of the Enyim River, it only last for one or two days but this time, it went beyond what it used to be.”

The council Chairman, Mr Dustan Nwogbaga, said the flood took the rural dwellers unawares, adding that the affected communities would hardly recover from the disaster since their crops were all destroyed by the flood.

O

NITSHA—TRANS PORTERS in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, threatened a showdown with the Nigeria Customs Service, Owerri Zone, Imo State over alleged extortion by its personnel.

Addressing journalists on the issue, spokesman of

MUAHIA—GOVER NOR Theodore Orji of Abia State, yesterday, said that his predecessors feared developing Aba the commercial centre of the state as a result of massive reconstruction work that it will take to put the commercial nerve centre of the state on a right footing.

Orji said successive governments only paid lip services in the business of governance and had no roadmap on the development of the state.

According to the governor, if successive governments in Abia had done anything in the past to address the infrastructural decay, particularly roads in Aba, it wouldn’t have been burdensome as it was today to tackle due to the “enor-

NUGU—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday, asked an Enugu State High Court sitting in Enugu, to hands off the case brought against him by one Jude Emenike.

Umeh said he was afraid that he would not obtain justice from the court.

Trial judge is Justice Innocent Umezulike and also the Chief Judge of the state.

Accusing the judge of compromise and bias in the matter, Umeh insisted that his case should be transferred to another unbiased judge who, he said, “will,

BY VINCENT UJU-

MADU WKA—THE people of Aguleri, hosts to Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan during his recent visit to Anambra State, insisted, yesterday, that the oil deposits in their land was not in contention, noting that ongoing altercation over oil deposit in Anambra River Basin was due to what they described as confusion caused by armchair geographers.

At a meeting hosted by the traditional ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Christopher Idigo IV

A WORKSHOP: From left: Chief Solomon Edebiri, President, Nigerian lnstitute of Welding, NIW; Dr Syvester Adelakun, Senior Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering Dept, LASU, Prof David Esezobor, Professor of Extractive Metallurgy, University of Nigeria and Prof Eguakhide Oaikhinan,Chairman, Research & Development Committee, NIW at the institute's pre conference/ national stakeholders' workshop in Lagos, yesterday. Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

the transpoeters, Director of Uchenna Motor Limited, Mr. Uchenna Maduakor, alleged that officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service, Owerri zone had been extorting them, adding that it was a deliberate plot to run Ndigbo out of business.

Maduakor, flanked by Directors of Chukwudum Motors, Sunday Okonkwo;

Godstime Motors Limited, Chief Joseph Ejiofor and Our Saviour Motors, accused the officers and men of the Customs, Owerri zone of double standard.

He said, “we are raising this alarm because of the series of extortion by officers and men of the Customs, Owerri zone especially those staying at 9th Mile Corner, Enugu and

Devt: My predecessors dreaded Aba —Gov Orji

U

E

BY TONY EDIKE

In a petition addressed to the Chief Judge, Umeh said: “My lord, as an ardent believer in the rule of law and due process, I am also in the vanguard for the dignity and sanctity of judicial officers. I cannot have a lesser respect for the office of the Chief Judge of Enugu.

“With every sense of responsibility and due deference, I am reasonably apprehensive that your Lordship is obviously biased and compromised in this matter. Accordingly, I wish to respectfully request you to kindly, sir, transfer and assign this case to another unbiased judge who will, God willing, do justice in the matter."

Orient Petroleum: Our oil not in contention —Aguleri people

Transporters threaten showdown with Customs over alleged extortion

BY ENYIM ENYIM

APGA: Umeh asks CJ to hands God willing, do justice in off case the matter.”

mity of workload which was overlooked in the past.”

In a statement, Mr. Ben Onyechere, Special Adviser to Governor on Public Communication, said: “The issue is that the government is saddled with numerous other responsibilities in addition to the repair of roads in Aba in order to accomplish a total regeneration of a new Abia so as to give it the status befitting of a state which has suffered underdevelopment for long due to the negligent attitude of the past administration.

"It is also important to acknowledge that the government does not possess a magic wand to stop the rain as it must take its full course neither could the government drag the Federal Gov-

ernment by the nose for it to rebuild federal roads in Abia since they have showed goodwill and commitment to reconstruct roads after the rain."

Umuna stations because these people have caused us enough damage and in most cases, caused series of accidents involving our vehicles on Obollo-Afor Road.

“Our outcry is informed by the obvious conspiracy of silence on the part of the leadership of the Customs, which had turned our business into nightmare. They stop our vehicles and extort them and on many occasions, impounded them without any reason.

They accused the officers and men of the agency of frustrating them and plotting to force them out of businessforallegedlyrefusingtopart with huge sums of money being demanded by the customs men.

Okonkwo congratulates Okorocha @ 50 Annie Okonkwo, through

L

AGOS—AS Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State turns 50 this weekend, an Igbo socio- political group, Committee 21, C21, has called on him to remain persistent in his trailblazing approach to governance in his state.

In a statement, the president of the group, Senator.

DESOPADEC: Stakeholders kick against alleged imposition of new board members

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—THE Founders Association of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, yesterday, kicked against what it described as alleged imposition of members of a new board on the people of the state following the sacking of members of the former board.

Besides, the association

demanded that oil producing communities be given their statutory 13 per cent derivation fund to manage by themselves.

In a statement by 27 representatives of oil producing communities in Delta State, the group commended the Delta State House of Assembly for sacking the board, saying the action was “a very welcomed relief and development.”

The statement lamented

and attended by members of the Igwe’s cabinet, leaders of thought and youths of the area, Aguleri people, said that from the arguments since the oil facility was commissioned, it would appear that the people of Kogi and Enugu states laying claim to the oil wells did not know the location of the wells in question.

They noted that as people known for always standing for truth, honour and justice no matter the circumstances, they were confirming once and for all, the ownership of Anambra River oil wells in OPL 915 located in Aguleri Otu.

that their people still "suffer in squalor and neglect as the board had become a bureaucracy with commitment to themselves only."

It warned that as long as its call for derivation was ignored, there would not be peace, adding that “we ask that our 13 per cent derivation funds be given to us to manage by our people. This can only be achieved by people, honest and sane and answerable to us.

his Media Adviser, Mr. Collins Ugwu said: “Your attaining 50, just after APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh did, will stand to reassure those you serve that indeed an alert mind from a big heart is behind the peculiar momentum of governance in Imo state.

“We hope and wish that this amazing grace upon you will persuade dissenters of your achievements to abandon their reverse motion because, there is no hope of slowing down this unique transformational vehicle.”

The group lauded Okorocha on free education at all levels to Ndigbo Imo, which it described as unusual in the history of South East zone.

“As we wish you more energy to your grit, we insist that you must persist to sustain this remarkable first amongst many others,” it concluded.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012—15

Advocates of disunity want to be rulers of ‘tiny islands'— Jonathan

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

AUDITOR'S CONFAB: From left— Mr. Toyin Olaoye, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Public Sector Studies; Mr. O. C. Badejo, representing the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; Chief Chris Orode, Chairman, Governing Council, and Mr. K. O. Otulana, representing Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, at the opening ceremony of Public Sector Internal Auditors of Institute for Public Sector Studies' conference in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, that he will not be cowed into submission by people he referred to as militants, noting that those who were promoting the balkanisation of the country along ethnic lines only want to be leaders in their proposed territories, which he described as ‘tiny islands.’

The President, who spoke in Abuja at a national summit and rally entitled Labour for Peace, Unity and

Reps allege plot to impeach Tambuwal

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA—ATTEMPTS believed to be spearheaded by top government officials to unseat Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has reportedly hit the rock, leaving the masterminds disappointed.

The impeachment move, which took most of the Reps

by surprise, surfaced on Wednesday, just as the lawmakers resumed from their two-month vacation.

A competent source in the legislature confirmed last night that the move to unseat Tambuwal was actually hatched by those he referred to as ‘top elements from outside the National Assembly,’ who are aggrieved over the way he

(Tambuwal) was conducting the affairs of the House.

The source, who does not want to be named, said, however, that the impeachment plot failed to the chagrin of the sponsors because they could not recruit enough supporters.

The source said: “The move to unseat Tambuwal was hatched by some influential persons in the ad-

ministration, who fear that the Speaker was not following their path. That is the point and it is very unfortunate at this point in the history of our democracy.

“Tambuwal is not worried because he believes that he should work for the overall well-being of Nigerians on whose mandate he stands.”

Development, organised by the national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said Nigeria must be jealously protected to remain one and indivisible.

He added that anything to the contrary would be a major threat to, not only the unity of people, but the African continent.

President Jonathan admitted that Nigeria was passing through turbulent period in its history, but expressed optimism that the development would not translate into disintegration.

President Jonathan said: “For you to move a modern society, there must be peace. Even in those days, for a king to move a kingdom forward, there must be peace. I listened to the guest lecturer, who talked about balkanising and cannibalising Nigeria and I think those who are thinking that way want to be kings in tiny Islands.

“Those saying they want their own nation, which is Igbo nation, Yoruba nation and the rest are people who want to be kings in a tiny

island, and they will not get it because Nigeria will not divide. I am committed to moving Nigeria forward and will not submit to any antics.”

Insisting that Nigeria must remain one indivisible entity in spite of the multidimensional problems it was going through, the president said it was only when every citizen commits himself to the Nigerian project by giving peace a chance that development can take place.

He decried the latest attacks on telecommunication masts in some parts of the country, saying “no matter what we think has been eroded, in contemporary society, there must be peace for development. For a nation to develop, the first thing you talk about is communication power.

“Now, in the Northern parts, communication power has been threatened because of insecurity; there is no way that will not impact on the economy. For us to move with the modern society there must be peace.”

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Transport Minister sets 2-week target for agencies ment in Abuja, said the di- accountable leadership.

BY MAIMUNA MOHAMMED

A TAXPAYER: Governor Mu'azu Aliyu of Niger State displaying his tax payer's card (right) and Mr. Sulleiman Badeggi, Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue (left), at the launch of IGR Project in Minna.

Jigawa approves N7bn airport project

BY TINA AKANNAM

D

UTSE—JIGAWA State Executive Council, yesterday, approved the award of a N7 billion contract for the construction of an airport in Dutse, the state capital.

State Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Babandi

Ibrahim, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen at Government House on the outcome of the meeting, said the project will be completed within a year because of government’s commitment towards the actualisation of the project.

Alhaji Ibrahim explained that the contract will be carried out in three phases.

Fed Character killing economy— Ex-minister

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—FORMER Minister of National Planning Commission, Prof. Osita Ogbu, yesterday, said that a situation where a country recruits staff based on the principle of federal character was inimical to its growth and can give birth to incompetence.

He lamented the decadence in the public sector, where he said civil servant show lackadaisical attitude to work and expected to be paid at the end of the day.

Ogbu, who spoke at a public sector human resource forum organised by Chartered Institute of Per-

sonnel Management, CIPM, of Nigeria, said Nigeria would find her way out of poverty if attention was paid to manufacturing.

He said that based on what was happening in the country, the peoples’ lives had been reduced to cash.

BUJA—MINISTER of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has directed that all complaints from government agencies in the country must be attended to and disposed off within two weeks from the date of receipt of such complaint.

The minister, at the signing of performance agree-

cleric, Pastor Olasukomi Oriola, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos, has called on Christian couples in the country to work hard to ensure successful marriage. This, the cleric said, was

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI—OPERATIVES of Joint Task Force, JTF, codenamed Operation Restore Order, yesterday, said it killed two top commanders of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, in

Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

JTF’s Spokesman, Lt.Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement in Maiduguri, said at 2:20pm, yesterday, a combined team of JTF and Department of State Security, DSS, killed two Boko Haram top com-

manders on MaiduguriKano Road as they were escaping arrest.

Sagir explained that those killed coordinated the sect’s activities in Mubi and Yola in Adamawa and Yobe states, respectively, adding that the two sect members were traveling

... as Yuguda vows to prosecute killers of ex-Comptroller-Gen

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—FOLLOWING the killing of nine persons, including Alhaji Ibrahim Jarma ex-Comptroller-General of Nigerian Prison Service in Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda

has assured the people of the state of government’s resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide adequate security in the state.

Governor Yuguda gave the assurance, yesterday, when he paid a condolence

achievable through prayers, faithfulness, commitment and steadfastness in their faith in God, who ordained the institution of holy matrimony.

Pastor Oriola made the call at the formal presentation of a magazine, The

Christian Couple Magazine, in, Lagos.

The cleric, who was the guest speaker on the occasion, noted that many marriages and homes are facing a lot of challenges, which often times lead to broken homes.

visit to the families of Jarma in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the state and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bauchi State Chapter.

The governor appealed to the families of the deceased to take heart and take what happened as an act of God. He prayed to God to forgive the sins of the deceased and grant them eternal life.

Yuguda advised relatives of the deceased not to seek vengeance, but to allow security agencies to do their work as they were still investigating the attacks.

in a silver-coloured Honda Accord 2000 model car, when they were killed.

JTF Spokesman said the sect members were on their way to Damaturu for a planned special operation to attack civilians and military locations, adding that intelligence reports revealed that they were to carry out attacks in Maiduguri soon.

Items recovered, according to Sagir, were a Honda car, five GSM handsets and weapons.

Sagir said eight sect members were also arrested in Nganaram, GRA and Lawanti areas of Maiduguri metropolis in earlier operations.

Those arrested, according to Sagir, were confirmed to have come into Maiduguri from neighbouring states, pointing out that items recovered during the arrests included a silver-coloured Camry car of 1988 model.

He said the suspects stole the car for possible suicide mission and movement of weapons.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Umar pointed out that the agreement was based on an itemised list of key deliverable and measurable outcomes that can incorporate specific targets derived from the mandate of each ministry, department or agency.

He said the performance agreement he signed covered the resuscitation and revitalisation of the Nigerian railway system, among others.

JTF kills 2 Boko Haram suspects, arrests 8

Cleric tasks Nigerians on marriage

A

rective was as a result of the performance agreement entered into by all ministers with President Goodluck Jonathan, recently.

He said the agreement was one of the high point of the administration’s quest to give responsible leadership that can impact directly on living conditions and improve the quality of lives of Nigerians through efficient, transparent and

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Do you support FG on N5,000 note?

I

am not in support of it because it will make it easier for our corrupt leaders to siphon public money. Also, it will be suicidal if one loses N5,000 with the current economic situation. Honestly, they should just stop it.— Mrs Franca Ibezim, Librarian.

T

HE introduction of N5,000 will go against the factors that influence saving, because once you break down that denomination you are certain of spending it all before you know it. These facts will not affect students positively at all.— Ms Ekwere Jackson, Student.

T

O me it is a sign of confusion. Secondly, they will only succeed in devaluing our Naira. In fact, the whole idea is wrong.

Instead of thinking of how to increase the value of our currency, they are moving in the opposite direction.— Mr. Nelson Azubuike, Cleric.

I

think we should give it a trial and see how it will go. There is no harm in trying and the only constant thing is change. If we trusted the CBN Governor ’s other policies in managing the apex bank, why not give him a chance on this?

Let's see how it goes.—Ms Chioma Ani, Student.

I

T is against the cashless society policy.

The purpose of introducing credit cards, Automated Teller Machine, ATM, and the e-commerce schemes will all be defeated if the N5,000 single note is eventually introduced. It is not a good idea.— Ms Yusuf Olamide, Student.

H

ONESTLY, the rationale behind CBN’s attempt to introduce N5,000 note is befogging and that is why many Nigerians find it difficult to embrace.

Why talk of N5,000 note and a cashless policy at the same time?— Mrs Ifeoma Anyambuba, Businesswoman.

Sweet & SOUR

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 17

Donu Kogbara

What is their problem? privileged when I got a chance to visit the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem; and I love TV slots that enable me to watch thousands of Whiteclad Muslim Faithful praying in Mecca during Ramadan.

It’s a beautiful and moving sight. But I don’t want to be a Muslim because there are aspects of Islam that don’t suit my personality (the rule about women having to cover their

W

,

HY do militant Muslims keep looking for excuses to inflict murder and mayhem on various societies and make themselves objects of nearuniversal loathing?

The latest wahala revolves around an American-made film that insults their Prophet.

There have been violent protests against the film in several countries. And I still can’t quite believe that Chris Stevens, the US Ambassador to Libya – a good man who was passionately committed to providing Libyans with a better future – was killed because a mob set fire to his embassy last week.

As I’ve said on this page before, I have received more help from Muslims than Christians and never forget that I would have been a Muslim myself if I had grown up in a place where Islam was the dominant faith; and I totally agree with Bishop Ransom Bello, the Kano State Chairman of the Christian

*The late US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens Association of Nigeria, who described Muslims as “Brothers” and roundly condemned the film.

Like the Bishop and all decent Christians the world over (America included), I have absolutely no time for stupid, irresponsible, attention-seeking film-makers whose so-called artistic efforts cause offence and promote religious conflict.

But I don’t see why anyone should fly into an uncontrollable frenzy because of a mere movie that happens to be full of blasphemous

Condolences to a senior friend

P

ROFESSOR Bolaji Akinyemi, the renowned academic and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been a distinguished presence on our national stage for decades.

He has also been a highly valued reader of this column for some years and is sometimes kind enough to take time out from his busy schedule to phone me to offer his opinions about current affairs issues I’ve written about.

We sometimes start off with different viewpoints but my respect for him is such that I have sometimes changed my perspective purely because of the comments he has shared with me. Even when he doesn’t persuade me to adjust my outlook, he always makes sense and Nigeria needs more men like him.

*Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi: Bereaved “Prof”, as I call him, recently lost his younger brother, Major (retd) Akinloye Akinyemi. And I want to seize this opportunity to publicly offer him and the entire Akinyemi family sincere condolences for their sad loss.

rubbish…especially when it was produced by a complete nonentity of a failed video producer whom hardly anyone had ever heard about, even in the States.

Some non-Christians regularly heap vitriol on Christian values. Some even make extremely derogatory remarks about Jesus Christ Himself and describe me as daft for being a Believer.

Meanwhile, anti-Christian books and films occasionally make their way into the public domain. But I’m not going to leave my house, wild-eyed, to whip up a riot and burn a few buildings and anyone who gets in the way!

I don’t see why anyone should fly into an uncontrollable frenzy because of a mere movie that happens to be full of blasphemous rubbish…especially when it was produced by a complete nonentity of a failed video producer whom hardly anyone had ever heard about, even in the States

,

heads when they are away from home, for example).

There are also aspects of my own religion – Catholicism that don’t thrill me (the Vatican’s insistence that “artificial” birth control is a

As a moderate Muslim pal of mine sadly said when Stevens died: “Do they REALLY believe that the Prophet would have approved of their conduct?”

Kate messes up!

Dangerous militancy Why are so many Muslims so prone to dangerous militancy? Why do so many descend into boiling rages at the drop of a hat? Why are some of them such awful bullies? Why is wanton, indiscriminate nastiness their default setting?

Why can’t they cope with the concept of freedom of speech or copy fundamentalist Christians when they feel violated…and restrict their complaints about abusive films and criticisms in general to normal protest marches, verbal rants and stinging written rejoinders? Why can’t they accept the truth…which is that some Christians (some Americans included) are really nice folks who genuinely wish them well and hold Islamic culture in high esteem?

I was so excited and felt

sin, for example).

But I’m accustomed to Christianity and bitterly resent those who seek to impose sharia law on me. Why can’t they mind their business and let us all do our own separate things on the devotional front and co-exist amicably?

Don’t these overbearing extremists realise that they damage their credibility, inspire hatred, give their religion a bad name and embarrass their moderate Muslim brethren whenever they indulge in these spectacular bouts of destructive homicidal misbehaviour?

*Kate, Duchess of Cambridge

K

ATE, nee Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is married to Prince William of Wales, the heir to the British throne; and she will eventually become the Queen of the United Kingdom and its various Commonwealth outposts.

So you can imagine the fuss that ensued when a French magazine published photographs last week of her

relaxing topless while she was on holiday.

The Duchess has successfully sued the magazine and a lot of people have quite rightly condemned the photographer for sleazily invading her privacy.

But I don’t understand celebrity women who risk nakedness in places where they can be spotted by passing photographers (and may even also be seen by domestic staff). And I think that we should thank God that our First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, would never dream of doing such a thing!

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

T

ODAY is the International Day of Peace. The United Nations dedicated this day to peace, to underline the importance of peace for human cohabitation and social progress. It is a special day to reflect on the factors that prevent conflict and promote peace in the family, nations and the world at large.

According to the United Nations: “The International Day of Peace offers people globally a shared date to think about how, individually, they can contribute to ensuring that natural resources are managed in a sustainable manner, thus reducing the potential for disputes, and paving the road to a sustainable future, the future we want.”

The centrality of peace is underscored by the fact that the Rio+20 Conference which holds in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today will devote time to explore the importance of creating conditions for peace around the world.

In Nigeria, as in many other parts of a volatile world, it will be a day for Nigerians to ask themselves — Why is Nigeria always in conflict? Why do we have many commu-

Peace to the world nal crises? Why is the level of crime high?

Why have some Nigerians resorted to the hitherto alien suicide bombing and killing of others to register their grievances or fighting for their causes? Why is criminality and bloodletting rife?

Our religions preach peace and love as the bases of our humanity and relationship with the Almighty. Why are we not showing love to our neighbours and communities? Why are we negating the peace-promoting principles of our religions as prescribed in their holy books?

Answer to these questions would require profound searches. However, peace is attainable when the Almighty’s bounteous gifts of human and natural resources to Nigeria are managed with justice for all as a

OPINION Why Ogoja State should be created now

BY THOMAS OGAR

O

GOJA area is one of the last provinces in Nigeria that has not become a state. Whatever the reasons no one is sure. Most under-developed areas of the country that have become states have seen fast and significant infrastructure, economic, and political development overnight. For example, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states of Nigeria. This must be remedied to bring psychological, educational, economic and political development to this part of the country that hasn’t seen any significant development since the colonial rule.

The creation of then South Eastern State or current Cross River State has left this region still largely untouched by any meaningful economic or political progress. The vast human and natural resources of Ogoja are not being harnessed to benefit the people of the area or Nigeria for that matter. The human and natural resources are wasting away. For years, this area was neglected by the Federal Government because the area is occupied by mostly minority tribes. The area continues to suffer from huge economic disparity, health, educational, and poverty problems. No part of the country should be left to suffer such deprivation, especially when the country has the economic resources and the political wherewithal to address the issue.

The economic, educational, and political gains made by the sons and daughters of this area are not significant enough to benefit the citizens, so they continue to suffer in silence and without a voice in their own country. This imbalance must change so that Ogoja people can engage and participate fully in our new democratic process. With

the on-going constitutional review, the National Assembly and the Federal Government should embark on the immediate task of creating an Ogoja state during this legislative session. This bold step will remove the pains the Ogoja people have suffered in educationally, socially, emotionally, politically and economically over time. Any visible development in the area is credited to the early Roman Catholic missionaries that came to the area to serve the spiritual needs of the people. They built schools, churches, orphanages, and hospitals, most of all they gave the people some hope for a better future. The current Cross River State is too large to undertake any meaningful economic development to benefit the Ogoja people.For Ogoja people, progress is standing still.

Ogoja State should be created in this administration because of the political and economic benefits it will bring to the region as well as the nation as a whole. Ogoja state would become the agricultural home of the nation. The region is noted for fertile soil and agricultural produce such as yams, rice, cassava and cocoa grown in the area.State creation will bring immediate wealth, education, health, economic, and political resources to this neglected region. The area will see steady flow of goods, people and capital for economic development and growth. Better roads for commerce will be developed and maintained by the Federal Government and Ogoja State. Ultimately, this will alleviate poverty and the suffering of the Ogoja people.

Educationally, the new state will create more primary, secondary and higher education opportunities to benefit the citizens of this area. The area lacks health care facilities to serve the people. This will change because

cardinal point. According to the UN: “The root causes of many conflicts are directly related to, or fuelled by, valuable natural resource … addressing the ownership, control and management of natural resources is crucial to maintaining security …”

Happily, we are in the middle of amending the Constitution. Let us use the possibilities this exercise presents to address the sore issues of ethnicity, justice, resources control and management to ensure that more Nigerians will have access to the economic prosperity of their country. The amendment should make Section 14 (2b) which states: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” implementable. A system that erects economic and social disablement for majority of Nigerians is a recipe for perpetual conflicts.

Without visible benefits, peace becomes one of numerous choice words politicians use to continue their exploitation of circumstances.

Let there be peace in Nigeria, but let it be peace with justice.

Ogoja State will be able to build more healthcare facilities and increase access to healthcare resources for families and children. For small scale industries to develop there must be electricity. Ogoja State will embark on rural electrification project to allow businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in small scale industries and to create jobs in the area. Most importantly, it will focus attention on the areas of human development that has been neglected for generations.

Participatory democracy requires that all citizens must be allowed to participate and contribute to the economic and political affairs of the nation, share in the benefits and burdens of the country. The creation of Ogoja State would give its citizens some participation and voice in the political process of the country. It would also promote the regional development of the economic activities of the region, promote interstate commerce, as well as cooperation and sharing of natural and human resources. In addition, it would create favourable business environment and spur economic development.

The voice of the people would be fully represented. The current political landscape leaves most of this area underrepresented and unappreciated.If the nation is to keep its promise to the minority people of the country and to live up to the true spirit and aspirations of the Constitution, then Ogoja State must be created now.

The ruling party in Cross River State should welcome the creation of Ogoja State because the regional economy will benefit all. Finally, this would encourage sound economic and political development in the region and ultimately give the people of Ogoja a voice they never had because equity, fairness, and justice demand this change. *Mr .Ogar, a lawyer , wrote from CT, USA.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012—19

I

T has recently become the obsession of the Northern Governors Forum to canvass the reinstatement of the Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy.

The Northern governors claim that because derivation gives what they see as too much money to the Niger Deltan states, they are thereby shortchanged and left high and dry without adequate funds to run their states.

I doubt the Northern governors actually take their latest diversion seriously. It should be abundantly clear to anyone that such a development would be rejected as it could lead to civil war. The oil-producing states are now used to the money they get from derivation and will not give it up without a fight. Rather than contemplate yielding even a micro percentage of their entitlement to other states, what they are angling for is an increase in derivation that is in sync with fiscal federalism.

The onshore/offshore nonsense was started by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the pioneer of many things that have undone Nigeria. Chief Obasanjo cannot claim to be a true democrat and it is most likely his dictatorial

tendency inspired him to launch the onslaught on the Niger Delta in the famous onshore/offshore case of Attorney General of the Federation v Attorney General of Abia State & Others.

One of the arguments upon which the court based its decision was to the effect that under international law, the seaward boundary of a country is more or less the shore. Upon this meaningless piece of legalism, the Supreme Court denied the littoral states access to derivation from resources offshore. Yet it is clear that a sovereign’s right to exploit resources offshore may only be exercised when it controls a coastline. If there were no littoral states, we would have no offshore petroleum to enjoy.

At any rate, the Constitution did not envisage something as unreasonable and inequitable as the jargon of onshore/offshore dichotomy. Its intendment was to do justice to the Niger Delta in the light of the morally reprehensible fiscal status quo that hitherto held sway. It was to suppress this mischief that a paltry 13 percent derivation clause was therein included. The case, it is respectfully submitted, was decided in error, and it was as such quite proper for the National Assembly to have

The Northern governors should press the Federal Government to facilitate the development of solid minerals and agriculture rather than seeking more money to share

,

reversed the injustice the judgement occasioned by an act of parliament which effectively superseded the Supreme Court’s decision.

A chorus of non-Niger Deltan commentators have often claimed that before oil, their resources sustained Nigeria. This is utter nonsense. If you divide the Nigeria of that time into the present geopolitical zones, the South-South probably remains the most productive part of the country, thanks to oil palm, rubber and timber. It was called the Oil Rivers long before crude oil was discovered there. It is therefore arguable that the Niger Delta has always been the most productive zone in Nigerian history from the colonial to the post-colonial era!

Nigeria and Indonesia: A socio-economic analysis “Nigeria has a lot to learn from Indonesia, one of the Asian Tigers!”

BY JOSSY NKWOCHA

N

IGERIA and Indonesia share a lot in common. Both are emerging economies bogged down by weak currency, corruption, unemployment, poverty and poor infrastructure. But placed on a scale of one to 10, Indonesia is much better off.

For instance, although the Indonesian media, especially Jakarta Post newspaper, continues to report incidents of corruption among politicians in Indonesia, the incidents pale into insignificance when compared to the magnitude of the massive corruption in Nigeria.

But Nigeria has its own areas of strength as this article would try to highlight.

However, this analysis is meant to compare the two countries in terms of socio-economic parameters and thereafter draw conclusions and make recommendations for improvement in Nigeria. My analysis would be based on empirical evidence of what I saw and heard during my recent visit to Indonesia, as well as facts and figures from secondary sources. To begin with, let me state that Indonesia is older than Nigeria. It got its independence in 1945 while Nigeria got hers in 1960. My visit happened a week after the country celebrated its 67th independence anniversary on August 17, 2012.

The entire country, urban and rural, was awash with the country’s white and red colours, mounted everywhere on the roads, buildings, billboards, etc, or used in decorating shopping malls, super-markets, corporate offices and so on. You could see a people so proud of their country, so patriotic in defending their country and its values, cultures, language and foods! This

observation was a big contrast to Nigeria.

Right from the Jakarta International Airport, you would see a positive image of Indonesia. You would see orderliness in immigration formalities. You would encounter officials who are smart-looking and professional in their job.

In contrast, as you arriveMurtalaMuhammed International Airport, Lagos, what you experience is confusion, tardiness and too many officials in various uniforms, many of whom seem less interested in their official functions. The branding of Nigeria must start at Nigeria’s entry points with these first-line officers, and good systems and procedures!

In terms of population, Indonesia is almost twice the size of Nigeria. By 2010, the country had a population of 237.6 million.

Nigeria has about 167 million. Nigeria has 36 states and a federal capital territory, divided into 774 local government areas.

Indonesia has 27 provinces divided into 357 districts, which I am told, runs Nigeria’s kind of local government administration.

Task force for rural development But the difference is that those elected at district levels are like a task force for rural development. My team visited many rural areas and saw that although their roads are quite narrow, they are tarred and maintained. You could see poverty but rural folks are happy with their agriculture and plantations. Rural folks are happy with their small made-in-Indonesia commercial buses, majorly driven by ladies. They are so proud of their foods and local black tea!

Indonesia knows how to cut its coat

,

BY JESUTEGA ONOKPASA

,

Derivation and the future of Nigeria

Equally idiotic, of course, is the fiction that revenue from groundnuts, cotton, cocoa and all that jazz was what was relied on to develop the oil industry. The oil industry was developed entirely from funds of foreigners by way of foreign direct investment and the Nigerian government only became a participant in the industry much later. In fact, it actually relied on proceeds it had obtained from oil as royalties to finance its investments in the sector!

There are resources everywhere and people do not have to hungrily eye the resources of others for their sustenance. Even where natural resources are lacking, people are expected to see themselves as the ultimate resource and forge ahead nevertheless. That is what made Japan the international success story it is today. The North is a vast treasure trove of solid mineral and agricultural potential. It is the most endowed yet the least productive part of Nigeria. A land plagued by almajiris and terrorists, it represents the biggest threat to the future of Nigeria. Poverty, extremism and disease, cannot remain all we can expect from that part of Nigeria.

As for the future of Nigeria as a corporate entity, it is dependent on the future of fiscal federalism.

Derivation must increase and be extended to absolutely every imaginable kind of resource from solid minerals to taxes wherever they are obtained throughout the

Nigeria copied the concept of trade liberalisation and global competitiveness from the West without any policy to protect local industries; Nigerian industries couldn’t cope, and all died of economic asphyxia

,

according to its cloth! Despite its size and population, it has a unicameral legislature – the Indonesian House of Representatives!

This helps them to reduce the cost of governance. Nigeria, on the other hand, has two houses – Senate and the House of Representatives! Nigeria was just copying the United States of America model without looking at the cost of such bureaucracy!

Perhaps there is a lesson to learn there!

At the economic front, Nigeria is many poles away from Indonesia. As at 2011, the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of Indonesia calculated on purchasing power parity, according to the World Economic Factbook (2012), stood at $1.121 trillion. That of Nigeria was $414.5 billion.

Calculated on the basis of per capita, the GDP of Indonesia is $4,700 while that of Nigeria is $2,600. Unemployment rate in Indonesia is estimated at 6.7% while that of Nigeria is 21% as at 2011. Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has recently released new statistics that are frightening. The population of Indonesians living below poverty line is estimated at 13.33% while that of Nigeria is 70%.

Forgive me! Statistics could make an article to be boring to the uninitiated. But it is the fundamental tool of socio-economic analysis. What remains a paradox is that

country. This is where we must progress to or we have no future together as a nation.

Nigeria is not an oil-rich nation.

The fiction that we are oil-rich must be abandoned. A nation is oil-rich where, when you divide its earnings from oil by its population the resulting sum is a considerable mount. If you divide our petroleum receipts by 160 million hungry mouths, it becomes shockingly clear how desperately poor we are. God gives to every people different resources. He knows in His infinite wisdom why He gave the Niger Delta oil, and certainly did not intend for an unproductive nation of millions of people to pounce on it to the detriment of its true owners.

The Northern governors should press the Federal Government to facilitate the development of solid minerals and agriculture rather than seeking more money to share. Those amongst them like Kwankwaso, Suswam, Lamido, Yakowa, and Shettima, who seem to be quite focused and concerned for their constituents would do well to shun the rabble-rousers in their midst and distance themselves from the likes of Babangida Aliyu of Niger State.

As things presently stand, the Northern Governors Forum is fast beginning to resemble a platform of failures.

•Mr. Onokpasa, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos

Nigeria’s currency (Naira) seems stronger than the Indonesian currency (Rupiah).

Naira exchanges at 160 to the UD Dollar while the Indonesia Rupiah exchanges at about 94,000! Anyway, Rupiah is like Nigeria’s Kobo. The Indonesian Central Bank, certainly, would have its reasons for having only one currency. And its economy is better with it.

What really struck my team was the level of industrialisation in Indonesia. In Purwakarta, Cempaka and Bandung where Indorama Corporation has sprawling industrial complexes producing polyester filament yarns, polyester staple fibre, polyester chips, PET resins, all types of fabrics, including laminated ones, etc, you see production plants everywhere, producing various consumer/industrial products shipped to various countries of the world!

These companies employ millions of young and old Indonesians. You could see people working at the plants; producing goods/services of value. In Nigeria, employment and job creation are mere statistical expressions. In Indonesia, job creation is empirical. You can count it. You can name the companies and the number of persons working in them.

In Nigeria, I look back at Apapa Industrial area, Ikeja industrial area, Ilupeju industrial area, Kirikiri industrial area, Ogba industrial area – all in Lagos – almost all the companies there have closed down and sent all their employees into the labour market. I look at Trans-Amadi industrial area in Port Harcourt – all the companies have closed down. I look at the many industrial areas in Kano, Kaduna, Mauduguri, Jos and Sokoto – most of the companies there have closed down.

It is the same with companies in Onitsha, Aba, Enugu and Nnewi. Years ago, Nigeria threw its doors wide open for all manner of imports.

Continues on Monday page 18 •Mr. Nkwocha, former General Editor of Newswatch magazine, wrote from Port Harcourt

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 2012 — 21

Operational framework for microfinance banks should be reviewed — CIBN official

M

R Deji Olanrewaju, a member of Governing Council of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, has called for review of the policy framework on microfinance institutions in Nigeria.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that microfinance banks are not meeting the expectations of the people in terms of service delivery.

Olanrewaju, who is also the Head of Department of International Law, Babcock University, said that these financial institutions have failed to meet their objectives due to poor regulatory framework. “The interest on loans from microfinance banks is higher than commercial banks which is not supposed to be so. These banks were specifically created to serve the grassroots and their businesses; to serve small -scale businesses.

“It is illogical that a finance institution at the lowest cadre on banks’ rating scale will be charging more from its customers than other banks with huge capital bases,“ he said.

Olanrewaju said that the essence of microfinance banks was to assist small businessmen to access loans at very low interest rates so as to remain in business.

According to him, Nigeria will not enjoy the expected gains from small-scale industries if government fails to review the framework guiding operations of microfinance institutions.

Olanrewaju advised government to be thorough in the issuance of licences to prospective microfinance operators. “Incompetent operators, associated with some distressed banks, ought not to be allowed to enter into micro finance business. That is one reason why grassroots patronage of these banks is declining by the day because some of the operators are not trustworthy.

From left: Reginald Ihejiahi, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc; Mutiu Sunmonu, MD and Country Chair, Shell Petroleum Development Companies in Nigeria and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede at the launch of the Shell Contractors Support Scheme in Port Harcourt.

NSITF urges compliance with Employees Compensation Act

By ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD, Kano

M

ANAGING Director of the Ni gerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, Alhaji Umar Abubakar, has tasked employers of labour in Nigeria to comply with the provision of Compensation Act of 2010.

Addressing a cross section of workers during a one day interactive session in Kano, Abubakar revealed that the scheme has in the last one year registered over 1000 employers, adding that it also appointed over 12 commercial banks as Contribution Collection Banks.

He stated that the provisions of Compensation Act were inalienable right of workers, stressing the need for the Nigerian workers to stand up against any oppression and infringement on

their right by their employers.

He commended the federal government for taking the lead by paying the statutory one percent contribution of its workers’ annual pay roll to the Fund, pointing out that “If your employers pay one per cent of your pay roll to the NSITF as the law mandates them to, it is for your benefit, but if they don’t you are the ones that will bear the brunt.”

Alhaji Abubakar disclosed that employers have not been forthcoming in their registration, maintaining that the Employees Compensation Act 2010 made it mandatory for employers, both in the private and public sectors to register for the scheme.”

The NSITF BOSS emphasized that “Under the law, employers are prohibited from making contributions under the scheme and we have made plans

to ensure that employers do not use part of staff salary as their contributions.”

He explained that the scheme has operated for one year and the Agency owe it a duty to meet with the stakeholders to share with them the progress made so far in the implementation of the scheme and to list their various achievements that they were able to record in the past one yea, as well as with the problems they encountered while implementing the scheme.

He encourage employees to hold tight to the scheme, while unfolding the future plans of the scheme for the appointment and accreditation of hospitals and clinics all over the country that would be used for the treatment of injured persons under the scheme.

Digital communication in Nigeria grows by 50%

174.40

-3.10

Sheraton, ForumInspire to host first digital summit in Nigeria

2,548.00

+16.00

19.70

-0.45

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

D

IGITAL Communication in Nigeria has enjoyed unprecedented patronage over the last few years, growing by over 50 per cent, the Managing Director, Sheraton Hotel & towers, Mr. Alexander Gassuer has said.

Making the revelation in an event to announce the first annual digital media summit being organized by Sheraton Hotel and Towers, in conjunction with ForumInspire, Gassuer said that Nigeria accounts for almost one hundred million, out of about 900 million subscribers hosted in different social media across the globe.

He informed that hospitality

businesses are positioning to take advantage of the growing opportunities in social media, adding that it is absolutely important for them to use digital platforms to communicate with their clients. He explained that in America and Europe for instance, facebook created 450,000 jobs, with over 800 million subscriber with over eight thousand companies developing and selling digital applications, saying that that such success could be replicated in Nigeria.

“This app economy is a vigorous part of employment and remains a thriving industry for any economy.

How can social media be rightly used to focus on job creation, and what can technology companies do to further that goal,” he queried.

With this strategic move, Nigeria will be joining countries like the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Ireland who have held annual digital media forum summits over the past five years, said Michael Oseji, Managing Partner, FourmInspire, at a media briefing to announce summit in Lagos.

“Our resource persons drawn from the United States, Israel, United Kingdom, Nigeria and South Africa will focus on digital technologies and social media for effective application in areas such as Aviation, Power, Security, Education, Agriculture, Judiciary and Entertainment, which is fast becoming a strategic revenue source to natural resources in Nigeria,” Oseji stated.

107.67

-4.36

91.58

-3.71

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

154.78 250.8674 201.245 166.3228 1.966 0.289 238.6653 24.5304 41.2714 26.9948 238.872

155.28 251.6778 201.8951 166.8601 1.9723 0.299 239.4363 24.6101 41.4047 27.082 239.6436

155.78 252.4882 202.5452 167.3974 1.9787 0.309 240.2073 24.6898 41.538 27.1692 240.4153

CBN Exchange rate as at 20/09/2012

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Analysts raise concern on hindrances to market making

By LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

E

XISTING price limits, low market depth, weak human capacity and current operating structure of the market have been identified as factors that could hamper the success of market making, Analysts at United Bank for Africa said.

Nevertheless, the analysts, believe that a proper implementation of the strategy could reduce volatility, facilitate liquidity in the Nigerian financial market and increase market depth, adding also that changing the current operating structure of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from the order driven to a quote driven system is critical to the overall success of the strategy.

The Analysts — Kayode Fadahunsi, Michael Nwanolue and Philip Etim, all of UBA — in a report on the Nigeria Stock Exchange’s introduction of market making, said, “While we believe that market making can be applied to improve the workings of the equity market, we expect it to present a few challenges

such as; the poor execution of clients’ mandate, the misuse of privileged information, high cost of switching or crossing stocks between accounts amongst other regulatory bottlenecks.”

However, to provide an enabling environment for market making to thrive, they recommended that, “market infrastructure be upgraded to global standards – we understand the current stock exchange system can easily be

switched to a quote driven system; trading hours be further extended to enhance the free-flow of trades; the revised price limits of (+/-) 10% be applied to all listed equities; a legal framework

From left: Mr. Martin Woolnough, MD and Chief Executive of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Etienne Benet, Head of Region- Nestle Central and West Africa, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, Chairman Nestle Nigeria Plc and Mr. David Ifezulike, Nestle Director, During the Regional Creating Shared Value [CSV] Forum, The Role of Business in Food Security and Nutrition, Organize by Nestle Nigerial Plc and Pa-African University, in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Former NSE DG backs delisting of firms from NSE

By PETER EGWUATU & LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

F

ORMER Director Gener al of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Apostle Hayford Alile has thrown his support on the proposed plan by the Exchange to delist some firms from Daily Official list.

Recently, the new management of the NSE announced that it would delist nine films from the Daily Official list by November this year.

To be delisted from the daily official list in November, this year, according to the NSE, are the shares of Aluminum Manufacturing Company of Nigeria Plc, Capital Oil Plc and W.A. Glass Industry Plc. Other companies are; Union Dicon Salt Plc, Hallmark Paper Products Plc, Nigeria Wire Industry Plc, Rokana Industry Plc, Lennards Nigeria Plc and Udeofson Garment Factory (Nig) Plc. While buttressing reasons why the companies should be delisted, Alile, said. “There are conditions that the promoters of these companies signed before they were given post-listing conditions that they must comply with. Otherwise, you will be selling empty papers to the investors who trusted you to buy your shares. So if any firm has not met with the listing conditions, it should be delisted. But management of

the stock exchange must keep in touch with the promoters of these companies before such action is taken. Also, it depends on how far they have degenerated. If they have degenerated badly, then they should be delisted.

When asked his reaction over response by some shareholders who had kicked against the move to delist the nine firms from the Exchange, he said, “ If I am an investor of a company and over a period of five years, there is no dividend, nobody is buying and nobody is selling the shares, why should I begin to say encourage them? If you say the brokers want more shares to deepen the market, I will listen to that. But, if you say the investor, no. This is because the investor invested money into it to make more money. If the gains are not coming, then investors will sweep the shares aside.”

In his reaction over the clamour for multinational oil companies and telecommunication firms to be forced to list on the NSE, he said, “Yes. But not by decree or Act but by incentives and, this is the role of SEC. The SEC should go out and organise workshops, and find out why they are not listed. For twenty years, we have been sending memorandum to government annually. We are

blessed because we have abundant hydro carbon and 80 per cent of our revenue comes from this. Yet most of the companies in this sector are not listed on the NSE. If these

companies are listed and the people from Niger Delta become part of the shareholders, they will protect those pipelines from being destroyed by the militants.

be instituted to settle disputes; more well capitalized market makers be approved for each stock to reduce unnecessary dominance by any single market maker; stakeholders should be properly enlightened on the workings of the strategy; and proper regulatory oversight be provided to prevent market makers from taking undue advantage of privileged information,” the Analysts said.

Management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE had announced that it would allow market making to commence on September 18, 2012. The equity market regulator had, in April 2012, approved the appointment of ten Primary Market Makers (PMMs). For starters, the NSE has approved a list of twelve equities with which the PMMs will test-run the initiative over the next six months.

Market making involves a broker-dealer firm i.e. market maker, accepting the risk of holding a given number of shares of a specific stock or security in order to facilitate trading in that security. A market maker displays the bid and the offer quotes/prices for a guaranteed number of shares. When an order is received, the market maker sells from its inventory or seeks an offsetting order. Essentially, market makers keep the financial markets running efficiently because they are willing to quote both bid and offer prices for an asset.

FBN launches Firstmonie, designed for quick, convenient transactions

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

F

IRST Bank of Nigeria Plc, FBN, has launched its mobile money services, Firstmonie, saying it is designed to make banking and payment faster and convenient for banked and unbanked. ”With Firstmonie, customers of the bank and anyone in Nigeria with a Mobile Phone can enjoy financial services, using their mobile phones to send money, pay bills, top up their phone airtime, do shopping, deposit and withdraw cash, without the need to visit a bank branch, said Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, First Bank.

Speaking at the launching of the product yesterday in Lagos, he said, “With this solution, we have taken a step further in making banking more convenient and secure and are highly optimistic that we would meet the financial needs of our stake-

holders and enhance financial inclusion for the vast majority of Nigerians.

“We initiated this product to enhance financial inclusion and cater for millions of Nigeria’s unbanked citizens, while we also align with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy to promote a cashless or cash-lite economy in Nigeria”, he said.

Explaining the features of the product, he said, “FirstMonie services have been created with three principles in mind. The first is defined by how consumers receive money to fund their unique lifestyles; how consumers spend money for their unique lifestyle needs; and thirdly, the ability of the consumer to be informed and in control of their money.

“The Firstmonie initiative is currently available on the Etisalat, Glo and Airtel networks and enables you to send and receive money, buy airtime and pay bills, all from your mobile phone without having to open a bank account.

“To make this process convenient for our teeming customers, the Firstmonie account can be funded at any FirstBank ATM machine, directly from your FirstBank account or with your ATM or credit card. Furthermore, we have situated FirstBank Firstmonie agents nationwide to facilitate the process of crediting your accounts “Cash In” and withdrawals from your account “Cash Out”. These transactions can also be performed in all our branches and ATMs nationwide. The receiving party does not have to own a Firstmonie account, but will only need to register with any of the Bank’s agents to retrieve their funds.

“With almost 700 branches and business correspondent outlets strategically located across the country, about 1,900 ATMs cash deposit, cardless and biometric, over six million active accounts and over 18,000 point of sale terminals, FirstBank offers the best and the most effective mobile money platform in Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 23

The fish ponds stocked in Epe agric village. INSET : Some of the participants feeding the birds at Isuada-Owo agric village.

Our involvement in agriculture transformed our thinking —WECA participants T

HE poor participation of young people in farming and the agricultural economy has continued to be of grave concern to many leaders in Nigeria as the staying away of youth directly threatens the future of agriculture and rural economic transformation in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, recently disclosed that Nigeria has four million youth that enter the labourmarket each year but are unable to find jobs. While the economy is growing at 7.8% per year, it is not creating jobs enough.

So the focus of government at different level has been how to create jobs through agriculture as there is no other sector that can create jobs faster than the agricultural sector. In trying to unlock the potential of agriculture to create jobs, various state governments have tried to engage the energy, dynamism and entrepreneurship of the youth.

From the involvement of Zimbabwean farmers in agriculture in Kwara state with focus on developing the youths to the recreation of Songhai proto type farms in states like Rivers; Delta and Kastina among others all in a bid to get youths involved in farming. In order to improve the productivity of the ageing farming population in its state, the Ondo state government also decided to establish a multidisciplinary agency named Wealth Creation Agency (WECA) that will systematically evolve a new crop of professional farmers.

WECA was to design and formulate policies and programmes that aimed at creation of wealth

through provision of employment in agricultural innovations and aggressive promotion of small scale enterprises.

The scheme under the leadership of Bisi Adegoke has been able to develop and implement a participation-ownership scheme for over 15,000 graduates across the state. The participants, referred to as “pro-farmers”, have access to land, accommodation and other basic facilities and develop agro-enterprises wholly funded by WECA.

Agriculture villages The caring heart agriculture villages as they are called are presently engaged in arable crop farming, fishery and poultry. The government provided land, agriculture infrastructure facilities like poultry cages, fish ponds, and all necessary farming inputs and accommodation.

The participants have cultivated a large hectare of land for arable crops like cassava, yam, and maize. Those who have interest in fishery presently have over 500 fish ponds with a minimum of 1000 fish per pond at both Ore and Epe agriculture villages. And each of the participants is allocated a pond under the watchful eyes of the consultants who have demonstration ponds.

The farm manager in Ore agric village, Mr. Sadiq Olatunji disclosed that “All over the village in Ore we have about 250 ponds and since we have decided to be expanding gradually we started with about 50 ponds for this set of participants and we stocked the ponds about a month ago with 1000 juveniles.

At the Epe farm where there is over 110 fish ponds, the participants seem to be more interested in fisheries as disclosed by the consultant, Ropo Wewe, “but presently there are73 participants at the farm and each has one pond and they are stocked with 1000 juvenile each . We have four demonstration ponds here also.”

Mr.Olatunji explained why they decided to use earthen ponds, “this is constructed so that we don’t have to depend on any source of power, using power or generator or whatever is an additional cost that goes into production, but here a local technology was developed. We have a

,

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

contains 500 birds to manage and there are three units in a pen with twenty pens altogether.

Adeyinka Adejumobi, the farm Manager, said that about 14,000birds will be taken to Owo farm for processing this week, this is in combination with what the Owo farm will be putting out for processing too.

The Isuada-Owo farm manager, Lekan Agoro, disclosed that they have a total of seven pen houses and each unit can take between 1,500 and 2,000birds because of the pen sizes, adding that they currently have a total of 12000 broilers on the farm.

Apart from the fisheries and poultry, there is an oil palm revolution taking place at the Ore farm which is aimed at transforming oil palm production into a major commercial industry and stimulate major economic development of the state through the use of improved varieties and modern technologies.

According to the farm manager, Sadiq Olatunji, about 950,000 palm seedlings of Malaysian type and 350,000 of NIFOR breed have been brought into the farm, “so we have over one million seedlings, presently we are transferring them to farm, they are in the process of going to the permanent location.”

What do young people really think about farming?

Speaking with some of the participants was revealing as many share their thoughts on what young people really think about agriculture.

Adeyemi Bolaji Luqman, a graduate of geology “Subsistence agriculture is not able to feed a nation. What is needed is commercial agriculture, which can be done by small, medium and large scale farmers.

We must modernise, to be able to attract the youth into agriculture.

We must expand the level of use of tractors in the country. The country does not have more than 20,000 whereas about 300, 000 tractors are needed”!

I graduated 2007 from Federal

The story is the same at the poultry sections in all the farms where the participants are given the birds and other inputs to raise the broilers

dam whereby the water is channel into the ponds through gravity. So we don’t need to pump it.

He added that “Each participant is allocated a pond, the participant manages it till maturity with the assistance of in house consultants. All the necessary things required are provided by the government. So at maturity, the fish will be sold and the cost of the inputs will be deducted and the profit will be given to the participants.”

The story is the same at the poultry sections in all the farms where the participants are given the birds and other inputs to raise the broilers. At the Epe farm, each participant is given a unit that

,

University of Technology Minna and since then having looking for job before coming here. I came here because of what I heard about it and I am not disappointed. I came here during the pilot scheme. I was in the fishery section; there we acquired enough training both in fisheries, arable farming and other aspects. We were given adequate training, the money given to us as part of our profit, I invested in a pond at Omifon, where I rare fish.

I am here because of the taste for more knowledge in farm management that is why I am here for the second phase. With the fish I have here and from the expected profit combined with what I

have outside I see myself going places I belief the youth of this country has a lot to gain from agriculture if they have a change of heart and with what the state government is doing here, I know there is future for us all.

Mrs. Alimi Mujibat, a graduate of French with post graduate certificate in education, said she gave up her teaching job, because she wants to be self employed. She is one of the pioneer participants who came back for further training.

“After we were paid off last year, I bought two plots of land where I put some fish. I am here again because I think there is more to learn. Before we got to Ore agriculture village last year, I did not know anything about fisheries, so I don’t believe I have learnt a lot so I am back “The essence of the program is not just for us to be employed, but to employ people too, so as I am here, I employed somebody to work in my farm and I just supervised. The program has given me and others the opportunity to learn. For me, it has boosted my desire to go into other areas of agriculture.

Consultants and farm manager For example, in the area of poultry, I have learnt a lot from the consultants and farm manager. On my farm where I have my ponds, I planted some crops like cocoa, palm, ordinarily, I would have cut down those trees, but with my knowledge here I decided to leave them.

Fredrick Bello, an NCE graduate and a participant “I graduated in 2004, after looking for paid job; I got one with a private school that was exploiting us. I had no option than to resign. When this program started, I applied but was not short listed then as they were after the university graduates, not until July 10, last year when I was called to resume here.

“In fact, it has been wonderful since then with the training given us on poultry and arable farming, today, I can stand alone with the level I have got to now.

If you look over there is my tomatoes farm, which I am using as experimentation farm, outside the officially allocated land. If I have any stipend now, I can go into full time farming.

I am calling on the youth to embrace the program, they should stop running after white collar jobs, and this is a profitable business. Looking at the birds we have here they are not up to two months they are up for processing. From what we have here, you can make millions of naira here. Which government job will give you that?

As I am here, if I have money, I will establish one for my wife, whatever farming technique I get here I will be passing it to her and I will employ two or three people to assist. I am also introducing this to my church members.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

S

AWUBONA!” I tried my limited knowledge of Zulu language on the driver of the tour bus that met us at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thusday 30 August.“Nikoona,” he enthused in reply. I was not done yet.

“Kunjaani!” I followed up.

The fellow, a pleasant guy with an ever-ready smile thought he had met a Nigerian Zulu speaker, and replied further in a torrent of words in which I simply drowned.

“That’s all I know in Zulu,” I said, quickly reverting to English, laughing. In between handling our luggage he then asked how the flight was, and hoped we would enjoy our stay in South Africa.

Earlier, after clearing passport control, I had quickly purchased a Vodacom line, activated it, and called Lagos to let family know that I arrived safely.

In a jiffy, we were all in the bus, the warmth of which simulated our own warm clime back home here, as the driver made his way to the hotel reserved for us. Along the way, the tour guide, a fair-complexioned, middle-aged fellow whom we would describe a half-caste here, but “coloured” in apartheid South Africa started pointing out landmarks of the city of gold as we drove.

Shortly we arrived the hotel, simply called 54 on Bath. It was tenement number 54 on Bath Street, not far from Sandton City. Checking in, the sheer opulence of the hotel was arresting. Our rooms were on the ninth floor, but mine was a corner room with an arresting

SOUTH AFRICA: unending allure of the rainbow nation

South African female cultural dancers ca on the invitation of his South African counterpart, Mr. Marthinus Van Schalkwyk as a special guest for the launch of the South African Tourism Month.

Along the road to Pretoria could be seen massive exhausts of one of the nuclear power

,

Night life in Cape Town is attractive, despite the cold (-3 degrees), people, mostly youths were up and about seeking fun in many of the city’s discotheques and clubs

view of the city from two picture windows. From one of the windows I noticed a flat roof, and looking harder, saw it was parking space. For a mall?

I guessed right, for after freshening up I decided to do some exploration of my immediate surroundings. I discovered that from the fifth floor a skywalk linked the hotel to the mall next door. I walked through, and in minutes I found myself in a cavernous mall where shops displayed eye-catching wares.

Not long after, it was time to move; we had to go to Pretoria to meet our Minister of Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, who was in South AfriC M Y K

,

plants in the country. Arriving the Pretoria Sheraton, we met High Chief Duke, his permanent secretary, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, and our High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Sonni Samuel Yusuf. Too soon, we had to go back to Johannesburg, for the following day, Friday, we were to continue our visit to the rainbow country in Cape Town.

The two-hour flight to Cape Town was bumpy; the weather not too friendly but we landed safely, after which we were met by another tour guide, Terence, who took us to the hotel reserved for us. If 54 on Bath was opulent, the One&Only was more; it is said to be the

only six-star hotel in South Africa. Opposite the hotel is the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape Town.

The One& Only is by the waterfront; boats were available for a cruise if one desired it. From the balcony of my room the ability of man to dominate his environment and create aesthetics was evident; all things were simply bright and beautiful, with the picturesque, iconic Table Mountain looming in the skyline.

Night life in Cape Town is attractive, despite the cold (-3 degrees), people, mostly youths were up and about seeking fun in many of the city ’s discotheques and clubs. But for the inclement weather, a planned helicopter ride had to shelved, as well as a trip to a winery. That was made up for the following day, Saturday, with a boat cruise which began at the piers by the One&Only aboard a luxury yacht named the Sherilyn. I even had a chance to sail the boat for 15 minutes; the skipper, a fellow called Shawn showed me how to engage gear and manipulate the rudder.

Very soon I was feeling as if I had sailed boats all my life, and while holding the wheel, I remembered Treasure Island,

by Robert Louis Stevenson, and his famous character, Long John Silver.

Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest, Yo-ho-ho!, and a bottle of rum!!! As soon as I sang the others joined, and from there, a discussion of Nigerian education began, with Chico of Classic FM reciting lines from Shakespeare — Macbeth, Julius Ceasar, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, etc. If our youths don’t read good literature anymore, how can they write well?

Night falls very quickly in South Africa; by 5pm, it begins to darken. After traipsing around one of the waterfront malls with Charles Okoh of Businessday, we retired to the One&Only, and opted for dinner out. This time, we went to

a Nigerian restaurant on Loop Street, which had eba, egusi, semovita, white rice, and meat pepper soup on the menu. It was a welcome change from the three, four-course meals served by the big hotels. The following morning was time to begin the journey home from Cape Town. After the usual two-hour flight back to Johannesburg, we boarded the flight back home which took off at 2pm, arriving a little after 7pm. Home, sweet home! But in my bones, I feel the beckonings of the rainbow country again. from which we have so much to learn, with which we share so much in common. Sawubona, e ku u le o!

From left: Jewell Dafinone of The Guardian; Gabriel Odu of NTA; Deola of Bella Naija, Chico of Classic FM, Nseobong Okon-Ekong of ThisDay, Tope Ogbeni-Awe of TopComm, and Wali, NTA cameraman.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 25

*Place where the victims were shot

*Bullet perforated wall

Aftermath of bloody Sunday: Fear haunts Bauchi residents

BY SUZAN EDEH, Bauchi

R

ESIDENTS of Bauchi will be forgiven if they now live in dread of Sunday which is increasingly becoming a bad omen to them given the tragic incidents associated with the day in recent time. For instance, last Sunday was another bloody day in Zango area, a suburb of the metropolis, as unknown gunmen attacked and killed nine people, while seven others sustained injuries.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the incident which happened around 7.30pm in an area that is one of the flashpoints in the town and has witnessed several ethnoreligious and communal clashes in the past. It was further gathered that the gunmen who came to the area in a KEKE NAPEP attacked the people who were resting and chatting under a tree at the residence of a community leader in the area. The gunmen who were six in number, according to eyewitnesses in the area, released a volley of bullets on their victims that left them no chance of survival.

The incident caused pandemonium and confusion in the area as residents scampered for the safety. According to one of the residents who spoke with VM: “The scene of the attack is a place where both elderly and young people usually come to relax because it is the residence of a community leader in the area. While relaxing, they usually engage in gambling while playing a game of cards. But on that day, they were just relaxing and chatting as it has been the

tradition for a number of years.

I was in the house because it rained throughout the day. In the evening when the rain subsided at around 7.30, I heard gunshots, but I did not know the direction these were coming from and who was the target.

Everybody in the neighborhood stayed indoors in fear. It was later that we heard that some people at the residence of the community leader in the area were attacked and that some got killed. Immediately after the attack, security operatives cordoned off the area”.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Simon Ibrahim, told VM that he was coming back from an outing with his wife and daughter when he started hearing gunshots. He quickly took his wife and daughter to a place of safety. He said: “I saw four men in a KEKE-NAPEP pretending to be repairing the tricycle. All of a sudden two other men came down from a bike and started shooting sporadically into the air to scare people in the area away, while the four men repairing the KEKENAPEP brought out guns and started shooting at the people under the tree. After the shooting ceased, I decided to go to the scene of the attack to see things for myself. The first victim I saw was already dead with his brains spilling from his shattered head. Another person who was shot on the chest was calling for help; but help was late in coming as he eventually died on the way to the hospital. I will never forget this incident for the rest of my life, because I saw death staring me in the my face. The attackers

escaped”.

Another resident of the area who pleaded anonymity had this to say: “The attackers came in a tricycle and started shooting sporadically killing nine people on the spot and injured several others. Everybody is now living in fear in this area because nobody knows who is who and when the assassins will attack again”.

C

onfirming the incident to newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Bauchi, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan said: “The gunmen who were six in number

came in a tricycle and shot sporadically at... the people who gathered to relax at the residence of a community leader in the area, after which they escaped to an unknown destination”. While assuring that the culprits would be brought to justice, CP Ladan said that the police are still investigating the matter and urged members of the public to assist his men with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The Bauchi State Governor, Dr. Isa Yuguda, also condemned that Sunday attack , describing it as an act of

terrorism which his administration and other governments in the country are fighting hard to eradicate.

The Governor, according to a press release from the Office of the Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, condoled the families of all those who lost their loved ones in the barbaric act, praying God to give them all the fortitude with which to bear the irreparable loss and called on them to take solace in God the giver and taker of life even as he wished all those that were injured quick recovery.

Gov. Yuguda described the assailants as terrorists and assured that government will do everything humanly possible to track them down and bring them to book because according to him, “there is no way we will allow criminals and terrorists to continue to live among us, terrorizing innocent people; we must join hands to stop these heinous acts”.

He added that the terrorist acts are not directed at either religion, tribe and or political affiliation, but at every citizen of the country, saying that: “We must all come together to fight these evil men, they live among us and we must expose them at all cost; these wonton killing must stop now”.

H

e appealed to all those affected not to do anything that will aggravate the already tensed situation which may lead to the breakdown of law and order, saying: “Let us allow the security operatives to do their work and eventually track down the criminals; we should please avoid anything that will lead to loss of more lives and disrupt the peace that we are enjoying in the state”.

Collapsed FG roads in CRS: Still no respite

R

ESPITE is yet to come the way of motorists and other users of the Calabar – Ikom and Calabar-Itu – Ikot Ekpene Federal Highways which have become deathtraps because of several collapsed sections , especially around the Odukpani and Ekukunela axis. The poor condition of the roads recently led to a serious blockage of vehicular movement which prompted the Cross River State Government to cry out on behalf of its citizens as it sought Federal Government intervention for the total reconstruction and dualization of these roads to meet the increasing traffic in and out of the State.

Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Chief Akin A.Ricketts, who spoke to journalists recently while on an on-the-spot assessment of the collapsed portions of the roads, described the condition of the roads as “pathetic and horrible”, saying that the situation has brought terrible hardship to commuters on these highways.“We are saddened by these horrible sights that we are seeing here. Terrible traffic hold ups that has kept commuters hours on the road. It is a huge nightmare. You can feel the pains of the people and the financial loses that will be incurred by businesses as a result

of these delays in vehicular movement as well as blockage of the roads”, Chief Ricketts reasoned.

The Commissioner maintained that this worsening situation has been aggravated following the continuous heavy rainfall been experienced this year. This is in spite of huge funds already expended by the State Government to carry out remedial maintenance and make the road motorable for commuters. “These two roads are the main entry points into our State Capital and as you can see, the deplorable state of the roads have made entry and exit difficult for people; businesses are suffering, our tourism is hugely affected, our people are the ones feeling the hard pains”, he lamented.

Chief Ricketts urged the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently deploy its staff to assess the situation, emphasizing that dualization of the roads, especially from the Itu –Head Bridge into Calabar would checkmate the horrible traffic sights that has become a recurring decimal on these roads, especially during the rainy season in the last six years.

At best, the State Spokes-man urged President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the urgent refund of the over N13 Billion already spent by the State Government on the roads, to enable the government continue the maintenance of these roads.

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 27

Nigerians task FG on healthcare

By CHARITY UGWUANYI

step is for government to provide free medical care to citizens. "Good treatment EALTH is the greatest of all should be obtainable in medical centres. possessions; a pale cobbler is This is because the economy is too high better than a sick king”. This quotation by now and most people find it hard to afford Isaac Bickerstaff goes a long way in three square meals in a day not to talk of asserting the importance of good health to affording hospital bills. Government mankind. It is also a cliché that health is should also reduce cost of food and wealth. The importance of health in our provide employment for the youths." national life cannot be overrated. Health, In his own contribution, Azulobi Osita, just as other critical issues of life, has posed and engineer wants government to build big challenges to man ever since the strikmore hospitals and equip them adequateing need to maintain good health arose. ly. "They should provide free health care From this need, so many efforts have been for certain age groups," he argues. put in place by government as well as nonEzugwu Ernest, 23, a student at governmental organisations to ensure the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, urges health of the people is highly promoted. government at the top, to put more efforts One such effort is the distribution of in executing NAFDAC policies to ensure Insecticide-treated mosquito Nets to the distribution of fake drugs is totally malaria-endemic countries by the United eradicated. "They should also increase the Nation Education Fund since the salary of health workers and ensure beginning of 2004 till date. regular payment to stop them going on But are these efforts enough to promote strike." As for Gabriella, a 19-year-old the health of the people? Does government undergraduate at the University of have roles to play in improving the health Lagos, her opinion is that government of Nigerians? If yes, what should be done should improve on medical facilities, • Nigerians obtaining free healthcare services during a medical mission to improve the health of the people? To educate the youths and those in the \exercise recently. Photo courtesy Ekiti State government. provide answers to these questions, Health rural areas about preventive health. & Living went on the streets of Lagos to feel the pulse of the general public on expectations of the Federal government to promote the health of the people. below OLLOWING the growing to their toxic ingredients can Oluwatoyin Yusuf Said that with the National Association of are Excerpts: concern to curb the cause a variety of adverse or the high prevalence of malaria Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Magaret Ojiakor, a 48-year-old incidence of malaria and save delayed health effects. This is in Nigeria , it was important to and the Lagos state Ministry of midwife at Ajeromi Health Cen- the lives of children and their through routes of exposure like drive awareness on cleaner Health’. The Chairman, Forum tre, who resides at Ajangbadi mothers, Reckitt Benckiser the skin, lungs, mouth and the environment and use of for Local Government Nurses thinks the Federal government makers of Mortein insecticide has eyes’. mosquito treated nets in the fight and Midwives, Mrs. Mary is doing its bestto promote the re-enforced its anti-malaria against mosquitoes.

Lateef-Yusuf said the 6th Annual He added that Nigerians people's health. "For instance, awareness campaign at a forum should be sure of the products According to her, Mortein is Scientific Workshop tagged: several registered midwives for Local Government Nurses they are buying because it is not committed to fighting malaria as “Child health survival strategies: have been posted to various and Midwives (FOLGONM), enough to kill mosquitoes and one of the major killer diseases The Primary Health Care health centers in the country of Lagos State 6th Annual Scientific cockroaches as there are a lot of in Sub-Sahara Africa which Approaches” would afford which I am a typical example. I Workshop 2012., Nigeria is key and Reckitt Nurses and Midwives in Lagos diseases that can emanate from was posted here through the The forum which operates the use of insecticides that are not Benckiser is ready to explore all State the opportunity of efforts of the Federal government under the parent body of National safe for their health especially possible chances in making sure gathering under one roof to to reduce maternal mortality in Association of Nigeria Nurses children. On her part the Brand mothers and children are free brainstorm and learn new our country. But it would be nice and Midwives has in Manager, Mortein, Reckitt from malaria. "This is the strategies that are geared toward if they could address the prob- participation Nurses and Benckiser Nigeria Ltd. rationale why we partnered with achieving a malaria free Nigeria. lem of blood transfusion and Midwives who are closer to the make it free and accessible to most vulnerable groups, women every patient especially the less and children. privileged."

According to a member of the IGERIANS who shy cent," he stated. The drug is malaria endemic countries such Frank, a computer engineer Scientific Service Group, Reckitt away from swallowing registered by the National as Cambodia and Comoros."Pilot blames the poor government Benckiser, Uchenna Nwakanma, numerous drug tablets in a single Agency for Food and Drug projects of FEMSE in these policies on health on embezzle- said the World Health dose of treatment, can now heave Administration and Control, countries have achieved ment of public funds. "Nigeiran Organisation, WHO, has a sigh of relief, as the new 24- NAFDAC. significant successes." Some pilot government has plans on health standard recommendation for hour malaria drug, Artequick It was gathered that the study was similarly conducted on such as the National Integrated effective insecticides, yet entered the Nigerian market last inventor of Artequick, Prof. Li Artequick in some parts of Health Care. If they should sup- harmless to consumers. week.

Guoquiao "is engaging in Northern Nigerian communities. port this programme and ensure Nwakanma said there is need Artequick, manufactured by promoting a new strategy of According to him, the aim of everyone is registered and if they for Nigerians to know the right Artepharm Co. Ltd. China and malaria control in Africa and Asia: Guoquiao is not just to control provide free medical care, I think products and avoid those that marketed by Trusted Pharmacy & Fast Elimination of Malaria by malaria, but to eliminate the our health will be better." do not adhere to standard Ann Ozoemenam, a civil serv- guidelines. "There are lots of Chemist of West Africa Ltd. Source Eradication (FEMSE), in disease from the world. ant in her thirties thinks the first products out there and exposure Artequick is a new generation of ACT combining Artemisinin and Piperaquine as its potent ingredients.

According to the producers, it makes consumer compliance very easy. Speaking at a media presentation of the drug, General Manager, Artepharm Co. Ltd., China, Pan Longhua said the product was out to prevent drug resistance. As a short regimen drug, specifically a four-tablet dosage, he said compliance was achievable for consumers.

Longhua stated that apart from preventing drug resistance to the comprised number of tablets for a treatment dose, the general manager described the drug as a •L-R; Lagos State Chairman, Forum for Local Government Nurses quick action, high efficacy and low •L-R: Mr. Jeremy Hu, Product Manager, Trusted Pharmcy and and Midwives; Mrs. Lateef-Yusuf Modupeola; Brand Activation toxicity medication.

Chemist West Africa, Dr. Pan Longhua, General Manager and Manager, Reckitt Benckiser; Adejoke Akindole and Nursing "While Artequick has few side Superintendent, Ifako Ijaye Primary Healthcare Centre; during effects of less than three per cent, Mr. Kehinde Salami, Marketing Partner, Ideas House, during the media presentation of Artequick last week in Lagos.

Mortein Anti-Malaria Awareness campaign in Lagos. its efficacy is as high as 98 per

"H

Reckitt Benckiser re-enforces malaria awareness campaign

F

Artequick 24-hr malaria drug debuts

N

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 2012

Black Sunday in Lagos •Police record success as suspects open up …..make shocking revelations

By EVELYN USMAN

O

PERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad have arrested two persons for their alleged connivance in the massive robbery attacks two Sundays ago in Lagos, which left three policemen and some civilians dead, with several others wounded. A one-year-old baby was also hit by bullets during their dare-devil operation which lasted for hours.

Recovered from the gang’s hideout somewhere around Agege area of Lagos, was one of the vehicles reportedly used in the operation, two AK 47 riffles and two magazines loaded with two hundred ammunition.

The duo of Rasheed Suleimon and Kaseem Enifolabi, according to Lagos State Police Command spokes person, Ngozi Braide, while parading them along side other suspected members of different robbery gangs that have been on the command’s wanted list, were arrested in Dopemu and Oshodi areas of the state by operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

She said the suspects

confessed knowing members of the gang that operated two weeks ago but insisted they did not take part in the operation, adding: “During investigation one of the suspects took the operatives to the gang’s hideout at Wahabi Street in Agege area of the state where one of their operational vehicles, a Honda civic, was recovered with two AK 47 riffles and four magazines •The suspect, Rasheed Suleimon with two hundred ammunition.” She explained that the robbers were he knew the leader of the gang, able to escape that day because even as he disclosed that a the Police were mindful of female was among the robbers who terrorized Lagos that civilian casualties.

Braide said: “The robbers fateful day.

Hear him: Yes, I know the shot sporadically, but with the way we were trained, we are leader of the gang that operated not supposed to shoot anyhow, in Lagos two weeks ago. They particularly in the crowd. It will did not tell me they were going be better to allow robbers to go to rob. But after the robbery, free than killing innocent one of them known as Yemi boss people because the Police will called me the next day and said they struck the previous always arrest them someday.”

One of the suspects, 21-year- day and killed some policemen. old Rasheed Sulaimon, who He later sent me N3,000 hails from Kwara State, claimed recharge card warning me not

•CP Manko

to tell any soul, or he would kill me. There was a woman among the gang. And they usually operated in both military and police uniform. I knew Yemi boss at a drinking joint in Akerele area of Sango from where we became friends.”

Arrested kidnap suspects In another development, the Police in Lagos, last week, smashed another gang which specializes in kidnapping eminent personalities in Lagos.

The police arrested three suspected members of the

Hunger drove me into stealing •Confession of a pickpocket

•Idowu Balogun

By DONALD ARJI & ADA ONWUNALI

L

UCK ran out of a 26-year- old man, Idowu Balogun, after he was nabbed by a mob, yesterday, following his act of stealing a purse from a shop at Shibiri area of Lagos State. Balogun who hails from

Kwara State, was said to have walked into a shop belonging to one Sade, pretending to buy a slippers but made away with the purse after he had put it in his pant. It was gathered that a member of a vigilante group in the neighbourhood gave Balogun a tough chase and he was caught putting the purse inside his pant.

Crime Alert gathered that on the penultimate day, Sade was asleep when Idowu walked into the shop but was attended to by her 12-year-old daughter, Karimo. Narrating her ordeal, Karimo said: “Balogun walked into our shop and requested for a pair of slippers. I asked him what size he wanted, he said he didn’t know, that I should bring all the sizes that was available. After seeing the sizes, he asked me to return it that he wasn’t interested in buying any more. So, he left and hid in a corner. When he noticed that I had gone inside to return the slippers, he came back to the shop, took my mother’s purse that was on the table which contained her phone and the sum of N2,500 and hid it inside his pant. When I came out, my friend alerted me of what Idowu had done. I then woke my mother

up, she came out of the shop to see Idowu crossing over to the other side of the road.

She raised alarm which attracted the attention of one Tony Idowu, a member of the neighbourhood security watch and Balogun was given a hot chase.”

The security guard, Tony Idowu, while narrating his side of the story said he was asleep when he heard shouts of help and he ran to the scene to help. “I ran to the scene of the crime and was told that a thief just got away with Sade’s purse. I asked for the description of the thief, then used my motorcycle to pursue him. I saw him trying to jump a fence to the other side. I confronted him and asked why he stole the purse. He bluntly denied and started harassing me. So, I asked him what he had in his panties and he said nothing and even wanted to fight me before I slapped him. It was then that he confessed that he was sorry for stealing the purse and that it was the devil’s handiwork.”

The guard later brought Idowu, the suspect to the leader of the Vigilante Group, Alhaji Saka and he was asked to call his family.

gang who confessed to have kidnapped two staff of Dangote group and an Indian man recently. Three suspected members of the kidnap-gang whose target are the rich and influential were paraded by the police. The trio of Pius Uba Livinus, 25, Kelerchukwu Onyeman, 27, and Ayebe Segun, 32, told a bewildered crowd that they were responsible for the kidnap of two staff of Dangote Group of Companies on September 2 and 17, 2012 . One of them, Pius Livinus, who said his father was dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force 17 years ago, disclosed that the sum of N32 million was collected as ransom for the release of one of their victims.

Conspiracy and kidnapping Livinus was discovered to have been arrested and charged to Magistrate Court 17, PWD, Ikeja for conspiracy and kidnapping in April 2012, but was released two months later, before he allegedly perpetrated Yahaya’s kidnap.

Livinus told reporters that his gang’s operational method includes storming prominent clubs in Ikoyi and other highbrow areas, from where they would kidnap fun seekers while leaving the club.

He confessed to have taken part in three kidnap cases, noting: “The first one was successful. It involved an Indian man, in Victoria Island.

Four of us were involved. At the end of the day, N32 million was paid as ransom out of which I got N5 million.

“The second one was not successful because I was arrested and charged to court but managed to find my way out.”

The 25-year-old Secondary School Certificate holder from Isiala-Ngwa North, Abia state said he used part of his share to buy a plot of land in Lekki.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 29

NCS boss pledges Nigeria-Benin ties

T

HE existing ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin shall be sustained in the years ahead, the new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Border Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Abdul Saleh Othman, has stated.

Othman said that he would do everything within his powers to sustain the existing trade cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin for the mutual benefits of the citizens of both countries.

He said this shortly after his predecessor, Comptroller Sadiq Sahabi, introduced him to his Benin Republic counterpart at the Krake Border.

Othman told the Benin Head of Customs at the border, Mr. Jean Paul Atoun, that Customs administration in the frontier area must not lose sight of the Joint Committee on Commerce (JCC) treaty signed by the Presidents of both countries in 2005 to foster bilateral trade relations between them.

BONUS — From right: Snr. Vice President, Operations, Arik Air, Mr. Rob Thomas, presenting bonus prize (LCD TV-32) to Chinwe Ifezue Clara Paul-Odionhin, Suliat Adeyemi and Susan Petters, winners of Duty Free Highest Sellers, held at Arik Headquarters, Lagos.

US trade with Nigeria, others hits $48bn in 6 months

T

HE total volume of bilateral trade between the United States (U.S.) and Nigeria as well as other countries in the sub-Saharan Africa peaked at $48 billion in the first half of 2012.

A report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Market Access & Compliance/Office of Africa and signed by its officer, S. J. Loucif, stated that the trade volume represented a decrease of 24 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.

The report noted that in accordance with the seven per cent growth of U.S. exports to the world, U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa, which are mostly composed of machinery, increased by 4.5%.

The report put the figure at about $11 billion,

representing only 1.4% of total U.S. exports to the world. It named South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, and Benin Republic as the top five African destinations for U.S. products.

It pointed out that: “While exports to South Africa decreased by four per cent and exports to Nigeria remained constant, exports to Angola increased by 14 per cent, to Ghana by 10 per cent and to Benin by 7%.”

The report said that U.S. imports from subSaharan African decreased by 29 per cent in the same period, falling to $27 billion and representing only 2.4% of total U.S. imports from the world.

“This decrease was mostly due to a 32 per cent decrease in U.S. mineral fuel and oil imports.”

Sudan, NEPC partner on trade promotion

T

RADE promotion between Nigeria and the Republic of Sudan received a boost recently as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Sudan Embassy entered into a strategic partnership to boost the trade relationship between the two countries.

The Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, David Adulugba, said this in Abuja when the Ambassador of Sudan, Dr. Tagelsir Mahgoub Ali paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

With over three million Nigerians living in Sudan, Adulugba pointed

out that there was a huge market for Nigerian products in Sudan, therefore, there is need for strategic partnership between both countries in the area of trade promotion with a view to stimulate export of Nigeria goods to Sudan.

He recalled that the council had spearheaded the participation of Nigeria in trade fairs and trade missions, among other exhibitions organised by Sudan, regretting, however, that since then, trading activities between both countries have been on the decline.

30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 31

32— Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012— 33

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 35

36 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Guber polls: In Ondo, it’s battle in the sun •Presidency, INEC hold stakeholders’ forum today

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & DAYO JOHNSON

T

HIRTY days to the Octo ber 20 governorship election in Ondo State, the leading contenders are upping the ante to out-do one another.

The ruling Labour Party Candidate and Governor of the state christened Sunshine State, Olusegun Mimiko is not sparing any arsenal in his bid to surmount the mounting hurdles being placed on his path to re-election by the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is flying ACN’s flag, Olusola Oke is bearing the umbrella of the PDP in the contest.

Aside traversing the length and breadth of the state canvassing for votes, the eagleeyed contenders are quick to point out any undue advantage their opponents are plotting to exploit to win the contest.

It is on this account that the Olusegun Mimiko Campaign Organisation (MCO) raised the alarm that the ACN leadership planned to rig the polls by using some staff of the Independent National

•Akeredolu

•Gov Mimiko away the gains by INEC in its duties and in accordance with its stance that there must be free, fair and credible elections in the nation, Prof Jega must take more than a cursory interest in what is happening in Ondo State by beaming his searchlight on the activities of some of his officials,” he said.

The ruling Labour Party Candidate and Governor of the state christened Sunshine State, Olusegun Mimiko is not sparing any arsenal in his bid to surmount the mounting hurdles being placed on his path to re-election by the opposition

,

Electoral Commission, INEC. It called on the National Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to monitor the activities of the commission’s officials alleged to have aligned with the ACN to compromise the election.

MCO’s Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi said that since it had dawned on the opposition in the state that they would lose their deposits and fail woefully in a free and fair election, they had resorted to this underhand tactics of compromising some INEC officials. Olabisi said that officials of the commission recently met with some leaders of the ACN in Lagos to strategise on the rigging plans for the Ondo gubernatorial election.

“But in order not to fritter

,

But in a swift reaction, the Director of Media and Publicity, Independent Campaign Network, an arm of the A C N in the state, Bosun Oladimeji, said that it was the LP that wanted to rig the coming election because it was no more popular in Ondo state.

Oladimeji said that LP was an arm of PDP, which he said was a master rigger adding that the ACN was a progressive party that would win the election convincingly.

Akinrinnade lead gladiators to roundtable today: To ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election on October 20, 2012, the 12 governorship candidates, leading stakeholders in Ondo State and other eminent Nigerians will gather in Akure tomorrow for a parley.

The gathering, which will

hold at Royal Park Lane Hotel, Akure and will be chaired by Lt. General Alani Akinrinnade, is being organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs.

Speaking on the stakeholders’ forum, an offshoot of a similar exercise held before the recent gubernatorial elections in Edo State, Senator Ben Obi, special adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, said the parley was necessary to ensure that the forthcoming election was violence-free and credible.

Expected at the forum include Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the Labour Party (LP) candidate; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) flag bearer and Olusola Oke, the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among others.

Indeed, the Police authorities, who have expressed worries over what they called politicising criminalities by political parties in the state ahead the polls. This is coming following spate of violence across the state which is heating up the polity.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Mshelbwala, in a statement, in Akure warned that he would not compromise the subsisting peace in the state. Mshelwala said that necessary measures had been put in place to arrest the ugly trend and warned “those in possession of fire arms illegally are in their own interest

warned to surrender them before they are caught or be ready to face the full wrath of law.”

Police, INEC make promises: In furtherance of the search for violence-free and credible polls; security personnel from 11 states of the Federation including soldiers would be deployed to maintain peace during the polls just as the INEC has promised to make the governorship election an improvement of that of Edo State.

Addressing stakeholders in Akure, the Ondo State Capital on the display of Voters Register ahead of the election, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi said that materials for the October 20 election would arrive all the wards across the state on Friday, October 19.

Orebiyi said that the Commission was prepared for any antics that the politicians might want to play during the election to circumvent the efforts of the commission in organising a free and fair election.

Security personnel According to him the security personnel’s coming from 11 states of the Federation would provide adequate security across the state. “We have put in place machineries to ensure that the October 20 governorship election is an improvement of that of Edo State. In fact this coming election will be the best ever conducted by INEC and it is going to be a model. With adequate security personnel’s including the Military men then we are sure that this election will not only be free but also fair. On opposition parties’ alleged illegal registration of

voters in the state, Orebiyi dismissed the allegation as unfounded.

He said that he had been quizzed by security agents from the Police Force Headquarters on the allegation and it had since been discovered to be a ruse.

Orebiyi expressed worries over several fake allegations flying across the state by the political parties saying that none could be substantiated by them. The REC however assured that if evidence was provided by the parties it would be investigated and if found true the commission would act decisively.

Lapses in the register ”We have done our homework to give a level playing ground to the political parties, this election will be different. The ICT team of INEC has visited Akure three times to correct the lapses in the register. But I want to assure everybody that INEC is prepared to hold the best election in the country with the Ondo governorship election. However the parties should help us because in spite of the allegations of illegal voters’ registration, nobody has come forward with evidence.

We are ready for any ambush by any of the political parties in the state. They will meet us there.”

Orebiyi equally denied the allegation by a political party that over 100,000 voters were transfer to the state for the coming election. He said that that commission only received and treated application for only 55 adding that only 30 applications for transfer of registration were received from outside the state while 25 people applied to transfer their cards within the state.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 37

Governors are a major setback to Nigeria’s democracy — Masari THE name Aminu Bello Masari, cannot be forgotten in a hurry. It was mentioned very frequently in the run-up to the 2007 election. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, he had an uphill task to either support the ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to get a third term or work against it. He chose the latter and the rest is history.

It was also during his tenure that the controversial onshore/offshore oil dichotomy debate reared its ugly head, resulting in the search for a political solution, which gave rise to the passage of the Oil Dichotomy Act of 2005, which the Northern governors are currently demanding to be reviewed to reduce the quantum of money going to a few oil-producing states and to make more funds available to be shared to other states from the federal purse.

As the debate over the controversial matter continues, Masari tells SONI DANIEL in this interview that there is nothing sacrosanct about the Act and that it should be reviewed in the interest of emerging realities. The politician also speaks on other contentious issues, chief among them, Jonathan’s Presidency and his chances in the 2015 polls and compares his style of leadership to that of former President Obasanjo, ending with a knock for governors, whom he says, are the biggest setback to Nigeria’s democratic march. The interview is a must-read.

Enjoy.

HAT he thinks is basically wrong with Nigeria The real problems are with the actors. The country is not lacking in terms of laws. We are the problem because whenever there is legislation, a good citizen is supposed to look at the positive side of the legislation and see how it can be used to better the society. But it is unfortunate that in Nigeria once a new law is passed people look for loopholes to stifle it from serving any useful purpose. So, in reality we can continue amending the Constitution and bringing new Acts into existence but as long as there is no goodwill and intention on our part to really use the positive side of the law to work for the progress of this country, we will continue to have problems.

In other words, the clamour for the amendment of the Constitution is an exercise in futility?

It will not bring the results because what we Nigerians are looking at is wrong. The law will not work by itself to solve the problems on the ground. The Act itself is only a guide, showing what we should do and should not do within the confines of the law. But unfortunately we are always looking for ways to break and not to make the laws to work.

Why he opposed Third Term for former President Olusegun Obasanjo Whatever role I played against the plan is in the Constitution and I have no regret whatsoever.

What I did is what I considered best for the interest of this country.

Obasanjo said the other day that he was not the one, who pushed for third term but he

would have been a beneficiary of the deal, had it succeeded. So, it is left for Nigerians to determine and ask why third term was pushed so hard if there was no beneficiary in mind.

Some Nigerians often argue that Obasanjo would have used the third term to fix Nigeria’s problems Those who make such arguments do not know what they are talking about. If you run a government for eight years, that is long enough to complete your programme. In Nigeria, Obasanjo had ruled for eight years and if he had any unfinished business, his protégé could have done that based on the programmes of the party in power or the records left behind by him.

and continue to do? We all know what this country was in 1999 when Obasanjo took over and we know what it was in 2007 and we know what it is today.

The current President was brought in by Obasanjo, who forced all other potential contestants out of the race, in order to clear the way for the late President (Umaru Musa YarÁdua) and the current one.

Obviously in a way, you can say that Obasanjo is still in power because Jonathan was propped up by him. And again, the country is still being run by the structures put together by him under the PDP, which won the election in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. So, if Obasanjo did not continue his party has continued.

So if Obasanjo was operating

If the Federal Government had accepted and implemented the Uwais Report as recommended, it would have drastically reduced the level of electoral malpractices in the country and stopped the governors from hijacking the political process

,

W

Masari

A typical example of this is the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola. Even if he did not go out to campaign for the 2011 election, he would still have won outright because he had performed creditably well and the record is there for everyone to see. So, once you perform, you don’t have to blow your trumpet. I am sure even the governor ’s enemies would concede that there is evidence of performance in Lagos. What was Obasanjo going to sit back

,

under the manifesto of the PDP one would have expected the late president and the current one to be doing the same thing.

How we can get it right as a country We the people are the problem of this country. I say so because when right-thinking and forward-looking people are looking for leaders, they do not look for people from the ethnic groups they come from, religious affiliations they belong or the geo-political zones they come

from. No, that will not take the country to anywhere. You look at their previous records of performance and other attributes of a good leader. That was why in 1999 even those who were not in PDP voted for Obasanjo because of the belief by many Nigerians that because of his past records as a former military head of state, who handed over power to a civilian administration and opted to play the role of an international statesman.

Fighting for good governance He was at the forefront of fighting for good governance especially in Africa. Nigerians really believed that based on his past records, he would be able to provide good leadership to Nigeria. So, Obasanjo had all the credentials to become a good leader. If Nigerians see in somebody certain qualities of a good leader, they would vote for him. That was what happened to Obasanjo in 1999. The most credible election in this country was the one in 1999. After that one the standards have continued to do down.

But we have been having electoral reforms the last being the Justice Mohammed Uwais.

Why is it that there is no improvement in the electoral fortunes of Nigeria?

If the Federal Government had accepted and implemented the Uwais Report as recommended, it would have drastically reduced the level of electoral malpractices in the country and stopped the governors from hijacking the political process. Look at what the governors have done to the judicial system. That is what we

wanted to correct when at the PDP reform panel but the Governors Forum moved against us and we were at loggerheads with them over the issue.

How would you rate Obasanjo and Jonathan given your knowledge as a Nigerian politician?

Well, the two personalities are quite different for obvious reasons. If PDP had a manifesto, what we would be talking about today would be style of leadership between the two leaders but the fundamentals of the programmes remain the same. It means that the party in power has no programme. So the programmes are tied to the person in power.

Seven point agenda That is why the late President came up with Seven-point Agenda but obviously I cannot say how many points agenda Jonathan has today. But one credit you must give Obasanjo is that once he is convinced about an issue he has the political will to follow it through whether it is good or bad.

He has the courage to do whatsoever he is convinced about. Obasanjo is completely different from Jonathan because of his military background and to be fair to Jonathan, the security challenges he is facing today did not start with him. It is an accumulation of failures on the part of leadership to address certain fundamental issues.

Again, the problem was compounded by the way the insurgency was treated when it

Continues on page 38

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Gov Shettima’s principles now producing results — Gusau, Special Adviser Isa Umar Gusau, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Governor Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State in this interview unfolds how the state government is building peace in the state amidst the insecurity in the Northeast region of the country. Excerpts:

•Governor Shettima

BY ABUTU AGADA

H

OW is Governor Shet tima responding to the persistent security situation in Borno State?

I would crave your indulgence not to speak much on this matter so that I do not contradict an appeal made by my boss last month. You may want to recall that in a Sallah message after the Ramadan, Governor Kashim Shettima had pleaded with the media not to publish efforts being made concerning the need for a peaceful resolution of the crises through dialogue. The governor has been consistent on the call for dialogue since 2011 when he was elected, even before his inauguration. He pioneered that

call, really. What I can tell you is that Governor Shettima regards the restoration of peace and security in Borno State as his number one priority and he is working to achieve that.

How has the governor deployed his experience as an accomplished banker to help the state?

Residents and indeed those who have visited Borno in the last one year, especially those closely monitoring trend of governance appreciate changes going on not only on infrastructure but importantly on the welfare of people.

From my own review, Governor Shettima adopts seven wise principles which summarize his style of governance that are already producing results. First,

Kashim Shettima is a patient-listening and highly consultative governor, who respects professionalism and sense of responsibility; he is not ‘Mr know everything.’ He loves to listen to ideas and opinions of those responsible for particular subjects, he also acknowledges and strongly commends people with good ideas while he sometimes takes immediate action where he is satisfied with the ideas or he makes very wide consultation after passionately thanking whoever initiates such ideas..

How is the governor working to alleviate the problem of poverty in the state?

In the area of poverty alleviation, Governor Shettima has initiated a skills acquisition programme with different centres where youths are trained on how to make bricks, roofing tiles and interlocks with raw materials sourced from suppliers in the state while the youths get paid.

The Governor has been able to redirect everyone’s psychology back to agriculture, he breaths agriculture, talks agriculture, walks agriculture, sleeps agriculture and in fact, he lives agriculture. So, villagers now know that the only thing that attracts the

governor is farming, so everyone wants to display farm produce anytime the governor is passing through local government areas.

The governor has also set up an agricultural transformation team with experts, fully in charge, and there is functional interplay between the state government and the Chad Basin Development Authority. Governor Shettima closely monitors all key projects.

Daily reports on projects He has the habit of waking up and visiting project sites within Maiduguri and any of the 27 local government areas and this makes both contractors and ministry officials on their tosses. Not only does he visit, the governor assigns his special assistants and in some cases relocates them to project sites to give him daily reports of projects and training programmes in particular. This is independent of briefs he expects from commissioners. In addition, he makes regular enquiries from members of host communities where projects are being sited to get their impres-

sions on ongoing works. I think, the fact that the governor maintained his GSM lines from his days as a banker to date makes majority of the populace to have his numbers and contact him easily. His sixth principle is that Governor Shettima has a flexible and unity-based approach to governance which makes him effectively manage diverse sociopolitical interests to forestall too many distractions that can derail government. He does not appear to regard anyone as enemy including opposition politicians because where ever he cites any Borno man in public places regardless of that person’s disposition, he personally walks towards him or her to engage in discussions. His seventh principle is that of sincerity of purpose, everybody in Borno is convinced that Governor Shettima wants to rebuild Borno State, every commissioner and adviser, permanent secretary, director or any one at all, knows that the governor has a clear goal and this makes it easy for all to commit themselves to a shared goal because sometimes there is disconnection when followers do not trust the leaders what happens the is that everyone fools everyone, everyone pretends, it is pure cosmetics. But under Governor Kashim Shettima whether an appointee works are required or not, he or she knows for sure that the governor is sincere about every decision he makes, this is very important for team work and success.

2015 'll be tough for Jonathan — Masari As a result of this statement, even those people who would have wanted to offer assistance had to steer clear so as not to be wrongly accused by the administration.

When there is an issue, as the President and Commander-inChief even if he has information,

,

Continued from page 37 first broke out in Maiduguri.

Extra-judicial killing and public executions without trial which even the United Nations Human Rights Commission also condemned, led to the present situation the nation now finds itself.

But the greatest undoing of the Jonathan government was to think that the problem of insurgency could be best handled alone as a government without taking into consideration the knowledge of the local community people where the insurgency is taking place.

If they were trusted and taken into confidence they would have done more if not stopping it. But certain utterances of the President are not also helping matters. You remember what he said when some militants under the aegis of MEND bombed Eagle Square on October 1, 2010 and claimed responsibility openly.

But the President said his political opponents who had threatened to make the country ungovernable if they did not win the Presidency, were responsible.

C M Y K

not a member of PDP, I did not vote for Jonathan in 2011 and I am not going to vote for him even if he is going to contest in 2015.

Na’Abba was part of the team that went round Nigeria to campaign for Jonathan and he has the right to say what he said. I am not a

Jonathan will have it difficult in 2015 because his utterances are not unifying. He is dividing the people the more. And that is the danger of campaigning on a wrong premise

let him use it wisely because if the President says he knows who did A and B, then he has foreclosed the matter and there is nothing the security agencies can do about it because they would not want to counter him.

On former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Umar Ghali Na’abba's comments that the North would not back Jonathan in 2015 I am not a member of PDP and I am not in the same party with Na’Abba. However, I think that the failure of Jonathan is not only in the North. Like I said, I am

,

member of Jonathan’s party. I am going to vote against him in 2015.

For me, Na’Abba's statement is a plus to my political interest.

Jonathan will have it difficult in 2015 because his utterances are not unifying. He is dividing the people the more. And that is the danger of campaigning on a wrong premise and again he is just surrounding himself with people without experience of the country after emerging as a creation of destiny. He did not emerge as a President because he worked hard for it like others who had gone round the country

campaigning on real issues to lead the nation.

Product of destiny He is a product of destiny and his handlers should handle him as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not the President of Ijaw nation, Niger Delta, South-South or Southern Nigeria.

Why did the House of Representatives under your leadership pass a bill that was at variance with the verdict of the Supreme Court on the oil dichotomy?

I think people are clearly missing the point. You see the issue of onshore/offshore dichotomy was first sent to the House between 1999 and 2003 but because of the various issues that came up one of them being the attempt to impeach Obasanjo, it was never taken.

It was reintroduced later after Bola Ige had gone to the Supreme Court. The late Bola Ige had said even before going to the apex court that whatever the decision of the Supreme

Court the oil dichotomy issues needed a political solution. Go and check the records. Now anybody who wants to blame the National Assembly or Obasanjo on the issue of oil dichotomy is simply trying to play to the gallery.

At a time when it came, the littoral states were asking to be paid revenue for offshore oil taken from as far as 500 nautical miles. The Federal Executive Council, the National Assembly, the Governors Forum and the political parties then agreed to concede up to 200 nautical miles to the littoral states. It was a compromise position taken by all.

But any Nigerian has the right to ask for the amendment of the Act. So in asking for the amendment of the Act, no one should try to play to the gallery because I was the Speaker and I have the records. I know those who spoke to us and those who did not speak to us considering our position on the law. But an Act of the National Assembly can be revisited based on certain information that is now available to the public.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 39

M

ANY analysts of the economics and politics of developing countries (Nigeria included) have agreed to the simple fact that what is needed for success is simple – sensible politics and common sense economics, to be backed by sound administration.

The understanding is that if politics is played in such a way that political differences are based on issues and economic policies are directed towards the goal of prosperity. Thus, the aims of a progressive government would be avoidance of disruptive tendencies in politics and preventing division of the country into the Affluent and the Poor.

In many developing countries with Nigeria as a special example, the enlightening political norms and wise economic imperatives have been sadly neglected over the years giving rise to political upheavals and the incursion of the military into civil administration.

Nigeria, for a period had witnessed political turbulence leading to the undesirable civil war between 1967–1970. Most of the destruction and dislocation of the war years are yet to be finally restored. Also, the infrastructural damages and poor maintenance after the civil war have now become the present-day economic challenges.

Nigeria of today could be likened to ‘a sleeping giant‘ which refuses to wake up or a curious toddler who at the age of 52 would refuse to walk. The politics of today is that of bitterness and thereby, unproductive. The nation has

07059197616

STATE OF THE NATION:

The economy, politics and the politicians refused to taste the lotion of egalitarianism but rather chose the path of social cleavages.

Simply put, the country portrays the wonderful lifestyle of the RICH and the miserable living of the POOR. It also shows the struggle of the middle class to form the barrier between the upper and the lowest social classes. The sorry state of class division was recently noted by a visiting British Footballer (Ferdinand of Manchester United Football Club) who said in an interview, “In Lagos, I was struck by the extreme of wealth; it’s embarrassing to say you came from a ghetto in England, once you have seen some of the poverty there. He added, “But then we visited someone who had Plasma TVs hanging off every wall in the house. The opulence is

unbelievable. There is a lot of money there, I just don’t know if it’s shared the way it should be but then that is everywhere, isn’t it.”

(THE NATION) The picture painted by the British Footballer is not exaggerated but a true reflection of Nigerian economic predicament where extreme wealth mixes with extreme poverty. And yet life goes on without any qualms.

The economy we are told is alright with (GDP rising by 6.2% last August), with foreign exchange reserve reaching an appreciable figure of $40 billion mark (with hope of $50 billion by the end of the year). Thus, to some people, the economy is stable with tolerable exchange reserves, high exchange rate and

The Constitution as a scapegoat Like heavens, constitution and democracy help those who help themselves -Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Chairman Senate Committee on Constitution Review

BY UCHE ANICHUKWU

O

NE of my most favourite English idioms right from my primary school days is the one that says that “A bad workman quarrels with his tools”. And indeed, when things go awfully wrong, as they have certainly gone in Nigeria over the decades, it is only natural for the workmen to pick quarrels with their tools. And at the receiving end of the butts of blame game since 1999 for our slow progress and betrayed hopes has been the 1999 Constitution.

Some say, and correctly so, that the Constitution was written by a select and privileged minority empanelled by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Administration. Others argue that the problem is that the Constitution should have given us a parliamentary system of government. “If we had a parliamentary system”, this group insists, “the cost of governance would have been very low and no president or governor would take the people for granted and the legislature for a ride”. “If our constitution had passed through a constituent assembly and ratified by a

referendum of the citizens”, the civil society would often argue, “this ‘monkey dey work baboon dey chop system’ would not have been in place”. The interests of the poor would have been better protected. The blame game goes on and on.

Now, is it all about the Constitution? Those words the legendary Shakespeare put on the lips of Cassius in his famous work, “Julius Caesar” readily come to mind. In the play, Cassius says to his friend: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings”. Thus, before we nail the 1999 Constitution to the cross, it is just very imperative we consider valid perspectives recently shared by the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in his paper “Strategies for Evolving a People’s Constitution”- during the Presidential Retreat for Civil Society Organisations and Professional Associations at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

Though he has been at the forefront of amending the 1999

•Sen Ekweremadu Constitution to better meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians since the sixth National Assembly; and though he has made progress, spearheading the breaking in the 6th National Assembly the jinx of constitution amendment which had hitherto since 1999, Ekweremadu was nevertheless frank to admit that like heavens, constitution and democracy help only those who help themselves.

According to the Deputy President of the Senate, “There is nothing like a perfect constitution....Even the best constitution in the world cannot yield the best of democracy dividend or drive the lofty dreams of a nation unless there

the expected 3 million additional jobs from agriculture; the era of undue optimism is on.

However without being unduly pessimistic, the economy could not be stable in an era of high inflation (about 11% official but about 30% felt by consumers), high cost of borrowing from the banks by small-scale industries and unfavorable foreign exchange rate (N156/$). Some analysts believe that the past President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom has been described by the CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido as a poor economist, is a better applied economist than the classical economists of the Central Bank.

As former President Obasanjo rightly pointed out, the CBN‘s monetary stance in pursuit of inflation would affect production and growth. If CBN Governor Sanusi feels that inflation is a monetary phenomenon, it is also a function of supply and demand to others. The answer to shortage of commodities is increase in production to avoid price rise. The theoretical

is a general commitment by the leaders and citizens to live by the principles and letters of that constitution.”

Senator Ekweremadu quoted the former President of Germany, Weiszaecker who stated: “Not even the most perfect constitution can ensure the development of democracy in any state if this development is not supported by citizens... (d)emocracy lives from bases which not even the best possible democratic constitution can guarantee the active engagement of the citizens.

Democracy can serve us only if we learn to serve democracy”.

Hmmm! Ekweremadu gave some other insights that should send us thinking when he reminded Nigerians that there is no single document you can refer to as the British Constitution, yet they operate a highly successful democracy because the constitution and the laws are written in the hearts of the people.

There is no doubt that the world has moved from elitist constitution-making to a participatory constitution-making.

It is, in fact, a moral claim because you don’t exclude people from constitution-making processes and still expect them in all morality to live under it. It would amount to another tyranny of the minority in a modern world. Yet if the fault with the 1999

assumption that increase in money supply would lead to prices is ‘classical‘ in nature and does not reflect modern thinking that increase in money supply would stimulate effective demand and most likely cause increase in production. Their assumption is that in a situation (where full employment condition is not reached), effective demand for goods would lead to increase in supply of such goods through activities in the manufacturing sector. It may not be possible to have real economic growth (not paper growth) under condition of high unemployment, with ready and capable hands kept idle when they should be producing goods for home consumption and export.

It is assumed that if the economy is pushed-up to a fair level of full capacity, a satisfactory growth will be ensured.

Experience has shown that a dormant economy might not respond positively to a policy of tight spending being pursued presently by the economists (of yesteryears) of the present Central Bank.

While the fiscal policy of expansion is to “let as much money as possible fructify in the pockets of the citizens, rather than to fritter it away on government activities not absolutely necessary, the monetary policy should complement this by provision of easy money.

Since the present Nigeria is a nation of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with a struggling middle class, far more radical measures are needed for improvement.

Constitution is because it was written by a few persons handpicked by the military, then the United States Constitution should not have worked at all.

The framers of the US Constitution were only 63. Yes, that Constitution was written by just a few of their leaders at the time and was adopted on 17th September, 1787. Yet it has only been amended 27 times in its almost 225-year history!

The 1999 Constitution has also been blamed for lack of details on certain critical matters. But Ekweremadu reminded Nigerians that the original handwritten Constitution of the USA is just four pages. Yes, just four pages! In fact, the United States Constitution Centre described the US Constitution as the shortest and oldest written constitution of any major sovereign state.

That notwithstanding, the US Constitution, according to the Deputy President of Senate, has survived all the trials and triumphs of that nation’s history, including civil war, to steer the USA to number one global force, and a politically, economically, and socially virile and viable nation and, above all, a reference point in democratic governance. *Uche Anichukwu is Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy Senate President

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Sadness as friends remember MC Loph •accuse record label of double-dealing • open trust fund for son

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

S

adness, dejection and blames depict the atmosphere last Friday, when some committed friends of MC Loph relived the unpleasant memories of the crooner’s demise.

MC Loph who came into limelight with the release of a remix of the late highlife legend, Osita Osadebe’s hit song, “Osondi Owendi” few years ago, died in an autocrash alongside his only sister, Chinwe on 14 th of September, 2011, while on his way to Enugu for his traditional wedding.

Also in the SUV, in which the Anambra State born rapper was driving himself, was his then, wife-to-be Nkiru,who at that time was pregnant,but incidentally was the only survivor of the accident.

Prior to his demise, the hardworking musician completed recording a duet with Faze in a song titled “ I know what the girls want.”

T

he friends gathered at a hangout in Aguda, Surulere, to mark one year of his demise. They also seized the opportunity to review the state of things with his family after his death.

Among them were the deceased’s former publicist, Ifenna Ezechukwu and manager, Mgbakor Obinna.

Others were Chukwudi Bambino, Ndubuoke Theodore Ujunwa a.k.a Mr UJ, Toscar Roberts Ugwu and Donatus Okonkwo.

Mr Bambino who spoke on behalf of his friends, lamented the gross negligence and abandonment

INSIDE

Amadi was a showmaker

C M Y K

currently faced by the late musician’s family following g his demise.

“We have observed that when MC Loph died, people raised the family’s hope with promises and since after the burial, have not fulfilled the promises. Between the time MC Loph died and now, a lot of things have happened. As friends, we are not happy with the way things are going on.” he stated.

“MC Loph’s death has taught me a great lesson. While he was alive,he was known to be a very kind-hearted person. He accommodated some of these friends until they finally got a place of their own.

But today, he is no more leaving behind an aged mother, wife and a child.”

Bambino said, even though MC Loph’s dreams were truncated by his sudden demise, there is the need to immortalise him because the late singer contributed immensely to the development of the nation’s entertainment industry.

Continues on page 41

Alleged Arrest: Davido opens up

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

F

ollowing reports that the Assistant Inspector General of Police, allegedly ordered the arrest of popular musician, Davido, over a case of assault brought against him , the fast rising act has come out to clear the air.

In a statement issued through his management company, HKN music and made available to WG, Davido said “it was all lies.”

“I want to assure all my beloved fans and friends that I am not wanted by the police and no officer in the Nigerian police gave an order for my arrest.

I went to the police station some weeks ago to give a statement and my name was cleared. I did not beat up any taxi driver. The lady that hired the taxi driver and all those involved in this matter have made statements to the police and none of them mentioned my name, except the taxi driver who claims that a large sum of

My love story with my Japanese wife

money was missing in his taxi. In fact, the lady in question stated that she was not beaten by anyone and that nobody assaulted the taxi driver.

This is a case of blackmail, and I have resolved not to succumb to any blackmail for money.

And to all those that are involved in this conspiracy to bring me down, I want to remind you that God Almighty himself got me to where I am today in my music career and you will not succeed in your devilish efforts to bring me down,” said Davido.

It would be recalled that recently the news of Davido being declared wanted for a case of assault went viral in the entertainment industry.

According to the report, Davido was said to have allegedly assaulted a taxi driver, Femi Ajibola at Beni Apartments in Victoria Island, Lagos. But as at the time the story made headline, Davido was in the US where he recently shot two videos off his debut album ‘Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis’.

ISIS gaming emerges

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 41

Sadness, blames as friends remember MC Loph Continues from page 40 Speaking further, he accused Morgan Entertainment,the record label that signed a recording contract with the singer before his death, of double-dealing, adding that the outfit apart from not fulfilling its promises to the singer’s aged mother and widow, it went ahead to release the rapper ’s new song without the consent of his family.

Upon MC Loph’s demise, he continued, “ Morgan Entertainment came up with all kinds of empty promises just to promote the label.

They promised to undertake

the responsibility of catering for his family. But till date, they have done nothing to fulfill those promises. Rather, they went ahead to release MC Loph’s new songs without consulting the family.

We have kept quiet enough, and now is the time to address all these anomalies so that it doesn’t repeat itself again.” “ Some spirited artistes came together to shoot a video to ensure that the memory of MC Loph is kept alive. But the video never saw the light of the day because of the outfit’s shady practices.”

However, appealing to Anambra State government and well-meaning Nigerians to support the cause to

immortalise the name of departed musician, Bambimo disclosed that plans are on the way to open a trust fund account with the name of MC Loph’s son, Obiajulu Jr. as a way of securing the future of the poor child. The trust fund, he further disclosed will be managed by the deceased’s wife, Nkiru.

Also, he disclosed that MC Loph’s mum, Mrs. Obiozor has been in and out of hospital since she lost her only two children.

Fresh brawl between NCC, MCSN *Your activities are illegal -NCC

*We are law abiding Nigerians -MCSN

MCSN boss

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

T

he unending feud between the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria, MCSN took a new dimension last Tuesday when the former wielded the big stick against the latter through a raid at its Lagos office.

The regulatory body accused the society of engaging in an illegal collection of copyright royalties on behalf of faceless members some time and therefore warned it to desist from such act.

In a statement signed by Nseabasi Unagwu of the Public Affairs Department of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) following the raid, NCC explained that the raid became necessary in order to forestall the illegal activities of MCSN. NCC Director of Enforcement, Mr. Augustine Amodu said that investigations by NCC had shown that MCSN was engaged in illegal licensing for musical and film works.

He said “Prior to the raid, the Commission had conducted a preliminary investigation on the activities of MCSN to determine whether they were carrying out the functions of a collecting society. The preliminary investigation showed that they were illegally granting license for usage of musical and film works as well as collecting royalties from people they granted license to use these

works and were purportedly distributing royalties to those they chose” Re-stating that the only collecting society approved for music and sound recording

by NCC is the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Amodu added that five officers of MCSN,including Olakayode Ajayi, Halim Mohammed, Njoku Gladys, Yusuf Adoji and Banjo Omolara Bilqis, were arrested during the raid.

“The General Manager, Licensing, of MCSN, Mr Loius Udoh escaped lawful custody while the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mayo Ayilaran, is still at large. Some documents and computers used to carry out the illegal activities were seized during the raid”.

NCC said MCSN has been refused an operating license by five past DirectorsGeneral of the body on the grounds of non-qualification after due process had been approached at three different occasions by c o n c e r n e d stakeholders to find amicable working modalities with COSON. Rather than listen to the stakeholders, the organization continued to engage in illegal collection of music copyright royalties from unsuspecting companies.

Amadi was a showmaker — Delta NUJ

T

he Nigeria union of journalists NUJ Delta state council has described Amadi late group entertainment editor of Vanguard as a powerful show maker who brought unprecedented prominence to entertainment issues in the public psyche.

In a statement, the chairman NUJ , Delta state council Mr Norbert chiazor noted that late Amadi s colourful writings revolutionalized entertainment in Nigeria. “With about two decades of rave reviews in Vanguard late Amadi helped to draw attention to major entertainment activities like music ,pageantry ,fashion and lifestyle ,generating critical acclaim and tremendous social relevance to the entertainment industry in Nigeria” the statement added.

The Delta Nuj further stated that late Amadi had huge passion for entertainment

Resident Evil:

Movie of the week

Retribution SYNOPSIS:

“Resident Evil: Retribution” takes Alice on a world tour to save what’s left of humanity on a planet quickly becoming a giant desert. She has more powers, wears a tight vinyl jumpsuit and has a great haircut.

The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Mila Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils

more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex.

Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by new found allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The film hit the Nigerian box office last weekend.

Movie Schedule September 21st – 27th

.SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, LAGOS

Ted 11:00am, 6:00pm, 8:20pm Resident Evil: Retribution In 3D 11:20am, 1:25pm,3: 30pm, 5;35pm, 7:45pm, 10:00pm.

Savages: 10:50am, 1;15pm, 5:40pm, 8:10pm, 10:30pm Finding Goodluck: 3:40pm.

Step up 4: 1:10pm, 3:40pm, 6:00pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, ABUJA Ted 12;10pm, 2:20pm, 4:30pm, 6:40pm, 8:50pm Resident Evil: Retribution 1:00pm, 3;00pm, 5;00pm, 7:00pm,9:00pm.

Finding Goodluck 1:50pm, 4;00pm, 8:45pm Savages 1:10pm, 3:50pm, 6:35pm, 9:10pm.

Total Recall 11:40am, 4:10pm, 8:20pm.

The Amazing Spider Man 3:40pm.

That’s My Boy 11:50am, 4:20pm, 8:40pm Step up4 12:20pm, 2:30pm,4;40pm, 7:10pm, 9:20pm In the Cupboard 2;10pm, 6:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Resident Evil: Retribution 2:50pm,6:50pm,8:50pm.

Finding Goodluck 1:20pm, 5:10pm,7:10pm In the Cupboard: 12:50pm, 4:50pm.

Total Re c a l l 12:10pm, 4:40pm, 9:00pm.

The Amazing Spider Man 9:10pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Resident Evil: Retribution 12:00pm, 2;10pm,4:10pm,6:20pm,8:20pm Savages 12:30am,3:10pm,5:50pm,8:40pm Finding Goodluck 11:20am, 1:40pm,6:30pm Step Up 4 1:20pm, 3:30pm,5:40pm Mirror Mirror 11:00am, 2:00pm,5:40pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS UYO Resident Evil: Retribution 12:10pm, 2:15pm, 4:30pm,6:50pm.

In the Cupboard: 11:50am, 3:30pm, 7:10pm.

That’s my Boy 5:05pm, 7:00pm.

Think like a Man 12:00am, 2:20pm.

Mirror Mirror 4;40pm, 6:45pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Ted 2:25pm, 4;45pm, 6:50pm, 9:10pm Resident Evil: Retribution 3:30pm,5:30pm,7:30pm Savages 3:10pm,8:10pm Stepup4 2:30pm, 6:40pm, 8:45pm In the Cupboard: 10:35am.

Total Re c a l l : 1:10pm.

The Amazing Spider Man 11:55am.

Madagascar 10:00am.

Late Amadi

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Resident Evil: Retribution 3D 12:35pm, 5:00pm, 5:10pm, 9:25pm Finding Goodluck 11:00am STEP UP 4 in 3D 10:20pm, 2:45pm, 7:10pm That’s my Boy 3:10pm, 9:40pm The Amazing Spider Man 10:00am, 3:05pm Total Re c a l l 10:20am,5:45pm, 8:20pm

GENESIS CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT journalism and Resident Evil: Retribution 12:05am, 2:00pm, 3;55pm, 10:30pm transversed the country Finding Goodluck 7:35pm, 9:20pm covering iconic events Step UP 4 9;50am, 11:50am, 1:50pm, 6:25pm that shaped Nigeria s That’s my Boy 8:25pm entertainment scene.He was such an amiable GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS ENUGU journalist. It noted that Resident Evil: Retribution 10:00pm, 4:25pm, 8:55pm the late journalist would Finding Goodluck 2:50pm, 9:00pm always be remembered STEP UP4 10:00am, for his lively spirit,gusto 2 : 5 0 p m , 9 : 0 0 p m .

Total Re c a l l 2:30pm and enchanting That’s my Boy 10:00am, 4;25pm personality.

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

GROOVE PEOPLE Off-Camera

Mama G lands N3billion Hollywood deal

By Ayo Onikoyi

P

atience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G. may vapprently confirm her stay on the list of Nollywood’s richest people if the gist making rounds that the highly talented woman has landed a Hollywood movie role for a whooping N3 billion has any ring of truth to it.

The gist flying high on Twitter is that Hollywood has offered the top actress N3 billion to star in a new movie called

‘The Evil Chinese Woman’.

As the title of the movie suggests, Mama G. may be pocketing the dough by just being herself (her on-screen self) as the woman is known for nearperfection knack for playing the roles of either the wicked mother in-law or the fairy-mother that turned bad.

Monalisa Chinda dazzles @ her birthday bash

D

o you know

what?

Top actress, Monalisa Chinda was a year older last week.

And to celebrate her birthday, friends, family and colleagues in the entertainment industry treated the fair-complexioned actress to a classy birthday bash .

The star-studded party which took place in an ambiance of laughter and fun, was held at the elite Grotto Lounge & Bar, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Celebrating the ever gorgeous screen goddess and autism advocate, who recently launched her Arise Monalisa Foundation, were some of Nigeria’s most loved movie stars and socialities including Segun Arinze, Ini Edo, Desmond Elliot, Emem Isong, Omoni Oboli and hubby Nnamdi, Mike Ezuronye and Banke Meshida Lawal amongst others.

Levi Hope wins Abe’s talent hunt show

I

t was a night of glitz, glamour and music as the curtain fell on the maiden edition of the Senator Magnus Abe sponsored Lexy M concept music talent hunt in Bori, Headquarter of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The competition designed to hunt talents in Rivers South-East Senatorial District ended with Levi Hope winning the coveted prize and a record deal with Lexy M Concepts.

Levi beat off stiff competition from Lazarus Hebron who came second and Flag Prince placed third at the exciting finale that attracted some best singers in Rivers State and dignitaries from the entertainment industry.

An indigene of Eleme Local Government Area, Levi in an interview shortly after his victory said, “my triumph was as a result of hard work”.

“I’m quite humbled that I was chosen ahead of other equally talented contestants; all I can say is that I will do everything possible to live up to the high expectation”.

He said youths in the area rarely had the opportunity to display their talents towards becoming successful in the Nigerian Entertainment industry and thanked Senator Abe for sponsoring the competition.

Senator Magnus Abe, represented by the Chairman, Gokana Local Government Council, Mr. Ledee Demua said the competition would be a yearly event.

Kel resurfaces

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

R

emember Kel? That foremost female rapper who took the nation’s music scene by storm few years ago. She has been missing in action for a very long time now, and her fans are beginning to ask questions in respect of her disappearnce from the muisc terrain.

The buzz is that Kel decided to go underground after series of negative tales that trailed her short-lived career, including her alleged involvement in examination malpractice. But those in the know believed that the female rapper disappeared without traces because she probably doesn’t have much to offer again after a successful outing with “Wa Wa Alright.” Despite her bid to re-brand

herself, having coloured her hair from black to gold, Kel couldn’t sustain the tempo. It was even rumoured then that she was dropped as one of the ambassadors of famous hair cream manufacturers, SoulMate. The rumour was later confirmed.

Also, she was said to have lost a N70 million deal due to her snobbish attitude. According to squealers, Kel allegedly mistook the consultant who approached her for the said deal as one of her stalkers. So she snobbed him and he angrily walked away.

Since then, not much has been heard and seen about her and her music career until recently when she surfaced on social network, Twitter, where she’s been tweeting more often than not.

Her fans are wondering where she’s been, and what she’s really up to?

Hi-GROOVE

Chief Kennedy Fintan Nnaji is the Chief Executive Officer of NahfKenn Associates Plc, Japan. He is an ardent football lover and a philanthropist. He was among the Nigerian citizens in Japan who did everything possible to support the Super Falconets in the just concluded 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World in Japan. In this Interview with Hi Groove, Chief Nnaji let us in to his world. He talks about his love for soccer, his Japanese wife and why he didn’t play professional football and more. Enjoy!

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 43

My love story with my Japanese wife — Kennedy Nnaji

eeting my Japanese w i f e To be honest, I don’t fall in love so easily because I take my time so as not to make mistakes. And when I say I love you it comes from the bottom of my heart. Usually, In Japan, when you meet a woman; you would start by going to Coffee shop and other interesting places to thrill her. When I met my wife, then, I was coming out from the gym. I stopped her and she ran away and I pursued her. And when I got her, I asked why she ran, she told me that she has never met a foreigner before. I told her never to worry.

Then, I got her number and before you know it, we started dating and the rest now is history as we have had three children, Two girls and a boy.

So, our marriage of 15 years have been wonderful and we have never had a problem even when the country wanted me to repatriate me on the grounds that I have overstayed my welcome, she stood her ground and maintained that I must stay.

To be honest to you, she is a benefactor and not only a wife; she is not like other foreign women who would want to dominate the home and their husbands. She’s always submissive, in everything.

And by his grace she is the Lolo of my town.

G

rowing up My parents gave birth to nine children but one later died. Growing up was interesting especially coming from a strict home where both parents were teachers.

Really, they gave us a very good start in life, a sound moral background, teaching and guiding me and my siblings in the right path.

Their high moral integrity and discipline have been the defining principles in our lives.

C M Y K

Do you still have thought of going back to Nigeria for an African wife?

For now, it is not in my agenda.

•Kennedy Fintan Nnaji

,

P

I have always loved football and will continue to love and support it in my own little way.

continued with my passion for soccer. I have always loved football and will continue loving and supporting it in any capacity I can.

How often do you exercise?

I exercise regularly and do more of Jogging and running.

Sometimes, I go to the gym and I also do road-walk., it is part of me to keep fit and maintain my shape.

Daily Routine

Me and Women Even though I don’t fall in love so easily, I still respect women a lot because they are powerful .I know I have a good body structure and women admire me a lot, but then, I treat them with respect.

M

By KATE OBODO, JAPAN

Childhood memories I have a lot of childhood memories but the one I can’t forget so easily was an incident that almost ruined my life as a child.

It happened when my mother went to the market, leaving an instruction for my elder sister to give us food. Having given us food, she couldn’t put any meat in my soup. She claimed that my mum did not permit her to do so. After dishing the food to me, I realized there was no meat in it, I asked why she did not give me meat and she said my mother didn’t instruct her to do so. I was so furious with her and poured the hot pot of soup on her. But thank God the soup was not hot enough to give her any serious burn that could disfigure her.

When my father came back and heard of the matter, he flogged me mercilessly and that was one experience I still remember up to this moment . assion for football My love for football started from my elementary school up to secondary level.

Even when I came to Japan I never stopped loving the sport. Although, I should have been a professional star but my mother was against my playing soccer because she thought I would attain great heights playing soccer. Her fear was that I could sustain injury thereby jeopardising my career and future. But in spite of her objection, I

is the occasion that determines what I wear and not my mood.

,

To be honest with you, I wake very early at 6am and do road-work after which I come back and take my shower and eat my breakfast prepared by my Japanese wife. Then, I set out for the day.

Smoking and drinking Because I have a strict family background where my both parents were teachers, smoking is something that has never appealed to me. For drinking, I am an occasional

drinker.

F

ashion and style I like good and fitted clothes. I also try to fit in with the modern style or trend.

Now, I am talking of both the Japanese fashion trend and the Nigeria fashion trend. But one thing I don’t do is to wear clothes that are not in my capacity or my age rather above my age. Mostly, I dress to fit my body structure because I love fashion a lot. I always like good and quality wears; shoes, suits, ties, perfumes etc. Because I believe looking good is good business.

Mood and dressing I don’t allow my mood to dictate what I wear. Mostly, it

Allowing my children to marry Japanese Of course, I would allow my daughters to marry whoever they want to marry, be it an Arab, an Afghanistan or Japanese. But all depends on whether the lady in question would also adapt to our African culture.

Best Meal/fruits I don’t have a particularly meal but I eat good foods, both African dishes and Japanese dishes.

I’m not the complaining type in terms of food. Give me any food and I assure you I would be okay even though it is my first time.

For fruits, I eat a lot of fruits like pawpaw, oranges and apples.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 45

By AYO ONIKOYI E-mail: sayonikoyi@gmail.com

Linda Ikeji plans London VIP birthday bash

F

oremost blogger and a girl about town, Linda Ikeji is going to add another year come September 19th and the foremost news merchant will be celebrating her birthday in London at absolutely no cost to her!

Yes, she will be paying no dime as an outfit named Cokobar is picking up the tabs to see the beautiful online journalist has a birthday to remember. According to the source who hinted SP of the setup, Cokobar will be flying her to and fro, free of charge and even take up arranging the birthday shindig where she will meet up with some of her fans based in London.

The date is Saturday September 22nd at Cokobar, 1, Lovat Lane, EC3R 8DT London. Word has it that some of Linda’s friends who wants to go with her may have to pay just some fees with so much kid-glove treatments planned for them, just for the taking.

Tokunbo Afikuyomi denies lovechild S

enator Tokunbo Afikuyomi is embroiled in another controversy. This time around, the matter has to do with the foundation of his matrimonial home as the gist has it that aside his beautiful wife, Modupe and her children, the former Senator and Lagos Commissioner of Tourism, has another illegitimate child.

Reports gave the name of the child as Oluwatofunmi and he is said to have given birth to the child through a lady known as Tokunbo Adebanjo, who resides in the United Kingdom.

However, upon enquiry, the bubbly politician tacitly denied it, calling it, in his own words “Very lazy and unintelligent proposition”. As honest as the chubby politician sounds those in the know insist that the case is causing some ripples in his marriage and not helping matters with relationship with his other kids.

*Afikuyomi

Futures and Bonds boss shak es shakes Ogbomosho ffor or mum’s burial

T

*Linda Ikeji

Quincy Ayodele splashes ‘freebies’

A

gain, the public will have the opportunity of unprecedented reduced prices of all Quincy Herbal Slimming services as the company has put together ADay specials to the delight of people both locally and internationally. The Bonanza packaged by delectable grandmother, Dr (Mrs) Quincy Olasumbo Ayodele who returned to our shores after a trip to America to assist her daughter Tobi Ayodele-Keeney who was delivered of a baby boy couple of months back in the United States, is one of the ways she gives back to the society.

According to Quincy , “the One-Day Slimming Bonanza will definitely be a memorable one for both regular and prospective customers who seize the opportunity”. The event scheduled for September 22nd is sequel to the clamour for a repeat of the special day by numerous customers among whom are those who witnessed and those who could not attend the Super Saturday Promo in May. As usual, lots of freebies will be on hand to spice up the day as the event goes on simultaneously in all the three branches in Opebi, Ikoyi and Abuja . Partakers will enjoy different sessions that include special packages for everyone, including the ‘Slimming’ varieties. *Quincy Olasumbo Ayodele

he ancient town of Ogbomosho in Oyo state is not a usual place that turns up on the world map as a tourist destination or a holiday resort, even for fun or business but the quiet town on Saturday, September 1st shot into the glare of world’s attention when Akinwunmi Ladeji, Managing Director of Futures and Bonds Limited buried his father, Late Chief John Agboola Ladeji who passed on at the ripe age of 91 years.

The burial ceremony was tagged ‘Celebration of Life’ and it was indeed so as the children and grandchildren of the deceased spared no expense in seeing to it that the final outing for their late father was as celebratory as it was funfilled.

*Akinwunmi Ladeji Eminent personalities from various spheres of life left their busy schedules behind to spend the weekend in Ogbomosho and the Ladejis made sure they would have no

cause for regrets as they made absolutely certain everyone that came was adequately provided for.

Some of the notable personalities who came include Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala, former governor of Oyo state, Chief Adebayo Adetunji, Prof. Ademola Oyejide, Chief (Mrs) Okoye of Krystle, Mr Abibu Ayinla, Chief Wale Taiwo, Barr. Musa Nasir and Alhaji Munir Lawal.

Others are Segun Oloketuyi of Wema Bank, Tutu Buraimoh, Biola Adetounmu, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, Rtd. Colonel Edward Ladoye, Dayo Ayeni, Saka Balogun, Kehinde Oyadiran, Michael Oyekunle of Samsung Group, Sonny Obaze , Remi Adeoye, Abraham Ojo and many others.

Oluremi Tinubu receives Iyaloja’s grandson’s wife into the Tinubu household

A

lthough the political icon, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was not there but the whole household of the Tinubu family led by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, their associates and friends were there when the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Alhaja Abbibat Mogaji’s grandson, Jamiu took to the altar his bride at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television complex, Alausa, last Saturday, September 8th.

The 90-something Iyaloja was not on hand to direct matters but the Senator was there, along with the parents of the couple even though the groom’s parents were represented by members of the family. It was pretty much market leaders’ convention but anybody who came adorning the 25-thousand aso-ebi had as good as a pass into the *Senator Oluremi Tinubu party.

But the highpoint of the day after all the glam-glam was the handling over of the new bride to the Tinubu’s family and none other than the beautiful Yeye Asiwaju Tinubu could fit the bill. Traditionally, the most senior wife accepts the new wife into the family and it obviously showed the Senator must now rank the eldest in the ranks of wives in the Tinubu family of Lagos.

46 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

ISIS gaming emerges T

he 80 years experience of the ISI Gaming Limited has been described as a major contributing factor to the improvement of Nigerian economy.

The Marketing Head, ISIS Gaming, Ms Okharedia Otibho, said this in conference on how the company, has changed the face of lottery in the country due to its community and development orientation.

According to Otibho, the historical relevance of lottery has supported local projects and charities, as well as developing the games. She said that with very high winning odds and increasing pay-out ratios, the company hopes to improve the

economic power of Nigerians “To continually develop new games with the highest industry winning odds and payout ratios, the games will improve the economy”.

At the heart of ISISG’s strategy to achieving its Vision and Mission is its technical partnership with a company that has a combined experience of over 80 years in the gaming industry. She said “ISIS Gaming models are in three categories: C Money, Money Rain and Big Boy. They are targeted at the entire population within the age brackets of 18 and 55. We intend to create a platforms that offer players a wide variety of gaming options at very fair odds, showing that lottery play can be fun, exciting and ultimately rewarding”. she added.

Samsung debuts with phonepowered hybrid camera

Keyboard that converts iPad into laptop

O

ne of the major downsides of most iPad cases and keyboards is that they are flimsy and impossible to use on your lap. This leaves most iPad owners prefer to use their tablets without a keyboard.

Another problem is that those with big fingers, often find the buttons of these keyboards excessively small to type on.

But with the new CruxSKUNK case, a turn around is seen in the design of iPad keyboards.

B

esides the Ativ Windows 8 device that Samsung introduced at the IFA expo in Berlin Germany, the device maker also debuted with a phone powered Galaxy camera.

Apparently, Samsung know that Smartphone cameras actually don’t cut the real camera bug.

They’re fine for the purposes of quick snaps and for sharing on social networks but even photographs taken camera phones no matter the resolution of the megapixels look a bit pants when displayed on anything larger.

This makes many professional photographers still argue that for ultra-portable photography, compact cameras still remain the best.

So for photography enthusiasts hoping to keep their gadget-count to a minimum, Samsung’s Galaxy Camera, comes handy. With built in connectivity, the camera supports social networking. Although there’s a pure resemblance with the normal Android phone, save for the protruding lens, the device has no voice support, meaning that a user can not make a call with it. However, with Jellybean in tow, the Galaxy Camera is otherwise a fully-fledged Android device.

*Samsung Galaxy Camera

* iPad computer

Apple iPhone 5 unveiled with taller screen and 4G

A

pple has unveiled a taller, 4G-enabled iPhone at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday.

The device’s new size allows it to display an extra row of app icons on its home screen.

According to Apple, the new device is 18% thinner and 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S. The screen measures 4in (10.2cm) which is still smaller than rival devices from Samsung, Nokia, Motorola and HTC. Perhaps, the reason why Apple said the larger screen could still be easily operated with one hand But a likely minus to the new device is that it does not support the NFC window. Analysts predict that in no distant time, the smartphone could replace the plastic card, and by skipping this technology, Apple may be playing catch-up to Nokia and other device makers who have taken lead by including this application in their devices.

But Apple says the device would work on Everything Everywhere’s *Apple (EE) 4G LTE network in the UK. iPhone

Built from rigid materials, the user can set his iPad on his lap, the same way he would a laptop computer.

The CruxSKUNK also promises a full-sized keyboard with real keys.

The developers clearly had versatility in mind when they developed this case. They included a 360-degree hinge, which allows the user to put it in almost any desired position. This means that it can rotate flat giving way for use as if it was not connected to a keyboard case or the user can also spin it so it is used as a stand, which makes watching movies easier.

The CruxSKUNK comes in 19 mm thick, with a 6 mm base, so it does not bulge out and become inconvenient to carry about. The CruxSKUNK connects via Bluetooth. It has a 350 mAH battery that should only need a charge once a month. It comes with a USB sync cable for charging when the battery does eventually run out.

The device also includes a leather sleeve for carrying it around.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012— 47

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Legal dimensions of self determination threat (2) Femi Falana, SAN, in this second instalment, argues that Gen. Gowon ceded Bakassi following a well thought out brief from then Commissioner for External Affairs, Okoi Arikpo who was of South Eastern State origin

from that period. Whether the vote meant that the people of Southern Cameroons should form their own country or be fused with French Cameroun is another curious angle that has recently surfaced".

If that was the situation, however, one wonders why the area was not immediatelyannexedtoCameroon atthetimewhentheSouthernCameroonwasjoinedwithFrenchCameroon or could it have been that the United Nations did not want Bakassi to form part of the French Cameroon at the time given the territory's cultural homogeneity with Nigeria?

Forinstance,oneofthelegalproblems that Gowon was confronted with was the grey area in the Anglo-German Treaty as it affected the Bakassi Peninsula; the dispute about the offshore border and precise delineation of the approach channel to the Calabar Port. According to the treaty, the navigable portion of the channel was to lie wholly within Nigeria while the peninsula itself was to lie wholly within Cameroun.

Be that it may, when Gen. Yakubu Gowown was confronted with theissueon his ascendancytopower, he could have done either of two things; first, call on the UN to conductanotherplebiscitetodetermine the fate of the people of Bakassi or move to cede the territory to Cameroon in accordance with the 1961 plebiscite.

Healing the wounds of war

Map of Bakassi peninsula in April 1926

BY FEMI FALANA, SAN

F

OLLOWING the 1953-54 constitutional conferences which eventually introduced federalism into Nigeria, they had representativesintheEasternparliament though, by that time also, the Southern Cameroon had begun the agitation for autonomy from the Nigerian federation. In 1953, the British government granted their request as a result of which the Southern Cameroonbecameanautonomous region.

However,whenNigeriaandCameroon were preparing for their independence, the people of SouthernCameroonwerefacedwiththree posers: whether to join Cameroon, Nigeria or just to remain as an independent country all in a bid to properly determine where their interests would be best served. It was against this background that the United Nations, in 1961 conducted a plebiscite where they put two al-

ternatives in the ballot box - to be with Nigeria or Cameroon. They were not given the option to form their own country and this could be attributed to the negative influence of Britain at the UN opposing such a move. Be that as it may, the Northern Cameroon voted to be united to Nigeria while the English speaking Southern Cameroon voted to be part of the French Cameroon.

The understanding of this political history of the Eastern territorial boundary of Nigeria is significant to this discussion taking into consideration the fact that Bakassi is arguably believed in some quarters to be part of the Southern Cameroon and there were insinuations that the people of Bakassi also participated in the plebiscite.

Some people even argued that they also voted to be part of Cameroon. For instance, Dr. Nowa Omoigui, while reacting to an article entitled "Gowon, the Queen and the stolenbronze,"byReubenAbatipos-

ited inter alia: "during the Cameroon/Nigeria plebiscite of 1961, 21 polling stations were physically located in the Bakassi peninsula. UN records clearly show that approximately 73 per cent of the people living there at that time voted not to be administered under independent Nigeria. This is fairly easy to confirm either from the UN itself or Ambassador BA Clark who was DeputyPermanentSecretaryExternal Affairs in 1970/71.

Future generations in the area The precise number of polling booths and their exact locations is a matter of public record. It is fair to assume that the vote was binding on future generations in the area.

The question of whether it could have been different - as was the case with Northern Cameroons - is one of the more fascinating but unexamined aspects of Nigeria's history

Hechosethelatterforobviousreasons; the country had just survived a three year civil war in which his authority as head of state and commander in chief was very heavily batteredtherebymakingitpolitically inexpedient to undertake another such a risk instead of healing the wounds of war. Secondly, he relied ontheopinionsoflegalscholarsand experts including senior public officials from the office of the Federal Ministry of Works who were in charge of federal surveys and responsible for cartographic surveys of Nigeria and thirdly, even before Gowon called for legal opinion on the status of Bakassi, there was also a suggestion that the United States government at the time also viewed the territory as belonging to Cameroon.

However, by far the most weighted consideration by Gowon was the legal opinion which was prepared in 1970 by Prof. Teslim Olawale Eliaswhoarguedamongothersthat given the legal precedents and the role of Cameroon during the civil war, Gowon should cede the territory to Cameroon.

IalsounderstandthatGowonwas influenced to take the decision by a "well thought out formal brief from then Commissioner for External Affairs, Okoi Arikpo, (who was of SouthEasternStateorigin),inwhich he clearly stated that Nigeria had no legal claim to the Bakassi peninsula".

Hence, given these circumstances, Gen Gowon ceded the territory

to Cameroon and executed an agreement with President Ahidjo of Cameroon. Again, in the words of Dr. Omoigui, "the issue of Bakassi itself was sealed by the Ministry of Justice legal opinion, supported by Okoi Arikpo of External Affairs, based on decades of legal and political precedent.

If the people of the Bakassi peninsula had either boycotted the Cameroon plebiscite altogether or had voted along with the rest of Southern Cameroons to stay in Nigeria, the matter would have been much less complicated although it couldstillhavebeenaninternalborder problem between states...General Gowon relied on experts from the Federal Survey Department in the Ministry of Works on what the offshoredelineationoftheapproach channel to the Calabar Estuary should be - up to the three-mile limit."

It is, however, arguable whether GenGowonhadpowertosignsuch an agreement with Cameroon without the approval of the Supreme Military Council. The ownership of the territory continued to generatecontroversiesbetweenNigeria and Cameroon for several years that followed until 1994 when CameroonapproachedtheInternational court of Justice on the dispute and requested for a ruling "relating essentially to the question of sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula", which Cameroon declared was under the control of Nigeria.

,

BAKASSI PENINSULA:

To be concluded

GeneralGowon reliedonexperts from the Federal SurveyDepartment in the Ministry of Works on what the offshoredelineation of the approach channel to the Calabar Estuary should be - up to the three - mile limit

,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 49

The story of Bakassi peninsula (2)

Century of colonial agreements Ahmadu Ahidjo, former Camerounian president

General Gowon was only a subaltern at the time. On February 11 and 12, 1961, a plebiscite was held to “clarify the wishes of the people living in Northern and Southern Cameroons."

The population of Northern Cameroons had earlier - in 1959 - “decided to achieve independence by joining the independent Federation of Nigeria”, while the population of Southern Cameroons, whose plebiscite could not be done in 1959 for security reasons, now “decided to achieve independence by joining the independent Republic of Cameroon” (General Assembly resolution 1608 (XV) of April 21, 1961). Note that there were 21 polling stations on the Bakassi peninsula itself and that 73 per cent of the people living there

Gen. Yakubu Gowon

voted to “achieve independence by joining the independent Republic of Cameroon”. (Note the N January 1, 1960 the blunder here. By spelling it as French Cameroons be“Cameroon”, rather than “Camcame independent. Instruments eroun”, the UN created an opencreating the new country and ing for the people of the “Southexchange of notes between ern Cameroons” to say they nevFrance and Cameroun rehashed er voted to join “Cameroun” all its colonial boundaries as dewhich is the former French terrifined by previous colonial agreetory. ments.

In 1962, the government of TafOn October 1, 1960, Nigeria beawa Balewa exchanged diplocame independent. Instruments matic notes with Cameroun accreating the new country and exknowledging the fact that Bakaschange of notes between Britain si was not Nigerian territory. and Nigeria rehashed all its coGeneral Gowon was a T/Captain. lonial boundaries as defined by Maps from that period show previous colonial agreements.

Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun, Maps dated 1960 show that the following the results of the 1961 Bakassi peninsula was clearly plebiscite. In January 1966, Mawithin the “Southern Camejor General Ironsi came to powroons”, not “Nigeria proper.” er in Nigeria. He committed his government to respect all prior international agreements made by the Balewa government. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun.

In July 1966, then Lt. Col. Gowon came to power in Nigeria.

He too committed his government to respect all prior international agreements made by the Ironsi and Balewa governments. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun.

In 1970, moves began to be made by independent Cameroun and post-civil war Nigeria to clarify their maritime border which was vaguely defined by the 1913 Anglo- German Treaty.

Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun, but the offshore boundary was unclear since there was no detailed demarkation of the “navigable portion” of the approach channel to Map of existing Nigerian and Equatorial Guinean oil concessions in the Calabar estuary. relation to Cameroun's claim line

BY NOWA OMOIGUI

O

Then Attorney General Elias correctly advised the Gowon government that post-colonial Nigeria had no legal basis for contesting the Bakassi peninsula itself, but that work to delimit the offshore boundary and vague sections of the land boundary should proceed at full speed in accordance with the original AngloGerman Treaty of 1913.

The technical problem thus became deciding exactly what part was “navigable” and what was not. It is this matter that was addressed on April 4, 1971 at Yaoundé when Nigeria’s General Gowon and Cameroun President Ahidjo, accompanied by large delegations, signed the “Coker-Ngo” Line on British Admiralty Chart No. 3433 “as far as the three-nautical-mile limit.”

The status of the Bakassi peninsula proper was not an issue for discussion. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun.

Foreign policy decisions On June 1, 1975, Gowon and Ahidjo signed the Maroua Declaration for the partial extension of the 1971 maritime boundary.

Again, the status of the Bakassi peninsula proper was not even an issue for discussion. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun.

On July 29, 1975 General Gowon was overthrown by General Murtala Muhammed. One of the first acts of that regime was to begin to question all the domestic and foreign policy decisions made by General Gowon including the offshore maritime border with Cameroun.

In the rush to smear Gowon publicly, he was held accountable for “giving away Bakassi” an event that had actually occurred before he was born. Muhammed’s decision to renege on Gowon’s agreements with Ahidjo resonated with a section of the population which had been hoping for a way to get out of its commitments to Cameroun deriving from the 1961 plebiscite and the colonial heritage dating back to 1884.

Still, Nigerian official maps

The Hague confirmed what Elias had said in 1970 and reiterated almost a century of colonial agreements which had repeatedly placed Bakassi peninsula inside Kamerun/Cameroon/ Cameroun.

It also went further to provide guidelines for the final clarification of the offshore border - which if anything, is the only issue about which General Gowon, acting on advice from some civil servants, may not have been as aggressive as he could have been. But even that is a matter of technical detail, not treason.

Post-script: On September 3, 2002 a few weeks to the Judgment of the ICJ, Chief R. Oluwole Coker, the Nigerian Surveyor who, along with Mr. Ngo of Cameroun decided the “Coker-Ngo” offshore line of 1971, which Gowon and Ahidjo signed, died. May his soul rest in peace.

Continues next week

,

Nowa Omoigui in this second instalment, asserts that Tafawa Balewa's government following the plebiscite in 1961, exchanged diplomatic notes with Cameroun adding that Bakassi was not in issue

from that period and continuing till today except a few that were reprinted on orders from the Babangida government in 1991 show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun.

The rest of what transpired in 1981, 1994, 1996 and since then is well known - including General Abacha’s moves to formally create an administrative set up there and all the military clashes. 20. On October 10, 2002 the International Court at

On June 1, 1975, Gowon and Ahidjo signed the Maroua Declaration for the partial extension of the 1971 maritime boundary.

Again, the status of the Bakassi peninsula proper was not even an issue for discussion.

Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in Cameroun

,

50 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

‘NUC rating confirms Caleb Varsity’s standard'

Delta Central HOSTCOM dissolved

BY FESTUS AHON

U

A

N educationist and the Visitor to Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Dr. Ola Adebogun, has described the 100 per cent success the institution recorded at the accreditation exercise carried out by the National Universities Commission, NUC, as a confirmation of the university’s commitment to high standard of education.

Dr. Adebogun, who said this in a statement at Imota, stressed that the full accreditation status given to all the university’s programmes has confirmed the institution’s core objective of ensuring the production of quality graduates that would contribute positively to national growth.

He stated that the feat was achieved with the concerted efforts of both the academic and non-academic staff of the university who were involved in the onerous task of the students’ educational development and well-being, tailored at the production of required manpower and capacity building for national advancement.

UNVEILING: From left: Mr. Abiodun Odejayi, Head, Marketing (hand held products), Samsung Electronics, West Africa; Jumoke Okikiolu, HHP Samsung Electronics, West Africa and Mr. Tonye Briggs, Regional Director (North/ South, hand held products), during the unveiling of the new Samsung Chief Hero E1500 mobile phone at Shoprite, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday. Photo : Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

GHELLI—THE Chief Moses Irimisose-led executive of Host Communities of Nigeria, Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Delta Central chapter, has been dissolved over alleged inability to perform its duties.

According to communiqué after HOSTCOM, Delta Central chapter meeting, a caretaker committee has been put in place to pilot affairs of the group until a fresh

Court remands suspected rapist

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

LAUNCHING: From left: Mr John Ugbe, Managing Director, Multichoice Nigeria; Mrs Biola Alabi, MD, MNET; Mr.. Armstrong Ndachaba, Zonal Director, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation and Mr. Mayo Okunola, GM, DSTV Mobil/GoTV, at the launch of new Walka 7 DSTV mobile in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

N Ikeja Magistrate Court in Lagos State, has remanded in prison custody, a 30year-old suspected rapist, Taoreed Oseni, over alleged rape of a teenage girl inside a church toilet.

The accused, whose residential address is unknown, was said to have had carnal knowledge of the 18-year-old secondary school student on July 20 in a toilet at Methodist Church in Mafoluku area of Lagos.

E

NUGU—CON FERENCE of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, yesterday, called on Enugu State House of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Sullivan Chime for alleged subversion of due process, fraud and execution of contracts without appropriation.

Similarly, Enugu State Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Mr. Sunday Onoh and a member of the party in the state, Mr. Osita Okechuwu, yesterday, dragged Governor Chime before a Federal High Court, Enugu, over the proposed N13.6 billion state secretariat complex.

The plaintiffs are, among other things, praying the court to “restrain the governor, his agents or proxies from demolishing the old State Secretariat building at G.R.A. Enugu and erecting a new Secretariat Complex at

the site as recently announced by Enugu State Government.”

Addressing newsmen in Enugu, state chairman of CNPP, Mr. Adonys Igwe, said the organisation, decided to demand for Governor Chime’s impeachment in view of some identified constitutional breaches by his government.

CNPP cited a recent advertorial placed by the state government in a national daily, which it said

contained “outrageous pre-qualification requirements, principal among which is evidence of satisfactory execution and completion of building construction contracts with annual cumulative value of at least N400 million in the last three years. The advertorial contained only three lots the summary of which is construction of 6-classroom block and remodeling of existing school buildings.

“Our investigations at Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Abuja, shows that the initial procurement plan contained over 600 lots, and later substituted with a three lot plan in suspicious circumstances.

What explanations can one offer in support of the dubious pre-qualification requirement if the government has no plan to divert or make business out of it for self aggrandizement using fronts and cronies?”

IIMCD president laments infrastructure decline Omonze said infrastruc- on effects leading to a

T

HE Regional Coordinator of World Infrastructure Summit for Africa and President of Initiative for Infrastructure and Modern City Development, IIMCD, Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Omonze, has lamented that the demand for infrastructure was outstripping supply all over the world, saying new strategies must be devised to address the deficit.

ture funding would be at the forefront as government officials from Nigeria, North/South America, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and Africa meet at the third World Infrastructure Summit taking place at the Ramada Apollo, Amsterdam on November 14 and 15.

He said: “With such a sharp decrease resulting from a fragile global economy and the knock

retreat by project finance lenders, it has become even more vital to know exactly where, and from whom, future funding will be found, as well as what the real bankable project pipeline will look like.

"As the impact of regulation changes, the pool of those with the capacity to lend long term is decreasing and the void is palpable.”

However, when the charge was read to the accused before the Chief Magistrate A. B. Olagbegi-Adelabu, he pleaded not guilty.

Police prosecutor, Rachael Williams, told the court that the teenager was inside the toilet before the accused forced his way in without the girl’s consent and committed the alleged offence.

Williams informed the court that the said offence is punishable under Section 260 of the Criminal Law No. 11 Vol.44 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Condoleezza Rice speaks at global leadership summit

CNPP demands Chime’s impeachment F over alleged constitutional breaches

BY TONY EDIKE

election is conducted.

It said: “The Irimisoseled executive had over stayed its two years tenure having been inaugurated in August, 2009.”

The communiqué by Mr. John Ayoro, said: “In 2009-2010, host communities decided to take Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC to court for mismanagement of their funds and lack of development of the host communities.

The money to pursue the suit was contributed by the host communities.”

ORMER United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, who is also a former Provost, Stanford University, is expected as a guest speaker at the Global Leadership Summit, scheduled to hold in different centres across the country between September 28 and November 20.

National Coordinator of Vision International Christian Ministries, Francis Olubambi, who is organising the annual

summit, disclosed this in Lagos yesterday, saying Rice will be joined at the summit by Jim Collins, author of the book, Great by Choice, as well a s Pranitha Timothy, P a t r i c k Lencioni, Carly Fiorina, among other speakers, in a video cast across the various centres.

He said: “When a leader rises to the level of an American Secretary of State, you have to admit that she is worth listening to.”

Seminar on postal sector to hold in Lagos

A

public lecture de signed to promote professionalism in the postal sector of the economy will hold on September 25 at Airport Hotel Ikeja.

Chairman, Planning Committee of the event, Mr. Toyin Olufade, said dignitaries such as the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Mobola Johnson, Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr.

Kayode Opeifa, President, Nigeria Internet Group, Mr. Bayo Banjo and the Registrar/CEO, Meristem Registrars, Mrs. Mubo Olasoko, are expected to grace the occasion Mrs. Johnson is expected to speak on Implication of Draft ICT Policy on Postal Sector, Mrs Bolanle Onagoruwa and Mr Kayode Opeifa will speak on “Sustaining The Postal Sector: Postal Bill & Reform” and “Effects Of New Lagos Traffic Law On Postal Sector” respectively.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 51

Syria ‘bombs petrol station queue’

A

warplane attacked a petrol station in the north-east of the country, killing at least 30 people, opposition activists said.

A rebel group said people had been queuing for petrol and diesel near Ain Issa at the time.

The village is some 20 miles (32km) from the Tal al-Abyad border post, seized by rebels on Wednesday after a lengthy battle with government forces.

The number of casualties was expected to rise, reports said.

Unverified footage posted online showed several charred vehicles and one activist group said 70

wounded people had been taken to hospital in the nearby town of Raqqa.

One activist told AFP news agency that the filling station was the only one still operating in the area and had been crowded at the time of the explosion.

A barrel of explosives was dropped on the petrol station, opposition activists said, causing a huge explosion and fire.

Syria’s armed forces have exploited their air power in recent weeks, the BBC’s Jim Muir reports from neighbouring Lebanon.

The use of hugely destructive but crude bombs involving a barrel packed

Sudan blocks YouTube over anti Islam film

T

HE government of Sudan has blocked access to YouTube because of the anti-Islam film that has sparked violent protests in many Muslim countries.

Telecommunications chief Ezzeddin Kamel said officials imposed the ban after Google, which owns YouTube, did not re-

Forbes lists richest Americans

F

ORBES launched its definitive ranking of the nation’s superrich in 1982. Back then the price of admission into this most exclusive of clubs was a mere $75 million of net worth.

Even after adjusting for inflation, this year’s entry fee ($1.1 billion) is roughly ten times what it was thirty years ago.

There were just 13 billionaires at the time and the total worth of the 400 club was a mere $93 billion.

Today the combined net worth of the 400 richest Americans is $1.7 trillion, up from $1.5 trillion a year ago. The average net worth of a Forbes 400 member is a staggering $4.2 billion, up from $3.8 billion, and the highest in at least a decade, as twothirds of the individuals added to their fortunes in the past year. There has been much discussion of late about the widening gap between rich and poor and what role the wealthiest Americans should play in fixing society’s ills, and how much taxes they should pay.

spond to a government request to block the film.

Kamel said the government acted after failed attempts to have access blocked specifically to the controversial film. He added that the YouTube site will remain blocked in Sudan until Google carries out the government’s request.

A reporter in the capital, Khartoum, said Thursday he was unable to access YouTube.

with explosives has become increasingly common, he said.

The rebel flag could be seen flying at the Tal alAbyad crossing alongside the Turkish flag It is often impossible to verify the circumstances and the extent of casualties involved in attacks in Syria because reporters are unable to travel around the country.

But the burned-out pick-up trucks and a smouldering tractor seen in the video indicated a recent attack.

•Prince William at The Vaiku Falekaupule Ceremony, Tuvalu, in the far East, Wednesday. The government is under Queen Elizabeth of England.

US: Ex- detainee linked to Libya attack A

N ex-Guantanamo detainee once considered a “threat” to America is believed to have been involved in the attack against the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya — possibly orchestrating the deadly rampage, intelligence sources told Fox News.

The potential link with the militant, identified as Sufyan bin Qumu, could lead the White House to revise its claim that administration officials saw “no evidence” that last week’s attack on Sept. 11 was preplanned, and was

instead a spontaneous reaction to an anti-Islamist film produced in the United States.

A senior U.S. counterterrorism official on Wednesday also called the assault a “terrorist attack” — the first time someone in the Obama administration has used that term. U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American embassy workers died after the consulate compound was overrun by heavily armed militia and became engulfed in flames, according to re-

Obama leads Romney in swing states

F

OX News released a new poll Thursday showing that President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney in three battleground states, topping off a week of badnews polling for the Republican presidential nominee in toss-up states.

The poll, which covered Ohio, Virginia and Florida, shows Obama leading the former governor by seven points in both Ohio (49 to 42 percent) and Virginia (50 to 43 percent). In Florida, Obama leads by five points (49 to 44 percent), which is within the poll’s margin of error. Obama won all three states in 2008, marking the first time Virginia voted for a Democratic president since 1964.

In Michigan and Wisconsin, Obama has also opened up a lead against his rival: A CNN poll puts him up eight points in

Michigan (52 to 44 percent), and one from Marquette Law School has Obama leading Romney by 14 points in

Wisconsin (54 to 40 percent). In August, Obama led Romney in Wisconsin by only three points.

Germany to provide 500,000 euros to combat illegal small arms

BY EMEKA AGINAM

E

FFORTS to combat smuggling of small arms received a boast from Federal Republic of Germany which is committing the sum of 500,000 euros to finance projects to combat the scourge.

This is even as at the just concluded review conference on the programme of action on small arms and light weapons, the United Nations member states confirmed their commitment to fight illegal arms trading and to protect children in armed conflict.

Speaking on progress of UN Small Arms Programme of Action, the German Minister of State,Minister of State at the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin Michael LINK in a statement from the German Embassy, Abuja said that the conference on the Small Arms Programme of Action was a major step forward. “The international community has undertaken to step up its commitment to fight illegal firearms and protect women and children in armed conflict. We would have wished for a more ambitious result.

ports.

A Fox News report didn’t say how bin Qumu, a Libyan, may have been explicitly

involved with the attack, although his fighting group — Ansar alShariah — is suspected in taking part.

Boko Haram is focused on discrediting Nigerian govt – Carson

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jonnie Carson has disclosed that the US has refused to designate Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because it is not a homogenous organization which is only focused on trying to discredit Nigerian government to show that the government is ineffective in protecting government institutions.

Carson who made the

disclosure yesterday during a video conference with newsmen said US cannot designate Boko Haram as FTO because it is a composition of several different kinds of groups, adding that “The US designated three individuals in the group as terrorists because we believe that they had contact with Foreign Terrorist Organizations which had tried to establish growth of relationship with the foreign organizations. This matter however is still under review”, he explained.

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTMEMBER 21, 2012 — 53

Internet is killing reading culture in schools

A

NYTHING that has advantage, they say has its disadvantage. The advent of Blackberry and facebook is a very good example of this saying. In fact, with what is going on now, the disadvantages they pose on our youths seem to outweigh their advantages.

Apart from the evil being perpetrated using the facebook, the reading habit of our youths is also threatened.

This poses more danger to our educational system that is already in a deplorable condition.

The negative application of these facilities by youths is jeopardising the efforts of the government to bring back the academic glory of the country which was bedeviled by corruption. I am so pained when I see school children especially secondary and primary school children spending their time on facebook in the name of chatting and sometimes viewing pornographic pictures on the internet.

It is quite unfortunate.

Cashless society and N5000 note MR Sanusi cannot tell Nigerians that he wants a cashless society and he is embarking on printing a higher denomination with N40billion. The N5,000 note is being introduced to aid corrupt practices as it will facilitate money laundering by politicians.

This will aid politicians to carry large amounts of money conveniently. There is no economic logic in this and it will create inflation. The highest denomination in USA or UK is not more than 100 dollars and 100 pounds sterling.

Why is he using N40 billion to print N5000 notes when there are other more pressing issues to tackle? Our refineries are not working up to capacity, no good roads, no stable power supply, agriculture and other infrastructures are not in place.

This is wastage and Nigerians should revolt against policies that are not in their interest.

Alhaji Musa 08074398813

N40 billion to print N5000

The CBN boss, Mallam

These children hardly ever create time to read their books. The same thing is applicable to University students who parade the campuses with exorbitant phones. But my concern is children in primary and secondary schools.

If this strange habit in the primary and secondary schools is allowed to thrive, what is remaining in the reading habit of our young ones will be destroyed. The onus now lies on the parents who buy expenses phones for their children.

The government and the teachers also have a lot to do to quickly reverse this ugly trend. If the children must use phones, it should be the ones to make and receive calls.

Phones for browsing must not be allowed in primary and secondary schools. For university students, they are adults and must be responsible for their own actions. The time to act is now.

Fidelis Nwagwu, Lagos State University(LASU).

Sanusi Lamido should suspend all plans to introduce the N5,000 bank note; a project of this nature requires parliamentary approval, because of the numerous fiscal implications on the entire economy.

What happened to his cashless policies? NASS should stop this wastage of N40billion to print N5000 notes. Instead the money should be diverted to other

Kudos to LAMATA boss

Dear Sir, T is commendable when leaders listen to the concerns of the led, and take positive action to address and attend to these concerns. It shows a leadership that is empathetic and focused.

True leadership in Nigeria has always being a misfortune.

With the bountifulness of resources, a proactive leadership cadre in this country can indeed take up its place of pride in the comity of nations. Until we are fortunate with such, we may be like a rudderless ship on the ocean of life and nationhood.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the managing director of LAMATA has proven to be such a listening leader, at least to me. I ride in the BRT bus for obvious reasons. It is faster and far more convenient than the regular ‘Danfo’ buses that serve the many Lagos routes.

Some weeks back, I had laid

I

barely two months when the report of investigations into the cause of the fatal crash is yet to be made public?. The two Aviation committees of the National Assembly working on the incident were yet to summit their report when the FG ordered DANA Air back to the skies. What type of government are we running in this country? Same thing the FG did by approving the CBN’s N5,000 note without widely consulting on the implications and general acceptance.

Joy 08036158031

President Jonathan should not allow IBB to mislead him, President Jonathan should

The CBN boss, Mallam Sanusi Lamido should suspend all plans to introduce the N5,000 bank note; a project of this nature requires parliamentary approval because of the numerous fiscal implications on the entire economy. What happened to his cashless policies?

,

infrastructure development.

Anonymous 0803180310

DANA resumption of flight

Why would the Federal government allow DANA Air to resume flight operations

before him, a complaint, concern and observation directly to his email. He responded with the promise to see that the issue raised will be resolved. The BRT corridor along the CMS route had this

Restricting container movement in Lagos Dear Sir S a resident of Lagos for the past 45 years, I must credit Governor Raji Fashola for trying to restore sanity to the traffic situation of the state. I feel good about the new Traffic Law which seeks to restrain certain categories of trucks from moving during the day.

Containers falling off heavy duty trucks and crushing motorists and other pedestrians has become a recurring event.

And gory pictures displayed on television and newspaper pages has become distasteful. The reckless driving of some of these

truck drivers coupled with the lack of adequate maintenance of their vehicles no doubt pose a risk to the general public.

Surely, even the truck owners must understand that this carnage has to stop.

But, with the traffic law put in place by the Lagos State government which makes heavy duty trucks carrying containers travel during light traffic period, the traffic congestion which these heavy duty trucks compound would no doubt ease.

Jackson Agbede, Seriki- Aro Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos

N5000 note

happened prior to the naira devaluation.

The Nigerian currency( Naira) had a higher value than the dollar or pounds in late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

At that point , the currency was an internationally accepted currency.

But, due to the sycophancy displayed by the nation's elites then, the international body convinced and connived with some unscrupulous economic tyrants and they made the Federal Government to fall to the trick.

It is the same deceptive manipulation that the CBN is reintroducing, which Nigerians are saying( NO) to. Therefore , it is high time Mallam Sanusi Lamido left the stage before it become too late.

Since the devaluation of the naira is retrogressive, why not the FG go back to the era of equal value of N1.00 to 1dollar or one pound.

Otugo.B 08067557715

A

This is grand design to further reduce the purchasing value of the naira and will do the country no good.

Barr. Obi 08056009586

Political office holders

Our lawmakers should make it a criminal offence and pass a bill against anybody who is spending money to get a political office because it is not in the interest of the masses.

A good product does not need much advertisement and wastage.

Ndehigwo 08024209181

IBB and state police

,

Dear Sir,

take note that IBB was his opponent during the recent elections and as such will be very happy with Mr. President’s failure.

Alhaji U.H 07057789779

CBN and introduction of

huge pot holes that made it difficult for the buses to use the lane. Rather than drive along the corridor, the drivers had to use the regular lanes. The ride down this bad spot when used creates a discomforting experience for the passengers and also impacts on the shocks of the bus. Last week when we passed the route, I noticed that the spot had being filled and the ride was smoother. I will like to commend the office of the CEO, LAMATA, Dr. Mobereola for demonstrating insightful and responsive leadership.

Stephen Ipalibo Lawson, Host, NTAetv Climate Change Series, NTA International

Still on introduction of N5000 note

It’s most ridiculous for just an entity to rise up and decide to come up with a policy that would be to the detriment of the nation.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the CBN Governor should look back at what

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.If you do not want lizards to visit you, do not bring home firewood that contain ants.

Francis Uzoaru(07025716475), Nitel Headquarter, Abuja, FCT Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

54— Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 55

The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere (r), with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (l), shortly after the Sultan’s arrival at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo, on Thursday.

Hospitals discharge patients as health workers' strike persists

By CHIOMA OBINNA & CHARITY UGWUANYI

A

S the strike by Federal health workers under the auspices of the Joint Heath Sector Unions, JOHESU enters its fourth day, patients are being discharged at the various hospitals following the inability of the parties to resolve the trade dispute even as patients have deserted some of the hospitals. Federal health workers embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike following failure of the Federal Ministry of Health to withdraw its circular against the skipping of levels in the Consolidated Health Salary Scale, CONHESS 10.

Investigation by Vanguard showed that the hospitals are discharging patients following inability to attend to their needs, as a result of the absence of the health workers. Meanwhile, a team of executive members of the health unions, yesterday, stormed all federal governmentowned health institutions and agencies in Lagos to ascertain the effectiveness of the strike as well as ensure that all workers comply with their directive.

A visit to some of the federal government-owned hospitals revealed that patients have deserted them and the beehive of activities the hospitals are known for, were fast disappearing.

Institutions like the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos has become a ghost town except for few patients in the ward who were said to have been waiting to clear their medical bills to enable them obtain a pass. Both the records department, accident and emergency departments; out-patient department and administra-

tive blocks were under lock and key. The situation was not different in all the institutions visited.

A patient simply identified as Prudence who spoke to Vanguard in an emotion laden voice said: “Please, I am not in a mood to talk, you could see that I am very weak now. I have been waiting since morning to see if I can obtain my bill and offset it to enable me get a pass. I am not supposed to be here till this afternoon.”

A patient's relative, who identified herself as Mrs. Sherifat Jimoh, lamented the fact that patients in the wards were abandoned. Jimoh said that since Tuesday when the strike started, no doctor has visited or attended to the patients in the wards. Her words: “I brought my younger sister who was involved in a motor accident since Monday and she was attended to that very day but since the

strike started on Tuesday, no body is attending to us.

This is three days now, I hope her case does not get complicated because no body knows when they will call off their strike.”

Reacting to the discharge of patients, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, Mr. Funsho Ige said due to the nature of the strike, the hospital decided to discharge some of the patients that can go home and allow those who cannot go home to remain.

He said: “We don’t have any problem with our own unions but we cannot stop them; we have regular meetings and we interact with them also. But when this happened, it happened suddenly. We have to discharge some patients that can go home and those who cannot go, we have made an arrangement for them to be taken care of."

Leaders tasked on housing for the masses

N

IGERIAN leaders have been charged to make housing, a must for all citizens, irrespective of their political, religious or social status, for them to enjoy, positively, the dividends of democracy.

In addition, government should provide conducive socio-economic infrastructures that would accelerate the rapid growth and expansion to arrest, indiscriminate rural urban drift, with the provisions of good roads affordable shelter and functional electricity.

These remarks were made by the president of LASTMA cooperatives, Engr.

Taiwo Giwa at the formal laying of foundation stone of a LASTMA cooperative estate project at Ikana,

Owode Egba, tagged "own house with ease."

The project, an initiative of the Lagos State Transport Administration Management Authority Cooperatives Society in the Fashola Administration was first muted in 2007, under the management of Engr Peter Oyedokun, then the LASTMA General Manager. It metamorphosed to the present cooperative society, with a population of about 1,350 cooperators.

Giwa assured on the accelerated completion of the project with the cooperation of all concerned especially the government, the co-operators and facilitators, to actualize the age long dream.

56—V anguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 56—Vanguard,

Rules on Italian visas

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

A

PPLICANTS who are in terested in acquiring various types of Italian visas are to note that the new Schengen provisions have enabled for longer visa processing time to ten working days, but in a case whereby the documents submitted requires further verification, then, it might take longer than necessary.

It is an obvious fact that every application that scaled through series of visa application processes must have met the stipulated visa rules of the intended country of visit. This, therefore, makes it imperative that applicants should make sure that their applications documentations are complete and in order, so as to qualify for issuance of visa. Applicants are warned to beware of submitting forged passport to the Consulate, as this may lead to total cancelation of visa processing or the passport seized and handed over to appropriate Nigeria authorities for onward prosecution.

Cases of forged documents produced by an applicant for purposes of obtaining an entry visa into Italy will be reported to the Italian judiciary authorities by the

diplomatic or consular missions under code of criminal procedure.

This as it were, is also applicable to both the forgery of Italian documents of foreign origin that are in any way used in support of visa application.

In the event where the diplomatic/consular authorities are acquainted with any fact, situation or condition that would have prevented grant of entry visa that has already been granted, they must issue a formal ‘revocation measure.’

Visa denial As stipulated, visa denials do not have to be justified by the embassy, except when it relates to visa applications for works, joining family members, medical treatment and study. Concerned persons in cases of visa refusals, resulting from diverse reasons, which ordinarily may not be specified by the embassy, are often notified in a language that he or she understands or in absence of same, in English language preferably.

Appealing visa denial: For an applicant to dispute denied visa, a claim must be filed within sixty

days of receiving notification, and in the case of a visa denial to join or accompany family members only, eventual claims can be filled with the regular authorized court.

Proof of sufficient funding: Common consular instructions for a successful entry permit to any Country of choice is the fact that applicant is proven to be financially capable throughout his/her stay in the foreign land. In other words, applicants must show proof of sufficient financial resources available to guarantee maintenance for the length of time intended to spend and to this light therefore, it is an essential condition to permit entry.

By and large, every intending visitor has to prove capability by demonstrating that he/she possesses means of sustenance by presenting bank guarantees, insurance policy guarantees or equivalent credit instruments, vouchers for prepaid services or other documents declaring access to sources of income in Italy. It is mandatory also that intending persons must indicate the existence of appropriate accommodation within Italy and the availability of funds for repatriation, which may also take the form of a pre-

paid return travel ticket.

The need to provide evidence of means of sustenance in the amount required is not only a fundamental condition for the issue of certain types of visas, but is also required immediately the alien enters Italian territory. Applicants should note that visas cannot be

issued in the event that where they fail to produce evidence of means of subsistence or, in the event that such evidence cannot be produced to the Border Police.

Travelers who find themselves in this situation, should be aware that the Italian border police will formally, turn them back.

Questions from readers via e-mail

I

HAVE submitted my application form alongside other doc uments for processing. Do I need to come for interview with any other document?

You are expected to come with a copy of the interview letter that was sent to you and any other additional documents requested by the Consulate general of Italy.

Can I be represented with authority letter for the collection of my passport?

No representative with authority letter will be entertained, unless otherwise, there is a written directive from concerned visa section and from concerned person of Consulate General of Italy to handover passports against authority letter. In other words, you are expected to come personally to collect your passport, and even in a case a husband and wife applied together, they should also come individually to collect their individual passports.

If I was unable to meet up with the appointed day for the submission of my documents, is it possible to reschedule the appointment?

It is requested that you should reschedule your appointment at least two days prior to the day of appointment. And if by any reason you did not reschedule and or fail to come on the appointed date to submit your application, your payment receipt becomes invalid and you have to pay the service and bank charges all over again.

E-mail: consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 57

58—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 59

S/Africa can’t stop us Continues from B/P

CONTROL......Emmanuel Emenike (R) of Spartak Moskva controls the ball close to Pedro Rodriguez of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League group G match at the Camp Nou stadium on September 19. Barca won 3-2. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

We should ha en Barca — Emenike havve beat beaten

S

PARTAK Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike has said Barcelona came very close to paying a big price for underrating his Russian club.

Spartak fell 3-2 to hosts Barcelona in a Champions League group game on Wednesday at the Camp Nou after they took a 2-1 lead late in the game.

“I said before the game that we will shock Barcelona, which we almost did. Let me say we lost the game because we were unlucky, we were not completely overran

by Barcelona as we made them know we are equal to the task,” he said.

“We were determined to beat them and we almost did it. They are the best team in the world no doubt, they underrated us in the early minutes of the game

and we punished them.”

He continued: “I am not satisfied with the result because my dream was not fulfilled. It was a victory I wanted, but I pleased with our confi-

dence, self believe and composure on the pitch.

I am very sure Barcelona will be beaten in the return leg but Celtic are our next opponent, that’s our target now.”

Ex-Ranger s pla s cr o go vs Ex-Rangers playyer ers cryy out tto govs over depar departted colleagues

BY ANAYO OKOLI, Umuahia

E

X-RANGERS of Enugu International Football club players have appealed to the governors of the five South East states to come to the assistance of the family members of the former players many of who have died with their families living in abject penury.

The ex-players, under the aegis of Ex-Rangers Memorial Project, lamented the condition of the families of some of

their former colleagues, saying some of them have been ejected from their homes while their children no longer go to school because their school fees could not be paid.

At a press briefing at Umuahia, the group led by its chairman, Mr. Stanley Okoronkwo, also called for the immortalization of the founding fathers of the club, for future generations to keep records and emulate.

Okoronkwo who was flanked at the briefing by Dominic Nwobodo and

Rober eo criticises pla s obertto Di Matt Matteo playyer ers

R

•Matteo

“I was happy that I was involved somehow in that goal. I would have loved to have scored, but will do that in return leg.”

OBERTO-Di-Mat teo criticised his Chelsea players for their carelessness after they were unable to capitalise on Oscar ’s two goals to beat Juventus .

“We’re disappointed and a little bit deflated because we had put ourselves in a great position to win this game,” he said. You try to be composed and keep the ball.

But we did, at times, give it away cheaply.

“We should have done better with the ball. We lost possession for the second goal and we did not react quickly enough. That’s a disappointment. We made a couple of mistakes on their goals and they had good movement and good finishes, so it was a bit of both.”

month. Indeed, the Flying Eagles were on a playing tour of the Republic of Benin where they played some friendly matches and the Nigerian Ambassador to that country, Laurence Olufemi Obisakin attested to his satisfaction with the quality of the team.

Coach John Obuh travelled with a very strong squad to South Africa, the same players that saw off Tanzania in both legs to get to this stage. With strikers like Alhaji Gero, Aminu Umar Bright Ejike and Yahaya Adamu showing so much understanding upfront the Amajitas defence line could be in real trouble, particularly, if the midfield expected to be marshaled by

the likes of Abduljaleel Ajagun, Uche Agbo and enterprising Chidi Osuchukwu employ the desired synergy and rhythm between the defence and the attack .The Flying Eagles coach has admitted that he has no injury worries and with a bit of luck, his wards can prevail over their hosts.

“Sure, the players are fit because fitness was paramount in our preparations for the match.

We have done our homework, no injury worry, at least,. We pray for luck.”

The Flying Eagles are the defending champion of the African title and it would be unthinkable not to have them in Algeria when hostilities resume.

Barca prepare bumper contract for Messi Continues from B/P to not improve his contract,” Rosell told Catalunya Radio.

“You have to think about such things. Right now there is nothing scheduled, but this is a machine that is constantly in motion and things can change at any moment.

“The coaching staff think about next Sunday, we (as club officials) look further down the line and take the more distant future into consideration.

“Work has to start now on the contract that will take effect from 2016.”

NFF frowns at Mikel’s sloppy play Continues from B/P

•Chime Nwabueze Nwankwo, also appealed to the governors to assist in immortalizing the founding fathers of the club and named some of them to include Chief Jerry Enyeazu, Dan Anyiam, Tony Nzeribe, Clifford Eneli and Eto Amaechina, among others, saying that their contribution in the development of football in the zone should not be allowed to be in vain.

The group named 25 ex-Rangers players who were dead, saying that family members of most of them live in pathetic condition, hence the call for the assistance of the governors.

blunder apologised to the team. But some of officials of the Nigeria Football Federation are biting their nails over the midfielder’s mistake. ‘’I know that mistake do happen but Mikel has to work hard. He has to up his game and be more energetic, daring and adventurous like his Ivorian counterpart, Yaya Toure’’, the NFF source said.

Though irritated by his play, the source emphasised that Stephen Keshi has the last say on which player is invited to the national team. ‘’We’ve absolute confidence in Keshi and he is totally in charge’’.

Speaking on the Juve match, Mikel said of his new team-mate Oscar:

“He’s going to be a great player for this club, with his talent and ability. Hopefully he can do even more. He can only get better. ”I think his all-round game is very good. He can score goals, he’s very creative, and I think that’s what this club is looking for.”

Oscar was a surprise starter - he had hardly impressed in his three substitute appearances and had appeared to struggle with the physical demands of English football.

Mikel revealed Chelsea’s training sessions had helped toughen up the £25m man.

“You don’t want to kick anyone and get anyone injured in training,” he said. “We try to give him a little bit sometimes.”

60—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 61

Vanguard CLASSIFIED NNANWUBAR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tracy Nneka Nnanwubar, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tracy Nneka Osokolo. All former documents remain valid. Edinburgh Business School, Good Times Books and general public please take note.

NWANJO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Kelechi Goodness Nwanjo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kelechi Victor Ejelonu. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Immigration (Passport Office), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, , Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, NYSC and general public please take note.

UWAKWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Raluchi Chinwe Uwakwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Raluchi Chinwe Ugwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ARUA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Arua Blessing Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Asogwa Blessing Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. ESUT and general public please take note.

AITOKHUEHI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aidomon Aitokhuehi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aidomon Joseph Archibong.All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OZOMENA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozomena Ifeyinwa Clara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Igbokwe Ifeyinwa Clara. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, University of Benin and general public please take note.

CHIKEZIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Vanessa Nnenna Chikezie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vanessa Nnenna Obinna Roland. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UZOKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Ogoelunwa Uzoka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Ogoelunwa Onyenenue. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLAYEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olayemi Aderonke Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aderonke Grace Ogapha. All former documents remain valid. Sky Bank Plc and general public please take note.

ONOVUGHAKPO— I, formerly known and addressed as Morgan Ewomazino Onovughakpo, now wish to be known and addressed as Morgan Ewomazino Onovughakpo Ogapha.

All former documents remain valid. UNIBEN and general public please take note.

UGONNA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rose Ugonna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rose Chinazo.

All former documents remain valid.

Abia state Polytechnic, Aba and general public take note.

EZEMOKWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezemokwe Ezinne Ginika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mbakwe Ezinne Ginika. All former documents remain valid. NYSC,Abuja and general public take note.

CHUKWUEMEKA— I, formerly known and addressed as Nkeiruka Yvonne Chukwuemeka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkeiruka Yvonne Anoliefo. All former documents remain valid.

Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and general public please take note.

EWUZIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ewuzie Ezinne Edina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ihefor-Marcel Edina. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ALIU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Yetunde Silifat Aliu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Yetunde Silifat Hussein. All former documents remain valid. Q & Q Control Services Nigeria Limited and general public please take note.

OLUGEMO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olubukola Oluwaseyi Olugemo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olubukola Oluwaseyi Ake. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWADIUGWU— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Chinazor Nwadiugwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Chinazor Nkocha.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKOROHO—I, formerly known and addressed as Akoroho Stephen, now wish to be known and addressed as Williams Stephen. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AREOYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Areoye Bosede Florence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olajide Bosede Florence. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment and general public please take note.

OPIUGHIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Opiughie Odufua Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oghiadomhe Odufua Grace. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Navy (Ministry of Defence) and general public please take note.

OLAOYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Atinuke Lucy Olaoye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Atinuke Lucy Aminat Olaoye Mahmud.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ITULUA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Itulua O. Edith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnorom .O. Edith.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

HARUNA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patricia Haruna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patricia Sunday Maiyaki.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BENSON—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elizabeth Okon Benson, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Great Ameye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Mrs. Christiana Ebelle, refers to one and the same person as Mrs. Christiana Okorefe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Christiana Okorefe.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Christian Chibuikem Nwamara, refers to one and same person as Christian Chibuikem Nwamara Okwuonu, now wish to be known and addressed as Christian Chibuikem Nwamara Okwuonu. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

OKOJERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Peddy Okojere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Peddy Okojere-Onabote.

All former documents remain valid.

Brian Holden Vision Institute and general public please take note.

OGBAJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbaji Loveth Chinenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngwu Loveth Chinenye.

All former documents remain valid. Immigration Services, NYSC and general public please take note.

TAWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Rebecca Ibiang Joseph Tawo, now wish to be known and addressed as Ms. Rebecca Effiom Ibiang. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja; Federal NeuroPsychiatric Hospital, Calabar and general public please take note.

N WA B U I S I — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwabuisi Miracle Nkechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anyanwu Miracle Nkechi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGORE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agore Henrietta Tamunopekerebia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akhilele Henrietta Tamunopekerebia. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EBIETOMIRE— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebietomire Tina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Unokiweri Tina.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ELEGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Viola C. Elege, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Viola C. Okotete.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGBOMOIDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbomoide Helen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enaike Helen. All former documents remain valid. Post Primary Education Board, Asaba, Delta State and general public please take note.

CHADWICK—I, formerly known and addressed as Desmond Edafe Chadwick, now wish to be known and addressed as Godwin Edafe Otoboh.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

Confirmation of Names I,Kemakolam Chukwuemeka Onuorha, wish to state as follows: that I am the same as Kems Emeka Onuorha; that the former is a short form of the latter. All documents bearing the former are the same as the latter, and remain valid. Magna Plus International Limited, the general public please take note.

EZEOKONKWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyemaechi Chinyere Cindy Ezeokonkwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyemaechi Cindy Uba Ifeabunike. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E R T S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

ADVERT HOTLINE 01- 8737025

62—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 — 63

L-r: Mr. Tola Bademosi, MD, BD Consult Limited; Mr. Deepak Singhal, MD, Dufil Prima Foods Industry Ltd; and Mr. Manpeet Singh, Head of Marketing, Dufil Prima Food Ltd, at the press conference on Indomie super millionaire promo in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

Passengers groan as Arik Air suspend flight operations

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

P

ASSENGERS intend ing to board Arik Air to their various destinations were stranded as the airline flight operations were, yesterday morning, grounded by Aviation Unions: the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association, ATSSSAN; the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, who barricaded the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, where Arik Air operate from.

Meanwhile, Arik Airline has responded by suspending all its domestic operations until further notice.

The suspension of Arik flight operations is a major blow to the aviation industry as only three airlines are currently operating domestic flights in the country. The airlines are Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and IRS Airline. Thousands of passengers were stranded at the two domestic terminals in Lagos; the new MMA2 and GAT. One of the stranded passengers, Mr. Micheal Opara whose 9:30am flight to Port-Harcourt was cancelled as a result of the grounding of the airline by the unions said: "We were billed to fly to Port-Harcourt by 9:30am and and now we are stranded. Nobody knows what is actually happening. The airline has not told us anything. My business in Port-Harcourt has now been jeopardised."

Asked what his next line of action will be, he simply said: "I don’t know. I like flying Arik." However, another passenger who was visibly angry said Arik was to blame. He asked why the airline would be owing.

When reminded that all the airlines were owing the agencies he said they

should all be picketed. He, however, refused to disclose his name.

A passenger who gave his name as Mr. Sule Shehu was more critical in assessing the situation. He was billed to travel to Abuja. He said though Arik should pay its debts, the aviation workers have no right to ground the operations of an airline.

In a swift reaction, the management of Arik announced the suspension of its domestic flight operations till further notice. Addressing a world press conference at its corporate head office in Lagos, the management said: "Due to persistent hostility of the Ministry of Aviation, and FAAN management, which has culminated in the use of FAAN staff to stop Arik Air operations and lock in checked-in passengers in

Lagos this morning, Arik Air has no option than to suspend all domestic operations until further notice.

This issue bothers on personal interests, and not payment of bills; since FAAN has been collecting their charges in advance since 18 months now."

Although the airline regretted the inconveniences the disruption would cause its passengers, it, however, said it would not resume domestic operations until all the issues it has with both the Ministry of Aviation and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, were resolved.

The airline maintained that FAAN has refused to come to negotiating table since the beginning of the debts crisis that culminated in its operations been disrupted yesterday morning.

Religious intolerance rises in Nigeria — US report

By UDUMA KALU with agency report

A

REPORT published yesterday in The Guardian of London said religious intolerance is on the rise in Nigeria. The survey, entitled The Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion, is the second successive one by Pew Research Centre to note increasing intolerance worldwide. Pew Research Centre report says the US and UK are among 197 countries showing a worrying rise in religious discrimination too. The conclusions of the project, conducted by the Pew Research Centre, an American thinktank’s Forum on Religion and Public Life, were published yesterday. The analysis, of 197 countries and

territories, identifies a sharp rise in religious limits globally and a six per cent increase in restrictions in the four years until 2010.

Three-quarters of the world’s human population of seven billion live under strong government curbs on religion, or among serious “social hostilities” involving faith issues, said researchers. The report is being published amid a rash of protests in the Muslim world following the posting online of a video spoof that mocks the life of Muhammad.The survey reports that in all five main regions of the world – including the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa where religious restrictions previously had been declining – freedom of faith is coming under increasing pressure.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

S/Africa can’t stop us — Obuh

BY JACOB AJOM

N

IGERIA’S quest for a ticket to the 2013 Africa Youth championship in Algeria continues today when the Flying Eagles take on their

South African counterparts in the first leg final round qualifiers on Friday in Nelspruit, South Africa.

Both teams met earlier in July in an invitational tournament in South

NFF frowns at Mikel’s sloppy play

BY TONY UBANI

•As player apologises, lauds Oscar

S

OME Nigerians who have been heaping pressure on Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to invite Mikel Obi for the must-win Nations cup match against Lone Star of Liberia may be having a change of mind after Mikel’s sloppy performance that saw him give the ball away in the build-up to Juve’s equaliser on Wednesday. He gave away the ball when Argentina beat Nigeria in an international friendly last year and never gave a chase until Argentina scored. He never scores, never assists and makes mistakes that lead to goal.

Coach Roberto-DiMatteo collectively criticised his Chelsea players for their carelessness after they were unable to capitalise on Oscar’s two goals to beat Juventus .

And Mikel aware of his Continues on Page 63

TODAY'S

TACKLE.......Claudio Marchisio of Juventus tackles John Obi Mikel of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Group E match at Stamford Bridge on September 19.

It ended 2-2. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Africa with the hosts winning by a lone goal.

Ever since, however, the two teams have come a long way. To get to this level, the Amajitas, as the South African team are called overcame their Congolese counterparts while the John Obuh-tutored Flying Eagles eliminated Tanzania 4-1 aggregate.

Obuh’s preparations have been impressive since trouncing Tanzania 2-0 in Ilorin late last

Continues on Page 63

Barca prepare bumper contract for Messi

B

Roberto Di Matteo criticises players — P.63

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Fragrance (5) 7 Serious (5) 8 Huge (5) 10 Happening (5) 12 Scull (3) 13 Frighten (5) 15 Given (7) 17 Abstract (6) 19 Gained (3) 20 In strata (7) 23 Declare (4) 25 Intense (4) 26 Regain (7) 30 Boy (3) 31 Modest (6) 34 Lodge (7) 37 Quietened (5) 38 Solidify (3) 39 Confusion (5) 40 Urbane (5) 41 Lukewarm (5) 42 Finished (5)

ARCELONA presi dent Sandro Rosell has said it would be ‘irresponsible’ of the Catalan club not to offer Lionel Messi a new bumper deal.

The 25-year old Argentine maestro is currently contracted until 2016 but Rosell feels that he needs to offer him something new in order to keep him signed to the Blaugrana for as long as possible.

“It finishes in 2016, but it would be irresponsible

Continues on Page 63

DOWN 1 Cost (5) 2 Deflect (5) 3 Disclose (6) 4 Object (4) 5 Creaked (7) 6 Managed (5) 9 Consume (3) 11 Soared (7) 13 Daub (5) 14 Wrath (5) 16 And not (3) 18 Terse (7) 21 Outcoming (5) 22 Rate (5) 24 Determination (7) 27 Lettuce (3) 28 Distant (6) 29 Started (5) 32 Pondered (5) 33 Send (5) 35Vegetable (3) 36 Afterward (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Waste 7, Diva 8, Refuge 9, Drama 11, Bed 13, Per 15, Eden 16, Air 18, Tree 19, Amnesia 20, Agog 22, Tired 23, Decided 25, Suet 27, Tow 28, Dear 30, End 31, Dry 33, Unfit 36, Debris 37, Erne 38, Eaten.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Fired 2, Wad 3, Spa 4, Era 5, Off 6, Agree 10, Main 11, Because 12, Decoded 13, Praised 14, Revelry 16, Ambit 17, Renew 18, Tit 21, Get 24, Down 26, Under 29, Arena 32, Pry 33, Use 34, Fit 35, Ten.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.