Rumpus in Senate over Rivers crisis

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62064

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Mu'azu begs Amaechi, Kwankwaso, others to 9 return to PDP

Reps summon Environment Minister, Shell, NOSDRA 48 over Bonga oil spill

Rumpus in Senate over Rivers crisis

By BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

•Rivers matter is beyond me — Mark •Plot to kill me came from above — Abe

BUJA — EMO TIONS arising from the political standoff in Rivers State overflowed for the second day in the National Assembly, yesterday, as senators on opposite sides nearly exchanged blows over the matter.

The development came as the Senate summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to appear before it to explain what he knows about the political crisis rocking the state. It did not, however, give a specific date for Continues on page 5

•P.25

COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17

Josef•P.19

Omorotionmwan

Mr & Mrs

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM— From Left: Nigeria's ambassador to Switzerland, Mrs.Fidelia Njeze Akuabata, President Goodluck Jonathan, President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday.

School Principal, 6 other homosexuals stoned in Bauchi court premises 7 C M Y K

Economy under 9 threat — Okonjo-Iweala

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

BLAST VICTIM—Kashim Shettima of Borno, speaking with of one the victims of the January 14, Maiduguri bomb blast at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Rumpus in Senate over Rivers crisis Continues from page 1 the IGP’s appearance.

Also, yesterday, Senator Magnus Abe who was recently shot during an aborted rally in Rivers State, wrote the Senate, alleging that the plot to kill him came from the highest authorities.

At the centre of the drama in the Senate were Senators James Manager (PDP, Delta South), and Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North) who disagreed over approaches to developments in Rivers.

The stand-off between both men which quickly degenerated, involved senators from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC. Shortly after the uproar, the legislators were seen backslapping and hugging.

Following the Senate session, Senator Manager told Vanguard that it was a “a quick parliamentary flash.”

The development in the Senate followed Tuesday’s more emotive showdown in the House of Representatives when

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Never depend on a single income, make multiple streams of investments to create a second source.

Do not put all your eggs in one basket.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I

T is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult —Seneca “Bagamoyo” in Swahili means “put your heart down”. I’ve been there. You too might have been there. Haven’t you? We’ve been to our personal places of despair and sorrow, imprisoned by fear, worry and doubts. We know how it feels to give up.

We know how it feels to desperately wonder if we can go on, or even should go on.

Steve Goodier, writer and author says that, more than once, he was tempted to lay down his heart and leave it behind. Haven’t you? I think we’ve all been to our Bagamoyos, those places of deep sorrows, but take heart, the sun always shines no matter what life brings.

Whenever we hit bottom, the only place to go is the top. Goodier sums it beautifully again: “If life teaches me anything, it teaches me that Bagamoyo is a way-point, not a destination. We may each find ourselves there from time to time, but it is not a place to remain. Life cautions that I should never lay my heart down in despair. There is always a way through Bagamoyo”.

Author and playwright Jean Kerr put it like this.

She said: “Hope is the feeling you have, that the feeling you have, isn’t permanent.” But it reminds me that Bagamoyo is only a temporary place. So we must learn to believe in tomorrow, to hope in a better tomorrow, and find our way out of “Bagamoyo”. And when we do, the Sun constantly will shine for us!

PDP and APC members held down proceedings following the depiction of the PDP deputy leader, Rep. Leo Ogor as the deputy minority leader by the APC leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.

How it started

The standoff in the Senate arose during the consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Wilson Ake, PDP, Rivers on the political crisis in Rivers State.

Senator Ake’s presentation of his motion was interrupted by Senator Manager through a point of order in the course of which he informed the chamber that the Senate had dispatched a delegation to visit Senator Magnus Abe who was allegedly shot during a rally in troubled Rivers State.

As he spoke, a spat reportedly broke out between him and Senator Lawan over side comments between the two.

Senator Lawan was sufficiently provoked by the side comment to walk down to where Senator Manager was sitting to engage him physically.

As Senator Lawan walked towards Manager, he was followed by a number of APC senators who had become highly emotional on the Rivers issue, but they were matched by almost an equal number of PDP senators who formed a human barricade around Senator Manager.

Meanwhile, some senators from both parties were at the same time seen restraining Senator Lawan.

Some APC senators led by Senator Alkali Jajere, APC, Yobe South, were seen shouting on Manager, “apologise to him immediately,

apologise immediately, apologise now”.

Senators Chris Ngige, APC, Anambra Central and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume led by other senators from both parties, however, were able to calm the situation and bring about a reconciliation between the two men. Following the intervention, Senator Manager walked up to Senator Lawan’s seat and shook hands with him after which the latter stood up to embrace him.

Not satisfied with the reconciliatory move, President of the Senate, Senator David Mark asked the two senators to embrace each other as a sign of reconciliation which they both did.

It's regrettable — Mark

Mark regretted the development, saying the conduct of the senators did not promote the spirit of dialogue which they have been preaching for.

“At this stage we would dialogue, dialogue, dialogue and then we want to fight. The paradox is inexplicable. The contradiction is unacceptable.

But I accept that tempers rose just now and I hope it doesn’t rise again from anybody,” Mark warned.

Senator Manager had made the ‘offensive’ remark that caught the attention of Lawan, after he was asked by the Senate President to speak on a point of order he raised upon Order 14, seeking to stop debate on the motion, on the grounds that the Senate had mandated its committee on Police Affairs to investigate the shooting of Senator Abe.

Manager had reminded the Senate President that he earlier informed the Senate during his address at Tuesday ’s plenary that he had already mandated some senators to visit Abe in London to see and assess the situation and come up with their findings, saying it was better to wait for the report of the team before further deliberation on the issue.

He also told the Senate that the Rivers State House of Assembly had recently passed the 2014 Budget of the state despite a resolution by the National Assembly to take over its legislative functions and sought to know whether the takeover had lapsed.

Senator Manager ’s assertions created an uproar that presaged the standoff between him and Senator Lawan.

Ake, Sekibo speak on Rivers

Before then, Senator Mark had asked the two senators from Rivers, Senators Ake and Thompson Sekibo to contribute to the debate.

While Senator Ake urged the Senate to intervene in what he described as the ugly political situation in Rivers State which he said was akin to apartheid era in South Africa, he warned that the reign of impunity could spread to other parts of the country if not checked now in Rivers State.

He said the rally which led to the alleged shooting of Senator Abe was approved by the Police with a valid Police permit as he wondered why the Police turned against a rally it had approved.

“Rivers State Police Command under its present leadership has witnessed too many attacks professionally unleashed on the ordinary citizens of Rivers and its environs. What is happening in Rivers is a classical example of what happened in S/Africa dur-

ing the apartheid era.

Our people are living in fear,” he insisted.

But Senator Sekibo disagreed, saying the group, Save Rivers Movement, which had organised the said rally had done it without Police consent, urging the Senate to be careful in dealing with the issue, even as he noted that he would not support anything that was wrongly done against any group of people.

Senator Sekibo added that bigger public rallies usually required Police permits. “I don’t support destruction of well organised rallies based on the rule of law, and won’t support victims of any rally because it can happen to anybody tomorrow.”

He observed that it would be pre-emptive for the issue to be debated on the floor when the Police Committee was yet to report back to the Senate, adding that it would be difficult for senators to discuss the matter without a clear understanding of the issues involved.

“We have not heard from the senator that he (Abe) was actually shot.

But if he was not shot and they are making claims, then we are in trouble.”

In his remark, Senator Mark, said he decided to allow the two senators speak on the issue against his usual tradition because they were both from the state and the crisis directly affected them more than any other person in the chamber.

He said the Rivers issue has to be handled with caution, just as he said the crisis was beyond him.

Mark discontinued further debate on the issue, saying consideration should be given to the prayers being sought.

Upon that, the Senate condemned the attacks in Rivers State and summoned the Inspector General of Police to appear before it to give further details of the situation in the state.

Plot to kill me Continues on page 52

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Togolese herbalist docked for impregnating 13-yr-old daughter

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

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AGOS — THE Police in Lagos, yesterday, arraigned a Togolese herbalist, Friday Samuel, 37, before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly impregnating his 13-yearold daughter.

The Prosecutor, ASP Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that Samuel, who married a woman from Abia State (now deceased), resides at Igbede New Site, Ajangbadi, Ojo, a Lagos suburb.

Ojaokomo said the accused faced a three-count charge of indecent assault, unlawful defilement and impregnating his daughter.

He said Samuel committed the offences at his residence on January 16, 2014, at 8.30 p.m.

The prosecutor said the accused, who is the biological father of the 13-year-old daughter, had been constantly having unlawful sexual intercourse with her before he eventually impregnated her.

“The accused was fond of fondling with his daughter and constantly having sexual intercourse with her without the victim’s consent,” he said.

Ojaokomo said the daughter reported the matter to her sister when she could no longer bear the sexual assault.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 116 (d), 135 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Counsel to the accused, Mrs Okafor Ijeoma, pleaded with the court to grant her client bail on liberal terms.

Mrs Ijeoma Okafor, told Vanguard: “I don’t think that was what happened.

“According to my client, his late wife’s family wants to use this allegation against him so as to take away their late daughter cum sister’s children from him, since an Ikeja High Court denied them custody of the children some time ago.

“In fact, that is the true position because it is only through the girl that the family can be getting information concerning her father since her younger siblings are too immature to know what is happening with their father."

Pathetic world of flag-girls on Lagos-Ibadan expressway zWhere graduates work for 11 hours daily, earn N30,000 monthly

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — MOST motorists and commuters plying Lagos-Ibadan expressway would have seen some young lady graduates who direct traffic with red flags at a construction site along the road.

These young and educated girls can be best said to have fallen victims of the saying that when the desirable is not available, the available becomes desirable.

After an interaction with some of them, it was gathered that, rather than engage in demeaning jobs like prostitution, these ladies, who are graduates of tertiary institutions, said they applied as traffic controllers and flag girls on the expressway with the firm handling the reconstruction work..

The girls are about 10 in number.

11 hours on the road daily They spend up to 11 hours on the road everyday, with an hour break while they are paid per hour.

Vanguard gathered that they earn between N30,000 and N40,000 monthly.

It was an herculean task getting to talk with the ladies for two reasons. One, they would not want to lose precious work-time, and they would not want to incur the wrath of their employers by speaking to the press.

However, authoritative sources told Vanguard that the ladies, without exception, were there for mere survival.

According to the source, their salaries are calculated hourly and public holidays are deducted from their pay.

One of them, a graduate from a polytechnic. When asked why she was a flaggirl, said: “Because there is no job and I cannot be sitting at home doing nothing, that is why I am here.

“I am a flag girl. We resume as early as 6 a.m. and close 6 pm everyday except Sunday that we close at 3 pm. This job is stressful, but because I had worked with a security out-

Some of the flag-girls on duty. fit, I don’t find the job too stressful.”

Job satisfaction When asked about job satisfaction, she said: “There is none, I do this because there is no job. I will only beg the government to provide jobs for young graduates. I am doing this because I don’t want to depend on any man."

Advising other young graduates, she said: “I will advise my colleagues to think ahead, not sitting at home and they should not depend on men because they will destroy their lives.

“They should know what they are doing before it is too late. Whatever I realise here will be used for my HND programme.”

Another graduate of Esa-

Oke College of Technology who studied Urban and Regional Planning is a flag girl too.

According to her, “I was pushed to the wall before I decided to take this job. I came here to work in order to get some money rather than sitting at home.

“I am not that happy about the job, but I am doing it because of the situation. Standing in the middle of the road is very risky. Many vehicles speed a lot and they could swerve and hit somone.

“They calculate 11 hours for us daily. It is supposed to be 12 hours but, we normally go for one hour break.”

Advising young people, she said: “Whoever does not have family support should brace up for the challenges.

Whoever does not want to

mess around because it does not pay, should find something doing.”

Another flag-girl said: "It is because of the condition of the country that made me come back here to work. One of my friends was working with this company, so she was the one that gave me her slot when she was leaving the place.

Paid per hour “The salary is based on hours that you put in.

“It is not that I don’t want to teach, being a professional teacher with NCE, but, the salary offered by those private schools is too small.

“I will advise my colleagues to manage what they have and be conscious of the future.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 —7

Lagos police nab 6 church offering robbers

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — SIX members of a notorious robbery gang that has been terrorizing residents of Ajangbadi, Ilogbo and Ijanikin areas of Lagos State are currently cooling off in the dreaded cells of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja.

The suspects identified as Adewale Osoja, 21; Bala Yahaya, 28; Hasan Ado, 19; Ahmed Boladale, 20; Abiodun Olareaju 27 and Abbey Edward, 45, were said to have met their waterloo after they attacked worshippers at Christ Authority and Power Evangelical Ministry, CAPEM, Vespa, Ijanikin, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, during a crossover night vigil on December 31, 2013.

The bandits, who were armed with locally made double barrel guns, struck at a time when the faithful were exchanging pleasantries for seeing the New Year and dispossessed them of their valuables which include Ipads, Ipods, phones, jewellery, money and church offerings.

Vanguard gathered that the bandits also attacked residents of Morontola Street, Vespa Ijanikin the next day but they met stiff resistance from some residents who engaged them in a fight, forcing them to abandon one of their operational weapons before escaping.

How they were arrested

However, a member of the gang, Hassan Ado, went back to Morontola Street, the next day in search of his abandoned weapon. He inquired from some young boys he met in the area for help but they swiftly alerted the police who apprehended and transferred him to SARS. It was also gathered that SARS operatives, led by SP Abba Kyari, interrogated the suspect and his confession led to the arrest of five other members of his gang.

Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police command, Ngozi Braide, who paraded the suspects, identified Adewale Osoja as the leader of the gang, adding that he was just released from prison.

Braide also said 45-year-old Abbey Edward from Benin Republic, supplied five double barrel locally made pistols he imported into Nigeria from his country to the gang. She said Edward sold each of the guns for N7,000 to Abiodun Olarewaju, who then sold at N20,000 each to the gang.

She said: “They all confessed to be members of Eiye Confraternity and we are responsible for most of the robberies at Ajangbadi, Ilogbo, Ijanikin and other places in area. We are also making efforts to arrest other

Driver docked for killing 60-yr-old woman, injuring 4 others

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

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The suspects members of the gang.”

We got N48,000 from the church

One of the suspects, who identified himself as Adewale Osoja told Vanguard that after they had robbed the Church on December 31, 2013 they also went to the house of one Mr. Sam who is a member of the church and robbed him of the offering that was col-

lected in church.

He said what they got from the church was N48,000. He also stated that they all grew up as friends but started stealing immediately they were initiated into Eiye cult group.

Another member of the gang told Vanguard of how he got involved with the other suspects.

He said: “I live in Agbara, but I am a citizen of Benin Repub-

lic. The gang member nicknamed me “baba abey.” A member of OPC vigilante group discovered a place where we used to make locally made gun.”

He said the gang member approached him and told him to help the gang cross the gun into Nigeria, which he did. He also stated that the gang members bought the gun themselves and paid him only N7,000 to cross them.

School principal, 6 other homosexuals stoned in Bauchi court

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI — THERE was pandemonium at the Upper Court 4 in Anguwan Jaki, Bauchi State, yesterday, as an angry mob almost lynched seven suspected homosexuals brought to court for trial.

One of the suspects was identified as the Principal of a Government Secondary School in the state.

The development forced security personnel at the court premises to rescue the suspects by firing gunshots in the air and using teargas to disperse the mob.

The suspects are Ibrahim Marafa, Shehu Adamu, Yusuf Adamu, Aliyu Dalhatu, Abdulmalik Tanko, Usman Sabo and Hazif Sabo Abubakar.

The angry mob hurled stones at the van carrying them as it sped dangerously back to prison. A few people sustained injuries in the process.

The suspects faced charges of allegedly engaging in gay activities in Bauchi State, an action that contravenes the Islamic laws which the state is operating.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said the suspects were arrested by

the Bauchi State Sharia Commission.

The atmosphere around the court was tense as the suspects came out of the court with the mob reigning abuses and pelting them with stones.

Earlier, inside the rowdy court, counsel to the Sharia Commission, Danlami Ayuba, told the court that one of the suspects was identified as Ibrahim Marafa, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Mainamaji.

When the case was slated for hearing, counsel to the suspect, Abdul Musa, said he was not ready and sought for

bail for his client to enable them study the charges. The bail application was rejected by the counsel to the Sharia commission.

The presiding judge, ElYaqub Aliyu, refused to grant the bail and adjourned the case till Monday to enable the prosecutors present their witness.

Similarly the State Sharia Commission counsel paraded six other suspects. When their case was mentioned, the presiding judge cautioned the Sharia commission's counsel to ensure that they had proper evidence on the accused persons before arraigning them.

AGOS—A 30-yearold commercial bus driver, Wasiu Aweda, was yesterday docked before an Apapa Magistrate court for allegedly driving recklessly leading to the death of a 60-yearold woman.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Friday Inedo, the defendant, who apart from killing the woman, caused serious injuries to four others at Alaba Oro area of Orile expressway.

The offence is contrary to part 7 Section 29(1) (2) Road Traffic Law (RTL) 2003.

The magistrate, Mr O. A. Amos, adjourned for hearing the case on the 26th of February 26 2013 having granted Aweda a bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Also, 20-year-old, Abdul Buhari, was docked, yesterday before an Apapa magistrate court for allegedly parading himself as a soldier and for wearing the Nigerian Army camouflage uniform to extort money from the unsuspecting public.

According to the prosecutor, Sgt Umeh Kalu, the offence took place in the Apapa area of the state and that the defendant is facing twocount charge punishable under Sections 378 and 409 laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.

However, the Magistrate, Mr M.O. Olubi, adjourned the case to February 3, 2014.

Youths protest killing of landlord in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — HUN DREDS of youth in three communities—Onihale, Ilepa and Aiyede — in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State protested the alleged killing of a landlord, Ahmed Folorunsho, 26, by a night guard while pursuing robbers early yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that a gang of robbers had invaded the Aiyede/Bosun community in Ifo area in the wee hours of Tuesday but were repelled by the

night guards who were on patrol.

It was further learnt that in an attempt to further drive away the robbers, the night guards reportedly mobilised landlords and other residents who trooped out en masse to strengthen the security in the area, but, in the process, stray bullet hit the victim and he died on the spot.

The death illicited a violent reaction from his kinsmen and youths of the Onihale community who mobilised and launched

a reprisal attack on residents and other landlords in Ayede/Bosun, Ilepa and Onihale communities.

The development also forced residents of the affected three communities to desert their homes for fear of being caught in the repraisal attack which has allegedly left another person dead.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, stressing that police had restored normalcy into the area.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

‘Private sector needs N960bn to invest in power’

Jonathan at Davos, tasks African leaders on economic growth, wealth creation zAs Dangote laments negative perception of African countries

BY PETER EGWUATU

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HE private sector requires $6 billion (N960 billion) to invest in the power sector to address electricity problem in the country.

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Yinka Sanni, who disclosed this, yesterday in Lagos, said “Huge amount is required to invest in the power sector and the financial institutions are needed to finance some of these projects. The private sector in the power sector is committed to deliver constant power in the country and that is why they are committing resources despite the inherent risk especially at this period that the country would be going for election.”

Speaking at the forth coming 5th Annual Standard Bank West Africa Investor’s Conference, Sanni said “As an institution we are committed to develop the country and assist the private sector raise fund to address the power problem in Nigeria.

Striking health workers to shun govt's meeting

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE, SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

S

TRIKING unions in the health sector have vowed not to attend any reconciliation meeting that lacks government representation at the highest level, insisting that this is the only guarantee that decisions taken would be implemented.

Efforts by Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu to meet with the unions on Tuesday were rebuffed as the unions insisted on higher government representation.

President of JOHESU, Comrade Ayuba Waba who is also the national president of the Medical and Health Workers Union told Vanguard yesterday that the unions will not attend any meeting convened by the Minister of Health because the issues in dispute are against his ministry.

He said the striking unions would only attend a meeting which has in attendance the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and or the Presidency.

Asked why the Ministry of Labour is not considered neutral, Comrade Waba said, the meeting brokered by Minister of Labour on January 7 and 8 this year did not produce any result.

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Good luck Jonathan, yesterday, challenged African leaders to give priority to the promotion of inclusive economic growth on the continent to avoid problems associated with poverty and financial equality.

He made the call in Davos, Switzerland where he is attending the World Economic Forum. He was received on arrival by the founder of the World Economic Forum, Dr. Klaus Schwab. He said his administration was already doing a lot to enhance inclusive growth in Nigeria through policies and programmes that focus on wealth creation rather than poverty alleviation.

Jonathan said: “Economic inclusion is very important and we are already taking necessary steps to improve financial inclusion in our country. Transforming our agricultural sector is one way in which we are doing so.

"We are doing all that we can to transform agriculture in Nigeria into a much more productive and job creating sector. We are also working to create more inclusive wealth through better education, skills acquisition programmes and policies that encourage the addition of value to our primary products before exportation.”

He added that with Africa’s population projected to exceed two billion persons by the year 2050, wealth and job creation must remain at the top of the continent’s developmental agenda.

Presidents Jonathan, John Mahama of Ghana and Alhaji Aliko Dangote among other participants in the debate agreed that the objective of achieving more inclusive economic growth would be better

FEC MEETING—Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (left), with Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

served if African leaders took more positive action towards boosting intra-African trade, saying that the current situation in which only 11 percent of Africa’s total trade took place on the continent was unacceptable.

Jonathan said that African leaders must do everything possible to remove impediments to trade in the continent, including inadequate air and ground transportation links among them.

The president spoke further: “Security and political stability are key to development. Investors will not come to any country that is insecure or politically unstable. Happily, many African countries now enjoy political stability. It is a major reason

for the positive economic growth rates which we are now witnessing on the continent and we must continue to do our best to maintain and expand the frontiers of political stability on our continent.”

In his own contribution, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote decried the negative perception of socio-political situation in Africa, saying it was responsible for the low level of inflow of investment into the continent.

Speaking on “Africa’s Next Billion,” he stated that the wrong perception of the security and political situation in Africa had made investors especially from the West lost sight of the potentials in the continent.

According to him, the African countries have also done little or nothing to remedy the ugly situation, even as the situation was not as bad as being painted.

Dangote added that “For instance foreign investors wait for election to be concluded, after then, they try to check the stability of government of the day for at least two years but then, it is more difficult to take any decision because the tenure of the government is coming to end and by so doing, foreign investors are scared of incoming or incumbent and the cycle keeps going on. But then I don’t think there is anything to be afraid of because no government is against business, every government is pro-business."

FG bids to check dumping, new textile policy coming

BY OMOH GABRIEL

F

EDERAL Government, yester day, disclosed that it will soon introduce a new textile policy that will stem the spate of dumping in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga during a meeting with the Indian business community in Lagos.

He also said that Nigeria’s cement industry has attracted additional investment worth $8 billion, driven largely by the implementation of the Federal Government’s Backward Integration Policy.

The minister noted that, in line with the Federal Government’s Industrial Revolution Plan, a new pol-

icy that would revamp and fasttrack the growth and development of the cotton, textile and garment sector would soon be unveiled.

He said that the policy would address the multifaceted problems facing the sector, including access to long-term finance to help textile manufacturers increase their production capacity.

Aganga said: “The new policy on cotton, textile and garment should have been out last year but we have decided to do one more round of consultation this month. I hope that by February this year, the policy on cotton, textile and garment will be out. Already, there are certain aspects of it that we have started implementing. For in-

stance, in the area of finance, the Federal Government provided N100bn CTG Fund but there a case from the textile industries that they needed it at lower interest rate and for a longer term.

President Goodluck Jonathan has graciously approved that the Bank of Industry implements this by converting the loans to equity. We have started implementing this already but we hope the new policy on CTG, which will be out soon, will address most of the challenges facing the sector.”

The minister further said that the Federal Government was targeting an increased production capacity in the cement sector, from about 28.5 million metric tonnes last year to about 38 metric tonnes in 2014.

Aganga, said, “We have had a

major success in the cement sector. For the first time ever in the history of Nigeria, we exported cement in 2013. We had capacity of 28.5 million metric tonnes last year. Our current demand is between 18 to 20 million. However, this year, it should be about 39 million metric tonnes, and we should have one of the largest, if not the largest cement factory in the world in Nigeria.

“The success recorded in the cement sector is what we want to replicate in other sectors under the National Industrial Revolution Plan. According to the latest information from cement manufacturers, total investment into the cement is between is between $7bn and $8bn and employs about 1.6million people."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—9

PDP chairman, Mu'azu begs Amaechi, Kwankwaso, others; urges return to PDP

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—NATIONAL Chair man of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu, yesterday, apologized publicly to the five governors, lawmakers and other stakeholders who dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying the party was sorry over

what happened.

Muazu also pleaded with the G5 governors to return to PDP in the spirit of patriotism, against the backdrop that the party had helped them get to where they are. Muazu stressed that the doors were open for the former party members in the PDP. He spoke when he received Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, who was at the National Secretar-

iat on a solidarity visit.

Muazu noted that his leadership would continue to strengthen and deepen the nation’s democracy, adding that plans had been concluded to set up a very high powered reconciliation committee that would comprise major stakeholders and leaders to reach out to everyone especially those who defected.

DECORATION—IGP Mohammed Abubakar (right), decorating Mr Christopher Katso with his new rank of AIG, at the decoration of senior police officers in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Economy under threat as excess crude account dwindles, says Okonjo-Iweala

BY MICHAEL EBOH, WITH AGENCY REPORTS

M

INISTER of Finance and Supervising Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, said Nigeria’s economy is under threat, following the continuous decline in its Excess Crude Account.

Speaking in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, OkonjoIweala said the depletion of the Excess Crude Account to about $2.5 billion, has made the country more vulnerable than it was in the past and put the economy of the country at great risk.

As a cushion against the depletion, she said, “We have tried to set the country’s main parameters in a very modest way. We have made our budget at a very reasonable benchmark price for oil.

“This is to shield us and to ensure we are not subjected to any volatility there may be in the oil markets.”

Okonjo-Iweala predicted a 6.75 per cent expansion in Nigeria’s economy this year, compared to a growth of 6.5 per cent in 2013, adding, however, that increased growth has also fuelled rising inequality in the country over the years.

She said: “In Nigeria we are growing very fast, but that growth has come with increasing inequality and lack of inclusion of certain segments of the population.”

The Excess Crude Account has been depleted from $8.65 billion at the end of 2012 to $2.5 billion currently, while Nigeria’s external reserves dropped 11 per cent from last year’s peak of $48.85 billion, recorded in May. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had on Tuesday, after its bi-monthly meeting, expressed concerns over the depleting fund, saying that the absence of such fiscal buffers increases our reliance on portfolio flows thus, constituting the principal risk to exchange rate

stability, especially with uncertainties around capital flows and oil price.”

Mr. Sanusi Lamido, Governor of the CBN, who read out the communiqué of the meeting, decried the continuous fall in revenue from oil despite stable price of oil and production in 2013, adding that although the committee acknowledged output losses due to theft and vandalism, this could not wholly explain the magnitude of the shortfall in revenue.

He said, “As a consequence, accretion to external reserves remained low while much of the previous savings have been depleted, thereby undermining the ability of the Central Bank to sustain exchange rate stability.”

The CBN, therefore, urged the fiscal authorities to block revenue leakages and rebuild fiscal savings needed to sustain confidence and preserve the value of the naira.

Muazu specifically pleaded with Lamido to help reach out to his colleagues who left the party to create an enabling environment as the leadership planned to meet and beg them to come back.

According to him, the present National Working Committee, NWC, would look into everything that happened with a view to addressing the problems holistically, as his leadership would ensure that all injustices and wrongs done to the defectors and other aggrieved PDP members would be thoroughly looked into and reviewed.

In the wake of the problems in the party arising from irreconcilable differences, Governors Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Ahmed Abdulfatih of Kwara, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa States left the PDP for APC. But Muazu said, “Whatever be the case, I appeal to them (defectors) to let us correct it and move ahead. We will look at the various things that made our party to shrink in size. We are going to be bold to correct whatever injustice had been done.

"Please talk to the G-5 governors on our behalf before we go to them; appeal to their senses of patriotism; appeal to their senses of commitment to the PDP because PDP is Nigeria. Let us accept peace and move forward. I have seen the need to form a high level committee very soon to undertake genuine reconciliation in the party.

"I will like to appeal to you (Lamido) to be part of us, come with us to go and see all those who had been offended to tell them that we are sorry. Again, I appeal to all who had gone to come back home. We will deepen internal democracy so that if we succeed, anybody with our ticket will be sure of victory during elections.”

Earlier, Lamido who was accompanied by his deputy, the three Senators from his state, the 11 House of Representatives members, the National Vice Chairman, North West, Ibrahim Kazuare, among others, told Muazu that he had a very great task ahead of him, stressing that he was confused on whether to commiserate with him or congratulate him.

According to Lamido, what happened during the tenure of the immediate past National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was very unfortunate as impunity became the order of the day, culminating in the defection of five governors, legislators and other notable stakeholders.

Naira drops against dollar by 17k

N

IGERIA’S naira eased against the dollar on the inter-bank market, yesterday, amid heavy demand for hard currency from importers.

The naira was also affected by demand from banks buying the dollar to cover short positions, dealers said.

The Naira closed at N159.57 to the dollar, compared with Tuesday’s close of N159.40 naira. Dealers said the local unit of French oil firm, Total sold $90 million dollars on Tuesday, while Addax sold $80 million dollars, but demand from importers soaked up the quantity with some banks also buying hard currency.

Dealers said the naira would continue to be under pressure as demand for the dollar by importers remained strong despite the Central Bank’s repeated attempts to tighten liquidity in the economy. Nigeria depends on 80 per cent imports for domestic consumption.

Nigeria recorded 3,805 cases of leprosy in 2013

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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HE National Director of the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Dr Udo Sunday, yesterday, disclosed that the mission has recorded 3,805 new cases of leprosy disease in 2013.

Dr Sunday made this disclosure uring the 61 World Leprosy Day celebration.

He said, 10 per cent were children, 12 per cent were already deformed as a result of lack of care, while the North East Zone of the country accounted for most of the cases.

He said, “Nigeria needs to put more effort to detect early cases because if they are not detected on time, they are bound to cause disabilities which has a socio-economic impact on the society.

"A survey that was recently carried out revealed that 27 per cent of street beggars across the country are leprosy victims.

The Nigeria’s health care system is solely focused on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, ATMs, while neglecting other diseases that have the potential of causing devastating damages to the system.”

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

FOI: Lagos Gov in court over spending on education in Lagos

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN has been dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged failure to release information and documents relating to spending in public schools in the state in the last five years.

In a suit filed by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the group was asking the court for a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the Governor is under a binding legal obligation to provide the Plaintiff with up to date information as requested in a letter dated 1st of December 2013 addressed to the Governor of Lagos State.

It also prayed the court for an order of mandamus to compel the Governor or his privies to rescind the suspension of anyone including principals of any of the schools mentioned above for blowing the whistle or allowing journalists to cover the decay infrastructures across primary and secondary schools in Lagos State.

LSDPC shuns Assembly order over compensation

BY EBUN SESSOU

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IVE YEARS after the Lagos State House of Assembly passed a resolution asking the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC, to compensate occupants of Ogba Housing Estate, Sogunro Phase I, whose buildings were demolished by the state government, the agency is yet to comply.

But the Assembly has again mandated House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development to investigate the matter and report back to the House in two weeks.

It would be recalled that the House passed a resolution on January 6, 2013 to the agency repeating the order for it to compensate the occupants of blocks 17 and 18, LSDPC estate, Phase I, Ogba, Ikeja, who still have leasing rights of 60 -70 years.

NHRC probes alleged torture of mother, daughters in Lagos z As Lagos lawmakers direct OPD to take over case

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — THE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday, said it will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all persons involved in the alleged torture of a woman and her daughters at Ejigbo market in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State are made to account for their actions.

Similarly, the Lagos State House of Assembly, has directed the state Ministry of Justice, Office of the Public Defender, OPD, to take over the case of two women accused of stealing pepper in a market.

This came even as the state House of Assembly, fulfilled its promise of a N1.25million reward to individuals, who provide information that would lead to apprehension of culprits involved in the assault.

The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe, said in a statement by the Chief Press Officer of the Commission, Mrs. Fatimah Muhammad, that the commission has waded into the matter and was expecting a report on the investigation going on in order to ensure the enforcement of the rights of the victims.

“A woman, her daughter and her step daughter were subjected to unbelievable acts of torture and brutalisation for allegedly stealing pepper at Ejigbo market, a suburb of Lagos State, recently.”

According to Angwe, the commission will "invoke its full powers in ensuring that those

who perpetrated the dastardly act are brought to justice," adding that the Commission under its mandate "will not only bark, but bite at those who take interest in violating the rights of others."

He said that the Lagos State office of the commission, has been directed to work with the

police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the matter was properly and promptly investigated and alleged culprits prosecuted.

Meantime, the Speaker of Lagos Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji at the presentation of the N1.25million reward money to the deserving informants, directed that the case be immediately handed over to OPD, specifically, to be handled by the Director, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi.

He condemned the assault, saying, “it is ungodly and dehumanising. In fact, I could not believe that such dastardly act happened in our own Lagos, especially in the 21st century.”

He commended the civil society organisations, especially Dr. Joel COMMISSIONING: From left, Mr. Kamal Bayewu, Chairman, Ajeromi- Okei Odumakin’s Women Arise For Ifelodun Local Government; Engr. Ganiyu Johnson, Special Adviser to Change Initiative, Governor on Works and Infrastructure; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos Oba Moruf Ojoola, State, unveiling the plaque; Oba Fatai Aromire, Ojora of Ijora and Iganmu Ojon of Ejigbo, the kingdom; Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Nigerian Police and Assembly, and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Commissioner for Works and Lagosians for their Infrastructure, during the commissioning of Alaba Cemetery Road, Ajegunle, effort in fishing out the culprits.

Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Funsho Williams’s murder: Panic as defendant slumps in court

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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HERE WAS panic at the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, as one of the defendants in the on-going trial of suspected killers of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Engr. Funsho Williams, slumped in court.

The presiding judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, immediately stood down the trial for about 10 minutes to enable the defendant, Musa Maina, receive medical attention at the court premises.

Vanguard gathered that Maina was asthmatic and was supported into the court room by two prison warders, but slumped after 45 minutes into trial. And when Maina was resuscitated, he wept profusely.

Maina, alongside Bulama Kolo, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie, were accused by Lagos State of conspiring to kill Williams on July 27, 2006, at 34A, Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi.

They were first arraigned on

March 1, 2013, on a two count charge of conspiracy and murder, offences which contravened Sections 316 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

At the resumed hearing, the

defence counsel, Mr. Okezie Agbara, argued that the ruling of the magistrate tendered as an exhibit was not signed by the magistrate, and maintained that the document was not authentic since it was not signed by the

author of the document (the magistrate).

He urged the court to disregard the authority cited by the prosecution, arguing that investigation can be carried at any time of the trial.

Marketer sourced product locally to claim subsidy — EFCC

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

A

N INVESTIGATIVE officer with the Economic and Finmancial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed, yesterday, claimed that an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, only sourced the petroleum product locally for which he obtained N963.7 million subsidy payment from the Federal Government.

According to the witness, the defendant defrauded the government of the fund as he was not entitled to subsidy payment on the product he sourced locally.

Mohammed made the disclosure at the resumption of Jubril’s trial before Justice

Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.

Jubril is standing trial alongside his company Brila Energy Ltd for allegedly obtaining the money for the purported importation of 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS. The witness said the defendant actually obtained the products from other vessels within Nigeria which did not make him entitled to any subsidy from the government.

He said: “The defendant claim that there was a ship to ship transfer of the product between the mother vessel, MT Overseas Lima and the first daughter vessel, MT Delphina.

“According to him, the said transfer took place between January 26 and 27,2011 at offshore Cotonou, in Benin

Republic.

“However, our investigations showed that MT Overseas Lima was not in West African coast during that period hence it was impossible for the transfer to have taken place.”

Mohammed who was part of the special team which investigated the fraud in the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, scheme, said from the investigation carried out by the team, it was discovered that the defendant did not import the products as he had claimed to the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA. According to him, the defendant actually obtained the products from other vessels within Nigeria which did not permit him to collect any subsidy from the government.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—11

2015: Those fighting Jonathan are fighting God — Clark

BY HENRY UMORU

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VISIT: From left: Mr. Gabriel Omoh, Group Business Editor; Mr. Hugo Odiogor, Foreign Affairs Editor; Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager; Mr. Kunle Adekoya, General Editor, all of Vanguard; Mrs. Lola Odedina, GM & Group Head, Communications & External Affairs, GTBank; Mr. Fred Odueme, AGM, Brands, Vanguard Media Ltd; Mr. Damilare Asaolu, Corporate Communications Executive, GTBank; Mr. Cornelius Onuoha, COO, RedGecko PR Ltd, and Mr. Babatunde Sipe, Head, Media & Events, GTBank, during the visit by the GTBank team to Vanguard Corporate Headquarters, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

APC crisis: Awujale’s peace meeting with Amosun, Osoba deadlocked

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — ATTEMPT by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, yesterday, to reconcile the feuding leaders of the All Progressives

Congress, APC, yesterday, hit a brick wall.

Awujale, who is also the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, held a secret meeting with the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and national leader of the party, Chief Segun Osoba over the crisis rocking APC in the state in his palace in Ijebu Ode. A palace source, who pleaded for anonymity told Vanguard that the monarch summoned the meeting with the two gladiators whose supporters had been at logger-heads over the control of the party machinery in the state with a view to reconciling them, but it was deadlocked, as the feuding parties could not reach any settlement.

According to the source, Oba Adetona

at the meeting which lasted about four hours, reportedly told the feuding APC leaders of a need for them to sheathe their swords.

Awujale was also said to have appealed to both Amosun and Osoba to call their supporters to order.

The disagreement between the governor’s camp and Osoba’s loyalists recently resulted in violence in Abeokuta and Wasimi in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

In the Wasimi violence no fewer than nine persons, including the police orderly to Senator Gbenga Obadara sustained gun-shot injuries.

Ogun APC slams LP over calls for Amosun’s impeachment

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HE ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State has taken a swipe at the Labour Party, LP, over its call for the impeachment of Governor Ibikunle Amosun following the ongoing charged political atmosphere in the state, saying it is crying wolf where there is none.

Speaking through its state Publicity Secretary, Sola Lawal, the APC observed that the rumblings within its fold was a mere expression of differences in opinions

among members of a vibrant political family.

According to the party: “The development is a testimonial to the fact of the vibrancy and democratic credential of the party in which enlightened dissent is encouraged.

“Unlike the Labour Party and others that are on permanent life support, the APC, in terms of both infrastructural landmarks in governance and politics, has attained enviable heights in placing our state in the topmost echelon in civilised conduct,” the party said.

BUJA—AHEAD of 2015 Presidential election, former Federal Commissioner for Education and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, warned, yesterday that those fighting President Goodluck Jonathan must stop same forthwith, because they were fighting and challenging God. Clark, who warned that those plotting to split the country will fail, said that God made it possible for Jonathan to be the President of Nigeria, reiterating that the Constitution permits President Jonathan to run twice, noting that as a lawyer, who has practised for 50 years, he always laugh when educated people say Jonathan cannot run and that he has been sworn-in twice.

Speaking, when the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chapter of South-South community leaders, chiefs and elders honoured him as their grand patron, the elder statesman, who said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo imposed former President Umaru Yar’Adua on Nigeria, noted that since late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Adekunle Ajasin died, the Yorubas have not had another leader, adding that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was only wasting his time, calling himself the Yoruba leader, as money cannot buy leadership.

Explaining how President Jonathan emerged as Vice President under Yar’Adua, Chief Clark who disclosed that in 2004, the South-South took a declaration that after Obasanjo, the next President should come from the South-South, a situation Obasanjo jettisoned, said that when it was sold to Jonathan that he should be Vice President, his first reaction was he will not take the position.

Appreciating the FCT South-South leaders, Clark said, “any person fighting Jonathan is fighting God. Whatever God said you will be that is what you will be and whoever want to remove him (Jonathan), God will fight him. By the grace of God, Jonathan became the acting President and later President. What is yours nobody can take it from you.

“Some people said that they must rule and if Jonathan run there will be bloodshed. Majority of the Northerners believe in Jonathan and wants him to continue. Whoever wants to split this country will fail.”

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Stay away from sycophants, Owie warns Muazu

Igarra shooting: Oshiomhole assures of justice

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY HUGO ODIOGOR & SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

B

ENIN CITY — FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, yesterday, urged the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to stay away from sycophants and “palace jesters,” so as to have a successful tenure in office.

Owie, in Benin City, Edo State, lamented the crisis that engulfed the party, expressing optimism, however, that Muazu has all it takes to bring angry members back to the party.

Also, a former House of Representatives member, Prince Ned Nwoko, has congratulated Mu’azu on his emergence as PDP chairman.

Nwoko, a member of President Goodluck Jonathan campaign team, told Vanguard that the choice of Muazu would fast-track the process of reconciliation within the party.

He said: “Muazu is a dynamic leader, who left a worthy record in Bauchi State, where the was the governor from 1999 to 2007.

He is a loyal member of the party and well respected because of his humility.”

Owie on his part, said: “I wish to congratulate Muazu, our new national chairman, on his appointment and particularly for daring gossipers, when he said that what they will tell him about any person in private, they should say it before the person in the open. That is the only way to rebuild a great political party like the PDP."

PROTEST: A cross section of youths from NPA Warri host communities protesting alleged monopolisation of terminal operations in NPA New Port, Warri by INTELS.

Police release detained monarch, Gokhana LG boss

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Police in Rivers State have confirmed the release of the Chairman of Gokhana Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Demau Demau and the traditional ruler of Akpor Kingdom, HRM Eze Anele Oriebe.

Police Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Ahmad Muhamaad, told newsmen that Demau was released, Tuesday night, while the traditional ruler who was arrested Tuesday night, was released yesterday.

He added that the traditional ruler was invited for questioning over security related issues, as it had nothing to do with politics.

But there was protest on a portion of NTA/Ozuoba Road, close to his palace, by youths calling for his release.

Some of the protesters, who spoke to Vanguard, said they were not sure he had been released. They barricaded the road and diverted traffic to other roads.

It took the intervention of Police to clear the road.

Muhamaad noted that the Chairman, Khana Local Govern-

ment Area, Mr Gregory Nwidam, was still in Police custody. Nwidam was arrested the same day with Nwidam, who has been released.

Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Leyii Kwanee, has, meanwhile, condemned the continued detention of Nwidam, saying it violated his rights to liberty.

Kwanee said it was wrong for the Police to hold on to the Chairman of the council, 24 hours after his arrest, adding that they should take him to court if they have any issue against him.

Also, the All Progressive Congress, APC, in its statement, before the release of Demau, condemned the arrest of the two council chairmen.

Media aide to the Interim Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Eze Eze, said the detention of the chairmen was the height of police high handedness.

The party also condemned Wednesday ’s protests by some Ikwerre youths against

Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Aba Road, arguing that they were reportedly hired thugs from neighbouring states.

The party said: “We also condemn equivocally the use of hoodlums from neighbouring states to disrupt the peace of Rivers State by misguided PDP politicians in collaboration with their police partners in the names of rallies as was the case of Wednesday by a nonexisting Nkwerre Group, all in the futile effort of declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by the Federal Government, which will never materialize.”

ENIN — GOVERNOR Adams Oshomhole of Edo State has said that he would ensure that the police dispense justice with the arrested of nine persons in last Wednesday’s Igarra masquerade festival shooting, in which two youths of the community were shot.

He spoke when he received elders of the Igarra community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state, who visited him in Benin.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Oshiomhole said he was appreciative of their visit and promised that the perpetrators of the crime would be prosecuted in line with established laws.

He said: “It is not often we get this type of powerful delegation in Government House. And we are happy that you are appreciative of government efforts at creating the enabling environment for investment through our heavy investment in security.

"No matter how much money government spends to build infrastructure, without assured security of the environment, no investor will come.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 13

C M Y K

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—15

IHEJIRIKA: Ndigbo to head to ICC over Biafra massacre zWe shall meet at ICC—Northern elders

BY SONI DANIEL JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE proposed plan by Professor Ango Abdullahi’s Northern Elders Forum to drag former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, to the International Criminal Court of Justice, ICC, in Hague over alleged killing of civilians at Baga town, Borno State, has drawn the ire of Ndigbo who have indicated interest to take Nigeria to the same court for the massacre of two million Igbo people during the civil war.

But the Northern elders again, yesterday, damned the threat by their South-East counterparts to go to the ICC, saying it was wrong for the latter to challenge their decision to drag the former army chief to the Hague for crimes against humanity.

Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who spoke for Ndigbo, said the purported plan by the Northern elders to take the former COAS to ICC would be a good

opportunity for the people of the South East and Anioma in Delta State to drag the country to the world court for the massacre of over two million Ndigbo during the Nigeria/Biafra civil war.

Chukwumerije speaks

Chukwumerije, who was incharge of Biafran Information during the war, said: “The plan of Northern Elders Forum to drag the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, and six others to International Criminal Court of Justice in Hague is capable of unleashing a national ill-wind that will do no one (including Prof.

Ango Abdullahi’s group) any good in this federation.

“The approach of the group to a national problem is selective, patently biased apparently in search of preconceived culprits, pointedly indifferent to the demands of national unity, and highly provocative to the sensibilities of all who genuinely desire the unity and stability of this federation.

“As Ango Abdullahi’s team

opens the doors and walks into the hall of the world court, let them realize that they have at last opened the Pandora’s Box. “The indigenes of Odi, ZakiBiam and Katsina Ala will in quick succession file into the hall. At the same time, Ndigbo of South East and Anioma will dust their files and head for Hague.

“Let it be emphasized ab initio that senseless sacrifice of a human life is indefensible. Violations of human rights have remained the bane of Africa. A society that has no respect for human life is nearer the status of a community of animals.

“But the situation in the universally acknowledged difficult terrain of a borderless war such as terrorism, counter terrorism and guerilla-like conflicts offers a unique challenge. The motives of Prof. Ango Abdullahi and co are obviously beyond concerns about violations of human rights.

“Every citizen (including Prof.

Ango Abdullahi) knows that the anti-terrorism campaign in the North is a joint military operation under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff. In singling out

Lt. General Ihefirika, the then Army boss, the likes of Prof. Ango Abdullahi are merely betraying old prejudices and embarking on a new hazardous search for bad names to hang hated dogs.

“Besides, the fact that Prof.

Ango Abdullahi and co sprung into action immediately Lt. General Ihejirika and six others left their commands has revealed the depth of long-smoldering resentment of the campaign against Boko Haram by selfproclaimed leaders of the North.”

Baga and Hague adjudication

Senator Chukwumerije wondered why the Northern Elders Forum would single out the Baga incident for Hague’s adjudication.

He said further: “We have seen in the past cases of wholesale massacres which were not only more gruesome than Baga’s but proven as true unlike. Ango Abdullahi and co kept silent.

“There was the case of Odi in which a whole community was decimated. There was the case of Zaki-Biam. There was the case

of Katsina Ala. If Odi did not arouse the conscience of Ango Abdullahi because the people do not belong to his hallowed Northern enclave, how about Zaki-biam and Katsina Ala? Chukwumerije argued that if Ango’s criterion for selection of cases for Hague was ‘gruesome use of force against unarmed civilians’, ‘extra-judicial killings’ and ‘acts of strangulating civilians’ which he said was unproven, then Ango ought to know that the prime candidate was the genocidal atrocities of the civil war against the people of former Eastern region, especially Ndigbo.

Meanwhile, the leader of NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who addressed journalists in Abuja, said they were ready to meet their South-East counterparts at the ICC, as they were not ready to drop the charges against the former COAS. NEF said it was even ready to drag President Goodluck Jonathan before the ICC if he was found culpable in any acts of human rights violations against northerners.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 17

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HE online news medium, PREMIUM TIMES, was spot on in the title of its report: “How PDP disgraced six of its seven chairmen in 15 years; in the wake of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s forced resignation as party chairman, after months of a most destructive in-fighting in the PDP. It had been constructed by founding fathers like the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, with lofty nationalist intentions to build a post military dictatorship Nigeria, with the best ruling class sense responsibility.

Before long, the party sidelined idealists and expelled delusions about nation building, having been captured by the most antidemocratic tendency within the party with roots in the dictatorial traditions of military rule. The PDP, despite the idealism of people like Chief Awoniyi or Audu Ogbeh, has always been a rally of disparate tendencies of the Nigerian bourgeoisie, with the weakness that it was much easier for the anti-democratic wing, to achieve hegemonic control.

That wing has cunning, ruthlessness and experience plus a lot of money; the right mix of ingredients to consolidate power. President Olusegun Obasanjo masterminded the original sin. From the beginning, he was never going to allow a party leadership in the mould of

PDP party chairmanship: The ultimate poisoned chalice has haunted the party since 1999: one that has seen all but one of its seven chairmen forced out of power in controversial circumstances”. Only Amadu Ali served out his tenure and was able to step down without being disgraced from his perch atop the PDP, which never ceases to describe itself as the largest political party in Africa! Obasanjo literally booted out Chief Solomon Lar, one of the party's founding fathers; barely a year in position, Lar was replaced by Barnabas Gemade preferred to the principled Chief Sunday Awoniyi. Gemade was a willing tool for Obasanjo’s battles against

,

The old man owed his authority to defense of President Jonathan’s interest but in the long run, Jonathan reckoned that Tukur’s overzealousness had become an albatross

Chief Awolowo to institute an idealistic ethos as dominant paradigm. So he perfected a most suffocating grab of the reigns of party leadership and in the process, as PREMIUM TIMES noted, things within PDP began to conform “to a grim tradition that

Jonathan’s ambition.

Ogbulafor was not only kicked out but was handed to the EFCC, to a n s w e r corruption allegations from six years earlier.

He was then succeeded by an initially gung-ho Dr. Nwodo, who was sacked on the basis of a court ruling that he was not even a party member!

An interregnum of acting leaderships followed before Bamanga Tukur ’s fortuitous emergence as national Chairman. It was significant that Tukur came very experienced, highly successful and rich; he had been rejected from his zone but was President Goodluck Jonathan’s preferred candidate.

Bamanga Tukur took himself too seriously and was particularly determined to reign-in all opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.

State governors represent one of the most powerful tendencies within the PDP. They control votes needed to become candidates and are suzerains in the states. They have increasingly consolidated their power within the PDP since 2003 and have largely determined the electoral fortunes of party members. Many of the governors and former governors have 2015 presidential ambitions too. It was this group that Bamanga Tukur took on, at the president’s behest.

His authoritarian approach suited Jonathan’s purposes but it opened PDP to dangers it hasn’t confronted since 1999. The bruising intra-party rivalry was at

,

opponents, especially in the National Assembly. But being a willing tool in dirty political fights did not save Gemade; he was kicked out in the charged political atmosphere which led to the 2003 elections and was replaced by the cerebral Chief Audu Ogbeh, who

came from the more principled and idealistic tendency within the party. Ogbeh was forced out by Obasanjo, for daring him to behave with decorum to prevent political anarchy in Anambra state. The Uba brothers were members of the Obasanjo inner circle and Ogbeh was sacrificed in a most vicious manner. In his place came Amadu Ali, an old soldier who had been minister of education during Obasanjo’s reign as military ruler. He was the only one who completed his tenure. It was under Ali that Obasanjo’s Third Term Agenda was spectacularly defeated by the Nigerian people.

Obasanjo's Third term Agenda Obasanjo hurriedly left office with tail between his legs in the aftermath of Third Term Agenda failure. Vincent Ogbulafor was then elected as PDP Chairman in 2008 but was to be caught up in the controversy following in the wake of President Yar’adua’s illness and death. Ogbulafor was pushed by ambitious governors to reiterate that power was to remain in the North, as agreed within the party. The statement endangered President Goodluck

a time when the opposition, for the first time, cobbled together a merger as a formidable platform against the PDP in 2015. Those at the receiving end of Bamanga Tukur ’s pro-Jonathan wrath chose to call the PDP’s bluff by moving enmass into the newly registered APC. The portents for Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 were becoming ominous.

Something had to give!

For President Goodluck Jonathan, it became clear that he must find a way to dam the river.

The loss of members to the opposition is a veritable danger.

Other individuals and tendencies within the party leadership as well as the governors who remained in the PDP, plus elements in control of various levels of power knew that Bamanga Tukur ’s continued retention might endanger them all.

Tukur's overzealousness He needed to be sacrificed in the long run. The old man owed his authority to defense of President Jonathan’s interest but in the long run, Jonathan reckoned that Tukur ’s overzealousness had become an albatross. If he persisted with the old man, he would undermine his own long-term position.

Bamanga Tukur just had to go. A letter of resignation was contrived as a face saving device of exit.

The old man had his full portion of the poisoned chalice and in the past few days, the hemlock-filled chalice passed on to Adamu Muazu.

Muazu arrived as party chairman with the “little baggage” of having allegedly stolen N19 billion from Bauchi state. He is already hostage even before resuming office. That PDP chairmanship position is the ultimate poisoned chalice indeed!

The more you see, the less incomprehensible the ways of govt

E

ARLY this week, the Rule of Law Collective (TRLC), described as “a civic platform comprising Nigerians from all walks of life who through debate, discourse and civic action seek to advance public service and accountable governance in Nigeria, through the fair, nondiscriminatry and effective application of laws”, issued an analysis of the 2014 federal budget proposal, presented to the National Assembly, by Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on December 19, last year.

The budget’s estimated expenditure for 2014 totals a sum of N4.6 trillion. The recurrent component amounts to N2.4 trillion while capital spending will amount to N1.1 trillion. Debt servicing will take N.7trillion and SURE-P spending will come to N.3trillion. Recurrent spending amount to 76.3% of the budget while capital expenditure amounts to only 23.7%.

But, as they say, with these budgets, the devil is always in the detail. The Rule of Law Collective discovered these incredible selected estimates in health care:

a.Construction of a VIP Wing at the State House Clinic: N705million b.Total Capital Budget for Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital: N328million c.Total Capital Budget for University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital: N310million d.Total Capital Budget for NPMA Children Hospital, Sokoto: N89million e.Total Capital Budget for the Institute of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital: NIL In the words of TRLC, “to the formulators of the budget, the VIP Wing of the State House Clinic is superior in terms of cost, priority and efficient allocation of resources to 2 teaching hospitals.

A Nation Children’s Hospital and a Paediatric Research Institute”.

In the area of Defence and National Security, comparative allocations are even more frightening: a. Stipend and Allowances to 30, 000 Niger Delta Militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme: N23.6 billion b.Reintegration of Transformed Ex Militants: N35.4b illion. So the

Niger Delta Militants take a total of N59billion. c.Total Capital Expenditure for the Nigerian Army: N4.8 billion d.Total Capital Expenditure for the Ministry of Defence HQ: N34.2 Billion e.Total Capital Expenditure for ALL police formations and Commands: N6 billion. “(TRLC) finds it incomprehensible that the stipends for 30, 000 ex-militants exceeds by more than double the cost of providing facilities and procuring kit and equipment as well as weapons and ammunition for the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force combined”.

Deepening the absurdity Similarly, the body expressed deep worry that “the cost of reintegrating ex-Niger Delta militants exceeds the combined capital expenditure of the three arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force)”.

And to deepen the absurdity, the Jonathan administration budgeted only N2billion to rebuild

the North East of Nigeria where, in the words of TRLC “damage to property and lives remains inestimable”.

The Collective exposed other absurdities, from monies earmarked for a new presidential jet through to expenditure to feed animals in the Aso Villa zoo. What seems clear is that the present administration, like all the PDP administrations since 1999, has employed a tunnel vision approach to the governance process. These PDP regimes have pursued ruling class centred projects that consolidate the wealth of a tiny minority of the rich, while denying a meaningful social net for the mass of the poor.

There is a more worrisome element from the Yar ’adua administration to the Jonathan administration. They are very provincial in nature. Yar’adua’s government was dominated and propped up by a crop from his native Katsina state. It narrowed the base of the administration’s already questionable legitimacy; but Yar’adua’s provincialism has been taken to an even more dangerous level by Goodluck Jonathan. His has been built on

a basis of appropriating huge sums of money to projects that shore up his ethnic constituency, including even outsourcing the nation’s maritime security to some of the Niger Delta militants. The newer element of the provincialism of the Jonathan administration is the politics by threats, abuses and intimidation of other Nigerians, by elements from the Niger Delta.

As we approach the 2015 elections, the ethnic base that Jonathan has carefully cultivated and empowered economically will become even bolder in its excesses as it realises that only the retention of power by their man, will assure continuity of the access they have secured to huge resources from the Nigerian state.

It is therefore not accidental, that the 2014 budget, just a year before the 2015 elections, has allocated obscene sums to the Niger Delta, even to the detriment of the nation’s security architecture. The ways of government, when they don’t possess sufficiently nationalist and patriotic perspectives, tend to endanger the national weal.

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 ANYONE who looks through the list of ministers the President has submitted to the Senate would move from surprise to wondering what ministers really do. In that list, the President appears to have set out only to fulfil the constitutional requirement that each State should be represented in the cabinet.

With the political cyclone sweeping through the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the choices have assumed more political hue than an effort to have a cabinet that could change the indifference that has become governance for a long time. What value would these ministers, some of who have been recycled almost to bare threads, add to an administration that is wallowing in doubts about its mission?

Last September the President sent home some ministers who were nominated by the rebel PDP governors, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

The new nominees are essentially the President’s men and women. Their

What Do Ministers Really Do? appointments are based on two points, both irrelevant to the well-being of Nigerians: loyalty to the President and influence in their States in the politics of 2015. The appointees are counter-poise to the political order in their States. The search for people who fit the cast was responsible for the return of Lt-Gen Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 70, who resigned as National Security in September 2010 to contest the presidency against Goodluck Jonathan.

Listed too is Boni Haruna, former governor of Adamawa State, against whom the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has a pending suit over his eight-year tenure in Adamawa.

The President has constitutional powers to appoint, re-post and dispose his ministers.

He can take these actions at any time, and he can adduce any reason, or none for the changes.

In his actions, he remains accountable to Nigerians. He is responsible for the performance of his ministers. It is hard for politicians to follow this path, but governance is more important than politics.

Politicians reduce politics to activities that enhance attainment of political power.

Governance, on the other hand, is detailed attention to benefits the people derive from electing politicians into power.

It is a disservice to the people to hire and fire ministers based solely on political considerations. Appointments made without considering the difference they could make between success and failure of governance hurts the people and distances government from them. Where are the technocrats that can unlock the gridlocks to Nigeria’s development?

Nigerians are indifferent to who is appointed so long as our country progresses.

They worry when appointments foreclose chances of realising their dreams.

OPINION

BY BASSEY EKPEYONG

A

N international airport is always the first point of contact between and international visitors and the country.

Being an international gateway, the airport is where the traveller forms his or her first impressions about the country.

This fact is more so if the airport is such a strategic one as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos that controls almost more than 60 per cent of international flights in and out of the country.

A a trip to or fro the MMIA, quickly dismisses the country ’s erstwhile rebranding exercise as efforts in futility.

How will anyone rebrand a country when the first facility an immigrant comes in contact with – the airport – is nothing to write home about? So it is with a relief when the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) began the renovation of some airports in the country including the MMIA. The renovation has progressed and more facilities are being put in place to ensure that travellers have first class experience at the airport. But, it is doubtful if a traveller will get the kind of experience he or she gets from other international airports from the MMIA. I had to take my family to the airport on January 5, 2014 after spending their Christmas holiday in the country. Having checked in online I knew they were not required to be at the airport two hours before the scheduled flight time but, knowing what this country has become lately, I insisted they be at the airport two

VIPs, FAAN and the other airport users hours before the flight time. Coming from Gbagada, I made a generous provision of 30 minutes for transport to the airport.

We left the house by 8pm and within ten minutes we were at the NAHCO junction.

We did not get to the drop off point of the MMIA until one and half hours later. The traffic had built from the drop off point of the airport to the NAHCO junction.

It was so frustrating that we were within the airport premises yet were too far from it. Eventually, my wife and children had to alight from the vehicle and walked to the main entrance to deal with other travel details such customs, etc while their luggage finally made it with the car through the traffic. I could not hold back my anger when I found out that the traffic was caused by individuals who had parked on both sides of the road to await the return of their principals, leaving a narrow way for other cars to snake through.

These cars were parked in and around the “No Parking” zones with their drivers strolling around waiting for their principals. There were pedestrians walking towards these cars in an area where pedestrians shouldn’t be, cutting in front of cars with their luggage or children in strollers. It was a madhouse.

Of course, there is supposed to be a planned order to airport traffic. There is a designated parking lot, there are no parking zones, there are drop off and pickup zones only and there are laid down

penalties for people who flout these laws.

These penalties were not just there on paper. FAAN officials regularly go round towing cars that are wrongly parked, not only around the airports but also cars that break down within the airport authority zone. This helps to keep the traffic at the airport sane, but not any more.

Nowadays, the police escorts who come to pick dignitaries from the airport park indiscriminately without any whiff of repercussions. The strictly drop-off and pick-up zones are usually thickly populated with patrol cars and men in uniform, wielding AK47 guns and resting lazily on the cars. FAAN officials just sit idly and watch this chaotic situation go on each night. On our way down the road, I saw the FAAN officials trying to tow a broken down vehicle belonging to a hapless and obviously un-influential person, not minding that the man had pushed the car out of the way. I am sure the owner of the vehicle will be made to pay heavily for this ‘illegal’ parking.

T

his trend makes one question if our laws were set aside to make life easier for the rich and much more difficult for the average man. The first impression travellers get as they step out of the airport is chaos. The blatant disregard for the law by the same people who are meant to enforce it is alarming and portrays us in a bad light.

Looking at international Airports in other

parts of the world, the prevalent atmosphere is one of calm and order.

Restricted zones remain restricted, and parking lots are in most cases quite a distance from the main airport area with facilities provided to convey passengers to the main airports. Law enforcement officers actually help to maintain the law.

British Prime Minister David Cameron travel without harassing other Britons.

How come private individuals with the means to pay for them have police escorts infringe on the rights of other Nigerians in order to ensure the comfort of their principals? Why can’t these same “VIPs” be picked up just like every other person?

Why can’t police vehicles park in the designated parking lots? Why is the comfort of the very rich superior to public law and order?

Law enforcement agencies need to take a good look at their use of power. Security should be for all and not for a select few.

The prevailing disorder at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos can simply be reversed if the law enforcement officers abide by the law.

Also, the privileged few should not trample on the rights of others. We need to take out time to think of others and ensure that our lives do not impact negatively on others. 2014 is a year to make this resolution.

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

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014— 19

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IGERIA, like any other country, needs genuine foreign investors. These investors must be kept under close watch.

Otherwise, they could end up doing more harm than good.

Occasionally, we must critically re-examine the role of some of the adventurers who come into the country under the guise of investment but with the sole aim of devastating our economy. Their modus operandi is to move in with big capital, plunder the country and leave it in ruins. Meanwhile, they have repatriated, a hundredfold, the dubious capital they brought in.

Acceptably, corruption is the bane of our society. Here, we shall be dealing with the type of corruption that gets to the very fabric of our daily lives – the type that affects our psyche.

When we travel out of this country, we watch with fascination, the way Immigration and Customs Officials treat their nationals who are returning home.

They enjoy free passage while we

are left endlessly on the queue for vile experimentation on how not to carry drugs, even on those of us to whom anything more than common analgesic may be alien.

On our return home, there is a complete role reversal. The other day, it took some shouting bout from some of us to get attention at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, when we were waiting endlessly on the cranky queue, in that dark alley, while foreigners coming into the country were given accelerated attention – not for nothing; but they were the ones who could part with a few dollars.

It gets worse when you come into the country. In the business place, the so-called foreign investors slap it on your face that in your country, they can even get away with murder because your government officials are too corrupt.Government’s attitude on the issue of the protection of local industries has been largely one of “Do as I say, not as I do”. Ikpong Umoh, Vice Chairman, Toiletries and

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Cosmetics Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, surmised that government has never been serious with the protection of local industries. He puts it more succinctly: “Government is more interested in revenue generation and not in the growth of the industries… Today, foreigners have taken over our economy even in Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, like operating barber ’s salons and eateries….”

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moh is pained by the fact that over time, government has launched campaigns and made far-reaching pronouncements on the protection of local industries, including import prohibition of certain products, ban on the consumption of foreign beverages at official functions and in government offices, maintaining that uncontrolled importation of these items would continue to make local brands largely uncompetitive.

He dwells further on government’s hypocrisy: “During the campaign, the dress code of

Whither PDP now that Tukur is gone?

BY HAMISU ABUBAKAR

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RIOR to his predicted ouster last Thursday, erstwhile national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was seen–rightly or wrongly - as the clog in the wheel of the party’s progress. The all-powerful governors within the party never hid their distaste for his style of leadership and they never refrained from saying that it was anything but democratic. The plot for his ouster could have been as old as his tenure as national chairman, a position he assumed in March 2012. With time, the subtle sabotage turned into open threats to his leadership; with five of them eventually making good that threat by quitting to join the opposition All Progressives Congress.

Poor Bamanga! The party had never fallen to that low, and no national chairman before him had witnessed such magnitude of rebellion, right from the outset of his leadership. The defection of the five governors, along with 37 members of the National Assembly, which still threatens the ruling party’s dominance in the lower chamber, became the anti-climax in Tukur’s tenure. With the intrigues increasingly tightening around his neck, he was forced to resign at last Thursday’s crunch meeting of the PDP National Executive Committee, thus paving way to the emergence, last Monday, of former governor of Bauch state, Alhaji Adamu Muazu as the party’s interim national chairman.

The question is, now that Bamanga Tukur is gone, where does the party go from here?

To interrogate this issue, one must properly identify the origin of Tukur’s troubles. One thing that comes clear is that it all started and ended with the governors who largely

call the shots in the party. This must be the starting point for the new Chairman, Adamu Muazu, who was favoured to take up the party leadership because, according to analysts, of his unquestionable loyalty to the party and his ability to reconcile the various tendencies that are tearing the party in different directions.

Muazu must, therefore, learn from the mistakes of Tukur who never really enjoyed a warm relationship with the party governors due to what many believed were his personal interests. The forced enthronement or recognition of unpopular party executives in some states did a great harm to Tukur’s relationship with governors. In his home state of Adamawa, he had enthroned the Mijinyawa Kaugama-led state executive, contrary to laid down rules. His quarrel with Olagunsoye Oyinlola did not also sit well with the governors who felt he was overbearing on Oyinlola and Adamawa governor, Nyako, both of whom were regarded as their own.

This lukewarm relationship was obvious from the outset. In his first major outing with them – a meeting he called at the party’s Legacy House in Abuja- the relationship had soured so much that only five governors attended. A similar scenario also played out when only three (Orji of Abia, Yuguda of Bauchi and the late Yakowa of Kaduna) were present at the launch of his biography, the “Global Villager” to mark his 77th birthday anniversary. The boycott of the party’s one year celebration of its National Working Committee at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, which attracted only two governors, brought matters to a head and clearly raised the alarm.

Muazu’s coming is therefore apt, and it is imperative that he institutes a genuine

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Fish Import: Fishing in troubled waters

There is the speculation that a planned phaseout of fish importation by 25 per cent annually is feasible, which means that a total ban is not coming until 2018

Ministers and government officials showed shoes made in Italy, the flowing gowns made in Saudi Arabia, wrist watches made in Hong Kong and the pen used to sign the event register made in Switzerland. The trays, cups and plates used for entertainment were made in China… The approval by the President Goodluck Jonathanled Federal Executive Council, FEC, to import 60,000 waste bins from the United Kingdom at N927.6 million may have confirmed the insinuation that the much touted local content policy is mere lip service.” (Sunday Vanguard, January 12, 2014, p.33) Speaking biblically, at a time when our indigenous fish importers should be singing the Songs of Solomon, they are still restricted to Lamentation, no thanks to the so-called foreign investors who are suffocating them in the business. Their grand design is that once they come into the business, they begin to look for monopoly and they devise various manoeuvers to ruin any local competitor that may have been in the market before their arrival.

They cut corners and employ all manner of anti-trust tactics, sometimes using the regulatory agencies, to scheme out local entrepreneurs.

Right now, some of the big importersare crying blood because an apparently incorruptible personage, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, is the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources and it is no longer business as usual. Suddenly, there came the wild speculation that the Federal Government had banned the importation of frozen fish into the country. Investigation revealed that this rumour of the immediate ban on frozen fish importation was a hoax designed to cause disaffection and

Muazu’s task is to start the process of pulling the party back from the precipice. But he needs the support of all concerned stakeholders to reverse the current worrisome state of the party

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reconciliation within the party’s rank and file. Except the reconciliation efforts by the Board of Trustees led by Chief Tony Anenih and President Goodluck Jonathan, not much has been done in resolving the crises in almost all the state chapters of the party, and Muazu must realise from day one, the crucial need to get the state chapters working with him. With the fortunes of the party increasingly appearing to be dwindling, the new leadership must make efforts to re-position PDP for future elections, more importantly the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

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ome analysts are already predicting that Tukur’s departure will bring to an end, the squabbles that have engulfed the party in recent times. President Jonathan and the PDP governors have already commenced moves to encourage the five defected governors to return to the party; while Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswan, was a bit cautious in predicting the outcome of their efforts, Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu was emphatic that his colleagues, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), would return to PDP. It may not be so dramatic. This optimism may have even excited Jonathan into endorsing Tukur’s departure, but that swift reconciliation, as desirable as it may be for him, may indeed be far-fetched

destabilise the market.

We hear that the Ministry found that the volume of fish dumped on the country was simply superfluous and it had to quickly take two vital steps to save the market from imminent collapse: first, the quantity of fish imported into the country was reduced by 25 percent of the present level in the first instance; there is the speculation that a planned phaseout of fish importation by 25 percent annually is feasible, which means that a total ban is not coming until 2018; and second, a measure of control had to be infused into the market by allocating specific annual quota to each importer.

This government intervention is certainly an idea whose time has come and it agrees with international best practices the world- over. It succeeds in removing Nigeria from a class of its own where it has been the only country where importers operate without control and without quota allocation.

Again, this government intervention has the added advantage of boosting local production of fish. This, in a way, agrees with the old age belief that it is better to teach a man to catch his own fish than to keep giving him fish. We must not also forget that the enormous savings in foreign exchange accruable from this plan will go a long way in the development efforts of the country.

Rather than attract opprobrium, the Agriculture Ministry deserves commendation. Two things are clear at this point: All the smear campaigns in the mass media against the Ministry are absolutely unnecessary. And, indeed, this could be the beginning of the ethical revolution we have been yearning for!

because a lot of water have passed under the bridge, in a manner of speaking.

How much success Jonathan and the party leadership will make of this effort remains to be seen, more so when a few of the defectors have already openly ruled themselves out of such consideration? No doubt, it will take more than the departure of Tukur for Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Ahmed Abdulfatah (Kwara), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) who alleged impunity and lack of democracy in the PDP, to return. While the likes of Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Murtala Nyako and Usman Wamakko have ruled themselves out of such prediction, there are improved chances, however, that the likes of Governor Sule Lamido and Muazu Babangida Aliyu, both of whom have hobnobbed with the rebels in the past would find better accommodation within the PDP. Muazu, should borrow from the experience of the party’s chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Anenih, who has done a lot in recent times to stem the tide of disaffection. Anenih who had mounted a single-minded effort to keep the aggrieved governors within the fold, has proved that it is really possible to assuage their grievances and once again get the party to speak with one voice. Since some of them have made their complaints open, a situation that makes appeasement possible, it is important that they are not swept under the carpet. This is important as the party must seek to build from what is on ground rather than seeking the return of certain politicians whose weights do not count for much beyond the positions they were fortunate to occupy.

The PDP had never before hung on such a precarious situation, and Muazu’s task is to start the process of pulling the party back from the precipice. But he needs the support of all concerned stakeholders to reverse the current worrisome state of the party. *Mr. Abubakar, a political analyst, wrote from Yola, Adamawa State.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Much ado about anti-gay act Dear Sir, AY Marriage is a non-starter in Ni geria. It would never happen with or without the Act banning it. It would not work in Nigeria, at least in my generation. This is because our culture frowns at it, our morals and religious teachings forbid it. The family structures we have subscribes to a man as the husband and head of the family; and a woman or women as his wife/wives to procreate and fill the earth.

As a practical matter, I am yet to see a father or family that would readily accept “bride price” on his son from a man.

I am waiting to see that father that would accept a bride price on his daughter from another woman. I am also looking for those elders and family members that would accompany their relatives to those

jump in his bandwagon when the River Niger is not dredged, no operational seaport at Onitsha, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, is still struggling to take off, the Federal roads projects are still ongoing, the rail stations are still in coma and our houses are still threatened by gully erosion.

We have no light, no food, no water and we are smiling about GEJ signing a bill that is redundant? Boko Haram is busy killing off a generation of our people, our hospitals are glorified clinics and death beds, our roads are death traps and our air travel nko? Don’t get me started on our educational system and the rot! Our youths are restive and have no jobs to put food on their tables and shelters over their heads. They took to violent crimes including kidnapping/ robbery/thugGay life style on its own is sickening to armed gery and we have no even think of or imagined. Some people answer to those vicargue that it is good to stop them before es.Gay life style on their abomination consumes all of us its own is sickening to even think of or

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imagined. Some people argue that it is good to stop them before their abomination consumes all of us. Well and good, but who would go house to house peeping through the doors or windows to see who is “doing” who? Which police do we commission to do that? A Morality Police Commission would be set up to achieve that? It is an exercise in futility. We already banned prostitution, did it solve the problem? We have a law against bigamy, but how many people have been prosecuted for bigamy? The answer is: only one person for over 50 years of the law. We can as well ban fornication or adultery as if we could commission someone to be sniffing around house to house. It is not practical.

The gay people have been in our midst for a long time but we laughed them off in Igbo language as”nwoke nwanyi” , “ome ka nwanyi” etc while they do their things “down low”. I support closing down Gay Clubs etc on the grounds of public morality, but as for converting gay persons into criminals, killing or maiming them, discriminating against them in work places, NO, as it is against their human rights no matter how we feel about them.

•Chukwudi Nwokoye nwokoyeac@Hotmail.com

Enough of these distracting open letters Dear Sir, THE National Reading Space, has been choked up with a lot a lot of letters recently.

Never in the history of Nigeria, has the art of letter writing been elevated to the status it is enjoying now, in our National Discourse. No problem with that, since it affords the writers and readers the avenue to express their right or wrong views, about the state of our nation.

As at the moment, one has lost count of who is writing who.If not ex-President Obasanjo writing President Jonathan, it will be Iyabo Obasanjo writing the Father and so on. My present and candid view,

C M Y K

is that the letters are enough, so far.

For one, these letters have become self serving and ego seeking charades.

Secondly, they have not proffered any viable solutions to the problems they have highlighted.

The third and most important is that the letters are capable of distracting President Jonathan and heating up the political space of the country.

President Jonathan needs all the support and less distraction now that his administration is entering the crucial leg of delivering the dividends of democracy to all sections of the country.

Distracting President Jonathan at this crucial period, amounts to wickedness, sheer blackmail, and giving him a bad name as we march towards 2015.

This must stop now, please.

Enough of these distractions.

•CHUKWUMA DIOKA. 0 7 0 5 4 9 1 1 8 0 8 .

OWERRI, IMO STATE

The alleged 15 million dollars bribe

by Ibori to the former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu should be returned to Delta state.

Also the United Kingdom and United State of America should return all alleged funds and properties that were recovered from the former governor of Delta state back to the state.

Anonymous 08026986452

OBJ’s letter to President Jonathan

Why didn’t General Obasanjo write an open letter to General Babangida and Abacha, when they annulled the June 12 ,1993 elections in Nigeria that almost tore the country apart?

John .D. 08070685881

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marriages. How about that priest, imam, pastor or reverend that would perform the matrimonial rites on same sex people in his church? That would be his last act as a priest or imam.

All these hullaballoos about banning gay marriage is an over-kill. It is a political ‘opium’ of the long suffering people of Nigeria. The politicians use it as a wedge issue and a ‘feel good’ issue to make us forget our sorrows and feel like they are doing the job we sent them to do. The politicians are smiling home with billions of Naira of our commonwealth and we are here rejoicing and praising them because they said “aye” to the bill banning gay marriage. They didn’t even raise their hands, they only said “aye”!

This amounts to using us as if we are dogs. They took the juicy meats and threw the bones out to us as dogs and we are rejoicing while they are laughing at us.

My Senator cannot come back and convince me that he is working hard for me in the senate with “saying ‘aye’ to ban gay marriage” to show for my vote; after billions of naira meant for my constituency is unaccounted for (except for VIP toilets in select schools).

I cannot praise GEJ for signing the bill when the second Niger Bridge he promised my state in still in limbo and the first Niger Bridge is shaking; I cannot

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Ibori’s alleged $15 million bribe

responsible and high- class governor like Amaechi , then Nigerians have little or no hope.

Chukwu 08033213190

PDP’s travails and Jonathan’s leadership

If you examine most of the appointments made by President Jonathan, they are based on either tribalism\sectionalism or favouritism and not on merit. No genuine northerner will support Jonathan come 2015. How can we support him when he is not fair and sincere to the north .Northerners should take note and be very careful this time around Alhaji Usman Hassanu 07057789779

Still on River state and PDP crisis

Perhaps Jonathan expects Rotimi Amaechi to stand aside Why didn’t General Obasanjo write he obeys an open letter to General Babangida while orders from his and Abacha, when they annulled the wife to commit blunders in the June 12, 1993 elections in Nigeria state.

Also, how else can one consider

,

Rivers state and PDP crisis

Dame Patience Jonathan was not elected . For the avoidance of doubt, Rotimi Amaechi is the Governor of Rivers State as of now. Politics is a game of numbers, and the chaos going on within the PDP will only hurt Jonathan.

Nigeria with the over 400 ethnic nationalities can not break up if Jonathan is not re- elected. If Jonathan wants to win an election, let him mobilise and get the votes. It is a shame that he started fighting openly with Amaechi now.

Francis 08026986452

Rivers state and PDP crisis

The controversy between President Jonathan and Amaechi, no doubt has assumed a dangerous dimension with the way the president allegedlydeploys Federal mercenaries to witch hunt his assumed antagonists including the G-7 governors.

It really bothers Nigerians that the President can withdraw Amaechi’s security aides as alleged, in an attempt to weaken him. If he can do this to a

the taking of the whole of Soku to Bayelsa when a governor exists and is still on seat? It is merely an arrogant and unjustified display of power.

Anthony 07044092117

OBJ’s open letter to President Jonathan

If Chief Obasanjo had remembered that the game of life is the game of boomerang where thoughts, deeds and words return back sooner or later, his open letter to President G.E.J. wouldn’t have been delivered. Chief E. K. Clark’s reply as an Ijaw leader is right.

If Junaid Muhammed, a Northern political commentator, does not understand English language, he should keep quiet and allow leaders who understand English language to speak and defend their people from the unguarded comments of Chief Obasanjo against the Ijaws.

Osaezue Chukwuyenum- InamAbbi 07067442140

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS

The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 —

NIN project will drive FDI — EU Ambassador Agencies, and will together with the NIMC, create a database of all Nigerians who do business with members of the European Union,” he added.

Ambassador Michel Arrion however, cautioned the Commission to be careful with human rights issues and protect data captured from citizens and legal Residents of the country with every sense of authority and discipline. The Director General of the

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

HE new Ambassador/ Head of Delegation of European Union, EU to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Ambassador Michel Arrion, has said that the ongoing enrolment for the National Identity Number, NIN will drive foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria. Arrion made the submission when he paid a Courtsey visit to the NIMC Headquarters in Abuja.

He said the Identity Management Commission, NIMC’s mandate to create a unified identification system in Nigeria will also help to bring real and recognisable benefits to Nigeria and other countries across the globe.

According to him, Identity plays a key role in the growth and development of any economy and the NIMC’s quest to create a paradigm shift from the Identity Card issuance to the National Identity Management System, NIMS is a great potential for the country.

“I see potentials for the NIMS project; the NIMC objectives and mandate, when fully implemented will boost the nation’s economy and help drive foreign investment.”

“The EU also has links with the INEC, the EFCC, and other Ministries, Departments and

117.15

From left: Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Dr, Kingsley Muoghalu; Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Stella Okoli at the South-East South-South Professionals evening of reflections with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala in Lagos.

-1.2

2,695.00 -58.00 15.25

-0.2

106.71 +0.96 94.32 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.74 253.8355 209.2394 169.1517 1.4785 0.3015 236.535 25.5726 41.2585 28.1233 237.2938

Commission, Barrister Chris Onyemenam, in his welcome address to the Ambassador, maintained that the Commission since its new mandate of creating a National Identity Management System, NIMS in 2007, has made conscious efforts to establish relationships with International Institutions in order to tap into the vast experiences and resources of these Institutions.

Barrister Chris Onyemenam started that creating such

relationships is important for NIMC, because “the mandate to create a NIMS and harmonize the captured data into a National Database is more or less a green field for the Commission, which was centered on Card Issuance in its previous efforts.”

He urged the Commission to leverage on the experiences in Europe and America, as well as draw support from the International Institutions to scale up the NIMS enrolment exercise, and the Verification and Harmonization process.

+0.36 SELLING

155.24 155.74 254.6557 255.4759 209.9155 210.5916 169.6983 170.2449 1.4833 1.4881 0.3115 0.3215 237.2993 238.0636 25.6557 25.7387 41.3918 41.5251 28.2142 28.305 238.0605 238.8273

CBN Exchange rate as at 22/01/2014

21

Nigeria’s rice policy suffers setback as Thailand crashes price

By GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE Federal Government policy on rice cultivation and production may have suffered a major setback as the government of Thailand has crashed the price of the commodity due to a glut in the production of the staple food.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government jerked up the tariff on rice to as much as 110 percent on rice with a view to discouraging the importation of the commodity

by Nigerians.

Already, fewer than six ships loaded with the staple food item are either being expected or have arrived at Lagos ports with a combined rice cargo of 148,604 metric tonnes of the staple food.

Despite the increased tariff to 110 per, investigations revealed last week that ships laden with the commodities are gradually sailing into the Lagos seaports.

Vanguard gathered that the glut in rice production in Thailand led to a protest by farmers who could not sell their produce. The Thai government then decided to intervene by offering to subsidize the cost of rice production by farmers and asked farmers to sell at a reduced price.

Thailand, Nigeria’s major rice import market is currently having a massive rice stockpile of over 17 million tones.

According a news agency report, the government is buying at US$475 per tonne as against $669 per tonne.

BoI, NYSC sign MoU on entrepreneurial skills for corpers ... As corps member gets N3.8m collateral-free loan

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE Bank of Industry, BoI and the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU on entrepreneurial skill development for youths in the country just as a corps member got N3.8m collateral-free loan.

The bank had sought collaboration with the NYSC to train and empower corps members in various entrepreneurial skills and give them collateral-free loan as capital and expansion of business initiatives.

BoI Managing Director, Ms. Eveyln

Oputu at the signing of the MoU with the Director General of the scheme, Brigadier General Johnson Olawunmi in Abuja said Nigerian youths are extremely talented and deserve to be supported.

She believed that the acquisition of skills and the loan to help the youths start up their own businesses would reduce the craze for white collar jobs and build them to be self-reliant.

Oputu said that the idea of collaborating with NYSC on Skill Acquisition & Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, was born out of unemployment challenges youth Corps members face when they complete their youth service pro-

gramme. Oputu said that the partnership will cut across various disciplines such as learning an entrepreneurial trade skill, engineering skills for those who are not good in trading skills as well as sports among other disciplines.

She stated, “We will train them [corps members] in skill acquisition. We know that not everybody has the ability to learn entrepreneurial skills, some have the skills to do business, some are good in engineering and they can transform the rural areas in our country because they can help to transform the roads, also those in sports who can train children in sports. Bank of Industry is trying to collaborate with people to do a football academy and basketball.”

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

BDCs critical to exchange rate stability — Khan

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

HE bureaux de change subsector is critical to ongoing efforts to stabilise the exchange rate said Razia Khan of Standard Chartered Bank Group.

Commenting on the increase in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector deposits to 75 per cent, Khan noted that the increase would enhance exchange rate stability, depending on the ability of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to influence BDCs. She said, “For now, the NGN should benefit from the withdrawal of further market liquidity in February. On the interbank market, we expect a modest pullback in dollarnaira exchange rates from the upper end of the plus/minus three per cent band around a mid-point of 155. The key though is the ability of the CBN to influence the BDC segment as well. Although this is a small proportion of the overall market, the CBN is nonetheless concerned about its influence on core inflation trends.”

While announcing the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to raise the CRR on public sector deposits, CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi expressed concern over the widening gap between the official exchange rate and BDC rate, saying this could encourage malpractice in the foreign exchange market. He said, The Committee also expressed concern about the widening gap between the official and the BDC exchange rates, noting that this could precipitate speculation and round-trip-

ping. Though, the BDCs represent a small component of the foreign exchange market, the widening spread appeared to have fed into creeping increases in core inflation.

“The Committee noted with satisfaction that the year-onyear headline inflation remained within the indicative target range of 6-9% in the second half of 2013. However, the Committee noted the underlining pressure on core inflation, which may not be unconnected with the widening spread between official and BDC exchange rates. In order to head off the spectre of rising inflation in 2014, concrete actions will be needed

to stabilize the currency and minimize the divergence between the two segments of the foreign exchange market.”

Consequently, the MPC decided to increase CRR on public sector funds to 75 per cent from 50 per cent, with the aim of further tightening money supply, to reduce inflationary pressure and sustain stability of the exchange rate.

Commenting on the decision, Khan, who is the Regional Head of Research, Africa for Standard Chartered Bank, said, “It is a clear demonstration of the CBN’s continued commitment to FX stability, even in a more difficult environment. Should the FX

rate come under further pressure then more tightening cannot be ruled out. A further increase in the public sector CRR to 100 % cannot be ruled out. The gradualism in evidence now is most likely aimed at giving banks the opportunity to adjust to the tightening, especially those that remain overly reliant on public sector deposits. Whether we see any tightening beyond, this will depend very much on whether confidence in NGN stability can be restored with this move alone.

Oil earnings will be closely watched, as will FX reserves and the spread between interbank and BDC rates. ”

From left: Alhaji Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Business Development, Bank of Industry; Ms Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director and Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the bank and NYSC at General Gowon House, Abuja.

UAE overtakes Nigeria as biggest equities investment destination T

HE United Arab Emir ates ( UAE), the secondbiggest Arab economy has overtaken Nigeria as equities biggest investment destination, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

According to Bloomberg, BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust Plc (BRFI), a $297 million frontier markets equity fund which returned 33 percent in 2013, expects attractive investment opportunities this year including a surge in initial public offerings.

While the performance of frontier markets has been “relatively strong” over the past three years and more, this has mainly been driven by earnings growth rather than an expansion in valuation mul-

tiples, investment managers Sam Vecht and Emily Fletcher said in a regulatory filing.

Frontier markets are “no more expensive now than they were just over three years ago” and the fund continues to find “attractive” investment opportunities across various countries, they said.

The jump in net asset values in pounds compares with a 19 percent gain in the MSCI Frontiers Index, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The United Arab Emirates, the second-biggest Arab economy, overtook Nigeria as the fund’s biggest investment destination.

Indexes in the U.A.E.’s two main markets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi were among the top three performers last year

globally as the country’s realestate and banking industries recovered. Dubai’s gauge more than doubled as Abu Dhabi’s rose 63 percent. The benchmark index in Saudi Arabia, the biggest market in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, gained 26 percent.

BlackRock is the world’s biggest asset manager and had $4.2 trillion under management at the end of December 2013. The New York-based company ’s fourth-quarter profit increased 22 percent to $841 million as investors put money into funds, boosting client assets and fees for managing them.

"Frontier markets are relatively immune to the shortterm swings of global finan-

cial markets as institutional investors’ holdings there are about $20 billion, compared with approximately $1 trillion in emerging markets", Vecht and Fletcher said.

This year company owners in frontier markets will “take the opportunity to crystallize the value of their holdings by listing their companies on the stock market and we anticipate the start of an initial public offering boom,” they said.

Aldar Properties PJSC (ALDAR) and Emaar Properties PJSC (EMAAR), Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s biggest real-estate companies respectively were among the fund’s top three holdings. Qatar National Bank SAQ, the Persian Gulf country’s biggest lender, and Qatar Gas Transport.

Aganga advocates new strategies to support SMEs

T

HE Minister for Trade and Investment, OlusegunAganga, has called for new strategies to support the Small and Medium Entreprises (SME) sector as government looks to positively impact the entire economic value chain.

The Minister made the call while receiving top executives of Diamond Bank Plc, led by the Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Alex Otti.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said, “The SME sector in Nigeria currently employs about 25million people and accounts for about 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Despite recent growths in the economy, government realizes that economic growth that does not reach the SMEs cannot make any meaningful impact. Diamond Bank has played a pioneering and leading role in growing not only the banking sector but also the Nigerian economy through its activities with SMEs, and government is willing to partner such professionals with proven experience in the sector to develop the entire economic value chain.”

While presenting the bank’s blueprint on Improving Access to Finance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Otti recommended that a fund should be set up to take care of identified equity finance gaps.

He also called for a risk-sharing guarantee to support the unsecured lending portfolio of banks that have established methodologies for assessing, disbursing, monitoring and collecting such loans.

According to him, “Over the past five years, Diamond Bank’s strategic focus on financing MSMEs had led to significant investments in structures and processes dedicated to this market. These include building a dedicated team of MSME experts, the development and acquisition of MSME lending methodology, sustainable provision of nonfinancial services to MSMEs such as access to market initiatives and promoting MSME focused CSR projects. Currently, Diamond Bank is the only bank that provides unsecured lending to MSMEs in Nigeria.

“Our commitment to the MSME sector has yielded the following results: disbursement of over N100 billion gross loans to over 60, 000 MSMEs since 2009, expertise in MSME lending that is scalable as we enter new markets, recognition as Nigeria’s MSME bank, a diversified loan portfolio and access to financial services by previously excluded MSMEs,” Otti added.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 23

Trade Ministry prosecutes filling stations for under-dispensing fuel

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

Dr. Joseph Odumodu, President, African Association for Standardisation (ARSO) (3rd left) with delegates from other countries during the 47th ARSO Council meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Manufacturers applaud FG for sector-based incentives •Slam policies of discretionary waivers

By FRANKLIN ALLI

T

HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has lauded the Federal Government for reforming its incentives policy to benefit a whole sector rather than issuing discretionary waivers for individual firms.

MAN President, Chief Kola Jamodu, said government’s broad base incentives to a whole sector has brought transparency in the policy and created a level playing field for all players.

“There is a clear evidence of the positive impact of the sector- based incentives. Incentives and concessions given to the Cement industry have contributed to the phenomenal increase in national cement production from less than 2 million tons in 2002 to over 20 million tons in 2013.

As a result, from being a net importer, Nigeria has become a net exporter of cement. This was achieved in less than a decade thanks to the enabling environment fostered by government policies,” he said.

According to him, the incentive policy has been in place through several administrations but the President and his Economic Management

Team deserve credit for streamlining the policy to leverage it for attracting investment in the priority sectors.

Chief Jamodu added that special intervention funds of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disbursed through the Bank of Industry have also helped revive a good number of ailing industries and SME’s.

He added that incentives are also helping to boost trade and investment in the non-oil sector and generating employment in agro-allied industries.

Explaining how the incentives are impacting positively on manufacturing and the economy, he said: “Incentives are needed to generate investment in the productive sector – manufactur-

ing and agriculture.

Waiver of customs duty and VAT on import of plant and machinery is required to make our industries competitive.

Duty and VAT exemption on equipment used in gas production has contributed to reduction in gas flaring and growth in gas-to-power initiative aimed at boosting power supply.”

he Weights and Measures Department (WMD) of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has vowed to prosecute more companies in the oil and gas sector who cheat by under -dispensing petroleum products to customers.

Engr. Mohammed Sidi, Head of Monitoring and Surveillance unit of the Department, stated this when he sealed two dispensing pumps of NNPC filling station, Gwarimpa and Oando filling station at Ahmadu Bello way for under dispensing petroleum products to customers in Abuja.

“We came to check the accuracy of the equipment, the legality of those equipment and the pre-parked goods being sold in the market which might be short measured, short weighed and used for trading.

“For those defaulters whose dispensing pumps were not within the tolerable error, we

WACL tackles packaging challenges in ceramic industry

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

W

EST African Ceramics Limited, WACL, has said it will soon introduce a

Nigeria seeks closer ties with India on energy, textile

•As trade volume hits N2.7trn in 2013

N

IGERIA’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has called for effective collaboration between the country and India on energy, textile, pharmaceuticals and maritime security.

He made the call in Lagos during a meeting with a business delegate from India led by Mrs. Rani Mallick, the First Secretary in High Commission of India.

Aganga cited two lessons Nigeria could learn from the Indian experience, namely, her success in productivity growth through smallholder agriculture and, micro, small and medi-

um enterprises development, which requires both market-based incentives and public support, as this has formed the cornerstone of the Indian economy.

Secondly, the role played by leadership and a capable public administration at all levels of the government to support the economy. “It is within this context that the two inter-related issues of private investment and aid flows from India, may well be of benefit to West Africa. There are also domestic policy lessons with potentially larger long-term benefits, we can learn from the Indian experience,” he said.

Mallick said the basis

of the meeting with the Minister is to find out how much India is doing in terms of partnering with Nigeria on trade issues and how to improve on it. According to her, India government is ready to work with Nigeria to improve the ease of doing business and boost skills acquisition among Nigerians.

On trade volume between the two countries, Mallick said trade volume between India and Nigeria reached 16.67 billion dollars (N2.7 trillion) in 2013, adding that that the trade relation between the two countries was favourable to Nigeria. “India has long been Nigeria’s privileged business partner

have invited them to come to our office, we are going to investigate why they are doing it and we are going to make sure that they revert to normal range and where we found that a marketer had defaulted two or three times we will take him to court for prosecution.

We have just succeeded in winning one of the cases last week as announced by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, others are in progress and we are definitely going to prosecute a good number of them,” he said.

On the issue of agencies overlapping functions, he said that the Weight and Measures Department is the only agency recognised by law to handle, regulate, set, inspect certify all weighing and measuring equipment in Nigeria.

He added that the department is not just national but has link with the international weights and measures organisation in Paris.

in various sectors and our engagement is expanding by the day. India is today Nigeria’s largest trading partner.

“During the past few years, bilateral trade has doubled and Indian exports to Nigeria have tripled. “Today, Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa with 16.67 billion dollars in direct bilateral trade in 2013,” she said.

Malick said there were over 100 Indian companies with cumulative investments as well as creating jobs in Nigeria.

She, however, said that both countries had yet to adequately harness the bilateral trade potential.

technology that would take care of current packaging challenges in the ceramics industry in Nigeria.

Bhaskar Rao, General Manager of WACL, disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the company’s new showroom at Lekki, Lagos.

“We would be launching a first-of-its kind technology that would take care of current packaging challenges and deliver customised designs and shapes.”

“The stakes are high in these investments; nevertheless we are committed to take on the risk to satisfy the needs of Nigerians for quality and designs obtainable anywhere in the world,” he said.

Earlier, while thanking the Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA, for their patronage, he explained that the showroom is partly a response to ease the challenges customers face while ordering for products from the Ajaokuta factory, Kogi State.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Why Nigerian students protested in Ukraine

Biblical perspective on sexual aberrations

BY PROF. E.M.UKA

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has braved the odds and signed into law, the bill against homosexuality and same-sex marriage. In signing the law, the President identified with the pulse of the African society and penned his name in the Hall of Fame of the movement for the reforms of the African society, nay, the global society. The increasing and embarrassing legal and societal acceptance of unacceptable and ungodly sexual orientations is becoming a thing of serious concern to African Christians nurtured ironically

by Western Christian missionaries.

For instance, how could it be that a whole United States' Supreme Court (USSC) could endorse a law to uphold same sex (SS) marriage as the norm in marriage relations in the US? Already about 58 percent of Americans are practising same sex marriage with bishops and archbishops proudly being gay and ordaining ‘strange’ wedlocks. Some influential countries around the world are already practising it, including UK, Canada, France, etc.

Across the ages, the battle between good and evil has raged.

Homosexuality as one of the greatest human deviant behaviours had been with man from earliest times. Man had fought it for a long time but it refuses to die. For instance, about 40 years ago, homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Today, it is considered a normal sexual behaviour and a human rights issue. There are over 600,

Same sex couple... an unacceptable human behaviour ence to choose to sleep with his dogs, goat, cow or monkey? And should anyone worry when strange diseases begin to ravage the world and seek to exterminate humanity? If we accept lesbianism and homosexuality, we must by the same token allow kleptomania, sadism, terrorism, abductions and other deviant behavious as norm and individual right.

God of Israel, the creator of man: Is it a suprise that humanity has come to this sorry pass?

Today the Western world has come of age. It has become civilised ‘beyond’ God. Thus far, it has bred generations of antiGod’s citizens who never go to church, who read no scriptures; who have grown soulless and averse to the reading of the Bible. They have bred spiritual zombies, vacuous people who are infuriated by the very concept of deity or religious codes.

The world today is filled with

,

About 40 years ago, homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association

000 same sex families in the US with about 115, 000 of them raising children who shall eventually become homosexuals.

Today’s licentious and ungodly Western world has convinced itself that deviant behaviour is alright and acceptable; it has allowed maladjusted people to have their way. They have allowed people who need help, who need prayers and divine intervention to reclaim their chequered lives, people who glory in rotteness to take control of the driver’s seat of the human race.

As humanity wallows in rotteness and extreme carnality, they are far removed from the divine and the glorious. If our permissive world accepts it is a man’s right to sleep with another man, by the same token, shouldn’t it be his right and sexual prefer-

,

carnal beings groomed on dollars, flesh and individual freedom. They are wise by themselves and are gods unto themselves; for them, whatever feels good is okay, whatever their feeble minds can justity is right.

Sometimes one wonders which god is referred to on the American dollar bill which proclaims, “In God we trust”. It must be the god of dollars. But God is God, His sovereign will is written and will be fulfilled in due time. Empires rise and fall; superpowers thrive and wane all according to God’s long-stated design. People of God must not despair but remain steadfast in prayers for those who have deviated from the natural order and are sold to the enemy.

For the avoidance of doubt let me identify and define some of

these prohibited sexual relations and activities in the context of Israelite family and by extention ours, and the divine sanctions they attract.

Types of sexual aberrations and their sanctions Adultery: Collins English Dictionary defines adultery as the voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a partner other than the legal spouse. Adultery is the seventh of the tenth commandments which God commanded, “thou shall not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14).

Rape: Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. Victims of rape can be severely traumatized. In addition to psychological harm resulting from the act, rape may cause physical injury, or have additional effect on the victim such as acquiring sexually transmitted diseases or becoming pregnant. According to the World Health Organization, types of rape include date rape, gang rape, marital rape, incestual rape, child sex abuse, prison rape, acquaintance rape, war rape and statutory rape .

Incest: Incest is sexual intercourse between family members and close relatives. The term may apply to sexual activities between individuals of close “blood relationship”, members of the same household, relatives (related by adoption or marriage) or members of the same clan or lineage.

The incest taboo is and has been one of the most common of all cultural taboos.

To be concluded

Most Rev. Prof. Emele Mba Uka is Prelate & Moderator of the General Assembly, The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Office of the G. A. Moderator, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar.

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

F

OLLOWING the recent unrest in Ukraine which took place amidst ongoing rallies against the government’s decision to pull out a landmark deal with European Union, resulting in the death of two Nigerian students, Obede Ogbu and Laolu Oresanya Teresa, Nigerian students in Ukraine have expressed deep dissatisfaction over the killing of their members.

The students who were embittered with the nonchalant dispositions of the Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine, Ambassador Frank Ngozi Isoh, and his diplomatic team, said that several other Nigerians were injured in the clashes between protesters and riot police in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. It was gathered that the situation has thrown the Nigeria community in Ukraine in a state of mourning. Their grievances were said to be aggravated with the attitude of the Ukraine media which have been disseminating untrue reports on the cause of death of the Nigerians.

Measure of commitment Vanguard Consular Advisory was told that a vast majority of Nigerians in Ukraine are of the view that the ambassador did not show a reasonable measure of commitment in tackling the issues surrounding the death of the Nigerian students. A source said, “the question on the lips of many Nigerians here in Ukraine, after the death of Obede Ogbu, who was a postgraduate Electrical Engineering student and Laolu Oresanya Teresa, a third year Electrical Engineering student, both of Donetsk National Technical University, has been the position of the Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine.

"We queried why he should allow Ukrainian doctors get away with negligence of duty and agreed to the position of the deceased parents not carrying out an autopsy on their children since we all are kept under his watch supposedly.

Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also, is not left out here even as I hail the courage of the entire Nigerians in Ukraine who came out in large numbers to protest against the uncaring attitude of Ukrainian doctors and reporters as related to the death of Bede and Teresa.”

Vanguard Consular Advisory also gathered that the Nigerian authorities may have begun the process of investigating the position of the students with a view to ascertaining the veracity of their claims to which an irate Nigerian felt was totally an anomaly. An embassy official who pleaded anonymity, said that the embassy was in touch with Ukrainian authorities and has been doing its best to ensure that Nigerians in Ukraine were not abandoned during this challenging period.

He also disclosed that the embassy is applying diplomatic channels to ensure that the situation was brought under control. In a related development, VCA gathered that many unfortunate Nigerians were lying critically ill in Ukrainian hospitals following levels of shock derived from the unrest and the Nigerian embassy allegedly claimed it was not briefed and as such was oblivious of such development.

When VCA inquired about the development through several calls made across to the embassy, a staff of the embassy, (names withheld) said that the embassy was yet to get the full details relating to the information about Nigerians who are lying critically ill in Ukrainian hospitals following shock resulting from the unrest. He said the embassy was working hard to ensure that Nigerians are not further humiliated in any way and that the embassy is ready to act accordingly for the good of all Nigerians in Ukraine.

For Comrade Osho, (other names withheld for security reasons), news of the death of the two students which was reportedly described by Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs as circumstances bothering on alleged negligence on the part of the hospital authorities where they were admitted for treatment, should have presented a better ground for the ambassador and his diplomatic team to act on.

He said, “These children are kept under your care for Christ's sake. Whether they are there on study or work or whatever, your utmost responsibility as an ambassador is to ensure their safety. Succumbing to the arrant position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is inefficiency on your part. I feel and share in the pains of the parents who have lost their hopes, because I can not imagine in life, if I should lose a child, much less a third year Electrical Engineering or a Masters Degree Engineering child.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 25

•Students in exam hall

WAEC laments dearth of teaching staff in schools •Vows to stop use of handsets in exams

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

HE Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has lamented the dearth of teaching staff in schools, just as it also called on state governments and proprietors of private schools to procure detectors to prevent candidates from smuggling in mobile handsets into examination halls.

This was disclosed at the 56th meeting of Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of WAEC held for three days at Excellence Hotel and ConC M Y K

ference Centre, Ogba, Lagos.

The Committee expressed deep concern about the dearth of teaching staff in schools all over the country and called on government to urgently institute measures, such as offering special incentives, in order to attract the youth to read education-based courses in universities, particularly Mathematics Education.

Besides, it also called for appreciable improvement in the reward system for teachers nationwide, in order to motivate them to put in their best.

In its concern to revamp

standard of education in Nigeria, the Committee implored state governments and other stakeholders in the education sector to consciously strive to elevate the standard of education in the country and re-double efforts in providing adequate infrastructure, manpower and teaching aids which would facilitate proper teaching and learning and the preparation of students for WAEC examinations.

They also noted the usefulness of the reports and emphasised the need for all ministries of education, All Niger-

ia Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and schools' authorities to ensure that teachers make adequate use of the Reports in preparing students for the WASSCE. Meanwhile, in view of the increased use of mobile handsets by candidates during examinations, the Committee directed the Council to make it mandatory for governments to procure serviceable metal detectors for public schools and proprietors of private schools to procure same for their schools, so as to prevent candidates from smuggling in mobile handsets into examination halls.

The Committee, which meets twice a year to consider matters related to the conduct of the May/June and November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE),is the highest policy-making organ of WAEC on examinationrelated matters in Nigeria.

Members, while commending the quality of the Reports which, they observed, were better than previous ones, noted the information that, with effect from the registration period for the May/June 2014 WASSCE, the Chief Examin

Continues on page 26

Novel screening strategies for colorectal cancer Pg. 39

RSG unifies academic calender for Rivers schools Pg. 29

Lagos rewards best teachers, charges them to redouble efforts Pg. 32

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

ers’ Reports will be available in CD format only.

Membership of the Committee comprises representatives of State Ministries of Education, the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the universities.

It also includes the Registrar to Council, the Head of the Nigeria National Office, the Head of the Test Development Division (TDD) and the Head of the Test Administration Division (TAD) of the Council.

During the 56th Meeting, members received a report on Special Irregularity and Clemency cases in the November/ December 2012 WASSCE, earlier considered at the 55th Meeting of the Committee.

They also considered a report on the conduct of the May/ June 2013 WASSCE, as well as Irregularity Cases arising from the conduct of the examination.

Moreover, they considered Special Cases, Clemency Cases, Late Cases, Restitution, Petitions and Cases Referred for Further Investigation from Previous Examinations.

The Committee also received a report on the Statistics of Entries and Results for the November/December 2012 WASSCE, General Résumé of the Chief Examiners’ Reports on the May/June 2013 WASSCE, considered a paper on the appointment of new/substitute Chief Examiners and Moderators and received reports on the Activities of the Aptitude Tests Department (ATD), from May to September, 2013; and on the Activities of the Research Department of the Council.

Members noted the report on how persistent insecurity in some parts of the country, particularly in the North East, had adversely affected the conduct of the Council’s examinations and noted the report on the efforts of the Management of the Council to reach the highest echelons of authority in the nation, in order to safeguard staff on examination duty.

Thereafter, members observed a minute’s silence in honour of three staff of the Council who were dastardly killed by insurgents in Borno State while on official duty during the conduct of the May/ June 2013 WASSCE. In considering the general résumé of the Chief Examiners’ Reports on the May/June 2013 WASSCE, members noted the observations that the standard of the papers compared favourably with those of previous years, that the questions were properly framed, unambiguous and within the scope of the syllabus and that the marking schemes were comprehensive and the marks properly distributed.

On candidates’ performance, C M Y K

WAEC laments dearth of teaching staff in schools members noted the observation that performance was good in Financial Accounting and Typewriting and better than in recent years in many subjects, including Igbo, Yoruba, Economics, Government, History, Music 1A & B, Visual Art 2, Agricultural Science 1 & 2, Biology 2, Chemistry 1 & 2, Health Science 2, Physical Education1, Electronics 1 & 2, General Mathematics, Clothing & Textiles, Foods & Nutrition, Home Management, Building Construction, Technical Drawing and Woodwork.

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Continues from page 25

Performance was also said to be fair in French 1c, Islamic Studies, Hausa and Commerce, but declined in English Language, CRK, Geography 1B & 2, Visual Art 1, Biology 1, Physical Education 2, Physics 1A & B, Physics 2, Further Mathematics, Applied Elect. 1, Auto Mech 2, Metal Work 1 & 2, Tech. Drawing 1 and Woodwork 2 and poor in Lit-in-English 2 & 3.

The Committee noted some of the strengths of candidates which were mentioned and which included, adherence to

rubrics in some subjects, improved writing and communication skills in others, appreciable display of the skills required for performing tasks in some practical subjects, mastery of certain aspects in various subjects, such as proper definition of terms and identification of given specimens in science subjects, good understanding of experimental procedures in Chemistry 1A & B, simplification of fractions in General Mathematics, and ability to interpret drawings in Metal work and Woodwork I.

Members also noted the weaknesses of candidates mentioned, which included, providing sketchy notes to questions which required more extensive explanations

,

•Students writing exam

Members also noted the weaknesses of candidates mentioned, which included, providing sketchy notes to questions which required more extensive explanations, inability to spell technical words correctly, poor mastery of the English Language; poor handwriting, which made the reading of the responses difficult; poor graphs/diagrams, inability to present answers to the required degree of accuracy, as noticed in General Mathematics and shallow knowledge of the set texts which was evident in the sketchy answers presented.

Furthermore, members noted the remedies suggested which included urging candidates to: (1) learn the basic grammatical rules of the English Language as well as other languages which are examined; (2)read the rubrics and ensure that they understand the questions before attempting them; (3)engage in practice sessions in activities related to their subjects; (4)cultivate the habit of reading widely with a view to improving their vocabulary; (5)endeavour to cover the syllabuses for the subjects they wish to sit before the commencement of examinations; (6)procure and read the prescribed texts in the various subjects rather than rely on commentaries or ‘key points’; (7)learn the basic principles and concepts in the various subjects and apply them to solving simple everyday problems; (8)strive to write legibly; (9)label diagrams correctly; (10)ensure that terms associated with the various subjects are correctly spelt.

What anti-gay law will not do for Nigerian children BOZIMO

By LAJU ARENYEKA

T

WENTY something year old Cynthia Mo ses (not real name) finds herself attracted to young women like herself.

Only a few days ago, she learned that she could be sent to jail for engaging in a sexual relationship with another woman.

Like most Nigerians, she condemns homosexuality but can’t help but wonder whether the urges that were awakened during her secondary school days will not one day land her in prison.

At the all girls’ school she attended as a child, a senior

student invited her to her corner one evening and began to touch her in sensitive areas.

Little by little, the touching became more intense, and in a short while, she became the

senior student's ‘babe’. They began to have sex on regular occasions. When Cynthia became a senior, she also introduced some other junior students into the act.

Quite a number of Nigerians

are in Cynthia’s position; many children now have the experience that she once had.

An advocate against child sexual abuse, Dr. (Mrs) Princess Olufemi-Kayode, has worked with a number of such children at the Media Concern Initiative for women and children (Mediacon).

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, she said: “It is not my belief that children grow up wanting to be gay. But a large percent of children and adolescent who have some sort of same sex orientation were themselves molested by adults or older children.

"That’s why when they go to school they introduce younger kids into it. The challenge

Continues on page 32

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014— 27

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28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

‘Our lives after Salem University’ O

By MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

NE year after graduation, former students of the Salem University (SU) Lokoja returned to recount how virtues learnt in the institution have helped their navigation through life Just a seemingly insignificant gesture stood him out of the pack. It was one he had no idea would define his oneyear mandatory national service in an immeasurable manner. Shembere Gwatana had been posted to Anglican Com-

•Abdulraham

•Tokula mercial Secondary School Osogbo after orientation camp. The school graciously accepted him and others. He was assigned to teach agriculture. But while others simply walked away, Gwatana returned to express a simple word of appreciation to the principal.

The stunned principal took notice of the gesture. He must have decided to watch out for the “appreciative corps member” for future compensation.

When she eventually read a book the young man wrote while in school, the principal realised he was the missing link the school has been looking for.

For 12 years, the school has been without a Christian Religious Knowledge teacher.

She promptly reassigned him to take the subject to the applause of all. Gwatana im-

pressed students and teachers. He left an indelible mark, one that the school keeps recounting months after his Primary assignment. “I still get letters from students to say thank you. Teachers also call to tell me how impressed they are,” he stated.

Gwatana stood tall last week at the testimony day of Salem University in Lokoja. The event attracted parents and students, many of whom were touched by the gales of good news the ex-students reported. Gwatana said he couldn’t have done well during his service year without the values he imbibed while in the citadel of learning. Salem University, according to him, taught him the culture of appreciation as a student of Business Administration.

“They taught us to say thanks for every little good. It was always said that the more you thank people, the more they are motivated to help you in the future,” he said.

Months after he finished service, he said teachers and students have remained in touch with him. This is due to the lasting imprints he left among them. A smiling Gwatana said: “I am very glad to inform you that at our final departure from service year, we were scored on a scale of performance. I came top with 97%, a score which the school has not recorded for many

years.”

Nnanna Yvonne studied Accounting at the institution.

She was a regular at the Total Leadership Training Concept (TLTC) packaged to train global leaders at the school. She kept hearing she should create and not seek for jobs. The constant reminder finally pushed her to start a mini supermarket she christened Fabulous Supermarket. She sold only sachet waters on campus.

That experience honed her entrepreneurial skills. Today, she runs a thriving venture just less than two years after graduation.

Mercy Tokula served in Kaduna after studying Economics. She said the core values of confidence and event management learnt in the institution have placed her in good stead among her peers. Today,

•Rachael she counsels based on the training she underwent while in school. “l thank God for his unspeakable gifts to me in teaching, guidance & counseling. By His grace lam excelling. Thanks to Salem University,” she stated.

Uche Rachael’s study of Criminology and Penology opened the doors for her to be posted to the 245 Battalion Nigeria Army Afi Barracks Ikom in Cross Rivers. She worked with the battalion Headquarters and I also volunteered to teach at the Army

•Yvonne secondary school. “I was appointed secretary of the barracks corps members group, which organised seminars and SSCE classes for secondary schools in the area,” she recalled.

Comfort Okayi described her experiences at SU as simply unforgettable.

The graduate of Business Administration said one vital value she left with is the “confidence to know that I can influence my world positively.” For admission seekers, she said: “I strongly encourage them to choose Salem University Lokoja SU because they will never remain the same again.”

Awojobi Oluyemi is a graduate of Information Technology. But he entered the university lost and confused. He was also spiritually unconscious.

But he said he left “spiritually awakened, morally conscious and academically refined.” He added: I was able to discover within me several talents and potentials. I acquired skills which gave rise to several innovations that gave me recognition. I now have a competitive edge as an entrepreneur in the labour market.”

Lidani Kwagam was a victim of mediocrity as at five years ago. That was before he gained admission to study Geology at SU. He said: “I was once governed by mediocrity; it had become my com-

fort zone. Coming to Salem, I encountered an environment where one is nurtured academically, morally and spiritually. I experienced a holistic uplifting in life as well as doing away with old bad habits and negative addictions.”

After graduation, he said the values have shaped his life in no small way. “The virtue that keeps me going is Integrity standing firm in my principles even when the world turns against you. Salem University is indeed a transformational ground where leaders are raised.”

A graduate of Information Technology, Haruna Abdulraman, said he left the institution with more than a degree.

“When I enrolled for an academic experience, I got more than that at Salem University. The university is not just a four wall academic ground but a place where men are made,” he began with smiles.

“As I left the university, I did not just leave empty handed, I left with certain core values which are making me stand out in the world today. One of them is integrity, which I have come to find out, is needed most in this big world.

With all sincerity, I would love to thank the Chancellor of this transformation ground and also his team of experts (administrative staff, chaplaincy and lecturers) who helped in accomplishing the change in my life.”

The Chancellor, Archbishop Sam Amaga, thanked the exstudents for representing the institution well after graduation. He assured that SU will continue to churn out “godly, global leaders who will dazzle the world with their academic prowess as well as impeccable character.”

Amaga said curricula are being improved, infrastructure upgraded and lecturers motivated to make the institution “a world class citadel with the proven track records of service delivery and global transformation.”

Dif tween American and British English (V ocabular y)2 Diffferences be between (Vocabular ocabulary)2

C M Y K

American English (AmE) Hood

British English (BrE) bonnet

high school

secondary school

period

fullstop

course

module

drunk driving

drink driving

can windshield mail fall muffler corn

tin windscreen post autumn silencer maize

cookie overpass

biscuit flyover

Some words mean different things in the two varieties of English. Examples are: Mean: American English – nasty guy, bad humoured British English -tight fisted ,not generous

potato chips fender crazy wing mirrors

crisps bumper mad side mirrors

Rubber: American English (informal) – a condom (male contraceptive) British English – tool used to erase pencil marks from paper

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—29

RSG unifies academic calender for Rivers schools

By DAYO ADESULU

T

HE Rivers State Govern ment has stated that it will unify the academic calendar and the curriculum for both public and private schools in the State. Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi disclosed this in a meeting with the National Association of Private School Proprietors NAPPS, Rivers State Chapter, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools ANCOPSS and Association of Primary Schools Head Teachers of Nigeria AOPSHON in her office in Port Harcourt. LawrenceNemi while addressing the different Associations ,stated that the essence of the uniformity is for effective management and implementation of education development plans.

The Commissioner who noted that such plans will take the education sector in Rivers State to a greater height disclosed ‘’we have entered another year and we must work together to take the education sector in Rivers State to a greater height.” According to her, education cannot be left in the hands of the government alone insisting on the

C M Y K

need to have a synergy with the private sector and principals of schools is most welcomed. “As we discussed in our draft policy, we are looking at having a uniform academic calendar for both private and public schools in the State. The State Government will also adopt a uniform curriculum for both public and private schools in the State.

The reason for this uniformity is for effective management and implementation of educational development plans’’ ,she said.

The Commissioner com-

mended the different associations for all their contributions to the development of education in Rivers State in 2013, calling on them to continue to partner with the ministry so as to achieve the Millennium Development goals on education.

S

he listed out some of the achievements of the Ministry in 2013 which include; establishment of Education Quality Assurance Agency and School Based Management Committee SBMCs, to maintion a few. ‘’The

From right: Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi receiving a triphy of academic excellence from a debater; Jeremiah Cornerstone after a debate competition.

year 2013, she noted was a remarkable year for the Ministry because of the numerous achievements the state recorded last year. Some of our the achievements in 2013 according to her in 2 include, the drafting of education policy, establishing of Quality Assurance Agency, setting up of School Based Management Committees (SBMC), setting up of the Port Harcourt Technical/Vocational Centre, opening of Ambassador Nne Furo Kurubo Model Secondary School and above all the recruitment of 13,201 new teachers. Also, the issue of out of school children has been addressed. The State Government has approved and commenced the construction of 20 classroom blocks that will accommodate more pupils per school. The aim is to ensure that no child is left behind’’ she stated.

Lawrence-Nemi has however set up a committee that will be headed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Barr Michael West. The Committee have only three weeks to submit its report to the Honourable Commissioner. Members of the harmonization committee include; the Permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Education Barr Michael West.

Covenant varsity emerges 2013 best private varsity in Nigeria

T

HE year 2013 ended on a good note for Covenant University, as the Centre for

Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA) awarded her the Best Private University in Nigeria, while the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles K. Ayo was inducted an honorary member of the centre.

The award, which was conferred on the University on Friday, December 27, 2013 by the body, led by the DirectorGeneral of the Centre, Dr. Dafe Akpocha, was done after thorough consultations with the regulatory body of universities in the country, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and visits to all private universities in the country.

Dr. Akpocha commended the Chancellor, Dr. David Oyedepo for the noble initiative of modelling Covenant University to the standard of worldclass institutions. He averred that Covenant University has gradually over the years become synonymous with the advancement of good governance in Africa.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

STAFF AWARDS DAY:

Corona rewards staff

BY DAYO ADESULU

How ASUU members destroyed Nigerian universities (4)

S

INCE embarking on this in quiry, into activities on Nigeria’s university campuses and talking to graduates, what the message revealed was found to be true of, not only UNILAG, but virtually every university. Further inquiry had also revealed that the most vulnerable students, male and female, are the final year students some of who have spent five years to undertake a three years’ course or eight years to graduate instead of six years – mostly on account of ASUU strikes.

The thought of not graduating with their classmates is always sufficient inducement for them to surrender to anything however corrupt.

The reader asked if there is any solution in sight. Certainly, there is. Like anything evil perpetrated by wicked individuals, it started with people; it will end only if other people rise against it. The guilty Professors are not ghosts. In fact, they are well known and many of them had left a trail of evidence behind with their victims over the years. The first, and indispensable, element in finding a solution is to remove the veil of secrecy under which our cor-

should insist on house cleaning. To put it more strongly, the ASUU hunters, who had been relying on public support to achieve their objectives should now be placed on the run by governments exposing the corruption on campuses nationwide with the aim of putting an end to them. It is in the national interest for us to know that a student granted First Class or Second Class Upper actually merits the honour and not one who paid for it or slept her way through the faculty to obtain it. At the moment, given the pervasive occurrence of the Course

,

The first, and indispensable, element in finding a solution is to remove the veil of secrecy under which our corrupt academics operate

rupt academics operate.

That means continuous exposure. Victims of the Course Notes racket and sex trade, even as long ago as ten or more years should be able to come forward, perhaps under conditions of anonymity, to provide evidence. Obviously, if two hundred alumni of a university, who had never met, were to testify that a certain lecturer was actively engaged in one or both corrupt practices, that should constitute the beginning of a serious inquiry into the activities of that particular lecturer.

Even for someone almost inured to corrupt practices globally, I had been shocked to the marrows by some of the names that had been dropped during my discussions with graduates of our universities.

The deeper one looks the more shocking the situation on our university campuses have become.

Now that ASUU had won its power contest with the Federal Government, I strongly believe that the time has come, indeed, is long past, when the Federal and State governments C M Y K

,

Note racket and the Sex trade, it is difficult to know who is really outstanding.

RIGHT OF REPLY For once there has been a deafening silence from our universities in response to the charge that academics are ruining our universities with the Course Notes racket and the Sex trade. Are we to assume that silence means admission of guilt?

However, one lone voice spoke up in

self-defense. I will like to appreciate a man who is so sure of himself on this matter. Please read on.

0803-389-8583.

Pose I have never lined my pockets with proceeds from the sale of course notes. My institution, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, can testify for me.

Dr Tony Ekwe.

How I wish many more lecturers would have sent that sort of message. It would mean all is not lost and those not involved in the racket can help clean-up the system.

LAST LINE: I know this is a repetition. But, has the NUC or the Ministry of Education ever conducted a study to determine what happened to the majority of those who bagged First Class in various subjects afterwards? Have they burnt the tracks in their professions or have the promises of excellence ended on graduation day?

Visit: www.delesobowale.com

Continues next week

T

HE joy of Corona Staff knew no bound on Saturday, when the institution rewarded and appreciated deserving staff at its 2013 Staff Awards Day held at Corona Schools, Lekki Lagos. Nothing inspires staff to be more committed to duties than to see or hear their employers appreciating them in their little contribution.

Mr. Babatunde Olomo, a primary school Mathematics teacher at the Corona School, Lekki who emerged best 2013 Staff Awards Day said: “I was overwhelmed with tears of joy because I felt everybody is a winner. ” I felt humble to be adjudged best because all teachers in Corona Schools are exceptional, how come about me emerging best, it really baffles me, hence I wept with joy to be singled out, it is a privilege. ”My philosophy about the subject Mathematics which I teach is to ensure it is fun for the children. In the course of doing my job, I ensure that I am available so that my pupils can make progress. As at last year, I had no idea that this year will be my turn. Other than my primary duties, I made myself available for school functions. My hobby is photography. At school, I capture moment which we use in school newsletter and year book. Sometimes, if they need certain pictures and do not know where to get it, they come to me for it. I send pictures to colleague to ensure that everybody is happy.

It is possible to demystify Mathematics. I ensure that the children I teach, enjoy the subject. ”I teach primary one pupils, and at primary one is when students form their opinions about Mathematics. I make them to love the subject at that tender age. I use role play, games, video and other means to teach them Mathematics.”

Meanwhile, in her address, the Executive Director, Corona Trust Councils, Mrs Igun Olufunto noted that the purpose of the Staff Award Day is to celebrate and appreciate the importance of staff in the way they mould the world and influence the lives of many people.

According to her, the Corona Staff Day provides an opportunity to reward and recognise deserving staff who during the past school year took advantage of the immense opportunities within the system and excelled by sustaining their professionalism, creativity, commitment, ethics and self-development.

Igun said, “It is also to reward and recognise deserving staff members for their loyalty to the organisation.” ”Corona Staff Day is to host a friendship and team bonding forum in appreciation of each individual staff’s contribution to the common purpose,” she added.

The Executive Director who stated that the event is all about celebrating hard work, passion and creativity of people pointed out that it has over the year brought healthy competition among staff to give their best.

Mr. Babatunde Olomo (middle), a primary school Mathematics teacher at the Corona School, Lekki who emerged best 2013 Staff Awards Day, flanked by other awardees and Corona directors.

JOGS 1974/79 set elects new excos

I

JEBU-Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association JOGS, 1974/79 set has elected new executive members to paddle its affairs for the next two years.

At the election which took place at the residence of former Chairman Nigerian Dental Association Dr. Femi Orebanjo last Sunday, a former banker Dimeji Ogunbiyi emerged as President and Omodehin ‘Tola as Vice.

Others are; Adelana Adeola as secretary, Bayo Oredipe as assistant secretary, Sanni Kemi as financial secretary and Femi Adelaja as social secretary. Also Adenuga Bola emerged as treasurer and Ogunnubi Tunde as Public Relations Officer during the election which witnessed Dr.

Demola Olowu as Returning officer.

In his address, immediate past president of the association Tola Bankole, said though his administration witnessed a turbulence period but its boat did not sink due to the support received from members both home and abroad adding that the Centenary programme of the School which took place in 2013 deserves commendation.

Responding, Dimeji said though a lot of sacrifice is required from him as the new President, he will use his God-given talent to sail the boat of the association through. He also solicited for members’ support.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—31

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

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ANCER, the dreaded six-letter word, is considered one of the most feared disease conditions on earth. Unfortunately, scientists have not been able to pinpoint what exactly causes cancer. They, however, believe that the only solution is early detection/diagnosis.

So a team of physicians led by Dr. Austin Obichere, consultant colorectal surgeon, and Director, Bowel Cancer Screening Programme at the University College, London Hospital came up with a novel screening tool for colorectal cancer to aid the early detection of colon cancer. In this chat with Vanguard Learning, he speaks on the incidence and methods of detecting colorectal cancer.

Excerpts:

Novel screening strategies for colorectal cancer

Scope of the problem: “Colorectal cancer is a major health hazard worldwide. It is estimated that at least, three quarters of a million people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year worldwide and that a quarter of a million people will die. Most of the data we have relate to the western world because they have statistics. I recall when I was a student, we thought colon cancer was not a disease of black people, that it was related to westerners because of their diet lacking fibre and bran whereas African foods are typically rich in fibre and bran. But I will argue with those who say that colon cancer is rare in Africa because it is not.

Emerging data and research show that colon cancer is indeed common in Africa and it appears to be occurring in young Africans, people under the age of 50 years.

What is really worrisome is that these cancers are usually very advanced when they present unlike in the western world where the commonest age incidence of colon cancer is found in people in their late 60s and early 70s but in Nigeria, the peak age incidence for colon cancer is about 44 years; a dramatic difference,” said Obichere, founder and MD of Lagos-based Diagnostic & Therapeutic Endoscopy Centre.

,

In Nigeria, adults above the age of 40 years should undergo a colonoscopy every five years because it has been shown that the peak age incidence of the disease in adults (men and women) is 44 years

Globalisation: “Is it because the cancer had always been around, we just have not had the facilities, infrastructure and technology to diagnose it or is it because of globalisation where Africans, particularly Nigerians, are well travelled and now eat western diets that we previously had attributed to one of the causes of colon cancer? Personally, I suspect that the disease has always been there but now, we have more sophisticated equipment to be able to diagnose it. Unfortunately we cannot tell you, certainly in Nigeria, the exact incidence because as you know, we have poor record-keeping unlike the western countries that have maintained statistical databases for decades and they are looking at how they can cure cancer. There is a lot of research in the area of coloproctology, seeking how to reach the holy grail in the management of colon cancer. Colorectal cancer is a unique cancer in that it has an early form known as polyps which are entirely benign growth in the lining of the bowel that can over time, progress to become cancerous. The next big question is; why do they become cancerous? There are can achieve this is by identifying the disease in the early forms, hence the concept of screening. If you can screen your population C M Y K

and find this early form of potential cancer (polyps), you can actually remove them and prevent the patient from developing colon cancer. Furthermore, if they do already have cancer, it is likely you are going to pick up the early form of the cancerous growth before it spreads beyond the bowel walls.”

Levels: “There are basic grading systems to assess the severity of the cancer. If it is still within the bowel wall, it is classified as Duke’s A or B; if it has spread to the lymph glands, it’s a C and if it has spread to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, bones, brain etc., then it’s a D. “So screening has become a very important clinical service in Nigeria and West Africa. In the western world, it is a phenomenon that is taken as a way of life so people within specific ages undergo screening methods to try and identify the early forms of the disease to save lives,” said Obichere.

Screening methods: “There are different methods of screening but we have not presence of blood in your stool does not mean that you have cancer, it means that you probably need further investigations to identify the cause of bleeding.

,

“There is Barium enema which is quite common in Nigeria. It is still very popular in the third world because it is cheap and simple to administer but many patients find it intolerable so it has largely been abandoned as a form of screening in the western world.”

Modern screening methods: Colonoscopy - “Direct visualisa-

tion of the entire large intestine using fibre-optic flexible telescopes remains the gold standard.

You can diagnose disease and also remove early stages of cancer such as polyps and thereby prevent its development. In Nigeria, adults above the age of 40 years should undergo a colonoscopy every five years because it has been shown that the peak age incidence of the disease in adults (men and women) is 44 years. If you are considering a screening colonoscopy, ensure that the doctor performing the procedure is adequately trained and experienced to minimise the risk of complications.

“CT Pneumocolon/CT Colography/ Virtual Colonoscopy: All these terms are interchangeable. Patients are put through a high resolution CT-scanner, air is introduced through the anus and using special software, a three dimensional reconstruction of the large intestine provides excellent images of the inside of the bowel. Pre-cancerous polyps measuring 5mm or more in diameter are easily identifiable but cannot be removed or destroyed. The patient would need to have a colonoscopy to remove the polyp or take tissue samples. One serious drawback of Virtual colonoscopy is that the patient is exposed to radiation many times in excess of that received with a simple chest X-

ray. This unfortunately may result in the development of some types of cancer later on in life.

Tumour markers in blood, urine or stool: “The holy grail for researchers in the field of colorectal cancer is the identification of a simple test that will diagnose bowel cancer from blood, urine or stool sample. This is the subject of numerous research and clinical trials worldwide. Our study - DNA quantification of exfoliated colonocytes as a novel screening tool for colorectal cancer, was recently published in Eur J Surg Oncol; 2013 Dec: 1423-7, indicating that abnormal cells retrieved from the surface of the rectum are sensitive for colorectal cancers. This new approach holds much promise as a future screening tool for colorectal cancer,” he enthused.

Capsule Colonoscopy: “Similar to capsule endoscopy, a pill is swallowed (a small camera)which transmits pictures of the large intestine to a monitor or TV. Recent attempts by manufacturers to include tiny robots in the pill so that polyps or other lesions in the colon can be removed or biopsied have reached an advanced stage. It is anticipated that this new exciting technology should become widely available in the next five years and could replace colonoscopy as the gold standard,” he stated.

Doregos basketball competition enters quarter finals

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

en schools have qualified for the quarter finals of the 10th Doregos InterSchools Basketball championship after qualifying from the group stage.

The qualifying schools are International School Lagos ISL, Soundhope Private Academy, Halifield School, Supreme Education Foundation, Airforce Secondary School, Ikeja, AviCenna College, Lagoon Secondary School, Advanced Breed, Queens College, Corona Secondary School and the host, Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, Lagos.

Defending champion, ISL, will meet Soundhope Private Academy in the boys category while two time winners Doregos are up against Halifield School.

In other matches, Airforce Secondary School Ikeja will square up against Supreme Education Foundation while Avi-Cenna College will battle Advanced Breed. ISL are aiming for their 4th strait title.

In the girls category, Queen College, Yaba who are seeking their first title since 2006 faces a titanic battle against Doregos the first school to win the female version back to back in 2010 and 2011.

It will also be clash of titans

as two former champion ISL and Corona School Agbara meet in the second quarter final.

Enjoining all participants to uphold the spirit of fairpaly, the sponsor of the competition, Mrs. Clementina Doregos, urged all to use the event to make friends and interact among themselves which is one of the reasons why sports competitions are created.

Appealing to all tiers of government to invest in Nigerian youths through sports, Doregos said “one of the ways to check youth unrest is to keep them busy through sports. They will use their strength positively rather than what we are seeing today.”

32— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Lagos rewards best teachers, charges them to redouble efforts

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

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ECRETARY to the Lagos State Government, Dr. Oluranti Adebule has charged teachers in the state to always put in their best in the discharge of their duties so as to distinguish themselves among their peers.

This charge came following the emergence of two teachers, Mrs. Mosunmola ToluAlalade of Community Senior High School, Surulere and Mr. Ganiyu Johnson Alawiye of Our Lady of Fatima Primary School, Mushin, as the best teachers in the secondary and primary schools categories respectively and were rewarded with brand new cars at the state Annual Education Merit Award Adebule, who presided over

at the merit award ceremony noted that the Annual Education Award is meant to recognize, motivate and appreciate teachers, principals and nonteaching staff who have distinguished themselves in their various discipline.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, commended teachers in the state for giving their best to their students, stressing that they would always earn her respect and admiration since they have chosen to be dedicated and remarkable heroes.

Thanking the awardees and other staff, Oladunjoye admonished the teachers to bequeath lasting legacy to the children by striving for a 100% performance in the WAEC examination, adding that the

practice of rewarding hard work and dedication of staff of the education sector has come to stay.

She opined that the objective of the annual education award is to inculcate and encourage positive attitude to work as well as promote excellence by motivating and celebrating awardees and stakeholders in the sector.

Other awardees include Mr. Abiodun Aiyerin of Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako Ijaiye as Best Principal in the Senior Secondary School category, Mr. Emmanuel Adebiyi of Iju Junior Grammar School, Iju as the Best Principal in the Junior Secondary School category and Mr. A. O. Ambali of St Georges Nursery and Primary School, Falomo as the best Head Teacher.

From left: Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anna Odey; Airtel Nigeria's Onyekwucha Ikezu, Zonal Business Manager, South East; Adefemi Adeniran, PR Head and Mrs. Maria Riman Etaike, Head Teacher of the school and Ntufam Joseph Ebam, Chairman of Cross River State SUBEB, during the presentation of education materials donated by Airtel Nigeria to pupils of Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba in Abi LGA of Cross River State.

Bayelsa joins MultiChoice Resource Centre beneficiary states

M

ULTICHOICE Nigeria, the leading provider of premium pay-TV services on the DStv and GOtv platforms has extended its major Corporate Social Investment project in the education sector, the MultiChoice Resource Centre (MRC) initiative, which it started in 2004 to 10 additional public secondary schools in Bayelsa Sate.

The CSR initiative, which kicked-off in Abuja and Lagos State will avail students of 10 public schools in Bayelsa State access to world-class learning facilities.

The intervention comprises a TV set, a HD PVR decoder, satellite dish, a power generator, uninterrupted power system (UPS), a set of chairs and desks for the laboratory, in additional to training for teachers.

The MRC facilitates teaching and learning enhancement by enabling school children access educational TV channels that inC M Y K

clude: Education TV, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC Knowledge, BBC World, History Channel, Animal Planet and Mindset Learn, at no cost.

The novel intervention which has been introduced to 274 schools in 27 states of the federation and proven to make critical impact on the knowledge levels and understanding especially of technical subject areas by students, is now within the reach of students of the public secondary schools in Bayelsa State, bringing the total to 284 in 28 states across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A commemorative commissioning ceremony of the 10 new MRC in Bayelsa State held at Saint Jude’s Secondary School, Yenagoa, on Thursday, January 16. The launch in Bayelsa is in furtherance of the ninth Phase of the MRC project, which include scheduled launches in other beneficiary schools in

some select states to be announced by the company.

The Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State, Hon. Salo Adikumo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, Hon Durban Whyte, lauded MultiChoice and its implementing partner, Innovative Technology Literacy Services Limited, for the initiative which she described as a veritable tool for the provision of valuable learning resource components for public schools across the country.

“The MultiChoice Resource Centre project, which provides valuable learning resource components for 10 selected public schools in the State of Bayelsa to support the government’s efforts especially at a time when the governor, Dickson Seriake, is leading a restoration agenda following his declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector, is a welcome development."

What anti-gay law will not do for Nigerian children Continues from page 26 we face in this country is that all the emphasis is on criminal justice; we strive to put the perpetrators of rape and molestation behind bars, but very few people really pay attention to the children except when they want them to testify in court. They need psychological and psychometric counseling. People just assume that when kids are sexually abused, they will forget after a while, but that’s not true. Children never forget.

“There is a case of a young man we counseled who had been abused as a child by another man. As a result of that, he found himself being drawn and attracted to other men.

The first time he had sex with another man he was so disappointed. He no longer has such feelings now, but it took a lot of counseling to get him to this point. There is another case we worked with, even though the matter went to court, and the abuser was sent to jail, the victim regressed drastically. There are different arguments all over the world by different professionals researching ways to justify that people are born gay. But what I know is that majority of the cases I’ve worked with here, in Africa, people who of homosexual orientation were abused as children. In the past 5 or 6 years, there has been an upsurge in the reports of sodomy; men raping boys. It’s very rarely that a boy speaks out when he has been raped.”

Advocate and child psychologist at the 05 Centre for Children, Dr. (Mrs.) Ololade Hector-Fowobaje, also decried the rate of same sex activity amongst children in Nigeria. She said: “We get calls from schools when they have sexual abuse crisis and a heavy chunk of that involves same-sex children; as young as 6 year olds. The school toilets have become a den of child sexual abuse involving student with student and staff with student.

Recently two girls in primary four were caught in a private school having a sexual relationship. They would either use the toilet or an empty classroom after school. Two primary boys were also caught in the school bus having oral sex. For teens, it is more common with those in boarding schools; though day schools are not exempted. It is an issue that calls for urgent attention.”

Although she believes that sexual abuse is a reason for this, she also believes that pornography and masturbation have a large part to play.

I

n the light of these, one question begs to be answered: “What will be the future of the Nigerian child who is introduced to same sex orientation early in life? Will his urges go away when he grows up or will he spend time in jail as a result of a habit he innocently picked as a child?

“Now that there is a law that criminalizes homosexual relations, nobody is going to listen to you when you say that you are gay because you were abused as a child. This is why children who are molested whether by persons of the same sex or the opposite sex should speak up. Not all who are abused by members of the same sex turn out to be gay; some of them turn suicidal, become extremely depressed, and digress drastically. That is why counseling is so important. There is a lot of rubbish going on nowadays. We had a recent case of a 12 year old boy sodomizing another with soap in the bathroom. Obviously he himself had been abused. Such children must speak up, and their parents must insist that they get professional help.

We must start now and begin to schools and teach children about sex and sexual urges. We do not believe that anyone is born gay and our culture does not agree with it, but we must start now to educate and protect our children from such negative external influences.”

Hector-Fowobaje also attempts to answer these questions.

“Such must be exposed to long term counseling and therapy,” she said, “Child and clinical psychologists must be available to do this in at least every state capital in Nigeria for starters; consulting for general hospitals and private hospitals as well. It is important for parents and all child handlers to know that sexually abused children need professional counselling; especially those involving the homosexual extremes. A lot more is at stake than the fear of stigma.

The idea of homosexuality is more of sociology. It is nothing genetic. Many parents are not ready to take the socialization of their children seriously enough and so they buy easily into the error of lesbianism and homosexuality.”

V anguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

I N S I D E

It's turn of Mid-West Bar Forum — Orbih

Free law clinic: NIALS tests constitution’s Chapter 2 in court — Page 35

— Page 35

have three other aspirants. What do we do so that the episode of 1989 when all our four aspirants lost to another candidate will not repeat itself ”.

Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin aligned himself with those who want unity in the association. However, he urged the leadership to do self criticism of how they pilot the affairs of Egbe Amofin.

He complained that the leadership of the association starve them of relevant information noting that since those two members of the screening committee resigned last August, they needed explanation. “Egbe should toe the path of honour”, he said.

By OLA AJAYI

A

HEAD of the Nigerian Bar Asso-ciation, NBA, forthcom ing election in July which is expected to produce new national officers that will take over from Chief Oke Wali, SAN, led executive, it appears all is not well within the ranks of South West Lawyers Forum otherwise known as Egbe Amofin Yoruba following a clash of interest over nomination of a candidate for the position of the NBA president zoned to it.

Already,five candidates namely Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Chief Austin Alegeh (SAN), Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) and Mr. Osas Erhabor have indicated interest to vie for the coveted position .

Chief Alegeh had been endorsed as the sole candidate of the mid-west Bar forum.

While the Egbe Amofin which always ensures that peace is maintained among lawyers in the zone is trying to put its house in order to prevent repetition of the loss it suffered in 1989 election when all four candidates from the zone lost to another candidate from Benin City, a splinter group emerged and held a meeting at Akure on December 7, 2013 and endorsed Mr. Dele Adesina as its candidate for the election.

This negates the move being made by the executive of the mainstream Egbe Amofin led by Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN). At it’s meeting which held last Saturday at Afe Babalola Bar centre in Ibadan, the forum, contrary to expectations could not endorse a candidate for the election. The meeting which witnessed a large turn out from the South W2est states and Kwara, at a stage almost became rowdy before Chief Aiku and other members of the executive could pacify the visibly angry lawyers who regarded the activity of the splinter group as retrogressive.

The meeting which was to start at 11am did not start until some minutes past twelve while the music of late Yoruba musician, Hubert Ogunde, titled, “Yoruba Ronu” rented the air .

Chief Aiku started by stressing the need for unity within the association.

He hinted that the screening committee earlier set up had been aborted following the resignation of two members of the committee, Lekan Yusuf, SAN and Mr. Duro Adeyele(SAN) and that efforts to replace them proved futile.

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ccording to him, he said Adeyele told him he was blackmailed by some people who claimed he is from Kogi and not a Yoruba man. Chief Aiku further stated that there was no response from the secretary. He then asked the gathering what next to do.

At this juncture, the Chairman of

—33

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•Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN

•Niyi Akintola, SAN

•Dele Adesina, SAN

•Austine Alegeh, SAN

NBA Presidency: South West lawyers divided over candidate

his did not go down well with some people who forced him to sit down through a thunderous applause. Chief Nathaniel Oke (SAN) urged quick resolution of the logjam so that the issue would not extend to the time of election. He suggested that there should be reconciliation with those who were having another meeting at that time.

After expressing happiness that Adegboyega Awomolo who had stayed away from the meeting for many years was in attendance, Chief Aiku said he should lead the reconciliation committee. Other members of the committee are Chief Oke, and Mrs. C. J Aremu.

Before affirming the membership of a new screening committee which include Mrs. Priscilla Kuye(SAN), Ahmed Raji(SAN),Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, Mobolaji Ojibara, Adebiyi Ogungbesan, Adekunle Babalola, Alex Muoka, Ola Orimoloye, and Seun Ajoba, there were heated arguments on whether they should nominate candidate for the election or not.

Those who viewed the group holding in Lagos as dissidents insisted that their nominees should be appointed.

Mr. Yomi Ogunlola said, “I say no to reconciliation. There is a procedure for doing something. As we are here now, another meeting is holding in Lagos.

Definitely, one of the meetings did not follow procedure and this is against reconciliation. Don’t let us lay a bad

Continues on page 35 Ibadan branch, Mr. Oluwaseun Abimbola stood up to inform hundreds of lawyers at the venue that he had held a meeting with Chairmen of Osogbo, Iwo, Ilesa, Oyo, Lagos, Ilorin, Ijebu Ode, Akure and others and they had agreed to strengthen the unity of the association.

He said, “We are not unaware of the meeting that held in Akure on December 7 where some of our branches were purportedly represented and the resolutions reached. More disturbing is the repeated publication discrediting leaders of Egbe Amofin. Some branch chairmen came together and decided through a resolution that we dissociate ourselves from the breakaway of

those at Akure meeting, reject the nominee endorsed, identify only one Egbe Amofin and call on all leaders of Amofin to close ranks and resolve all lingering disagreement.”

Chief Aiku then called on all branch chairmen in attendance to confirm the resolution. With the exception of the chairmen of Ogbomoso, Ikorodu and Ilesa who were not around, all of them confirmed signing the resolution.

He warned that the splinter group has not committed any sin but they have exercised their own fundamental human rights which they are entitled to. He said, “whether wrongly or rightly, our colleagues at Akure meeting nominated a candidate and we

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

34 — V anguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 Vanguard,

NBA Presidency: It's turn of Mid-West — Orbih

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HE Chairman of Mid-West Bar Forum Mr. Ferdinand Orbih SAN has restated the position of the Mid-West Bar Forum that the Mid-west Bar Forum consists of Lawyers from the Mid-western region of Nigeria and its membership includes lawyers practicing in Edo and Delta States. That the 2014 Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association is zoned to the Western region of Nigeria which comprises of the South-western zone and the Midwestern zone respectively.

That during the tenure of Mr. J.B. Daudu SAN (2010 – 2012) and as a result of the agitation of the Mid-west to grant a Presidential slot which was supported by other groups within the NBA and which would have resulted in the creation of more zones for the NBA Presidency, the Southwest led by Chief Bamidele Aiku SAN conceded and accepted the fact that the Mid-west is part of the West and whenever Presidency is zoned to the West, both the Mid-west and Southwest would be entitled to contest for the position.

This was the position of the Mid-west but the South-west has always insisted before this concession by Chief Bamidele Aiku SAN that the West comprised of only the South-west.

Chief Aiku , on behalf of the South-west, offered to work out a rotational policy between the Mid-west and South-west zones with respect to whenever the NBA presidency is zoned to the West.

Subsequently, the Midwest Bar Forum led by its Chairman visited the South-west Bar Forum (Egbe Amofin) at the residence of its Chairman Chief Bamidele Aiku SAN in June 2012 and informed the Egbe Amofin that in view of the fact that the South-west zone had produced the past Presi-

dents of the NBA on the Two (2) occasions the NBA presidency had been zoned to the West, that it accords with reason, equity and fairness that the 2014 NBA presidency should go to the Midwest zone.

Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, responding on behalf of the Egbe Amofin group stated that they wanted to produce the next NBA President zoned to the West in 2014.

That they had, in 2008, offered the position to Mr. Albert Akpomudje SAN of the Mid-west but he had

d e *Mr. Ferdinand Orbih SAN clined and on the basis that the Mid-west had has viable candidates for no other viable candidates the race and further drew for the position, Mr. the attention of the SouthOlurotimi Akeredolu of west to the existence of a the South-west became similar rotational policy in the NBA President in the Eastern Bar Forum between the majority 2008.

The Chairman of the South-eastern States Mid-west Bar Forum at (Imo, Abia, Anambra, that time, Chief Albert Ak- Enugu and Ebonyi) and pomudje SAN confirmed the minority Riverine the offer to him and stat- States (Rivers, Cross-rived that the Mid-west now er, Akwa-Ibom and Bayel-

sa). He stated that the first time NBA presidency was zoned to the East in 2000, the slot was given to Chief O.C.J. Okocha SAN who hails from Rivers State.

The second time in 2006, it was rotated to Mr. Olisa Agbakoba of the Southeast. On the third occasion in 2012, the Eastern Bar Forum in line with the principles of equity and fairness accepted Okey Wali SAN of Rivers State to pilot the affairs of the NBA. Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN appealed to the leadership of the Egbe Amofin to tow the same line of honor like the Eastern Bar Forum as their proposed sharing formula of 3:1 is inequitable and unfair. The meeting ended with an understanding that both groups should consult their members and convene at a later date.

However, no other meeting has been held and the Mid-west Bar Forum acting in good faith and along the lines of equity, fairness and good conscience have adopted Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN as its candidate for the 2014 NBA presidential elections and expects that the South-west (Egbe

Amofin) should act as a big brother in honoring their earlier pact.

The NBA is one family and has in the past produced Presidents of Midwestern extraction. These include Dr. Mudiaga Odge (1974 – 1975) and Mr. Charles Idehen (1989 – 1991) and any attempt to exclude the Mid-west from the Three (3) consecutive rounds in which NBA presidency has been zoned to the West will be unfair. We are surprised that despite all our entreaties, Lawyers from the South-west are still jostling for the 2014 NBA presidency and the Midwest Bar Forum notes that the Egbe-Amofin has broken into factions.

While this development is none of our business, we urge that the present deluge of text messages and emails which are uncomplimentary do not augur well for the entire NBA and we urge our brothers in the South-west to sheathe their swords and in the spirit of brotherliness, support the candidate of the Mid-west as 2014 is certainly the turn of the Mid-west and not the South-west to produce the next President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

•••S/West lawyers splinter group insists on Adesina

BY INNOCENT ANABA

T

he Central Working Committee of Egbe Amofin, the South West caucus of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, weekend, reaffirmed its position, that it was in support of the candidacy of Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN for the position of NBA president, in the election of the association, slated for July this year.

Chairman of the Egbe Amofin, Chief Adebayo

Ayodele, who is also the chairman of Abeokuta branch of NBA, who addressed newsmen after the Lagos meeting, insisted that 17 branches out of the 23 branches that make up the South West bar, had on December 7, adopted Adesina as the group’s candidate.

There are three other candidates from the zone, gunning for the same position include Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN; Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN and Osas Erhabor. Chief Ayodele,

explained that, “We had directed Adesina in 2008 to step down for Chief Olarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. Two meetings were held in Lagos and one at Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN’s place that at the next turn of the South West, that shall vote for him (Adesina). If in 2008, Adesina obeyed us, why must we not keep to our words since he listened to us the last time.

“We are-affirm our support for the aspiration of Mr Adesina, the en-

dorsed candidate and charge him to continue to exploit all legitimate and realistic ways to sell his candidature. We resolved to jointly and individually work hard to achieve a successful election of Adesina as the President of NBA come July 2014, he added. Secretary of the association and chairman of Ikere Ekiti branch of NBA, Mr Olubumi Olubade said “At the August 17, 2013 meeting of the group, a committee was set up to screen all the

candidates from the zone, who have shown interest in the NBA Presidency.

The committee was to recommend the most acceptable candidate, in general acceptability to other zones, considering charisma, industry and some other criteria.

In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, the House also reviewed the current state of affairs with Egbe Amofin and in particular the Chief Aiku’s splinter group. The meeting considered the development as unfortunate, noting that “there is the need to allow equity, fairness and justice to prevail in this matter.

“The house resolved that the obvious destabilisation efforts of some of the members using the respected Chief Aiku should not be allowed to succeed. Same must continue to be resisted. The strength of the forum must be preserved.

“The house resolved to extend its hands of fellowship to all and similarly with a view to unite the forum under the principle of equality fairness and justice which are essential elements of democracy

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 35

Free law clinic: NIALS tests constitution’s Chapter 2 in court

Our Judicial and Legal System has failed — Agbakoba

BY DAYO BENSON & CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

BY DAYO BENSON

S

peaking on the rec ommendations of the presidential advisory committee on the proposed national conference, he stated that it would be unacceptable if the outcome of the conference is referred to the National Assembly threatening that doing so would be a recipe for anarchy, adding that what Nigerians want is a brand new constitution and not an amendment recommended by the senator Femi Okunrunmu’s Committee.

According to him “I took part in the presentations to the presidential advisory committee on national conference and we are shocked that they have made a number of recommenda-

,

A

F

ORMER president of The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, has lamented the slow speed of justice dispensation in the country even as he urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to begin early preparations for the 2015 general elections.

The senior lawyer who is also a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), spoke at a media briefing in Lagos saying that he was speaking on behalf of the civil society after due consultations .

According to him, “Our Judicial and Legal system has failed, Simple cases take 5 -10 years to resolve. There is an urgent need for reforms.

The Speed of Justice Project 2014 is designed to ensure case flow in courts.

The Court should be a legal clinic where legal problems like patients are diagnosed and resolved in 3 days.”

While anticipating the number of election petitions that may arise from the 2015 elections, he said “INEC should begin preparations in time, latest July 30th. INEC must comply strictly with the Electoral Act and there is need for massive civic education of critical stakeholders.”

*Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN tions which we in the civil society have found unacceptable. The first surprise in the report is that the advisory committee failed to understand what a constitution should contain.”

“38 items have been set out to be included in the Agenda of the National Conference most of which are irrelevant. The Agenda set by the Committee makes the Conference look like a talk shop. Items like: God-fatherism, Cost of Governance, Return of Missionary and Private Schools, Nomadic Education, Institutionalising Tsangaya/Almajiri Education system, unsettled issues of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) etc. We call on the president to absolutely reject the agenda proposed by the advisory committee; the key issues should be structure

of the country, devolution of powers etc.”

Speaking further he said, “Section 5 of the Constitution gives the President two inherent powers: The executive power to give effect to the agitation of Nigerians by convening the National Conference and The legislative powers to forward outcome of the Conference to the National Assembly after a referendum. A referendum on the outcome of the National Conference is very crucial for legitimacy.

The role of the National Assembly is to pass the outcome of the National Conference. The National Assembly cannot alter or make input into the outcome of the National Conference. If that happens there will be no Nigeria and we are ready for that, there will be war.”

S part of efforts to further deepen the roots of the nation’s democracy and bring justice closer to the less priviledged, Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, has resolved to test the provisions of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution in law court.

Preparatory to this, the institute has launched a pro bono on-line law clinic which would render free legal services to indigent Nigerians whose legal and constitutional rights are trampled on.

Also, it would ensure that cases taken up are followed up to their logical conclusion by legal experts with specialties in different areas of law.

NIALS Director-General, Professor Epiphany Azinge SAN, made this known at the University of Lagos, Office of the institute, during the launching of its online pro bono law clinic.

Specifically, he revealed that a book titled “Justiciability and Constitutionalism: An Economic Analysis of Law” had been written by the institute to advance the socio economic rights of Nigerians, “and where possible test the justiciability of Chapter 2 of the Constitution”.

Prof. Azinge noted that as Nigeria’s apex legal think thank for formulation of policies in law and related disciplines, the institute has remained an academic cen-

•NIALS Director-General, Professor Epiphany Azinge SAN tre of excellence and a veritable reservoir of information and human resources for legal research and capacity building.

H

e said that is why the event “is epochal in the life of the institute as we launch a service that will benefit Nigerians who suffer injustice and grieve in ignorance because they cannot gain access to legal advice or aid. We will be launching our own free online law clinic and this service will be provided under the pro bono unit of the institute”.

Speaking further, he added “The Law Clinic portal can be assessed via our website www.nials-nigeria.org . ,the portal in addition will contain Eye witness reports, Blogs and Testimonials. As the apex le-

gal institution, also pursuant to section 4 of the NIALS Act, our law clinic being the first of its kind, not only in Nigeria but also in Africa, will serve as a research centre to promote Clinical Legal Education in Nigeria.

He noted that the initiative was the institute’s way of giving back to the society in form of social responsibility saying “ NIALS is equipped with over 60 research fellows, many of which were decorated with master’s degrees in different areas of expertise not to mention our in house professors who have gained mastery in many areas of law and practice. We have what it takes to help less priviledged Nigerians by providing them with quality legal advise, appropriate referrals and if possible free legal services”.

South West lawyers divided over candidate Continues from pg 33 precedent.”

Contributing to this, A. J Owonikoko, SAN said in the pursuit of reconciliation, they should not reward loyalty with punishment, adding that if the house had settled for reconciliation, March would be too far for another meeting. To him, two weeks is okay.

Responding to this, Chief Aiku said reconciliation is a good method of settling disputes but warned that when trying to make peace between two combatants, you do not hold the arms of one and leave the other arms free. You will give him upper hand over his colleague.

One of the aspirants, Chief Akintola

complained that he would not appear before the screening committee if things were not done the right way.

A

fter a lengthy debate, Chief Adeg boyega Awomolo, SAN, pleaded with them that since he (Awomolo) had been made the chairman of the reconciliation committee, they should not make things difficult for him by making nomination but should exercise patience until the outcome of the reconciliation.

“I did not envisage this would happen. If we nominate a candidate today, we are not different from those who held the Akure meeting. If you want to give me grass to cut, do not give me the wildest type. Give me two weeks, we will

come back here. Everybody has a point.

I plead with the leadership to let us have a large heart”, he said.

This was then supported by Lateef Fagbemi(SAN). It was later moved, seconded and adopted. Terms of reference were spelt out for the committee and one of them is to ensure that the splinter group is returned to the mainstream of Egbe Amofin. Some branch chairmen and elders were asked to join the screening committee after Chief Aiku called their attention to a previous comments that branch chairmen were not involved in decision making. The two committees were mandated to submit their reports within two weeks before another meeting fixed for February 8.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

NUJ award

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HE Deport Manager of Petroleum and Products Marketing Company PPMC, Warri, Delta State, Alhaji Abdallah Ali, has won Delta NUJ distinguished service award for his contributions to the growth of oil and gas industry and sustenance of the country’s economy.

The chairman of the state NUJ, Mr Norbert Chiazor, said Ali was honoured for his selfless service, dedication to duty and administrative savvy in handling the Warri oil facility, which is one of Nigeria’s most strategic economic investments.

Former Delta LG boss, Oboba for burial

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EMAINS of the late former chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr Austin Oboba would be buried tomorrow.

The burial planning committee in a statement by its chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, said service of songs will hold tomorrow at his Ughelli residence, No 4, Orise Lane, Off Uloho Avenue, Ughelli.

Funeral mass will hold at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic, Ughelli, while internment and entertainment of guests takes place in his home town, Odovie, Ughelli.

There will be outing/thanksgiving service at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ughelli on January 26, 2013.

Late Mr Oboba

Oshiomhole sacks Sports Commissioner

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, sacked the state Commissioner for Sports, Mrs Omorede Osifo, replacing her with Mr Chris Okaiben, former chairman, Petroleum Committee.

It was learnt that her sack was sequel to the failure of the lights

at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium when the stadium hosted artists, who were in the state for the youth summit organised by the state government.

Vanguard learnt that members of the state executive council, including Governor Oshiomhole, were embarrassed that the stadium had no lights for the pro-

gramme, except for the stage..

But another account blamed the light issue at the stadium on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, which was cut off from public power suppy six months ago, due to the huge amount of money owed by the Sports Ministry.

Vanguard learnt that there has been no electricity at the stadi-

um in the past six months, unknown to the governor. However, it was learnt that Oshiomhole, who took the alleged failure of the commissioner to fix the problems before the Saturday event as a deliberate plot to sabotage the event, decided to use the commissioner as an example for others who might want to take their jobs for granted.

Police invite Abavo monarch, accuse him of fueling crisis

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—THE lingering cri sis in Abavo community in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, has taken a new dimension, as the state police

command, has accused the traditional ruler of the community, of allegedly fueling the latest hostility by raising false alarm that his mother had been kidnapped.

Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, told

Warri youths protest alleged shut-out by INTELS

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ARRI — NO fewer than 500 youths from host communities to Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, New Port, Warri, Delta State, have staged a peaceful protest over alleged monopolisation of terminal operations

by Integrated Logistics Services, INTELS, of loading and off-loading any oil and gas related equipment in Warri Port.

The protesters, led by Mr. Emiko Oghomienor, had in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, accused INTELS of deliberately marginalising people of NPA Warri host communities employment, human capital development, youth empowerment and shutting-out of indigenous contractors from the port operations against the Local Content Act, stormed the New Port gate, chanting songs of marginalisation with placards.

Some of the placards read “Warri Port is our source of living,” “Equal right and justice for all terminal operations in Warri Port,” “Mr. President make Warri Port part of your reform agen-

da,” “INTELS, Warri Port is not your property,” “INTELS no MoU, no operation,” “FG revive Warri Port now,” among others.

Three big buses conveying staff of INTELS as well as other staff of the company in their private vehicles were prevented from entering the Warri Port, while security officials were on hand to forestall any break down of law and order.

No official of INTEL was on ground to comment on the development, but the Manager, Delta Ports, Mr. Obumneme Onuenyenwa, who spoke to newsmen, promised that the port authorities will intervene on the issue with a view to reaching a compromise between INTELS and the host communities.

The host communities had in the open letter addressed to President Jonathan blamed “the infrastructural decay in Warri Port” on INTELS monopolisation of activities at the Warri Port and sought to know “those behind INTELS Nigeria Limited.”

newsmen that the monarch had been invited to the station, but has refused to honour the invitation.

The monarch, when contacted, denied that he was dodging police invitation, saying that he had formally written to the police that he would be coming on Thursday, citing a court case involving him at the state High Court sitting in Obiarukum, which was adjourned to Tuesday and Wednesday, as the reason for not honouring police's invitation.

On the genesis of the last crisis in the community, Muka said “on 14/1/14 at 1230 hours, unknown persons allegedly stole one Winners Igbinowamhia, a

CWM opens voting for Beacon of ICT awards nominees

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beacon-of-ict-awards-2014 for the purpose on the company’s website.

Commenting on this year ’s awards, Ken Nwogbo, chief executive officer, Communication Week Media Limited, said that, “The merit- centric celebration honours finest and brightest companies and individuals who have helped put Nigeria on the global ICT map”.

Beacon of ICT Awards is an annual industry wide celebration info@nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng that recognizes deserving talents, or through voting on a portal cre- contributions and commitments to ated on the website the growth of the ICT industry.

O M M U N I C AT I O N Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek newspaper and daily newsletters, has called on the public to vote for nominees for beacon of ICT awards.

The BoICT awards were instituted to reward the vision and enterprise of individuals and companies that have contributed to the growth of the ICT industry in Nigeria.

The public are allowed to cast their votes by email

www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

nine month old boy at No. 218 old Abraka Road Abavo.

“When the mother discovered that her child was stolen, she raised alarm which attracted Abavo youths, who promptly mobilised in search of the suspect and the victim. The youths eventually trailed and arrested the suspect, a driver to the Obi of Abavo and the child rescued from his Golf 3 car.

“In the midst of the crisis, there were allegations and counter allegations, which further fueled the crisis and many Abavos opposed to the Obi alleged that he was responsible for the killing of a man, who died suddenly, a fact not proved by investigation."

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Your take on the sack of service chiefs

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HOSE sacked service chiefs have really tried in their own way, maybe it is just an opportunity to serve in that capacity and see what the out come would be. I think the security threat is Boko Haram. Ms. Akinyera Rukayat- Worker.

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ERY good move but one more thing is for the government to change the youth service corps scheme to one year full military training. The President has shown he is the Commander in Chief. Mr. Chinedu ChinweodaSupervisor.

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AYBE I see things differently, but I think we have arrived at an age in Nigeria where our main concern as a nation should be nation building and to compete with the international community. Mr. Kazeem Aremu- Businessman.

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ONESTLY, I just hope the president knows what he’s doing.

There is crisis in the land and 2015 is just around the corner, what GEJ needs more than anything else at this time is people he can firmly trust and rely on. Mr. Okie Darlington- Student.

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UST like during Obas anjo time, Jonathan has put the defence of the nation almost in the hand of the minorities. For me, this is a good development as it would eliminate needless bickering among the socalled majority tribes. Mr. Nonso Azudiefe- Student.

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F this is all about illegal ity, why not simply forward the names of these service chiefs and ask that the National Assembly confirm them officially? And for any reason in the world, Ihejirika’s ought to have been reappointed. Ms. Okoye Preicious- Businesswoman.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—37

Delta govt stops subvention to youth groups

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HE Delta State Gov ernment, has stopped the annual subvention to voluntary youth organisations in the state, though provisions was created for it in the budgets. No reason was given for this action.

Eseoghene Wilson, leader of one of the bodies, said “these organisations serve as proper training channels for our youth development and if they are not encouraged, the alternative is for the youths to embrace militancy.”

Organisations such as Boys Brigade, Boys Scout, Paramilitary guard, St. John's Ambulance, Catholic Youths and many others, were beneficiaries of the fund in the past. These bodies are major players of youth development and are very relevant to the maintenance of peace, in the society, given the past volatile history of Delta State.

Chairman, Delta Youth Council, Mr Hope George, who confirmed the allegation of non release of subventions, said “while it is not a right, past governments have been paying, until the coming of the current Commissioner for Youth Development. There is communication gap between, the Youth Development Ministry and the voluntary bodies.”

Hope claimed that he took the matter up with the officials of the youth ministry and was told that the file got lost. After pressure from him, a new file was opened and till date, nothing has been done.

2015: Delta PDP chairman blasts SSG over power shift

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—DELTA State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, yesterday, faulted the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, for saying that he was not aware of any agreement between the Anioma and other parts of the

••Group asks Okowa to remain focused

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A GROUP known as Delta Group for Political Inclusion and Grassroots Mobilisation, has urged the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to remain focused in his political aspirations.

Reacting to recent media report that Okowa would step down for Mr. Victor Ochei, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, in the 2015 gubernatorial election, the group described the report as the figment of the imagination of those behind the said report.

The group said it was commending Okowa, Ochei, Chief Obielum, Sam Obi, Festus Okubor, Sylvester Monye and others "for showing maturity in their politicking.”

Speaking through its National Chairman, Elder Michael Tabowei, the group urged those behind the said report to stop heating up the polity, adding that “Dr. Okowa and other aspirants that are cooked up on a daily basis on the pages of newspapers to remain calm as elections are not won on media pages. Delta politics has gone beyond tribal or

Ex-militant ‘generals’ decry alleged marginalisation

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UNDREDS of Phase three former militant leaders, have decried their alleged marginalisation by the chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku. They called on President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the amnesty office.

The ex-militant leaders, accused Kuku of high handedness, adding that the Amnesty office Abuja was frustrating the programme.

‘General’ Preye Ekpebide, chairman Delta State Phase three of the amnesty programme, who addressed newsmen in Bomadi, shortly after a meeting of the group, lamented that the amnesty office had deliberately short-changed the phase three leaders.

He noted that since the Phase three amnesty was approved by Mr. President, none of their members has been sent to any vocational trainC M Y K

state for a power shift.

Nwaoboshi who described the comment as “provocative,” told Vanguard in an interview that he had received several phone calls since the SSG made the statement, which was published in a national newspaper on Monday.

He said, “I want to say categorically here that the SSG should shut up his mouth and

ing programme, let alone receive their monthly stipend.

Ekpebide noted that the phase one and two ex-warlords were enjoying numerous benefits, such as vocational training programmes for their boys, prompt monthly payment of their stipends, among others.

He wondered why the phase three ex-militants were abandoned by the Amnesty Office, noting that this was not good for the programme.

Another leader of the group, Preye said they were constrained to let the public know that the chairman Presidential Amnesty Programme, has be paying lip service to their affairs, calling on Mr. President to investigate how the affairs of the phase three were being handled.

ethnic colouration, at the right time Deltans will speak with one voice on who continues with the good work of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015.”

Condemning the said report, Tabowei, said “such cooked up comments are capable of heating up the polity. We, therefore, advise political groups to educate their candidates to showcase their experience and past

face the job the governor gave to him to do as SSG. In the first place, he has no right to speak because he is not a party functionary. He has never held party position in his life from ward to the national level. Also, he is not a foundation member of the party, but was brought in as a journalist in Asaba.

“He is just trying to make himself relevant. If he has political ambition, he should be bold to declare it and not to charge the political atmosphere with such provocative statements in the media.”

The SSG was quoted in the report to have said that as an insider, he was not aware of any agreement between the Anioma and other parts of the state for a power shift, adding that even if there was one, it was crystal clear that the people and leaders of Delta North never kept their end of it.

Olejeme urged to join guber race

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GBOR – A POLITICAL pressure, group known as Delta Vision, with branches across the 25 local government areas of Delta State, yesterday, asked Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Speaking after a meeting in Agbor, with notable chiefs from Delta Central Senatorial District present, the group called on all Deltans to encourage and vote en-mass for Dr Olejeme in the 2015 election.

Briefing newsmen after the parley, Mr. Monday Edemiruaye, president of the group, noted that their choice has served in various capacities in government and, therefore, has the experience to transform the state.

Those present on the occasion included Chief Francis Omatseye, Chief Temile, Abakpolor Super, Chief Omene Evans, Chief Solomon Omene, and Chief Demino the Atete I of Idjerhe Kingdom, Chief Benjamin Okumagba.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) inspecting the on-going Direct Labour Agency road and drainage in company of the Commissioner for Works, Funkekeme Solomon in Asaba. Photo: Henry Unini

JTF denies harassing Southern Ijaw citizens

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, said, yesterday that its operation in the riverside town of Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State last Sunday was not to harass the natives as claimed, but to dislodge suspected crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

Some indigenes of Igbomotoru had alleged harassment and intimidation by operatives of the JTF deployed to the area, prompting some of their people to flee their homes for

fear of arrest.

Igbomotoru which is located in the deep mangrove swamp of the council is believed to be a hub of illegal refinery camps.

Spokesman of the JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, described as untrue claims that the inhabitants fled the community during the search operation.

He said the surprise cordon and search operation was conducted on the hideouts of identified illegal oil bunkerers in the community by the combined troops of 343 Regiment, Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence

Corps.

According to him, the operation was informed by the disturbing fact that Igbomatoru has been high on alleged illegal oil bunkering in Bayelsa State, necessitating the operation.

He said “The cordon and search operation which was successfully executed has so far yielded positive results as our troops have recovered several tools used for illegal bunkering, including 103 pumping machines, 32 hoses of various lengths and diameters, 17 hard saw machines and eight adjustable spanners.”

38—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Lagos to release 1st batch of electronic C of Os

BY MONSUR

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OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS—LAGOS State government has concluded plans to release the first batch of the newly introduced Electronic Certificate of Occupancy, EC of O, aimed at improving security of land management in the state.

Permanent Secretary of Lands Bureau, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, disclosed this at a media briefing to announce the official launch of the E-C at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, The Permanent Secretary lamented that activities of forgers were affecting the authenticity of the old Yellow paper C of O which had been in existence since the enactment of the Land Use Act in 1978.

He said “But with this new development, the state government is now in line with international best practices in land certification and registration.

“It incorporates technology driven security features that makes it extremely difficult to clone or forge the paper on which the certificate is printed."

Northern youths laud Minimah's appointment

BY OLASUNKANMI

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AKONI

AGOS—NORTHERN Nigeria Youth Council, NNYC, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing Major General Kenneth Minimah as the new Chief of Army Staff, COAS. The group, therefore, called on all political stakeholders across ethnic divides to support the new COAS in the interest of national unity.

The group’s Chairman, Mr. Ahmad Muttaqa and Secretary, Mr. Sani Ahmed, in a statement issued yesterday, expressed grave concern over reports that the appointment of the service chief had been politicised.”

While dismissing the report, the group urged all Nigerians to support the new army chief, saying “ we aborted our foreign trip to express views towards the military shake-up and the mixed reactions that subsequently followed.”

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Women protest alleged murder of ex-LG chairman in Imo

BY CHIDINKWOPARA

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WERRI—SCORES of aggrieved people from Atta, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State, have appealed to the state government and the Nigeria Police to fish out and punish those who murdered Chief Brendan Oguine.

The people made the appeal during a protest march to Government House, Owerri, to lodge their complaint on the gruesome murder of their son and former chairman of Ikeduru local government council, Chief Oguine, in his house.

The protesters, who came from all the eight communities of Atta, carried all manner of placards and chanted songs in obvious condemnation of the murderers of Oguine.

Some of the placards read: “Killers of Oguine have murdered sleep in heir lives”, “Government please come to our rescue”, “Criminals have overrun Atta”, “Criminals cannot rule Atta”, “You do not become Eze by killing others” and “Nobody will rule by us killing others”.

The placard carrying protesters besieged the gate of

Government House, bemoaning the untimely demise of Oguine in the hands of dare-devil assassins because of Ezeship tussle between the families of Okereke and Iwuala.

The spokesperson and leader

of the protesters, Mrs. Josephine Asirinyirimba, explained that Oguine was killed because he refused to handover the original copies of documents relating to the Ezeship stool in the community.

She called on the state government to come to their rescue and save them from the activities of the alleged murderers, who had now invaded their community with the sole intent of killing anyone who stood in their way.

DIALOGUE: From left: President, Nigerian Economic Society, Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Economic Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ndem Ayara, and Chairman, of the occasion, Mr. Moses Akpobasal, at the National Policy Dialogue on Monitoring and Evaluation of State Employment and Expenditure for Results, SEEFOR, project in Abuja, yesterday. NAN.PHOTO:

UNN crisis: CLO asks EFCC to probe VC Okolo

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TONYEDIKE

NUGU—THE crisis rocking the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, took a new turn yesterday as the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, asking it to investigate allegation of embezzlement and corruption against the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo.

CLO in a petition signed by its Zonal Coordinator (South East), Mr. Olu Omotayo, and addressed to the commission yesterday in Enugu, accused the vice chancellor of awarding contracts through non-existent companies.

CLO listed five of the nonexistent companies to include Enwerem and Sons Enterprises, Ottamo Trading Company, Ozetech Metal Construction, Noble Tech Aluminium Industry and Chronicle Computers and Communications.

The petition read: “It is unheard of anywhere in the world that a vice chancellor of a university will award contracts running into billions of naira to non-existence companies.

“Our findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, shows that these five companies are not registered companies in Nigeria. They are non-existent and are mere phantom companies.”

Calling on the EFCC to urgently investigate the Vice Chancellor, CLO said that; “It is our belief that the commission will not shy away from its responsibility and ensure that

justice is done in respect of this matter. “ We demand an urgent and thorough investigation and urge the commission to leave no

stone unturned to ensure that justice is done in respect of this matter as the circumstance of this case demands,” the CLO added.

Community leader slams Okorocha over rift with Obi

BY VINCENTUJUMADU

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WKA—THE altercation between Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and his Imo counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, continued yesterday as a community leader in the state, Chief Paulinus Anagboso, described the latter as suffering from inferiority complex.

Okorocha had accused Obi of not doing enough to promote the interest of Ndigbo, since he assumed office as governor of Anambra State seven years ago.

But Anagboso, who spoke in Awka, expressed surprise that somebody occupying a position of responsibility as governor of a state would speak without circumspection.

He regretted that such statements were capable of truncating Igbo unity which, according to him, responsible Igbo leaders have been championing.

He said: “It is regrettable that when other geopolitical zones are forging central unity, people

like Rochas Okorocha are creating enmity among Igbos.

“Does he realize at all that internal unity is a prerequisite for solidarity and once a people are destroyed from within, they are finished?”

Anagboso, who recalled that

during the launching of the distribution of books by Sir Emeka Offor Foundation at Oraifite, the same Okorocha commended the people of Anambra State for their industry and even described them as the pride of the Igbos, wondered what had gone wrong.

Flour Mills launches redefined core values

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AGOS—FLOUR Mills of Nigeria Plc., FMN, has launched its redefined Core Values, culminating in the unveiling of its “PIILOT” logo which stands for performance, integrity, initiative, leadership, ownership and teamwork .

The launch was preceded by a two-week employee sensitisation and mobilisation programme at all FMN branches and subsidiaries in the country.

Speaking at the company’s head office in Lagos, during

the launch, Group Managing Director, FMN, Paul Gbededo, explained that the idea was informed by the company’s commitment towards providing Nigeria with top quality products as it had done since 1960.

Gbededo said: “The core values are those principles that support the vision, shape the organisation’s beliefs and reflect what it stands for as a business entity. The acronym ‘PIILOT’ represents the six main thrust of FMN’s core values.”

Vanguard,THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—39

DRAWS: From left, Zonal Head, South-West 2 of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited, Mr. Adelaja Adeleye; Mr. Dare Adekoya, one of the winners at the second edition of the Bank's 30th Anniversary Promo, and traditional ruler of Oke-Ako, in Ogun State, Oba Joshua Osunsami, at the Lagos & South-West Regional/Zonal draws of the promo, at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

PARTY: From left, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed, non-Executive Director, Diamond Bank Plc; Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, and Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd), at a party in honour of General Useni (rtd), on his retirement from the Board of Directors of Diamond Bank Plc.

HAND-OVER: Head, Acquiring Cards and E-Banking Department,Eco bank Plc,Mrs. Funso Oyelohunnu (right), handing over Point Of Pay (POP) terminal to Ejigbo LCDA Chairman,Kehinde Bamigbetan(left), during the hand-over ceremony of 52 POPS to the council, by DFID and Eco-bank, for revenue generation exercise.

INSPECTION: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, (2nd left), with members of the State Executive Council, SEC, listening to the Director, Build Swift Ltd, Professor Olumide Olusanya (left), during Governor Fashola’s inspection tour with other members of SEC to the proposed site for the 1008 Housing Estate, in Ijora-Badia, Lagos.

PROGRAMME: Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, Osun State governor's wife (2nd right); member, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Samson Fafiyebi (left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural and Community Development, Mr. Kunle Ige (2nd left); Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Forum, Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (right), during a sensitisation programme for the electorate on voters’ registration, in Ijesa Zone, at Aregbesola Campaign Office, Ibokun, Osun State.

INSPECTION: From left, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Drainage Services, Mr. Muyideen Akinsanya; Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, and Director of Drainage Construction and Dredging, Mr. Dayo Erinle, during an inspection tour to the ongoing drainage projects, at Gbajumo area of Surulere Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

CONFERENCE: From left, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holding, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Dele Sofubo, at a press conference, in Lagos, on Standard Bank West Africa's forthcoming 2014 Investors Conference. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele C M Y K

VISIT: Cross-section of traditional rulers from Igarra, during a 'thank you' visit to Edo State Government, through Edo State Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, in appreciation of Edo State Police Command's arrest of nine criminals, involved in a shooting, in Igarra. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike

RECEPTION: From left, Alhaji Aliyu Belgore, Chairman at the occasion; Major-General Olatilewa Amusu, AIG Mark Idakwo, both celebrants, and Amb. Olatunji Kolapo, Director, Study Group 3, during the reception in honour of Maj. Gen. Tilewa Amusu and AIG Mark Idakwo on their recent promotions, organised by Group 3 Senior Executive Course 32 of National Institute of Policy & Strategic Studies 2010 Set, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Corps member provides free anti-rabbies care to communities

Boko Haram hunts down teachers in Maiduguri

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— THE Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State have now embarked on killing of teachers.

One of the teachers, Mallam Lawan Manga, 45, has been reported killed and one Mallam Akura Walbintu was injured. They were both at Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Wulgo, in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of the State.

The incidents which took place on Monday at about 10:30 pm forced the authorities to close the school indefinitely, even as most staff of the affected school have gone into hiding for the fear of further attacks.

Wulgo town in Ngala is a boarder community with Cameroon Republic and about 200 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital which had witnessed series of deadly bomb blasts and shootings by terrorists in recent times.

Reliable sources from the area told Vanguard on telephone that three assailants armed with Ak47 rifles, who invaded Wulgo in the evening, went straight to Manga’s house and shot him dead.

Another source said that, after killing Manga who was a staff of the school at about 10:45pm, they proceeded to Walbintu’s house, and shot him, before escaping to an unknown destination.

A reliable security source who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview said, “it is true that some gunmen suspected to be terrorists invaded Wulgo town on Monday at about 22.30hours and wreaked harvoc on some staff of G.G.S.S.” He added that soon after the attack, a team of policemen was drafted to the scene, where three live bullets and five empty shells of AK 47 rifle were recovered.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Lawal Tanko did not reply an email sent to him over the incident.

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FEC MEETING—From left: D.G. Bureau for Public Procurement, Engr. Emeka Eze; Water Resources Minister, Mrs. Serah Ochekpe; Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu; Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar and the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Arc. Musa Sada discussing during the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Kwara Speaker, 19 other lawmakers defect to APC

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—THE Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa, yesterday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, along with 19 other legislators in the state to the All Progressives Congress, APC, bringing the number of APC members in the 24 member house to 22. Only two out of the 22 in the House of Assembly are still in the PDP. The two PDP legislators who opted to stay in the party include Fatai Salman representing Ilorin North Constituency and Iliasu Ibrahim, representing Malete/Ipaye/Oloru State Constituency.

APC had only two legislators in the house before the latest development.

The former PDP legislators took their turns on the floor of the house to declare for APC, saying that they consulted their respective constituencies before taking the decision, which they attributed to leadership crisis,and fragmentation of the party.

The lawmakers individually, cited constitutional provision which allowed them to defect from the party.

Vanguard investigations revealed that this development was prompted by insinuations by some PDP members opposed to the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki that the politician and his group would return to PDP last weekend, following the exit of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the party.

However, Atunwa, who spoke after all members had de-

camped from the PDP, said PDP had suffered fragmentation that led to the emergence of two factions, adding that the issue was in the public domain.

Atunwa also said that recent resignation of Tukur and appointment of a new one had nothing to do with their

stand and would not change their positions, adding that it was too late to go back to PDP since a lot of damage had been done to the party.

According to him, all efforts aimed at resolving the differences between the factions were systematically frustrated.

LAGOS—A CORPS member, Dr Oyebanji Victor, serving in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has provide free health service to hundreds of dogs and goat in Upenekang and Iwuo Achang communities in Ibeno LGA. Victor said this public health initiative was as a result of his desire to ensure people are protected against animal related disease.

He noted that rabies was one of the major diseases transmitted from dogs to humans.

His words: “If anyone has wound plays with a dog, he can easily contact rabies. So this public health initiative tagged, “anti-rabies vaccination and other treatments” is to prevent dogs from infection.

“Also we extend the care to goats and sheep because they also can transmit disease like mange, fungal infections and other related diseases which can be easily transmitted to man."

APC-UK merger committee tasks party leaders on service L

AGOS—THE Chairman of All Progressives Congress UK (APC Merger Working Committee (UK),Alhaji Garba Sani has called on the national leadership of the party to fully appreciate the huge national and moral responsibility bestowed upon them by God to rescue and develop the nation rather than their individual ambitions.

He gave the advice during the maiden membership mobilization general meeting of the party in the United Kingdom.

According to Sani, for the legacy parties, namely ACN, ANPP, CPC and a faction of the APGA to come together to form a mega party like APC, is a monumental historical achievement in Nigeria’s political dynamics, saying he believes in the ability of the leadership of the party to fully succeed in its national mission.

The maiden meeting, which was strictly by invitation to all

APC members from the legacy parties and others who expressed interest in joining the party, was held in Central London to sensitize and mobilize progressive Nigerians for a meeting of minds. of APC UK chair said members must think of the services they can offer to Nigeria and the party first before the inordinate jostling for positions. “We in the UK are set to be a chapter at the forefront and like no any other chapter in discipline, integrity, cohesion and positively contributing to the success of APC as a party.”

Speaking at the event, the secretary of the party in the UK, Dr Ibrahim Emokpaire, noted that APC is a party “in waiting, willing, prepared and ready to take the leadership of government at the states and national levels come 2015."

While stating that the PDP’s years in government will for a long time be remembered for misrule, mismanagement,

corruption, injustice and culture of brazen impunity in all aspects of governance, he said only the APC government at the centre would guarantee Nigeria taking its rightful place in the comity of nations.

For Nigerians who feared that APC may turn out to be a PDP “clone,” Dr Emokpaire dismissed such fears, stating that APC is deeply rooted in progressive tradition, principles and ideology that no new comer can dislodge. He reassuringly stated that APC has a bold and radical manifesto that is predicated on Social Democratic principles – ‘a little to the left of the centre’, insisting that all those who join the party, including the current defector PDP governors, will abide by the manifesto and constitution of the APC as presented to Nigerians.

He said that similar mass defection of the New PDP members” in the UK to APC is now eminent and that preparations are at advanced stage to receive them into APC UK.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 41

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 43

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44 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

It’s illogical for minority to claim majority — Femi Gbajabiamila REP. Femi Gbajabiamila is the presumptive Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and member representing Surulere Federal Constituency. In this interview before last Tuesday’s face-off in the House of Representatives, he gives reasons why there should be a swap in positions in the House, expectations from the legislature in the New Year among other things. Excerpts:

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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HAT should Nigerians expect from your party ahead of the 2015 elections?

I would encourage you as a journalist in your own little way to do a sampling of opinions of Nigerians as to what side of the divide they fall on.

I am not even talking about politicians now. I am talking about non politicians that represent 70 to 80 percent of the population. When you do a good sample of where they fall, you will see where the pendulum is swinging.

So, it is obvious that people want change. And people will and must have that change. So, I see the two party-system as a good thing for this country. And in a way, it has also helped in promoting the unity that we have been looking for.

We have a country that is so diverse, over 250 ethnic groups, at least two major religions and a couple of other not-so-big religions; so, we are divided on many forms. It fosters unity. For me, it is a good omen. And I support it.

When do Nigerians expect a change in leadership?

You know there is time and

that the majority party shall produce the majority leadership and the minority party shall, it is “shall” and not “may”. So by the operation of the law, automatically if APGA or PPN becomes the majority today, they automatically by operation of law become the majority leadership.

There is no where in the world, no legislature in the world that I know where the majority plays the role of the minority or the minority plays the role of the majority.

Such a situation will defy logic, common sense and the law as in this case. So, I expect that things will take their normal cause and we will move on to more important things beyond leadership which is the business of law making.

What then is the place of 181 as the required number for any leadership change in the House?

Well, that is an unfortunate misunderstanding of the law.

You do not require 181 to be the majority party in the House.

181 presupposes that there are only two parties in the House but you have more than two parties. If you have only two parties in the House then 181

,

Therefore, the simple majority will be 181. That is simply majority. But we do not have two parties in the House. We have about four to five parties in the House. So, in that case, the majority can even be 90, 100 if it is well spread

season for everything. Yes, this we could have done last year, but it was just a day before we went on our break. We needed not to rush. So we decided to tarry until we resume. For me, it is a change of leadership. It is not whether you want to or you don’t want to.

If you look at the rules and the laws that govern our operations in the House, it is an operation of law. Whether we want or we don’t want. If we don’t, it is either we suspend our rules otherwise we are violating our rules because the rules are very clear.

The rules of the House say C M Y K

,

becomes the number for majority because we are 360 members in the House.

Therefore, the simple majority will be 181. That is simply majority. But we do not have two parties in the House. We have about four to five parties in the House. So, in that case, the majority can even be 90, 100 if it is well spread.

For instance, if Labour Party has 50 members, another party has 60 members, another party has 80, another has 100 members, then the party with 100 members has the majority and they produce the majority leadership. All those who are talking about 181 misread the

categorically. The presidency does not have the powers. The party does not have the powers.

The power actually belongs to the institution itself. And that’s what the constitution says.

What do you talk of the spate of letters between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan?

The letters are actually interesting. For me, they were very serious issues and so have entertainment.

It was comical as it was serious. Issues have been raised. Difficult as it may be, we need as a country to separate the messenger from the message. Are the messages true or not? Are the facts stated true or not irrespective of who delivered the message?

Yes, some may argue that the messenger is tainted but what about the message itself?

And that’s what I think we need to focus on. I would have loved a situation where the President was a little bit more presidential in his response to the letter. It’s either you don’t respond at all and lean on the side of an obligation to the country, not to Obasanjo.

Obligation to the country

•Gbajabiamila: We should abide by the House rules rules of the House. The majority is determined by the number of parties in the House.

There have been unending fireworks over the seats of those who defected to APC from the PDP. Some share the belief that their seats should be declared vacant. Do you buy that idea?

First of all, this is laughable except that it is not funny.

Those who are asking that the seats of members be declared vacant don’t even understand this thing. I am surprised I have read some people, even seasoned legislators who have postulated to that effect that the seats belong to the party and stuffs like that working to a designed answer. But it is not going to work.

There is no where in the world is that done again. First of all, in terms of the law; Section 68 or thereabout of the constitution is clear. It gives certain condition where a member can defect.

If what you have in PDP today is not a division, then somebody needs to tell me what a division is because the opposite of division is unity. So,

if you are telling me there is no division in PDP; that PDP is one united, single party which even to the lay man, to kindergarten student out there, PDP has been shattered. Now in terms of who has the capacity or the powers to declare seats vacant, the constitution is very clear. It is not even the Speaker.

The Speaker declares it vacant, yes, but then the House has to vote on it and agree with the Speaker. That is the position of the constitution.

Position of the constitution So, in effect, it is the whole House that votes as to whether or not such seat can be declared vacant. And I don’t see a situation where, whether it is the Senate or House, that body, when you put the question to say that the seats be declared vacant. That is not going to happen. It is an exercise in futility.

No court worth its salt or onion will even consider such an abuse of court process. So, INEC does not have the powers and INEC has said so

The respond should have been, for me, more presidential.

One paragraph, two paragraph responses: “I have noted your observation and we will continue to work for the betterment of the country”, would have been simple and sufficient. It may not have been detailed but would have been better than the pettiness in the language of which the president replied very serious and pertinent issues. Many people expect an imminent crash of APC judging from the fact that most people who formed the party are not best of friends politically.

We have heard this over and over again. It is wishful thinking on the part of the PDP and those who not want this country to move forward. It is wishful thinking and that’s what it is. We need to ignore such comment and continue to move on as we have been doing. From the inception, we were told that the merger will never happen.

These are strange bed fellows. But when the merger happened, we were told one thing after the other. They will never register APC. We have crossed all these hurdles and they will continue to say what they will say. We are not dazed at all with all these negative comments.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014—45

Obi catches the bug GOVERNOR Peter Obi overcame an illegal impeachment and the truncation of his first term to accomplish eight years in office. It is a feat that has many of the state’s professional politicians and moneyed power traders envious. Now in the twilight of his second term, the outgoing governor who had promised to relocate to the boardroom from whence he came is now changing his mind. Has he caught the bug?

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

G

Exceptional performance According to the clerics, it is the desire of the people of Anambra State, Igbos and Nigerians that people like Obi should have the opportunity of serving Nigerians at the centre, in view of his exceptional performance in Anambra State.

There were also indications that even some powerful people in the presidency wanted him to remain in politics beyond March 2014, given speculations that he is being tipped as a minister or full time special adviser in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.

Though Obi, at various fora insisted on leaving after his tenure, his political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGGA, may have boxed him into a corner with the decision last weekend to push him to step into the shoes of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as the party’s national leader and chairman Board of Trustees, BOT. The National Executive Council, NEC, of the party confirmed the appointment at its meeting in Awka following an earlier recommendation

Leadership crisis

•Obi: Beat many politicians in their game made by the National Working Committee, NWC, during a meeting in Abuja last year. The motion for Governor Obi to step into the position last held by the late Ojukwu was moved by the Oyo State chairman of the party, Mr. Samson Olaniyi and seconded by the Bayelsa State chairman, Mr. John Sokari.

Quitting politics National chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh who, inside party sources said, was instrumental to Obi changing his mind about quitting politics, said after announcing the appointment of Obi as the leader of APGA and BOT chairman, that APGA needed to consolidate on its gains by beefing up its leadership at all levels.

Umeh said: “We want to place it on record that Governor Peter Obi was the force that made our victories possible in both Anambra and Imo states. Obi was the first governor, since the creation of old and new Anambra State, to win election for two terms. From the time of Chief Jim Nwobodo to Chief Christian Onoh, to Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, only Obi has won governorship election back to back.

“The success of APGA in Imo State was virtually made

possible by Obi who provided the resources that brought Governor Rochas Okorocha into office.

As he was completing his two terms as governor of Anambra State, Obi’s excellent performance made it possible for APGA to win again, which means that an APGA government will be handed over to another APGA government to be headed by Chief Willie Obiano who secured a landslide victory in the last governorship election in the st As Obi settles down to lead APGA, the NEC of the party has approved a 30- member Board of Trustees selected from the six geo-political zones to work with him. Some of the BOT members include the leader of APGA in Imo State, Chief Martin Agbaso, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Imo State, Mrs. Ann Dozie, who refused to join Governor Okorocha in decamping to All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Onwuka Ukwa, John Akpan Okon, Dr. Ahmed Umar Muktari, Chief Ziggy Azike, Mr. Chris Giwa, Chief Okey Ezeibe, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu jr and Chief Obi Nwosu, who is the Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi. Also in the BOT are Dubem Obaze, Nasir Abubakar, Alhaji Ibrahim Barde, Mr. Sola Oyeleke, Dr.

Mike Adams, Boniface Alu and Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, among others.

Governor Obi, who went down memory lane to trace the history of APGA, said every member of the party should be grateful to God for the journey so far.

According to him, many

,

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State whose eight year tenure will come to an end on March 17, 2014 has finally succumbed to pressures from religious leaders, interest groups and politicians not to completely quit politics after serving out his tenure.

Though the pressure had been mounting on the business man –turned politician to present himself for other elective positions at the national level after stepping down in March, he had maintained that he would need to face his business as he is not interested in becoming a senator or a minister as is the desire of nearly all Nigerian governors when they leave office.

Among those that had at one time or the other urged the governor to consider serving the country in other areas were the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, his Nnewi Diocese counterpart, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Odili Okeke, as well as Anglican Diocese of Amichi, Rt. Rev Ephraim Ikeakor.

Alhaji Tai Sowumi, who described Obi as the most performing governor in the country. “This governor has raised the bar of leadership and redefined good governance in the country in all facets and we cannot afford to let him go for now,” he said.

Already, the NEC of the party has set up a committee to review the constitution of the party, while the NWC was mandated to fill existing vacancies. All the decisions reached at last week’s meeting in Awka are to be ratified at the national convention of the party slated for February 15, 2014.

Perhaps the first major task before Obi as the national leader and BOT chairman of APGA is the resolution of the leadership crisis in the party in which a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ruled that Chief Maxi Okwu should be the national chairman of the party. Okwu, it would be recalled, went to court despite the fact that the Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that Umeh remains the national chairman.

Indeed, Umeh made reference to the Abuja court judgment during the Awka NEC meeting, arguing that APGA went ahead with the meeting because it was relying on the Court of Appeal judgment that set aside the judgment of the Enugu High Court. Besides, he said, the Court of Appeal judgment is superior to that of the Federal High Court.

Obi will have to resolve the issue of Dr. Tim Menakaya whose appointment as BOT member was rejected by NEC because he was said to be on

Perhaps the first major task before Obi as the national leader and BOT chairman of APGA is the resolution of the leadership crisis in the party in which a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ruled that Chief Maxi Okwu should be the national chairman of the party

people sacrificed so much to ensure the unity the party is enjoying. He also told the story of how some well –placed politicians in the country, including serving governors, had urged to join the ruling party at the center, assuring that he would not deviate from his earlier decision that he would not leave APGA. To spur Obi to more action in the party, the party leadership presented him with an Award of Excellence along with the national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh.

The presentation was made by the national vice chairman of the party in the South West,

,

the side of Okwu in the latest court case.

Menakaya and Obi are known to be very close, but there was nothing he could do when majority of NEC members rejected Menakaya’s nomination as BOT member.

The new national leader also has the task of bringing back into the fold, Dr. Chuke Obidigbo who Okwu favoured to be the flag bearer of APGA for the governorship election of November, until the Court of Appeal nullified the convention that produce Maxi Okwu and others.

46 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Chimamanda Adichie, a growing literary prodigy

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

I

T has been no holds barred for Nigeria’s talented writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie since hitting the literary scene in a career that spans a decade, as she has attracted for herself, a shelf full of laurels and honours which are eloquent indication of the reward for hard work and creativity.

Little wonder Adichie has been described as “the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature.”

Since she came on board, the name Chimamanda has featured prominently during discussions revolving around fiction, poetry and short stories especially when she released her debut work, Decisions, a collection of poems published in 1997 as well as her first play, For Love of Biafra in 1998.

The general acceptance of her literary contributions has been very amazing thus, earning her a large number of fans both within and outside the country, in a short period of time.

The Enugu State born gifted writer who started her academic journey in Nsukka where she attended primary and secondary schools and briefly studied medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,

tion in 2004 and was awarded the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book (2005).

Her second novel also, Half of a Yellow Sun, named after the flag of the short-lived Biafra nation has its setting, covering events that took place before and during the Biafran war, was awarded the 2007 Orange Prize for fiction.

Half of a Yellow Sun was also adapted into a Nigerian drama film directed by Biyi Bandele and was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

Music sensation It featured Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Onyeka Onwenu and Anika Noni Rose.

Nigerian music sensation, D’banj also recorded the official soundtrack for the adaptation of the novel“Half of a Yellow Sun” which will be premiered soon.

Chimamanda’s third book, The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), a collection of short stories was in 2010, listed among the authors of The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” fiction issue. Her story Ceiling, was also, included in the 2011 edition of the best American short stories while in 2013, she pub-

,

The general acceptance of her literary contributions has been very amazing thus, earning her a large number of fans both within and outside the country, in a short period of time

before she left the shores of Nigeria when she was just 19 years, for the United States of America where she continued her university education and also resides till date.

The mother of two who currently divides her time between Nigeria where she mentors young writers in creative workshops and the United States where her family lives, began gathering laurels when she was shortlisted in 2002 for the Caine Prize for her short story, You in America.

Her story, That Harmattan Morning, published in 2003 was subsequently, selected as joint winner of the BBC short story awards and also, won the O. Henry prize for The American Embassy.

Adichie’s first novel, Purple Hibiscus (2003), received wide critical acclaim. It was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fic-

,

lished her third and latest novel, Americanah which has so much added to her fame as it was selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2013 and also, won the 2013 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for fiction.

The Heartland Prize, a literary prize established in 1988 by the Chicago Tribune Newspaper in both fiction and non-fiction, for books that are concerned with American issues, causes and concerns, described Americanah as “a powerful, resonant novel and we would be delighted to celebrate it and try to share it with a wider audience.”

To prove how much Adichie’s works have affected the entire globe, America’s singer Beyonce best known as Queen Bey, surprised her fans all over the world when she secretly dropped a new album on

Chimamanda Adichie savouring one of her awards

iTunes on December 12th, 2013 and featured Chimamanda on a track titled Flawless.

As an Igbo, Chimamanda has through her creative writings as well as conduct and appearance as regards hairdo and dressing, promoted cultures typical of Africans.

The award winner and author while talking with Kate Kellaway of the Observer on issues relating to African women, noted that “African women should be proud of their natural hair, which is the pride of Africans instead of having inferiority complex carrying it...I am a bit of a fundamentalist when it comes to black women’s hair. Hair is hair –

yet also about larger questions: self-acceptance, insecurity and what the world tells you is beautiful. For many black women, the idea of wearing their hair naturally is unbearable.”

The celebrated international writer ’s speedy ascension to fame according to her, has been the result of impact of works by legends such as Prof. Chinua Achebe. Adichie described late literary icon Prof. Chinua Achebe as well as Flora Nwakpa as very important personalities to her and further noted that Achebe’s writings gave her the confidence to go into writing.

Late Achebe on his part wrote, “We do not usually associate wisdom with beginners, but here

is a new writer endowed with the gift of ancient storytellers.

Adichie knows what is at stake, and what to do about it.

She is fearless or she would not have taken on the intimidating horror of Nigeria’s civil war.”, after reading the manuscript of Chimamanda’s second novel which is a confirmation of the show of ingenuity of the author right from the start of her writing career.

With the past giant strides the gifted writer has made, it is expected that in 2014 and beyond, Adichie would obtain more feats as she advances in her writing career.

MTN boosts Nite of A Thousand Laughs

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HE popular Nigerian comedy show, Nite of A Thousand Laughs received an unprecedented boost early this year with the support of the Nigerian leading telecommunications company, MTN. The New Year was ushered in with fanfare at the Aztech Arcum, Port Harcourt, venue of the event, as entertainment heavy-weights, kept the massive-audience that thronged the show reeling with laughter and excitement.

Commenting on the sponsorship, the Sponsorship Manager, MTN, Dola Bamgboye, said “MTN is enriching the lives of its customers by creating hilarious atmospheres and opportunities for them to unwind after working so hard throughout the year. MTN wants them to Live, Love and Laugh, as it thrives

to connect its teeming Customers with their passion.”

As-early-as 7 pm, the event was already crowded with fun-seeking people who were looking for the opportunity of starting the year on a laughter-mood and they got their hearts desire, as comic acts like Gandoki, MC Abbey, Funny Bone, Shakara, I Go Save, Buchi, Pencil Monkas, Hezekiah and others thrilled their fans with rib-cracking jokes that sent some crawling with laughter.

Music was provided at the event by the duo of KCee, the “Limpopo” and “PullOver ” crooner and Harry Song, the “Tribute to Mandela” song flag-bearer. On-Air-Personality, Denrele, was the anchor of the show.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

— 47

Photography made me dine with Kings and Queens — Victor Badejo T

*Badejo Victor Olajide

ELL us about your back ground I was born into a family where both mother and father were professional photographers that are respected in the society for their excellence. At the age of 10, it was natural to be curious about what my parents are doing. This was the reason that made me grasp the basics of photography in my early years. This however did not distract me from my academics. I had both my Primary and Secondary school education in Lagos State and later proceeded to Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University,Ago-Iwoye

MR Badejo Victor Olajide was born into a family of Mr. Francis Sunday Badejo and Mrs. Bukola Badejo who were professional photographers with a solid base in Lagos. After his university education from Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, he worked with United Bank for Africa, but along the line he left the job for his passion, photography. In this special interview, he explains why he has to quit a lucrative banking job for photography which he claims is a profession that runs through his veins. Below are excerpts:

where I graduated with a Second Class Upper Division degree from the College of Agricultural Sciences. I worked with UBA(United Bank For Africa Plc.) between 2004 and 2010. But while in the bank, my zeal for photography could not be controlled, moreover, it was my determination to be self employed, so I resigned my banking job and start-

ed professional photography. Working in the bank is good but I felt being my own boss and an employer of labour is the ultimate goal anyone would be comfortable with.

How have you fared in the photography business?

It has been a wonderful experience.

My first attempt was a valedictory service that I covered in Lagos. The journey has been a bit rough and smooth but better for me because I am not new to the technicalities when it comes to carrying out the job. From day one, photography has always been a means of livelihood for me. I could remember very well when I use to follow my dad to occasions and had to carry the bag and watch the way things were done. This has really helped me and my brothers at large.

Can you remember some exciting moments?

My memorable moments are periods I’ve been introduced to the crème de la crème of the Society. Photography has given me the opportunity to have close interaction with celebrities and prominent people in society among which are, the likes of late M.K.O Abiola, (Late) King Sunny Ade, Evang.Obey, KWAM 1,Queen Salawa Abeni, Ayinde Barrister(Late), Alhaji Dangote , Prof Wole Soyinka, powerful men of God and some traditional rulers, to mention but a few. I never thought of quitting Photography. It is what I love and I enjoy doing it to the fullest.

The challenges?

The present challenges are basically capital and structure. The most vital is capital. Photography is capital intensive. For one to be on top of the game, one has to be investing in equipment that will keep you in tune with current happenings.

How would you rate professional photography in Nigeria?

We are not there yet when it comes to professional photography. Anybody feels with a digital camera, you can start photography. I heard people say that with the current happenings in IT world, one can substitute a digital camera with an IPhone,I-Pad,Blackberries etc. When you see a professional photographer, you can be sure of creative deliveries.

48 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

FG urged to establish grazing routes for Fulani herdsmen

BY LEVINUS

NWABUGHIOGU& EMMAOVUAKPORIE BUJA—THE House of Representatives yesterday urged the federal government to establish grazing routes for cattle rearers in all the sixgeopolitical zones of the country.

The House said it would curtail the incessant conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country. It is lamented the spate of killings and destruction of property that had been the fallout of the conflicts.

The resolution was sequel to a motion moved

by Sunday Karim (Yagba East, Kogi State).

Moving the motion, Karim noted with sadness the continued attacks on communities across the country by herdsmen and the counter-attacks that often resulted therefrom, which had become almost a daily occurrence.

He said: “One in the series of such conflicts occurred on January 3, 2014, during which the Emir of Jere in Kaduna State, Dr. Usman Sa’had, who is also the husband of Senator Nenadi Usman, almost lost his life and now lies critically ill in a hospital after he was brutalized while trying to mediate between the warring parties.”

A

‘Nigeria recorded 3,805 cases of leprosy in 2013’

BY VICTORIAOJEME

A

BUJA—THE National Director of Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Dr Udo Sunday, yesterday expressed regrets that the federal government has paid less attention to leprosy pandemics in the country, noting that the mission recorded 3,805 new cases in 2013.

Dr Sunday made this disclosure to journalists at a ceremony to mark the 61 World Leprosy Day. He said 10 per cent were children, adding that 12 per cent were already deformed as a result of lack of care.

According to him, the North East zone of the country accounted for most of the cases.

Reps summon Environment Minister, Shell, NOSDRA over Bonga oil spill

BY EMMANOVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, over compensation issues on Bonga oil spill.

The Environment Committee, led by Uche Ekwunife, APGA, Anambra State, summoned the agencies, following the December 20, 2011, Bonga oil spill and to explain why compensation has not been paid to affected communities .

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, were also invited, among others.

The Minister and the agencies are expected to explain their roles over the effects of chemical used by Shell to disperse the oil spillage at sea in the affected communities.

The communities alleged that the dispersant led to disruption of their fishing activities and other sources of livelihood and lamented that the oil company had not been forthcoming.

The communities

The communities are spread among Warri North, Warri South West and Burutu Local Government Councils of Delta State as well as Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Councils of Bayelsa State.

The move by Ekwenife-led House Committee has, however, succeeded in averting the shut down of operations of major international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta area.

Plans to picket IOCs

Coordinator of the communities, Amona Monday, said the community and youth leaders in the affected communities had completed plans to picket minor oil companies in the Niger Delta area and disrupt their services, having failed to peacefully resolve the issue with Shell.

WORKSHOP: From left: Mr. Toyin Munis, Consulting Partner, Baileycole, Mr. Olujimi Ige, Director, Financial Intelligence and Research, representing Lagos State Accountant General, and Mr. Ola Tubi, Managing Partner, Baileycole Consulting, during a three-day workshop for finance and accounting professionals in the state. Photo: Bunmi Azeez He said: “Fortunately, the affected communities got a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Environment inviting us and Shell as well as other regulatory and administrative bodies to a meeting on 28th of this month.

“Being law abiding citizens, we have to stop our earlier plan because all we are asking is the opportunity to bring Shell to the table and let them do what is right for the people.

“The communities’ resolve to picket the IOCs was informed by allegations of connivance against some regulatory officials and Shell to delay or thwart

compensation due them following the spill.

“Besides, NOSDRA, NIMASA, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, as well as other administrative and regulatory bodies confirmed that the said pollutants did affect a large area of the sea, where our people carry out their fishing and other sources of economic livelihood.

Government confirms spill

“Despite government confirming the said pollutants and its effects on our health and socioeconomic life, there is a need for dialogue with a view to

ensure that the matter is resolved amicably.”

According to him, part of the reasons to picket the IOCs is a result of the inadequacy of relief materials provided for the affected communities by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. “We are appreciative of the efforts of NEMA that has given us some relief materials but they are grossly inadequate because the challenges facing these people can only be imagined.

“The affected Communities with an average population of about 6,000 benefited a bag of rice, beans, salt, sugar, garri, a carton of soap, milo so also as other materials supplied was shared, while some Communities did not benefit from the supplied relief materials.”

Jang to Amaechi: Stop inciting people against FG

A

BY HENRYUMORU

BUJA—FACTIONAL Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF and governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, yesterday took a swipe at the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, over missing N8.5 trillion, alleging that the latter was inciting Nigerians against President Goodluck Jonathan and his

government.

Jang, who described as frivolous and inciting the content of the communiqué issued by Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s led Governors’ forum, after its last week’s meeting in Abuja, accused Amaechi of seeking recognition.

According to him, some of the issues raised by Amaechi’s Governors Forum have already

been debated and discredited and, “therefore lacked credibility.”

It will be recalled that Nigeria Governors Forum, led by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, had at its meeting urged the National Assembly to urgently institute a comprehensive independent forensic audit by an international reputable firm into the alleged missing $49.8 billion (N8.5 trillion), equivalent of two years of the national budget.

Power: Local content to become law soon —NERC

A

BY CHRISOCHAYI

BUJA—THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has said that the power sector local content regulation will become law in the first quarter of this year.

Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, disclosed this while making a presentation at a session at Chatham House, London, chaired by Peter Callaghan of Commonwealth Business

Council.

Amadi, who was lead speaker at the event organised by Chatham House, UK, pointed out that the power sector local content law in this early stage of the transition, was intended to avoid the mistakes made in the oil and gas sector which was still dominated by expatriates 50 years after.

He said: “We have a local content regulation that by

February should become law, we don’t want what happened in the oil and gas sector where after 50 years Nigeria is still importing technology.

“We have come up with a local content regulation that provides a framework for every company to begin to localise both technology, and services.

“For example a meter provider should within the

next five years set up a factory in Nigeria. This is to ensure that the spill off from electricity reform goes to enhance the economy of the nation.”

Amadi also told the gathering that power supply was expected to hit 7,000mw by the end of this year as increased capacities were expected from the NIPPs coming on stream, while generation benchmark was set at 20,000mw by 2017.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 49

decides who to work with. Suddenly, we discovered that workers are being sacked within these six months without being paid.

All workers of PHCN did not receive their entitlements covering July 2012 to November 2013, either severance or pension component. So, they owe all those who worked during that period.”

Monday, January 13, the union and its members nationwide protested at all power installations and offices, threatening to shut down the sector should government continue to ignore their grievances.

Momentary truce

Briefing: R-L: Vice President, (Professionals), Gabriel Egbadekwu, Joe Ajaero, General Secretary, Mansur Musa, President and Comrade Babatunde Isaac, Assistant General Secretary, Administration, during the press briefing.

Labour battles FG over un-remitted pension, other benefits of defunct PHCN staff

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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RGANISED labour in the power sector is up in arms with the Federal Government over un-remitted pensions and unpaid terminal benefits and other entitlements of workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. It is almost three months after 18 successor companies took over the assets of PHCN. Under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, the union had vowed to shut down electricity supply in country should government fail to pay all entitlements of the workers as well remit their pension to their individual Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs. Recall that the union had on December 20, 2013, issued a 14day ultimatum to the government through the Minister of Power, detailing its grievances, especially unpaid terminal benefits among others.

Union grievances: According to the union, among other grievances, “all the collective agreements entered into by the union with government in the power sector have all been violated. As we write, over ten thousand (10,000) workers in the power sector have not been paid a dime as their severance entitlement. Over 25,000 workers have not received their pension components. Over 5,000 workers who retired statutorily are yet to be paid their gratuities.”

“The death benefits of over 1,000 workers who died in active service is yet to be paid to their families. The pension deductions

of about 48,000 workers between July 2012 to-date have not been remitted to the workers' PFAs. The entitlements of over 48,000 staff covering July 2012 have not been paid. Over fifty per cent of the workers have been wrongly and illegally disengaged. About 3,000 verified casual workers have been verbally sent out of the industry without remuneration. Union rights are flagrantly abused with impunity. Deductions of union dues without remittance have become the norm.”

“Diversion of money meant for productivity bonuses, leave grants, and bulk rent have also become the order of the day. Introduction of casual/contract appointments seemed to have been institutionalized in the sector.

Employees are now verbally dismissed from service. Non-pay-

ment of staff salaries for two months running have just been introduced into the power sector.

Funds meant for payment of staff entitlements in excess of N100 billion has developed wings, as the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Ministry of Power and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation are unable to explain the whereabouts of this money.”

Prosecution of ultimatum: January 9, at a briefing, General Secretary of the union, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the union was ready to prosecute the ultimatum after giving government time to respond positively to no avail and that it did not want to discomfort Nigerians during the past festive period.

He disclosed that the prosecution of the ultimatum would be in

phases, beginning with a nationwide protest and occupation of power installations and offices across the country by both disengaged, retired, serving employees in the sector, threatening that if the protest was not able to sway the government, a total strike would be called.

Ajaero said: “We have waited for some months to see whether the private sector that was in a hurry to takeover when labour issues were not resolved, could still use the same connection to ask the Nigerian government pay workers their entitlements to no avail.

We have watched the Nigerian government and the private sector violate a common privatization policy which created a six-month transition period for workers to operate before the private sector

However, before the situation degenerated to the level of total shut down, a truce has been reached between the government and labour following the meeting called on January 13, 2014, by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, to address labour grievances.

At the end of the meting it was agreed among others that “bonafide staff are to be paid their severance benefits on or before the end of January, 2014;admitted casuals to be paid on/before end of March, 2014, progressive payments to be tracked and all Pensions should be processed and payments should be effected accordingly.

Furthermore, the 7.5% employer pension contribution of July, 2012 to 31st October, 2013 will be paid by the Federal Government (market operator). Payment of pension deductions from 1st November, 2013 to date will be paid by the new operators into workers’ Retirement Saving Account, RSA, accounts.”

“BPE and Ministry of Power are to fast track approval and payment of death benefits to beneficiaries within one month. The complain of victimization of labour leaders to be handled by the Federal Ministry of Power and BPE in accordance with extant regulations within January, 2014.

1,074 retire from Cross River civil, public service

BY EMMA UNA

C

ROSS River State Head of Service, Ntunkae MaryTheresa Ikwen has disclosed that between 2012 and 2013, 1,074 civil/ public servants retired from the state civil service.

Ikwen, who spoke in Calabar , explained that the number of those who retired was made up of 736 for 2012 and 338 for 2013, adding “ we have successfully processed their retirement benefits and forwarded same to the office of the Accountant-General for payment.”

According to her, 9606 were promoted across board in ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

She said her office has rewarded, with various gift items, 20 Directorate staff and 17 non-Directorate staff as a form of motivation for service delivery while 21 staff were recommended to the Civil Service Commission for sanction over various gross misconduct.

Ikwen lamented that despite their effort at repositioning the state public service for optimal performance, the state was still grappling with challenges and “observable level of indiscipline among the workforce in the Service.”

She enumerated such challenges to include “unethical conduct such as absenteeism, lateness to work, truancy, corruption, frequent disappear-

ance of public funds from point of withdrawal to MDAs and syndicated production of fake pay slips, changing of service record and irregular staff movement as well as resistance to postings.”

The HOS however said disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal, compulsory retirement, and deduction of misappropriated funds from their entitlements were meted out to indicted workers, believing that with such steps and other mechanism put in place, her Office remains undaunted and focused to ensure the civil/public service meets the expectations of Cross River state people.

“The on-going reforms in the state civil/public service would continue to be vigorously sustained to enhance performance and productivity” she stated.

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

With N7m, Elizabeth Chima will live again

BY ONOZURE DANIA & MOSE NOSIKE

E

LIZABETH Chima requires N 7million urgently to undergo a kidney transplant. Chima, who hails from Anambra state, said the ailment started in 2009, when she noticed a boil on her left leg. The mother of six visited a private hospital at Ikotun, where she was informed she had ulcer which sis not heal.

Narrating her ordeal, Chima, who has been going through excruciating pains, said that after some time, the right leg was affected, that was when she knew how serious it was.

“They are four doctors, that is where I have been receiving treatment, for over a year now, but on first week of August 2013, when I woke up in the morning and decided to use the toilet, I could not and so I became afraid and I was rushed down to the hospital, where I was admitted again for about one month. “They asked me to be going for dialysis that would help me until we have money for the operation. I do that every week but the doctor told me that it cannot help my situation. They said the two kidneys are affected.

“Whenever I wake up in the mornings, I am always having stomach upset and at night I cannot sleep.

Like yesterday I was not able to sleep. In some cases legs would be heavy as if they put block there. If I lie down now I need someone to help me up before I can be able to get up. So it is not easy for me. The pains are too much. I can’t breathe very well.”

“I used to be a hair dresser, but I have left my job since 2008, due to the ailment. I am using this medium to call on well meaning Nigerians to please come to my aid.

One of her children, Henry, lamented the inability to raise the money. “The problem was that during all

for us as a parent. I wish that she c omes out of this ailment so that she can live a healthy life again.” Every morning it is either she has one pain at the leg or her tommy is upsetting. We wake up every morning to hear one issue or the other. We just hope that Nigerians would come to her rescue, so that she can undergo the transplant in India. A medical report described her case as chronic kidney disease.

“Clinically it seems this patient will benefit from kidney transplant, it stated.”

If you are moved to help, send your donation to Elizabeth Chima, Union Bank, 0003754321 or call 07060439371.

NPHCDA not under probe — ADO

T

• Elizabeth Chima her time in the hospital, they did not tell us that the kidney is packing up.” She has been living on drugs until it got this bad. She woke up one morning she could not pass the urine. That was when they now said oh you may have to go for a transplant. It has not been easy not just for me but for everyone in the family.”

We lost our father in 2012, so she is the only one left

HE National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, is not under probe but was collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC to carry out a system review.

Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr, Ado Mohammed, who disclosed this at an interactive session in Abuja, said the Agency was committed to improvement of its services.

"We are collaborating with the ICPC under a study review. The ICPC is studying and reviewing systems in different organisations, they have done it in education and also is doing it in other sectors and have not come to the health sector, but because the NPHCDA is the corner stone of the health sector, we are collaborating with the ICPC to see how we can improve the primary healthcare delivery in the country. So, we are collaborating with the ICPC in terms of completion of constituency projects from 2006 till date.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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Y husband just married a second wife who is quite young. I have not been myself since he married that girl. He tells me that I am boring in bed and brags about the kind of sex he has with his new wife. This is very painful and sometimes I fantasise about killing both of them but I don’t want these bad thoughts. I need help. I am losing my mind. I want my husband back – Bolanle Dear Bolanle, polygamy always comes with its own problems and while monogamy is not perfect, the envy that exists in polygamous relationships never goes away.

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V anguard Vanguard anguard,, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 51

NEWS BRIEF

Ukraine's police dismantle protest camps

A

Assad under pressure as Syria, rebels bicker S YRIA’s government and main political opposition have traded bitter accusations as a major peace conference began in Switzerland.

The opposition and US said President Bashar alAssad had no legitimacy and must step down from power.

Syria’s foreign minister had a terse exchange with the UN’s Ban Ki-moon over the length of his speech and said only Syrians could decide Mr Assad’s fate.

The conflict has left more than 100,000 dead and millions displaced.

The summit is discussing the Geneva communique which lays out a political transition plan for Syria.

It will hear from about 40 foreign ministers before direct Syrian talks are scheduled to begin in Geneva on Friday.

This would be the first face-to-face meeting between the Syrian government and the main opposition - the National Coalition - since the conflict began in 2011.

‘Inflammatory rhetoric’ The BBC’s Paul Wood, in Montreux, said there were some extraordinarily ill-tempered scenes and some very direct language as the conference got under way.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said some states attending the talks had “Syrian blood on their hands” and called the opposition “traitors”.

Addressing the summit, US Secretary of State John Kerry, said: “No-one in the world has the right to confer or withdraw the

UN demands inquiry into migrants death in Greece

T

U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Brahim holding brief with U.S. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki Moon at the opening of the Geneva-11 peace conference in Montreux, in Geneva, yesterday legitimacy of a president, a constitution or a law, except for the Syrians themselves.”

Mr Muallem ran far over the allotted 10-minute slot for each speaker, ignoring Mr Ban’s attempts to intervene.

“You live in New York. I

live in Syria,” Mr Muallem told the UN secretary general. “I have the right to give the Syrian version here. After three years of suffering, this is my right.”

The US state department condemned Mr

Muallem’s remarks as “inflammatory rhetoric”, and urged the government to take “real, concrete steps to increase humanitarian access and improve the lives of the people suffering the most”.

Thai pro-govt protest leader shot

A

leader of the progovernment ‘ redshirt’ movement has been shot and wounded outside his home in northeast Thailand, hours after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra enforced a state of emergency in Bangkok and its surrounding areas.

Kwanchai Praipana, who leads thousands of progovernment supporters in Udon Thani, was shot and wounded by unidentified assailants in a drive-by

shooting yesterday.

Speaking to Al Jazeera’s Scott Heidler, a family member said Praipana was in hospital recovering after having bullets removed from his arm and leg in what police described as a ‘politically motivated attack’.

The shooting comes shortly after the government of Yingluck Shinawatra introduced a state of emergency to cope with protests aimed at ousting the embattledleaderfrompower.

The new measures, which cover Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, allow security agencies to impose curfews, detain suspects without charge, censor media, ban political gatherings of more than five people and declare areas off-limits.

The decree follows increasing attacks at protest sites for which the government and protesters blame each other.

Israeli jet parked next to Iranian sparks Davos thaw

Z

URICH air traffic controllers may have inadvertently succeeded where diplomats have failed for decades: to bring Israelis and Iranians together.

As the jets of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Switzerland today to take their leaders to the World Economic Forum, their planes were parked side-by-side under cloudy skies.

Rouhani, the first

T least three protesters have been killed in clashes as Ukraine’s prime minister takes a hard line against demonstrators flouting anti-protest laws.

Mykola Azarov said on Wednesday that antigovernment protests had brought “terrorists” onto the streets of Kiev and pledged to punish all “criminal action”, even as protesters confronted police near government headquarters.

“I am officially stating that these are criminals who must answer for their action,” Azarov said.

Wednesday’s violence came after Ukrainian security forces started dismantling barricades at the protest camp in downtown Kiev, where demonstrators and police have been facing off for the past two nights.

It is reported that two of the victims died from gunshot wounds and were found less than three hours apart in a national library close to the clashes.

Iranian leader in a decade to visit Davos for the World Economic Forum, will be looking for deals to boost an economy that shrank more than 5 percent in the last fiscal year through March under the weight of international sanctions.

He’s due to address the forum in the ski resort tomorrow during a session called “Iran in the World.”

Netanyahu, among the most outspoken critics of the Iranian government, is seeking to keep the

HE UN has called for an inquiry after a boat carrying migrants capsized while being towed by a Greek coastguard vessel, leaving up to twelve dead.

Two bodies were found but a further 10 people were missing after the incident near the island of Farmakonisi on Monday. Sixteen people were rescued.

The coastguard says it judged it safer to keep migrants on their own boat than to take them aboard in bad weather. Greek officials say panicking migrants caused the boat to capsize themselves.According to reports, two migrants fell or dived overboard and others rushed to one side of the boat to rescue them, causing the boat to tip.

Statue: Rabbit in Mandela's ear sparks row

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OUTH Africa’s government has ordered sculptors to remove a bronze rabbit they hid in the ear of a Nelson Mandela statue, unveiled after the former president’s death last month.

It wanted to “restore dignity back to the statue”, a spokesman told the BBC. The sculptors reportedly inserted the rabbit as a trademark signature and to denote the haste with which they had to complete the statue.

Rabbit in the Afrikaans language is “haas”, which also means haste.

Mr Mandela, who died at the age of 95, was widely acclaimed for his role in fighting white minority rule and promoting reconciliation after being elected South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

Turkey launches new purge of police force

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URKEY has renewed a purge of the police and judiciary as its parliament debates controversial reforms that have heightened the crisis engulfing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Around 470 police were sacked or reassigned in the capital Ankara alone on Wednesday, according to NTV, a national news channel. The purges are the latest in the massive fallout from a corruption scandal targeting several top politicians and business leaders including Erdogan’s political allies.

CAR leader pledges talk with rebels The aircraft of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, left, stands alongside the aircraft of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Zurich International Airport...

sanctions in place. He has called Rouhani a “ wolf in sheep’s

clothing” and urged the world to be wary of his “charm offensive.”

C

ENTRAL African Republic’s new interim president says she will hold talks with armed groups in an effort to restore order.

Catherine Samba-Panza, who was appointed as interim president on Monday, replaced former Seleka leader Michel Djotodia, who stepped down under international pressure for failing to stop the country’s spiraling violence.

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Rivers crisis: Plot to kill me came from above — Abe ...Says his heart palpitations triggered alarm in London hospital Continues from page 5

—Abe

Meanwhile, Senator Magnus Abe who was shot during a political rally penultimate Sunday in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State has written senators alleging a calculated attempt by the highest authority of the Federal Government to kill him.

In a seven-page account of his experience, Senator Abe rebuffed suggestions that he had dramatized the incident,

saying that he would on no account use his life for political subterfuge.

In the letter which he requested to be read in the Senate, Abe said that the pains he suffered after he was shot caused heart palpitations that triggered the alarm system in the London hospital he was treated.

Noting the efforts he made to reach the police hierarchy ahead of the rally, he said: “I decided to reach out to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu

and share my concerns with him. The CP refused to pick my calls. I also tried to call the Inspector General of Police to bring the facts to his attention,” but his efforts, he said were unsuccessful despite channeling his request through other senators.

Senator Abe said that he was not at the venue at the time the violence started but that he subsequently rushed to the scene when he heard that children and others who had come for the rally were scamp-

ering for shelter and that even churches in the vicinity of the rally ground could not hold scheduled services because of the high dose of tear gas in the neighbourhood.

“When I arrived at the gate of CAS, I saw the Nigeria Police in full battle formation with armoured personnel carriers and scores of mobile policemen armed to the teeth.

“The officers informed me that they were acting on ‘orders from above’ and that I should call the

Commissioner of Police or the Inspector General of Police. I was busy trying to call the CP and the IG, when one of the policemen walked close to me and whispered, ‘Oga, leave now, leave now, they said we should take you down.

“At this stage, I became apprehensive and reminded the officers that I am a serving senator in Nigeria. In fact, I went close to the senior officer and said, ‘I am following you and if anything happens to me, it will be in

your presence and before God. “It was when I was standing with him that the attack began and a teargas canister was shot directly at my feet. He quickly moved away while more teargas canisters were fired directly at me in quick succession. It was at this stage that I was hit by something in my chest.

I screamed, ‘I have been shot’ Friends and staff who were with me, realizing what had occurred, rushed me to my vehicle.

“However, the left side of my chest where I was hit was very painful and inflamed. My staff decided that we should rush to the nearest doctor. We were able to reach my doctor, Dr. Mackay Anyanwu, who stabilised me at his clinic and transferred me to the Kesley Harrison Hospital, from where a decision was taken that I proceed to London immediately for further cardiology evaluation.”

Narrating his experience in the London hospital, he said: “My heart repeatedly fluctuated so much so that it triggered the alarms in the hospital and they decided that I should be moved to the Cardiology Unit at the London Bridge Hospital.

“The consultant cardiologist at the London Bridge Hospital determined that the site of impact on the left side of my chest was directly in line with my heart and there was a risk related to the distribution of kinetic energy from the high velocity impact to my chest.

“It is the Federal Government that deployed the Police and gave them orders that I should be taken down. I have heard that the Rivers State CP has alleged that the police were chasing criminals on that day and that I was running from the scene and that I ran into the church to evade arrest.

“I have also heard that Mr. Mbu said they have no rubber bullets in the state command. It is clear that Mr. Mbu is talking with the confidence of a Governor General; who knows that nothing will happen, and nothing would have happened even if I were killed.

“The decision to take my life comes from the highest levels of the Federal Government and nobody will be questioned or punished even if I am killed because I am one of those that have stated and I want to repeat here, that I will

cross over to APC on the floor of the Senate.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2014

Djokovic, Azarenka set new Australian Open record •Djokovic

Murray: Stupid to think I could win

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OGER Federer beat Murray 6-3 6-4 6-7(68) 6-3 in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park. It was only Murray ’s second tournament since he underwent surgery in September, with just two competitive matches in 2014 under his belt.

“I wasn’t expecting to come in and win the event; that would have been completely stupid to think that,” he told BBC Sport.

“It’s a very tough thing to do playing against Roger at that level, and even if I’d won I would have had to play Rafa [Nadal] in a couple of days.

“I’m happy to be playing at a good level just now and, with a few more matches and a bit of training and working on a few things, I’ll hopefully be back to my best at some stage this year. I’ve come a long way in four months.

Obviously right now I’m very disappointed.

There’s a few things I would have liked to have done differently if I was ever to have surgery again, possibly.

“But it’s the first time I have ever gone through something like that. I thought I did a good job getting myself in good shape to be competitive at this level."

N

OVAK Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka have set a new Australian Open record after becoming the first defending champions to lose in the quarter-finals at the Major in the Open Era. Second seed Azarenka, who is a two-time winner at the Australian Major, suffered a 1-6 7-5 0-6 loss to Pole Agnieszka Radwanksa on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, world No2 Djokovic crashed out on Tuesday after Swiss seed Stanislas Wawrinka sealed a surprise 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 victory over the Serbian.

The last time the two defending champions lost in the quarter-finals at any Grand Slam in the Open Era was at 1997 Roland Garros when 1996 champions Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Steffi Graf lost in the last eight.

It has also happened at the 1991 US Open when Pete Sampras and Gabriela Sabatini were both eliminated, whilst it last occurred at the 1974 Wimbledon Championship (Jan Kodes and Billie Jean King).

“I’ll be fine tomorrow,” Azarenka said after her loss.

“I’ll be working tomorrow. It’s not the end of the world. I’m not happy with what I did today, but I know I could have played a lot better. There’s so much to improve.

“I can look at it like a lost opportunity, but there’s nothing else I can do right now. What I have to think about is what I have to do better next time. It’s just the beginning.

“If I thought I wasn’t able to do much better than today, it’s better to just stop playing tennis. But I know I can do a lot better.

“I can’t take away what she did today though – she played amazing.”

C M Y K

•Azarenka

•Serena

•Sharapova

CHAN RESULTS Burundi DR Congo Mauritania Gabon

1 2 2 2

Conversation with a worried South African football fan

BY JACOB AJOM

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XACTLY how good is the Nigeria Premier Soccer League? Most Nigerians are quick to dismiss the local league as a huge joke. Here in South Africa, the Chan Eagles have raised the profile of the Globacom-sponsored soccer league, particularly with the clinical manner the Nigerian team dismissed their South African counterparts on Sunday.

The debate here is on what Nigeria is doing right that South African football managers have not been able to get right.

A day after the Eagles/ Bafana match, a young South African man stopped me just outside the magnificient Cape Town stadium and asked for enlightenment on how football is run in West Africa, and Nigeria in particular. ’’Hello,’’ he said, polite-

ly. ‘’Are you from Central African Region or West Africa?’’ He asked. ‘’I am Nigerian,’’ I answered. ’’Then you are the right person I have to talk to,’’ he said, to my surprise. ‘’I am a South African, Bozo Mbongisi is my name and I am just wandering and very worried that my country’s football has remained stagnant over the years while yours continue to grow. I want to know what your FA is doing

right that ours is not. ’’I pondered for a few seconds, reflected on the way our much villified league runs, how players play for months without salaries, how some referees kill the spirit of teams, how overbearing the FA could be at times that decisions reached by the LMC are at times overturned by the FA and so forth."

Yet I held my breath and

smiled at the young man.

I told him that the South African FA was one of the best run in the continent.

But that has not been able to rob off on the national team because they lacked the natural attributes that make good lfootballers.

Against Nigeria, the problem has become more psychological than practical because they give up even before the first ball is kicked.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 — 55

Man Utd make club record £40m bid for Mata •Offer made through a third party and remains unofficial •Midfielder Mata likely to make United debut next week

NNPC/Shell Cup best players now to enjoy scholarships

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ATISFIED that the competition it pioneered 16 years ago for football talents in Nigeria’s secondary

M

ANCHESTER United have made a club record £40m bid for the Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata.

The offer is understood to have been made through a third party, allowing United to stick with their stance of no official bid being made, which remains the case.

It is purely a case of semantics, though, with the transfer likely to be completed over the next few days – possibly in time for Mata to make his debut next week, when United host Cardiff on 28 January and visit Stoke on 1 February.

Mata is thought to have missed training on Wednesday and is said to have indicated to friends he was destined for Old Trafford.

Although Chelsea are yet to formally acknowledge the bid, still less accept it, a move for the 25-year-old would make sense.

Although the former United defender Gary Neville pointed out this week that Mata’s arrival would represent a change of tactic for United, who have traditionally relied on two wingers, the fact that none of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Nani have sparkled under Moyes this season means ditching the concept would not be a hardship.

Continues from BP

Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission Amaju Pinnick (R ), Blessing Okagbare (M) with top world track and field coach, John Smith (L).

Delta backs Commonwealth athletes

D

ELTA State has stepped up their support for their elite athletes who are likely to represent Nigeria in the Commonwealth Games which hold in Scotland in August.

Most of the athletes are based abroad.

Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission Amaju Pinnick is currently on tour of their training bases to lend a hand to their preparation.

“I’ve seen a couple of athletes and I’m still going around,” Amaju said from California where top shot Blessing Okagbare is training with top world track and field coach, John Smith.

“The athletes are

Keshi

be fit enough for the tie against Morocco on S a t u r d a y . ’’You saw Imenger and Ikenna Paul jogging round the pitch as their colleagues train. While Imenger is almost healed, Paul is also witnessing a rapid improvement. As at last week he couldn’t move around but now you can see him jogging.

Everything is looking C M Y K

•Mata

perfect in terms of health apart from the red card given to Solomon Kwambe,’’ Alaiya said.

He observed that the morale in camp is very positive and every player is gearing to go. ‘’The players and coaches are very determined and that is the type of spirit you want to find in a team that wants to win a championship.’’

working hard for the Commonwealth Games and, as usual, Delta is helping out to ensure that Nigeria does well in Scotland,”Amaju said,

adding “they need assistance in terms of training, welfare and morally. That’s why I’m here. Delta is interested in their athletes and in

Nigeria as a whole. We have the country in mind even as we prepare our athletes.”

Delta will also benefit from these athletes during the next sports festival which will be open to all athletes.

NSC’s Athletes Hostel ready for commissioning

T

HE newly con structed athletes’ hostel by the National Sports Commission, NSC is ready for commissioning, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu, NSC’s Director of Facility, has said.

Shehu disclosed that the hostel was built to

serve the NSC’s elite athletes development programmes, especially athletes to be enrolled for the High Performance System, a science –based support system for elite athletes. The first High Performance Centre in West Africa is being built in Abuja and

Murray Continues from BP putations, an all-Swiss final probably appeals most, after Wawrinka’s stirring win over the defending champion Novak Djokovic.

As for Federer, he hit some glorious peaks to beat Murray 6-3, 6-4, 67, 6-3 in exactly 200 minutes, surviving desperate fightbacks by the Scot when in sight of an early finish in the third set.

“When he was serving for the match I raised my level, because I had to,” Murray said.

“But I wasn’t able to get ahead in the fourth set and I was disappointed with my performance.

That is the highest level I have played at in a long time. My serve was down, especially in the fourth set. I hung in well, pushed through it and almost got myself back in the match. Roger plays at a pretty high intensity, and the ball comes at you at a fairly high tempo.

“I’ve come a long way in four months [since his back surgery]. Right now I’m disappointed. There are a few things I would have liked to have done differently. I did a good job in getting in shape to be competitive at this level, wasn’t far away at the end. My back is OK.

will be completed in February 2014.

schools, sponsors of the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championships, Shell Petroleum Development Company,SPDC and its joint venture partners are taking the 2014 edition of the competition to the next level.

Disclosing this in Lagos to usher in the 16 th edition yesterday, General Manager of SPDC, Dr. Phillip Mselbila who spoke through Peter AdemuEteh, the company’s CX Production Services Manager, said though the company has achieved a lot through the championship, it has decided to take it to the next level by linking the NNPC/Shell Cup to its educational programmes.

He thus disclosed that from this edition, “the 10 best products of the NNPC/Shell Cup Championship will be awarded the JV’’s (Joint Ve n t u r e ) s e c o n d a r y school scholarship” which he said will “commence from where the are in their secondary school journey,” after which “they will be eligible to compete for JV university scholarships.”

Falconets

Continues from BP can Airways airplane on Wednesday night.

An hour before the Falconets left for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Wednesday, on their way to Lagos, NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari was at the team’s camp to commed players and officials for their excellent fighting spirit since the qualifying series began and charged them to conclude the series in emphatic fashion.

“I am delighted at the way you have taken the challenge of qualifying with steely resolve, and how you have not been shy to score a lot of goals in your matches.

My humble self, the entire Executive Committee and Management of NFF and indeed, the Nigeria football family are proud of you.

“My charge to you, technical crew and players, is not relent at this stage. South Africa is a major power in African women football, so do not under-rate them.

Even though we have a 6-0 advantage, we must play the return leg match as if it were the first leg,” Maigari urged.

Maigari, who also met with the U-17 girls, Flamingos, splashed the sum of one million naira (N1 million) on both teams to spur them ahead of coming challenges.

The U-17 girls are due to embark on a tour of four States of the Federation to play leading women clubs in the country, preparatory to their departure to Europe for final training camp ahead of the 4th FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, taking place in Costa Rica between 15 March – 4 April.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Murray crashes out in Australia •Federer faces Nadal in S/final

A

Ahead clash with Atlas Lions:

Keshi sweats on Imenger, Ikenna A

FTER observing an off day in which they were allowed to go shopping, the Super Eagles returned to training Wednesday at the Cape Town stadium training pitch.

But not all the players trained with the rest of the team.

Media officer to the team, Ben Alaiya told journalists that

Barnabas Imenger who is recovering from a ‘minor ’ illness and Ikenna Paul (hamstring) did not train with the rest of the team. ’’In terms of fitness, the team is 95 per cent ready, ‘’ Alaiya started, pointing out that Imenger is expected to Continues on Page 55

NDY Murray is out. Roger Federer is back. And Rafael Nadal is next. Whatever the sense of a new wave building in tennis, there is no denying the staying power of the established elite as the 2014 Australian Open builds

towards another semi-final clash between the two players who have defined the modern era, Federer and Nadal.

The winner will play either Stanislas Wawrinka or Tomas Berdych and, of the various com Continues on Page 55

Canada 2014: Falconets go for S/Africa’s scalp

N

IGERIA’s U-20 women team, nicknamed Falconets, will fly into Johannesburg today for their final

PAINFUL — Murray feels the pain during his 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 defeat by Roger Federer.

Man Utd make club record £40m bid for Mata — P.55

leg of African qualifying series for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, against South Africa’s U-20 women side, known as Basetsana.

Vice champions of the world in 2010, the Nigerian girls take a handy 6-0 advantage into Saturday’s return leg, due for the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto – the venue where the U-20 boys of Nigeria, Flying Eagles, won the African Youth Championship in 2011.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation notified the High Commission of Nigeria in South Africa about the arrival of the delegation, which will fly out of Lagos aboard a South Afri

Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Composition (5) 7 Rebound (6) 9 Beret (3) 10 Twitching (3) 12 Gallery (5) 13 Follow (4) 15 Drugged (5) 17 Suit (6) 19 Sea-eagle (4) 20 Transparent (5) 22 Layer (3) 24 Erased (7) 27 Intelligence (3) 28 Deposit (5) 31 Muddle (4) 33 Antenna (6) 35 Tendency (5) 37 Peruse (4) 38 Boat (5) 39 Sailor (3) 41 Knock (3) 42 Maniac (6) 43 Spree (5)

DOWN 1 Reviewer (6) 2 Writer (6) 3 Illuminated (3) 4 Relax (4) 5 Digging tool (5) 6 Decorating (8) 8 Swimming pool (4) 11 Able (9) 14 Guide (4) 16 Skin (4) 18 Gang (4) 21 Purchase (8) 23 Shout (4) 25 Existence (4) 26 Performer (4) 29 Imagined (6) 30 Finale (6) 32 Stock (5) 34 Cheese (4) 36 Genuine (4) 40 Uncooked (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Stir 4, Par 6, Mock 9, Awl 10, Complete 11, Slap 14, Wad 16, Inapt 19, Appeared 21, Revel 23, Disabled 24, Layer 27, Ltd 31, Test 33, Provided 34, Nee 35, Eden 36, Yes 37, Else.

DOWN: 2, Tool 3, Ripe 4, Prepared 5, Reel 6, Mason 7, Owl 8, Clasp 12, Canal 13, Spray 14, War 15, Devil 17, Angle 18, Trade 20, Desirous 22, Lad 25, Amend 26, Eaten 28, Spry 29, Fire 30, Less 32, See.

How to Play Sudoku

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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