AFTERMATH OF JONATHAN/OBJ PARLEY: President in crucial talks with Tukur, others by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61930

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MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PIB 'll outlive us, •P.8 says Alison-Madueke AFTERMATH OF JONATHAN/OBJ PARLEY:

President in crucial talks with Tukur, others •Northern govs to meet IBB, Abdulsalam today •Tell Obasanjo of their plan to push for Presidency in 2015

Drop-outs are now our 48 leaders — Amaechi

BUJA— PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, last night, met the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji

Continues on page 5

•P.17

COLUMNISTS:

Teenager, three others die in Lagos building collapse

LES LEBA •P.40

OCHEREOME NNANNA•P.46

PAUL BASSEY •P.51

MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN NIGERIA—Winner of the 26th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant, Miss Anna Ebiere Banner after her crowning weekend. Inset: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (Left) presenting a souvenir to Miss Banner (right), while Mr. Guy MurrayBruce of Silverbird Group looks on at the event held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.See story on page 12

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, UMORU HENRY & DAUD OLATUNJI

Mr & Mrs

SECURITY: US Coast Guard indicts FG over confusion at ports 17 C M Y K

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

SERAP drags FG to court over N700bn expenditure

OCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has dragged the Federal Government before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over the failure to provide information on the spending of the N700 billion borrowed between December 31, 2012 and April 30, 2013, and details of projects on which this money was spent. The suit FHC/L/CS/978/ 13 was filed last week following a request made under the FOI Act by the organisation. Joined as defendants in the suit are the AccountantGeneral, Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke. The suit is seeking the following reliefs: a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4

(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the Federal Government is under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiff with up to date information on the spending of N700 billion borrowed between December 31, 2012 and April 30, 2013 and details of projects on which the money was spent. * A declaration that the failure of Federal Government to provide the plaintiff with the information requested is a breach of section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information 2011. * An order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the Federal Government to provide the plaintiff with up to date information as requested. According to SERAP, “by the clear provisions of section 2(3)(d)(V) of the FOI Act, documents containing information

relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of a public institution constitute part of the information which a public institution is obligated to publish, disseminate and make available to members of the public.” The organisation argued that the Federal Government “is legally mandated by the provisions of section 4(a) of the FOI Act to comply with a request for access to public information except where the FOI Act exempts a public official from so disclosing.” It argued that the Federal Government “has no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide the plaintiff with the information requested” and urged the court “to compel it to comply with the provisions of the Act by providing the plaintiff with the information requested.”

VISIT— From left: The Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah and Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, during the EVC's visit to the governor in Lagos.

Rivers crisis made Nigeria a laughing stock—Oritsejafor zIt's capable of truncating democracy—Uzor Kalu BY LUKA BINNIYAT & DAPO AKINREFON

ADUNA – THE National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has said the political crisis in Rivers State has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the international community just as former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Kalu has warned that the Rivers State crisis was capable of truncating the nation’s democracy if steps were not taken urgently to address it. The CAN president admonished the warring parties to stick to the rules guiding politics and place the interest of the country first before other considerations. Oritsejafor also backed the legislation against same sex marriage, saying that President Barak Obama of the United States cannot force Nigeria into accepting what was alien to it. Said Oritsejafor: “I feel terrible about happenings in Rivers State. I feel terrible for many reasons. I feel terrible because it is making Nigeria a laughing stock in the world. I feel terrible because it is happening in the part of the country where I come from. I feel terrible because, many of the actors are supposed to be Christians. I feel sad because those involved in these things ought not to get themselves involved in these kinds of things at all. “Politics must be played with rules to guide you. So

what are the rules in Nigeria? Do we really have set rules that people can follow in politics so that our politicians can play politics in a way that will not drag the whole nation into disrepute and make us look like people who don’t know what they are doing? “It is not something that anyone will be proud of, I am praying and hoping that all the parties involved would be able to see reason and sheath their sword and reach a compromise for the sake of this great nation called Nigeria. “I appeal to politicians in the country not to use the problem to continue to create more problems in the country. Nigeria can only be a great nation, if politics is played according to the rules. I believe this nation will be great and we will continue to pray for her greatness”

Obama, others cannot force Nigeria to accept same sex marriage On same sex marriage the CAN president said: “Fortunately, in this country, both Christians and Muslims opposed same sex marriage and it is on record. Nigeria must never succumb to the world. President Jonathan must understand that he was voted by Nigerians. When you are voted into a position, you are voted to do the bidding of the people who voted for you. So he must not allow Obama or the British Prime

Minister to put pressure on him to bend to what they want. “If they want men to be marrying men and adopting children, that is their society, not Nigeria. “Nigeria is a country that has said ‘no’ to same sex marriage. I don’t see the President refusing to sign the Bill against same sex marriage into law as soon as it gets to him. Nigeria cannot be a place for such things. We are battling with enough problems; let us not complicate things for ourselves. Same sex marriage is not for this part of the world, we should not even discuss it”. Meanwhile, former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu has warned that the crisis rocking Rivers State was capable of truncating the nation’s democracy if urgent reconciliatory steps are not taken to douse it. Kalu, in statement, while calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the matter said the younger generation was looking up to the country’s leaders. While he expressed displeasure over what he described as shameful and undemocratic act of some lawmakers of Rivers State House of Assembly, who he described as “dishonourable lawbreakers”, he said the actions of the lawmakers was “unpatriotic” just as he called on the appropriate authorities to sanction all those found culpable accordingly. C M Y K

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4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

BOKO HARAM—Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani (3rd L); launching the Federal Government distribution of relief materials to victims of Boko Haram crisis in Maiduguri, yesterday. With him are the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai (3rd R) and Chairman, Distribution Committee, Alhaji Gaji Galtimari (2nd R).

President in crucial talks with Tukur, others Continues from page 1 Bamanga Tukur and major party stakeholders

as a follow-up to the meeting he had with former president, Chief

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit— Helen Keller. No pessimist ever got to what was their possibilities.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever —Native American proverb

URING Mark’s first month at college, the pro fessor gave his students a pop quiz. He was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until he read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?” Surely this was some kind of joke. He had seen the woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her fifties, but how would he know her name? He handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward the quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They each deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello’”. Mark never forgot that lesson. He also learned her name was Dorothy. This story best illustrates the importance of recognising that everyone is important and relevant in the scheme of things. In essence, knowing and acting on this principle in our everyday dealings with people we encounter, may just be the key to not only influencing and making good friends, but also, to being loved and appreciated as we would love to see happen in our world.

Olusegun Obasanjo weekend. The meeting was aimed at resolving the grouses of senior members of the party. The confusion in the party has led to some Northern governors threatening to leave the party.

Govs to meet IBB, others Meanwhile, five of the disaffected Northern governors are meeting today with two former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar as part of their consultations with statesmen on the alleged drift of the party. A meeting with General Theophilus Danjuma is also on the cards, it was learnt. Last night’s meeting which was in progress at press time came as a result of complaints by the former president and the fact that some of the party's big wigs were against the emergence of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Former President

Obasanjo and other stakeholders complained of the crises that have gripped the party since the emergence of Tukur as Chairman. President Jonathan, it was learnt, used yesterday’s meeting as a feedback to party stakeholders on his meeting with the former president in Abeokuta on Saturday. Among those at the meeting yesterday were Tukur and members of the Professor Jerry Gana-led Special Convention Planning Committee. The urgency of last night’s meeting, it was learnt, followed insinuations that the PDP could soon implode, especially in the North, given warnings from President Obasanjo that some Northern governors could soon be leaving the party.

Nyako to leave PDP this week Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, it is believed could in fact be leaving the PDP as early as this

week upon a resolution reached by his associates last week to abandon the party upon alleged ill-treatment from the Tukur-led national leadership. During the closeddoor meeting with Jonathan in Abeokuta, the former president was reported to have expressed strong reservations on the drift of the party and the bareknuckle tactics employed by Tukur and President Jonathan to deal with their opponents. Following the meeting between Jonathan and Obasanjo, four Northern governors, who had in the past pledged not to support Jonathan for a second term, met with the former president. All four - Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa) are also close political associates of the former president. The four governors who arrived Abeokuta on Friday, a night before Jonathan’s visit, it was learnt, opted out of a meeting with Jonathan and arrived Obasanjo’s residence only after Jonathan had departed. Though the four governors met Obasanjo only after Jonathan had left, it was believed that they had earlier relayed to the president their misgivings through other channels. One of the issues allegedly raised was the continuing onslaught against Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State since his re-election as chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF. The four governors, it was learnt, also conveyed to Obasanjo the hostility they received when three of them visited Amaechi last week during which they were pelted with stones by

supporters of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education. In his meeting with Jonathan, Obasanjo it was learnt, conveyed to him the agitation and misgivings of party stakeholders and the determination of some like Nyako to leave the party in the face of continuing antagonism by the national leadership.

Crisis in Adamawa The party in Adamawa State has been in crisis since the emergence of Tukur as National Chairman with the party factionalised between supporters of Governor Nyako and others lined up behind Tukur. Nyako was also reported to have told the former president of moves by Tukur to doctor the 2012 list of delegates in such a way that would remove Nyako’s supporters as delegates, thereby denying them a voice in the party.

Northern govs push for Presidency in 2015 The four governors who met Obasanjo, told him of their determination to push one of them (name withheld) for the presidential election in 2015. Former President Obasanjo had in the run-up to the 2011 presidential election canvassed the election of Dr. Jonathan and reportedly brokered a deal between him and northern political stakeholders. However, Obasanjo is now believed to have distanced himself, following his shocking resignation as chairman of the party ’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Teenager, three others die in fresh Lagos building collapse BY EVELYN USMAN, BOSE ADELAJA & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

LAGOS — TRAGEDY struck, yesterday, in Surulere area of Lagos, after a two-storey building under construction collapsed, killing four persons, among them, a 13-yearold bread hawker. Three construction workers were, however, rescued from the debris of the building located at 32/36, Ishaga Road. The incident occurred barely 10 days after a three-storey building caved in at Oloto Street in Ebute Metta area of the state,where seven lives were lost and several others injured. The 13-year-old hawker whose identity could not be immediately ascertained met her unexpected end while taking refuge under the building, following the heavy down pour. It was also gathered that workers at the site had suspended work, waiting for the rain to subside when all of a sudden, the building caved in at about 8 a.m. One of workers was said to have bought a loaf of bread from the hawker with an intention of breaking his fast with it in the evening. Those rescued were reportedly rushed to the Lagos Uni-

versity Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba for treatment. Residents of the area were said to have started rescue work and had removed one of the workers trapped under the debris before the arrival of heavy lifting equipment . Unconfirmed report, however, had it that that three of the workers were from Cotonou in Benin Republic. Speaking with Vanguard, South-West spokesman for National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said three males and a female died while three males were injured. He added that one of the injured admitted at the Accident and Emergency Unit would be undergoing surgery. Farinloye blamed the cause on the use of substandard construction materials. Rescue workers at the scene included officials of NEMA; Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA; federal and state fire services; Red Cross; Police and LASAMBUS.

Building marked for demolition Managing Director of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, L ASBCA, Mrs.

Debris of the collapsed building. Photos: Biodun Ogunleye

Abimbola Odunayo, said the building had been sealed earlier and the contractor told to halt the construction. According to Odunayo, “we had sealed the structure before now. And I must tell you that the construction started before the agency was created. During our road show, we sealed the building along with three others. It was sealed few weeks ago. They broke our seal. And we had warned them. We also discovered that the construction was substandard and had no approval.”

Rescue workers at the scene.

73-yr-old CBN retiree duped N10m, recounts ordeal ...as Police nab fake promo syndicate BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Ikoyi, Lagos have smashed a syndicate which specialised in defrauding members of the public by sending congratulatory text messages for winning jackpots in non-existent promos. The syndicate’s victim that led to their arrest is a 73-year-old retiree of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, identified simply as Pa Steven, a United States of America returnee, who was reportedly swindled of N10 million. The unit’s spokesman, Ngozi Nsiotume-Agun, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, said a suspected member of the syndicate, Philip Ikechukwu Orji, was arrested at the verge of withdrawing an amount paid into his account by the victim. The victim in a petition to the unit, explained that he received a text message supposedly from Airtel on September 16, 2011 that he had wonN2 million for using up to N200 in two weeks in its ongoing promo, with batch number A17.

Victim’s account

According to Pa Steven, “I was

given a telephone number 08088664395 to speak with one Mr. Femi Adams who they introduced as a staff of Airtel. I called Femi and he said that he was the officer in-charge of the promo and that I should forward my personal data to that number. “I asked what he meant by personal data and he explained that he was referring to my name, address, state of origin, bank and profession. “I sent those information to the number and the next day, I received a message requesting me to send the name of the bank where the money would be deposited. “Later, they requested that I should call one, Mr. Ken Eze who is the account officer on 08132956960. I immediately called the man who said I was expected to pay 4.8 per cent of the amount that I won as Charge on Turnover, COT. “I paid the amount into account number 0033313251 belonging to one Eghobamen Agnes in Festac branch of the bank as requested." Shortly after the payment, he said he received another congratulatory message that his name had been listed on the fi-

nal list and that he would receive a voucher that serves as his ticket into a gala night organised for the award. Pa Steven was, however, disappointed as Femi reportedly contacted him to say the gala night had been postponed, explaining that Airtel had expanded it to a national mega promo and that he had an automatic ticket to participate in the draw as a promo winner. He demanded a recharge card to make necessary contacts to ensure the purported voucher was intact. Not satisfied, the syndicate reportedly contacted Pa Steven, informing him that he had won another N350 million in the ‘Airtel at 10 Club’ . He said: “This was on June 16, 2013. Femi said I should contact one Mr. Tunde Alabi at the Airtel head office on 08089932304 for further details. “When contacted, Tunde Alabi told me that Airtel had selected two banks to handle its payments to various beneficiaries and advised me to keep in touch with the account officer on 07065947835. “To be sure that I was still relating with the right persons, I called Femi and he told me that

I would be expected to pay N2 million as functional fee. “I called the supposed account officer who confirmed what Femi told me. She introduced herself as Mbamalu Nnenna Ruth and forwarded her FirstBank account number as 3040173040, requesting that I should pay N2 million. “I went a borrowing because I knew that with N350 million, I do not need to rely on pension for the rest of my life. “Few days after I made the payment, I received a text message purportedly from Guarantee Trust Bank reminding me that I was yet to come and claim my

The suspect, Philip Ikechukwu Orji

money. I called Femi who advised me to contact my account officer who requested that I should pay another N3 million into the account 0051886627 which belongs to one Ikechukwu Orji. “They kept demanding for one fee or the other and Femi who claimed to be a staff of Airtel confirmed each transaction.” Pa Steven said he became suspicious after a year without any payment into his account.

Ikechukwu used forged document, identity But on further investigation, operatives discovered that Ikechukwu (22) used forged document and identity to open the account. Nsiotume-Agun said: “Initially, he claimed that he was an orphan and was at the mercy of friends who deceived him into allowing them use his account for fraud. “His true identity was later revealed when his mother who is a pastor called the police station demanding to speak with his son, Phillip. “We are also interrogating the bank officials to find out why Ikechukwu was allowed to operate an account with false document.”

Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013—7

2015: Six northern groups merge against Jonathan BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

ENVOY: From left— Mr. Ashraf Salama, Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria; Mr. Raouf Saad, Special Envoy of Egyptian President, and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Marina, Lagos.

ASUU to prolong strike until... zSSANU, NASU, NAAT threaten to resume industrial action BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

ENIN—ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Benin zone, weekend, vowed to continue with the ongoing strike action, accusing the Jonathan administration of not learning from the mistakes of previous governments. Meanwhile, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and the National Associations of Academic Technologists, NAAT, weekend, threatened to resume their suspended strike today over failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement entered into with the unions. Coordinator of Benin ASUU Zone and member of its National Executive Council, NEC, Dr. Sunny Ighalo, who briefed newsmen in Benin, Edo State, said its members will sit at home as long as government remains insensitive to their plight over the agreement it entered with ASUU. Ighalo, who said the current strike action has been very successful, noted that ASUU would only call off the strike when the Federal Government honours the agreement entered into with it. He said that part of the agreement was to reposition ailing infrastructure in most of the country’s federal universities and improved welfare of members of the body.

Ighalo said: “It is clear that President Jonathan has not learnt any lesson from the mistakes of past administrations, because ASUU members will not be moved about this threat of no work no pay. “We know that when the chips are down they will receive all their relevant salaries and entitlements. Government must be compelled to find solution to the brain drain issue and infrastructure decay in the system.”

JAC addresses journalists

Meanwhile, Joint Action Committee, JAC, of SSANU, NASU and NAAT told newsmen in Abuja that Federal Government had established the habit of signing agreements with unions without honouring such agreements. President of NASU, Mrs. Ladi IIiya, who spoke on

behalf of the three unions, said they met on Thursday to deliberate on burning and germane issues affecting their members in public universities and inter-university centres. She said that at the end of deliberations, it was discovered that government was insensitive and not committed to the full implementation of an agreement it freely entered into with them since 2009.

The agreement

She said Federal Government had, in a letter dated January 24, 2012 by Professor Nicholas Damachi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, agreed to embark on a systematic increase in the funding of the universities by releasing N100 billion annually to the Nigerian universities system for a period of four years, effective from January 2012. The three affiliate unions re-

gretted that more than a year after the circular was issued, government had not released any money. They also complained of failure of government to implement the agreement on occupational hazard allowance, responsibility allowance and head of section/ unit allowance, which were contained in the 2009 agreement. JAC said: “The failure on the part of government to commence implementation of this aspect of the agreement and pay up the arrears has resulted in huge arrears spanning over four years.” The unions lamented that they were fed up with the insensitivity of government, and appealed to Nigerians to “as a matter of urgency prevail on government to address all the burning issues within the shortest possible time. “If they fail to address these issues, we may not be able to continue to hold our members back from resuming our earlier suspended strike action without notice.”

O fewer than six northern groups have merged to checkmate the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Under the plot, which Vanguard gathered was perfected in Kaduna last week, they accepted to retain their identities but to work as a team. Secretary General of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, who confirmed the development to Vanguard, said that the move was deliberately initiated to bring the six groups under one umbrella for easy mobilisation and control as the race to the Villa gathers momentum. He said: “We noted that all the groups, ranging from Arewa Consultative Forum to Northern Elders Forum and the Middle Belt Forum, have basically the same agenda. “We, therefore, decided to harmonise opinions and to operate as members of a Joint Action Committee, JAC, with immediate effect. “At any point in time a representative of JAC can report back to their groups with a view to ensuring that everyone is carried along in the new move that will ensure the return of the Presidency to the north.” It will be recalled that no fewer than three northern groups converged on Kaduna last week and brainstormed on how best to wrestle power back to the region.

Amaechi: ACN accuses PDP of over-heating polity

CTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has accused Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of being unrelenting in its grim determination to overheat the polity and set the country on fire, if that will satisfy one man’s personal ambition to hold on to power. In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party

said it was left with no choice than to reach that conclusion after a faction of Rivers PDP reportedly loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan expelled Governor Chibuike Amaechi at a time all people of goodwill were calling for a resolution of the lingering crisis. It warned that the overzealous ruling party’s sole interest was power, without caring about the responsibility that goes with it.

ACN said PDP must be checked through all constitutional means before it plunges the country into unmitigated chaos. ACN said while whatever transpired within PDP was not its business, its (ACN) concerns stem from the dangerous impact that the Rivers crisis can have on the polity. ACN said: “Because of the danger their actions pose for our polity, we are concerned that these

trouble-makers are hell bent on annihilating Governor Amaechi. “Those who have accused us of crying more than the bereaved do not get it. “We are indeed the bereaved once anything happens that can torpedo our democracy and destroy our country. “This is why we will also be unrelenting in calling on Nigerians to call the puppets and puppeteers in Rivers to order.”

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 21, 2013

PIB 'll outlive us, says Alison-Madueke M

INISTER of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has described the draft oil reform law, currently before the National Assembly for legislative action, as a vibrant document which would remain relevant to the oil and gas industry long after the exit of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. She spoke to newsmen, weekend, at the end of the two-day Senate Public Hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Mrs. Alison-Madueke called on stakeholders in the oil and gas industry not to politicise or personalise provisions of the bill, stressing that the draft legislation was not proposed or written with any administration in mind. A statement by Tumini Green, Acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said the Minister spoke against the backdrop of fears in some quarters that the proposed law vests too much discretionary power in the President and Petroleum Minister. He explained that the responsibility for the exercise of the powers proposed in the bill for the President and Petroleum Minister will ultimately rest on any administration in power at the time and so should not be personalised. The minister said: “By the time the PIB is fully articulated and implemented, the current President and Minister of Petroleum Resources may no longer be in office. This Bill takes a while before it is operational.” Drawing a parallel between the PIB and the Power Sector Reform Act of 2004, which was passed over eight years ago and is currently being imple-

mented by the Jonathan administration, AlisonMadueke argued that it was important for the law to sufficiently empower any administration to act in the best interest of Nigerians.

Transition period

She said that the proposed transition period after the passage of the Bill is at least three years, adding “note that there are over 80 regulations to be made for this Bill to be operational.” According to her, “ while we take best practices from other developed regions, we should also work within the understanding of our own socio-economic and socialcultural norms and create entities and policies that will work and are not destined to fail from the word-go.” Commenting on the reported enormous discretionary powers granted to the Petroleum Minister in the PIB, Mrs. Alison-Madueke ex-

plained that the so-called powers were not different from those vested on the Minister’s counterparts by the petroleum laws of the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Norway. She stressed that the powers granted the Nigerian Minister by the PIB is less than those of her counterparts in the laws of advanced petroleum producing countries. Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated that the PIB establishes a flexible fiscal regime that will increase government revenues and yet encourage investment in the petroleum sector, noting that it allows for productionbased incentive system, which in the long run will accommodate every player in the industry.

On regulatory bodies

Addressing the concerns on the provisions for multi-

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Petroleum Resources Minister.

faceted regulatory bodies in the PIB, the Minister said this was basically as a result of the complex nature of the

WEDDING: From left— Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, at the wedding ceremony of Mr. Dele Adesina's (SAN) daughter in Lagos.

Editors fault moves on Press Council N

IGERIAN Guild of Editors, NGE, has joined forces with Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, in condemning efforts by some groups to revive some provisions of the Nigerian Press Council, which a competent court of law had voided. The editors also urged the Federal Government to go back to the negotiation table with Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP The Guild, in a communique by its President, Femi Adesina, and General Secretary, Isaac Ighure also expressed

worry that the mass media were operating under difficult conditions and urged Federal Government to intervene. According to the communique, “the NGE notes the efforts by certain groups to revive some provisions of the Nigerian Press Council, which a competent court of law had voided. “The Guild urges that the judgment of the court in this regard should be respected by all concerned, lest it becomes tantamount to an attempt to gag the media. “On May 4, World Press Freedom Day, Federal Government withdrew a case against two journal-

ists with the Leadership Newspapers. “The Guild notes with concern the recent re-arraignment of the two journalists and is of the position that the considerations that made the Federal Government to withdraw the case in the first instance should subsist. “The Guild is worried that the media are operating under difficult conditions because most of their input are imported and therefore are subject to the vagaries of foreign exchange. “The Guild, therefore, urges Federal Government to waive import duties on all news media inputs, especially newsprint

and broadcast equipment. “The Guild notes with dismay the recent conduct of some political leaders, which has the tendency to derail the country’s hard-earned democracy. “The Guild urges political leaders to conduct themselves in a manner that will not engender the highest democratic ideals. “The Guild is displeased that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, went on strike again over nonimplementation of agreements by Federal Government.”

industry, adding that an unwieldy, mammoth entity that hosts two separately run organisations is not a mode of efficiency and that the disaggregated regulatory system would enable speedy response to variety of issues that may arise from time to time. On the issue of the Host Communities, the Minister noted that it was established to mitigate the human and environmental conditions in the region and to assuage the feelings of the host communities towards oil and gas companies. She said: “The issue of host communities should not be personalised or politicised. Bear in mind that we expect to find oil in other parts of the country, especially in the inland sedimentary basins in the years ahead.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013—9

Civil servants woo legislators over salary deregulation BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

SSOCIATION OF Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, weekend, called on the House of Representatives andthe 36 State Houses of Assembly not to support to moves by the Senate to remove labour from exclusive legislative list and deregulate wages in the country. In a statement, leaders of ASCSN warned that if the moves by the Senate sailed through, it would create unprecedented industrial upheaval in the country, alerting Nigerians to prepare for emerging parliamentary dictatorship as the Senate also precluded presidential assent before the amendments become law. ASCSN urged labour movements, civil society groups, and well meaning Nigerians to first resist the attempt by the Senate to introduce parliamentary dictatorship and also prepare for a long-drawn battle to save Nigerian workers from further impoverishment in the event that lawmakers failed to listen to the wise counsel

Lagos LG chairmen want S/W zonal caretaker c'ttee dissolved BY DAPO AKINREFON

AGOS — Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 20 local government areas of Lagos State, have called for the dissolution of the South West zonal caretaker committee of the party led by Chief Ishola Filani. Under the forum of chairmen of PDP 20 local government areas of Lagos State, at a briefing in Lagos, also faulted a suit filed by two PDP members seeking the removal of the former deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George as a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT. Chairman of PDP Somolu Local Government Council, Mr. Wale Onile-Ere, who spoke on behalf of the other chairmen, argued that the Filani committee had over stayed its tenure as it was designed to last for 21 days.

Passenger from London to Owerri slumps, dies in Lagos passenger was accompanied by his wife and his brother when the incident occurred. An eye witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the passenger slumped at the front of the Departure Hall when he slipped off the ground and started bleeding from his nose and ears before he was rushed to FAAN’s hospital where he was confirmed dead. When contacted, General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority

of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the passenger was accompanied by his wife and his brother when the incident occurred, noting that they both proceeded to Owerri after the incident. According to him: “At about 0600 hours, a transit passenger on Arik flight en route LagosOwerri from London, slumped at the entrance of the Departure Hall, Terminal 1. "He was immediately rushed to the Aviation Clinic where he was

confirmed dead. The passenger’s wife and brother who were with the deceased later proceeded to AGOS — AN Arik Air pasOweeri.” senger en route LagosHowever, Arik Airline debunked Owerri from London, yesterday, the claim that it was one of its slumped and died at the enpassengers that slumped and trance of the General Aviation Terdied at the airport, claiming that minal, GAT, Terminal 1, Lagos such incident never happened to airport. any its passengers. The passenger was confirmed The spokesman of Arik Airline, dead at the Aviation Clinic where Mr. Adebanji Ola, said the airhe was rushed to for medical atline was not aware of such incitention. dent, arguing that none of the Vanguard gathered that the airline’s passenger was said to have died at the airport yesterday morning. According to him: “We are not aware of such a thing; none of our passengers died today (yesterday) "Ask the vendor or people where you got your information from, let them tell you where the person was going to, and on which flight the passenger boarded. "As far as I am concerned, such an incident did not happen toPROGRAMME: General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church,Pastor William Kumuyi (3rd left); with day to any of our him, from left: Pastor Emeka Izeze; a security detail, and Pastor Segun Babatope, at a two-day revival passengers.” programme: 'The God that Cannot Fail,‘ organised by Deeper Life Bible Church, at Deeper Life Conference Centre, Km 42, Lagos–lbadan Expressway, weekend. BY DANIEL ETEGHE

Workers shut APM Terminals BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

AGOS — WORKERS, weekend, shut down operations of APM Terminals, the largest container terminal in West Africa, even as the Maritime Workers Union,MWUN, threatened to make the operations of the company in Nigeria unprofitable if the management continued with its alleged unfair practices against Nigerian workers. But the management of the

company has declared the industrial action by the workers backed their union illegal. It was gathered that the union and APMT have been in running battles for awhile over improved conditions of service for workers, but things were said to have got to a head during negotiation for increase in allowances and other benefits. However, at the time of this report, Vanguard gathered that parties were making frantic efforts to resolve the matter because of the huge losses the company was

said to have incurred as a result of the shut-down. Confirming the shut-down, President-General, MWUN, Anthony Emmanul Nted, said the management shut down the operations on Friday after the workers started “a slow of work” protest against the management over protracted negotiation for improved conditions of service which began in April 2013. He accused the management of treating Nigerian workers as sub-humans and infringing on their rights at will.

LASIEC promises impartiality to contestants BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

AGOS — Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) has said the commission will remain impartial and ensure a level playing ground for all political parties, declaring its determination to organise a free and fair councils polls in 2014. Speaking with Vanguard after an interactive forum on the delineation of wards and creation of polling units at Mushin Local Government Secretariat, week-

end, Adeyinka said the commission had introduced some new operational arrangements that would improve the electoral process in 2014. According to him: “As far as we are concerned, we have no interest or candidate, but will remain impartial to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties in the country.” The retired justice appealed to “security officers in the state, to also improve on their strategy, as this would help afford improved voters’ participation and more assurance that the election would

be free and fair. "Some of the new strategies of the commission is the process of delineation of wards and creation of additional polling units in the state. "This is aimed at bringing election closer to the door-step of the people at the grassroots. “During the last election, we observed that there was low turnout of voters, the commission is determined to reverse this trend. It is the civic duty of all citizens of any society to participate in the electoral process in a democratic system of government.”

According to him: “When it was time to review the condition of service for our members, we met with management in April this year and they said the education subsidy and other subsidies they are offering will be deducted from workers' salaries. "This, we said, is unacceptable. This negotiation has protracted for a long time and workers have become restless. That is why we embarked upon a work-to-rule action which is intended to slow down production. "But the management shut down the entire operations and threatened to sack the workers. The operations will remain shut until the management does the right thing. We are waiting for the Managing Director to sack the workers. Until we get the agreement, the terminals will remain shut. The company is making a lot of money, but yet they treat our workers with impunity, like slaves and sub-humans. "APMT discharges not less than 420,000 containers every year and generates over $7 billion yearly, but yet they cannot take care of their workers. Rather, they repatriate the profit to their country.”

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Progressives will rule Oyo in next 50 years — Ajimobi BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN — IN defiance of avalanche of criticisms that trailed his administration, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said the progressives would rule the state for the next 50 years. Just last week, the governor said he would be prepared to serve the state as many times as possible. Ajimobi, who was speaking at the defection of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Accord Party from Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state into the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ibadan, said after the progressives had ruled the state for 50 years, it would finally seal the fate of those he called “reactionary elements.” The defectors, according to his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, were mostly political office holders during the Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala administrations. He stated that the new entrants said they were moved by “the brilliant performance of Governor Ajimobi in the last two years.”

Ekiti community warns against illegal mining BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI — THE People of the ancient town of Ijero Ekiti have raised an alarm over illegal mining in the area, calling on the law enforcement agencies to redouble their efforts by putting a stop to their activities The newly elected chairman of Ijero Progressive Union, IPU, Prince Tolu Onisile who made the appeal at Ijero Ekiti, weekend, said the activities of the illegal miners is posing a threat of impending landslide in to the entire community. Onisile said the large deposit of kaolin and tourmaline in the town should be a blessing, rather thana ‘curse.’ The IPU president, during his swearing-in ceremony, said one of the illustrious sons of the community, Major Gen Kayode Oni (rtd) had in a memo to the union last year pointed the attention of the community to the hazard posed by illegal mining, saying the time to act is now .

Police rescue kidnapped Briton in Lagos BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

HE BRITISH national, who was kidnapped last Friday few minutes after he landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by some gunmen, has been rescued by policemen of Lagos State Command.

Vanguard gathered that a combined team of operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and their counterparts from the Special Intelligence Bereau, SIB, stormed an uncompleted two storey building at Okota Isolo area of Lagos State, rescuing the Briton and arresting a suspect.

Police sources told Vanguard that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million dollars before the Briton could be released, but the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Umar Manko, ordered a clamp-down on them. Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that they saw a white man

MEETING: Mr. Tunde Bank-Anthony, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund, LSSEF, (left), welcoming Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, chairman of the occasion to the maidenTown Hall meeting on Sports Development, in Lagos State, organised by LSSF.

Aregbesola derides Omisore’s debate challenge HE OSUN State government, yes sere ete, oni kiwon gbe oun lo sodo T terday, reacted to reported chal- l’owe” meaning, “Bent on meeting its lenge of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to a waterloo, the clay statue says its owner debate by former Senator Iyiola Omisore, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In a reaction to the challenge, the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Governor’s Office, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said: “One is compelled to view this as captured best in what Yoruba would describe as Sigidi fe

should carry it to the river to have a swim. “Should Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola ever be afraid of debate anywhere in the world against an Omisore? “What would be the rule of engagement in such a debate as Nigerians know that ten Omisores cannot come close to the apparent mental alertness, creative ingenuity and ideological robustness of Aregbesola? “We congratulate him for his self-delusion as the politician with the best CV and engineer with the best practice in South-West. HE FEDERAL Road Safety Commission, “Sometimes, we need this FRSC, has adjudged the Governor of kind of comic relief as proOsun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola the best vided by Omisore, especially governor in area of safety and security of lives. in the face of the many abThe Chairman of the FRSC Technical Comsurdities his party, the PDP mittee in the state, Professor Joseph Fawole continues to assault our colspoke in Osogbo, the state capital during a lective psyche with on a daily courtesy visit on the governor by the FRSC basis. officials from Abuja. “Oh! He truly flaunts a dosThe officials were in the state for the 2012 sier that can never be the envy annual rating of the state’s efforts at reducing of anyone in a sane society. A road carnage. former Deputy Governor, yes, According to him, the massive road infrabut one that was impeached! structure development across the state emA senator, yes, but one whose barked upon by the state government has gone election was nullified! An ena long way in checking the high rate of road gineer but with no noticeable accident in the state. records of performance anywhere!

FRSC rates Osun best on road safety, security

putting on a white shirt being led into a waiting vehicle from the uncompleted building, situated close to a canal. The eyewitnesses also said they saw another man in handcuffs being whisked away a police van. An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that the area where the Briton was rescued was notorious for kidnapping, adding that the building where he was kept had been abandoned for some time giving room to kidnappers and other criminal element to turn it their den. The eyewitness also said the kidnappers could be members of an Internet fraud syndicate that specialised in luring foreign victims to Nigeria. “We have a lot of Internet fraudsters in this area and some of them are no longer making money as they used to and what they do now is to pretend to be women in search of spouses and they lure foreigners into the country and kidnap them for ransom,” the source added. The spokesman at the Deputy British High Commission, Lagos, Wale Adebayo, who confirmed the kidnap of the Briton but declined to provide details about his mission in Nigeria, could not be reached at the time of filing this report. It was also reported, that the gunmen attacked the vehicle the Briton was traveling in, killing the driver before they abducted him.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 — 11

Ewherido has lived his life —Archbishop Akubueze zAs Delta Focus Group, G25 Assembly, others bid him farewell BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—ARCHBISHOP of the Benin Catholic Province, Bishop Augustine Akubueze, yesterday, said that the departed Senator Pius Ewherido had played his role on earth and gone to rest. Meanwhile, two groups, Delta Focus Group and G25 Assembly, have described the late Senator Ewherido as a courageous, brilliant, patriotic and dedicated Nigerian, who within his brief period of two years in the senate left his footprints on the sands of time. Akubueze in his homily during the outing service organised for the late Ewherido at St Peters Catholic Church, Ewu-Urhobo, Delta State, urged the people to think of themselves rather than lament over Ewherido’s death. Praying God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the pains caused by his death, he said that they should be consoled by the fact that he is resting in the bosom of God. Speaking with newsmen, Chief Solomon Ahwinawhin, a former member of the House of Representatives, said that the news of the death of Ewherido came to him as a shock, adding that he would miss him greatly. Noting that Ewherido was a

brother and friend, he said that Ewherido had value for his people and prayed God to grant him (Ewherido) eternal rest in his bossom. Olorogun Taleb Tebite, member representing Ughelli South in the Delta State House of Assembly on his part, said that the Urhobo nation had lost a political icon in Ewherido, adding that he would be greatly missed by the people of Ughelli South and Urhobo at large. Also speaking, Mr. Edoja Akpodiete, member representing Ughelli North Local constituency II in the Delta State House of Assembly, said the late Ewherido was a man of focus that gave direction to many people. Chairman of Ughelli South Local Govern-

ment Area, Chief Ovis Uto said the death of Ewherido was a great setback to the people of the council. Resident Electoral Ofiicer, Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini said: “The death of Ewherido is a huge loss to Urhobo nation. He served his fatherland very well to the admiration of our people.” Delta Focus Group and G25 Assembly in a statement by their chairmen, Mr. Joshua Egun-Okoh and Mr. Benedict Ebede, described Ewherido as a patriot due to the impact he made not just on his family, hometown, constituency, state but the country at large, “it is safe to say he is not dead because his legacy lives on.” They noted that although he was a man with exceptional

achievements, he never boasted about his achievements and contributions to his community and the society at large. They said: “He was a silent achiever, who was referred to by his people as the Iroko. He provided shelter to many in his community, a gesture that cannot easily be forgotten. To most people from his state, he represented a unique voice of courage and boldness. “Senator Ewherido was a lively, calculating and focused person. We can describe him as a man of all seasons, who was always confident, vocal and comfortable in any company he found himself. His death was untimely and painful. He left his footprints on the sands of time..”

Jonathan ‘ll surprise critics in 2015 —Rep

ARRI—A House of Representatives member, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, weekend said that President Goodluck Jonathan will surprise his critics in 2015, accusing the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, of playing politics of regional sentiment. He said that the criticisms of Jonathan’s policy and programmes by NEF and its associates were borne out of the fact that the President was from South South geo-political zone of the country. Mutu represented by Mr. David Ekereokosu, a former commissioner for Oil and Gas in Delta State at the Excellence Award presented to him by National Union of Izon-Ebe Students, NUIS, Warri chapter of Delta State University, said it was naive for certain groups and individuals to feel that it was their birthright to rule Nigeria. Meanwhile, he called on NUIS, the South South region and Nigerians in general not be deceived by power drunk individuals, noting that the current pace of work on the East-West Road, the award of the Lagos –Ibadan expressway were a clear indication that Mr. President meant well for the entire country.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE: From right, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Abiodun Smith and his wife, Mary during, a thanksgiving Service by the Chief Judge and his family, at St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral, Warri, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

LG election: Oshiomhole’s work ‘ll guarantee victory —ACN candidate BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—AS the people of Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State await the conduct of elections into the council executive by Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, the chairmanship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the council, Mr. Sam Oboh, has expressed optimism that the developmental strides of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the area would guarantee victory to ACN. But his opponent in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. John Yakubu, had boasted that PDP will win the polls, even if elections were conducted hundred times. It will be recalled that elections in the council were cancelled twice by EDSIEC due to alleged electoral malpractices and violence. However, Oboh told newsmen that “I read my opponent saying even if the election holds hundred times, he will win but I laugh. I ask myself what miracle my opponent thinks the PDP will do to win in an area they lost few months ago during the governorship election. “During the governorship election, ACN won eight out of the 11 wards in the council. So what has changed between then and now that they think they can win?”

Steer clear of Rivers crisis, PDP stalwart warns Tinubu U

BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP former governorship aspirant in Delta State, Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, weekend, urged the leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, to steer clear of the seeming crisis between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and President Goodluck Jonathan. Onuesoke, who was reacting to recent media reports credited to Tinubu, said that the PDP has all it takes to resolve its internal crisis and urged Tinubu to stop

making statements that could worsen the PDP crisis in Rivers State. He said: “Amaechi and Jonathan are members of PDP, the party does not need external person or party to resolve its internal crisis. I, therefore, appeal to the respected ACN leader, Tinubu to steer clear of the internal matters of PDP.” Urging the leadership of PDP to take urgent steps to resolving the crisis, which according to him was getting out of hand, he said; “Amaechi and Jonathan are like father and son. Jonathan is Amaechi’s father. As a matter of fact, they are from the same state because if you recalled,

Rivers and Bayelsa is one state before the creation of Bayelsa.” Commending efforts put in by governors in the country to resolve the lingering dispute, Onuesoke said; “our South South governors can resolve this issue behind the doors.”

He appealed to the warring parties in the Rivers House of Assembly to sheathe their swords and continue to live as one, adding “they should not allow themselves to be used in a crisis that is purely between father and son.”

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Niger Deltans tasked on oil facilities’ protection BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—WORRIED by the incessant vandalisation of oil installations in the region, Executive Director of Isoko Environmental Watch Group, Mr Okezi Odugala, weekend, charged the people of the Niger Delta, particularly Deltans to assist in keeping vigil over oil facilities, especially facilities of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, NPDC, in the region. Odugala, who spoke on the incessant vandalization of oil facilities in the region, said it was the responsibility of all stakeholders to protect the oil facilities. Appealing to the people to cooperate with the Managing Director of NPDC, Engr Iyowuna Brigg and his team in the interest of sustainable development of the region, he said that the oil rich region was still yearning for infrastructural and human development. He commended Brigg for promoting local content development with a robust community relations and environmental sustainability in the area of NPDC operations.

Warri North crisis: Displaced victims want Itsekiri state zAs Niger Delta Ministry donates relief materials BY EMMAAMAIZE, EMMA ARUBI & GODWIN OGHRE

APELE—DISPLACED Itsekiri natives in the recent attacks by the Egbema Radical Group, ERG, an Ijaw militia, which razed more than six Itsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, have called for the creation of a separate state for the Itsekiri ethnic nationality. Meanwhile, succour came the way of Itsekiri victims of the attack, yesterday, when the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe, donated relief materials worth millions of naira to the council boss, Mr. David Edun, in Koko, headquarters of the council. Also, the Chairman of Itsekiri Youth Movement, IYM, Mr Newuwumi Omolubi, has called on the Federal Government to institute a panel of inquiry into the July 2 crisis that rocked Warri North. Speaking through the Olara-Aja (community head), Jakpa Community, Pa Higson Oporokun, the affected persons, under the aegis of Displaced Itsekiri People of Nigeria, said “We call on the Federal and Delta State Governments to as a matter of urgency, create an independent state for the Itsekiri people of Nigeria.” They noted that creating an Itsekiri state was the first step towards ending the killings of Itsekiri people by their Ijaw counterparts, adding that in the alternative, government should relocate them to a safe and militarily fortified area, where they would be free from assault and killing by their Ijaw militia in the state.

S-East safer with PDP —Orji

M UA H I A — G OV E R NOR Theodore Orji of Abia State, weekend, said that the people of the South-East were much safer under Peoples Democractic Party, PDP, led by President Goodluck Janathan unlike what happened in the past. He called on the South-East not to allow themselves to be deceived by anybody or group over attempts to hoodwink them in a direction that will not profit them in the next dispensation. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Governor Orji said: “This admonition is predicated on the platform of past experiences we as Igbo have undergone in the politics of this country, which is the reason we should stay away from people who may want to mislead us for selfish reasons. “In plain language, PDP is a party that is not owned by anyboby as against the rest which are built on individuals and ethnic affin-

ity, that can never be considerate of Igbo interest. “When the chips are down those masquerades behind the other political affiliations will certainly take decisions that will be inimical to the desired goals of the generality of Igbo. “Let us tell ourselves the truth, the Igbo have suffered unjustly in the political calculus of this nation but with the time and commitment we have invested in the PDP, the time to reap from what we have sowed is near, therefore, the devil you know is better and a bird in hand is preferable than ten in the bush. “We should not waiver in our support for President Jonathan because in the end, we shall be better for it. “Judging from what we have seen recently with regard to power generation, upgrading of federal roads and the commencement of the construction of the second Niger Bridge by the President himself, no one can be left in doubt that the South-East stands to benefit more in the near future.”

Meanwhile, Omolubi, told Vanguard in Sapele that the panel should determine among other things, the immediate and remote causes of the unprovoked killing of Itsekiri citizens and how to stop similar crisis in future. He said: “I think the way for government to get to the root of this matter is to set up a panel of inquiry to find out exactly what happened, why it happened, who were responsible and bring them to book. “I say this because what happened is not political as some people want others to believe, it is annihilation of Itsekiri people, it is a criminal act and the perpetra-

tors must be brought to book. For now, they are walking freely and they must not be allowed to walk freely, they must be fished out, dead or alive, to face the music,” he said. Items donated include tubers of yams, bags of beans, rice, garri, cartons of tomatoes, groundnut oil, mosquito nets, beverages, mattresses among others. Making the presentation to the council boss on behalf of Elder Orubebe, Mrs. Oju Agata, expressed sadness over the attacks, saying that he was pained by the incident and prayed Almighty God to grant the families of those killed the fortitude to bear the loss.

Orubebe explained that the token was his ministry’s way to commiserating with the devastated communities and people, urging them to put the incident behind them. Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the affected communities, Mr. David Edun, maintained that there was no crisis in the council, as what happened was a devilish attack and killings of innocent Itsekiri persons and burning of their villages by some Ijaw oil thieves masquerading as freedom fighters from Egbema communities.

MBGN PAGEANT: From left: Minister of Culture, Chief Edem Duke; Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson and Mr. Guy Murray-Bruce of Silverbird Group, during the 26th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Pageant in Yenagoa. Photo: Lucky Francis.

Anna Banner wins MBGN crown BY BENJAMIN NJOKU &

SAMUELOYADONGHA ENAGOA—MISS Bayelsa State, Anna Ebiri Banner, weekend, emerged the winner of 2013 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant with Imo State representative, Okwu Stephanie as 1st runner up. Banner, 18, also won the best traditional costume award, beating other 31 contestants to clinch the crown at a ceremony held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. Meanwhile, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has appointed Anna Banner as his Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism. Anna Banner is meanwhile to represent Nigeria at the Miss World pageant later this year in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has now taken over the reigns as the Most Beautiful girl in Nigeria 2012 winner, Isabele Ayuk.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, at the event, also announced the new queen as the Ambassador of Culture and Tourism in Nigeria. Meanwhile, contestants who made it to the Top 5 were Miss Imo, Miss Abuja, Miss Kaduna and Miss Adamawa. In his speech, Governor Dickson called on investors to avail themselves of the numerous tourism potentials and investment opportunities in the state. “As a state, we consider it a unique privilege to have an array of important personalities and elegant young ladies in our midst today, just a couple of months after we hosted the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA. “For us, playing host to these historic events within a space of just four months gives credence to the fact that Bayelsa is fast

growing to become the next tourism hub of the country. It also speaks volume of the restoration of government unwavering commitment to the promotion of gender equality as illustrated in the national gender policy of our great country.” Chairman of Silverbird Group, organisers of the pageant, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce said the essence of the competition was to bring about unity among ladies with different cultural and social backgrounds. According to him “all 32 delegates worked tirelessly with one common goal, although we can only have one winner, I see everybody who has come this far as an individual who possess great value and have exhibited a great level of competence. “In over 25 years, we have produced beautiful ambassadors who have represented Nigeria at various international events.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 — 13

FG warns contractors over delay in road projects BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & ALICE FESTUS

BUJA— MINISTER of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, has warned contractors to desist from delaying execution and completion of road projects in the country. Onolememen stated this while explaining to Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State the reason contract for MaihaSorau road project was terminated. While updating the governor on the state of the project, the minister stated that contract for the road was awarded about six years ago, but lamented that for alleged incompetence of the contractor, the project was

yet to be completed. He, however, assured the governor that efforts were on to ensure that the project was awarded to another contractor with the requisite competence to deliver to standard, stressing that the project had reached procurement stage. He said: “In Adamawa State, unfortunately, when we came in we had a few projects that had become impossible and one of them is the Maiha-Sorau road which the ministry awarded long ago for over six years, about seven years precisely and the project was not doing well. “I started looking into the project file to see the reasons and I discovered that there was no reason on earth why that project should not do well".

N-Assembly to enact law on oil theft BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

BUJA—THE National Assembly is contemplating a legislation to curb illegal oil bunkering in the country, speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said. Tambuwal spoke at the closing ceremony of a three-day 10th regional meeting of the African Caribbean Pacific and European Union, ACP-EU, Joint Parliamentary Assembly, weekend. The speaker, who noted that the trend was negatively affecting the

country’s economy and finances, said the twin evil of oil theft which amounts to loss of about 400.000 barrels of oil per day and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea placed the country and Africa at large in a vulnerable position. He, however, remarked that the recent meeting of African Heads of States in Yaounde, Cameroon, was a commendable move to checkmate the menace. He said: “The problems of oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea are matters deserving of collaborative and co-operative approaches of our countries and the international community to tackle headlong".

Dangote Sugar appoints Graham Clark as GMD

HE Board of Directors of Dangote Sugar Refinery, DSR, has announced the appointment of Graham Clark as Group Managing Director Graham Clark has served most recently as the Managing Director of Illovo Sugar Ltd, Africa’s biggest sugar producers, with operations in six African countries. He served on the Illova board since 1997 and as Managing Director since 2009 when he led the company through its most significant period of growth and positioning it well for

C M Y K

the future. In making the announcement, DSR Chairman, Aliko Dangote, said: “At the cusp of industrial revolution in Nigeria and with our acquisition of Savannah Sugar Company located on 32,000 hectares in Adamawa State and planned development of other sugar fields across the country estimated at over 300,000 hectares, critical enablers, such as innovation, talent and skills are key levers to put us on a competitive trajectory growth path.”

Buhari, Tinubu are dictators — PDP BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—THE leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, alleged that the 2011 presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari, and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, were united in dictatorship. PDP warned both personalities to stop parading themselves as saints and democrats, saying Nigerians already know their dictatorial antecedents. In a statement signed yesterday by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Tony Okeke, the party said: “Buhari and Tinubu are united in dictatorship. It is on this pedestal that they are pursuing merger to register the All Progressives Congress, which manifesto betrays the fact that they have absolutely nothing to offer but desperate for power. “We urge lovers of democracy, especially those seeking elections on the platform of any party where the duo are in control, to wake up before it is too late as there will not be any primaries to give them a level playing ground to realize their dreams. “Nigerians should also note the antecedents of these politicians and their cronies and know that any government in which they are allowed to hold sway will be a terrible government characterized by dictatorship, corruption and abuse of the rights of Nigerians. "The ruling party took stock of activities of the two men and submitted that they are bitter because they know that they will lose the 2015 general election, despite the so called merger of their parties, which is built on deceit, corruption and falsehood and as such want to invent excuses ahead of time. “Buhari and Tinubu lack the moral justification to pontificate on democracy, especially when all their actions are dictatorial. "The CPC in castigating Buhari’s former aide, Yinka Odumakin, for exposing atrocities of the CPC leader and those of ACN officials in a recent statement shows the CPC as a party

characterized by falsehood. “Buhari has refused to change his dictatorial tendencies. He has continued to impose

himself as leader of any political party where he finds himself and uses his powers to handpick candidates for elections.

“In 2003, he forced John Nwodo Jr. and other presidential candidates in the then APP to step down for him".

AWARD—From left: Rev. Bernard Okodua, Lagos State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; Mrs. Theresa Maku of Christian Welfare Initiative, CWI; Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, Chairman, South-West CAN; Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ekemiri and other CWI members during presentation of Award of Excellence to Arch. Bishop Atilade in Lagos, weekend.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

One dead, 2 wounded in kerosine explosion BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI— K E R O S I N E explosion, yesterday, claimed the life of one person, identified as 13year-old Chidera Nwoba, at Mbukobe, Ebonyi State, while two others sustained injuries from another blasts in the area. The injured, Chibueze Ugorji, 8, from Isukwatu, Abia State, and Uche Kalueze, 6, of Akaeze, Ebonyi State, are now receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, following severwed burnt suffered as a result of the explosion. The explosion, which led to the unfortunate demise of Chidera, according to sources, occurred at about 6.45am as she attempted to

put on a stove to prepare breakfast for her siblings. The stove was reported to have allegedly busted into flames and burnt her to death before neighbours could put out the flames. An eye-witness who spoke with Vanguard, said he heard a loud explosion and rushed out only to see that the house was in flames. The eyewitness said: “Before we could put out the fire, the girl had already given up the ghost but she was rushed to hospital where the doctors confirmed her dead”. When Vanguard visited the two injured victims, Uche and Chibueze, at FETHA, they were lying critically ill because of the severe burns they suffered from the explosion.

Orji insists on handing over to Abia South in 2015 BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA— GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has again declared that he would hand over power to Ukwa/Ngwa people of Abia South senatorial district in 2015. According to Governor Orji, Abia Charter of Equity, which prescribed power sharing in the state, remains sacrosanct and will be implemented in the interest of peace and equity. Orji said he would not like to take any decision that would plunge the state into political crisis, hence the decision to respect the charter.

The governor, who spoke when traditional rulers from Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area paid him visit at Government House, Umuahia, insisted that he would fulfill his promise of handing power to the South in 2015. Orji said: “I am the first governor that openly declared that the governorship seat will be rotational. I am here to install equity and fair play in governance. “I want to leave here (Government House) peacefully”, pointing out that he would avoid any political decision that would plunge Abia into crisis after the expiration of his tenure”.

Igbo forum seeks youths' involvement in politics

non-governmental organisation, the National Igbo Forum, NIRO, has urged old breed politicians to involve the youths in election process. Chairman of NIFO, Okeson Nwoye, who spoke in Awka during a familiarization/ enlightenment tour of Anambra State, as part of one week sensitisation visit of the South East, also called on the youths to cooperate for the needed development of Anambra State. Nwoye said any governorship candidate

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that will reform Anambra State should be a person acceptable to youths, churches, market men and women, amongst others. The NIFO delegation, which was led by Nwoye, also had its secretary, Amaechi Chimeremeze; treasurer, Prince C. Okpo and three other members from the national secretariat in Lagos. Nwoye said NIFO was out to restructure the educational culture of the state to make it more attractive for the youth.

ASUU slams Senate over botched meeting BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA— CHAIRMAN, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, chapter of ASUU, Dr. Uzochukwu Onyebinama, has accused the Senate Committee on Education of according leaders of the union shabby treatment, warning that the ongoing strike would last longer than Nigerians expected. The Senate Committee on Education, headed by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, had invited the leadership of the union for discussion over the ongoing strike but the meeting was aborted without prior notice to the union. Onyebinama said the ASUU team, led by its President, Professor Nasir Isa, was neglected by the Senate committee as no attention was given to him. He said the team waited for several hours after arriving the venue of the meeting on time without

Mandela, an inspiration to the world — Ubah

EADING aspirant in the November 2013 governorship election in Anambra State and Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, has described South African Patriarch, Dr Nelson Mandela, as an inspiration to the whole world and a pillar to the Black race. Ubah, who just returned from a visit to the nonagenarian in a South African hospital, said: “Madiba, you are a guiding and shining light, an inspiration to the whole world and a pillar to the entire Black race. "Your footprint on the sands of time will not only remain indelible but will also be a source of hope and encouragement to the world.” Ubah, who is aspiring to succeed Governor Peter Obi on the platform of Labour Party, LP, visited Mandela, last week, with top shots of Capital Oil and Ifeanyi Ubah’s Foundation.

the committee chairman and his colleagues receiving the union leaders. He recounted how the team was shoddily moved from one place to another

while waiting for over two and half hours for the meeting which never held. Speaking with newsmen in his office, Dr. Onyebinama said ASUU

members were making sacrifice for the development of Nigerian higher education system which he lamented had been steadily dwindling.

COMMISSIONING— Governor Peter Obi (2nd right), Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor (1st right), Fr. Anthony Ezeogamba and Srs. Felicia Anyikwam during the commissioning of the auditorium of Girls’ Secondary School, Agulu, rehabilitated by the state government, yesterday.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013—15

RAMADAN TALK BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

Take even as little for Sahur

From left: Efe Akpofure (SAN), Dr. Philomena Oyarone (former commissioner); Olorogun Senator Ovuodoroye Ibru (first Governor of Delta State); Dr. Festus Okubor (Chief of Staff, Delta State Government House and representative of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan); Prof. Adegor Eferakeya; Chief Ken Okpara (Commissioner of Finance, Delta State); Hon. Oshevire (member representing Ethiope East LGA, DTHA); Chief Bernard Edewor, Elegbete Moses Odibo (former Commissioner and Chairman Ukueku Burial Committee) during the commendation service for the late Chief J. E. Ukueku at the Aganbi Baptist Cathedral, Eku, Delta State.

Three Boko Haram suspects killed in failed mosque attack zThey were not sect members —JTF z50 sect members arrested in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

AIDUGURI — THREE suspected Boko Haram members who allegedly came from Bama council area, Saturday evening, and stormed the El-Amin Daggash Mosque in Government Reserved Area in Maiduguri, Borno State with the intention of kill-

ing Islamic cleric, Modu Mustapha, while preaching during Tafsir (Ramadan preaching), were lynched by angry mob. Our correspondent gathered that the terrorists came in a Golf Saloon car and one tricycle armed with AK47 rifles and a pistol before they met their untimely death. A source told our corre-

spondent that the incident happened at about 4pm, when the Tafsir programme was going on. The source said someone sighted one of the terrorists with a pistol sitting among the congregation, and alerted others who apprehended him. It was gathered that immediately the suspect was nabbed, a mob swooped on him and beat him to

death, while the other two suspects who were also inside the mosque were arrested in the process of attempting to escape. They were equally beaten to death some few metres away from the mosque. However, The Joint Task Force (JTF) ‘Operation Restore Order’ in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has said it was not a Boko Haram attack, saying it was an error of judgment by a policeman on duty who pursued someone who allegedly stole a Keke NAPEP and a bag of rice and drove off towards the mosque. A statement by the JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, said: “The incident was not a terrorist attack as insinuated, rather, it was an error of judgment by a policeman on duty that pursued someone who allegedly stole a tricycle and a bag of rice and drove off. The policeman was in mufti, wore Police reflective jacket, pursued the alleged thief and fired two gun shots.”

As-salam Alaikum waramotullai, wa barakatuh! The kindness of Allah cannot be overemphasised when one ponders on the blessings in the act of eating sahur during Ramadan. For almighty Allah (SWT), it is not enough blessings that He provides us with food on our table, but He further blesses anyone who wakes up in the first rays of dawn to eat the same food for sahur. The Prophet (s.a.w) was reported by Anas to have said: “Eat something for sahur even if it is a date. For there is in it barakah.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Isn’t it great that Allah is rewarding us for eating? The prophet taught his companions and by extension, every Muslims that they should begin their fasting by taking something. It does not necessarily have to be heavy meal. In fact, overeating negates the spirit of fasting. It is advised to wake in the pre-dawn period to appropriately kick-start fasting by eating sahur among other things. Eat moderately even as you remember those who could not afford a meal for that purpose. Some people have asked whether there is need to wake up for sahur if one has nothing to eat. What is, however, appropriate is to wake up, carry out other activities of the Ramadan night and when it is time for sahur, get some water to drink. In it, there is barakah. It should be noted that there is no sin in not waking up for sahur if it was not done on purpose, and the inability to take sahur does not vitiate fast. Again, another common argument now is the appropriate time for sahur. Brethren, sahur is not breakfast and should not be treated in like manners. While breakfast is the dawn meal, sahur is pre-dawn meal. Much as we know that the night is free for eating and drinking, Allah has described the time for the end of sahur as indicated in Quran 2 vs. 187: “...eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread.” The prophet also said: “Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum makes his call to prayer. He does not make it until the break of dawn.” (Al -Bukhari) Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man whose incident with the Prophet is the subject of Quran 80. The famous Bilal making his first, then Ibn Umm Maktum. Ibn Umm Maktum making his last call to prayer before Subhi. We could discern from the above injunctions that in this part of the world, the break of dawn starts some minutes past five. Be that as it may, scholars have advised that sahur should be taken between 4:45 and 5:15am. Next time you are eating sahur, be rightly guided. RamadanKereem!

Child marriage: Stop stoking religious war, Arewa youths warn Senators BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

BUJA — UPSET by Senate bid to peg official marriage age in Nigeria at 18, northern youths, yesterday, lashed out at the lawmakers, warning them not to stoke the embers of religious war over the controversial legislation. The Senators had last week voted in favour of amending the Nigerian

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Constitution to set the marriage age at 18, a decision that was promptly challenged by former Zamfara governor, Ahmed Yerima, who described the decision of the lawmakers as anti-Islam. Apparently joining forces with Yerima, who also initiated Sharia in his state when he was governor, Arewa youths asked the Senators to desist from taking action on the matter so as not to further heat up the polity along

religious, ethnic and political lines and create avoidable cold war. The President of the Arewa Youth Forum, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, said in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, that the Senators had missed the point in amending the law and exposed themselves as people who were confused on what to do to justify their presence in the upper chambers of the National Assembly.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 OUR Senate is in the caves. We have a duty to save it, from itself, and for Nigerians. How can the Senate in the 21st century be proposing that Nigerian girls can be married at an indeterminate age? The Senate is shamelessly broadcasting its determination to insert the profane provision into the Constitution. Those limiting impacts of the Senate’s decision that girls are ready for marriage at any age they are married to abuse of the girl child massively miss the point about its implications for the future of our society. What would a society be where children are meant to raise their own children? How can a girl by law attain womanhood once someone marries her? Is the Senate banning childhood for girls? Our laws recognise adulthood at 18 – for rights of litigation, voting, and the definition of “minor”. A woman married at less than 18, according to the Senate, would be an “adult” by an act that has telling effects on the health of the girl child. At what age would the “senate adult” have any legal rights? Is a definite age for

BY FRED IKEDIALA

HEN an elected person talks in an official and/or political capacity, the understanding is that he is speaking the mind of the people he represents. The reason is simple – he has a duty to consult with them before making any pronouncement on their behalf. It is against this background that the statement credited to Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to the effect that he would deliver the South-East to APC in 2015 should worry or even anger every right-thinking Igbo man. Okorocha emerged as governor of Imo State after an election whose results and constitutionality are still being challenged in court. So the authenticity of his representation of Imo State is in question, so is his capacity to speak on their behalf. Besides, his loquaciousness and proclivity to make promises that he does not have the slightest intention and even capability to keep, have cast doubts on the minds of many of his ardent supporters as to whether they are doing the right thing supporting him. Rochas has in his past two years in government exhibited an absolute lack of leadership qualities. His voluble disposition puts him in a position where he talks before thinking. Governor Okorocha says he does not recognise any other governor who has superintended over the affairs of the state except the late Chief Sam Mbakwe. He has lived up to that pronouncement by obliterating as much of the achievements of his predecessors as he possibly can, including even some of the legacies of

Shameless Senate adulthood unimportant? Is it not discrimination, contrary to Section 42 of the Constitution, to have different adulthood age for female and male Nigerians? Under Section 29 (4a and 4b) of the Constitution, a woman shall not be qualified for marriage until she is 18 years of age. The Senate, on Wednesday, proposed to change that provision to ‘a woman is deemed to be of full age once she is married’, irrespective of the age she did so. What importance does this provision have for the welfare of the society? Is the provision for pleasures of some gentlemen, who delight in marrying

children under guises of religion, culture and personal preferences? A senator is facing charges for allegedly marrying an under-aged girl. Would the Constitution also be retroactive to protect him? Is the provision for those who harbour similar ambition? Granted, most of the proposed changes in the Constitution are self-serving, it would be stretching things to shattering for Nigerians to permit this provision. Further protections for the girl child are in Articles 21 (2) of the African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 6 (b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Section 21 of the Child’s Rights Act of Nigeria (2003), Article 18 (3) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Nigeria will be in perpetual danger if provisions like these are in the Constitution. It would damage our demographics beyond immediate contemplation. Nigerians have to stop this provision and other obscenities the National Assembly can insert into the Constitution.

OPINION Delusion of delivering the South-East to APC Chief Mbakwe. Governor Okorocha became governor under APGA platform after Peter Obi had served out his first four-year term as governor of Anambra State and major financier and leader of the party, yet Okorocha disregarded Obi and other leaders of the party and made a unilateral commitment of APGA involvement in the APC arrangement. Of course, the real owners of APGA in Imo, Anambra and elsewhere have since dissociated themselves from that faux pas which has left Okorocha currently without a party.Even within the so-called APC, he has started having issues with Chief Achike Udenwa whom he does not recognise as a former governor but who is of course a formidable force in the ACN (the most senior partner in the yet-to-be-recognised merger). This much was re-echoed by Chief Udenwa himself when he reportedly told leaders and members of ACN recently that ACN was the pivot upon which APC stood and that nobody could sideline the party and its members on what concerned APC, especially in Imo State. In a veiled reference to Governor Okorocha, Chief Udenwa, according to the report said: “You cannot build a house and sleep in the parlour while a stranger sleeps in the bedroom”. Governor Okorocha is indeed evidently now not only a stranger in APC but also a stranger in APGA. His alleged sponsorship of the impeachment of his deputy under circumstances ab initio

orchestrated by him, speaks volumes about his inability to function effectively in collaboration with others. But the Governor seems too conceited to realise that he is unlikely to deliver himself in 2015 in Imo State otherwise why would he, in his wildest imagination, arrogate to himself the ability to deliver the entire Igbo nation to APC? Who made him the leader of Ndigbo?

he treatment he received from the owners of Igboland during President Jonathan’s visit to Enugu recently, would by now have opened his eyes to his real reputation within the zone. He was treated almost like a Pariah by the crowd which booed at him each time he stood up to speak. The reason for his rejection by that assemblage of Igbo leaders in Enugu is not far to seek. Governor Okorocha, by his actions and utterances, seems to be lending some credence to the erroneous belief by other tribes that the Igbos may never be able to put their acts together. Igbo leaders of which Rochas Okorocha (being a governor) is one, should at this time be seen to be speaking in one voice on crucial national issues. But he is not a man to be fed that “trash”. Those who are familiar with his modus vivendi say he has a voracious appetite for power and could not care what happens in his pursuit of it. They posit that he has his eyes on the Vice Presidency and,

may be, something higher and is ready to destroy the platform that he used to attain his present position. Governor Okorocha, in my view, is deluded by his present position to believe that he is capable of bluffing his way to a higher position through the APC experiment without the backing or support of the Igbos. He is dead wrong. Though his demagogic speeches and bluffs have carried him this far, they have also exposed his tricks and inadequacies. The people now know that he is in the habit of speaking from both corners of his mouth; they are aware that he makes promises and never keeps them. Within these two years, he has shown Imo people, nay Ndigbo, that he has no place in his mind for planning and no regard for due process. His dictatorial tendencies are evident in the way he is running his state and the unilateral manner in which he attempted to drag APGA to APC, thus respectively bringing Imo economy to its knees and almost tearing APGA to shreds. While answering questions from journalists during his so-called Imo freedom day, Okorocha boasted: “I will be lynched if I do not run again”. That was an open declaration of his intention to throw his hat into the Imo governorship ring again in 2015 and, to my mind, a tacit withdrawal of his conjectured vice presidential ambition. *Mr. Ikediala, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Owerri, Abia State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 — 41

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013—43

Look younger, live longer just by changing your lifestyle STORIES BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

F you look young for your age, chances are you’ll live longer than if you’re haggard and appear worn out. Even if you are 45 and still feel like a teenager, there is no avoiding the white hairs and fine lines. Growing old is inevitable, but there are easy ways to keep looking younger and, hopefully, live longer.

of antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals, Eating moderate amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and drinking plenty of water is the simplest way to keep the body nourished and young. A low body mass index (BMI) preserves a youthful appearance. Avoid smoking, alcoholism and drug use which

all contribute to ageing.

Stay active

Boredom accelerates mental and physical aging by encouraging unnecessary binging and feelings of uselessness that may to lead to depression. It is important to lead a productive and active life by engaging in activities and keeping good company.

Pharmaton Matruelle provides healthy edge for mothers-to-be W OMEN of child-beraing age intending to become pregnant, or are already pregnant and lactating have increasing demand and needs for micro-nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements Docosahexaenoic Acid,DHA, in the so-called “peri-pregnancy” period. Every expectant woman looks forward to bearing a child with

Don't stress

Heavy workloads, reduced family time, higher costs of living and 24/7 communication devices are daily sources of stress. Do not to put yourself in unnecessary stressful situations like rushing to work, squeezing with the crowds, being overly competitive and trying to do too many things at the same time.

Exercise and keep fit

Regular exercise is definitely a youth booster although most of us don't get enough and eat too much. Vigorous exercise can reduce cellular aging by preventing the shortening of telomeres which are linked to several health problems, including diabetes and coronary heart disease and early death. A few minutes of vigorous or moderate activity every week is recommended to moderately delay the decline of age markers. One of the easy ways to incorporate exercise into your daily life is to go for a walk

Eat and drink healthy,

The best ways of eating healthy are debatable, however one definite no-no is sugar, which hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen especially on the face. Intake

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•A healthy mother is key to a healthy baby and a healthy family.

In 2050, 400,000 newborns will have sickle cell anaemia — STUDY

ICKLE cell anaemia is increasing worldwide, and babies likely to be born with the hereditary blood disorder are expected to increase from about 305,800 in 2010 to about 404,200 in 2050. Using estimated country rates of sickle cell anaemia and information on projected birth rates, a new study published in PLoS Medicine, shows

that more newborns in India, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be born in 2050. The new study confirms that the global burden of •Normal red blood cells (sickle cell anaemia) is increasing, and highlights the need to develop specific national policies for appropriate public health planning. Universal screening programmes could save the lives of nearly 10 million newborns with sickle cell anemia worldwide, including 85 percent of those expected to be born in sub-Saharan Africa Implementing basic health services - such as newborn screening and vaccination - by 2015 could increase survival of more than five million newborns with the disease by 2050. An estimated 100,000 -150,000 babies are born with the disease annually in Nigeria, according to the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria.

healthy development of the nervous system, brain and eyesight and relief from post partum depression, but often, the average pregnant women have sub optimal nutrition and require micro-nutrients supplementation . Further, mothers require protection against embryonal neural tube diseases of the foetus, prevention from anaemia caused by iron deficiency as well as prevention of complications such as pre eclampsia. Not to be left out are essential Omega-3 fatty acids that can only be obtained from the diet. The requirements during pregnancy have not been established, but likely exceed that of a non-pregnant state. Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for fetal neurodevelopment and the timing of gestation and birth weight as well. In realisation that most pregnant women likely do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids because the major dietary source, seafood, is restricted to two servings a week, recently in Lagos, Benjamin Michaels Ltd, sole agent of Boehringer Ingelheim presented a product that holds answers to questions of micronutrient supplementation faced by pregnant women and women hoping to be pregnant as well as breastfeeding women in Nigeria. Known as Pharmaton Matruelle, it is formulated according to the latest Reccommended Daily Allowance, RDA, for pregnant women but covers the needs of women in child-bearing age actively planning to become pregnant as well. According to the product literature, Pharmaton Matruelle is a combination of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and omega-3 fatty acids. It offers complete nutritional care for mother and child, covering the increased needs on vitamins, minerals, trace elements and DHA in the periconceptional, pregnancy and lactation periods. It provides protection against embryonal neural tube diseases of the foetus, replaces iron loss caused by blood loss during delivery, helps to prevent iron anaemia and may help reduce risk of pre-eclampsia thanks to its iron, folic acid, zinc, selenium, vitamin C and E content.

44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Egypt begins constitution amendment

panel of legal experts, yesterday started work to revise Egypt’s Islamist-tinged constitution, a vital first step on the road to fresh elections ordered by the army following its removal of Mohamed Mursi as president. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which has accused the army of orchestrating a military coup and denounced plans to revise the constitution, staged fresh rallies yesterday to maintain pressure on the new, interim government. Setting a highly ambitious timeframe, the military wants new

•President Adly Mansour

elections in around six months and has tasked a panel of 10 legal experts to present proposed changes to the constitution within 30 days for review before a broader-based body. The original

constitution was approved by a referendum last year, but critics said the text failed to protect human rights, minorities and social justice. Ali Awad Saleh, a judge and the constitutional affairs adviser for the newly installed president, chaired Sunday’s panel, saying it would spend the next week receiving ideas from “citizens, political parties, and all sides”. Khaled Dawoud, a spokesman for the opposition umbrella National Salvation Front, called the start of the committee’s work “a very positive development”.

Martin could have been me — Obama

N a deeply personal re flection on race, President Obama yesterday said the African-American community was frustrated and pained by the acquit-

tal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin because of a “history that doesn’t go away.” “Trayvon Martin could

Japan ruling bloc ‘wins’ upper house poll

APANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc has won majority of seats in the upper house of parliament in elections, giving it control of both chambers for the first time in six years, according to exit polls. The predicted win was seen as an endorsement of Abe’s economic programme, which has helped spark a tentative

recovery, and gives him a legislative mandate to pursue difficult economic reforms he has promised to help sustain growth in the long run. The victory in yesterday’s elections, where half the seats in the 242-member upper house were up for grabs, could also embolden Abe to advance his nationalistic goals, which could further strain relations with China and South Korea.

Philippe is new King of Belgium as Albert II abdicates

ROWN Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II. The Oxford- and Stanford-educated, trained air force pilot took the oath as the country’s seventh king in a ceremony in

parliament. To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution. Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role. One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.

Fighting rages near Aleppo airport in Syria

IGHTING between Syrian government forces and rebel groups raged near Aleppo international airport and nearby airbases as the battle for Syria’s second city entered its second year, activists said. “Fierce clashes broke out at dawn near Aleppo C M Y K

international airport and Nairab air base,” the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday. The monitoring group also reported fighting in the Suleiman Halabi district of the city, once Syria’s commercial hub, and overnight clashes at Kwayris military airport.

have been me 35 years ago,” the president said in his first on-camera response to Saturday’s verdict. “In the AfricanAmerican community at least, there’s a lot of pain around what happened here. I think it’s important to recognize that the African- American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away.” Zimmerman, 29, shot Martin, who was 17, claiming it was in self-defense. The not guilty verdict triggered outrage in cities across the country.

Trail blazing journalist, Helen Thomas dies at 92

ORMER White H o u s e correspondent Helen Thomas, a trailblazing journalist who reported on every US president from John Kennedy to Barack Obama, has died at the age of 92. Thomas, who worked the White House beat for 49 years for United Press International (UPI) and Hearst newspapers, died on Saturday after a long illness, the Gridiron Club, Washington’s historic press organisation, said. In her long career, she was indelibly associated with the ritual ending White House news conferences. She was often the one to deliver the closing line: “Thank you, Mister. President” - four polite words that belied a fierce competitive streak.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 — 45

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Generals of the unjust war concentrated them in the Federal Government, thus reducing every federating unit to parasites that rush to Abuja every month to collect federal allocation. To be fair, among these were also the men who, in their youth, were genuinely committed to Nigeria, a supposed jewel of the Black race, staying united to fulfill its destiny as Africa’s gift to the world; people who are now dismayed that their patriotic vision for putting their lives on the line was thwarted by the hidden enemies among them in collaboration with former colonial masters, Britain. Forty three years after the civil war, one after the other, these war generals lamented that injustice still pervades the system. And I laugh. I have a question: was the civil war a campaign against injustice? You answer the question by asking two more questions: (a) what led to the war? And (b) when the “war of unity” was won, what steps were taken to ensure justice for all in Nigeria, including those defeated in war?

Amaechi’s lovers and deceivers

OLLOWING the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Governor Chibuike Amaechi has been playing host to governors loyal to his faction in the Governors’ Forum. First batch to arrive in Port Harcourt were the “PDP renegades” from Arewa: Govs Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa). Next came the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors of the South West with some deputy governors from All Progressive Congress (APC) states in the North. They were tagged “solidarity visits”. It would have been so harmless if not for the undisguised motives of using Amaechi to undo President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the run-up to 2015. Whether these people are lovers or deceivers of the Governor, only one person will wear the pinching shoe in the end.And that is Chibuike Amaechi. To be warned is to be armed.

I answer these questions based on my understanding of our history. The immediate causes of the war were (a) the coup of the five majors in which leaders of the North (both in the army and the political arena) were killed in a manner suggestive of ethnic cleansing. It sparked the pogroms in the North and West and pushed the East

education became the single most important factor to launch the groups later identified as the Igbos into limelight. As Chinua Achebe correctly points in his various works, the Igbo people took only thirty years of exposure to Western education and civilisation to burst onto the arena, sweeping the Eastern Minorities into the shade and becoming the regional overlords, much to the resentment of the latter. They also, by the middle 1960s had become so dominant in the system that even the Yoruba, who had a much longer access to Western education and civilisation, began complaining of “Igbo domination” in their homeland. The North not only complained but had to create the Northernisation Policy to prevent the South, particularly the Igbos, from taking over when the British colonial masters were gone. The Igbos became arrogant and loud and before long, created anti-Igbo feelings not only among the Minorities in their home

N Thursday, July 18, 2013, the cream of generals and political/ bureaucratic czars that worked for the federal side during the Nigerian civil war gathered in Lagos. They were at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) to honour retired General Godwin Alabi-Isama, who presented his memoirs. Late reggae singer, Peter Tosh, once sang: “any time I see these men, my blood runs cold”. Among these were cold-blooded murderers who killed innocent civilians during the pogroms in Northern and Western Nigeria; war lords who rounded up and hacked innocent and defenceless civilians to death in Asaba and other fallen theatres of the civil war; people who, in their youth, took great pleasure in operating the policy of hunger as a legitimate weapon of war and sent thousands of children to their untimely graves through starvation. Among these were people who betrayed and butchered their boss in Ibadan and also killed an honourable man, Military Governor Adekunle Fajuyi, for being a true African who would rather die than collude in harming his visitor, boss and head of state, General Aguiyi-Ironsi. These were the men who promised reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation after the war but proceeded to wage more than forty years of marginalisation against the former Biafrans after forcefully bringing them back to “One Nigeria”. These were the people who pounced on the oil wealth of the former Eastern Region (now Niger Delta) and ravaged the land and its people in the name of being civil war winners; people who took away the powers of the Nigerian people and

The so-called ‘Igbo coup' of January 15, 1966 followed a year later by the declaration of Biafra took the anti-Igbo sentiments beyond mere complaints, as a broad national and international consensus converged to ship the Igbo people out of political relevance through the “war of unity”. With the Igbos out of the way, a big reward awaited those who were in the coalition (the Minorities, North, West and Britain)

towards secession. And (b): the Military Governor of the Eastern Region, Col. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who yielded to pressure and declared the secession of the region from Nigeria in 1967. There were remote factors involved. These included ethnic and regional rivalries which the Igbos mismanaged to their own detriment. Before the colonialists came, the North and Yoruba land were already distinct political entities. In the East, there were also distinguished entities along the coasts, such as Calabar, Bonny, Kalabari and other kingdoms. In other words, the Minorities along the coast were more firmly established than their neighbouring Igbo groups who remained scattered in their disparate republican hamlets. Colonialism which brought Western

region but also among their majority rivals at the national level. These, combining with the anti-Igbo decolonisation disposition of the British, laid the gunpowder that exploded against the interests of Igbo people during the events of 1966 to 1970. The so-called “Igbo coup” of January 15th 1966 followed a year later by the declaration of Biafra took the anti-Igbo sentiments beyond mere complaints, as a broad national and international consensus converged to ship the Igbo people out of political relevance through the “war of unity”. With the Igbos out of the way, a big reward awaited those who were in the coalition (the Minorities, North, West and Britain). They would have unfettered access to the surging oilfields of Eastern Nigeria! (TO BE CONTINUED)

OPINION

BY ERNEST OMOARELOJIE

S a country, Nigeria has its fair share of ecological challenges. The most obvious indicator is that there are in each of the six geo political zones evident manifestaions of the devastation which is more or less threatening to overerun a huge chunk of the country‘s landscape. In particular while the North is contending with an unprecedented challenge despite having a tougher landscape with greater level of resistance, the more erosion prone South East and South South are having their very existence threatened by the menace. The case with Edo state is, for several reasons, very peculiar. Situated along the country‘sl ow belt region, the state has had its fair share of the destructive impact. However, for reasons of the much talked about rise in global temperature, which resulted in warmer climate, it became one of the recipients of a massive volume of rainfall that recently inundated not just its coastal belts but also a number of areas in the hinterland hitherto free from erosion. Thus, the state has had to contend with attendant challenges that left a number of communiities previously conversant mild erosion becoming so ravaged that residents were forced to relocate to safer grounds. Whereas the state was in the past able to handle the challenge, the scale of the challenge under review was so overwhelming that it practically put the state on its kneels. This is evident in case of Queen Ede, in Ogbesanwan quarters, within Benin City, the state capital. Determined to find a lasting solution to the menace, the government set aside the sum of N500 million to fund a rescue project. However, due to the fact that the amount is grossly inadequate for the project, it began the search for a viable

Climate change,the environment and Edo option partner counterpart with the ability to provide counterpart funding. It approached the Federal government with an appeal to have the project bankrolled with counterpart funding from the ecological funds but it was turned it down. The state governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, made this point while receiving officials of the bank. According to him, “We have also talked with the federal government to draw from the ecological fund to deal with it. Again that has not been successful. Our final hope now is the bank. We are hoping that you will help us out and have it fixed.” Next, the state went in the direction of the World Bank, the global financial institution not known for giving consideration to frivolous administrations. Thankfully, the bank received the request with open hands and as a mark of its readiness to do the needful, sent its assessment team to Benin City, the state capital, with a view to ascertaining the required level of assistance. So far, if the team’s timeous visit, inspection of the affected areas and comments made thereafter are anything to go by, it appears clear that the state’s request for assistance is not only receiving prompt and favourable responses, hope is rising that at last, succour may be on its way. Interestingly, the partnership interest shown by the global financial institution may not be unconnected with its conviction that the state government is genuinely committed to carrying out development programme with direct impact on the lives of the people. Not least important is the seriousness with which the governor has undertaken the search for a viable partner. Put mildly, both qualities are no doubt the stuff required to

instill confidence on discerning partners. Given the statement made by Benoit Bosque, leader of the bank’s visiting team that the state has proven its seriousness by being one of the few to seriously approached it for assistance, it can be deduced that both factors played important roles that swayed the bank into declaring its readiness to assist the state. According to Bosque, “Edo state is among the first runners. You are doing your bit. There are still a few steps to be taken. I am sure that soon most of the state level actions would have been taken by ensuring that full management of the state would be in place and the effectiveness condition would be met very soon. We expect that Edo would receive the first instalment of the preparation advance and finally, the cash will start flowing from Washington to Benin City.” Such comment cannot but be seen as one of the most reassuring gifts the people of Edo state can hope for in terms of real time governance. It is doubly assuring because in accepting to assist the state government, the global financial institution is passing another important vote of confidence on the comrade governor’s administration, further reinforcing the widely held belief that in terms of impact, the state under his leadership has witnessed the greatest number of real time people-oriented development projects. Indeed, the expectation now is that besides upping the ante in the governor‘s confidence vote, the expected assistance will provide a permanent solution to the threatened areas. *Mr. omoarelojie, a social critic, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013— —47

R. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, has a knack for cutting superfluous controversies. Though highly selfopinionated, her coruscating brilliance is not in doubt. She speaks candidly on any aspect of economics that catches her fancy. One may have deep reservations about her soaring prognosis on the Nigerian dodgy economy and even dislike the somersaulting policies of the government she is a part of; certainly one can’t deny that the former World Bank technocrat often ardently means whatever she gives voice to. It is in this context that I view her recent remarkable appraisal of governance in the State of Osun. This should remind us of the useful lesson evident in the idiomatic expression that it can be counter-productive to throw out the baby together with the bath water. The Minister ’s considered utterances sometimes embody unassailable facts. I commend Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for adding her notable voice to those of many others who have conscientiously spoken about the unprecedented improvement evident in the socio-economic condition of the State of Osun since the advent of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. Media reports quoted the

Finance Minister as saying that Governor Aregbesola is a model for good governance, having demonstrated clearly that good governance in Nigeria is feasible. She made the remarks in the address she read at a two-day workshop organised by the World Bank last June at Iloko-Ijesa for volunteers in the Federal Government’s Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation, YESSO. It must be remembered that the unimaginable success of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES, necessitated the existence of YESSO. About a year after the introduction of the scheme in Osun, the World Bank reportedly began to study the programme and later submitted that OYES provided a practical platform for mass employment. It recommended the idea to both the Federal Government and states in Nigeria. In the said address read by her representative, the National Coordinator of YESSO, Mr. Peter Papka, Okonjo-Iweala rightly observed that the initiatives of the ACN government in Osun gave comforting assurance that it is very possible to level the perilously imposing mountains of youth unemployment across the country. Hear her: “You [Aregbesola] have demonstrated that good governance is possible with your programmes. You have demonstrated that youth

development is possible. Your programmes so far have demonstrated that you are a good example of government and governance”. These are no patronising sound bites, for when the Minister says “programmes” she guilelessly speaks of the numerous sustainable 'O’initiatives of the state government, which continue to undeniably redefine the social and economic conditions of the people of Osun. That the State of Osun comes first as the State with the least unemployment woes in Nigeria is a reality that can no longer be ignored by those who incessantly carpet its government. Before Aregbesola became our governor, those of us who live and make our living in Osun know that the state was a kitchen midden of youth unemployment, infrastructural decay and economic stasis. Poverty stalked and menaced the people. But that is no longer the case. The transition that has been witnessed

Rekindling hope for our varsities BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

ECENT deliberations by stakeholders in the education sector offer a bright hope that our ailing universities - if the findings from the brain-storming session are well harnessed and put into use - could be inching to the desired word-class status. This opportunity, which I feel is worth sharing, beckoned at the just-concluded national retreat, jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission for the newly-inaugurated governing councils of Nigerian federal universities, held recently at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. The main thrust of the two-day programme was to equip participants with the requisite principles of university governance with a view to making the new council members responsive to the expectations of government and critical stakeholders in implementing public policies. Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Julius Okojie said the retreat was carefully packaged for the Council members - as employers of labour, who are armed with enormous wealth of experience - to enable them discharge their duties effectively in moving our ivory towers forward. “It is obvious that the Nigerian university system has a number of challenges that are begging for solution. The retreat will provide opportunity for participants to rub minds on these issues for the purpose of finding lasting solutions to them,” he stated. Delivering the keynote address, Education Minister, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i said that with the increase in the number of universities, more challenges had ensued that managers of our tertiary institutions should be adequately positioned to tackle. She advised registrars to be up and doing without appearing as usurping the powers C M Y K

of the council as well as the vice-chancellor who is the chief executive officer of the university, as she also warned those in authority to shun corruption. The Minister charged the various institutions to implement the White Paper reports of the visitation panels to the universities. “The preponderant scenario in most Nigerian universities today is that rather than a solemn academic affair, convocation ceremonies have been turned into rowdy funfairs and sometimes political rallies as a result of honorary degree awards,” she added. The chairman of the occasion and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, represented by the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in his office, Dr. Jamila Shua’ra, decried the incessant crises ravaging our universities and advised council members not to dabble into the dayto-day management of institutions. “I strongly advise that the governing councils should not interfere with the dayto-day running of the universities, but focus on policy issues, adopting best practices, monitoring institutional projects and sourcing for funds outside the usual government subventions to improve facilities and infrastructure that would promote teaching, learning and research in the institutions,” he warned. The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Education, Aminu Suleiman, equally advised Nigerian universities to strive to take a lead among comity of higher institutions of learning by focusing on research and development. The first paper, entitled "Overview of the Nigerian University System", was presented by the NUC Executive Secretary, who was represented by Dr. Abiodun Saliu. According to the NUC boss, presently, the nation has a total of 128 universities – federal (40), state (38) and private (50) that

in our state for the past two years now has soothing evidence of concrete transformation. Youths whose lives were steadily wasting away have been rescued, given training in useful skills and empowered to start small businesses. Farmers have their own happy stories to tell. Under the aegis of the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme, agro-allied businesses have received a massive boost. With the computer tablet, free school uniforms, free daily feeding for pupils in Elementary Class 1-4, building of ultra-modern schools across the state, and increase in funding, the education system of Osun as we used to know it has changed significantly.

nfrastructural development enjoys adequate attention now. Old roads are being rehabilitated and newer ones are springing up. A few weeks ago I read in the papers that all the nine state hospitals are already being renovated. That is in addition to the marked changes in healthcare services. Indeed, great things are taking place in Osun. Those who can’t hear, see them; those who can’t see, hear them; and hardly is there a single household in the Land of the Virtuous that doesn’t benefit from the policies of the present government. One other way to test for the genuineness and effectiveness of the policies of the Aregbesola administration is to invoke the methodology prescribed by the seasoned British economist, Dudley Seers. According to him, to understand whether a state or

BY SUNDAY AWOPEGBA

Okonjo-Iweala on governance in Osun

The capacity of the Osun people to live dignified and meaningful lives has been made possible through a consistent and focused implementation of programmes that squarely address poverty

The preponderant scenario in most Nigerian universities today is that rather than a solemn academic affair, convocation ceremonies have been turned into rowdy funfairs and sometimes political rallies

are faced with the challenges of access, relevance, governance, equity, quality and funding. He said since the NUC was established in 1962, it had ensured that there was an orderly development of university education in the country. The Pro-Chancellor of the Fountain University, Osogbo and pioneer ViceChancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Nurudeen Adedipe delivered a paper entitled, "The Nigerian University System: Community Relationship Convergence in Divergence".

rofessor Adedipe charged each university to prioritize its academic programmes such that it would claim the status of “centre of excellence” in a chosen or narrow band of disciplines, as he also advised against making all Professors members of Senate, which he termed “all Professors Syndrome”. He described the syndrome as a great impediment to attaining “a compact, more effective decision-making and operational cost reduction” initiative in the university system. A former Registrar of the University of Ibadan, Chief (Mrs.) Moji Ladipo delved on the topic, "University Ceremonies" and observed that convocation and graduation

country is developing or not, three main questions need to be asked: First, “ what has been happening to poverty?” Second, “what has been happening to unemployment?” Third, “what has been happening to inequality?” He contends that if we notice tangible declines in all of these key areas, doubtlessly the entity – state or country – can be said to be in an era of development. However, he cautions that if one or two of those core issues have an organic tale of misfortune, or if the three are becoming more unbearable, it would amount to sheer lunacy to describe that misery of biblical proportion as development. Surely, Okonjo-Iweala had issues of unemployment, poverty, and inequality in mind when she lauded Governor Aregbesola as an exemplar of good governance. The capacity of the Osun people to live dignified and meaningful life has been (and is still being) made possible through a consistent and focused implementation of programmes that squarely address poverty, unemployment, and social injustice. This is a fact that a highranking PDP apologist has affirmed dispassionately. And I see this as another clinical deconstruction of the two-for-onepenny fable of secession and islamisation that some calcified minds who could not stand the vision of Aregbesola wickedly spawned against him but to no avail. *Mr. Awopegba, a commmentator on national issues, wrote from Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State.

ceremonies were important in the life of a university, but their solemnity and dignity should be preserved in line with best practice. “By upholding the true dignity of our academic ceremonies and providing the leadership that adds value to them, councils would have confirmed our universities as places where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see; where seekers and learners alike, banded together in the search for knowledge, will honour thought in all its finer ways, will welcome thinkers in distress or in exile, will uphold ever, the dignity of thought and learning and will exact standards in these things,” she stated. Critical issues that bordered on governance were tackled in the paper titled, "University Governance", as presented by a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Nimi Briggs, in which he recommended that there should be a full knowledge of the operations of the university, promoting the policies of the proprietors, close monitoring of finances, obeying the tenets of due process, and appointing the right staff into vacant positions. Others include enforcement of appropriate staff discipline, promoting and projecting good image for the institution as well as contributing to the development of the immediate host environment. The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Emeka Eze, spoke on, "Critical Issues in Public Procurement" and gave detailed processes involved in procurement as provided by the Procurement Act 2007, stating that projects go through Nigeria Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS, assessment before they are eventually approved to guarantee transparency and fairplay. Continues tomorrow on pg18 Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

48 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Drop-outs are now our leaders — Amaechi, sole surviving Southern nationalist ELDER Statesman and First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi is the last man standing in Southern Nigeria among the generation of nationalists who fought for the nation’s independence. He is also the only surviving minister from the South that served in the first post-independence cabinet. The quartet in that cabinet still surviving are Shehu Shagari, Shettima Ali Mungono, Inuwa Wada and Maitama Sule all from the North. Amaechi’s place in history nonetheless, he notes the chasm between the values of the founding fathers and the current generation of leaders who he asserts are engrossed in rapacious looting of the country’s common wealth. In this exclusive interview, Amaechi also raises issues with the place of Ndigbo in the nation’s history noting what he describes as a systematic policy of undermining the presence and place of the Igbo race in the polity. Excerpts:

BY VINCENT UJUMADU HOW has life in the village been? I was born in the village here and then in my early life, I was taken out of the village to pursue secondary and higher education, then the struggle for independence began. I later moved to the public service as a parliamentary secretary and later minister. Nigerians expect that those of you that fought for the country ’s Independence should be consultants of some sort. Are you recognized by those at helm of affairs? Not at all. Governments in Nigeria now are by-products of the military junta that destroyed the country and destroyed the dreams of the founding fathers of this country and the subsequent regimes have inherited the hostility of the military. The governments are hostile to history and many of them don’t want to know about the history, particularly the political history of the country. That is why in many places,

Southern Nigeria. With the death of T.O.S Benson, some years ago, Dr. Majekodumi last year and M.T Mbu, I am the only surviving one in Southern Nigeria, East or West. There are four others in the North namely, Shehu Shagari, Shettima Ali Mungono, Inuwa Wada and Maitama Sule. Whenever I leave Anambra State to other states, they recognize me a lot, but here in the East, it is only the Abia State Governor that respects me a lot as well as the new Governor of Imo State.

Founding fathers In the North, it’s something else. Anywhere I go there, they get excited that one of our founding fathers is around. You talked about how the military destroyed this country. If they had approached you for advice as a nationalist, what would you have told them? What kind of advice will you give to a criminal? Taking over the rulership of a country by force of arms is the highest form of armed robbery and as far as

Governments in Nigeria now are byproducts of the military junta that destroyed the country and destroyed the dreams of the founding fathers of this country and the subsequent regimes have inherited the hostility of the military

the politicians who founded the country, particularly from our side of the country, that is, the Igbo side, are not given their due recognition. In places like the North or the West, the nationalists are being honoured. With a pointer to Anambra State in particular, it is either they are ignorant of the history or something else. Then, again, in Nigeria , I am the only surviving nationalist or minister from the First Republic in the whole of

I am concerned, all military men that took over government either in Nigeria or elsewhere are people who are guilty of treason. They should be killed. They were all killed in Ghana and Ghana found peace. When an armed robber snatches a hand bag from a lady, he is executed but when somebody takes over a whole government of a country, takes over the whole wealth of a country and plunders it, he is going about freely. The same

•Amaechi thing they have transferred to their successors now. They are looting the country now in a legal way. For example, look at the earnings of the governors, the legislators and ministers. Some people appointed as ministers do not merit it while some do. In our own time, you will have to have the mandate of the people, you have to win election, be a member of the parliament before you are appointed a minister. But

today, any dropout can be appointed a minister and anybody who is a minister at Abuja for six months, you find him owning a house in Asokoro, Maitama or any other high brow area in Abuja. Where did they get the money from?

Dropouts looting the country

They are simply looting the country. The country is fabulously rich and blessed by God but thieves are stealing the

country dry. The legislators who make all sorts of laws for themselves have basic salaries or take home allowances, both seen and unseen and go home with up to N10m a month. What do you call that? It’s stealing, they have legalized looting. Check out the time of the nationalists and the founding fathers of this country, starting from Dr. Azikiwe to Okpara to

Continues on page 49

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013—49

Drop-outs're now our leaders — Amaechi Continues from page 48 Dennis Osadebey, to Nwafor Orizu, to Obafemi Awolowo, to Saudauna of Sokoto. Did you find any chain of buildings that they sprawled all over the place? The same for people like us that were ministers. I was a minister for six years, yet I did not build a house in Lagos which was the capital of the country then. For example, when Dr. Okpara wanted to come back, his wife cried out and myself, the late C.C Onoh, Dr. Walter Eze, Dr. G.C. Mbanugo, we raised money and went and completed a building for him at Umuahia. This was somebody who was a minister for about eight years and Premier of Eastern Region for six years. He did not build a house but now, even special assistants or advisers build mansions, own private jets and all that. What kind of country is that? You operated a parliamentary system of government. Do you suggest that we go back to that system? I don’t think it is the system, it is the people. Any system that runs through democracy is right. The fault is not in the system but in the people operating the system. As a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are you receiving pensions or any form of stipend? No, nothing. They don’t even invite us to drink fanta at the Independence celebrations. The other day they celebrated 50 years of independence; they did not invite the nationalists. I have never had any invitation from them. Another election is underway, what do you make of the struggle for power?

the succeeding generation of politicians from Igbo land cannot even come and sit down and plan on how they can save themselves, how they can go back again to belong to Nigeria because there is no ethnic group in Nigeria that is superior to the Igbos. In any town in Nigeria, take away the indigenous natives, the next highest population are the Igbos. There is no town in Nigeria you don’t find the Igbos. In every hamlet in Nigeria, they are there. It is said that if you go to any place in Nigeria and you don’t find an Igbo man, go away because that place is not habitable. They are always there, as wine tappers, vulcanisers, traders and all that but the political leaders of this era have not learnt to galvanize and mobilize them. Ndi Igbo, if they decide to bring this country to a halt for 24 hours, they can do that. If we say, let every Igbo man close his shop, let every Igbo transporter take his vehicles off the road, let every Igbo teacher withdraw from the classroom, this country will come to a halt. Why then do you think the Igbos do not maximize their power in the Nigerian project? Because the political atmosphere is dominated more by opportunists and careerists than thinking people and once an Igbo man finds himself in a comfortable position, he wants to enjoy that position to the fullest. They are not thinking of tomorrow.

•Amaechi

If he is an honest man, capable and has something to offer as well good leadership, then why not? But ideally, Nigeria is not an ideal place

No other section of Nigeria contributed more than the Igbos to the founding of this country, yet since after the civil war, since after the first republic, the Igbos have been relegated to the status of sub citizenship in their own country I don’t know. I don’t vote. I am talking about the clamour for power shift in the country. Ideally, the proper thing in a society is for the people to elect somebody of their choice to rule them. It does not matter whether he comes from the East, West, North or South. It doesn’t matter the religion he professes.

because there is so much ethnic and religious influences in our public places. Therefore, it becomes necessary that certain areas should not be marginalized. A good leader should give leadership to all. For example, look at the case of Nigeria, Igbos, because they fought a civil war, have been mapped out for marginalization and

reduction to a second or third class status in a country they were part of the founders. There is no ethnic group in Nigeria that produced more nationalists and founding fathers like the Igbo land. No other section of Nigeria contributed more than the Igbos to the founding of this country, yet since after the civil war, since after the first Republic, the Igbos have been relegated to the status of sub citizenship in their own country. They are neglected in development plans, look at our roads, look at the second Niger Bridge that we have been talking about, old bridge that the Balewa government built in 1965 to 1966 is aging and being over loaded. We have been crying and they said the contract has been awarded and it is contractor financed in which they say the contractor should organize a toll and collect the money.

It is only here they are doing it. It is only in this part of the country that electricity is locked off. There were two powerful power stations in Igbo land but after the civil war, the Gowon government decided that electricity should not be generated in Igbo land again and so they closed the Oji River power generating station in Enugu which was utilizing coal.

Succeeding generation Then the Afam power station which was in Aba division, they transferred the town to Rivers State so that it will not be in Igbo land because of the government policy that there should not be any power generating point in Igbo land, all because of the civil war. Afam power station was useful to Biafra. Then the Igbo politicians themselves, that is

National conference Alright, Nigeria at a national conference some seven years ago decided that Igbo land has been cheated amongst all the geo- political zones, that all the geo-political zones in the country have minimum of six states and that it is only Igbo land that has five states. So they passed a resolution that there should be one more state in Igbo land. Now, it has been impossible for the present generation of politicians to agree on one state. They are demanding Urashi State, Adada State, Egbema, all sorts of things. We tried to use the Ohaneze and the governors to get them together, but it has not happened. In our own time, it won’t happen. If such challenge is thrown to us, over night, the leaders will meet and say this is what is going to happen and it stays and it ends there.

50 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Why Appeal Court freed Al-Mustapha & Co Continues from last Friday

E submits that it is irregular to charge the offence of conspiracy with the substantive charge. There is no direct or circumstantial evidence on conspiracy. That PW1’s evidence had no relevance to the charge of conspiracy. PW2 and PW3’s evidence amounted unreliable and discredited evidence while PW4’s evidence was inchoate and inconclusive. For these reasons, the charge of conspiracy cannot stand, he argues. Thecountofmurdermustbeprovedbeyond reasonable doubt, he argues. Submits that none of the Prosecution’s witnesses gave credible or reliable evidence. The entire trial was a persecution. He urges Court that the Prosecution failed to prove’ he charges against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt. The Respondents Issue No 1 can safely be subsumed into the two issues of the Appellant, save their issue No 2 which talks about , circumstantial evidence. It would be right to say that Issue No 1 in the Respondent’s issues for determination is same as that canvassed by the Appellant. Arguing Issue No 1, the Respondent submits that conspiracy as an offence has not been defined by the Criminal Code Law. But their conspiracy at Common Law is an agreement of two or more persons to do. an act which is an offence to agree to do. He submits that the very plot is an act in itself. Referring to Archbold 37th Edition paragraph 4051, he submits that conspiracy is agreement to do an act which it is an offence to agree to do, and this is what constitutes the offence under the Criminal Code Law, citing HARUNA V. THE STATE (1972) 8-9 SC 108. He submits that to prove conspiracy, it is not necessary to prove direct communication between each conspirator and every other. All that needs to be established is that the criminal design alleged is common to all of them. Proof of how they connected with or amongst themselves or that the connection was made is not necessary - cites ERIM V. THE STATE (1994) 5 NWLR (pt. 346) 522 at 533.

Circumstantial evidence He submits that conspiracy can be proved either by direct or circumstantial evidence. Here there is direct evidence of PW2 and PW3 who are accomplices to the offences tried in this case. That the direct evidence of how PW2andPW3plannedandexecutedtheplan to murder the deceased is consistent with their extra-judicial statement during investigation. He submits that when a witness, like in the present case, has a good explanation for the inconsistency in his evidence in Court, this may fail to discredit his entire testimony, particularly where there are other evidence. That direct positive evidence of proof of conspiracy between the conspirators is hardly capable of proof. Therefore the Courts usually find the offence of conspiracy as a matter of inference to be deduced from certain criminal acts of the parties concerned. That the bottom line is the meeting of the minds of the conspirators which need not be physical citing NWOSU V. THE STATE (2004) 15 NWLR (Pt. 897) 466; ODUNEYE V. STATE (2001) 13 WRN 88; OBIAKOR V. STATE (2002) 10 NWLR(Pt.776)612;DABOHV.STATE(1997) 5 Sc. 197; OMOTOLA V. STATE (2009) 2-3 SC (Pt. II) 196. Conspiracy; he submits can be inferred from

the conduct of the parties. He submits that the fact that there was no credible direct evidence of an agreement between the accused persons to commit the offence is not enough to hold that the prosecution has failed to establish the charge of conspiracy citing USUFU V. THE STATE (2007) 3 N.W.L.R Pt. 1020 at 94; ALARAPE V. THE STATE (2001) 5 NWLR Pt. 705 @ 79; OYAKHIRE V. THE STATE (2006) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1001) at 157; NJOVENS V. THE STATE (1973) 5 S.C. at 17. The Respondent submits that some compelling facts and circumstances exist from which conspiracy could be inferred in this case, which include facts of the murder of the deceased during the reign of terror of General Sanni Abacha as the Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And the Appellant was the Chief Security Officer of Late General Sanni Abacha. Submitting further that there was opposition to the government of Late General Sanni Abacha led by NADECO, who wanted the detained winner of the 1993 June 12 election, M.K.O. Abiola released. Thedeceasedwasaprominentmemberand financier of NADECO and wife of Chief M.K.O. Abiola. Prominent members of NADECO like Alex Ibru and Senator Abraham Adesanya, Late Alhaja Adeniyi who was assassinated were members or sympathizers of NADECO and this took place during the regime of General Sanni Abacha. He submits that he has been able to lay direct and circumstantial evidence before the Court, and been able to prove the charge of

deceasedwasindetentionwhenthedeceased was assassinated on the 4thof June 1996. (II) In 1996, Sanni Abacha was the Head of State and Commdnder-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. (III) The 1st was the Chief Security Officer to General Sanni Abacha and very powerful. (IV) The deceased was a member of NADECO and owner of Radio Kudirat, the foremost opposition to government of General Sanni Abacha. (V) In the Supreme Court case, ABACHA V. STATE (Supra), it was found and held that Mohammed Abacha was in the Appellant’s officewhenhegaveabagcontainingweapons to and whispered instruction to ears. (VI) The deceased was assassinated during the struggle for the actualization of the June 12 election and opposition to government of General Sanni Abacha. Urges Court to take judicial notice of the above. That the fact that the Apellant admitted during cross-examination that he ordered surveilance of NADECO rally in Lagos shows that he is culpable. So much for The Prosecution only lavishly submissions of learned served a potpourri of NADECO and counsel for the respective Anti-Abacha politics. Therefore, the parties. The Appellant was Prosecution mistook politics for charged with conspiracy to commit murder evidence contrary to Section 324 of the Criminal Code Law conspiracy against the Appellant beyond Cap. 32 Vol. II Laws of Lagos State 1994 and reasonable doubt. It is not beyond any shadow with murder respectively contrary to Section of doubt, he argues. 319 (I) of the Crimnal Code Law Cap 32 Vol. He submits that the degree of proof that II, Laws of Lagos State 1994- page 3 of the would amount to reasonable doubt need not Record of Appeal Vol. 1. reach certainty, but it will carry a high degree Section 2 of the interpretation section of the of probability. That once he ingredients of the Criminal Code defines an “offence” as an act particular offence the accused is charged with, or ommission which renders the person doing are proved, that will constitute proof beyond the act or making the omission liable to reasonable doubt. punishment, under this code or under any Submits that there are sufficient facts from statute is called an offence. whichconspiracybetweentheAppellant,PW2 By Section 324 of the Criminal Code of and PW3 can be inferred. That the trial Court Lagos State, under which the Appellant is was right to have convicted and sentenced charged, it states the Appellant for the offence of conspiracy to “Any person who conspires with any other murder the deceased. person to kill any person, whether such person On the Issue of circumstantial evidence, the is in Nigeria or elsewhere, is guilty of a felony, Respondent submits that there was direct and and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen circumstantial evidence which shows that the years.” deceased was killed at the directive of the By this very definition, it portends that there Appellant but that he concedes that the direct is a definition of conspiracy to kill in our law. evidence of the prosecution against the As earlier observed in this judgment, before Appellant has a challenge of credibility arising me is a 326 pages judgment of the lower court, from the contradictory evidence of PW2 and coupled with a 7 Grounds of Appeal in the PW3, but that would not detract from the fact Notice of Appeal. But prudently, learned that there was evidence before the Court as to counsel for the respective parties had who murdered the deceased. narrowed their issues for determmination, That theAppellant’s extra-judicial statement which in my view covers the field of the admitted as Exhibit A6 and other Grounds of Appeal. This is because in my circumstantial evidence adduced, led to the view, there are three issues for determination conclusion that although the Appellant did in this matter which can aptly be put thus, not by himself pull the trigger, he was a and which in essence is an adoption of their principal offender to the commission of the respective issues for determination, earlier offence referring to Section 7 of the Criminal adumbrated in this judgment. They are Code Law. (1) “Whether the offence of conspiracy He submits that the circumtantial evidence to murder has been established in this case before Court which the Court was pobliged against the Appellant, in view of the evidence to believe are: before Court, direct or circumstantial.” (I) M.K.O. Abiola acclaimed winner of the (2) Whether there has been established June 12, 1993 election, the husband of the against the Appellant the charge of murder

Second appealant Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan, continues his defence

of Late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.” (3) “Whether there is any evidence outside the evidence of PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4 that suggests that the Appellant committed the crime.” Decidedly, conspiracy may be formed in one of the following ways: (a) “the conspirators may all directly communicate with each other at a particular place and time and enter into an agreement with a common design (b) there may be one person who is the hub around whom the others revolve, like the centre of a circle and the circumference. (c) a person may communicate with A and A with B, who in turn communicate with another and so on. This is what is called chain of conspiracy.” OSUAGWU V. STATE (2013) 5 (Pt. 1346) . 366 at 391-392; OYEDIRANRAN V. REPUBLIC (1966) S SCNLR 173; V. SALAWU (2011) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1279) 580; ERIM V. STATE (1994) 5 NWLR (Pt. 346) 522.

Agreement by the conspirators Conspiracy is complete upon an agreement by the conspirators, and in most cases, agreement is inferred or presumed. And there must be evidence of complicity of the accused person in the offence. Given this background, can it be said, given the facts before the lower court, that the Appellant is guiltyof conspiracy? This can be gleaned from the evidence of the Prosecution witnesses who testified at the lower court. They are PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW4. The evidence of PW2, PW3, and PW4 are instructive in this regard. Now when PW2 testified, he kept referring to the word “US”, which was never explained by the prosecution. It was alleged that it was through Karo that the arm was returned to the Appellant. Why was this Karo not calledto testify?From records the Prosecution had listed twelve (12) potential witnesses at the back of the information. They are: (1) Dr. Mark Adesina (2) Barnabas Jabila (a.k. a. Rogers) (3) Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a. Katako) (4)Dr.Atumie(ChiefConsultant/Pathologist) (5) C. Obono ASP (Ballistician) (6) Dr. Oluwatamilore Falomo (7) Major Sabiu Ado (8) Sgt. Taminu Atumbi (9) A.C.P. BelloTo give evidence of (10) D.S.P. Gabriel Haruna investigation and tender (11) D.S.P. Samuel Ojehomon necessary exhibits. (12) C.S.P. Agbafe See page 5 of the Record of Appeal Vol. 1 But the prosecution called only four of these witnesses. Indeed at page 6, potential witnesses 9, 10, 11 and 12 were listed to give evidence of their investigation and tender necessary exhibits, but for some unexplained reasons, they were not called.

To be continued

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 — 51

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Mobil plans holiday camping as Toblow explains Donetsk poor outing

OT many people know him as Tobias

Igwe. For track and field followers, he is TOBLOW, the versatile coach who as far back as 1978 was running and coaching. Ask him how he got the nickname “Toblow” and he will burst out laughing. “…..As far back as 1975, 800 metres was my specialty and I had a unique style of starting powerfully and ending same way, so my fans will encourage me to go all out and “blow ” the event….” The story of Toblow can be as pathetic as interesting. As you are reading this, the man who was instrumental to the discovery of the Ezinwa brothers, Mary Onyali , Tina Ihegwam and Clement Chukwu among others has been out of a job for over two years and his landlord is on his neck. How can a man who still holds the Lagos State record in3000 metres steeplechase, who is presently contracted by the AFN to tutor some athletes be out of a job? How can such a talented coach beg his state Imo to be engaged? Anyway that is a topic for another day. I remember Toblow today because he never ceases to accuse me of writing only about football to the detriment of other sports. Last week, Toblow quickly got in touch to appreciate my concern over the flop at the Ukraine IAAF junior Athletics championships. He then went ahead to explain what “seemed like a failure”. According to him the Warri Championship was not a fluke, but that unfortunately, in those events where we are

champions of Africa, we are not the best in the world. In other words, Nigeria can dust all African countries in the sprints and relays but when we get to the world stage we still have to queue behind the Jamaicans and the Americans, “ whereas the Ethiopians and Kenyans dominate both the African and world stage in the long distances.” However that is not Toblow’s main problem. His grouse is with the system. Nigeria he says will continue to do badly if we do not get our priorities right. He laments the situation where AFN is starved of funds and the AFN President has to use his money to keep the Federation going. “…For how long will he continue to do this?” He asked. Also Coach Toblow queries a system that has no youth development plans. “ Tell me, show me a school in this country that has a certified or qualified games masters or mistresses. None. “ If therefore a child goes through school up to secondary level without the benefit of basic upbringing, tell me how that child can do well in his or her chosen discipline. “The result is that by the time that child is discovered at age 16 or 17, you need not less than seven months of coaching for him or her to be able to create any impact. Our Warri champions had less than two months training before going to Ukraine. There is no way they could have excelled” He emphasized.

“ We need long term planning, we need early training, we should not be coaching at old age. This country is full of potentials even in all sports but we need to sit down and ask ourselves what we want. He said he saw the youngsters before they left for Donetsk, “…they are potentials…..give them to me for seven or eight months and I will turn them to world beaters…..” He advanced the argument to the Russian Championship and said the only athlete we have is Okagbare. All others he said will not do well. Mobil Producing Nigeria is going the Toblow Way. Operator of the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture, the company has decided to veer out of its 13 uninterrupted years of sponsorship of track and field competition in Akwa Ibom State. This year there is the pioneer decision to put the champions of the last two years in a Holiday Camp and give them the best of coaching and training under a select group of experienced coaches. The company, synonymous with athletics sponsorship in the world and in the country believes “ It is not enough to just discover these talents. We should also give them the benefit of proper training in a conducive environment that will afford them the use of tartan tracks, starting blocks and so on. Coach Toblow agrees. “ I thank them. This is what we need and it should be done consciously and consistently. There is no substitute to training and exposure. Put those kids in a camp for one month, return them again whenever the opportunity arises and you are in the verge of producing a gold mine of athletes advantage Nigeria” The MPN Holiday Camping and Training programme comes up at the U. J Esuene Stadium Calabar early August and will have over 165 student athletes in attendance. See you next week.

52 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

2014 Commonwealth Games:

Elegbeleye charges chosen federations to win medals D

IRECTOR General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has charged the eleven picked sports federations to ensure they win medals for the country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The NSC top official declared this on Thursday during a parley with sports federations presidents held at the Abuja National Stadium on Thursday. The Presidents of the sports federations that were present at the meeting with the NSC big

RACE FOR GOLD: Athletes approaching the finish line.

S/Africa thrilled by Ultimate Commander’s support for Mandela

ATURDAY, June 20, was a special day for South Africans living in Nigeria. It was a day they invited their friends and business associates to the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos, to join them in celebrating the 95th day anniversary of their first post-apartheid President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, who recently turned 95. To mark the day reserved for the icon they call Madiba, the South Africans

brought out some of the things that make the southernmost country ion Africa a unique nation. There were speeches, drinks, and photographs, but the special day was made more exciting by the unique South African music, which drew both the old and the young to the dance floor to demonstrate a well-choreographed style of dance step made popular by the late Brenda Fassie.

Ameobi Continues from BP the Mandela challenge. He was taken out of the match with few minutes left with what looked like a broken wrist and if the scan report confirms the general fears, the bulky striker could be out of action for club and country for weeks. The 31-year-old is one of the few strikers presently at the Alan Pardew’s disposal and he scored Newcastle’s consolation goal in their loss to a side which finished sixth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season. Worried Pardew last might admitted he couldn’t afford to lose another striker as he waited to hear whether

Shola Ameobi had broken his wrist. Ameobi was clearly in some pain as he was helped from the pitch with minutes remaining of the match. And while the 31-yearold was never going to be a first choice for Pardew, having one of the few strikers available to him pick up an injury was the last thing the United manager needed. Pardew said: “The most worrying thing about the game is that it looks like Shola has hurt his arm and is now off for an X-ray. Right now, I don’t know how bad he is. It’s not a position (striker) we can lose someone right now.”

Okagbare Continues from BP other Nigerian athletes. He sponsors Blessing’s training at home and abroad. Blessing has promised Uduaghan a medal at World Championships or the Olympics. And that’s probably the target she meant when she called the Governor after her feat on Friday night. The High Jump was one of three outstanding women’s field events in Monaco The opening Diamond League event of the evening, the women’s Long Jump, turned into a competition of the highest quality as Russia’s European indoor champion Darya Klishina produced a second-round leap of 6.98m, just seven centimetres off her personal best, only to see Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare outdo her with successive seven-metre jumps. Okagbare, who had warmed up with 6.86m for a first-round lead, produced a windassisted 7.04m (2.1m/s) in round two and followed up with a thirdround PB of 7.00m (0.0m/s). Klishina, jumping consistently well, managed a fifth round of 6.90m but could not do

anything to prevent the Nigerian taking maximum points to join Brittney Reese, the US Olympic champion, at the top of the Diamond Race standings with 10 points. Okagbare also moved up to third place in this year ’s world listings behind Reese’s winning effort of 7.25m at the opening IAAF Diamond League event of the season in Doha. Britain’s Shara Proctor managed 6.74m to take third place and move into third place in the Diamond Race with nine points. Afterwards, Okagbare commented: “I would say nine out of ten. It’s a PB for me. My fourth and fifth jumps were better but I fouled them. My seven metres jump was far from perfect, and we’re working on a lot of different things.” Meanwhile, wrestlers for the E K Clark W r e s t l i n g Championships in Warri have commended the facilities they are using at the Brownhill Events Centre which they have described as first class. “As the wrestling is taking place the bouts are on large screens all over the place. It’s beautiful here,” one of the wrestlers from 27 states participating said.

wigs were: boxing, Paraathletics, Para-table tennis, Para-lifting, Table tennis, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, football, taekwondo and shooting. “This meeting was called by the NSC to actually deliberate with the presidents of the (eleven) sports

federations that will be participating in the Commonwealth Games for a better performances as relates to winning medals in the competition. “We (NSC) want to know the federations want to prepare their athletes for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympic Games competitions.

Rooney Continues from BP than their opening bid of under £25 million, which was flatly rejected by Manchester United, who insist the unsettled striker is not for sale. However, there is an expectation at Chelsea that Rooney can be signed this summer and it is believed the 27-year-old is not only keen to quit United but move to Stamford Bridge and join up with new

manager Jose Mourinho. Manchester United manager David Moyes and the club’s executive vicechairman, Ed Woodward, maintain that Rooney will not be sold but Chelsea are continuing to test that resolve. The timing of the revelation last week that Rooney was “angry and confused” with life at United was telling, as it came on the day that Chelsea submitted their bid.

Eagles Continues from BP ing on the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday in the return leg of the African Nations Championship, CHAN. The Eagles have a 4-1 advantage from the first leg played in Kaduna penultimate Saturday. “All logistics have been perfected by the NFF leadership, he said, adding, “hopefully, by Thursday the team should be off to Abidjan to complete the process of qualifying for the first time for CHAN after two near misses”, he said. Meanwhile, the team will from today alter their training schedule to evening time to coincide with the time the CHAN qualifier final round qualifier game will be played on Saturday in Abidjan, Head Coach Stephen Keshi has directed. The players were given a free day yesterday after a hectic training session on Saturday morning that lasted for over two hours with the technical crew saying the training was necessary to keep the

players in top shape ahead of the return to training today in the evening. Saturday’s training session which was watched by NFF Technical Director, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and the popular All Stars Club of Abuja, was a delight to watch as the coaches sought to instill discipline in the team ahead of the game in Abidjan. Meanwhile, the team will take on the Pastor Chinedu and Dr Oby Ezekwesili inspired, ‘The Everlasting Arms Parish ‘(TEAP) FC in a test game on Tuesday evening at the Goal Project site in Abuja. The last time both sides met last year, the Super Eagles laboured to a slim 1-0 win, in a game that was described as one of the best test matches for the team by Coach Stephen Keshi. Team Coordinator, Emmanuel Atta, said he expects another testy tie from the opposition after last week’s 1-0 win over FC Abuja in another test game. “We expect a tight game but we are talking of the national team and we expect nothing other than victory”, he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

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VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 22 , 2013

I'm close to our target Okagbare tells Uduaghan •As Wrestlers commend E K Clark show

LESSING Okag bare won the Long Jump event in the Monaco leg of the Diamond League at the weekend and called Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

to say “I’m approaching our target and God willing we’ll get there. I dedicate this to you, sir” The sports loving governor has been supporting Blessing and many Continues on Page 52

Mandela challenge

Ameobi blow for Eagles S

HOLA Ameobi has been taken to hospital for X-rays after damaging his hand in Newcastle United 3-1 friendly defeat to Rio Ave, a development Alan Pardew can scarcely afford given his dearth of centre forwards. It is even worse for Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi who recalled the veteran striker to the national team who was not at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa after he made his long-awaited debut for Nigeria in November in a friendly against Venezuela in the United States of America. Ameobi was recalled for next month’s international friendly against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Continues on Page 52

•Uduaghan

•Okagbare

Eagles depart for Abidjan Thursday •Change training regime

HE Super Eagles of Nigeria are expected to jet out for Abidjan on Thursday through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, team scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor has confirmed. The Eagles will be tak Continues on Page 52

•Shola Ameobi

Chelsea ready to offer £40m for Rooney C HELSEA are discussing what

they consider would be a ‘knockout’ £40

million bid to sign Wayne Rooney. The offer

would be vastly higher Continues on Page 52

•Keshi

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Steering-wheel (4) 4 Encountered (3) 6 Attendant (4) 8 Beginning (6) 9 Unhealthy (6) 10 Recede (3) 12 Lance (5) 14 Down (5) 15 Visitor (5) 18 Sway (6) 20 Prophet (6) 24 Sag (5) 26 Malice (5) 28 Twelve (5) 30 Pin (3) 32 Limited (6) 33 On ship (6) 34 Irritation (4) 35 Sleep (3) 36 Story (4)

DOWN 2 Arm (5) 3 Knead (7) 4 Companion (4) 5 Grave (4) 6 Danger (5) 7 Lucrative (7) 11 Coach (3) 12 Bag (3) 13 Regret (3) 16 Finish (3) 17 Also (3) 19 Assign (7) 21 Wand (3) 22 Explanation (7) 23 Epoch (3) 25 Cereal (3) 27 Leg part (5) 29 Mistake (5) 30 Summit (4) 31 Pant (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Blank 7, Table 8, Board 10, Atlas 12, Lie 13, Slush 15, Retired 17, Mental 19, Mid 20, Logical 23, Aria 25, Youth 26, Erratic 30, Dub 31, Cinema 34, Soluble 37, Radar 38, Woo 39, Evict 40, Layer 42, Gruel.

How to Play Sudoku

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

DOWN: 1, Fable 2, Blast 3, Lethal 4, Near 5, Holiday 6, Greet 9, Air 11, Semitic 13, Smear 14, Untie 16, Tic 18, Lovable 21, Lowed 22, Blear 24, Arduous 27, Rub 28, Circle 29, Cower 32, Natal 33, Maker 35, Lob 36, Ever.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

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