2015: PDP NEC meets to clear way for Jonathan

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61952

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

PHCN: FG rakes in N358.04bn

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2015: PDP NEC meets to clear way for Jonathan •To propose automatic ticket for him at convention •NWC, Anambra, Ekiti also top agenda •84 aspirants contest 18 vacant positions in NEC •Wike leads Rivers delegation as Amaechi is ranked 4th

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Na tional Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is expected to adopt a proposal, today, to amend the constitution of the party. This is to allow the president and Continues on page 5

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COLUMNISTS:

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

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs APC UNVEILS PROGRAMMES— Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (left) in a lighter mood with Deputy National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, and former House of Representatives Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari; Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; former Head of State and APC leader, General Muhammadu Buhari and others, during APC leaders' meeting in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. More photos and story on Page 15.

Taraba agog over Man sets •P.7 Governor Suntai's octogenarian planned return 40 mother ablaze C M Y K

2— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

DEADLY— Some of the arms and ammunition recovered from criminals in Edo State. Inset: Two suspected kidnappers paraded by the Police in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday. Photos: Simon Ebegbulem.

PDP NEC meets to clear way for Jonathan Continues from page 1 governors on the ticket of the party serving the first term in office the right of first refusal to the party’s ticket for a second term.

The proposal, if adopted, would be tabled before the party’s special national convention holding next

weekend in Abuja.

The NEC meeting is also expected to ratify the extension of the tenure of interim members of the National Working Committee, NWC, to the time of the convention.

Their tenure was expected to expire last month when the convention was to take place,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Stay on your programme, keep on moving ahead!

God does not want us to stop just because our circumstances change, God wants us to persist!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

R

EMAINING contented throughout your life is a big task but an important one. Contented people have fewer health issues, are more likely to enjoy life to its fullest and do not want for what they do not have. A contented person is not chasing after rainbows or trying to keep up with the Joneses; instead, a contented person knows that the source of contentment is deep within, trusting oneself and loving the life one has— Wikihow Be in harmony with those around you. If you are having difficulties in your relationships, it is important to sort these out quickly. Impoverished relationships are a key source of discontentment and if you have tried hard with some people and nothing improves, it is important to reassess whether or not you will continue to have that disruptive influence in your life.

For those you love and care about, appreciate them, and be more a part of their lives in each and every way daily. Revel in the beauty of loving and caring for people around you.

Even those who cause you pain, forgive them as you move on from them, and let them be the way they are in the world without this causing you angst. a good neighbour. Get to know the people around you and be there for them as much as you can.

Create community wherever you go and show trust to others. Reaching out to all is part of being contented within ourselves.

but was extended due to changes in the convention date.

The proposal for the right of first refusal otherwise known as automatic ticket, Vanguard learnt yesterday, is expected to come up at the NEC meeting. A member whose identity was not disclosed last night is expected to propose an amendment of the constitution that will allow the incumbent president and governors in their first terms to get the party’s ticket for a second term.

Automatic ticket possible for Jonathan, govs If successfully adopted by the NEC, the proposal is expected to be tabled before the national convention coming up on August 31.

President Goodluck Jonathan could be the first to benefit from the privilege, if the proposal scales through the NEC today and the national convention.

Vanguard also gathered that some elders and stakeholders were caught unawares by the news of today’s meeting as many, including some members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, complained that they only read about the meeting on the pages of newspapers. Many promised

that today ’s meeting would be stormy.

Chairman of the BoT, Chief Tony Anenih had at a meeting of party leaders from the SouthSouth region in Asaba, last May, proposed the amendment of the constitution for the right of first refusal as, according to him, it would reduce rancour in the party. He also stressed that PDP must not subject the president to the party’s primary election.

Following that, Chief Anenih also at a dinner meeting called by President Jonathan in Abuja with select leaders of the party, reiterated the call.

“I do not see anything wrong if the PDP considers automatic tickets for the president and its governors who have performed well and are seeking a second term.

It is my view that with the outstanding performance of President Jonathan in the areas of power, rail, and water, transformation, road construction, aviation reforms, education, agriculture, job creation, etc, the party should not find it difficult in granting him the opportunity to serve a second term if he so desires,” Anenih had said at the Asaba meeting.

Following opposition from some stakeholders, Anenih it was learnt, modified the suggestion to allow a first term president face a referendum where if he is approved will automatically become the party’s candidate but if disapproved would be subjected to a contest with other interested aspirants.

NWC, Anambra, Ekiti also top on agenda Besides the proposal to amend the constitution, the NEC meeting is expected to ratify the extension of the tenure of the interim NWC. The ratification of the extension of the tenure of the NWC it was learnt yesterday is expected to help the party escape the legal trap of an annulment of the convention and block inferences that the convention was organized by an illegal NWC. NEC is also expected to deliberate on the work of the Governor Seriake Dickson Reconciliation Committee.

NEC will also strategize on the August

24 Primary election in Anambra State and preparations for the governorship election in Ekiti State.

It will be recalled that NEC at its last meeting approved July 20 for the Special Convention but intrigues and other factors led to the postponement of the convention to August 31.

84 aspiratnts contest 18 positions in NEC Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that 84 aspirants have picked forms to contest the vacant 18 positions in NEC, even as it emerged that the Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Nyesom Wike will be the leader of the Rivers State delegation to the convention.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi who was suspended by the party last May, it was learnt, was listed as number four on the delegates list from Rivers State against the tradition of governors leading their states’ delegations.

Wike leads Rivers delegation According to the delegates list submitted by Chief Felix Obuah, the party chairman in Rivers State, the Acting Deputy National Chairman, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, is second on the list while, Obuah is listed as third on the list ahead of Governor Amaechi who is placed as fourth.

The custom in PDP controlled states had been for the governor who doubles as the leader of the party at the state level to lead the delegation of members to the PDP Convention.

However, following the power play in the party which led to removal of the Chief Godspower Ake-led state executive, Obuah, an ally of Wike was inaugurated as

chairman of the party and has since been at war with the state administration.

It was also confirmed yesterday that Prince Uche Secondus; immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Jaja Sam Jaja; and Senator Stella Omu are among the six contesting for the office of Deputy National Chairman.

Contestants for the office of the National Secretary are former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; former Ondo State governorship aspirant, Olusola Oke; former Minister of Information, Chief Dapo Sarumi and former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran.

The immediate past National Organising Secretary, Mustapha Abubakar will slug it out with the other aspirant for the position, Sidi Ibrahim Bamali.

Immediate past National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; Chyna Iwuanyanwu; Anyanwu Longers Nzennata are among the 11 aspirants for the position of National Publicity Secretary, even as former National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe will fight it out with 10 other aspirants for the position of National Woman leader.

The immediate past National Legal Adviser from Plateau State, Barrister Victor Kwon could be returned unopposed as no other person indicated interest in the position.

Also unopposed are Jalo Abdullahi Ibrahim (Deputy National Legal Adviser), Ullam Hanatu (deputy National Woman leader); Gwalabe Auwalu Abdu (Deputy National Financial Secretary) and Alhaji Lawal Anche (Deputy National Auditor).

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

5 die in Edo road crash

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN —NO fewer than five persons were, yesterday, killed in a road accident that occurred near Okada village junction off Benin-Lagos expressway.

An eye witness said the victims were heading towards Okada village when the car they were travelling in hit a stationery lorry and four died instantly, one died on the way to the hospital while two survived with serious injuries.

The witnesses said the driver had epileptic seizure which made him to skid off the road thereby hitting the lorry.

Families of the victims who were seen weeping said operators of the motor park knew the health condition of the driver but allowed him to carry passengers.

Coordinator General of Save Accident Victims of Nigeria, Eddy Ehikhamenor, said an epileptic patient ought not to have been allowed to drive, saying such persons were worse than a drunk on the highway because they could not control the vehicle in the event of seizure.

6 kidnap victims rescued in Delta

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA – SIX victims who were kidnapped in Edo State and taken into captivity at a hideout in Delta State have been rescued by men of the state police command after a fierce gun battle.

Addressing newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, the state police command spokesman, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, said: “On August 20, 2013 at about 9.00 am, we received information that some suspected kidnappers operating around Ekpoma and Igbanke towns in Edo State had entered Agbor/ Abraka road in Delta State.

“Sequel to the information, men of the Delta State Special Anti-kidnapping Unit in Asaba and Obiaruku base went out in search of the hoodlums,” which he said resulted to a gun duel.

He gave the names of the six rescued victims as one Hon. Aiwehoe Osahon Walter, male; Igbinedion Vincent, male; Cyrriacus Osigwe, male; Glory Barry Naene, female; Ormene Barry, male aged two years and Zoryii Barry, male aged 3 years. He said they were rescued unhurt, while a member of the police team sustained bullet injury on his leg.

IKORODU KILLING: 5 policemen arrested, another protester shot dead ...as protest continued yesterday

BY EVELYN USMAN & BOSE ADELAJA

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AGOS — COMMERCIAL activities were paralyzed for the better part of yesterday in Ikorodu area of Lagos, as commercial motorcyclists took to the streets in continued protest of the death of one of them, Tuesday, by a policeman attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS. However, the policeman whose bullet allegedly snuffed life out the motorcyclist identified as Olalekan Ajayi has been arrested alongside other members of his team.

The protest which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums turned violent as some motorists plying the routes reportedly had their windscreens shattered while a lorry loaded with fruits was allegedly hijacked by the protesters.

A corpse identified as that of one Femi, a mechanic, was reportedly discovered at Ikorodu roundabout. He was said to have been hit by stray bullets, with the actual circumstance yet to be ascertained.

While eye witnesses alleged that Femi felled from stray bullets from the police, another version had it that he was hit by stray bullet from some members of a cult group.

The protesters, as gathered, attempted to burn down the Shagamu/Ikorodu road police division but were dispersed with teargas canisters fired by policemen from divisions under Area N command.

The traditional ruler of Ikorodu town was sighted with the Area commander, Amos Macus, appealing to the protesters for calm.

It was, however, gathered that a policeman attacked, Tuesday, by some motorcyclists was still on danger list at an undisclosed hospital. The policeman with an unknown identity was among the RRS men who accosted a commercial motorcyclist for violating traffic laws. Appeal by the erring motorcyclist with unknown identity to the policemen reportedly fell on deaf ears as his motorbike was confisticated.

At that point, his colleagues were said to have clustered round the police team and in the process, allegedly attacked them in a bid to free their colleague's motorbike.

Late Olalekan was FUTA student The late Olalekan, a father of five, as gathered, was the only son of his parents. He was also said to be a student of of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State and was us-

Protesters at Ojubode junction, yesterday.

ing his motorbike for commercial purpose to assist himself financially in school.

An eye witness who identified himself as Mayowa Joseph,said: “Lekan was shot three times by the policeman. Immediately he fell down, they took off and abandoned him. Okada operators ran and accosted them at Agric,where they descended on one of the policemen. He would have been lynched but for the intervention of a patrol team.

Olalekan was, thereafter, rushed to the General Hospital, Ikorodu where he was confirmed dead.”

Why we protest — MOALS chairman Chairman, Motorcyclists Association of Lagos State, MOALS, Ikorodu zone, Mr Kayode Jimoh, who spoke with newsmen, yesterday, could not hide his consternation over the death of the MOALS member.

He said the protest was aimed at condemning the act of indiscriminate shooting by policemen, adding that they were not going to look the other way while policemen keep killing people unjustly.

Jimoh, popularly called ‘Jendor’ said the deceased was killed while going about his personal business.He said: "He was not on duty yesterday but was killed at Ladega junction, on his way from Ejina.

I received a distress call around 3.30pm and I rushed to the scene. On getting there, I saw his corpse lying on Ladega Street and I decided to call appropriate authorities to intimate them of the development.’’

Disclaiming the report that the deceased had been arrested on several occasions, he said: "The Policeman is fond of indiscriminate shooting especially at Ladega and many

of our members have complained about him. Yesterday’s (Tuesday) scene was not strange to us because we will be culpable one day."

Hecalled on police authorities to advise their men against molesting motorcycle riders who ply the inner routes.

Why the killer shot was fired—PPRO Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, who described the death of the motorcyclist as unfortunate, explained that the shot was fired in an apparent bid to avoid being lynched by the mob. Unfortunately, the bullet reportedly hit Olalekan Ajayi who was said

to have only arrived the scene to plead on his colleague’s behalf.

As at 3pm, Braide said the situation had been brought under control, disclosing that one person alleged to have led the hoodlums had been arrested. The arrested person identified simply as Azeez, according to her, led the mob that attempted to burn down the police station. Azzez, as gathered, tied charms round his head, wrist and neck at the time he was arrested.

Calling on commercial motorcyclists to abide by the restriction order, Braide recalled that a man, his wife and baby were crushed recently around same area, pointing out that such tragedy could have been prevented had they adhered to the rules.

Ahead of his expected return to the state, several mementos bearing pictures of the injured Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, have flooded the state capital, Jalingo. Sample of the Suntai wrapper in a tailor's shop in Jalingo, yesterday.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—7

Man sets octogenarian mum on fire in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — THE Police in La gos, yesterday, said they were on the trail of a man who allegedly burnt his 87-year-old mother to death in their Adekunle Yaba residence in Lagos.

The fleeing assailant, 45-yearold Bamidele Bakare, was alleged to have set the building located on 16, Ishola Street ablaze in the early hours of Monday.

Eye witnesses said before the building was set ablaze, Bamidele evacuated his five children and property from one of the rooms he occupied.

While the building comprising eight rooms was on fire, occupants who were jolted from sleep reportedly scrambled out of their respective apartments for safety.

Two of them who attempted to rescue the octogenarian identified as Folorunsho Bakare who was fast asleep were reportedly prevented by Bamidele, whom they alleged threatened to set them ablaze too if they dared.

Elder brother to the alleged assailant, Mr Olu Bakare, who reportedly rushed down from Jos, the Plateau State capital where he

resides, expressed shock that his sibling could send their mother to her grave in such manner.

He told Vanguard yesterday: “As if the death of our mother was not enough, my brother buried her charred remains without my consent.”

Bakare said the burnt building was owned by him, adding that things fell apart between him and his younger brother after the latter allegedly stole documents of some of his property located in Jos and Lagos.

Bakare said: “I took him to court and that was the beginning of his rift with me. I believe he set my mother on fire because of that.

But what has that got to do with my 87-year-old mother?

“When I heard the news, I took the next available vehicle to Lagos. I reported the matter to the Adekunle Police division, from where the Divisional Crime Officer and Inspector Crime followed me to ascertain the claim.

“I was also asked to get two per-

sons who saw when he was setting the building ablaze. I did and they attested to it.

“They said when they wanted to rescue my mother, Bamidele told them to leave her to die, saying after all, she was his mother and that he was capable of burying her. After setting the building ablaze, he disappeared with his children.”

However, police sources said efforts were on to arrest fleeing Bamidele.

The burnt building. Photo :Joe Akintola. Photo Editor.

Chinese firm sells toxic waste to Nigerian importer

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & NKIRUKA NNOROM

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AGOS — A CHINESEBASED company, Shijiazhuang Qixiang Chemical Co. Ltd, has been exposed over alleged exportation of sand-like toxic waste in place of caustic soda to unsuspecting Nigerian importer, Christo Ventures Ltd, in Lagos.

According to reports, the Nigerian importer had placed an order for 10 by 20ft containers of caustic soda (NaOH) from the Chinese company, but to the Christo’s amazement, the consignment was in contrast with what it expected.

Christo Ventures Ltd is said to have been a chemical importer recognised by NAFDAC and has a current permit to import, N0.

1300280 of 2013 with the item, caustic soda listed as N0.15 on the permit.

However, luck ran out of the Chinese firm when the officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, upon examination during its routine joint physical checks at the Sifax Bonded Terminal on June 7 2013, observed that the physical characteristic of the consignment was in contrast with the expected caustic soda that usually appears in pearls.

The suspicion led the agency to draw samples from three of the 10 containers for further laboratory analysis.

Fortunately, the result of the analysis showed that the substance shipped to Christo Ven-

tures by the Chinese company was not caustic soda, contrary to both parties' agreement.

Reacting to the development, NAFDAC Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii, who was represented by a director in the agency, Mrs. Hauwa Keri, told newsmen that the sand-like substance, which could be re-extracted to get hard drugs, could also constitute serious hazards to the environment as well as security risk.

On his part, Managing Director of Christo Ventures, Christian Udeh, who alleged that he was duped by the Chinese company said the had invested over N30 million in the business.

Some of the seized fake products at the briefing, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Edo police parade 44 suspected kidnappers, others

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY — THE war against kidnapping in Edo State recorded success, as the state police command, yesterday, paraded 44 suspected kidnappers including those involved in the recent kidnap of three primary school teachers.

Addressing newsmen on the breakthrough in its battle against criminality, the state Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, expressed satisfaction over the achievement, adding that the suspects will soon be charged to court.

The command also disclosed that assorted ammunition and firearms, including locally made and foreign guns, were seized from the suspected criminals.

Adebanjo who said about 500 suspected kidnappers were being prosecuted in the state, vowed that any form of criminality in the state would be met with extreme force.

He said: “On July 18, 2013, 32 suspected criminals who were arrested for various crimes were paraded. Today, we have in our custody another 44 suspects that will soon be charged to court for various offences.

Narrating how the police captured some of the suspected kidnappers, who masterminded the abduction of Patience Osadolor, Patience Oroghene and Aisha Momodu, teachers of Orhogbua Primary School, in Ekenwan community, Ovia North East Local Government Area, who were recently freed Adebanjo called on residents to beware of people, some of who he said parade themselves as community leaders.

3 nabbed after attempt to abduct ex-Miss Nigeria

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — THREE fake security operatives were arrested in Abeokuta, yesterday, after attempting to kidnap former Miss Nigeria, Feyi Sodipo.

The suspects who were two men and a woman were said to have claimed to be security operatives working for the organisers of Miss Nigeria beauty pageant.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects who had been arrested by policemen attached to the governor ’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta reportedly took ex-Miss Nigeria in their car from Lagos to Abeokuta.

It was further gathered that the suspects, who rode in a Honda

Shuttle car with number plate LAGOS, KA 35 EKY were said to have ordered the former beauty queen to enter their car from Lagos to Abeokuta to retrieve her car gift, Hyundai with number plate LAGOS GGE 354 AJ where she parked it.

Attempt by the suspects to take the car away from the Arcade ground of the Ogun State secretariat complex in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, however, met stiff resistance as the mother of the ex-beauty queen raised the alarm that attracted people to the scene.

The suspects who reportedly claimed to be police officers, however, failed to identify themselves when security operatives attached to the office of the state governor inter-

vened.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s security attaché with instruction from the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, consequently arrested the suspects and took them to the Ibara Police Divisional headquarters in Abeokuta.

Speaking with newsmen over the development, former Miss Nigeria, said the people had been chasing her round the place, asking her to surrender the car gift she got from the Akwa Ibom State government.

Narrating her ordeal, Feyi said: “Organisers of the programme made many promises that they didn’t keep and now they want to collect the car given to me by Akwa Ibom State government.

“They want to collect this gift

from me because Ogun State government has given me another car so I must surrender the one given to me by the Akwa Ibom State governmet.”

Feyi further told newsmen that there was no part of the contract she signed with the organisers that they will retrieve the car from her, stressing that the Hyundai car was registered in her name.

Feyi’s mother, Mrs. Mary Sodipo, told newsmen that she decided to raise alarm so that the suspects who had coerced her daughter to take them to where she was keeping the car would not harm her.

At press time, the three suspects were being detained at Ibara police station for onwards transfer to the command’s headquarters in Eleweran.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

FEC approves N124bn for roads repair

We want implementation, not palliatives— ASUU zStrike to continue until...

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, approved major contracts worth N124.983 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of various roads nationwide as well as the procurement of mobile electricity substations.

Addressing newsmen after the FEC meeting yesterday, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said among the road contracts approved

by FEC is the second phase of the ApapaOshodi-OworonshokiOjota expressway and service lanes in Lagos State.

Maku, who was joined by the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenmen, explained that the repair of roads was of immense economic importance to the country and the subregion.

He said: “Due to aging, the road had virtually collapsed and the damaging effects of heavy axle-load vehicles carrying goods to and from the ports. The drainage system has also collapsed.

“Council approved the reconstruction of ApapaOshodi Expressway Section 2 Phase II: ApapaOshodi-OworonshokiOjota Expressway and Service lanes; Beach land junction.”

The Apapa road contract was awarded to Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the cost of N14.989 billion with a completion period of 15 months.

Other road contracts approved by council were the rehabilitation of two roads under the Federal Roads Development Project, FRDP. The rehabilitation of the roads, the Minister said, will improve road safety and reduce traveling time, vehicle operating cost and road user cost.

He said: “The rehabilitation of the roads will also greatly boost trade and economic activities along the routes, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and employment generation.”

A

BUJA—ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, said that the only thing that would make its striking members go back to the classrooms is the full implementation of the 2009 agreement and not any new offer or palliatives from the Federal Government.

President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, who stated this in a telephone interview with Vanguard in Abuja, said it was better to get it right once and for all instead of palliative measures that would not help the system compete with other universities in the world.

Fagge said that government had established the attitude of making promises without fulfilling them and that until the 2009 agreement was implemented, universities will remain closed.

Beyond offers He said: “The problem is that we have gone beyond the point of making offers now. We have a comprehensive agreement,

which was arrived at after three years of negotiation from 2006.

“We had demands from both sides— ASUU and government— and like I said earlier, we reduced those two demands into an agreement within three years of negotiations.

“And at this point, we are talking of the implementation of the agreement. So, at this point, government should not be talking or making offers. If government wasn’t ready to implement the agreement, government shouldn’t have signed the agreement.

‘Gov’s antics’ “What is becoming clear to us is that government is still going back to its usual antics.

We signed an agreement.

“Government will just single out what affects the staff directly to implement and then expect them to go back and continue the deception in the system.

“Without good research, teaching and effective delivery of production of knowl-

edge, universities cannot move and this is why the nation has been blaming us for the kind of students we are graduating in our universities.

“So what we are saying is that we are also tired of this.

What we want is let the agreement be implemented and then we look at the impact of the implementation.

“Then if there is the need for us to review the situation, we will do it through another round of negotiations. But at this point, we are not talking about making offers. Government made offers on negotiation table between 2006 and 2009.”

Gov Aliyu denies report Meanwhile, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, yesterday, denied a media report that quoted him as saying that the team of negotiators on the side of the Federal Government in the ongoing talks with ASUU was incompetent.

A national daily (not Vanguard) had in a report, yesterday, quoted Aliyu as “doubting the abilities of the negotiators on the side of the Federal Gov-

ernment to achieve any breakthrough in the ongoing dialogue with the lecturers” Governor Aliyu’s spokesman, Danladi Ndayebo, described the story as untrue, urging the reading public to disregard the report.

He said the report was misleading and did not reflect Governor Aliyu’s comments at the National Universities Commission, NUC, in Abuja, where the governor addressed a continental workshop on the 3rd Regional Centre of Expertise, RCE.

‘What he said’ Ndayebo said: “What Governor Aliyu said is that Federal Government can afford to offer free basic and senior secondary education, while heavily subsidising tertiary education if government officials cut down on spending public funds unnecessarily.

“Governor Aliyu then encouraged constant dialogue between labour unions and government, stressing that strikes were unheard of in other West African countries because there was constant dialogue between the unions and government.”

AGM: From left— Mr. Chidi Okezie, Company Secretary; Mr. Atedo Peterside, Chairman, and Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive Officer, all of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, at the first annual general meeting of the Holdings in Abuja, yesterday.

Nigeria, US agree on security strategy

BY SIAKA MOMOH

T

HE United States-Nigeria Bi-National Commission has agreed on a strategy for dealing with the insurgency that is crippling the country.

Meanwhile, U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, has called upon the Commission’s

working group to meet the challenge of implementing the many concepts agreed upon, and turning them into concrete, realisable steps that the Nigerian people can experience and feel.

According to a press statement from the U.S. ConsulGeneral’s office in Abuja, Wendy Sherman led the U.S.

delegation to the ninth meeting of the US-Nigerian BiNational Commission in Abuja on August 15, and met with President Goodluck Jonathan and some of his ministers.

She said the working group should provide more training for the Nigerian military and other services of the Nigerian

government to address the challenges it faces, particularly with the insurgency in the North and North-East.

Sherman noted the inclusiveness of Police, intelligence agencies, Military, civil society and state government in creating a comprehensive plan to deal with this challenge.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—9

PHCN: FG rakes in N358.04bn zVigeo, West Power, others beat payment deadline zOne bidder fails obligation

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU & MIKE EBOH

A

LL things being equal, the Federal Government may have raked in about $2.238 billion or N358.045 billion from the sale of 15 Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor companies, which transaction deadline ended yesterday.

The amount represents 7.18 percent of the national budget of N4.987 trillion in 2013, making it the biggest privatisation sales ever in the history of Nigeria and Africa.

The sum is derived from the $559.44 million already paid by the 14 bidders as 25 percent of the total cost of their bids for the respective distribution (DISCOS) and Generation (GENCOS) companies unbundled from PHCN. Already economic experts have called for prudence in the spending of the funds, saying “the government should account for the disbursement of the money properly; it should not be used for politics.”

However, there was no official confirmation on the proceeds realised from the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, or the Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE, which executed the sales.

NCP Chair speaks Chairman, Technical Committee of NCP, Mr. Atedo Peterside, told Vanguard on telephone that at least 13 of the 14 bidders that had paid their 25 percent bond for the 15 PHCN successor companies beat the 5p.m. yesterday deadline for the payment of the balance of 75 percent of their bids.

He said: “I can confirm that nine bidders out of the 10 for the DISCOS paid, four out of the five GENCOS paid, one partially paid because of issues with banks transfers.

“But we will only be able to say for sure by tomorrow (today) how much was realised.

Don’t forget some paid in Dollars and some in Naira, and for some of those who paid in Dollars, the amount will not hit our bank until tomorrow.”

Successful bidders Among those that met the payment deadline were Enugu Disco; Vigeo Consortium, Benin Disco; Integrated Energy Distribu-

tion & Marketing Company, Ibadan and Yola Discos, respectively; 4Power Consortium, Port-Harcourt Disco, and Aura Energy for Jos Disco.

Others are W e s t Power & Gas, for Eko Disco; NEDC/KEPCO, Ikeja Disco; Transcorp/ Woodrock Consortium, Ughelli Power Plc; Mainstream Energy Ltd, Kainji Power Plc; Kann Consortium, Abuja Disco; Sahelian Power SPV, Kano Disco; Amperion Power Company Limited, Geregu Power Plc, and North-South Power Company for Shiroro Power Plc.

Taking possession By this payment, the bidders are now closer to taking possession of the respective PHCN distribution and generation companies they bided for, following approval by the Federal Government.

This is even as organised labour has criticised the transaction in view of outstanding issues.

However, any bidder which was unable to pay the balance of the 75 percent will lose the 25 percent already paid, and the slot for ownership for the company will be given to the reserved bidder in that category.

Peterside said: “Any bidder that failed to meet his obligation will lose the slot for that company, and we will hand it over to the reserved bidder.”

Although he refused to give more details, he expressed delight that the process had ended seamlessly, adding that it was left for the new owners to get to work and give power to Nigerians.

US$101.25 million (N16.2 billion) for the acquisition of 60 percent stake in Eko Disco.

According to a statement by the company, the payment was made two days ahead of the BPE deadline, and follows payment of the initial 25 percent deposit of US$33.75 million (N5.4 billion) earlier this year.

The company further disclosed that the total amount of the transaction is US$135 million (N21.6 billion).

Commenting on the completion of payment, Mr. Charles Momoh, Chairman, WPG said: “Today marks a tremendous milestone and a major step forward towards the completion of the most significant privatisation of government assets in Nigeria’s history.

“The success of the power transformation programme is critical to the future development of Nigeria. WPG, along with the other preferred bidders, fully appreciate the magnitude of the task before us and are honoured to have been selected.

“As a sector, we must work together to ensure we achieve the desired results.

“As well as securing the finance to complete the acquisition, WPG has brought together a world class team of local and international industry experts to implement the rehabilitation and expansion programme.

“We look forward to the completion of the acquisition process and all matters to be resolved so we can begin the task of transforming the power sector in the country.”

WPG raises N80bn He further stated that over the years, WPG had raised close to US$500 million (N80

billion) in equity and debt financing to fund the acquisition of the Eko Disco and the significant rehabilitation and transformation work required to improve distribution network infrastructure and operations.

He noted that US$250 million (N40 billion) had been allocated to rehabilitation, while the company had allocated US$48 million (N7.68 billion) towards a power purchase agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET. Giving a background of the company, Momoh said: “West Power & Gas Limited, WPG, is a Nigerian Power Investment Holding Company established to invest in Nigeria’s fast evolving power sector and to participate in the development of the sector as a whole.

“The company is in the final stages of completing the acquisition of the Eko Distribution Company and will explore other opportunities for investment in the sector as a whole, including generation.”

UBA finances Shiroro Furthermore, Pan African financial services group, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc, Tuesday, entered into a US$82 million financing deal with North South Power Limited, a strategic investor in the power sector, to finance the acquisition of the Shiroro Hydro-electric Power Plc Concession.

The funds, arranged by UBA Plc and UBA Capital Plc, facilitated payment of the balance of 75 percent of the acquisition cost to BPE ahead of yesterday's payment deadline.

UBA Plc is the lead bank and Mandated Lead Arranger to the transaction, while UBA Capital is the Mandated Lead Arranger, Debt Adviser and Facility Agent.

According to the Group Man-

aging Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, the seamless completion of the transaction by all parties involved is a reflection of the capacity of Nigerian banks to champion the financing of power reforms project across the country.

He said: “This transaction is a milestone for the bank and we are glad to be part of it. It is another demonstration of UBA’s commitment, appetite and capability for big ticket transactions.

“Importantly, it is our commitment to Federal Government's efforts in increasing capacity in the power sector.

With our partners, UBA Capital Plc, we strongly believe that this financing will help in jumpstarting the much needed investment in the power sector.”

Group CEO, UBA Capital Plc, Rasheed Olaoluwa noted that the investment group had been an important partner in the privatizasion process as it is currently advising three out of the six generation companies recently conceded by Federal Government.

800Mw target Engineer Olubunmi Peters, Vice Chairman, North South Power Company Limited, praised the commitment shown by UBA Plc and UBA Capital Plc in raising the funds.

He said: “The two institutions have again shown commitment to the power sector.

With this fund, we are set to modernise the Shiroro Hydro Electric Power.

“Our company intends to add 600 megawatts into the national grid and add 200 megawatts in the third year. ”The financing was a major milestone for UBA Plc, UBA Capital Plc, North South Power Company Limited and, most importantly, the Nigerian power sector as the Federal Government’s induced incentives to attract private sector participation across the sector is coming into effect.”

Bidders' plans Agreeing, one of the promoters of the Vigeo Group, Mr. Victor Osibodu, disclosed that his group plans to invest additional N40 billion into Benin Disco for infrastructure over the next five years upon takeover.

He confirmed that his group paid $96.75 million as 75 percent balance for their bid.

Similarly, West Power & Gas Limited, WPG, completed the payment of

VISIT: From left— Prof. Rob O’donoghue, Coordinator of Regional Centre of Expertise, RCE; Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Dr. Abel Atiti, Research Fellow, United Nations University, Alhaji Musa Ibeto, Deputy Governor of Niger State, when the Centre's delegation paid a courtesy visit to the governor at Niger State Governor's lodge in Abuja, yesterday.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

ICAO audit certifies Nigeria’s airspace

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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AGOS—NIGERIA’S civil aviation sector got a boost yesterday as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, listed Nigeria as one of the 14 countries in Africa that had achieved effective air safety implementation, above the global average of 61 percent.

According to a statement by Mr. Yakubu Dati, the Coordinating Spokesman for Aviation Parastatals, “This rating is contained in the ICAO 2013 Safety Report, compiled by ICAO auditors who investigated the compliance with stipulated international safety standards by individual countries across the world, especially its 200 member countries.

“The ICAO 2013 Safety Report lends credence to the Category 1 certification granted Nigeria in 2011 by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, of the United States, for meeting stipulated international standards and practices on safety and security.”

Dati further said this certification also signals the success of the Aviation Master Plan developed by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

NHM convention holds Saturday

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—A MARKETING firm, Nature Hero Multilevel, will, Saturday, in Lagos, holds its convention and awards ceremony.

At a briefing, yesterday, its Managing Director, Mr. Sunny Elem, said: “We deal on supplements, gadgets, jewelries as well as GSM and security wristwatches. We will be giving out cars to 4 persons, cash prizes and Black Berry phones.”

Elem, also said the President of Nature Hero International is expected at the convention.

Insurgents kill two policemen, four others in Borno communities

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & NDAHI MARAMA

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UNMEN, suspected to be members of Boko Haram Islamic sect, yesterday, attacked Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala communities in Borno State, killing two policemen and four members of the communities while seven insurgents also died in the encounters.

In the attack launched at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Gwoza at about 8 am yesterday, two policemen were killed while seven insurgents equally lost their lives in the encounter.

A member of the Emirate Council who accompanied the Emir of Gwoza , Alhaji Idrisa Timta, who fled the council to the Government House, Maiduguri, to intimate Governor Kashim Shettima of the incident, told journalists that “At about 8 am today (yesterday), members of the Boko Haram sect attacked the Gwoza Divisional Police Headquarters killing two policemen. Seven insurgents also lost their lives in an exchange of gunfire”.

He however added that “everything has been brought under control, as military troops have been deployed in the area.”

At Gamboru Ngala incident, at least four civilians were killed while eight others were seriously injured when some suspected members of Boko Haram sect invaded the community in the early hours of Wednesday.

Gamboru Ngala is a border town with Cameroun Republic, about 135 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital, which had witnessed series of bombings and killings in recent past.

Four residents killed It was gathered that the gunmen, numbering about 50, came on motorcycles armed with sophisticated weapons and attacked Flatari ward of the council at about 2am on Wednesday. The sect members ordered residents to come out from their houses pretending to be members of the youth vigilante before they opened fire on them killing four residents and injuring eight others.

A source said, the gunmen also set ablaze some houses in Flatari and fled.

He explained that the gunmen were on revenge mission following the recent arrest of one of their members last week by youth vigilantes (civilian JTF) whom they later handed over to the military Joint Task Force before he was

killed.

According to the source, the military used to patrol the area but with the formation of youth vigilante, the JTF were no longer patrolling the area, as they had confidence in the vigilante in protecting their area.

A resident who on condition of anonymityd appealed to the JTF to come to their aid and resume patrol of the area as the unarmed vigilante youths could not protect the area alone considering the sophis-

ticated weapons used by the terrorists.

Sect members plan to avenge Shekau’s death Meanwhile, there were indications in Abuja, yesterday, that following the death of Boko Haram leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained in an encounter with Special Forces when they carried out ground and air assault at the vast Sambisa Forest in

Borno State, remnants of Boko Haram sect members were planning a revenge attack.

The sect members are said to have vowed that the killing of their leader and others in the decision making council will be avenged with a deadly attack that will be commensurate with the killing of their leaders including Momodu Bama, the 2nd in command to Shekau.

PUBLIC ASSESSEMENT: From left, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam and Senator Mudasiru Hussaïn, representing Osun West Senatorial District, during a programme, taged- Gbangbadekun (Public Assessement), for the governor, in Ïwo, on Tuesday.

ISPS: Port facility inspection’ll be continuous —NIMASA

BY GODWIN ORITSE& GODFREY BIVBERE

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AGOS—THE Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has stated that the effective implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS, Code, will involve a continuous year to year inspection of port facilities to meet up with the required standard, as against an ad-hoc fire brigade exercise.

This was made known at a briefing press conference addressed by the Director-General, DG, of the Agency, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, alongside the Executive Director in charge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Capt. Bala Agaba, on the progress made so far in the new Designated Authority (DA) for ISPS Code implementation.

According to the DG, “Since receiving the DA mandate formally with an official letter issued by the Ministry

of Transport on May 21, 2013, NIMASA immediately set out to institute a fresh implementation programme as needed.

The supposed 90-day ultimatum issued by the US Government to Nigeria requiring compliance with the ISPS Code was actually issued in April and was prior to NIMASA being appointed the DA. “Therefore, it is important to note that the implementation is not being fast tracked for the deadline but has always been an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirement, which NIMASA has been working towards attaining but coincidentally falls within the window period issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG).”

“Since assuming responsibility as the DA for the Code implementation, NIMASA has had a general stakeholders conference, which was convened to announce the new arrangement and to sound off the public on the imminent activities and pro-

gramme to accompany this new ISPS implementation. An action plan was developed and activated to close reported gaps and this included dispatching competent Recognized Security Organizations (RSOs) to conduct security surveys and assessments aimed at identifying and correcting these deficiencies and any other observed vulnerabilities.

“NIMASA has focused not only on Port Facilities (PFs) listed in the United States Coast Guard report but on the generality of PFs in the nation’s maritime domain. This action plan has been given a nod by the USCG and it has pledged to support the efforts of the DA in ensuring the issues raised are remedied. The DA has outlined its implementation framework in the form of a handbook to enable the public understand its agenda with respect to this new implementation regime.

The Agency has also inaugurated a Committee to help oversee the mandate.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—11

2015: Tension in Ogun APC as Osoba faction tips Adeola for governor

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE crisis rocking the newly registered All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, has taken another dimension as a faction believed to be loyal to national leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba, reportedly tipped former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr.Fola Adeola, to replace Governor Ibikunle Amosun as governor, in the coming election.

Indication emerged, yesterday, that Adeola may have joined the governorship race in the state as his campaign posters and banners surfaced in some parts of Abeokuta, the state capital.

The party has been polarised with Osoba and Amosun leading factions.

Adeola was the running mate to former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in the 2011 presidential election under the banner of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Adeola’s posters were sighted at various strategic locations, including Itoku, Isale Igbein, Ijaiye, Obantoko, Ake, Totoro, Iyana Mortuary and Lafenwa areas of Abeokuta,

with APC logo, party slogan and the inscription: “Change 2015 Fola Adeola for Governor.”

Vanguard reliably gathered that, the Osoba faction which felt betrayed by Amosun’s alleged plan to sideline them in the choice of candidates for the party ahead of the 2015 elections, reportedly vowed to ‘deal’ with the governor by sponsoring another candidate

against him during the party's primaries.

According to findings, the choice of Adeola was made because he is an Egba man and a Muslim like Amosun with a view to getting support from Egba division during the election.

Reacting to the development, a chieftain of the new party, Mr. Sina Oduntan, described the development as a

normal thing, saying, anybody can show interest in the party.

He, however, described Amosun's endorsement as ‘just an endorsement ‘, saying, it is not a consensus by the party.

He said: “The governorship candidate will emerge from the state congress, whether it is unopposed or not. The recent endorsement of governor Amosun is different from consensus of the party which is going to take place.”

VISIT: From left: Board Member, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH, Hon. Mohammed Halidu; Chairman, UITH Board, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowoshe; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and Chief Medical Director, UITH, Prof. Abdulwaheed Olatinwo, during a courtesy call by the Board to the governor at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

Bode George, Filani's supporters in war of words

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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UPPORTERS of former Deputy Chairman, South, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George and South-West caretaker committee chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, yesterday, engaged in a war of words.

A youth leader of the PDP, Lagos Island Local Government, chapter, Mr. Sulaimon Adelekan, berated Chief Filani for lampooning George, adding that Filani allegedly mortgaged the South-West PDP to the highest bidder.

But, in a swift reaction, exofficio member, South-West PDP Caretaker Committee, Mr Seun Adesanya, said George

should bury his head in shame saying: “We now believe that Bode George deserves more of our sympathy than we previously expressed.”

Recall that Chief Filani, in a recent interview, described Chief George as a drowning man who was to be sympathised with.

In a statement, Adelakan expressed surprise at the level of “malice and paranoia displayed by Mr. Ishola Filani in his recent utterances again

Chief Olabode George.

“Mr. Filani did not observe necessary decorum and frame of mind that befits his office.”

We still sympathise with George Mr. Adesanya, ex-officio member, South-West PDP Caretaker Committee, said: “It is very unfortunate that one of Chief Bode George’s supporters, Mr. Sulaiman Adenekan, is now alleging that it is Chief

Filani who is attacking George.

“As far as records can show, it is Bode George through his associates, that have been attacking Chief Ishola Filani and criticizing his activities and those of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the South-West in a ceaseless desperation of frustration and anger.

“All Chief Filani said about Bode George was to sympathize with him and to refuse to drown with him.”

Ataoja: Olanipekun’s appointment in order, kingmakers, chiefs insist

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—BARELY 24 hours after the ruling houses in Osogbo disowned the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, king-makers and traditional chiefs of the community rose in his defence, declaring that the traditional ruler ’s appointment was in line with the tradition and statutory authorities governing the appointment of Ataoja.

Similarly, stakeholders in the appointment of Ataoja of Osogbo stated that the appointment of Oba Olanipekun followed all traditional rites of the town before he was installed the traditional ruler in 2010, following the demise of the late Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Oyewale Matanmi.

At a briefing attended by Chiefs Nasiru Lanloye Odelola, the Eesa of Osogboland, the Ajaguna of Osogbo, who is also the head of the king-mak-

ers and second-in-command to Ataoja, Chief Gabriel Oparanti, said the allegation that Oba Olanipekun was an impostor raised by some ruling houses in the town was ill conceived.

Also, in attendance at the briefing were Prince Olasunkanmi Oladosu, from Oyipi ruling house, Prince Mubarak Azeez, from Larooye ruling house and Prince Mustafa Adebisi, from Lajomo ruling house.

Osun LG poll to hold 2014 —Aregbesola

BY GBENGA OLARI-

NOYE

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SOGBO—AFTER several years of legal battle on the conduct of Local Government election in Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, assured that the election into the 30 Local Government Areas in the sate and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke, will be conducted next year.

Governor Aregbesola also said that the Local Government election would come up before the next governorship election which also holds next year.

The governor, who spoke at the maiden edition of an interactive programme tagged Gbangba Dekun, in Iwo, on Tuesday, said arrangements were in top gear by his administration to ensure a free and fair local government election.

But, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in its reaction, said the party has no confidence in Aregbesola’s statement on the election, adding that he had on several occasions reneged on his promises.

UNIOSUN workers on strike over non-payment of allowances

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—ACTIVITIES in all the six campuses of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, were grounded, yesterday, as workers of the institution embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged non-payment of their allowances and welfare packages, among other entitlements.

The workers, under the aegis of Joint Action Congress, JAC, comprising of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union and Educational Institutions, NASU and National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, of the institution also staged a peaceful protest at its Osogbo campus.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Group hails appointment of Agumagu as Acting CJ

Nigeria loses $2.5bn to gas flaring yearly, — Bassey ‘...300 lives lost to floods in 2012’

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT — A group, Human Rights Alliance has hailed Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State for appointing Justice Peter Agumagu as acting Chief Judge of the state.

Arguing that the appointment was in order, Executive Director of the group, Mr. Ken Atswete, in a statement, yesterday, said that Justice Agumagu was the most senior judge in the state.

According to him, Justice Agumagu was called to bar in 1975, adding that he was appointed judge of the High Court in 1991 before he was seconded to the Customary Court of Appeal to set up the court, which was not in existence in the state.

‘Nobody can stop Amori from contesting senatorial election’

A

SOCIO-POLITICAL group, Delta Central Political Watch, led

by Mr. John Dibie, has thrown its weight behind Chief Ighoyota Amori’s candidature for the Senate in the forthcoming by-election in Delta Central senatorial district that was left vacuum following the death of Mr. Pius Ewherido.

Dibie was reacting to a publication in the media by an unknown group that Chief Amori was the cause of the Urhobo have no voice in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“This faceless group is searching for faults to nail Chief Amori, who performed beyond the imagination of the Urhobo people as the then Commissioner of Education in the former Governor James Ibori’s government.”

He said: “Nobody can stop Chief Amori. Without boasting, the result of the last Delta Central senatorial election showed Amori to be the candidate to beat considering the overwhelming support the Urhobo had for Democratic Peoples Party, DPP.”

B

ENIN— HEALTH of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, yesterday, said that Nigeria loses more than $2.5 billion through the flaring of associated gas annually.

Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, also noted that no fewer than 300 Nigerians were killed and two million others displaced during the unusual heavy flooding in different parts of the country in year 2012.

Bassey lamented that Nigeria has contributed to the climate crisis through its over dependence on fossil fuel for power generation and transportation.

He added that “the routine flaring of associated gas releases millions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere apart from being a major waste – with at least $2.5 billion worth of natural gas going up in smoke annually.

“It is also causing major health problems and acid rains as well.”

Speaking at a workshop organised by HOMEF, an Ecological think-tank, he regretted that deadlines set for halting of gas flaring in the country have remained nothing more than a mirage, noting that in recent times, the government has not even bothered to set deadlines anymore.

“In fact, the draft Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB,had December 2012 as a deadline while at the same time gives the Petroleum Minister the latitude to set the deadline for when the criminal activity would cease.

“We believe that a minimum step government has to take to show commitment to securing the future of our country

and the planet is to compel the offending oil companies to obey the laws of the land by halting the obnoxious practice,” he said.

He attributed the floods experienced in the country to the reality of climate change, noting that “the shrinkage of Lake Chad gives an indication that climate change is a contributor to the increasing phenomenom

of water stress and climate refugees as well.”

Disclosing that apart from Nigeria, over 530,000 people were displaced in Niger Republic between July and September, he added that thousands were displaced in Mali, Uganda, Chad, Kenya, South Africa, Somalia, Cameroun, Ethiopia, Mozambique, among others, fdue to the floods of last year.

PROGRAMME: From left, Managing Director, Grand Central Africa, Mr. Chinenye MbaUzoukwu; Commissioner of Education, Cross River State, Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong; and Chairman, NUT/NLC, Cross River State; Mr. Njom Nyambi, at the flag-off ceremony of Cross River State teachers’ computer acquisition programme, being managed by Infographics Nigeria Ltd.

Ezekwesili challenges federal legislators to a public hearing on their pay …explains how N/A spent N1 trillion in 8 years

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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ORMER MINISTER of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, gave a breakdown of how the National Assembly spent about N1 trillion in the last eight years and challenged the legislators to organise a public hearing on their pay.

She insisted that she was right in her claims of an unduly high expenditure by the federal legislature.

The former minister maintained in a statement in Abuja that Nigeria’s federal law-makers were the highest paid in the world, quoting an analysis of the Economist magazine in a recent publication.

Contrary to claims by some legis-

lators that they earn N1 million basic salary, Mrs. Ezekwesili put their basic salary at N30. 6 million annually, as revealed by the Economist.

She said that she had been threatened by some legislators and also came under other forms of attacks since she was reported to have criticised the huge expenditure outlay of the National Assembly and criticised the law-makers for attacking her personally, rather than producing their own data to contradict her position.

She said: “On Monday, August 19, I was the keynote speaker at a Civil Society Roundtable on “Cost of Governance” hosted by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC. My presentation approached the topic more broadly, by calling attention to the fundamentally unsustainable economic structure that has caused Nigeria’s development over the last 53 years to lag behind those of countries

with similar political history with attendant high poverty level of 69 per cent of our citizens according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

“As part of the aspect of my presentation that touched on management of public finance, I provided eight years data on budgetary allocations or transfers to the National Assembly.

“The data in question is available from the Ministry of Finance which reveals that the allocations to the National Assembly between 2005 and 2013 were approximately N1trillion as follows: 2005 N 54.79billion, 2006 N 54.79billion, 2007 N 66.4billion, 2008 N114.39billion, 2009 N158.92billion, 2010 N 150billion, 2011 N 150billion, 2012 N150billion, 2013 N150billion.

Vanguar THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—13

House of Reps Committee on Education urges FG, ASUU to end strike

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — THE House of Representatives Committee on Education, yesterday, pleaded with the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to end the prolonged lecturers’ strike.

The committee lauded the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, for his efforts in making the new institution to be on a sound footing.

Members of the committee led by its Chairman, Mr. Aminu Suleiman, were in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to monitor the progress and challenges of the new university.

Suleiman said that the committee’s on-going tour of the federal universities across the country was part of its oversight functions of tracking funds contained in the budget.

He lamented that the industrial action by ASUU had persisted and pleaded with the union and the government to

quickly resolve their differences, noting that the two committees on education of the National Assembly had earlier facilitated the dialogue between ASUU and government.

He expressed optimism that the strike would soon be called off

by ASUU due to the steps the government

had taken.

“As an institution, we are doing the best we could do to ensure the resolution of the strike.

Government through the facilitation of the National Assembly had a series of meetings with ASUU. When ASUU issued the ultimatum, government was reluctant to meet with them.”

Why northern voters will back Jonathan — Tafawa Balewa

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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R. ABDULJHALIL Tafawa Balewa, son of Nigeria’s first prime minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan would be returned to office in 2015 based on his good works, saying the sophistication of northern voters would shock many.

In a session with newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, Abduljhalil, who holds a Ph.D in nuclear chemistry and spent 49 of hi 56 years outside the country, said President Jonathan has renewed confidence in the country through repair of in-

frastructure and empathy to northern interests and the dignity of women.

He especially praised Dr. Jonathan’s affirmative action on women, which he said, has promoted women to the highest level of governance as never before.

Dr. Tafawa-Balewa also dismissed the major opposition party in the country represented by the All Progressives Congress, APC, as doomed to failure, saying that it was full of failed PDP politicians.

He nevertheless made an exception with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom, he described as a good politician.

Bayelsa varsity loses accreditation of key courses

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — STUDENTS of Niger Delta University, NDU, owned by the Bayelsa

State Government, are now facing uncertain future as National Universities Commission, NUC, has withdrawn the accreditation of key courses in the institu-

Obi executes 800kms of road since 2006

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — THE administration of Governor Peter Obi in Anambra State has completed over 800 kilometres of roads across state since inception in 2006.

Governor Obi, who gave the figure while

inspecting the Minaj Road and Odume Layout erosion site in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, said more roads would be constructed in the state before the end of his tenure.

According to him, Anambra State currently has the best network of roads in both urban and rural areas, which were hitherto neglected.

He explained that his administration would continue to engage the services of competent and credible contractors to maintain quality

tion.

It was gathered that NUC in its recent accreditation exercise withdrew the accreditation for the Law Faculty and seven others, and placed 20 other courses on interim accreditation.

The university, according to a source, had put forward 31 programmes for accreditation, but NUC only gave four full accreditation.

The source expressed fear that the programmes on probation may still be denied accreditation in the next accreditation exercise scheduled for September/October, 2013 if the conditions for full accreditation were not met.

Among the reasons given for the non-accreditation of the programmes, according to a university source, include inadequate teaching staff, especially Professors, Ph.D holders, and senior lecturers.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

FG declines comment on alleged killing of Shekau

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, declined to comment on the reported killing of the leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, by the military, saying it preferred the military which is prosecuting the war against the insurgents to speak on operational matters.

The Joint Task Force had in a statement, said the leader of the sect might have died of injuries sustained in a confrontation with security forces, a claim that has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians.

But speaking with newsmen, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said though the gains recorded by the military in its operations should be celebrated, “the military should be left to tell their story".

"Relating to the story that we have read about the possible death of the Boko Haram leader , I think it is better we leave it at that.

These people are on the run and we will allow the military to tell the story. “The military said that it would appear that in one of their operations, the leader of the insurgent was mortally wounded and they were rushing him from place to place and they believe that he could, indeed, be dead.

“It should give us more confidence. What it means is that the security forces are closing up on some of the kingpins of this murderous group that has denied thousands of Nigerians their lives. Some of the key leaders have been pronounced dead.

“I think that rather than losing confidence, we should continue to pray for the success of the military.

What is remaining is for the media to support the military.

“It is the most important thing we need in Nigeria because if there is no peace in the northern part of the country, there won’t be peace in Nigeria.”

Maku said that since the President proclaimed the state of emergency three months ago “we have kept political comments out of it.

We decided that it is better for the military to tell their story, that is why I have not spoken on it".

No reversing disqualification of Soludo, others — APGA zFactional chairman, Okwu sues Umeh, Shinkafi, INEC

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR & GABRIEL EWEPEU

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HERE is no going back on the disqualification of former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo and five other aspirants from participating in Anambra State governorship primaries of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, holding on August 26, National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, has said.

According to Umeh, the process of screening and clearance of aspirants for the primaries have been concluded in line with the guidelines of the party without interference by APGA hierarchy and those screened out knew they were not qualified to continue to aspire on APGA’s platform.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard yesterday, Umeh dismissed allegations that APGA did not follow its constitution in constituting the screening panel and described insinuations that he had a hand in the disqualification of some aspirants as unfounded.

Asked if the disqualification of the aspirants could be reconsidered, he said: “The process has been concluded. It is no longer subject to review. The panels were unbiased. I did not interfere with their work and the aspirants after the screening commended the panel for doing a good job and said they would accept the outcome. We don’t want to be distracted by the complaints. We want to be focused on conducting credible primaries on August 26 for those who are qualified and go ahead to win the elections on November 16.”

Okwu sues Umeh, Shinkafi over APGA leadership However, the factional chairman of the party, Chief Maxi Okwu, has dragged Chief Victor Umeh, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to a Federal High Court in Abuja demanding to be recognized as the authentic leadership of the party that would nominate candidates for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

In suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/563/ 2013 dated August 18, 2013 filed

by Oba Maduabuchi, lawyer to Maxi Okwu and four others elected with him in the party’s national convention of April 8, 2013 in Awka, the plaintiffs averred that the APGA convention and election on February 10, 2011, in Awka in which Umeh was re-elected national chairman and Shinkafi, national secretary, including other members of the National Working

Committee, NWC, was by voice vote contrary to Article 18(4) of the party constitution that stipulates that elections shall be by secret ballots only.

The plaintiffs also asked the court to determine, “whether the 2nd defendant (Shinkafi) can still validly occupy the position of National Secretary of APGA in 2013 when the constitution of the party provides a maximum tenure of eight years and he was first elected as national secretary of the party on January 10, 2013, 10 years ago”.

The plaintiffs prayed the court for an order directing Umeh, Shinkafi and all the officers purportedly elected with them in February 2011 convention by voice vote to vacate their various offices as their “election” was not in accordance with Article 18(4) of the APGA constitution which prescribes that elections

shall be by secret ballot. They argued that the convention merely ratified the tenure of the National Working Committee members by affirmation. They also sought an order directing INEC to henceforth relate with the Maxi Okwu-led leadership of the party.

Okwu is on a futile mission—Umeh Reacting to the fresh litigation yesterday, Umeh said Okwu and his team were on a futile mission because the law courts had trashed out the issue of who remained the authentic leader of APGA. According to him, Okwu was elected chairman at a controversial convention in Awka on April 8, 2013. He said thereafter, Okwu got a judgment from the Chief Judge

of Enugu State that he (Umeh) was not the chairman of the party.

However, Umeh said he appealed the court ruling after which the Court of Appeal on July 17, 2013 set aside the judgment of the Enugu High court and affirmed him as the authentic chairman of APGA Umeh said: “They have no convention in law. They are no officers of the party. Their convention is standing on nothing.

I was told they took us to court to distract us. Okwu has no locus standi to sue APGA or any officer of APGA. He was expelled in 2005.

He challenged his expulsion alongside Chief Chekwas Okorie up to the Supreme Court and lost.

He was chairman of the Citizens Popular Party, CPP, up to February 2013. What does he know of APGA in the last eight years he has been in CPP? He is standing on nothing.”

MEETING—From left: Emejulu Okapalukwu, Assistant Publicity Secretary, Chief Gary Nnachi Igariwey, President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dara Mbazulike Amechi, Igwe Gibson Nwosu and Dr. P. N. Atamo, arriving for Ohanaeze Ndigbo meeting in Enugu.

Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

$2m fraud: Police arrest suspected Nigerian fraudster in Dubai

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI BUJA—IN what is considered a breakthrough in its fight against international crimes, the Interpol Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, headed by DCP Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, has in conjunction with its counterpart in Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, arrested one Itumo Anthony Chidebere, a suspected fraudster, who fled to Dubai after defrauding a Nigerian businesswoman of $2 million.

The 35-year-old suspect from Ebonyi State had been on the

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run for the past 13 months after perfecting the deal.

Vanguard gathered that in June, 2012, the suspect presented himself to the said businesswoman as an estate broker in Dubai, claiming that he could purchase a house for his victim.

He was said to have presented several documents and samples of influential Nigerians he claimed to have assisted to buy houses.

Relying on this assurance, the unsuspecting victim made a payment of $2,082,139 to the suspect, after which the suspect disappeared without purchasing

the said house.

He chose rather to run from one country to another in a bid to evade arrest.

Meanwhile, Interpol at force headquarters is working with its United Arab Emirates counterpart and the Federal Ministry of Justice to facilitate the extradition of the suspect to Nigeria.

Commending the personnel of the Interpol unit for the successes recorded in international anticrime operations, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, reaffirmed the determination of the Force to bring to justice criminals connected with international crimes.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—15

APC LEADERS MEETING IN ABUJA

APC to focus on youth, education zNgige set to pick Anambra guber ticket

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—ALL Progres sives Party, declared yesterday, that a large part of its agenda will focus on the Nigerian youth with particular attention to education, job creation, entrepreneurship skills, and vocational training National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande disclosed this at a press conference addressed by the leaders of the party.

Chief Bisi Akande said, “It is common knowledge that Nigeria’s current population is now constituted in such a manner that if not carefully handled would, pose the biggest challenge that this country has ever confronted. According to many reliable reports, nearly two thirds of the over 160 million citizens of Nigeria are youth, meaning; people below the age of 35 years. Unfortunately, the process of governance in Nigeria, for all practical purposes, remains impervious to the aspirations of this category of Nigerians.

Consequently, no priority is assigned to education, job creation, entrepreneurship skills, and vocational training that would have turned our youth into truly productive citizens. We in the APC see engagement with the youth on the above as a strategic imperative.”

He further stated that APC would also pay attention to the question of gender in-balance in governance and in the development processes in general.

According to him: “The female members of our society constitute about half our country’s population. Yet women issues have been largely consigned to the back burners of governance. For the APC, the specific aspirations of women constitute a major ideological platform. Our party would not resort to the usual tokenism and sloganeering where the issue of women aspirations are concerned, but through this ideological platform transform itself into a party of true gender balance.”

Akande declared that the purpose of the party ’s meeting which held earlier in the day was to sound out its members on the immediate areas of responsibility of the Interim Executive Committee, IEC, adding that the responsibility of the IEC was limited to mobilisation of “our teem-

ing adherents and supporters for membership registration and conduct of congresses that will lead to producing a leadership that will be able to lead the party into 2015 general elections”.

He said: Added to these are countless incidents of religious, ethnic, political and civil unrests leading to the loss of millions of innocent lives. Trapped in a vicious cycle of political crises, social upheavals and economic under-development, Nigeria has become, not only one of the most unstable countries in the world, it is also, regrettably, one of the poorest despite its huge human and material resource endowments.

Confronting these issues in a single minded manner is

the raison de’tre for the formation of the APC.” Akande further said that he remained confident that with the support and commitment of the party’s members, success was assured in APC’s efforts to deliver better governance to Nigerians Meanwhile, former Governor of Anambra State Senator Chris Ngige is set to pick the ticket of the newly registered APC in next November’s governorship polls in the state.

This was disclosed by Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha when he announced that Ngige’s arch rival for the party’s ticket, Senator Annie Okonkwo had stepped down for the former governor.

From left: Former Head of State and leader of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, Interim National Chairman and former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, and Deputy National Chairman and former Speaker House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, at the APC leaders meeting.

Pix: Gbemiga Olamikan.

2015: Only Supreme Court can determine Jonathan's eligibility — Adamawa PDP stakeholders

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AHEAD of 2015 presidential election, Adamawa stakeholders in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said yesterday, that only the Supreme Court can determine whether or not President Goodluck has the right to run for the presidential election.

According to the PDP stakeholders, if President Jonathan contests for another term of four years in 2015 and gets the position, he will have then succeeded himself in office as President for a cumulative period of nine years 23 days, against the constitutional provision of eight years.

The PDP stakeholders, who warned that PDP must be careful not to play into the hands of the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM and others, stressed that those currently pushing for Jonathan’s Presidency come 2015 on the basis of ethnicity or religion as a yardstick for their support for him, were not doing him or the polity any good.

In a statement signed by former governorship aspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo, the stakeholders said: “It has the tendency of alienating other ethnic and religious

groups against the President. How then does that help the cause of the PDP and the President, seeing that the alienated groups are by far in the majority?

“The President needs the majority, and not the minority, to win his elections. With all due apologies to the Governors Forum, let it be always remembered that elections are won with higher votes, and not with lower votes.

“But I want to emphasize one most important thing here though, ultimately only the Supreme Court can determine whether or not President Jonathan can even contest the 2015 presidential elections.

“As I said some time ago, if the President contests for another term of four years in 2015, he would have self-succeeded himself in office as President for a cumulative period of nine years 23 days. This is beyond the eight years maximum period prescribed by the constitution and vicariously interpreted by the Supreme Court.

“Most people may not see it, but this issue is a very serious constitutional barricade standing against the candidacy of the President in 2015. Neither the President’s supporters nor his opponents, nor even the President himself can determine this matter.

From left: Chief Bisi Akande, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and former Anambra State Governor, Senator Chris Ngige, during the endorsement of Chris Ngige as APC governorship candidate for Anambra State governorship election.

From left: Senator Annie Okonkwo, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

From left: Former Chairman of EFCC and former ACN Presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

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16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Fashola, Manko, others for CLASFON award

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AGOS—GOVER NOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, State, Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, and Justice Ayorinde Philip, will be among eminent Nigerians to be honoured by the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, CLASFON. The award is part of CLASFON annual national conference starting today in Lagos.

Former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN and Isreali Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr.Uriel Palti are among the speakers at the event.

According to the organisers, the opening ceremony of the conference with the theme: ‘Arise and Build’ will take place at Muson Centre, where Palti, as guest speaker, will speak on ‘Security Components For Sustainable National Growth and Development;Enhancing the Macro and Micro Quotients.’

Chief Olanipekun will chair the opening ceremony.

Labour faults BPE on payment of PHCN workers’ severance benefits

BY VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS—ORGANISED la bour in the nation’s Power sector, yesterday faulted media report credited to the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, that more than 20,000 workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, had fully been paid severance benefits ahead of takeover of PHCN assets by new investors.

Under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, labour said there was no iota of truth in the statement as it was only meant to deceive the “investors” that workers’ entitlements had already been paid.

In a statement by NUEE’s President, Mansir M Musa, labour said: “Attention has been drawn to publications in some national newspapers credited to an agent of Government - one Mr Chigbo Anichebe, of BPE on the payment of severance package to PHCN workers and hereby react as follows.

“There is no iota of truth in the statement as it was only meant to deceive the “investors” that work-

ers’ entitlements have already been paid. The payment made so far only cover few workers as against the claim that over 20,000 workers have been paid out of purported 40,000 workforce.

“The “so-called payment” to the few workers involved is just

PDM, party of expired politicians —JUNAIDU MOHAMMED

BY SONI DANIEL, REGION-

AL EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—SECOND Re public lawmaker, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, has dismissed the newly registered Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, as a party made up of expired politicians, with no fresh ideas on how to move the nation forward.

Mohammed, who is the National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, told Vanguard that

Group adopts Okorodudu as APC chair

BY EMMAARUBI

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ARRI—THE Concerned Itsekiri for Good Governance has adopted a Senatorial aspirant in the last general elections, Mr. Tunde Okorodudu, as candidate for the Delta State chairmanship position of the newly regis-

tered All Progressives Congress, APC. At an enlarged congress in Warri, yesterday, the group in a statement by Mr. Sam Afotanju, Mr. Oritseyemi Ireokane and Faith Odonghanro, stated that their choice of Okorodudu arose from

a fraction of their total entitlement.

The balance runs into billions of naira. The statement is misleading and capable of creating negative impression before the public and “investors” that Government has paid fully all the entitlements.

We hope they will not be so deceived. No staff of PHCN has

been fully paid till now.

“We wish to reiterate that we shall resist any illegal takeover of PHCN until the severance benefits are fully paid to all PHCN workers. Government should therefore effect full payment without further delay and guard against actions capable of generating tension and industrial unrest.”

his track records as an activist and fighter for social justice and equal opportunity for all.

The group noted that with Okorodudu as state chairman of the APC, the party would take over Delta State from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

PDM was an extension of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which failed to transform Nigeria after more than 14 years in power.

According to Mohammed, there was no need for people to rejoice over the transformation of PDM into a full fledged party, since the characters promoting the new party had been part and parcel of the PDP. While welcoming the registration of new parties by INEC as a means of broadening the political space in Nigeria, Mohammed however said it was not possible for the PDM to make any meaningful impact in the land because of those behind its formation.

He said, “The noise that has attended the registration of PDM is puzzling to me because the promoters of the party had been politically active in the PDP since 1998. If those behind PDM didn’t make impact with the exit of Atiku Abubakar to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and back to the PDP, is it now they want to perform magic?” Again, it is impor-

tant to know if PDM will seek to make inroads into the APC. And if it does not, can it survive on its own and make the needed national impact?”

The former lawmaker noted that the birth of the PDM and other political parties does not in any way alter North’s quest to recapture the Presidency in 2015, adding that the desire was irreversible.

On the 2015 Presidency, Mohammed insisted that despite the emergence of PDM and other political parties, former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, remained a favourite choice and that it would be very difficult for any other candidate, including President Jonathan, to beat him in a free and fair election, if he decided to run.

He dismissed as untenable the claim that General Buhari would have been too old to contest the Presidency in 2015 and should concede the post to a younger politician, warning that many younger Nigerian leaders had nothing to offer the country.

TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE: APAPA-OSHODI EXPRESSWAY TO ‘HELL’S GATE’

A bad portion of the road begging for attention.

Traffic confusion from Iyana-Itire to Odo-Olowu bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa expressway as a result of deep potholes occasioned by abandonment by Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, yesterday. Photos: Bunmi Azeez.

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Another failed portion of the road.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013— 17 “It is sad that after 53 years of independence we have no leader that we can commend. Then, we are jinxed and cursed; we should all go to hell”- General Olusegun Obasanjo

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AST week, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo was keynote speaker at the fourth annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit, organised by the University of Ibadan.

Against the backdrop of heightening political tension in the country, he surveyed the landscape and delivered what the French call a coup-de-poing, against the “ younger ” generation of political leaders, especially those who emerged as the crop of leaders from 1999.

He said: “we had some people who were under 50 years old in leadership positions. One of them was James Ibori, where is he today? One of them was Alamieyeseigha, where is he today? Lucky Igbinedion, where is he today?” And Obasanjo was not done; “the youngest was the Rep Speaker, Buhari, you can still recall what happened to him”.

Obasanjo particularly remembered his political opponents: “You said Bola Tinubu is your master. What Buhari did was not anything worse than what Bola Tinubu did. We got them impeached. But in this part of the world some people covered up the other man”. The opprobrium extended to his former vice, Atiku Abubakar. “I wanted someone who would succeed me, so I took Atiku.

Olusegun Obasanjo's selective amnesia

from illegal and unconstitutional sale of national assets, including the creation of TRANSCORP, which he DIRECTLY profited from! Shamefully, Obasanjo mentioned Salisu Buhari but conveniently forgot how he personally organized the chap’s pardon and had attempted desperately to reinstate him Speaker!

Obasanjo mentored Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo characters like Nnamdi Andy Uba, from a complex persona that he never nondescript background to a takes responsibility, no matter billionaire political operative. The how vicarious, for roles he played in the emergence or same character used the consolidation of the negative presidential plane to launder phenomena he seems so able to thousands of dollars in America, rail against. It is true that the ostensibly to “purchase individuals that he named have equipment” for Obasanjo’s negatives and many are outright private farm! Obasanjo sees evil only where his political enemies are. Check the list of individuals Yet, it is also true as Obasanjo said, that he named and it suspiciously resembles those he fought at Nigeria’s process of leadership levels. Ibori and Alams recruitment is so faulty, and the process so various were at the forefront of an effort compromised, that more often than not, it that almost torpedoed his reelection in 2003; Bola Tinubu was is the worst specimens that get recruited the last man standing in Lagos for leadership. At the base is a political and the Southwest, when “Hurricane Obasanjo” swept economy which valorises money, almost through the region in 2003. Atiku without exception, illegally acquired Abubakar became his nemesis in 2003 and most notably in his Within one year, I started seeing bandits. But the Nigerian social desperate attempt to tinker with the type of man Atiku was. And space, from military dictatorship the constitution to achieve a Third you wanted me to get him there?” and by economic choices made Term!

In the years of studying the by the ruling class, made possible Obasanjo phenomenon, I have the emergence of these types of Cynical marvelled at how the man can “younger” leaders. The Obasanjo revenge spew a mix of outright lies and period from 1999, consolidated apparent, self-serving truths in the phenomenon of thieves as It is poignant that he didn’t find the same breath. It is part of his leaders. He profited handsomely Atiku good enough to “get there”, deciding instead, that he was the indispensable leader Nigerians could not do without; and egged S you read these lines, I should have arrived in Asaba, the on by people like the ex-convict Delta state capital, to attend the 9th All Nigerian Editors Bode George; Ibrahim Mantu Conference. It is a gathering which brings Nigerian editors to and Tony Anenih, he decided the brainstorm on the place of the media in Nigeria’s development. This only acceptable way was for year, I have been nominated as a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of “Saint Mathew” to remain in Editors and the induction ceremony will hold on Saturday, August power. Thank God, Nigerians kicked him in the hind-place and 24th. I have never been given to awards or coveting them.

But this is a very significant recognition by professional peers and knocked him off his perch! In an acceptance that I have made a modest contribution to our cynical revenge, we all know the profession, after 36 years of life in broadcasting and journalism. It crisis he has wrought on the has been one long, often tortuous journey, but one that I will not country. trade for any other. I have been very lucky to be born at a remarkable No Nigerian has been as conjuncture in history, with all the privileges that our country so privileged as Obasanjo, yet the period between 1999 and 2007 generously gave me!

That I have been considered a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of brought the worst of the man.

Editors is recognition of the journey through the social and historical One of the governors of 1999space by this broadcaster/journalist. I am very grateful to my peers in 2007, once told me that when they the Guild and to all Nigerians for the privileges that I have so were sworn in, they actually generously received from our country. For me, the central issue has believed that they must be in their always been to use the gifts of broadcasting and journalism for the best behaviour, because betterment of our country and of humanity. That has been my mission Obasanjo’s inaugural speech laid in the past 36 years and I can only pledge to do that even more in the a marker for proper behaviour in politics and administration. To his years ahead!

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The journalist and peer recognition

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chagrin, they were soon to discover that the man says the right things while being the master of deception, doing all the wrong things! They became emboldened and many went on a stealing spree because the “Oga at the Top”, was no better. The ambience of the Obasanjo years was one of impunity and presidential irresponsibility when he suddenly discovered that he was so powerful and could very much do what he liked. He

recruited people of the “younger” generation who drove his massive privatisation of state assets from which many became fabulously rich! Obasanjo was petroleum minister for eight years without any hint of accountability wherein all was shrouded in secrecy.

Yet, it is also true as Obasanjo said, that Nigeria’s process of leadership recruitment is so faulty, and the process so compromised, that more often than not, it is the worst specimens that get recruited for leadership.

At the base is a political economy which valorises money, almost without exception, illegally acquired. Those who made good within the context become the movers and shakers of society, with the visibility and connection and clout for recruitment. The worse they come, the easier they got recruited and so Nigeria’s problems get compounded.

Obasanjo knew and facilitated the process in his eight years in power. His lamentation last week betrays an old leader ’s unacceptable selective amnesia.

IBB @ 72

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AST weekend, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida turned 72. There was an effusive outpouring of birthday messages, with Nigerian newspapers raking in a tidy profit from advertisements from friends and associates of the former president, including even, state governments. It is indicative of IBB’s staying power in the Nigerian public space, that twenty years after “stepping aside”, he has continued to generate deep emotions, both positive and negative, depending on where the individual stands in respect of Babangida’s place in Nigerian history.

I have come to know IBB very closely in the years since I was appointed Editor of DAILY TRUST, in 2002. We held several hours of interview with him that graced our papers; he had been invited to be guest at the Annual Dialogue which the paper holds; and last year, he was the Special Guest at the public presentation of BLUEPRINT newspaper in Abuja.

At a more personal level, I have also had the privilege of holding even longer hours of very wideranging discussions with IBB, on several issues that became central to his years in power. As I stated at the BLUEPRINT event last year, with IBB, one cannot seem to be “neutral” in attitude towards the man. People seem to either dislike the man passionately or

General Ibrahim Babangida

admire him intensely. In my view, if one holds a passionate dislike for the man, the best thing is not to meet him, because you’re more likely to begin to re-assess your feeling towards the man, with a close encounter. I also know that it is how a public official has impacted on the social space that must be the basis of our assessment of his place in history.

It is part of IBB’s legacy that Nigerians continue to judge him largely on the annulment of the June 12 elections and its aftermath. On that score, I think IBB failed very significantly and why he has offered apologies and explanations, he has been unable to escape the censure of history on that significant, historical score.

Yet, as the years have rolled by, many Nigerians have also come to appreciate the man even more and because of the poverty of governance in Nigeria today, his years are more positively remembered in many quarters.

What no one can take away from IBB is his infectious charm; his magnetic personality and that remarkable ability to make people welcome. I have seen that severally in the many times that I have encountered him. I have not failed to notice how advancing years have caught up with the man, as it does all mortals, and how twenty years down the line, the aura of power has gradually given way to soberness, a more religious introspection and a general physical slowing down.

Indeed nothing lasts forever! But there is no gainsaying the fact, that General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida will remain a very important and controversial historical personality in Nigeria’s public space. I have often wondered what he would have done differently, given a different context and with the benefit of the wisdom of hindsight. I will take that up with him before long as much as also interrogating his views of his own place in history.

Happy Birthday IBB!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 PREPARATIONS for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State have again raised the issue of the highly monetised nature of Nigerian politics.

The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, generated N163m from selling expression of interest and nomination forms to aspirants. Last Saturday, APGA disqualified six of the aspirants. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, raked in N184m from the same exercise.

APGA’s nomination form cost N10m for men and N5m for women. PDP charged same rate of N10m for both men and women. These expenses are outrageous at the entry point of the gubernatorial race. It gives room for candidates to violate the Electoral Act which pegs the expenses candidates should incur in elections.

Section 91 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (amended) provides that, “The maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a Governorship election shall be two hundred million Naira (N200, 000,000).” Aspirants are spending a lot of money informally to gain the attention of party leaders.

Though Section 91 (8) of the Electoral Act excludes pre-nomination expenses from the

Monetisation Of Our Politics N200m ceiling, PDP’s decisions on ward delegates would ultimately exclude ordinary people from the election or hand over the nomination process to the highest bidder.

Ward delegates for the special congress used to pay N100; PDP has raised it to N10, 000 per ward delegate. Where are delegates supposed to get the money? Whoever is able to pay for delegates would get the votes, those who cannot pay are excluded from participation.

Senator Uche Chukwumerije said aspirants were bearing huge election costs, which should be addressed for the sustenance of our democracy.

Nigeria is quickly drifting into plutocracy. No poor man can contest elections in the country and “no meaningful election and democracy can stand if the aspirant cannot bear the cost of presenting himself and contesting the poll,” Chukwumerije said.

In an election, a candidate, aside campaign expenses, picks up the bill of the party and campaign leaders, such as their children’s school fees, hospital bills, sponsoring wedding ceremonies, burial ceremonies and so on. These gestures are small parts of the obligations of any person seeking elective office and not counted as expenditure. Nigerians of moderate means cannot afford these unending expenditures.

Only money bags or those they bankroll can win elections in Nigeria. This should not be the case because the country is replete with intelligent men and women of moderate means, who can re-direct the ship of the Nigerian state.

Monetisation of politics poses dangers to our politics. Winners use state resources to offset electoral expenses. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should monitor electoral expenses more effectively to save our politics.

OPINION

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA

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HE Goodluck Jonathan story is prepossessing. It seemed a snippet off a legend or fairytale. For it is only in legends and fairytales that such stupendous change in a man’s fortune is common place. His glide from obscurity to the pinnacle of national power - that rapid and seemingly effortless rise of a prior unknown deputy governor to the presidency – inspired the love and admiration of many Nigerians.

Although nothing about him indicates intellectual heft, he has a doctorate degree, a level of academic attainment that distinguished him from earlier Nigerian presidents. Although his message lacked ideological depth and intellectual penetration, it was poignant, and thus, it struck a responsive chord in Nigerian minds. He told us that he had no shoes. To levitate from utter poverty and deprivation (of having no shoes) to prominence was transformational. And his dazzling rise to power was more revolutionary than evolutionary. So, his campaign promise of transformation appeared in consonant with the transformation and revolution his life, so dramatically, epitomized. Therefore, to many Nigerians, he came across as a providential instrument for the reformation of Nigeria from its corrupt, lawless and disorderly past.

Unfortunately, he has disappointed these expectations. He has failed to make good on his campaign promises, and consequently, Nigeria continues to be plagued by the same problems he had C M Y K

Worrisome events that prefigure 2015 earlier promised to resolve or ameliorate.

Corruption, dysfunctional institutions, decrepit public infrastructure, unsteady power supply, terrorism, etc, continue to beset the country. In addition, Nigerians are dismayed by his insensitive and inhumane economic policies and doctorial tendencies. Democracy does not inherently guarantee the election of good leaders.

But, it empowers the people to peacefully remove a bad leader. Dr Jonathan is a bad president, and therefore, should be removed, peacefully, through the ballot box in 2015.

There are emergent indications that in 2015 Jonathan may undermine this fundamental democratic right of the people to change a bad leader. The invisible hands of the Presidency have been at work in a number of the political crisis bedeviling the country. To secure his party nomination and ensure his re-election in the 2015 election, the President is scheming to control a number of key political institutions, including the Governors Forum. In a concerted endeavour to dislodge the present Chairman of the Governors Forum, Chibuike Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State, an influential political opponent, the President, through proxies, has taken “do or die” politics to a nauseating extreme.

In a recent election for the Chairman of the Governors Forum, 35 governors voted: 19 to re-elect Governor Amaechi as chairman and 16 for his opponent,

Governor Jonah Jang. The President’s loyalists in the Forum abandoned the precepts of basic arithmetic and adopted a mathematical fallacy that advanced the electoral victory of Jang (with 16 votes) over Amaechi (with 19 votes).

A

gain, to set the stage for the removal of Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State, five legislators, at the instigation of Nyesom Wike (a surrogate of the President), in a riotously provocative challenge to Nigerian democracy, took over the Rivers State House of Assembly, “impeached” the Speaker of the House and imposed a new “Speaker” on the House. Their take over of the House was marked by untold levels of violence: assault and brutality. Their conduct was disgustingly at variance from expected behaviours of lawmakers. It was more in conformity with the barbarism and savagery of Amazonian bush fighters. The Rivers State House of Assembly has 32 legislators, and the Constitution dictates that the Speaker can only be impeached by a 2/3 majority. Again, the President’s proxies jettisoned standard arithmetic, and in their voodoo arithmetic, equated five to 24 (2/3 of 32). In these brazen assaults on the tenets and institutions of democracy and blatant breach of the law and the peace, the culpability of the Presidency remains incontrovertible.

According to an Igbo adage: “A na esi na

nma obala we malu nwata di nko.” This loosely translates to: You know a sharp kid from a toy knife. In other words, the way a child handles a toy knife is a powerful indictor – actually foreshadows - his future handling of a real knife. Therefore, shades of the future are held in this desperate, unlawful attempt by the President and his supporters to torpedo the political lot of a political opponent and secure the control of the Governors Forum. The violence, disdain for electoral verdicts, scorn for the rule of law and contempt for the Constitution they prominently displayed in the Governors Forum and the Rivers State House of Assembly are worrisome events that prefigure the 2015 presidential election.

The stakes in the presidential election will be much higher than in the present political need to control the Governors Forum. So, it is reasonable to expect that the President and his surrogates will amplify their anti-democratic and lawless modus operandi in the 2015 election; and thus, undermine, and possibly, scuttle a free and fair presidential election.

And that will be sad, terrible and even tragic, as it will severely retard the country’s democratic evolution and seriously jolt the tenuous peace of this our politically volatile and trouble-prone country.

*Mr. Ezukanma, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013— 19

, H

URRAY! I say it again: hurray!! The Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have announced the elimination of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, the religious sect that put Nigeria on the prime spot of terrorism map of the world. I am very inclined to believe it is true, and that the recent video of a figure ranting and challenging US and Israel, said to be staged by Shekau, was a mere shamming.

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has correctly made it clear that Christians are forbidden to rejoice when a human being – including one’s supposed bitterest enemy – dies. After all, our enemy is not human.

The real enemy merely uses gullible and handy humans (and these include even Christians and people of other faiths and the non-believers) to do its evil work.

When you kill the leader of a terrorist organisation you have not cut off the head of a snake.

You have merely beheaded a hydra, and hydras have the frustrating habit of growing new heads when you cut off one. After

all, before Shekau, there was a certain Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the group who was captured and extra-judicially executed in police custody. Of course, we also remember that no sooner had the United States marines tracked down and killed Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, than his Deputy, Ayman Zawahiri, replaced him to continue their evil struggle.

Sad as I am that we have lost a (misguided) soul I, however, have three reasons to be glad. The first is that the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is proving its might and capacity to defend the territory and citizens of this country from yet another internal threat. After wasting precious time during which a lot of innocent lives were lost to suicide bombings and gun attacks, targeting Christians and Muslims as well as security personnel and their installations, President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states is yielding credible outcomes.

Within the space of one week, the Defence Headquarters was

,

able to announce the extermination of Nmodu Bama, Shekau’s cruel deputy, his father, Alhaji Abatcha Flatari (the group’s spiritual guide) and 17 other Boko Haram fighters, as well as Shekau himself. Their hideouts in the forests and mountains of North East Nigeria have been smashed and are undergoing a massive mop-up under a new Army Division recently created by the Federal Government.

Telecom facilities are being refurbished. In fact, the government of Borno State was so sure of itself that it even organised a grand durbar at the end of the Ramadan some 10 days ago. I am full of joy that President Jonathan and the Armed Forces of this country are proving me right in trusting them to perform their constitutional

Pension: Waiting for the dead-man’s shoes

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ITH the virtual collapse of the African welfare system, it was thought that the pension scheme would cater for the welfare needs of the worker at old age. The pension was therefore a covenant between the employee and his employer: while young, the worker would serve his nation with everything he had: his strength, blood and sweat; and in the evening of his life, his country would cater adequately for him.

Initially, this covenant was respected by both sides, with the result that at retirement, while the letter of disagreement was given to the retiree with one hand, his gratuity was given him with the other hand. And pension was paid to him regularly.

Soon, there was a complete departure from the original agreement. The stronger partner, the employer, began to shift the goal posts at will. Consequently, of all the service queues, the pension queue became the longest and most tortuous. Government soon began to devise various tactics to cope with its default, including endless screening, in the process of which many died.

For too long, government attempted to play Father Christmas with the pension issue.

It has since become clear that government was not playing the self-assigned role well.

We all heaved a sigh of relief when the National Assembly enacted the National Pension Reforms Act 2004 whose major thrust was to encourage savings among employees so that on retirement, they would not be impoverished.

It is too early in the day to totally condemn the Pension Reforms Act 2004 but from what we know, it is clear that the Act was, at best, a revenue drive for government. It has not, and will not, improve service delivery to pensioners. Under the Act, a deliberate C M Y K

attempt was made to ensure that “remittance of contribution is made as the employer is required to deduct the employee’s contribution from his salary, and within seven days thereafter remit the sum deducted together with the employer’s contribution, to the Pension Fund Custodian of the employee’s choice.”

In furtherance to the government protection strategy, the Act states that penalty for late– and non-remittance under the scheme shall be prescribed by the National Pension Commission. But pending the stipulation by the Commission, the Act provides for an interim “penalty of not less than two percent of the total contribution, which ought to have been remitted.”

This is where we think that the Act could at least have added a line to include sanction against delayed payment of pension to retirees.

The Pension Reform Act has reformed nothing. What it has successfully done is to increase the volume of lootable funds available to the system. Before the Reforms Act, looting of pension funds was in the range of thousands and the lower millions but after the Act, looting blew up into the billions, while the suffering of retirees remained unabated. Here we intend to call only two witnesses: First, we invite Alhaji Yakubu Yusufu: Your honest confession that you stole “only N23 billion” from the Police Pension Fund simply reminds us of the case of that hardworking farmer who also ate big. One day, he went to farm and before he returned, his pounded yam was ready. The mother used unbroken elephant head for his soup. Towards the end of the meal, he asked: “Mother, why is there

tradesmen should come from among them. They should not just be allowed to drift back home to idleness, unemployment and poverty. There should be constructive engagement.

Finally, I am happy because my formula for solving the problem has worked. From Day One, I made it clear that the challenge posed by Boko Haram and other upstart foreign-sponsored terror cells could only be solved first by “stick” (military force) before “carrot” (dialogue). It was not my invention. It is simply the way it is done in other countries threatened in similar fashion.

Even the Niger Delta militancy was put to rest using this tried and tested method.

Boko Haram and other Jihadist terror outfits are threat to the very existence of Nigeria. They seek to establish a system totally at variance with our constitutional prescriptions, the very document that makes all of us Nigerians.

The politically motivated mischief makers wanted the Federal Government to go cap in hand to beg them for dialogue.

They obviously meant to portray President Jonathan as a weakling who was unable to do the work of a Commander-in Chief.

Boko Haram’s implacability helped matters. It became much easier to take the right decision.

I wish the JTF will put the doubt over Shekau’s real fate to rest by displaying his body, or at least showing video evidence of his demise to a select audience as in the General Abacha “coup video” of 1997.

That was how the White House convinced the world that Osama bin Laden had indeed been taken out.

no meat in this soup?”

The mother retorted: “There was a whole elephant head in that soup.” It then dawned on him: “Maybe that was what scratched my throat in one of the swallows.” He had pressed it into the pounded yam, the same way as some of us deal with the crayfish.

,

Show us Shekau’s corpse

When you kill the leader of a terrorist organisation you have not cut off the head of a snake; you have merely beheaded a hydra, and hydras have the frustrating habit of growing new heads when you cut off one

duties to secure the state and its citizens.

The second reason for my delight is that my plea to the citizens of the besieged areas that Boko Haram is not an army fighting for the political or religious interests of anybody did not fall on deaf ears. I have said it here severally that some politicians from the North seeking to blackmail the President and score cheap political points towards their dream of forcing power back to the North, made it seem that Boko Haram was fighting for the North and Islam. How can that be when the North and Muslims were the major casualties of the terrorists?

One of the factors contributing to the steady progress towards the defeat of the terrorists is the involvement of civilian patriots and indigenes of the target areas, especially Maiduguri. They call themselves “Civilian JTF”. They risk their lives and those of their family members and expose the terrorists and their cohorts, shunning the antics of politicians who seek to demonise the military’s patriotic and gallant efforts to crush a cruel enemy.

I suggest that efforts of these civilian partners should not be in vain. They must be rewarded.

Young men and women among them who have shown extraordinary gallantry and patriotism should be considered for enrolment into the police, military or immigration services if they are still young enough and willing. Those who are politically inclined should be keyed into the process to help rebuild the theatre of war. The next army of young, mechanised farmers and

Our lawmakers must devise stiffer penalties to discourage this reckless embezzlement of pension funds; today’s workers cannot remain nonchalant when retirees are being maltreated

,

The Reforms Act has perhaps brought surplus money into the system. At the judicial level, you were fined N750,000 (0.003% of your loot)! The moral message we get from this is: If you must do it, do it big!

Second, Abdulrasheed Abdulahi Maina: You were the Acting Director of Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office. The National Assembly smelt a rat that all was not well with close to N200 billion in your care. The National Assembly wanted you to come and shed some light on this. When you failed to appear, a warrant of arrest was issued from the Senate but the Inspector General of Police was reluctant to execute the warrant. The executive branch of our national government dilly-dallied on the issue until you vamoosed from Nigeria.

Congratulations!

All these sordid affairs have perhaps been consigned to history. But the rightful owners of the money are suffering and dying on the pension queue. But why has the pension fund suddenly become the easiest money to steal?

The answer is simple: Our system regards the retiree as a dead man. Who would have dared point to strongman Sani Abacha’s money when he was alive? That person’s portion would have been “Danburuba Shege”, with appropriate bullets pumped into his head. Since Abacha’s death, his repatriated loots have been re-looted over and over again.

The only language that our system understands is that of strike and withdrawal of service. To the extent that the retirees can neither strike nor withdraw any service, the system regards them as ineffectual; mere walking corpses. Two quick measures are recommended here: Our lawmakers must devise stiffer penalties to discourage this reckless embezzlement of pension funds; and today ’s workers cannot remain nonchalant when retirees are being maltreated because they, too, will soon fall into the category of the neglected. In local parlance, only the foolish messenger would say that his colleague, and not himself, was beaten. Labour unions must establish units charged with the responsibility for defending the rights of retirees.

Receiving pension cannot continue to look like waiting for the dead man’s shoes. For now, the retiree should be able to claim his benefits at a bank nearest him and as the system improves, his money should get to him in the comfort of his home.

20— Vanguard ,

THURSDAY THURSDAY,, AUGUST 22 , 2013

fic on it during the last Ezza-Ezillo war in the state and also due to the heavy down pour in the area which soaked both the soil and abutments of the bridge.

He said: “What we have there is a failure of the abutment which has made it, of course, impossible for people to pass.

The Eguho-Ebonyi Bridge

COLLAPSING 40-YEAR-OLD BRIDGE:

Fear grips Ebonyi communities

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

R

ESIDENTS of communi ties in Ishielu Local government area of Ebonyi State are presently living in fear of an imminent disaster. Their fear derives from the belief that the Eguho-Ebonyi bridge in the area would soon collapse if urgent steps are not taken to either rehabilitate or reconstruct it.

Presently no vehicle of any class, including motorcycle, is allowed to ply the bridge any longer to avoid mishap.

The Eguho-Ebonyi Bridge which links the whole of Ishielu LGA, including Ntezi, Ezzagu

During the crisis which started in 2008, the bridge served as the safest alternative escape route for those fleeing the insurgency in Ezza-Ezillo communities.

The state of the bridge wouldn’t have worried most people in the area if not for the delay in the completion of the ongoing Bridge of Unity embarked upon by the Governor Martin Elechiled administration since 2008.

This project suffered setbacks allegedly because of the poor engineering design and death of the former contractor who handled it from inception.

This development, VM gathered, did not only paralyse so-

,

The bridge which was built over 40 years ago became weak as a result of huge water pressure on its abutment during the last heavy down pour that lasted more than three days in the state

Ezekuna, Ezzagu, Azuinyaba, and Agba-Ezekoma communities, with its counterparts in the area failed last week as residents, commuters and motorists were compelled to take alternative routes to their various destinations.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that the bridge which was built over 40 years ago became weak as a result of huge water pressure on its abutments during the last heavy down pour that lasted over three days in the state. The bridge also failed because of the huge traffic on it during the last Ezza-Ezillo crisis in the state.

C M Y K

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cio-economic activities in the area but also hindered free flow of goods and services into the state.

In addition, it has also affected the supply of medical services as bereaved families now carry the corpses of their loved ones during burial ceremonies through alternative routes, while women undergoing antenatal are also suffer the same fate.

VM gathered that a popular market in the area, Nwafor Eluoji Market, which is popular for items like garri, okro, yam, groundnut, among others, is no longer booming as a result of the collapsing bridge. The market

Metal reinforcement

which is older than the state usually attracted marketers from other states in the South East geopolitical zone of the country.

Assessing the level of defects on the bridge in company of a team of engineers, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Chukwuma Nwandugo, assured the people of government’s commitment to ensure that the bridge was repaired and made passable by both commuters and motorists in no distant time. He affirmed that the reasons for the failure of the bridge were traceable to the level of traf-

From my assessment, we discovered that it required metal reinforcement that will be welded on both ends that will now make motorists and vehicles to pass through it easily. For now, vehicles cannot pass because of the vacuum created and I believe that in no distant time we will be able to rectify the situation and the bridge will be put to use again.

“From my findings, there is no single casuality from that because no vehicle was on the bridge when that happened and nobody was also on top of the bridge. My discovery is that it was as a result of hugewater pressure that came on the abutment and this abutment is not the type we use now; it is the colonial type

which is not reinforced at all and so due to water pressure the concrete became weak and gave way and that is why we have that failure on the abutment. It is not a difficult job to do. All we have to do is extend the abutment away from the failed spot. Everything has to be in alignment with the big centre abutment. I hope that within a short period this anomaly will be solved; I’m appealing to the people to reduce the pressure on this metal bridge to avoid any casuality”.

As soon as we connect this to that, everything is metal; metal work does not take so much time, the state government is swinging into action immediately.

“We will swing into action as quickly as tomorrow (today); we are going to commence all sorts of metal work and when you are doing metal work, it doesn’t take time and very soon the bridge will be put to use” Meantime, the member representing Ishielu South Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Julius Nwokpor noted that with the failure of the bridge, the people of the area could no longer come into their communities again except through Enugu state.

Centenary: Group plans to project national flag to foster unity

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

A

HEAD of next year’s centenary celebration, Will and Wiser Nigeria, a youth re-orientation and development outfit, has concluded plans to use the country’s national flag as a symbol to strengthen the unity of the country.

Head of Operations and Projects, Mr. Yomi Soniyi, who disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos, said plans were already progress to collate over 100 signatures of different Nigerian languages with a word that connotes unity to be written on the country’s Green-White-Green flag.

Soniyi explained that the initiative tagged, ‘Unity Flag’, is intended to send a strong message of unity within and outside Nigeria that “irrespective of our challenges and our diversity, we will remain and thrive as one country.”

He said: “Amidst growing concerns and

prediction of disintegration of the Nigeria, a strong and resounding statement needs to be made, a statement of unflinching belief in our unbreakable unity.”

According to him: “As our centenary year as a united entity called Nigeria approaches, no better time can such a statement be communicated. We believe the task should not lie with the government alone as the people must believe and desire a united front.”

The Head of Operations & Projects added that each signatory for a language will be regarded an ambassador for the language or tribe to be gathered from various cities across the federation.

“We intend to have as signatories people drawn from all walks of life so as to get a good representation of the various languages. Upon completion, the flag will be presented to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan or his representative as a symbol of unity of the people”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 — 21

BRIEFS

NEPC to train SMEs on food export — Board

T

he Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has concluded plans to train small and medium entrepreneurs involved in food exports on quality and packaging.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Joe Itah, Head, Public Relations, NEPC. The statement quoted Mrs Grace Clark, NEPC board chairperson, as saying this at the just- concluded Food Labelling and Food Expo held in the U.S. It said there was the need for the Nigeria entrepreneurs in the sector to explore opportunities in the U.S. and other global markets.

It said the training would expose the entrepreneurs to modern trends and technology involved in the export of food to these markets given the global concern on food safety.

Flour Mills, American firm to boost Nigeria’s agric production

BY MICHAEL EBOH

F

LOUR Mills of Nigeria Plc has signed a Technical Assistance Agreement with a South-American agro-allied industrial company, Adecoagro, to boost the production of maize and soybean in Nigeria.

According to a statement by Mr. Paul Gbededo, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills Nigeria, the agreement is aimed at achieving maximum yield and sustaining profitability in its farm’s operations.

He disclosed that Adecoagro, under the terms of the Agreement, will assist Flour Mills in the management and development of its Kaboji Farm, one of the largest commercial farms in Nigeria comprising 10,000 hectares near Kontagora, Niger State, dedicated mainly to the cultivation of maize and soybean.

He said, “In furtherance of FMN Group’s strategic focus and vertical integration of its agro allied business in response to Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the Group has invested in large scale commercial farming of different crops across the country including rice, sugar cane, maize, soybeans, cassava and palm plantation.”

MEETING:

From left: Dr. Adebola Hassan, Technical Specialist, Health, United States’ Agency for International Development’s Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector, (USAID SHOPS); Dr Edet Edet, Public Health Adviser, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited; Mrs Bisola Ayodele, Project Coordinator Megacare Pharmacy, and Mrs Bukky Ayoade, Faculty Member/Advisor, LiveWell Initiative (LWI) Academy at the Strategic Health Sector Focus Group Meeting on Promotive Healthcare chaired by Permanent Secretary, Health, Lagos, Dr Olufemi Olugbile, and co-chaired by Dr Mona of Fox News, Chicago, USA, in Lagos.

CBN explains components of N220bn MSMEs fund T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria said its N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) Fund will help participating financial institutions to support entrepreneurs.

The Director of Public Finance, Mr Paul Eluhaiwe, who said this in Abuja, noted that the fund had several components.

“The fund has the loan, guarantee, refinancing and grant components. The grant component enables us to provide capacity building for microfinance banks to strengthen them. The refinancing is where they have given out so many facilities to their clients, it will enable them to come back for refinancing at a particular discounted

rate.

“This will enable them to plough back into business,’’ he said.

Eluhaiwe said that the guarantee component would enable them to obtain more credit facilities outside what the CBN offered, especially from commercial banks.

“The fund provides them the guarantee to be able to borrow more money from the outreach to their clients,’’ he added.

Eluhaiwe said that microfinance banks and non-bank micro finance institutions were qualified to access the funds. He listed the non-bank micro finance institution to include nongovernmental organisations that were

Shoprite to open 44 new outlets in Nigeria S HOPRITE, Africa’s biggest grocer, is ramping up its expansion across the continent with 47 new supermarkets as its core South African consumer base grapples with high personal debt levels and growing fuel and transport costs.

The bulk of the new stores would be in Nigeria and Angola. The company sees scope for 44 new outlets in Nigeria and 21 in Angola in the next three to four years, Chief Executive Whitey Basson said.

Nearly half of South Africans failed to pay back their debts for three straight months this year, prompting banks to tighten their lending criteria, while a weaker rand currency fuelled inflation and higher petrol prices.

“It’s tough out there,” Shoprite deputy managing director, Carel Goosen said at the presentation of the company’s full-year results.

providing financial services and cooperative societies, among others.

The guideline on the MSMEs said that participating financial institutions must satisfy conditions of CBN and NDIC. It listed the conditions to include compliance with the prevailing prudential ratios and average deposit growth rate of 20 per cent per annum for institutions operating for over two years. It said that the participating institutions must be registered with corporate Affairs commission, have corporate profile acceptable to the managing agents, have evidence of risk management framework and sound corporate governance acceptable to the managing agent.

115.05

-4.20

2,470.00 +6.00

Cape Town-based Shoprite, which reported an 11 per cent rise in full-year 16.48 -0.05 profit that fell slightly short of market expectations, said it could double its stores outside of South Africa in the next four 110.26 +0.36 years.

Shoprite has 153 supermarkets in 16 105.85 -1.25 countries outside South Africa. Those foreign outlets registered a 28 percent jump in sales in the 12 months to the end of CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING June, nearly three times the rate of growth DOLLAR 154.76 155.26 155.76 in its home market during the same period. STERLING 242.4315 243.2148 243.998 After more than two years as an investor EURO 207.0998 207.7689 208.438 168.126 168.6692 169.2124 favourite, South African retailers are fast FRANC 1.5935 1.5986 1.6038 falling out of favour due to concern that YEN CFA 0.2958 0.3058 0.3158 high personal debt levels and reluctance WAUA 234.8318 235.5905 236.3492 among banks to lend more will squeeze RENMINBI 25.2656 25.3477 25.4298 RIYAL 41.2649 41.3983 41.5316 spending in South Africa.

27.7656 27.8553 27.945 South African retail sales grew by a KRONA smaller-than-expected 1.9 per cent in June, data from the government statistics CBN Exchange rate as at 21/08/2013 office showed last week.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY , AUGUST 22, 2013

National Industrial Revolution plan’ll boost Nigeria’s investment, GDP — Aganga T

HE Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said that the Federal Government’s National Industrial Revolution Plan could boost Nigeria’s investment portfolio and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Aganga gave the assurance in Lagos at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce.

He said that the present administration was committed to using industrial plan to build Nigeria to rank top in Africa and one of the best 10 globally.

The National Industrial Revolution Plan was officially inaugurated in May, 2012 to boost wealth creation through manufacturing and

industrialisation of agricultural products.

“The idea is to move up the value chain that will increase the value and, of course, you move up in terms of your contribution to the global trade.

“So, that is the strategy, and you can only do that by integrating your trade policy with your industrial policy and making sure that you have a robust industrial policy that promotes manufacturing.

“Right, there is no nation, history tells us that no nation has managed to move from being a poor to a rich nation by relying entirely on exporting raw materials without having a strong industrial sector and related service s sector.

“No country has done it, and it is related to development as well, and what this administration is

doing under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is to have a very strong focus on industrialisation.

“That is why we have developed the National

Industrial Revolution Plan, which looks at areas where we have competitive advantage, is holistic, it looks across the value chain, is strategic overall.

“But, at the end of the

day, it identifies products where Nigeria can easily become number one in Africa, and overtime, become top 10 globally.

“That is the way to move forward, and it is those

companies that pay customs duties, it is those companies that pay excise duties, it is those companies that pay corporate tax, and that is how the countries generate their revenue.

SMEDAN harps on human capital development

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HE Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria ( S M E D A N ) , Mr Bature Masari, said that human capital development was a precondition for the success of enterprises.

This is in contained in a statement signed by Mr Levi Anyikwa, Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, SMEDAN, in Abuja.

Masari was speaking at the opening of a two-week certification training programme for operators of Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs).

He said that, “training of MFBs operators was imperative to ensure effective handling of issues pertaining to access to finance by micro and small entrepreneurs.”

According to the statement, the training was facilitated by SMEDAN on behalf of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

It also quoted Masari saying: “I want to charge you to be prepared because in the course of 2014, SMEDAN will be actively collaborating with Micro-finance banks.

“Between now till the end of the year, some banks are going to be selected for implementation of some of SMEDAN programmes.

“It will be geared towards providing employment opportunities to ordinary Nigerians and by 2014, they are going to be playing key roles.

“However, only Microfinance institutions that offer the highest incentive by way of lower lending rates will be involved in the implementation of these programmes.”

Masari also assured the trainees of the agency’s readiness to lead the way in providing training and retraining of the staff.

VISIT: From left: Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf; President, Mr. Goodie Ibru; Ugandan High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ambassador Maurice Peter Kagimu Kiwanuka and Counsellor in the Ugandan High Commission, Mr. Nuwamanya John, during a courtesy visit by the High Commission officials to the chamber, in Lagos.

LCCI decries rising level of debts STORIES BY NAOMI UZOR

T

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has decried the rising level of

receivables in the economy noting that many businesses are carrying huge receivables in their books putting some organisations at risk.

The President of LCCI,

Summit to rejuvenate Abia economy underway

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

A

N international summit aimed at rejuvenating Abia state’s economy,is scheduled to hold in Aba, the state capital, come November 20 and21.

“Before now, Aba used to be the industrial hub of Eastern states of Nigeria, renown for its technological prowess, leather/shoe industry and supplier of industrial goods to other parts of the country, ECOWAS sub region and beyond, but the tempo has ebbed in the last five years “ Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa,

President Abia Think Tank, the organisers of the summit , told journalists in Lagos.

He said: ”The theme of the summit is ‘ Abia Development: Aba as a centre of entreprenurial excellence.’ It would be declared open and close by Governor Theodore Orji, said Ohuabunwa. ”We envisage that the fallout of the summit will ignite tremendous entreprenurial activities in Aba with multiplier effects on the economy of the state and the entire country. ”The vision of the summit is to work for the creation of a veritable investment window to at-

tract investors to Aba for its infrasctural, industrial and commercial transformation.

He further noted that Aba has the highest concentration of Small and Medium scale Enterprises but they are not doing well in terms of high productivity and better returns on Investment, and, therefore, they needed to be innovatively re - invigorated to sustain, deepen and expand their competitive edge in economic and business dimension.

He, therefore, called on the state government and other stakeholders buyin for successful hosting of the event.

Mr Goodie Ibru, appealed to government at all levels to ensure the payment of outstanding debts so that various contractors and suppliers can carry on with their businesses.

“This is as much of a problem in the private sector as it is in the public sector. But the situation appears to be worse with the public sector transactions. There are instances where as a result of change of government or redeployment of officers in a particular ministry or agency, contractual obligations are disregarded with impunity.

“Many enterprises are on the verge of collapse because of high receivables. We therefore appeal to government at all levels and their various agencies to please ensure the payment of outstanding debts so that various contractors and suppliers can carry on with their businesses.

He added “We also similarly appeal to private sector organisations to always respect contractual

agreements with their suppliers and contractors” he said. According to him, the standard of ethics in business have become a major cause to concern to the chamber as there are number of dimensions to this problem which include; smuggling, product faking and counterfeiting, under invoicing to evade duty payment, tax evasion, concealment of items in containers by importers, piracy of creative works and wanton violation of intellectual property rights.

Other forms of ethical issues are in the areas of procurement by private and government institutions, especially extortion by officials of procurement desk in some of the institutions. Even service providers are not spared; this includes legal practitioners, accountants, consultants etc.

Many have lost valuable businesses because of this unwholesome practice as some are compelled to part with a percentage of their fees.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013— 23

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24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 — 25

zEmpty Mariere Hall, UNILAG

By AMAKA ABAYOMI, DAYO ADESULU, OLA AJAYI, IKENNA ASOMBA, LAJU ARENYEKA & JOSEPHINE MBAEBIE

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,

B

y September 1, the face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will be exactly in its third month. As these strikes go in Nigeria, this particular one is still in its infancy.

Students have been known to do a four-year course in eight years.

While the warriors continue their fight in air-conditioned rooms with sumptuous meals, some students have gone to learn trades. A final year student of Lagos State University, LASU, seems to be honing her skill in comedy. She said “My friends outside Nigeria are asking me the meaning of ASUU. I tell them it’s a Federal Government-sponsored annual festival in Nigerian universities whereby students are not allowed to go to school!”

Schools have become soulless structures. Not entirely, though. Final year students still drag themselves around campuses with an effort, trying to complete their project works without supervisors. Lecture halls are under lock and key and the banking halls bereft of customers.

Mr. Jerry Adeyiwa and Mr.

Because of the facilities in school, I can’t afford to go home; I plan to complete my project before the strike is called off. All I have to do is e-mail the project to my supervisor and pray she attends to it

,

Olumide Aderigbigbe, both nonacademic staff at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, said since the

*Mariere Hall, UNILAG

commencement of the strike, the campus has been boring as students and lecturers come in trickles.

They said “Though work still goes on as usual for non-academic staff, the campus is a shadow of itself, save for some lecturers who just breeze in and some students that come to read or write their projects.”

A visit round campuses revealed empty structures and a sort of emptiness in the students that spoke with Vanguard Learning.

Olaitan Olanrewaju and Jennifer

Humidity affects meningitis epidemic — Prof.

Saqiq Wali — Page 35

2013 MOBIL/STAN NATIONAL QUIZ CONTEST:

Abuja, Delta emerge winners — Page 33

*Deserted Arts Dept, UI

Egwuogu are both final year students of UNILAG and UNN, respectively. They were in school trying to tidy up their projects.

Olanrewaju said “Because of the facilities in school, I can’t afford to go home. I plan to complete my project before the strike is called off. All I have to do is e-mail the project to my supervisor and pray she attends to it.”

Blessing and Priscilla, final year students of English Education, and Majekodunmi Ayo, Seun Lawal and Lanre Hasan, also final year students, all said they were in school because of Continues on page 26

Creative industry will aid vision 20-2020 — UNIPORT, VC — Page 27

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Varsities turn ghost towns; poly students fear fresh strike Continues from page 25 their projects, which they prefer to work on now that there is some quiet in school.

Meanwhile, polytechnics are teeming with students who are excited to be back in school after the ASUP strike.

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, had barely resumed from the strike when they were faced with the task of writing their first semester examinations.

The Student Union Government, SUG, President of the Polytechnic, Mr. Oluwasijibomi Owolade, a HND 2 student of Mathematics and Statistics, said; “After the strike, we were given barely two weeks to prepare for the examinations. We are rounding off examinations at the moment, and will begin the second semester by Monday.”

Although Owolade was an active supporter of the last strike, he says that he and many other students are not pleased with hints that ASUP might resume the strike next month. “I am still on the look out for that,” he says.

“Although I was fully on board last time, I am not ready to go back to that position again. I was disappointed when ASUP called off the strike without its demands being met.”

Owolade is not the only one with this view. The SUG President, Federal Polytechnic Ede, Bashir Adewale, says he would “be a fool to support another ASUP strike. I have about two to three months until graduation, and I am tired of strike.

“I am a firm believer that we should do the right thing at the right time, and I think that ASUP should have waited till their demands were met before calling off the strike.

But since the strike has been called off, I just want to graduate and carry on with my life.”

Moses Okenla, a final year Mechanical Engineering student at Yaba College of Technology, who prayed that ASUP should not resume the strike, said he hopes to graduate unhindered in the next few months.

The situation on campus is the same at the Lagos State Polytechnic as students are busy with their normal academic activities.

One thing is certain, ASUU, ASUP, and many other unions linked with the academia, see strike as a veritable weapon to get their needs met. Only one result is sure: a progressive fall in the value of the certificates students leave Nigerian schools with. The irony is amusing hope blew through higher institutions when academic degrees-touting politicians took over few years ago.

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NICO graduates 217

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Training School, over the weekend at the Main Hall of the National Theatre, held its maiden convocation ceremony where 217 students from four sets were awarded the Diploma and Post-graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration.

According to Executive Secretary, NICO, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, NICO, which has a strong affiliation with the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, commenced regular training programmes at the training school complex, Kuje Area Council, Abuja in 2008.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, explained that the training institute was established to serve as a veritable platform to meet the professional training and development needs of cultural officers at the federal, state and local government levels.

*Law Dept, UNILAG

14-year-old Loral student wins essay competition

By NNAMDI OJIEGO

A

* Law lecture theater, University of Ibadan

*Recreation centre, UNILAG

14-year-old student of Loral International Secondary School, Festac, Lagos, Victor Ifunnanya Orji, has won this year ’s Amuwo Odofin Youth Essay Competition with the topic 'Is social media a welcome plus to youth education and moral or a minus with grave consequence.’

Orji’s brilliant performance at the competition added another feather to the cap of his school, which had won the previous competition in 2012 by Master Yusuf Umar Fatima.

The annual competition, organised by Meljenstin Youth Empowerment Initiative, MYEI, was introduced to encourage learning and inculcate reading culture in youths.

The initiator of the competition and founder of MYEI, Mrs Chibuzo Patrick, said the competition was tailored to the needs of youths to cultivate in them the hunger for success as well as to educate them on the advantages and hidden dangers of social media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013— 27

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28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Winners emerge in Mobil/STAN quiz contest

By DAYO ADESULU

F

EDERAL Capital Territory, Abuja and Delta State have emerged winners in the 2013 Mobil/STAN National Science Quiz/ Project Competition held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The two states which were represented by Loyola Jesuit School, Abuja in the secondary category and Delta Steel Company Primary School, Alaja, Delta State in the primary category came first in a stiff contest with over 300 pupils and students from primary and secondary schools in 20 states of the federation.

Representatives of those states slugged it out in various science quiz and projects competitions as their intelligence were tested in mathematical science, physical sciences, vocational science/technology and life sciences.

After three days of stiff competition amongst the contestants in the secondary category, FCT, Abuja scored 127 to clinch first position, followed by Abia which emerged second with 122 points.

Third position went to Akwa Ibom ,the host state which had 115.50 as Ondo maintained fourth position at the bottom of the ladder with 115.25 points.

In the primary category, Delta clinched 112.25 points to emerge first while second position went to Ogun scoring 105.75 points.

Its counterpart in Cross River had 101 to occupy the third position even as fourth position went to Imo State with 100.75 points.

Incidentally, the two schools that represented their states and won the competitions are private schools.

Ukogu Obinna 16, and Okeke Victoria 16, who represented FCT, Abuja in the secondary category are from Loyola Jesuit, Abuja while Owodeha Ashaka and Eyehova Ejiroghene that represented Delta State in the primary level are from Delta Steel Company Primary School, Alaja, Delta State.

Asked why private schools represented their states to clinch the laurels, Professor Peter Okebukola, chairman, STAN Science competition said; “Our unit of assessment is the state because we expect the state to throw up the best students to represent them.

"I am not surprised that they are mainly from private schools because national studies that was conducted in 1997 and 2007 disclosed that private schools are doing better than the public schools.

Real – Really ‘Really’ is the adverb from the adjective ‘real’.

Nonetheless, do not substitute real for really because the two words do not share the same meaning. The adjective real means ‘true or not artificial’. The adverb really means ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ e.g. ‘The old woman walked really (not real) slowly’. Nonetheless, avoid using really in formal writing. Instead of ‘The old woman walked really slowly’, write ‘The old woman walked very slowly’.

Price – Cost – Value – Charge Price, cost, value and charge are synonyms. They all refer to ‘the amount of money that you have to pay for something’. Nonetheless, it is very rare for two C M Y K

"This is on the account of poor resourcing of public schools in the quality of teachers as quality of teachers is the quality of resourcing material. You cannot reap from where you have not sown.”

He, however, explained that the purpose of the competition is to stimulate healthy competition among schools.

Moreover, in the remarks by Paul Arinze, General Manager, Public & Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria who was represented by Regina Udobong said , “As the institutional sponsor of this competition for the last 18 years, we are delighted that in partnership with STAN, we are providing a platform for outstanding science students in the country to showcase their intelligence and skills.

He said that NNPC/Mobil place a high premium on the development of science and technology, and have over the years demonstrated this commitment in Nigeria through various scholarship schemes and provision of science related infrastructure to several schools in Akwa Ibom.

“Our expectation is that the Mobil/STAN National Science Quiz and Project competitions will continue to rekindle the interest of students and teachers in the sciences,” he said.

Arinze who was optimystic of thee bright future of the students said, “in the next few years many of you present here today will end up as engineers, astronauts, mathematicians, geologists, or professionals in any of the sciences.

•Mrs Regina Udobong, Adviser, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, presenting a trophy to Owodeha Ashaka and Eyehova Ejiroghene of Delta State, winners of the Primary School Quiz category at the 2013 MPN/STAN National Science Quiz competition, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

words to have exactly the same meaning. There is a slight difference in meaning which distinguishes one word from the others among synonyms. For the purpose of accuracy, choose the right word, not the ‘almost right word’.

Meanwhile, note the slight differences in meaning among the synonyms above.

Price – the amount of money you have to pay for something – an item or a service. It is also what somebody asks you to pay for something or the unpleasant thing you must do to achieve something.

Price and prize are often confused because of almost similar sound and occurrence in similar contexts. They can function as a noun or verb.

Note that though price refers to ‘cost’, prize means ‘reward or an award given to a person who wins a competition, race etc’. The award may sometimes be in the form of money.

Examples: Bishop Desmond Tutu once won the Nobel Peace prize.

He won the first prize in the competition.

Satisfaction is the prize of success.

May the price of petrol never rise again.

I can’t afford to buy the car at that price.

There is a high price for low living.

Cost: the amount of money that you need in order to buy, make or do something.

Examples: The house was built at the cost of N2 million.

The cost of food has risen considerably since the last fuel crisis.

All these reforms will cost money.

Humility costs you nothing but buys you everything.

Value: the amount of money that something is worth.

Examples: The building now has a market value of N3 million The Naira has been steadily decreasing in value.

Charge – the amount of money you have to pay for goods or services.

Examples: Your order will be sent free of charge.

We have to make a small charge for refreshments.

In summary, price is what somebody asks you to pay for something. Cost is the price paid for obtaining or achieving something. The value of something is how much other people would be willing to pay for it; charge is what is asked for goods or a service.

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

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—29

Mass Illiteracy: Mixed reactions trail FG’s N1.03bn intervention

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

M

IXED reactions have trailed Federal Government's allocation of the sum of $6.43 million (N1.03bn) to a Trust Fund for the delivery of quality literacy programme for an estimated 40 million illiterate Nigerians.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Education, Alhaji Jibrin Paiko who made this known to Press men earlier this week explained that the project was captured under a three-year strategic framework (20122015), aimed at revitalising adult and youth literacy project.

He added that it was designed to meet the education for all (EFA) goals and educationrelated Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) target by the year 2015.

Although the project might seem laudable at a distance, stakeholders are looking at this gift horse in the mouth. The National Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Mr. Michael Alogba believes that the funds might go a long way in reducing mass illiteracy if they are properly utilised. “It is not allocation that matters,” the NUT boss said; “our leaders tend to make a lot of noise when it comes to money. Before you know it, the money will develop wings and fly away. If these funds will be adequately monitored, they can make a large difference in addressing the issue of mass illiteracy, but if there is no monitoring, the situation will remain the same.”

Some others are of the

opinion that N1.03bn is grossly inadequate for the job ahead.

The Secretary, Joint Action Front (JAF), Mr. Abiodun Aremu said; “That money is nothing compared to the large number of beneficiaries to be educated. We know that we have a shockingly high number of illiterate Nigerians, but we do not even know how many. There is need for a ‘Needs Assessment’ in all segments of the education sector. Releasing this money is just a gamble when you don’t know what exactly you are dealing with. Another issue is the fact that a lot of these people

are not in the school environment. For such people, you need to employ multimedia technology. This amount is paltry compared to the work that needs to be done.”

On his part, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ibadan Zone, Dr. Adesola Nassir shared similar views; ”They do not even know how many illiterate Nigerians there are, therefore allocating these funds will simply amount to an opportunity for corrupt government officials to fill their pockets. If they really want to tackle the issue of illiteracy, they must start from scratch.

•Mr David Gilchrist, Robotic Academy Instructor (3rd right) and participating students at the 2013 grand finale of Exposure Robotics to Nigerian students sponsored by Exposure Robotics Academy, at Grange School, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

‘Research-driven innovation, key to sustainable development’

BY DAYO ADESULU

L

AGOS State, in its resolve to foster immediate meaningful and impactful socio-economic development for the wellbeing of the people of the state has successfully concluded a sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in the area of Research and Development in Lagos. The workshop, organised by the Lagos Research and Development Council, brought together stakeholders from government, academia, research and development agencies, nongovernment organisations (NGOs) and the organised private sector.

In his paper, Chairman, Lagos Research and Development Council, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, said that the establishment of the council is a demC M Y K

They must go back to the classrooms, to basic education to ensure that it is accurately funded. I agree that NEEDS assessment might be necessary in all levels of the education sector, just as it has been done for the universities. But even then, it doesn’t mean that the government will take it seriously. The Federal Government set up the NEEDS assessment committee for the universities, but even after the committee made its recommendation and agreed on how much is needed to fund the universities, the government did nothing.”

onstration of the resolve of the state to provide support for basic and applied research, and most importantly, commercialisation, which in itself, is a key mission of the Lagos Innovation Project (INNOVATELAGOS).

“Of equal interest to the council is support for institutions of

higher learning in the performance of their key functions of teaching, research and community service geared towards production of human capital to drive the state’s economy,” he said.

Bamiro added that through a globally tested and trusted strategic collaborative model re-

*Cross section of teenagers at a recent summer retreat organised by Polished Pillars Foundation (PPF), at Dansol High School, Lagos.

ferred to as Triple Helix Model, comprising government, academia, research and development agencies, NGOs and the organised private sector, the focus of the Council is to become an instrument for the transformation of the state's economy into an innovative and knowledge-driven economy.

Bamiro said; "Like the South African Government did, Lagos State Government is bringing about strategic collaboration amongst small and medium scale enterprises, academia, and research agencies to foster industrialisation.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Fatai Olukoga, who represented the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola; “Nigeria’s future economic growth will increasingly have to come from innovation in products services and business models."

Parents, teachers commend PZ Chemistry Challenge

P

ARENTS and teachers have commended PZ Cussons, organisers of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC), saying the challenge is awakening the interest of students in the subject.

Speaking at the second stage of the challenge, Mrs Patience Joseph, a parent and counsellor, said; “I was of the opinion that science subjects had no place in the minds of secondary school students, but with the help of this competition, students will be encouraged to study chemistry and other science subjects even up to tertiary education level.”

In the same vein, a teacher with Juli Comprehensive College, Agege, Mr Jamiu Popoola, said; “the efforts of science teachers are now being maximised because, as long as competitions like this exist, students are more likely to show more interest in the subject to challenge themselves.”

The students were not left out as they all agreed that the competition has given them the opportunity to challenge themselves and increase their interest in the subject.

From the four finalists would emerge the winner who would be rewarded with N700,000 worth of scholarship, a laptop and gold medal, while the teacher of the pupil would have N100,000 cash prize and the school would be presented with N100,000 worth of chemistry books.

Educationists to attend conference in USA

By LAMIDI BAMIDELE

T

he Deputy Governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Utuama, is to attend a conference on the natural resources crisis in Africa at Valencia College, Orlando, Florida, USA. Among other expected participants are Dr. Chris Isike, Head, Department of Politics, University of Zulu-Land, South Africa; Mr. Benjamin Ohwovoriole, Valencia College, Florida, USA; and Mr. Isiaka Badmus, Centre for Peace Studies, University of New England, Australia.

According to the facilitator and a professor of History, Politics and International Relations, North West University, South Africa, Victor Ojakorotu, the conference, slated for October, 2013, would discuss the upsurge in violence in Africa as a result of unequal distribution of resources and lack of good governance in African states.

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Creative industry'll aid Vision 202020 — UNIPORT, VC

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

HE Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Joseph Ajienka has stated that for Nigeria to actualise her Vision 20 2020, the government must invest massively in the creative industry saying, it is the fastest way to generate income. ”The fastest way for this country to realise the strategic goal of Vision 20 - 2020, is through the art. It is not through science and engineering.”

He made this assertion during the official launch of the African Film and TV Academy (AFTA) - a joint venture between Trend Media City and Whistling Woods International, India held at Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ajienka who is a petrochemical engineer said that the creative industry is the richest which cannot be compared to the oil and gas industry. “Though I am a petrochemical engineer myself, but my soul is in the art because that is where the future lies,” he said.

According to him; “The talent to make wealth is in the creative people such that they don’t need to go to the laboratory before they create wealth. They are already producing, but it's just to improve in the quality of what they are producing. But in science and technology, we need the lab-

oratory and technology which will take some time to acquire.

He, however, explained that for the art and creative industry to thrive, you need the right practitioners, well trained personnel and for the product to get into the market immediately.

Ajienka pointed out that in creative art, no one can do it all alone adding; “ working with industry is very crucial because for you to be acceptable to industry, your work must be acceptable.”

The vice-chancellor, however urged institutions to work on the people right from the curriculum development stage and course delivery to project supervision. He said; “that was the way we developed the Institute of Petroleum Studies at UNIPORT and that is the way the film industry will be developed in this country.

“At UNIPORT, we have the art village, photography, film, video, drama and dances. But the emphasis is education for

sustainable development.

That philosophy which was advocated by UNESCO means that you need to understand the challenges of a society at the local, regional, national, continental and international levels. ”To bring about sustainable development in the environmental, sociocultural and other sectors, everybody will be well informed and prepared so that by the time the graduate comes out, he now thinks sustainable development."

*From left: Mrs Iyabo Ayobami-Ojo, Deputy Manager, Public Affairs Division, PAC Production Sharing Contract; Miss Ododo Owodeba-Ashaka, one of the awardees and Mr Udom Inoyo, Executive Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria during the 2013 Esso Inernational Postgraduate Scholarship Awards, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

FUTA partners regional centre for space education

By IKENNA ASOMBA

T

he Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, recently took another leap forward in the quest by African countries for specialised technical knowhow in space technology when its management team, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Regional Centre for Space Sciences and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E), an affiliate of the United Nations.

Under the terms of the agreement, FUTA, through its Centre for Space Research and Application (CESRA), will run a postgraduate programme leading to the award of Master's degree in Space studies and related fields for ARCSSTE-E-

sponsored students.

Welcoming the ARCSSTE-E team, the Director, CESRA, Professor Moses Ajewole said the essence of the meeting was to sign the MoU that would invest FUTA-CESRA with the mandate to undertake the master's programme under the aegis of ARCSSTE-E. This, according to him, was a fall out of a meeting held between ARCSSTE-E, CESRA and the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) for a proposal to start the master's programme.

Addressing the gathering, ARCSSTE-E’s Executive Director and team leader, Professor Joseph Akinyede expressed his delight in the signing of the MoU. He said; “This is an epoch-making event because it is the first time ARCSSTE-E is advancing into the master's programme to develop indigenous capacity.

FUTA has potential for greatness

and it is being actualised and by your antecedents, we know you will deliver to our satisfaction, and we are proud to be part of FUTA.” Describing the event as epochal, Professor Daramola said “today is remarkable because CESRA is upgrading its

relationship with ARCSSTE-E to train post-graduate candidates leading to the award of master's degree.

"This situates very well with our vision in FUTA to move beyond the best University of Technology in Nigeria to a renowned University continentally and globally.”

Don’t rubbish Oshiomhole with AUU lecture hall controversy — JRC

By DONALD INWALOMHE

J

USTICE Research Centre has condemned a photo currently circulating on the internet, titled: Downgrading Lecture Hall at Ambrose Alli University, describing it as an attempt to rubbish the image of Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the university management.

Disclosing this in a petition, Mr. Paul Moore said such lecture hall in a state university in a state where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is governor, does not exist.

Hence, he described the write-up as not only malicious, but also insidious, counter-factual and surreptitiously aimed at vilifying the image of Oshiomhole and the university management. ‘’Our organisation views the photo and write-up as not only malicious, but also insidious, counter-factual and surreptitiously targeted at vilifying the image of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Ambrose Alli University Management. The organisation condemns the photo and write-up uploaded in the internet in its totality especially, as the story did not truly reflect the collective positions of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and AAU Management who do not believe the positions and claims uploaded in the internet. ‘’To this end, our organisation would like to put the records straight on issues mentioned and facts distorted in the scurrilous photo and information.’’

While stating the efforts of the state government at restoring the glory of AUU, he said, ‘’It is on record that the present Acting VC, Prof Cordelia Agbebaku and the state government have attracted many projects from TETFUND.

Nigerian awarded HHMI Research Fellowships

T

HE Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded two doctoral students from the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University with 2013 International Student Research Fellowships.

The two awardees are Nigeria's Jennifer Nwankwo who studies Red blood cell dehydration in sickle cell disease and Ethiopia's Seblewongel Asrat who studies the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease.

Nwankwo, a student in the Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics program at the Sackler School, specifically studies the role of enzymes

that cause red blood cell dehydration and cell adhesion – critical events that lead to the painful crises that are the hallmark of sickle cell disease.

Dean, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and vice-dean for research at Tufts University School of Medicine, Naomi Rosenberg, Ph.D., said “these highly-competitive fellowships support the training of students who are committed to high-quality research that advances science and human health."

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—31

ASUU strike: TASUED Alumni Association raises alarm

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

T

HE Alumni Association of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUEDAA), Ijagun, Ogun State, has raised the alarm over the continued strike action

by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, saying the strike would have some negative effects on the economic and educational sectors in the country.

The National President of the Association, Tajudeen while addressing newsmen on the ASUU strike action, warned that the disaster awaiting Nigeria’s economy over the refusal of Federal Government to honour the agreement reached with the union in 2009 could be enormous.

He said “the six week old strike is a great disaster for the varsity system in Nigeria because in the last six weeks, students have been at home and some of them that are suppose to undergo a course for 4 years now will definitely have an extension with few weeks or even months.

“Without the development of the varsity system, other sector will suffer, and that is why government needs to come down to the negotiation table with ASUU and resolve the issue of the agreement.”

Speaking against the backdrop of allegations that most Nigerian graduates are un-employable, TAISCE Alumni declared that that strike has been a disastrous one because it has distorted the

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quality and process of teaching and learning.

“Not only this, the tempo of

academic involvement would have reduced drastically and this will lead to poor results. So the

strike is disastrous to the education system in the country. It is making the education system not appealing to people as well as bastardising the quality of education certificates in the country; though the certificate is good, but what about the owner of the certificate?”

“We want to appeal to the

JABU launches MBA programme

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

F

IRST Entrepreneurial University in Ni-geria, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, JABU, Ekiti, State, has announced the commencement of its MBA programme, joining one of the few private universities in the country

running the programme in the country.

The announcement came just as the university was ranked top among private universities in the country and 11 among the nation’s universities.

A statement by the ViceChancellor of JABU, Professor

Sola Fajana, read; “JABU in its quest to credibly train captains of industries that will be relevant for both public and private sectors, will kick-start its MBA programme in September and will run for both fulltime and part-time. The programme is open to all first degree graduates from all disciplines.

From left: Winner of 2012 Seven-Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship award, Olujimi Williams; recipient of the 2013 Seven-Up HBS scholarship, Mayowa Kuyoro; Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc.,Mr. Norden Thurston; and winner 2011 Seven-Up HBS Scholarship award/first graduate of the programme, Misan Rewane, at the unveiling ceremony of the 3rd winner of 7Up HBS scholarship award in Lagos.

government to honour the agreement; all the issues like the condition of service among others are meant for the progress of university system devoid of any hitches”.

Firm renovates school

By EKEMINI EYOH

A

s part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, X3M Ideas Ltd has replaced the roofs, supplied tables and chairs and painted the entire school building of Opebi Junior Grammar School, thus making it a befitting place for learning.

Conducting media men round the school premises, the Head of Finance, X3M Ideas Ltd, Mr Folahan Salam said a company does not necessarily need to be so big before engaging in corporate social responsibility.

Appreciating the efforts of the company, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Haruna Temitope, said “if the environment is conducive, learning and teaching will be very effective. When you are in a good environment, a lot of things will be produced. This all began when our students went for community cleaning and the company in turn came to our school and noticed on defect or the other which they decided to correct.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Humidity affects meningitis epidemic —Wali STORIES By EBELE ORAKPO

environmental factors which cause the bacterium to move from the throat into the brain.

We used to think that the bacterium disappears with the rains but the infection continues even during the rainy season. Infection is different from disease, infection is found in the throat. We found high infection but no disease; but during that period, (Nov – April), if you have the infection, the climate is conducive for developing the disease so the virus gets away from the throat and goes into the brain. We thought it was the temperature that caused it but we discovered it wasd actually the humidity.

When the rains come, humidity rises, diseases terminate while infection remains.

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rofessor Sadiq Suleiman Wali (OFR) is a consultant physician mainly in hepatology and gastroenterology and has interest in infectious diseases. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Abuja, the former Kano State Commissioner for Health andChief Physician to five Nigerian ex-Heads of State, speaks on his research work in meningitis control, treatment and prevention.

Excerpts: Said Wali; “I was a lecturer in Ahmadu Bello University up till 1984 where I rose to be a Reader in Medicine and I eventually moved to Kano as Professor of Medicine in Bayero University Teaching Hospital. I picked meningitis because at that time, we were very lucky to have a team from the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom. They had a base in Zaria and they showed a lot of interest in meningitis and all other basic

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*Professor Sadiq Wali... We sold the idea that selective vaccination can be more cost effective to the WHO

Environmental factors cause the meningitis bacterium to move from the throat into the brain

diseases but I picked meningitis in particular because having a large population with meningitis is a huge burden. It has a huge social and economic impact on such nation. Meningococcal meningitis can be fatal or cause great harm without prompt treatment.

"Cerebral meningitis is a disease that occurs mainly in sub-Saharan Africa in what is called the Meningitis Belt. The Meningitis Belt spreads from the Sahara down to Kaduna area, across Abuja and from Senegal down to Ethiopia and Somalia. This is an area where we have very massive meningitis epidemic every eight to 10 years. These epidemics are caused by the bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis also known as m e n i n g o c o c c u s .

Meningococcal meningitis has several serotypes, like tribes.

Meningococcal meningitis A is the major one; about 80 – 90 per cent of meningitis is caused by meningococcal meningitis A so we were interested in finding the prevalence of the different serotypes in the north.

We also had interest in the treatment, in particular, we were interested in prevention

Drugs: reatment with penicillin, the commonest one given in large doses, then Botox, in large volumes four times a day so patients experience

,

and epidemiology so we worked on all these aspects of meningococcal meningitis."

Epidemiology: "Like I said, it is mainly meningococcal meningitis A that causes the epidemic but there are others – C and W135 do cause it too. These are the major ones and right now, there are vaccines for the three but back then, it was mainly A. We were interested in that because eventually, we had to go into vaccination. We did a lot of vaccination studies with a vaccine. By then, the meningococcal meningitis type A vaccine had just been introduced. We did the studies, trying to see whether to do mass vaccination ie vaccinate all the people where there is epidemic or we do selective vaccination.

Vaccination: We chose selective vaccination because it was more cost effective. So we did control studies in different villages around Zaria and see whether the vaccine was effective. In some villages (experimental villages), we gave them the vaccine, and in control villages, we did not

give the vaccine. We followed them up to see what happened. We followed their admissions into health centres and hospitals. We were happy to find that it was very effective.

In fact, if you go to any village after we vaccinate them, a day or two later, we don’t have any more cases while in the villages that were not vaccinated, the cases started to come up. So that established the efficacy of the vaccine and also because it was in the early stages, talking about 1978-79. We sold the idea to the World Health Organisation that selective vaccination can be more cost effective because you pay very little. So what we said was that if there is a meningitis epidemic in any area, if we get one or two cases in any community, then we will have our team go there and vaccinate them instead of vaccinating the whole state, then you find the disease will disappear."

Epidemic and climate: "We found that the epidemic occurs mainly from November to April/May and certainly, when the rain stops, like in Zaria, the rains start around late April to early May and the epidemic stops completely. This was very interesting so we did a lot of research to find out why it happens; did the bacterium disappear or what? We found that actually, it does not disappear, the infection still continues but it is affected by

severe pains but it works. So we felt we should get a drug that we can give only once a day. We tried two – we got a long-lasting penicillin that when administered, can last for 48 hours or more and there is the long-acting chloramphenicol (Typhomycin). We obserbed the differences. Typhomycin is given once daily while the other continues three - four times a day and then continue once daily with procain for about five days.

From our findings, with the ones we give once a day, the patient is virtually cured within three - four days. It was a very major breakthrough and this has been accepted by the WHO, it is a standard treatment if there is an epidemic. You take this long-acting oily chloramphenicol.

That is how we treat and it makes it much easier and much cheaper and then you can use ordinary people; you don't have to involve doctors and nurses." .

Nigerians advised to focus more on youth P

RESIDENT of American University of Nigeria (AUN), Professor Margee Ensign has called on Nigerians to focus more on her young people who are the leaders of tomorrow, and less on problems because according to her, every developing nation has its own share of problems. She made this call in an exclusive chat with Vanguard in Lagos.

"I have travelled round the world but these students in AUN are some of the best and the brightest I have met but they have a burden that even children in Rwanda don’t have. They really understand it’s up to them and their generation to bring about the needed change in Nigeria and they are working towards that," she stated.

She said some AUN alumni are in some of the world’s top graduate schools like Carnegie Mellon University, MIT, Stanford, Columbia University, University of Bath, Lancaster University, Stanford University, University of Buckingham etc.

"You do not get into such institutions because you know

somebody; you have to be the top in the world. I am very proud of these students. It is time for Nigerians to say 'we are doing a lot of good things,' yes, there are problems, but let us start focusing especially on these young people that are making progress.

"They need to know people are behind them. There are problems but let us work together to solve them. You have wonderful young people in this countr y," she said.

It is said that if you educate a man, you educate one person; but if you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation so apparently spurred by this saying, Ensign said AUN focuses on girls a lot and so 15 per cent of the school’s tuition goes into scholarships for females. "We plan to tutor and mentor secondary school girls in northern Nigeria. I really want to focus on them because we want to get these girls educated. I need more women in AUN. In the US and other countries, there are more women than men in colleges but it is different in Nigeria," she said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—33

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH

Lumen Christi Int’l gets award for outstanding performance for English ue to her well maintained Culbeat New Concepts (CNC) grades Language, Mathematics culture of academic Ltd. excellence and statutory progress, This award is given to the and a Science subject are Lumen Christi International High school in Nigeria that has the included in determining the School, Uromi, Edo State, has for best aggregate, determined from aggregate. This is what the third time, received an award the results of its best 50 Lumen Christi has received for best secondary school in candidates, provided that the for the fourth time.

Nigeria. The award was presented to the Principal, Rev. Fr. Theophilus Itaman during the 2013 Reward Nigeria Annual awards ceremony that held in Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. This is in recognition of the school’s outstanding result in the 2011 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) exams and two preceding years.

Among the over 11,000 schools within the academic space of Nigeria for the years 2007, 2009 and 2011, Lumen Christi produced the best result as confirmed by the West African Examination *Rev. Fr. Theophilus Itaman, Principal, Lumen Christi Int'l High flanked by students, Masters Oseme Peter and Atigan Weyimi Council (WAEC) and the School while receiving an award from the former chairman, Pharmaceutical organisers of the Reward Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr. Tony Oyawole for Best Performing Nigeria annual awards, School Nationwide during the 2013 Reward Nigeria Award, in Lagos.

D

ESSO trains 25 Geosciences lecturers

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

wenty-five lecturers drawn from five universities in the country’s North Central zone have been trained in the 4 th edition of the University Assistance Programme (UAP) training workshop, sponsored

by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil in Nigeria.

The initiative is aimed at funding geological programmes in selected Nigerian universities as a means of impacting the quality of locally-trained geosciences graduates coming out of the institutions. It also involves the construction of geoscience workrooms equipped with workstations, plotters and printers at the selected universities. The lecturers’ training workshop is a major component of the initiative.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop designed to expose the participating lecturers to the latest technology and current best practices in geosciences, the Manager, Deepwater Production Geoscience, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Goodluck Adagbasa, said there was need for Geoscience lecturers to constantly update their knowledge in the field, so that Nigerian universities can produce quality home-grown graduates that can function effectively in the oil and gas sector without necessarily going abroad for studies before they qualify as experts.

“As we all know, the world is fast becoming a global village and the use of technology in the quest for oil and gas exploration can’t be overemphasized. It is, therefore, necessary to empower graduates coming out of our educational system to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the world.

*Students in Yola learning with the I-pad provided by the American University of Nigeria as part of their vision of impacting the community.

3 students represent Nigeria in Turkey debate contest

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

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hree public school students in Rivers State will represent the country at the EURASIAN International Debate Competition in Turkey.

Rivers State was nominated to represent Nigeria at the President’s School Debate Programme for their excellent performances at the Inter-School debate competition. The students, Konya Faith from Government Girls Secondary School, Oromenike, Port Harcourt, Owaji-Ino Richard from Model Girls Secondary School Rumueme and Cornerstone Jeremiah Udeme from Community Secondary School Amadi-Ama, Port Harcourt, will participate in the competition scheduled to hold from August 27 to September 3, 2013.

The Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi while receiving the students in her office in Port Harcourt said government’s investment in education is yielding positive results, noting that students from Rivers State represented the country at the last Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad in Abuja where they came out with flying colours.

Udeme Archibong successrecipe2009@mail.com

Are you prepared to emerge a champion in the game of life?

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here is no overnight champion only an overnight loser.

Champions are not born neither is it conferred.

However, champions make themselves; they make themselves through adequate preparation. Champions eat the “bread” of growth and development. The growth process is the preparation process and the level of preparation determines the level of performance. You can never short-cut the process of adequate preparation and become a peak performer in the game of life.

Self-knowledge is the greatest discovery of our time.

An accurate assessment and evaluation of your personal skills demands complete honesty in regards to your strengths and weaknesses is critical in winning championships. Concealing your weakness is placing a ceiling on your destiny; on what you are and what you can do. Denying your weakness is denying yourself of growth and advancement. Fearing the criticism of others rather than dealing with your weaknesses is facing the crises that will spring forth from the weakness. When you preserve your weakness; you procure its attendant consequences. What are the limiting factors you encounter in the game of life? Work on your limiting factors so that they become a walk over. Limiting factors are there to license you to succeed if you unleash your potentials within. You either remove your limiting factors or it will remove your chances of winning the game of life; you either control your limiting factors or it will control and limit your performance in the game of life. Preparation preserves your winning chances. Brain Tracy reveals, “People’s careers were largely determined not only by their strengths, but also by their weaknesses. The very act of overcoming a particular weakness, through preparation and practice, was enough to propel a person into the front ranks in his career ”. This statement holds true in all aspect of life. To raise better kids, you need to practice becoming a better parent; to enjoy your marriage, you need to practice becoming a better spouse; to enjoy life, and you need to practice becoming a better person.

Champions practice becoming better everyday both in their character and their performance. Performance will take you to the championship level and character will sustain you at the championship level.

Learning revolution leads to life revelation which culminates in life transformation. Your mental positivity produces physical productivity. Your efficiency is determined by your mental effectiveness. We are living in an age where your neck-up determines your net worth.

We are living in the Wisdom age where knowledge is the key to advancement in life. The game of life is enhanced by deepening your knowledge-base in your field. Mental investment attracts opportunities.

Investing in your mind the first 60 minutes of the day by reading spiritual; motivational and inspirational books strengthens your mental positivity and effectiveness and enhances your performance in the game of life.

A day well prepared and planned with a commitment to execute those things that will make a real difference in your life is day well maximized. And a day well maximized is a life well maximized. Preparation for the ups and downs of each day through a positive and optimistic mental attitude and positive self-talk preserves your self-esteem and enthusiasm which determines your performance and results in the game of life. Preparation is the forerunner of success. In the preparation process everything counts; your thoughts counts; your words count; your feelings count; your actions counts. All these are either helping you to succeed or stopping you from succeeding. When you work on yourself; life will work for you.

Preparation demands self-discipline and sacrifice. To win the prize you have to pay the price. The higher the price: the greater the prize. The seeds of success must be planted for the harvest of success to be reaped. The quality and quantity of the seeds determines the quality and quantity of the harvest. Quality practice leads to quality performance.

Remember, champions are not made in the contest but on the preparation ground.

34— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Don’t reduce National Theatre status to shop-window item — Ben Tomoloju

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

M

UCH has been said about the purported concession of Nigeria’s foremost cultural edifice, the National Theatre, into a five-star hotel, shopping mall and car-park by the Culture and Tourism Minister. As a stakeholder in the culture industry and one who has followed developments in it, what is your take on it?

The National Theatre is not just an edifice, it is a monument, an embodiment of a distinct aspect of Nigerian cultural history. It is a major reference point in the creative life of the people and an iconic factor in Nigeria’s international cultural relations. This means, in addition, that the National Theatre is a booster to the international image of this country by the very fact of its history.

As such, you don’t reduce such a monument to the status of a shop-window item in the rat-race of economic potentates.

Government has a duty to promote, preserve and propagate Nigerian arts and culture through a proper management and use of the facility. It is a challenge that no one should run away from.

I am amused, for instance, by a manager who accepts the offer of an ap-

pointment as the General Manager of the National Theatre and the best way he thinks he can perform this role is to sell off the facility. Sheer indolence.

But that is just by the way. One serious problem besetting the planned transaction is the lack of transparency and a conscious attempt to sideline the community of artists and culture producers in the whole process.

Do they think this large group of professionals are a bunch of morons over whom a tiny clique of individuals will exercise an aristocracy of knowledge?

Aristocracy of knowledge That property is part of our commonwealth and we simply demand that stakeholders be carried along and participate in every decision-making process having to do with it.

We are justified even to have a hunch about the morality of the process. These are times when people who are highly connected with government slug it out in the public over one government property or the other they want to convert to private ownership. Many government properties are going into private hands through dubious transactions and the

self-centred manipulation of IMF and World Bank prescribed economic policies.

We do not want our cultural wealth to go down the way of other public properties where people use government money to buy government property, privatise it and it’s bye-bye to the real stakeholders.

So, I believe there should be a convened forum where a broad representation of interest groups from government, corporate Nigeria and the creative industry converge and address relevant issues about the National Theatre and the adjoining parcel of land.

Mind you, we have our position. The

place which should be professionally their home.

The Minister based his argument on the fact that the National Theatre Complex, with its enormous space, is under-utilised. In your own opinion, do you think the place is under-utilised?

Is the under-utilisation an excuse for the attempted eviction of cultural agencies and artists from a place established to promote culture? Does that not even appear anti-culture? Shouldn’t the Minister be the one to promote the interests of these bodies and professionals instead of destroying them?

Some of these excuses smack of moral subterfuge, others of blackmail. And the National Theatre ComGovernment has a duty to promote, plex you are talking about primarily to the preserve and propagate Nigerian arts refers building. It is a complex and culture through a proper manage- by the facts of its architectural sophistication ment and use of the facility and multiple utility value which I should be able to Artiste’s Village and the Universal Stu- explain later. You see, the primary vicdios should be adopted and developed tim of under-utilisation is the theatre as a viable part of that creative habitat. itself. And what government should do All the parastatals, that is, the National is to place competence above politics in Council for Arts and Culture, the Na- the appointment of the manager of the tional Troupe, the National Institute for theatre. Imagine, when Professor YeriCultural Orientation, the National Gal- ma was the Director-General of both the lery of Art, the News Agency of Nige- troupe and the theatre, there was a ria, etc. should be left alone to take ad- breath of fresh-air. vantage of cosmopolitan Lagos to The two Cinema Halls and Exhibition achieve their greater objectives.

Hall were rehabilitated and he was goThe vision accommodates tourism ing to start tackling the main bowl when only insofar as it is anchored on cultur- he retired. That is talking about compeal tourism where the various capacities tence, the can-do spirit. With appropriof artists can be put to relevant use rath- ate funding and effective management er than a humiliating situation where the fortune of the theatre can be turned they are being treated as outsiders in a around.

,

MR Ben Tomoloju is a respected culture activist, film critic, playwright, theatre director and former Deputy Editor of The Guardian .

As someone who has followed developments in the culture industry, Uncle Ben T as he is fondly called in this interview with Vanguard Arts bares his mind on the controversial issue of the planned concession of the National Theatre into a five-star hotel, shopping mall and car-park by the Culture and Tourism Minister. Excerpts.

•Ben Tomoloju

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013— 35

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36—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—37

NOA chief urges Rivers' communities to take advantage of FOI Act

Anglican Church calls for LG autonomy; condemns gay marriage

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BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HAROCURT – RIVERS State Director of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Oliver Welugbom, yesterday, charged communities in the state to take ownership of the Freedom of Information, FOI Act to force transparency in government.

Welugbom gave the charge as trained officials and volunteers of the agency begin sensitisation of the Rivers populace on the societal value of the FOI Act across 20 local government areas of the state.

The state Director said that the new act as passed has the force to ensure probity on how public money was spent only if the people for whom it was enacted would take full advantage and test its veracity.

Delta communities warn against pipeline vandalisation

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—EGBEMA/ G B A R A M AT U communities in Delta State, have appealed to parents to warn their children against pipeline vandalism and other activities that are inimical to the development of oil bearing communities.

Chairman of Egbema/ Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, during a familiarisation tour to Kunukunuma, Oporaza, Kenyangbene, Benikrukru, Okerenkoko, Kokodiagbene and Okoyitoru communities, said “We should not involve ourselves in criminal activities that will hinder our negotiation with the oil servicing companies in our communities.

"I appeal to parents to advice their children against pipeline vandalization and other activities that are inimical to development.

“It is also our responsibiliy to safeguard our facilities. We update our existing micro credit, scholarship, employment, peace building, medical intervention scheme."

ARRIVAL—Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, (left) being welcomed from his annual vacation at the Osubi Airport, Warri by the Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, HRM Mathew Egbi, Owahwa II.

Anti-Amaechi forces after Rivers resources — Sen Abe C

HAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Down-Stream), Senator Magnus Abe, has said that those fighting Rivers State governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, were only after the resources of the state.

Abe, who represents Rivers South-East in the National Assembly, at Nchia, headquarters of Eleme Local Government Area of the state, during a public hearing on a bill for a bye-law, organised by the Eleme Local Government legislative assembly, said “the reason, I know all these, is because the governor is vocal and he speaks his mind on issues.

Some people are interested in getting control of the government of Rivers State by hook or crook not because they love Rivers State,

not even because they hate Amaechi, but because they want to be the ones to control the resources of Rivers State.

“In the past six years, we are witnesses to what our resources have been used for.

All those things would not have been possible if the resources of Rivers State were not in the hands of those who think that the people mattered more than the big men.”

Calling on the people of the state to be more alert, Abe said that security has been compromised in the state, emphasising that the Nigeria Police has become more interested in the politics of the state, than in security.

He lauded the decision of the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Rivers State

House of Assembly, saying that the decision was taken so that frayed nerves could calm down while mature mind look for a solution to the crisis.

“Thankfully, the National Assembly has taken over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It was done to cool down the problems, so that mature heads will begin to look for a solution that will restore constitutional rule.”

Commissioner in Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Chief Bebe Okpabi, thanked Senator Abe for providing quality representation for the people of Rivers South-East and commended him for the water projects and bags of fertilizer provided for the people of the area.

HE Second Synod of the Anglican Communion, Sapele Diocese, Delta State, has ended with the Presiding Bishop of the Dioceses, Rt Rev. Blessing Erifetam, urging the Federal and state governments to grant local governments autonomy to facilitate development in the rural areas of the country.

Speaking during a fund raising and book launching of Rt. Rev. Erifeta’s book, titled “Bishop Charge” in which about N10million was realised, the Bishop said with the development of rural and riverine areas, a great deal of crime would be reduced to the minimum as many restive youths would be gainfully employed, leading to their abandoning criminal activities.

The Synod also condemned the practice and legalisation of gay marriage and homosexuality, noting that such practice was unacceptable to the church in Nigeria and teachings of God. The Bishop, who also urged politicians and government functionaries to shun corruption and sharp practices that were capable of running down the fortune of the country, said that the country will be a haven of peace and tranquility, if the resources available were utilised properly across the country.

APC for launch in Edo North LG

Family of detained man petitions DSS

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—THE family of one Mr. Jolly Olotu, who has been in detention for over three months for alleged kidnapping at the Department of State Service, DSS Asaba, Delta State, has appealed to the State Director of the Department, to release him or charge him to court if found culpable of the offence.

Counsel to the Olotu family, Mr. Ebosele Okhifoh in a petition to the DSS Director, insisted that in the alternative, Mr. Olotu should be charged to court if it was proven that he has a case to answer for him to defend himself, adding that the Nigerian Constitution gives him and other Nigerians that right.

The petition also copied the

Director – General, DSS Abuja, said “We believe that every Nigerian has a right to be brought before the court and we don’t want to believe that your office will allow itself to be used as an agent of oppression of innocent Nigerians.

“If there is any case against our client, three months is enough to gathered any evidence if any and charge him to court while the alternative is to free him.”

Tracing the genesis of the arrest and subsequent detention of Mr. Olotu, who is a timber contractor, the family said that he was picked up from a hotel room at Oluku Quarters, Benin City on May 29, 2013, at 1 am by members of the Edo

State Operation Thunder Storm patrol team led by an Army officer on the allegation that he was a suspected kidnapper.

The family said that after his arrest, he was kept in detention for a month in a cell of the Army 4th Brigade headquarters in Benin, Edo State and throughout that period, the Army could not establish any case of kidnapping against him.

The family lamented that instead of releasing him, the Army Brigade headquarters handed the suspect to the DSS, Benin for further interrogation and it became obvious that no case of kidnapping could be traced to him, the Edo DSS handed him back to the Army authorities.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—AS preparations for the launch of All Progressive Congress, APC, in Edo State heats up, the people of Ekperi in Edo North senatorial district of the state, yesterday, formally announced the collapse of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the area and inaugurated the new leadership of APC. Inauguration Committee Coordinator, Prince Greg Ogiogwa, while inaugurating the new leaders from Ugbekpe Ekperi Kingdom, Zone 2, comprising wards 6, 7 and 8, Etsako Central Local Government Area, called for focus on rapid economic development in the periods ahead.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Anambra to build N50bn West Africa trade centre in Onitsha

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—THE Anambra State Government is to spend N50 billion on the building of a proposed West Africa trade centre in Onitsha.

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Robert Okonkwo, while addressing newsmen yesterday, said the long term project was part of Governor Peter Obi’s delivering of democracy dividend to the people of the state.

He said the concept was initiated by Igbo traders in Lagos under the aegies of Cosmetics and Allied association of Nigeria, who approached government on the need for them to have an alternative market to fall back on any time their shops and goods were destroyed or razed down as a result of ethnic clash.

President of the West Africa trade centre, Mr Obiora Anyayalu, said the project would not only trigger off industrialisation in the South East but would make the people from the area to think home.

Man arraigned over alleged N1m theft

Police arrest PDP councillorship aspirant over alleged certificate forgery

BY PETER OKUTU

A

L

AGOS—A man, Alex Fagbemi, was Tuesday, brought before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conspiring with others to stealing N1,080,000.00.

The suspect was docked before Magistrate Makanju Oshodi for a two-count charge of fraud and contempt of court preferred against him by the police.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the defendant committed the crime on March 26, 2013, at Ikeja in Lagos.

He said the other suspects had previously been arraigned before Magistrate Makanju Oshodi but that Alex Fagbemi was absent from court due to reasons best known to him.

both hail from Amata Ntezi Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.

“Mr. Odah who did not attend any Secondary School in Ebonyi State or elsewhere in Nigeria conspired with Mr. Joseph Onwe, Deputy Chairman of PDP in Ebonyi State to forge and impersonate the May/June 2008, West African Senior Secondary School Examination Statement of Result with Examination number 4120810154 and Examination

Centre, Community Secondary School Agba, belonging to Odah Ogochukwu, his younger sister.

“I also wish to bring to your notice that the forged May/June 2008 West African Senior Secondary School Statement of result belonging to Odah Ogochukwu was presented by Odah Mmaduabuchi to the Sabinus Nwankwegu-led PDP councillorship screening committee for Ebonyi Central zone.”

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police command, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, councillorship aspirant in the just concluded primaries of the party, Mr. Odah Mmaduabuchi, over alleged certificate forgery and impersonation.

State Police Command spokesman, DSP Sylvester Igbo, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect and receipt of the petition against the suspect, added that Police was still investigating the matter.

However, Vanguard gathered that the police had gone to the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, Enugu regional office where the suspect allegedly obtained copies of WAEC original statement of result, which proved that the accusation of forgery against Mr Odah were true.

This followed two separate petitions by another aspirant, Mr. Kingsley Onu to Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police and the chairman of Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commissioner, EBSIEC, CP Maigari Diko and Mr. John Nkwuda respectively; accusing Mr. Odah of conspiracy, certificate forgery and impersonation.

In the petition, titled “Conspiracy, Forgery and Impersonation”, Mr. Onu alleged that the DONATION: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, handing over the keys of a brand state deputy chairman of People’s new car to the Transition Committee Chairman, Umuahia North LGA, during the presentaDemocratic Party, Joseph Onwe tion of cars to all the TC chairmen in the state by the governor in Umuahia. and the party’s councillorship can-

Orji asks immigration to flush out illegal immigrants in Aba

BY ANAYO OKOLI

BY IJEOMA NATHANIEL

didate for Ntezi ward in Ishielu LGA, Mr. Odah Mmaduabuchi, conspired to forge West African Senior Secondary School Examination statement of result.

The petition reads in part: “I wish to bring to your notice act of conspiracy, certificate forgery and impersonation against Mr. Odah Mmaduabuchi, the Councillorship candidate of Ntezi ward and Mr. Joseph Onwe, the Deputy Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi State who

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service to step up surveillance to check the influx of illegal immigrants into the state, expressing concern over the large concentration of same set of people in Aba, the commercial city.

According to Governor Orji, checking the influx of illegal immigrants will help the security agencies to sustain the prevailing peace and security in the state.

Governor Orji stated this when he received the new Controller of Immigration, Abia State Command, Mr. Crowther Chiribam, at Government House, Umuahia.

The governor urged the service to give priority attention to Aba in its operations as, according to him, it attracts and harbours people from diverse backgrounds and, as such known, for its complex and volatile nature.

Orji assured of the readiness

of the state government to assist the immigration service for efficient service delivery in the state.

He also advised officers and men of the command to give maximum cooperation to the new controller to succeed.

He, however, advised the new controller to remain focussed in the discharge of his duties.

Earlier in his remarks, the new controller, Mr. Chiribam, expressed appreciation to the state government for it’s as-

sistance to the command which, according to him, has enhanced the operations of the immigration service in the state.

He also commended Governor Orji for his developmental strides in all sectors of the state economy.

Anambra 2014: Obaze blames disqualification

by APGA on external forces

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—FORMER Secre tary to Anambra State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who was among those disqualified by the screening panel of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the November 16 governorship election, has blamed external forces on the outcome of the exercise.

According to him, what happened in Abuja was beyond the party.

Obaze was disqualified for not possessing INEC voter ’s card and even when he sub-

mitted one to the appeal panel set up by the party after he was registered in the ongoing verification in the state, the panel refused to accept it.

Going down memory lane on what led to the disqualification, Obaze said: “I was outside the country when all previous voters’ registrations were done. The exercise is supposed to be a continuous exercise, but this has not been happening.

“For me, I was waiting for the registration to begin, but APGA’s date for the submission of forms came before the commencement of the exer-

cise..

“Because INEC did not start the exercise before the deadline for the submission of APGA form came, I explored the possibility of registering outside the state, but the condition is that I should register in my ward where I will vote.

“So, while completing the nomination form, I filled ‘No’ where it was asked if I have a voter ’s card and that was it. I went on appeal committee which I believe had 48 hours window but unfortunately, it fell on weekend.”

Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 —39

SEMINAR: From left, Director, Commercial Planning, Etisalat Nigeria, Adebisi Idowu Director, PMO and Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba, receiving an award on behalf of the CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, and motivational speaker/President, Fifth Gear Plus Consulting, Mr. Niyi Adesanya, at the Meeting Point motivational seminar, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: Glo N5m winner, Abdugafari Razak (middle) flanked by the acting Director, National Lottery Commission, Prince Emmanuel Jeminiwa (left) and Nigeria Communications Commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Tony Ojoboh, during the presentation of N5m cheque to Mr. Razak, at the Slide & Bounce concert, in Abuja.

FLAG-OFF: From left, Sullivan Akala, Executive Director, Business Development, E-Tranzact International Plc; Kemi Okusanya, Business Development, Anglophone, West Africa, MoneyGram, and Kunle Olumuyiwa, Operations Manager, Anglophone, West Africa, MoneyGram, at the partnership agreement signing between MoneyGram and E-Tranzact, to flag-off 'MoneyGram Goes Mobile' platform, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

CONFERENCE:From left, Captain Bala Agaba, Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA; Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, DG, and Mr. Isichei Osambi, Deputy Director, Public Relations, at the World Conference on International Shipping and Port Facility Security Code, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

BREIFING: From Left; Mr. Rotimi Wusu, Head, Brand Communication, Metro Taxi Ltd; Mrs. Aderonke Sobodu, MD, Spronks Creations Ltd/ organiser of the fair, and Mrs. Vanna Adami, GM, Best Trade, Advisory Board, during press breifing on forthcoming of 2013 Nigeria International Wine and Spirit, entitled, 'Toast of Life,' at Victoria Island Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

LAUNCH: Africa Reserve Senior Brand Manager, Mr. Hrvoje Smiljanec; General Manager, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Felix Enwemadu, Diageo Reserve Brands Ambassador, Mr. Tim Etherington-Judge, and Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Austin Ufomba, at the launch of Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

COMPETITION: Head, Events & Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani (right); Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa (4th left), presenting trophy to winner of the Etisalat/FC Barcelona U-17 Schools' Cup, Keke Senior High School, at the grand finale of Etisalat/FC Barcelona U-17 Schools' Cup competition, held at Campus Square Stadium, Obalende, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

INVESTITURE: From left, HRM, Oba Tijani Akinloye, Sateru 11, Ojomu of Ajiran land, Eti Osa royal father of the occasion; Lion Yinka Bolarinwa, Governor, Lions Club International District 404b Nigeria; Lion Olanrewaju Adebajo, President Akowonjo Lions Club and Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, chairman of the occasion, at the investiture of Adebajo as the 15th President of Akowonjo Lions Club, at De Hall event centre, Ikeja , Lagos.

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi C M Y K

VISIT: Secretary, Excellent Social Club of Lagos, Mr. Kazeem Akintunde (left); President of the association, Alhaji Ibrahim Salimon (4th left), and Alhaja Tawakalitu (3rd left), presenting a cash donation and food items to the assistant administrator, Little Saints Orphanage Home, Mrs. Victoria Amos, and other club members, during a visit to the orphanage at Ogudu GRA.

SESSION: From left, Omotayo George, Manager, Value Added Services Proposition and Promotions, MTN; Ayeni Adekunle, Publisher, Thenetng; Omoyeni Akerele, CEO, Style House; Femi Longe, Partner, CCHub; Tannaz Bahnam, Founder, Lost in Lagos blog, at the MTN App Developer Challenge Ideation Session, at the CCHub, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Kano Govt dismisses six officials for fraud

Jigawa spends N1bn on adult literacy

K

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

D

UTSE— JIGAWA State government has spent N1billion in the training of 18,000 adults in basic literacy and provision of learning facilities across the state, as part of its efforts to meet the UNESCO standard on the universal education.

The Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Agency for Mass Education, Dr. Ya’u Haruna Usman , disclosed this at the opening ceremony of six-day training workshop for facilitators of basic literacy centres organized by the agency in collaboration with the National Commission for Mass Literacy and Adult Education (NMEC), MDGs and UNESCO in Dutse.

He said in the last five years, the agency had trained thousands of adults on basic literacy and constructed about 6,750 adult literacy centres across the state.

According to him, the six-day workshop was aimed at further equipping facilitators of adult literacy centres across the state witsh skills in readiness for the additional 111 adult centres the Federal government planned to build in the state.

The Executive Secretary also commended the state government for its commitment towards boosting education, especially on the issue of mass literacy.

Induction

L

AGOS—THE induc tion service for Rev. and Mrs. Sunday Oladejo into the pastorate of Triumphant Baptist Church will hold on August 25, 2013 in the church auditorium at 19 Olufemi Ojo Street, Shasha Road, Akowonjo, Lagos.

Prior to present pastorate, he has served as the pastor of Mobolorunduro Baptist Church, Ogbomosho; New Life Baptist Church, Benin City and United English Baptist Church, Kaduna which was his last pastoral assignment.

COMMISSIONING—From right: The Kaduna State Deputy Commissioner of Police, in-charge of Operations, Mr David Afolayan; President, Aguba Foundation and his wife Chief & Mrs Andrew Ashiga and the District Head, Barnawa Madaucin Zazzau, Alhaji Kabir Zubairu at the official commissioning of a modern police out post donated by Aguba Foundation to Narayi community in Kaduna, Tuesday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Jalingo agog over Suntai's planned return to Taraba

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & JOHN MKOM

J

ALINGO—AHEAD of his expected return to the state, several mementos bearing the pictures of the injured Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, have flooded the state capital, Jalingo.

Among the gift items currently being distributed free of charge to women, students and supporters of the governor, is a well designed blue-coloured wrapper, bearing the picture of the governor.

The wrappers were being distributed by one of the aides of the governor from one of the Government offices in Jalingo.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that those who collected the wrappers have already given them out to tailors to sew some special designs according to the groups invited to welcome the governor back to the state.

One of the pieces, which Vanguard picked up from a tailor, has the picture of Suntai wearing a blazer and smiling broadly as if he was in a joyous mood.

It has a bold message: “Welcome our Governor”.

Competent government sources confirmed that the return of Suntai was imminent and that it was a matter of days before the governor touched down on the soil where he left in a precarious state some 10 months ago.

Vanguard gathered from highly-placed family sources

that Suntai, who had since been relocated from Germany to Washington for medical attention following an air crash, last October, had recovered considerably and could be released by his doctors any moment from now.

Suntai's wife,Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, however, told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that her husband is expected to depart

the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home located in New York for home on August 25.

She said that all arrangements had been concluded for the return of the governor.

It was learnt that in preparation for the governor’s return, top government officials had paid for a special aircraft to bring back the governor to Nigeria.

ANO—THE Kano State Government has dismissed six of its officials, including three directors over an alleged fraud.

Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Alhaji Muhammed Yahaya, confirmed the dismissal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

He said the affected officials were found guilty of inflating money meant for the payment of compensation to owners of lands acquired by the government for development projects.

He said that the officials were staff of the state’s Urban Planning and Development Agency and the Survey Department in the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning.

“The offence was committed some years ago and had been found to be behind several illegal buildings in the state.

“It is true that three directors and three officials of the Survey Department were found to have inflated the actual money meant for the payment of compensation to land owners.”

Yahaya said that the officials had submitted a report which was found to be suspicious and the government ordered an investigation.

“For example where they were expected to pay N5m as compensation, they inflated it to N50 million and where it is N6m they paid N60 million.”

LASAA parleys with military, police on unapproved billboards

L

AGOS—THE contro versy surrounding outdoor structures in police and military formations in Lagos State may soon end following series of meetings with stakeholders organised by the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA).

The agency says the m e e t i n g s w e r e organized to find a lasting solution to regulatory bottlenecks in those locations.

Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah said the agency had no fundamental opposition to outdoor structures in military formations.

"All outdoor structures in

Lagos State must be subjected to LASAA’s scrutiny and approval. We are not planning to run operators out of business, but our responsibility is to ensure that every billboard in the state is fit and proper in terms of structure, illumination location and size.

"Many of the Unipoles outlawed in Lagos State that are in military and police premises must all be subjected to the same regulatory tests that other structures elsewhere in the state are subjected to”.

The issue of billboards within military formations in the state has been a longstanding dispute be-

tween LASAA and the military authorities. Only recently, LASAA wrote to all advertisers whose brands are currently displayed on such unapproved boards to withdraw their campaigns.

It is expected that this new direction will put an end to the long drawn battle.

At a recent meeting with the relevant stakeholders, Noah expressed LASAA’s readiness to work with all the military stakeholders and security agencies concerned.

“I believe this matter can be resolved amicably on a roundtable discussion, rather than litigation”, he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—41

C M Y K

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C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—43

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I N S I D E

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 , 2013

Review of the Corporate Immigration Framework

What's age got to do with it? (2) — Page 46

— Page 47

ALUU FOUR:

Fears, worries amid delayed trial of suspects

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

O

N October 5, 2012, when four male students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Rivers State were lynched by an out of control mob in Omuokiri Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area in jungle justice, the barbarism in the heinous murder attracted spontaneous public disgust and condemnation of global proportion.

The victims were Chiadika Biringa (20) of Theatre Arts Department; Ugonna Obuzor, 18 (Geology), Mike Toku Lloyd, 20, (Civil Engineering Department), all in second year studies and Tekenah Elkanah, 21 (Diploma (Technical) who were ultimately set ablaze to a cheering crowd by the mob over claims of stealing that police report has disclaimed.

Given the altitude of public interest in the crime, all eyes, including those of parents, relatives and friends of the deceased as well as human rights community, have been waiting on the police and the court to exercise speedy investigation and trial of anyone connected with what has been named as ‘Aluu Four Murder’.

Public apprehension over speedy dispensation of justice on the matter was rife from the very beginning following widespread notion of aiding and abetting on the crime by the police whose onus it lies to prosecute. October 16, following media testimony by a sister to Tekenah, one of the victims, the police reportedly dismissed Sergeant Lucky Orji for alleged role in the murder.

Police investigation reportedly corroborated Tekenah sister’s claim that Sergeant Orji was present at the scene of the murder and actually encouraged the

Tekena Ugonna

Lloyd

The four victims of Uniport killings. for allegedly being part of a mob that tortured the four casualties.

The suspects were in handcuffs and chains when they appeared in court on five-count of conspiracy and murder.

Their Charge Sheet, PMC/2009C/2012, partly read, “That you conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the criminal code Cap 37 and Section 319 of the criminal code Cap 37 volume III laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”

Presiding Magistrate Emmanuel Woke, affirmed the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. Woke immediately transfered the case to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice and subsequent arraignment in a High Court. The court also advised the

,

It is a trite law that suspicion, no matter how strong, cannot take place of legal proof without concrete evidence to substantiate it, and as such, they were victims of circumstance, therefore, charging and prosecuting them will be an exercise in futility

mob to ‘deal with’ the victims. Reports say the dismissed policeman was to be charged to court alongside 13 other suspects.

The added challenge was the task of apprehending the needed suspects and adequate police investigation to support prosecution. October 17th 2012, twelve days after the murder, a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Port Harcourt was first to remand 13 suspects brought before it C M Y K

Chidiaka

,

suspects to seek bail from a High Court.

Chief Superintendent of Police, Henry Njoku, stood as counsel for the prosecution while A.A. Finebone appeared for the 1st Accused and village head of Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Walewa Austine Ojekudo. Others from the Nigeria Bar Association and the Human Rights Commission were in court as concerned parties for what they termed close monitoring of the case to ensure that the law

takes it proper course without hounding innocent persons. This followed concerns of indiscriminate police arrests over the matter. The court threafter adjourned till December 20, 2012.

When the court resumed December 20th, three more suspects were arraigned. 23 years old Finebone Jeffrey; Joshua Ekpe, 27 and Abang Cyril, 27 were brought under a five-count charge of conspiracy to kill the deceased.

“You and others at large on October 5, 2012, at Omuokiri, Aluu community in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 laws of Rivers State, 1999,” the charges read in part.

As with the first thirteen suspects, their pleas were rejected with Chief Magistrate Woke restating that his court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case before adjourning till February 28, 2013.

At this tone of proceeding, the Human Rights Committee of the Port Harcourt NBA applied for case file of the suspects.

Chairman of the Committee, Austin Ojeukeudo said the “association wants to ensure that there was no miscarriage of justice in the trial.” The court ordered release of the demanded documents to the NBA. At the resumed hearing, the prosecutor said he was yet to receive any advice on the matter from the DPP to whom the case file was referred.

By February 28, 2013; suspects had risen to 18. Magistrate Woke discharged seven of the accused persons for want of evidence of complicity in the crime

after reading the advice from DPP. Those discharged include the only female accused person, Cynthia Chinwo, George Nwadei, Ekpe Daniel, Gabriel Ochi, Endurance Edet, Lucky Agwurum, and Finebone Jeffrey, aka Soso.

The chief magistrate affirmed ,“It is a trite law that suspicion, no matter how strong, cannot take place of legal proof without concrete evidence to substantiate it, and as such, they were victims of circumstance, therefore, charging and prosecuting them will be an exercise in futility,” Woke ruled.

The magistrate further said there were seven other suspects who had been arrested, granted police bail, but were yet to be charged to court on the matter. He said no case had also been established against them and ordered that they be discharged too.

Proof of evidence “Your original case file will be retained to enable us file information with proof of evidence for the avoidance of doubt, against Lawal Segun, ex-Sergeant Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi, aka Kapoon, David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel in the Port Harcourt High Court,” he said Many keen watchers of the case consequently raised the question whether those so freed by the Magistrate Court were actually innocent or were beneficiaries of police’s poor prosecutorial commitment and competence.

The first hearing before the High Court on April 25, 2013 for the 11 remaining suspects suffered a set back when the Continues on page 45

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

V anguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 , 2013—45

Fears, worries amid delayed trial of suspects Continues from page 44 Presiding Judge, Justice T.S. Orji declined jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter. The DPP led by I. Otorubio and other lawyers had, that day, announced their appearances for the matter, but the Judge declared,: “I am related to the victims by birth and some of the accused persons by marriage. I know the accused persons and the victims. My hands are tied in this matter. I am sitting between the devil and the deep blue sea.”

Justice Orji also became worried to notice that no counsel appeared for Ikwuchukwu Louis Amadi, the third accused person. She ultimately withdrew from the case, assuring all parties that she would consequently return the case file to the state Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu (now retiring) for reassignment.

Counsel to one of the accused persons, Mr Kennedy Amos, reacting to Justice Orji’s withdrawal, said the “Bar is pleased with the decision of the judge in the interest of justice and to avoid casting aspersions on the

drawal or substitution of a charge. Okocha termed the application as misconceived, adding that the Prosecution was wrong to have cited a section that dealt with application amended in a matter where withdrawal and substitution of charge were involved.

In his ruling, Justice Nyordee granted the application and proceeded to strike out the previous charge. Lawal Segun, Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril, Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel who have been in custody since last year in connection with the murder then took their plea, so was John Ayuwu (aka Johny Barbar) who was being included.

They pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of murder and negligence.

Godwins told the court that the accused committed the offence contrary to sections 319(1) and 515 of the Criminal Code Law of Rivers State (1999).

,

I know the accused persons and the victims. My hands are tied in this matter. I am sitting between the devil and the deep blue sea

judiciary.

On the 1st of August, a new Judge, Justice L.L. Nyordee took over and the Solicitor General in Rivers State, Rufus N Godwins, led the prosecution instead of the DPP. The Prosecution, however added one more suspect arrested by the police, increasing the number of suspects standing trial to 12.

Following the additional suspect, Godwin asked the court for substitution of the charges earlier filed against the eleven suspects.

Counsel for the 9th accused, Chief O.C.J. Okocha, (SAN) objected that arraignment ought to precede application for with-

,

The accused were represented by counsels. The 3rd and 8th accused who lacked legal representation at the last sitting were represented by a team from the Legal Aid Council, led

by Jane Frances Bianeyi.

After the plea, the Prosecutor adopted the criminal indictments with proofs of evidence filed against the accused and expressed the readiness to call its first witness but urged the court to remand the accused in custody.

Counsel to the first accused, Joshua Kehinde told the court that the crime for which the accused are charged are mere allegation as the law deemed them innocent until proven oth-

the streets on which they were paraded naked were taken in course of investigation. He said these documents added to web extracts of the video clips of the killing formed part of exhibits attached to the case file submitted to the prosecution.

Attempt by the prosecution counsel to tender Rivers State Solicitor General Rufus Godwins addressing Journalist during the Trial the said of suspects in the Murder of Four UNIPORT Student last year. Photo: Nwankpa p h o t o g r a p h s / Chijioke video as exhibits were objected to erwise. He told the court that command in the Homicide Deby 10 of the 12 defendants. he had filed bail application for partment of the Rivers State The court fixed the ruling on his client and was ready to move Criminal Investigation Departthe admissibility of the exhibits the motion. ment (SCID) told the court some for a later date, August 15th The motion, however, could of his findings which he had Sitting also provided an not be heard as judge deposed in an affidavit on the opportunity to hear adjourned the matter till August death of the four youths. applications for bail of each of 15 for hearing on bail applicaEzeji said, “On October 5, the accused persons. All 12 in tions realising that some 2013; my department received separate applications urged the lawyers were yet to file theirs a report of the gruesome murder court to admitt them to bail, and some files were yet to reach of four undergraduate students stressing that bail is their conthe Prosecution. of UNIPORT at Aluu. stitutional right irrespective of When trial resumed on August the gravity of the offence 15th, the Prosecution led by the Gruesome alleged to have been Solicitor-General, Rivers State murder committed.

Ministry of Justice, Rufus Godwins opened the trial with “The report we received was Lighter the first Prosecution Witness, that these four boys were Raphael Ezeji, a Senior Police stripped naked, paraded with punishment Officer who led investigation jubilation and about to be set 5th Accused, 16-year-old into the Aluu Four killings. ablaze at Omuokiri Aluu. As a Abiodun Yusuf, urged the court Two sets of suspects were on result, the police division trial on separate charges. Isiokpo dispatched a combined to grant him bail, considering Charged with murder are: team to rescue the victims, but his age. His counsel, Lawal Segun, Ex-Sgt. Lucky because of the distance between G.B.Sanusi, told the court that Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi the scene of crime and Isiokpo, Yusuf as minor was not sup(aka Kapoon), David Chinasa they had hung condemned tyres posed to be tried together with Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, on their necks, while some other accused persons in the Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril and others were with dog, hounding open court.

Counsel to the second set of John Ayuwu. them. defendants, including Alhaji Traditional Ruler of Aluu, “The crowd they met on the Alhaji. Hassan Welewa; scene when they arrived were Welewa urged the court to Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma shouting ‘kill them, kill them’. grant them bail, saying their Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Before the police could rescue offences carry lighter punishSamuel are facing a charge of them, they had already poured ment of two years if convicted.

They told the court, that they negligence. petrol on them and lit fire.” have already spent close to one Ezeji, Deputy Superintendent Ezeji said photographs of the of Police (DSP) and second in- remains of the deceased and year in detention over the matter for allegation of negligent, to wit felony to prevent murder, crime and misdemeanour.

The prosecution objected to the bail applications and urged the court to dismiss their applications for lack in merit. Prosecutor Godwins recognised the court’s discretion to grant bail but argued that due to the serious nature of the offences, it would be unusual for any court to consider granting bail without convincing reasons.

The case was adjourned till October 17 for ruling on the bail application.

46—V anguard 46—Vanguard anguard,, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

What's age got to do with it? (2)

By AWA KALU, SAN

W

HAT needs to be restated immediately is that several statutes and legal instruments contain age restrictions with regard to certain matters or transactions. A few examples will suffice. The Electoral Act which is extant provides for eligibility considerations with regard to registration of a person as voter.

Aside from being a citizen of Nigeria, the prospective voter must be ordinarily resident, work in, and originate from the local government area council or ward covered by the registration centre.

Apart from other considerations stated in the Act, a person who has not attained the age of 18 years cannot be registered as a voter.

The Labour Act equally prescribes an age restriction with regard to Apprenticeship. For instance, any young person of the age of sixteen years or above, not being under any contract of apprenticeship may apprentice himself for any term not exceeding five years to any trade or employment in which art or skill is required. The Act further provides that the parent or, in the case of an orphan, the guardian

marriage under the Act to be a free-for-all.

Accordingly, it is safe to suggest that since marriage should not be an undertaking that should be entered lightly, it is presumed that the age of twenty-one is sufficient for either party to understand the dimensions of that institution and should either party be below the prescribed age, the consent of either parent or in a recognized circumstance, of the guardian, would suffice to trigger such marriage. What would seem logical is that the law, as well as public policy, frown against persons of immature age venturing into what may pass for adult ‘enterprises’. Of immaturity, the criminal code takes significant cognizance of what is called “immature age”.

Accordingly, a person under the age of seven years is not criminally responsible for any act or omission. Beyond that age, the code makes a slight adjustment with regard a person under the age of twelve. A person under the age of twelve is not criminally responsible for an act or omission, unless it is proved that at the time of doing the act or making the omission he (or she) had capacity to know that he ought not to do

,

The heartwarming provisions of the Act in so far as the girl child is concerned is to be found in sections 21 and 22 which make unequivocal provisions with regard to child marriage and child betrothal

of a young person above the age of twelve years and under the age of sixteen years may, with the consent of that person testify by his execution of a written contract of apprenticeship, apprentice that person to an employer to train him or have him trained systematically for a trade or employment in which art or skills is required, or as a domestic servant, for any term not exceeding five years.

In addition, where a young person above the age of twelve years and under the age of sixteen years is without known parents or a guardian, an authorized labour officer may authorize the apprenticeship of the person to execute the written contract of the apprenticeship and act generally as guardian of that young person.

In terms of marriage, the Marriage Act provides that if either party to an intended marriage, not being a widower or widow, is under twenty-one years of age, the written consent of the father or mother, or if both be dead or of unsound mind or absent from Nigeria, of the guardian of such party, must be produced annexed to such affidavit … before a licence can be granted or a certificate issued. What is clear from the Marriage Act is that the draftsman did not intend

,

the act or make the omission. For a male person under the age of twelve years, he is presumed under the criminal code to be incapable of having carnal knowledge. It may be argued that the provision of the criminal code referred to above arises from the well known requirement at common law that to be guilty of an offence, the presumed offender must act with a guilty mind – mens rea. Lord Reid in

AWA KALU, SAN Sweet v. Parsley (1970) A.C. 132 emphasized this statement of the law when he held that ‘to make a man liable to imprisonment for an offence which he does not know that he is committing and is unable to prevent is repugnant to the ordinary man’s conception of justice and brings the law to contempt’.

There are many other sections of the criminal code that convincingly shield girls from sexual predators. A clear example is to be found in section 218 which provides that any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of thirteen years is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life, with or without caning. An attempt to have unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of thirteen years is also a felony and the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of fourteen years.

To underscore the hostility of the law to child predators, any Householder who permits the defilement of a girl under the age of thirteen years on his premises is guilty of an offence. Section 219 of the criminal code is emphatic that any person who, being the

owner or occupier of any premises, or having or acting, or assisting in the management or control of any premises, induces or knowingly permits any girl of such age as in this section of this code mentioned to resort to or be in or upon such premises for the purpose of being unlawfully carnally known by any man, whether a particular man or not, is guilty of an office. If the girl is above thirteen and under sixteen years of age, he is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable to imprisonment for two years, with or without caning. If the girl is under the age of thirteen years, he is guilty of felony, and is liable to imprisonment for life, with or without caning.

There are other sections of the code which prohibit the indecent treatment of girls under sixteen; causing or encouraging the seduction or prostitution of a girl under sixteen or allowing persons under sixteen to be in brothels.

Section 222A of the code is broad in its categorization of persons within its purview and is to the effect that whoever, having the custody, charge or care of a girl under the age of sixteen years, causes or encourages the

seduction, unlawful carnal knowledge or prostitution of, or the commission of an indecent assault upon, such a girl, shall be liable to imprisonment for two years. For the purposes of that section, a person shall be deemed to have caused or encouraged the seduction, unlawful carnal knowledge or prostitution of, or the commission of an indecent assault, a girl who has been seduced, unlawfully carnally known, or indecently assaulted, or who has become a prostitute, if he has knowingly allowed her to consort with, or to enter or continue in the employment of, any prostitute or person of known immoral character.

The protection afforded persons of young age is so prevalent that even the Evidence Act, 2011 protects them from being indiscriminately invited or tendered as witnesses in active litigation. The Act thus provides that in any proceedings in which a child has not attained the age of fourteen years is tendered as a witness, such a child shall not be sworn and shall give evidence otherwise than on oath or affirmation, if in the opinion of the court, he is possessed of sufficient intelligence to justify the reception of his evidence and understand the duty of speaking the truth.

Only recently, the Child Rights Act was enacted and though it exists as an enactment of the National Assembly, it has been replicated in the laws of several states. The heartwarming provisions of the Act in so far as the girl child is concerned is to be found in sections 21 and 22 which make unequivocal provisions with regard to child marriage and child betrothal.

While section 21 of the Act renders a marriage contracted with a girl under the age of 18 years null and void and of no effect whatsoever section 22 prohibits child betrothal. Having regard to the foregoing, it may be difficult to understand the brouhaha that has been occasioned by the rather restricted proceedings in the National Assembly concerning the renunciation of citizenship under section 29 of the Constitution. Has any person over-reacted?

NLS Class of 85 honours Imoke, others

N

IGERIAN Law School class of 85 is to honour Cross River State First Lady, Barrister (Mrs.) Obioma Liyel-Imoke who is a member of the class and four judges as well as the outgoing Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr Tahir Mamman at its Annual Reunion in Calabar.

The event will take place during the Nigeria Bar Association NBA’s Annual General Conference AGCs which holds in Calabar between August 26th – 31st. Also, the ceremony will herald the launch of the Nigerian Law School endowment fund by the class preparatory to the school’s 50th

anniversary celebrations.

Among the leading judges to be honoured are Hon. Justice John Olabisi Ige of the Court of Appeal; Hon. Justice Anwuri Chike of the Federal High Court; Hon. Justice Kulu Aliyu (OFR), Chief Judge of Zamfara State, and Hon. Justice John Tsoho also of the Federal High Court. Others are Ambassador Obed Wadzani,

former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain with concurrent accreditation to the Vatican; Barr.

Francis Ekwere, 3rd Vice President of the NBA, and Barr.

John Asein, Director/Head, Nigerian Copyright Institute and consultant to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The awardees except

Mamman, are all members of the 1985 class at the Nigerian Law School, and were chosen in line with the mandate of the body to identify and reward deserving class members who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.

The reunion will be hosted by Her Excellency, Obioma LiyelImoke.

...Class 2003 holds luncheon

A

LSO class of 2003 of NLS holds its luncheon August 27, at the Dannic Hotel, in Calabar, as part of activities to mark its 10th year

anniversary.

The class in a statement signed jointly by its chairman Kabir Akanbi and secretary Olutunde Abegunde, added

that the class intended to mobilise resources for the development of the Alma Mater.

Vanguard, T HURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—47 THURSDAY,

Review of the Corporate Immigration Framework

BY OLIVIA AGBAJOH

Overview: IGERIA is a nation with a fast-growing market that attracts a considerable amount of foreign investment.

However, companies wishing to employ foreign nationals in Nigeria must first obtain the consent of the Director of Immigration, while persons entering into Nigeria for business purposes must obtain the consent of the Minister of Interior in writing.

2.Section 34 of the Immigration Act provides that companies cannot employ a foreign national without the permission of the Director of Immigration, except in cases where the Minister of Interior grants a waiver or exemption by notice.

The different kinds of permits that may be granted upon application are as follows: Business permit A business permit is a permanent authorisation issued to foreign investors wishing to establish a business in Nigeria either as a branch or as a subsidiary, and enables such company to carry out its local operations legally.

Any foreign company wishing to carry on business in Nigeria must first obtain a business permit by applying to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment and Promotion Commission and gain the consent of the Minister of Interior. In addition, it must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria in compliance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

N

Joint ventures 2 Section 8(1) Immigration Act Cap 11 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (‘LFN’) 2004 (‘the Immigration Act’).

3 The Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN 2004.

Nigeria is granted to only joint venture and wholly foreignowned companies, and that it does not enable holders to seek employment in Nigeria.

Temporary work permit (‘TWP’) Any company wishing to engage the services of a foreign national for a short term is required to apply to the Comptroller General of Immigration for its approval of the permit; the application must be submitted at the Nigerian embassy where the expatriate resides.

Subject to regularisation visa (‘STR visa’) This type of visa is issued at the Nigerian Mission upon application and presentation by the employer company of specified documents. Upon approval, the STR visa is issued with a 90-day validity period, and the employer company must, within this 90-day period, submit an application to

the Comptroller General of Immigration to regularise the stay of the prospective employee. After the stay of the expatriate has been regularised by the Comptroller General of Immigration, the expatriate will be issued a combined expatriate residence permit and aliens card (‘CERPAC’).

CERPAC A CERPAC card allows an expatriate to live and work in Nigeria. There are two types: a. the CERPAC green card, which is issued to Commonwealth indigenes; and b. the CERPAC alien brown card, which is issued to nonCommonwealth indigenes.

There are three types of forms for different categories of persons that are obtainable at the Nigerian Immigration Service or Afribank Nigeria Plc for applications for a CERPAC: a. CR (concessionary) forms issued to expatriates who are missionaries, students and nonEconomic Community of West African States (‘ECOWAS’) African nationals; b. AO forms issued to expatriate nationals and persons with special immigration status; and c. AR forms issued to exempted persons such as diplomats, government officials, Nigerian spouses and nongovernmental organisations.

Expatriate quota The expatriate quota is an official

permit given to qualified companies. It allows them to employ individual expatriates to occupy specific positions in the company. The permit specifies the duration that is permissible for such employment.

These permits are granted for periods of up to five years, and are subject to renewal upon application by those companies that need to engage the services

difficulty filling a quota position or promoting an expatriate, it may apply to the Internal Affairs Minister for a re-designation of quota.

A company may apply for a restoration of quota when it has failed to utilise its quota positions.

In order for a company to successfully apply for this restoration, it must first present good reasons for its failure to utilise

of a foreign national.

There are two categories of the expatriate quota that may be granted: a. a permanent until renewed quota is issued for positions that will be occupied permanently (e.g., board of director and managing director positions). A foreign company is consequently able to protect its investment with the grant of this type of quota; and b. a temporary quota is issued for positions that will be occupied temporarily.

Where a company encounters

its quota position.

The Nigerian Immigration Service also utilises three distinct mechanisms in carrying out its operations: a. inspectorate visits to companies in order to establish whether expatriates are in fact transferring their relevant skills to local employees, if this is the primary purpose of their employment; b. investigation of breaches4 (i.e., by verifying the veracity of any adverse intelligence report received against any expatriate);

and c. enforcement of appropriate penalties where breaches have been established.

4. Such as companies bringing in foreigners to work in Nigeria on visiting visas, then paying someone in the Nigerian Immigration Service to protect these workers, who are working illegally in Nigeria.

One specific investigation involved a Chinese syndicate specialised in f o r g i n g Nigerian immigration documents.

The syndicate w a s apprehended by immigration officials in 2010, and the syndicate members were arrested by the police.

Despite their forgery activity, which is a serious criminal offence under Nigeria’s criminal laws, the only punishment the Chinese parties involved in the syndicate received was deportation. It should be noted that the same Chinese citizens can easily change their passports and return to Nigeria again. It seems certain that, if a Nigerian had committed the same or a similar offence in China, he or she would have been sentenced to serve a jail term.

To be continued

Only states can legislate on hotel business regulation IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA ON FRIDAY THE 19TH DAY OF JULY, 2013 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS

43 Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette of July 20, 2010; ALOMA MARIAM MUKHTAR HON. CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA and IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT (c) Hotel JOHN AFOLABI FABIYI JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT Occupancy and SULEIMAN GALADIMA JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT Restaurant ConMUSA DATTIJO MUHAMMAD JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT sumptiomaw STANLEY SHENKO ALAGOA JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT No. 30, Volume SC. 340/2010 42 Lagos State of Nigeria BETWEEN: HON. MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND Official Gazette ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF FEDERATION …

PLAINTIFF of June AND 23, 2009.”

HONOURABLE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF FACTS LAGOS STATE …DEFENDANT On 23rd JUDGMENT April, 2013, this (Delivered By SULEIMAN GALADIMA, JSC) matter was heard. Learned Counsel for the plaintiff T. O. Busari, N the other hand, Esq. identified the Plaintiff ’s the Defendant on its part forOriginating Summons issued out mulated the following issues for on31st August,2010withsupporting determinationin theresolving ofthis Affidavit of 22 paragraphs and a case: number of documents marked as “(i) Whether regulation, Exhibits. He also referred to the registration, classification and Plaintiff’s Brief of Argument case grading of Hotels, guest houses, AddresswhichisattachedtotheWrit motels, restaurants, travel and tour of Summons. agencies and other hospitality and The fulcrum of the plaintiff’s case tourism related establishments are matters in the Exclusive and Con- the provision of the Nigerian Tourism is that by virtue of item 60 (d) of the current Legislative List and outside Development Act, Cap N.137, LFN: Second Schedule part 1 of the 1999 the legislative power of Lagos State (a) Hotel Licencing Law Cap. Constitution, matters pertaining to House of Assembly.

H6 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria the regulation, registration, classification, and grading of Hotels, (ii) Whether the following 2003; laws of the Lagos State are invalid (b) Hotel Licencing Motels, Guest inns, Apartments, by reason of their inconsistency with (Amendment) Law No.23 Volume Tour operating outfits, Restaurants,

O

Travel Agencies, Cafeteria, Fast Food Outlets and other tourist related establishments are under the exclusive legislative list of the 1999Constitution.Itissubmittedthat matters pertaining to these enumerated items come under the exclusive legislative list, therefore the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Lagos State Government have no power to legislate and promulgate laws on these matters.

According to the Plaintiff, their position is fortified by the provisions of the “Tourist Traffic Act” from other jurisdiction particularly the Tourist Traffic Act, 1939 of the Republic of Ireland which deals essentially with items such as enumerated in the exclusive Legislative of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is in the light of the above stance of the Plaintiff, that this Court is being urged to declare that: the HotelLicensingLawCap116Lagos State of Nigeria 2003, the Hotel Licensing(Amendment)LawNo.23 volume 43 Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette of 2010 July, 2010 and the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law No.30 Volume 42 Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette of 23rd June, 2009, are illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever..

To be continued

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

FG pensioners in Lagos lament unpaid benefits

called to come to Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, to fill one form after another. Sometimes, we sleep at Awolowo Road on the bare floor, for us to be attended to. In spite of that, nothing had come out of it.

There were heart rendering tales of several pensioners who retired in 1996, 1999, 2000 and so on without receiving a single kobo till date.

Stories were told of pensioners who are now blind, crippled, bedridden, abandoned at homes, hospitals, on the streets and other places without money as their pensions and other benefits are not forthcoming.

Some are even lamenting that death appears to be a better option that life.

It was only in 2010 October that I was paid, since then, no payment. My children in school, I can’t provide for them. Anytime they come back, we all starve and they will cry all day till they go back. There is nobody to help me except God, my husband died since 2003.

I do not have anybody to help in anything, not even for my children school fees and upkeep. Please, help us plead with the Federal Government to come to our aid.

They should have mercy on us and pay us our pension. We are not asking for what is not ours. We worked for it. It is our due. I have since exhausted my savings and I am now indebted to so many people. When my children come from school, I cannot watch them cry themselves to death without doing anything.

I will go out to friends and neighbours to borrow for my children to go back to school.

Accommodation has been very difficult. I have done several verification exercises all to no avail.

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

T

HE Lagos office of the Ni geria Labour Congress, NLC, Yaba, venue of election of officials of the Federal Civil Servants, Lagos branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, last Friday, provided an avenuefor hundreds of pensioners to pour out their frustration and anger over years of unpaid pensions and other benefits.

Although one Dele Joseph, was elected Chairman of the branch amidst protest, it was the tale of woes of pensioners that

Muftau Baruwa, Senior foreman in the Federal Minis-

,

I think death is better than this suffering. Most times, I will go into the streets to beg for money to feed

stole the show.

Certainly, Joseph and his new executive have a lot of work to do to ensure that the senior citizens are not only paid their pensions as at when due, but accumulated arrears over the years are paid as well.

,

try of Works and Housing, who retired since 11 years and three months ago, said he was just a living dead, saying "I served 35 years and received merit award twice by the Federal Government through two different level 14 officers. I joined the ser-

Muftau Baruwa vice on 19 May, 1967 and I retired May 25, 2002. As we speak, I have not been paid a kobo, both my gratuity and pension. I have been to the hospital twice since my retirement.

During this period, I lost my father, my mother and one of my sons.

Please, use your position to appeal to government to consider me and pay me my entitlements. I think death is better than this suffering. Most times, I will go into the streets to beg for money to feed. Severally, for two days I will not feed. Before, I was very fat, now I am very skinny. Please, let government pay me my ben-

Mrs .Thompson Imakop efits. If I can get my money now and die a year later, it will be better than this suffering.

It is shameful for a grown up man, not handicapped to be forced into the streets to beg for alms. Now I am losing my sight and do not have money to go to the hospital."

Mrs Thompson Imakop, a retiree from the National Bureau of Statistics, retired in 2007, was only paid in 2010, lamenting that before and after 2010, she had not received a dime as pension.

According to her: "Since we were retired, no kobo was paid to me. Everytime, we would be

Why Pension Reform Act 2004 needs amendment—PenCom Continues from last week xvii. Provision of Additional Benefits (S. 4(4) of the Bill) There were serious and persistent complaints by stakeholders against the abolition of gratuity under the PRA 2004. The issues was extensively discussed and there was consensus among stakeholders that a provision should be inserted in the PRA that would allow the employer and the employees to agree, through collective bargaining, on payment of additional benefits upon retirement or cessation of employment.

The amendment in the 2013 Bill seeks to address this agitation of labour for a provision on gratuity in addition to the pension. xviii. Protection of RSAs from Garnishee Proceedings (S. 116 of the Bill) The PRA 2004 only protects the pension fund assets from attachment in the execution of judgment debt or winding up proceedings for Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs). However, no protection is given to pension fund assets in the event of attachment, garnishee proceedings or injunctive reliefs against RSAs or PFAs. The PRA 2013 Bill therefore seeks to protect the pension assets in Retirement Savings Account (RSA) from being subject to these, attachment, injunctive and gar-

cal variations. A provision to that effect had been inserted into the PRA 2013 Bill. xxi. Consolidation of Previous Legislations Amending the PRA 2004 S. 5 of the Bill) The PRA 2013 Bill seeks to consolidate earlier amendments to the PRA 2004, which were passed by the National Assembly.

Acting Director-General of PenCom, Chinalo Anohu-Amazu

nishee orders. xix. Licensing Requirements of Pension Operators (S. 60 – 64 of the Bill) The PRA 2013 Bill also amended the provisions on the minimum capital requirement for Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians have been reviewed upwards to bring it in line with current realities. xx.Adoption of the CPS by States and Local Governments (Ss. 2 & 3 of the Bill) Given the clear benefits recorded from the implementation of the CPS by the Federal Government and the private sector, there is a consensus among stakeholders on the need to provide the framework that would facilitate the adoption of the CPS by States and Local Governments subject to lo-

University professors These include the Pension Reform (Amendment) Act 2011 which exempts the personnel of the Military and the Security Agencies from the CPS as well as the Universities (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2012, which reviewed the retirement age and benefits of University Professors. Furthermore, the Bill seeks to incorporate the amendment to the 1999 Constitution vide the Third Alteration Act which vests jurisdiction on pension matters in the National Industrial Court. xxii. Interpretation (S. 120 of the Bill) In order to remove ambiguity from the Act and for clarity of interpretations, the 2013 Bill defines a number of terms used in the PRA 2004 as well as new terms introduced by the amendments.

xxiii.Editorials There were significant editorial errors observed in some provisions of the PRA 2004 both in terms of spellings and cross referencing.

Consequently, the 2013 Bill seeks to effect the necessary corrections.

3-0 Further Recommendations 3.1 Following a review of the provisions of the PRA 2013 Bill, the Commission observed that certain provisions needs further review in order to remove ambiguity in their wordings and enhance their implementation. Accordingly, we would like to further recommend as follows: a ) Years of Qualifying Experience for the Director-General and Commissioners (S. 26(2)(d) and S. 26(5) of the Bill): The PRA 2013 Bill reviewed the provision of the 2004 Act with respect to qualifying years of experience for the Director-General such that the requirement is graduated in descending order from that of the Chairman at 20 years to that of the Director-General at 15 years. It also stipulates a requirement for 15 years qualifying years of experience for the Commissioners, who act for the Director-General in his absence.

There is no such requirement for Commissioners under the PRA 2004.

It would appear that specifying

a minimum of 15 years experience for the Director-General of the Commission and the Commissioners seeks to fortify the standard and streamline it with the requirements in other Government Institutions in the financial Services industry.

For instance, a review of Section 8 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007 and Section 8 of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Act 2006 showed that no qualifying years of experience is stipulated for appointment to the positions of the CBN Governor and Deputy Governors and Managing Director and Executive Directors of the two institutions respectively.

Section 3(2) of the Investment and Securities Act 2007 stipulated 15 years experience for the Director-General and 12 years experience for the Executive Directors of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Section 10(2) of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Act 1997 also stipulated 15 years experience for appointment as Commissioner of Insurance. The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990 stipulates 10 years experience for appointment as Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Continues next week

Vanguard, THURSD AY, AUGUST 22, 2013 —49 THURSDA

Amazing therapeutic effects of water

BY KOSISO UDEMBA

It is the main lubricant in the joint spaces and helps prevent arthritis and back pain. It helps to prevent from cancer and kidney disorders.

Drinking Water revs up your metabolism.

D

ID you know that drink ing water in the morning upon waking up can have amazing therapeutic effects for a multitude of health conditions—ranging from pain to asthma to cancer? Do you love drinking water? If you don’t, think twice.

Experts say six glasses of water (one litre)will have an astonishing effect on your health. Without spending money on medicine or paying for diagnosis and doctor ‘s fees, just by drinking safe water, a host of diseases will be prevented. The health benefits of drinking water are enormous. Its therapeutic effect is amazing.

Water therapy Drinking water early in the morning improves your health and makes you energetic. You can live five to seven weeks without food, but the average adult cannot live more than five days without water. Despite the many benefits of drinking water, many Nigerians start their day with coffee or tea.

Studies have shown that drinking water first thing in the morning on an empty

Avoid dehydration

• Water gives life stomach purifies the body’s internal system. An especially important result of this treatment is that it cleanses the colon, which makes the body much more able to absorb nutrients from food.

Water therapy is said to be 100 percent cure for arthritis, epilepsy, bronchitis, Tuberculosis,(TB), meningitis, diarrhea, throat diseases among others. Research has also proved that water therapy can cure these conditions very rapidly on its own—with no other medical treatments.

Water therapy alleviates constipation within a single day, diabetes within one week, and hypertension, asthma piles and even cancer within a month.

Benefits Water is involved in every function of our bodies. Our body contains 70 percent of water. Our Muscles contain 75 percent water; our brain cells contain 85 percent water, our blood contains approximately 82 percent water, even our bones contain 25 percent water.

Drinking water increases the production of new blood and muscle cells, helps with weight loss. Drinking at least 16ounces of chilled water can boost your metabolism by 24 percent in the morning. Water also increases the efficiency of immune system.

Furthermore, Water is one of the good medications for ulcer and digestive problems.

Dehydration is the body’s enemy. It slows bodily functions and metabolism.

As a matter of fact, your metabolism will slow to conserve energy when you haven’t had enough water to drink, as your organs can’t and won’t function as efficiently. Scientifically, drinking water has been proven to contribute to your the body’s ability to burn calories.

You body needs an adequate amount of water to properly function, especially during exercise, and dehydration prohibits the fat-burning process.

Drinking water regularly flushes toxins from your body’s system, including those produced during exercise. It aids in keeping joints lubricated—very important for both daily functions and in preventing your body from injury during exercise.

Drinking water is also vital to weight loss. If you are working out regularly, drinking an adequate amount of water is extremely important.

Health tip Immediately upon waking in the morning, drink at least five glasses of water. Do not eat or drink anything else for one hour prior to and after drinking the water.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

P

LEASE I need your help. I am married but I have a girlfriend. I don’t see her often except for when I am in Port Harcourt. Anyway two weeks ago, she called to say that she is four months pregnant. I nearly collapsed when I heard this and my whole world is upside down. I don’t know what to do. If my wife hears about this, my marriage is over. Please I need advice. This girl has decided that she will keep the baby. I am going crazy here – John Dear John, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are going to be a father in five months’ time. The bad news is that there is nothing you can do about it. There comes a time in the life of a man when he has to face the music. This is one of those times. Sorry. There is no advice or product that I can recommend to change the course of history. So this is the part where you have to start preparing for the future outcome of this pregnancy. If you have kids already, this just means that when you make your budget for food, shelter and school fees in the near future, that would be plus one.

As for the possibility of your wife leaving you, she may or she may not leave you. Women react differently to these things. Many women refuse to leave their husbands in times like this because for them, that will mean that the other woman has won the fight and they wouldn’t want their loss to be another woman’s gain. Whatever happens though, she will not forgive you.

An ordinary affair is a bit different. In time, one might forget. But when there is a child somewhere that is not her own, she will always be reminded that her husband is a cheat. How you manage your life from here is totally up to your natural ability at damage control. Should you tell your wife now or tell her later? I am not sure it makes much of a difference. But I will say that the earlier the better. It is

one thing to have a kid out of wedlock but to hide it for years makes it look even worse.

John I wish you luck and please stop screwing around. Sometimes, there are consequences just like the one you are facing now – Uche Dear Mr Edochie, I am a man in my early fifties and my wife is in her late forties and our sex life has gone down. I struggle to get an erection and when achieved, it is weak. For my wife, the vagina is so loose that the needed friction for enjoyment is not there. I am very careful with drugs because of their side effects but I need help and I need your advice on products for us to use to come alive again – Okonkwo Dear Mr Okonkwo, the loss of erection is common for men your age. As we get older, our sexual functions begin to diminish bit by bit. Of course there are products that can help you but in your case, the most effective solution is an erection drug. But we normally recommend the natural ones because they are more body friendly. So you can go for Exploding Thunder supplement or Xzen 1200. They will improve your erections drastically and work for days with just one capsule. For your wife, she needs to start her pelvic exercises with Orgasm Balls. She also needs to use a vagina tightening lubricant during intercourse. Ask for Like a Virgin Tightening Gel or Tight Stuff Oriental Oil. The above products will get you sex life back to full strength and take it even higher – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

STORIES BY VINCENT UJUMADU

PDP aspirants price delegates at N20,000

A

T least three persons sustained injuries at the collation centre in Awka on Tuesday after the rerun of the ward congresses ordered by the PDP as supporters of some governorship aspirants fought over the list of delegates that emerged from the field.

Meanwhile, it emerged that some aspirants were already pricing the delegates at the starting price of N20,000 per delegate.

The leadership of PDP had declared the congress conducted last week inconclusive in 92 political wards across the state and decided to conduct rerun

Marble Arch Hotel, Awka, fracas ensued. A campaign director of one of the aspirants told Vanguard that there was no congress in nine wards in Anaocha, but some party members wanted to smuggle in names from those wards.

It was also gathered that there was no congress at all in exercises in those wards.

In Anaocha local government, some of the aspirants allegedly compiled names of persons that were not elected in the field and as they wanted to submit the list at the collation center at the

Awka monarch berates colleagues

Zoning:

T

HE traditional ruler of Awka and Deputy Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, Obi Gibson Nwosu, has berated his colleagues, who have dabbled into partisan politics without reservation.

Obi Nwosu, in an interview, subtly chided some traditional rulers mostly those from the Anambra North agitating for the zoning of the governorship to the zone on account of the fact the region has never produced a governor of the state.

According to him, the traditional rulers are going out of their bounds.

While chiding some of them for dabbling into the controversy over zoning, Obi Nwosu opined that the office

of governor should not be zoned.

“My colleagues who are engaged in partisan politics are not doing the right thing.

Though Governor Peter Obi said he would support the next governor to come from Anambra North, but that is not enough reason for traditional rulers to be engaging in unguarded political statements and hosting political meetings.

“I don’t think it is right to say that the North had been excluded in the governorship race as they had been participating in the previous elections. My opinion is that the governorship race should be thrown open and whoever wins should govern the state.

We should allow the best candidate to emerge.”

Obaze: My

T

HE National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Chief Sam Nkire, has raised an alarm over alleged threats to the lives of aspirants jostling to contest the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State under its platform.

Nkire who raised the alarm while speaking in Abuja, said the PPA aspirants are being threatened by anonymous telephone callers, asking them not to venture to run for the election because they know how far we can go.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Inspector General of Police, to

direct the Commissioner of Police, CP, in Anambra State to come to the aid and protection of PPA aspirants in Anambra State. PPA aspirants are being threatened by telephone calls, are being asked not to venture to run for the election because they know how far we can go.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the president of Nigeria to instruct the Inspector General of Police and t h e Commissioner

delegates is authentic.

A campaign director of a governorship aspirant said some PDP members approached him with a fake list containing 978 names and demanded that he should be given N20000 for each of the delegates if he wanted to emerge the PDP governorship candidate.

voter’s card story

F

ORMER secretary to the State Government, SSG of Anambra State, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who was among those disqualified by the screening panel of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the November 16 governorship election, has blamed external forces for the outcome of the exercise. To him, what happened in Abuja was beyond the party.

He said: “I was outside the country when all previous voters’ registrations were done. The exercise is supposed to be a continuous exercise, but this has not been happening. For me, I was waiting for the registration exercise to begin, but APGA’s date for the submission of forms came before the commencement of the exercise..

“Because INEC did not start the exercise before the dead line for the submission of the APGA form came, I explored the possibility of registering outside the state, but the condition is that I should register in my ward where I will vote.

“So, while completing the nomination form, I filled ‘No’ where it was asked if I have a voter’s card and that was it. I

PPA chair raises alarm over assassination threats

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

Ayamelum local government, even as a certain governorship aspirant came up with a list of persons he claimed were elected in the field.

At the hotel yesterday, various versions of the delegates lists were circulating and collation officials were having a hectic time deciding which the lists of

of Police, CP, in Anambra state to please protect PPA aspirants in Anambra State.

They see us as an underdog but we are not underdog. The people who are involved in politicking in Anambra State know the strength of PPA."

•Obaze went on appeal committee which I believe had 48 hours window but unfortunately it fell on

weekend.

"I had thought the window period would enable me obtain the card since INEC began the exercise on Monday as I was sure I could obtain it and submit it in Abuja by 3 pm which falls before the close of work.

The appeal committee however refused and once they did that, I knew that was the end of that process.”

He said further: “In my desire to be governor of Anambra State, I never saw it as a life and death matter. The loss is not personal to me and I believe that time will tell. I don’t feel bitter in any way because what is happening is beyond APGA. The jigsaw is still in place and we are watching.

My vision for women, by Ubah

BY DAPO AKINREFON

L

ABOUR Party governorship aspirant Chief Ifeanyi Ubah has promised to ensure women participation in his administration if voted.

Ubah said: “One of my administration’s top priorities will be the socio-economic and political empowerment of women. In furthering my position that women should play a greater role in Anambra, 25 per cent of all my executive appointments will be women and measures will be put in place to ensure that women are well represented across the government.

"We will also ensure that the next generation of women leaders are properly educated.

We will invest in girl-child education and technical training projects geared toward women."

In addition, he said “we will provide financial assistance to women to set up or grow their own businesses. As part of our healthcare reforms, we will prioritise maternal and child care and combat maternal mortality.

We will support the enactment of legislation protecting widows from all forms of abuse.”

Also explaining his foray into politics, he said it is to raise the bar of governance, “a real game changer for the good of Anambra.

I have no doubt whatsoever that

•Ubah the state stands to reap bountiful harvests of good governance, and Anambrarians will be happier for this."

"As someone who has built a successful, global business, I have a proven record of prudent investments with extensive capacities to create wealth and employment. Some wonder why I chose to run for Governor.

I believe that successful businessmen and women can make great leaders; one such icon is Nelson Rockefeller, former Governor of New York.

As Governor, Rockefeller vastly increased the state’s role in education, environmental protection, transportation, housing, healthcare, welfare and the arts. I am in the race to do the same for Anambra.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 — 51

Day Gowon invaded Urhobo land Thirty-eight years after he left office as head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, last week described the Urhobo as one of the most patriotic ethnic nationalities in the country.

BY FESTUS AHON

G

OWON was in Delta State, on August 9, to honour the invitation of the Sapele Diocese, Anglican Communion, to its 2013 synod. Received by a retinue of clergies and former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, at the Osubi Airstrip, he said the Urhobo gave him tremendous support during the Nigeria civil war.

He said the support that the Urhobo gave him during his fight for the unity of the country was unequalled.

His arrival: The retired Army General, whose aircraft landed at the rich oil city of Warri at about 1:15 pm was ushered into a black Mercedez C class belonging to Olorogun Gbagi after holding about 15 minutes closed-door meeting with some his hosts in one of the rooms at the airstrip.

He was driven amid tight security provided by the Army and men of the Department of State Security Service, DSS, to the Warri residence of Gbagi, for lunch.

He was later driven to the State

Government lodge in Warri, where he spent the night. At about 9am, the following day, General Yakubu Gowon proceeded to Sapele to attend the second synod of the Sapele Anglican Communion, tagged, ‘the Covenant Keeping God’.

Tasks religious on truthfulness: Speaking at the synod, General Yakubu Gowon told religious leaders in the country to always speak the truth while admonishing those in Government to ensure consistent improvement in the leadership of Nigeria.

Gowon, who served the country for nine years as military head of state, insisted that speaking the truth was the surest way to ensure national unity and development. He said the church must reinforce the teaching of moral instruction from the cradle.

We need God-fearing leaders to develop: Gowon held that unless Nigerian leaders imbibe the doctrine and principles of God, the country would not experience economic, social and political development, adding that “respect for the dignity of

•General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) flanked by the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Oharisi III (l) and former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi shortly before he was conferred with a chieftaincy title.

fellow humans was the practice in the Bible era when theocracy was the order of the day, when Priests and judges ruled based on instruction and laws received directly from God.” He maintained that their authority was largely unquestioned as the people saw that they led by examples because they lived according to the laws handed down by God. Gowon added that “in colonial times, one of the key requirements was that the churches as well as the citizens must continually pray for her Majesty, the Governor General and the Regional Governors and the Traditional Rulers of the Area, like, the Emir of Zaria (Zazzau) and all other political leaders.

“That was in realization of the fact that all power belongs to God, who needs to be beseeched to

guide leaders aright for the good of the people and the development of society.”

He pointed out that only a conceited leader would discountenance the place and power of God as well the wisdom and understanding that could only come from Him (God) alone.

His words: “If we look all round us, we will see land mark achievements of the church in all areas of life in Nigeria.

In the field of education, the church realized quite early that literacy was an important key to understanding the scriptures. For that reason, there was a strong interest in promoting the teaching of indigenous languages as a strong vehicle to deliver the word.

“Schools were established at all levels to teach people to read and write local languages and dialect

Opposition exist on the pages of ne wspaper newspaper wspaperss — Afolayan, PDP scribe Kwara:

SECRETARY of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Prince Yemi Afolayan, is amused whenever opposition parties boast that they can stop the PDP in Kwara.

In this interview, the former chairman of Irepodun Local Council, speaks on the politics of the state, the forthcoming rerun election in Offa Local Council and other sundry issues.

Excerpts:

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

S

OME opposition parties have merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) and vowed to defeat the ruling PDP and the Saraki dynasty at the polls, what is your reaction to this?

It is a welcome development as far as politics is concerned.

Fusing together of opposition parties under the umbrella of APC is a welcome development because it is going to make politics dynamic. But the coming together of all these opposition parties does not even make any difference to us in Kwara because we have seen them come together for a long time and they have never been able to make any appreciable impact on our people.

Kwara State is very unique. It is true we had ACN, CPC and what have you before. CPC never had any showing. I don’t even know where their state headquarters is. Talking about ACN, they tried in the last election.

ACN has a misadventure in Kwara.

APC has already lost the election we have not started because the few of them that are there, infighting is already tearing them apart. Even for 2015 that is still far away they are already fighting over who should be governor, is it Lai Mohammed or Belgore?

And I can tell you before the registration of APC, ACN had no executive, it has always been caretaker. So, APC, ACN, CPC, and what have you, are not on ground in Kwara. They only exist on the pages of newspapers. So,

•Afolayan

tomorrow you hear the National Publicity Secretary is talking in Osogbo, today the National Publicity Secretary from Kwara is talking in Lagos, you hear him talking about somebody somewhere but we are here live and direct with our people; our people know us, we know them, we know what they want and we are giving them what they want.

So, as far as we are concerned, there are lots of people who say things they have never seen, but

here in Kwara, it is different and it is good because the government of Kwara State under the leadership of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is doing wonderfully well.

He is building on the legacy left behind by his predecessor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who governed this state for eight years and gave us unprecedented development.

But the opposition doesn’t seem to appreciate this...

How do you expect the opposition to appreciate it? One interesting thing about the opposition in Kwara is this, imagine this scenario: recently, we were in the House of Assembly when the Assembly organised a public hearing on the amendment to Electoral Law and one of the stalwarts of ACN, a former member of the House of Assembly stood up to oppose it.

as well as the English language and to meet the spiritual needs of all followers of Christ and later converts. In Nigeria, the CMS built renowned schools like CMS Grammar School in Lagos.

It established the St. Andrew Teacher Training College in Oyo, Oyo State and St. John’s College in Owo, Ondo State as well as other teachers’ training institutions. “For as the Bible has enjoined us, we should teach our children the way they should go so that they will not depart from it in adulthood.

Moral rearmament Moral re-armament remain the best guarantee in this regard, we need not re-invent the wheel; we only need to obey the 10 commandments and all good moral teachings so that our nation will be healed of the legion of malaise that plagues our society.”

General Yakubu Gowon, accompanied by Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi and his political associates, left Sapele at about 3pm for the palace of the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Oharisi III on a courtesy visit to the monarch.

During the visit, the former head of state, got the palace ground at about 4pm, was welcomed with the Ughelli traditional ‘ema’ dance led by Mr Joseph Orekereke, popularly known as Jorek.

The elated king, after presentation of kola, lunch and other welcome niceties, led Gowon to the ‘Ogwan’ after he was dressed with the Urhobo traditional wrapper.

Sitting on his throne, HRM Oharisi III in the full glare of cameras and in the presence of his chiefs conferred General Gowon with the title of ‘ekue Nigeria gbe re’ovie’ of Ughelli kingdom.

Conferring the title on Gowon, the monarch said the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Oharisi III, said Gowon laid the foundation for the unity of Nigeria.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Court frees Hosni Mubarak held.

That retrial opened in May but Mr Mubarak has now served the maximum amount of pre-trial detention permitted in the case.

State of emergency

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N Egyptian court has ordered the release on bail of former President Hosni Mubarak in a corruption case.

Reports from Cairo suggest he may be freed from prison on Thursday and state prosecutors say there can be no appeal.

The 85-year-old still faces charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the uprising that forced him from power in 2011.

He was sentenced to life in jail last year, but a retrial was later ordered after his appeal was up-

OLICE detained a 24-year-old bodybuilder known as Volkan T. on the night of July 25 after he reportedly caused US$133,720 of damage to the jet used

by Chancellor Angela Merkel. The story hit German headlines a month ago, but it remained a mystery how Volkan managed to penetrate airport security with such ease.

German authorities are investigating how a man managed to slip through security and embark on a drug-fueled rampage around Chancellor Merkel’s jet. The scantilyclad hijacker could even have taken the fuelledup plane for a joy flight.

A police report leaked

U

S soldier convicted of handing a trove of secret government documents to anti-secrecy website Wikileaks has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Pte First Class Bradley

•Mubarak

to German press on Tuesday revealed how it took police over three hours to take the semi-naked party animal into custody. It also recommended that Germany ramp up its security in the wake of such a blatant breach.

“The investigation is fo-

cused on the charges of dangerous interference in aviation but also trespassing and damage to property. As part of that probe it’s of interest how the accused got onto the site and into the plane,” prosecutor Ulrich Bremer told Spiegel Online.

U member states have agreed to suspend export licences for any equipment that could be used for repression in Egypt, but hu-

On the night of July 25, Volkan drove from his home in Cologne to the airport, reportedly high on drugs. He succeeded in slipping past a security post by saying he had been invited to a wedding party in the officers’ quarters.

S/Africa cracks global child porn ring

S

OUTH Africa’s police have arrested six men suspected of being part of an international child pornography ring, a spokesman has said.

The suspects, who include teachers and a legal officer, are believed to have links with the US, Canada, the UK and other European countries, reports say. Images

showed children “suffering extreme forms of violence”, South Africa’s The Times newspaper reports.

The arrests were carried out following raids on 15 properties, police said. Investigators had confiscated 672 DVDs, 22 memory sticks, eight laptops, 39 external hard drives and 25 books, police spokesman Solomon Makgale added.

EU suspends arms sales to Egypt

E

accepted gifts from staterun publisher al-Ahram.

State prosecutor Ahmed el-Bahrawi was quoted

by Reuters as saying that the ruling “is final and the prosecution cannot appeal against it”.

Manning gets 35 years for leaks

Drugged German breaches Merkel's security

P

On Wednesday, the court in the capital ordered the release of Mr Mubarak, said his lawyer and judicial sources. The ruling came during a hearing on charges that the former president had

manitarian aid will continue.

The decision was announced by EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton after emergency

talks in Brussels.

She said EU governments “feel very strongly that they want to continue to support vulnerable people in Egypt”.

Historic visit: Nigerian Navy's ship, NNS THUNDER arriving Simon Town naval jetty, Cape Town, South Africa.

“The initial charge was possession, but we suspect that they’re involved in manufacturing, import and export as well as mass-distribution,” Mr Makgale told AFP news agency.

Manning, 25, was convicted in July of 20 charges against him, including espionage. Last week, he apologised for hurting the US and for “the unexpected results” of his actions.

Prosecutors had asked for a 60-year sentence in order to send a message to future potential leakers.

Pte Manning will receive a credit against his sentence of about three and a half years, including time he has already served in jail and 112 days in recompense for the harsh conditions of his initial confinement.

He could be eligible for parole in about 11 years.

On Twitter, Wikileaks called the sentence a “significant strategic victory”. After 10 weeks of legal argument, the sentencing was over in minutes.

Judge Col Denise Lind

•Manning sat in front of the Stars and Stripes and the US Army flag as she sentenced Pte Manning to 35 years in prison.

The 25-year-old defendant, in full military uniform, cut a diminutive, bespectacled figure as he sat in court, tapping his feet and rearranging his papers. But as he stood to hear her words he showed little emotion.

And his aunt, Debra van Alstyne, also seemed impassive behind him.

Syria: UN prepares to discuss gas attack

T

HE UN Security Council is preparing to hold an emergency meeting to discuss an alleged deadly gas attack in Syria.

Syria’s opposition accused the government on Wednesday of using chemical arms to strike rebel-held areas in the suburbs of Damascus, killing hundreds of people.

Videos distributed by activists, which could not be independently verified, showed medics attending to asphyxiating children and hospitals being overwhelmed. More footage showed dozens of people laid out on the ground, with no visible wounds or trauma.

There have been conflicting reports on the death toll. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based watchdog group, said that the attack killed at

least 100 people.

However, Salim Idriss, the military chief of the Free Syrian Army, told Al Jazeera that at least 1,600 were killed and hundreds more injured.

Taylor gets September date

A

verdict into the ap peal filed by exPresident Charles Taylor against his 50-years prison term is due to be handed down by judges at the UN back Special Court for Sierra Leone next month.

An aide to Taylor told this paper Monday that the actual date scheduled for the verdict next month will soon be confirmed. A source at the Special Court neither

told this paper via telephone Monday that he could neither confirmed nor deny the information but it was left with judges to make the pronouncement.

Final arguments by prosecutors and lawyers representing Taylor was done in mid-January this year before judges in the Appeals Chamber after days of submissions by both parties.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013—53

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54—

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Federation Cup: Enyimba pip Lobi 1-0, reach final •Rains halt Akwa, Wolves duel

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WO-TIME African champions, Enyimba, have reached the final of this year’s Federation Cup after defeating Lobi Stars 1-0 in a semifinal match on Wednesday.

It was a second half finish by Ifeanyi Ede that ensured the People’s Elephant reach their fifth Cup final in eight years.

Salisu Yusuf ’s men got off fast out of the blocks with the Aba club getting five corner kicks inside the opening quarter of an hour in spite of their big stars, Bishop Onyeudo, Daniel Etor, Emeka Nwanna and Victor Ezeji being cup-tied.

But Lobi Stars created the best scoring chances and their conversion proved their Achilles heels.

The best chance of the opening half saw Chi-

maobi Nwaogu’s header come off the woodwork with Enyimba goalkeeper, Femi Thomas well beaten.

In the restart, Yusuf threw in attacking winger Chimezie Amanfor and his dribble runs created problems for Lobi’s backline.

On 59 minutes, Ede turned in Bright Esieme’s assist for what turned out the winner.

In Bauchi, the other semifinals between Akwa United and Warri Wolves was called off with 10 minutes to time owing to heavy rain.

After a goalless first half, Akwa United took the lead inside the last 20 minutes through Ukeme Davies before Oghenekaro Etebo evened scored for Wolves.

No decision has been

F

IRST Lady of Ogun state, Olufunsho Amosun has made good her promise to help the state’s Uplift Under 15 Grasstoot Football team combine soccer with academics when she dispatched a 24 member team to Udinese, Italy to continue their summer training camp.

The players were selected from the Under-15 Grassroot Football Talent Hunt Competition organised during the Easter 2013 school holidays by Mrs. Olufunso Amosun.

The football competition was opened to all talented male students in government owned secondary schools in the state of between the ages of 13 and 15.

Thousands showed up

Midfield action during a Federation Cup match made on the called off game by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Enyimba now await the winners of the Akwa

United versus Warri Wolves game ahead of the September 15 Federation Cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

•As draw holds today

T

S much as people from the outside world want to portray Nigerians in bad light, some of our people help them to conclude we are really bad. The rush at airports when we want to travel is a result of the usual rush to get into cabs or the fast-disappearing molues on Lagos roads.

A visit to the departure lounge of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport will make you think there is war in Nigeria and everybody is making haste to leave. The airport officials make it worse as they keep driving people, including those who have business to do there, away, as usual, citing security reasons.

If we however limit this attitude or behaviour to our country, it is understandable as foreigners may accept it as our way of life. However, transfering some of our bad attitude outside our shores is very serious and embarrassing.

Imagine this, a Nigerian traveller on Board ASKY, a Togolese airline transiting in Lome on a journey to Abidjan, after waiting for close to one hour thirty minutes to connect to Abidjan at the Gnasingbe Eyadema International Airport in Lome, decides to do a crazy thing.

All through our stay at the departure lounge, this dark guy wearing an afro hair with a dressing that makes him look like a polished babalawo, leaves the queue at the tarmac and attempted peeing on the lawn close to where the aircraft was packed. But for the quick intervention of a ground staff who blocked him like one of those bouncers hired by the Super Eagles of Sunday Oliseh era, he would have done it in the open, the Nigerian way. Naija man must be Naija man, some of us on the queue chorused.

Antidote for Ubani, Ojeikere and 350 of them were selected and taken into a one week camp where they were fed, kitted and coached.

Her idea was to keep them occupied over the Easter break as well as identify raw talent in the kids that could be harnessed and create opportunities for identified talented players.

Speaking at the send forth party organised in their honour at the government house Abeokuta Tuesday, her excellency said, “I have done a lot of projects some of them had to do with education. So I realised that some of the students actually have talents and that’s what this is all about. In the Easter holiday period, we organised a camp whereby we called all the Under-15 students to come for a talent

UPLIFTING ...First Lady of Ogun State,Mrs Olufunsho Amosun (Middle) with the Uplift Under15 Grassroots Team. haunt show at the stadi- them to Italy the country um for a period of one known for football,” she said week.

“What they are going to “These Children standdo at Udinese is to actualing beside me here are those that were identified ly improve on their skills to have exceptional skills as they will play internain football and so to en- tional matches with some courage them and give other international football them the opportunity of teams and we are hoping becoming shining stars for that they will identify them, our nation, we are taking and take them on”.

ARS 3 national finals begin tomorrow

HE race to be crowned national champion and a ticket to represent Nigeria at the Inter-country leg of the on-going annual Airtel Rising Stars national U17 tournament will become tighter tomorrow

Naija must be Naija

A

Ogun First Lady sends U-15 football team to Italy

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

Omorodion’s diary

when the national championship gets underway in Lagos Twelve male and female teams drawn from six geo-political zones will compete for honours and the tickets to participate in the week-long

African Championship.

The teams qualified for the three-day championship after featuring in the zonal championship phase where they had to see off strong competition for the national finals tickets from other equally good teams in

their zones. They include Kaduna, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Lagos, all of which will be featuring both in the male and female categories.

Meanwhile, the draws for the match fixtures has been slated to hold today.

Before the ADC air crash I was experienced enough to know about, I never feared flying in Nigeria. Not anymore especially when the plane experiences turbulence, no matter how small. The aspect that makes me really scared is when the aircraft suddenly drops in altitude, to avoid some terrible storm.

When I say I’m scared, that could be an understand statement when compared to my boss and friend, Tony Ubani and Ade Ojeikere, another good friend and Sports Editor of the Nation newspaper.

While mine is just to grit my teeth during turbulence, Ubani could go as far as grabbing the passenger sitting next to him, while Ojeikere lets out a loud scream of JESUS that could make other panicking passengers more uncomfortable.

On my way here for the Afrobasket 2013, I flew a Togolese Bombardier propeller aircraft belonging to ASKY from Lagos through Lome to Abidjan. As a small aircraft, it did not fly above 14,000 on the Lome leg which was just 30 minutes. The little turbulence, as usual scared me.

But guess what, the second leg of the journey from Lome to Abidjan was a wonderful experience. It was because I suddenly developed some kind of confidence, sat calmly even when the aircraft jerked on end. Why? I had a glass of red wine after the meal on board. The wine really calmed my nerves.

In Nigeria during local flights, wine is never served so one must be ‘normal’ and your body worked up during any turbulence. I will recommend a glass of wine for Ubani and Ojeikere when they fly locally but will the airlines allow us carry our wine bottles on board? Even if they allow, what will Ubani do now that he has abdicated his position as president of the Vanguard newsroom bar and drinks only water?

Okpala loses mom

M

ADAM Deborah Okpala, mother of former Super Eagles assistant coach Sylvanus Okpala is dead. She

passed on Tuesday after a brief illness. Burial arrangements will be announced by the family on a later date.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 — 55

Glo League: LMC read riot act on match fixers •To expel clubs that compromise results

OLADE OkoyaThomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium will today come alive as Nigerian players begin hostilities in the qualifiers for places in main draw of the first Lagos International Table Tennis Classics.

According to the Competition Manager, John Peters, 128 players w i l l compete in the men’s qualifiers, while 48 will jostle for spots in the women event.

To ensure that all the participating players have equal chance to make it to the main

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draw, the players in the men’s singles event have been drawn into 32 groups made up of four players in each group. The players with highest point in each group will secure a place in the main draw.

“We want to ensure that the players rested themselves and to ascertain that the best make it to the main draw, all the players in the group will play one another with player with the highest point making it to the main draw. This will also apply to the women and junior events.

Oghogho Oduokpe of Rangers is tackled by Odili Iyasele of Bayelsa United during their 2013 Glo Nigeria Premier League match at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdulahi had at the presentation of the LMC-SuperSport broadcast sponsorship deal spoken of the threat of match fixing to the ongoing League reforms

and made known their joint resolve to hand over culprits, especially Referees to law enforcement agents for criminal prosecution.

But the LMC says it is working to guarantee the integrity of match results by taking proactive actions that will nip match-

fixing. “We will no longer order any club found guilty of certain stipulated infractions to play behind closed doors but will banish such clubs to venues to be chosen by the League body and this is still within the ambits of the regulations”, declared the LMC Boss.

Imoke salutes Okagbare

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ROSS River state governor,senator Liyel Imoke has hailed IAAF World Championships double medallist,Blessing Okagbare and the rest of the

NFF Continues from BP up with a 23-man list for the World Cup cracker against Malawi in Calabar on 7th September, and do away with the jumbo list of 42 that he had earlier submitted.

The former Nigeria captain has been told in no uncertain terms that there would be no elaborate camp for 24 home-based players, earlier scheduled to arrive in Abuja on Sunday, out of which only five will make the shortlist for the match in Calabar.

Chairman of the NFF Technical and D e v e l o p m e n t Committee, Barrister Chris Green, explained: “We must be very pragmatic and take it one step at a time. The

Nigerian players begin quest for places in main draw

M

•Irabor HE League Man agement Company (LMC) has warned that it will expel Clubs in the Glo Premier League found to have compromised existing regulations to secure favourable results. The warning is coming as the League body says the season has approached a crucial stage where Clubs are noted to desperately seek to secure results by all means and also warned that home teams that infringe on the rules face being sent to venues to be chosen by the LMC. Chairman of the LMC, Hon. Nduka Irabor issued the twin warnings and stated that “we will not at this stage brook any scheming to influence the outcome of any match as such conducts that infringe on existing regulations will attract commensurate sanctions including throwing the guilty club out of the League”.

The Nigeria Football

Lagos International Table Tennis Classics:

2014 FIFA World Cup ticket is ver y, very important to Nigeria and Nigerians. Yes, we have qualified for the African Nations Championship, for the first time ever, and we very much appreciate it.

“But there are three very crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches that we must prosecute successfully to qualify for Brazil before we can start the build-up to the African Nations Championship.

Our smart money must be on focusing hard, and without any distraction, at the World Cup ticket.”

Keshi is expected to harmonise his list and submit a reviewed document to the NFF before the end of the week.

team for delivering on their promise of ending Nigeria‘s medal drought at the championships.

The Nigeriantrackandfieldteam had promised to win medals at the just ended championships in Moscow,Russia at the dinner

to round off the All Nigeria Athletics championships in Calabar last June. At the dinner,Okagbare,who spoke on behalf of her colleagues thanked the governor for his huge support for athletics.

Napoli Continues from BP Reina and Gonzalo Higuain this summer.

Benitez is now ready to raid his former club Chelsea with a move for

Mikel. The Blues are believed to be eager to keep their midfielder unless a bid of more than 15 million Euros is received.

•Funke

Wenger Continues from BP sparked by the 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday, in their opening Premier League fixture.

Wenger shrugged off the

Busy period for Ikoyi Club 1938 •As club marks 75th anniversary

BY JACOB AJOM

Malawi Continues from BP match, hence the trip to Botswana is what Saintfiet must have been looking for.

Even more considering that in beating Rwanda 1-0 in an earlier warmup match on August 14 2013, the Flames were without key players Joseph Kamwendo, Chiukepo Msowoya, Foster Namwela, Esau Kanyenda and Robert Ng’ambi due to injuries

and work permit hitches at their respective clubs in Mozambique and South Africa.

Malawi has seven points and Nigeria nine hence the winner will advance to the final twolegged qualifying round for a place at the World Cup. Nigeria can advance with a draw.

Malawi held Nigeria 11 in the first leg played in Blantyre last year.

result as “accidental”, claiming it had come under “special” or unlucky circumstances and he pointed out that it was his team’s first loss since early March.

I

T will be fun and ex citement as members of Ikoyi Club 1938 engage in a week-long sporting events as part of activities marking the club’s 75th anniversary. Events will kick off Monday September 23 with the flag off ceremony which will feature health day lecture.

According to the vice chairman of the club who doubles as chairman of the anniversary committee, Yomi Orenuga, the following day will see the commencement of Sec-

tions Games.

Speaking on the impact the club had made in the country’s sporting life, Chairman of the club, Adewale Doharty said, “Ikoyi Club 1938 has impacted so much in Nigeria’s quest for sporting excellence particularly, in the area of swimming where we have used our pools to train children who have gone out to win laurels for this country.

That is one area we can really be proud of apart from engaging in regular sporting activities among members,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 , 2013

Napoli bid for Mikel I

NFF rejects Keshi’s jumbo list

TALIAN Serie A club Napoli have made an official offer for Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

The offer is believed to be 15 million Euros, according to report on eyefootball.com The Nigeria international defensive midfielder may now be ready to listen to offers from the Italian club having fallen behind Ramires as first choice holding midfielder at Stamford Bridge.

Napoli manager Rafa

•Mikel Benitez has been busy scouting Europe for new players and has already signed the likes of Pepe

Continues on Page 55

Wenger defends Arsenal’s lack of spending

•Asks him to focus on World Cup qualifier T A HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation has instructed Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, to focus primarily on earning Nigeria a 2014 FIFA World Cup finals ticket, before the business of full preparation for the 2014 African Nations Championship can start in earnest.

Against the foregoing, rising from its meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the NFF Technical and D e v e l o p m e n t Committee told Coach Keshi to come Continues on Page 55

RSÈNE Wenger suggested he does not care what Tottenham do in the transfer market or, indeed, any of Arsenal’s other rivals in the Premier League as he mounted a strong defence of his policies and promised he would finish a testing summer with the “right

•Keshi

•Green

Malawi engage Botswana for Nigeria M

ALAWI travels to Botswana on September 3 for a final preparatory match for a crunch World Cup qualifier in Nigeria on

September 7 in Calabar.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu confirmed to the Malawi press that

he expects the game against the Zebras to give coach Tom Saintfiet a final opportunity to assess the Flames ahead of the match.

The Flames trail group leaders the Super Eagles by two points going into this decisive

Continues on Page 55

•Wenger balance” to the squad.

The manager is preparing for the pivotal Champions League play-off first-leg with Fenerbahce to a backdrop of deep supporter unrest. They are frustrated that the club have not made a cash signing this summer and what has amounted to a crisis of confidence was Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Wander (5) 7 Dozen (6) 9 Ban (3) 10 Welcome (3) 12 Temperamental (5) 13 Responsibility (4) 15 Eject (5) 17 Attitude (6) 19 Ogle (4) 20 Gather (5) 22 Gammon (3) 24 Narrated (7) 27 Gained (3) 28 Drill (5) 31 Elderly (4) 33 Programme (6) 35 Forefinger (5) 37 Cupid (4) 38 Riddle (5) 39 Immerse (3) 41 Hatchet (3) 42 Struggle (6) 43 Intone (5)

DOWN 1 Powerful (6) 2 Deny (6) 3 Eggs (3) 4 Identical (4) 5 Elf (5) 6 Spectators (8) 8 Level (4) 11 Swapped (9) 14 Asterisk (4) 16 Fuel (4) 18 Afresh (4) 21 Pine (8) 23 Average (4) 25 Burden (4) 26 Dandy (4) 29 Gaudy (6) 30 Slice (6) 32 Couch (5) 34 Outlet (4) 36 Nearest (4) 40 Place (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Slur 4, Pad 6, Stop 9, Hew 10, Rehearse 11, Raid 14, Cos 16, Adage 19, Prisoner 21, Gavel 23, Legalise 24, Nudge 27, Rid 31, Damp 33, Exterior 34, Gas 35, Deny 36, Mar 37, Tidy.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Lied 3, Reef 4, Personal 5, Deed 6, Shred 7, Tea 8, Owing 12, Spurn 13 Rigid 14, Cog 15, Sever 17, Admit 18, Excel 20, Register 22, Lad 25, Usage 26, Gipsy 28, Team 29, Writ 30, Bold 32, Man.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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