Cynthia, our 5th victim

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61694

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

N150

Cynthia, our 5th victim — shocking details of how BB friends drugged, raped and strangled General's only daughter Pg.5

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POCKET CARTOON

Cynthia, our 5th victim — Killers of General's daughter

BY EVELYN USMAN AND RUTH CHUKWUEMEKA

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AGOS—EMO TIONS ran high, yesterday, at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, following startling revelations by two university students on how Cynthia Osokogu, the only daughter of a retired General was strangled inside a hotel in Festac area of the state.

While parading the suspects, the police displayed 18 handsets, one brown Louis Vuitton bag, a black suede shoe belonging to the deceased, seven drivers licences, an unopened Ribena drink, two sunshades, two used syringes, eight wrist watches, four stamps from different banks, one chain and padlock, one international passport bearing the deceased name and over thirty complimentary cards, over fifty used and unused SIM cards of various networks and an Identity card bearing Sunday Briggs which they said, were recovered from the suspects.

The undergraduates, Nwabufo Okwumo, 33, and Odera Ezekiel, 23, discovered to be cousins, claimed their intention

SUSPECTS—Back view of the suspects paraded yesterday. was never to kill the 25 year-old post graduate student of Nasarawa State University but to collect her money and jewelries.

One of the suspects, Nwabufo, a 300 level Accounting student of the University of Lagos, admitted to have been chatting with the deceased on the blackberry for sometime. In the process, she revealed her true background including the fact that she owned a boutique. But unknown to her, Nwabufo who hails from Nnewi, Anambra State had a sinister motive.

Along the line, the de-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Are you thinking?

You are a creation of your thinking, it is what you think about yourself today that you will become tomorrow. Keep thinking…

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I feel keeping a promise to yourself is a direct reflection of the love you have for yourself. I used to make promises to myself and find them easy to break. Today, I love myself enough to not only make a promise to myself, but I love myself enough to keep that promise- Steve Maraboli-

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.JOYBELL sums it beautifully in her writings: “The person in life that you will always be with the most, is yourself. Because even when you are with others, you are still with yourself, too! When you wake up in the morning, you are with yourself; laying in bed at night you are with yourself, walking down the street in the sunlight you are with yourself. What kind of person do you want to walk down the street with? What kind of person do you want to wake up in the morning with? What kind of person do you want to see at the end of the day before you fall asleep? Because that person is yourself, and it’s your responsibility to be that person you want to be with. I know I want to spend my life with a person who knows how to let things go, who’s not full of dislikes, who’s able to smile and be carefree. So that’s who I have to be.”

ceased, according to him, informed him that she was coming to Lagos to buy wigs and attachments for her saloon.

The suspect then paid for the air ticket.

How the deed was done Vanguard gathered that the deceased arrived Lagos on July 21, 2012, and she was picked at the Murtala Mohammed Airport by Nwabufo and driven straight to a hotel called Casmilla on 6th Avenue, Festac town where Nwabufor had earlier made reservation with a fictitious name.

Inside the hotel, Nwabufo reportedly offered a bottle of Moet to Cynthia which she reportedly declined on the ground that she does not take alcohol. The suspect thereafter, asked her to take a Ribena drink from the fridge.

But unknown to her, the three packets of Ribena had been drugged. He confessed that she took three; one in the afternoon, another in the evening and the third, the next morning.

Next day, she reportedly became tipsy. Even at that state, it was reliably gathered that Cynthia did not allow Nwabufo to sleep with her the previous night.

It was learnt that in the morning, the second suspect, Odera came in.

At that point, Cynthia who apparently had started feeling the effect of the drugs asked who

the visitor was. Rather than getting an answer, she was reportedly pinned down by Nwabufo, with her hands and legs tied. At that state, Nwabufo allegedly raped her twice.

His cousin, Odera reportedly took over and used a sex vibrator on her.

I did not mean to kill her But in his confessional statement, Nwabufo who was dressed in an ashcoloured suit, said his intention was never to kill her. He admitted however, that Cynthia was not his first victim, disclosing that all he did was to propose to them through blackberry and later invite them to the hotel,where he drugged and dispossessed them of cash and other valuables.

According to him: “It was a mistake, I never meant to kill her. I invited her from Abuja as my friend on July 21. I was trying to dislodge her by tying her hands and I hit her in the process. I tied her because I did not want her to know I was escaping from the hotel. We had a mutual agreement for her to come over. I met her from BB (blackberry) group chat. She came to buy some things for her boutique in Abuja. We had a disagreement. I did not rape her. It was the devil’s handwork. I wanted to run because I knew I had committed a serious offence against

her. I thought she had money on her that I can collect. So in the process, I tied her with cellotape to make her not to shout.

I was not the only person, it was I and my cousin, Odera that did it. We tied her together and beat her together.

Yes, I invited her and in the process we felt like robbing her of all she had. The condom the police saw on me is what I used personally. I used it on her based on the sex toy with her. She came with a vibrator sex toy, so I inserted the condom on the sex toy and later dropped it there. I did not make love to her.

If they test the condom forensically, it will prove that I did not use it on her. I drugged her with RAFINOL through Ribena drink. I bought three packets of Ribena and when she took it, she became weak. It was my cousin that drugged the drink, he used a syringe and administered ten tablets of it inside the drink. This is the first time someone died in the process. I have done this say like, four times before now but none of the girls died. Whenever they take the drink, I will sleep with them and they will just lose memory of all that transpired. Usually, I use hotels in Festac. I have used Opera mini Hotel, Benny, Chelsea and Concilia. I feel bad because I did not bargain for this - to kill her in the first instance. It is just unfortunate and it was an accident,”he stated.

His alleged partner in the crime, Odera Ezekiel, said: “ I am also an Accounting student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The morning it happened, my brother called me to come to the hotel to help him bind the girl so that he can dispossess her of her belongings. My mis-

sion at the hotel was to come and help him bind the girl. In the process of trying to bind the girl, she put up struggle and we assaulted her and in the process, she passed out. I did not hit her with any hard object and we didn't have any weapon with us. My brother only told me he wanted to take her money. I have not done it before. He asked me to buy the drink for him".

How they were arrested Vanguard gathered that after the evil deed was done, Odera left the Continues on Page 13

INSIDE Osokogu: Perils of social media —Editorial

Pg.18

www dot facebook @ danger dot be careful —P.47

Mr & Mrs

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Influx of terrorists: FG orders Air Force to patrol air border

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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B U J A — FOLLOWING intelligence reports that many of the gunmen and foot soldiers used by Boko Haram sect to carry out bomb attacks in the country are recruited from neighbouring countries, the Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately take over the patrol of the nation’s Air Border Patrols of the borders.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar who made the disclosure yesterday at the opening of a two-day retreat for Commanders and Directors of NAF formations in Abuja, noted that government was not satisfied with the performance of the former agency charged with the responsibility, after assessment, hence it directed the NAF to assume the responsibility.

It will be recalled that the task of patrolling the

nation’s vast territorial borders were given to the Nigeria Customs Service, but with the challenges of the Boko Haram sect whose membersinclude mercenaries from neighbouring West African countries, who sneak in through the borders, government is keen to checkmate the influx.

Air Marshal Umar said, “We are absolutely ready to carry out any task the nation wants us to do. All we require is the directive and the assets to perform our functions.

Government has assessed the efficiency of the agency handling it. But it found out that another agency will be more suited.

It has found the NAF more suitable for the job and has assigned us the additional responsibility”.

“Though government has not transferred the assets of the Air Border Patrol to us, we are nonetheless gearing up with our platforms and going ahead to prepare for the tasks until the assets get to us”, he said.

SIGNING OF PERFORMANCE DOCUMENT—President Goodluck Jonathan (right), flanked by Water Resources Minister, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; Women Affairs Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina and Education Minister, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufai during the signing of performance agreement and contracting system document at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Media cannot assess my govt objectively —Jonathan zAs President signs performance contract with ministers

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan

Subsidy scam: Capital Oil, 3 others to account for N11bn

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

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BUJA—CAPITAL Oil and Gas Industry Ltd, owned by Mr. Ifeanyi Uba and three other companies are to account for a whooping N11. 4 billion for subsidy payments received without evidence of fuel supply.

The four companies are on the list of indicted oil marketing companies that have been recommended for criminal investigation by the Aig Imoukhuede Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments. There are now 25 companies in that category.

The Federal Government had earlier published the list of 21 other companies to face criminal investigations.

Apart from Capital Oil, the three others are Alminnur Resources Ltd, Brilla Energy Ltd, as well as, Caades Oil and Gas Ltd. Some of the companies claimed payments for consignments brought in by ships which investigations

revealed were either nonexistent or were somewhere else according to the Imoukhuede committee report.

An extract from the report detailing the cases against the alleged fraudulent oil marketing firms showed that some of the oil companies collected several billions of naira from the Federal Government without evidence of fuel importation.

Specifically, Alminnur Resources Ltd got subsidy payments for which mother vessels were no longer operational at the time of trans-shipment and no shipping documents. It has been asked to account for N 504,329,535.27.

It also received another N546, 700, 899.36 as subsidy payments for which mother vessels were no longer operational at the time of trans-shipment and no shipping documents.

Brilla Energy Ltd received N 963,796,199.85 as subsidy payment for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed at the time of transshipment.

CAADES Oil and Gas Ltd with no evidence of sales

proceeds in banks is to account for N487,799,826.80 Capital Oil and Gas received the highest payments totaling N8, 898,180, 238.91 without evidence of supply of the fuel for which it was paid.

Its indictment was based on four separate payments as follows: Subsidy payments without proof of existence of the mother vessel bill of lading or daughter vessel bill of lading, 984,440,711.38; subsidy payments for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed at the time of transshipment, 1,480,444,043.58; Subsidy payments for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed at the time of transshipment, 1,832,280,164.36.

The company also received subsidy payments totaling, 2,110,438,332.44 for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed at the time of transshipment, as well as, subsidy payments for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed at the time of transshipment, 2,490,576,987.15

yesterday emphasised that the Performance Contract Agreement he signed with his cabinet ministers was not to witch-hunt any of them, but to set targets and measure performances.

According to the President, government could no longer rely on the performance assessments of its activities by the media because according to him, the media has been politicised.

To improve performance and service quality According to the president, the Performance Contracting System was geared towards improving performance and delivering quality and timely services to the citizens, adding that the agreement would also improve productivity and instill a greater sense of accountability for effective service delivery.

He stated: “I read all kinds of things in the media that the President wants to assess the ministers, so that he would know who should go and who would stay.

That is not the purpose of this.

“We would have done it probably the first week when we came on board but the key thing is that we have given ourselves points that we think we will get at.

We believe that if we get at those points or even if we achieve 70 per cent of that, at least it will be better off for our own country. I am

quite pleased that all the Ministers have completed the forms.

Not to witch-hunt anybody “I want to assure every one of you who has taken part in the exercise that this is not meant to witch-hunt anybody.

“It is to remind all of us, from President to Directors General, to Advisers and other aides, that we are representatives of the Nigerian people, and we are accountable to them at all times.

“I had stated clearly during the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council that Ministers are expected to be accountable, productive, transparent and focused.”

Speaking on the role of the media, the president said: “Before, the media used to be the voice of the ordinary people but now, the media is the voice of those who own the media houses and those who own the media houses have private jets and those who own private jets are not ordinary people.

Lampoons media owners “So the media is now the voice of the powerful people. So, we have to have a way of assessing ourselves.”

President Jonathan emphasised that his office and that of the Vice President should also

captured the assessment processes, adding that there should be parameters to be used in measuring performances.

He enjoined ministers and ministers of state to be conversant with activities of their ministries to reduce areas of friction.

‘The Minister must know everything happening in the ministry, just like the Permanent Secretary, will know everything happening in the ministry.

‘If Minister A does not now what Minister B is doing and Minister B does not know what Minister Ais doing, but the PermanentSecretary knows everything that all of you are doing, the Permanent Secretary becomes a boss of the two ministers and the Permanent Secretary can use your heads to hit yourselves and just laugh at you.

‘I expect that if the main minister travels and I need information, I should call the Minister of State and that Minister of State must give the information about that ministry.

“If the Minister of State cannot give the information about that ministry, then something is fundamentally wrong either from two of them or from one of them.

“If the minister of state travels in a ministry where we have clear responsibilities, I called the main minister, to give me information, I expect the minister to give me information on that ministry,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—7

Northern economy collapsing, Northern Govs cry out zSay insecurity, threat to National unity

BY HENRY UMORU B U J A — GOVERNORS of the 19 Northern states yesterday cried out that the economy of the region was collapsing following the spate of insecurity, just as they stressed that the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR from the zone was now too poor.

The governors have also warned that the North would continue to witness disintegration following incessant ethnic and religious differences if issues relating to religious extremism, intolerance and mutual respect were not tackled by the leaders and people of the region.

Also, as part of moves to tackle the incessant killings and wanton destruction of property occasioned by activities of members of the Boko Haram sect, the governors under the aegis, Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, yesterday inaugurated a committee on reconciliation, healing and security.

Inaugurating the 40member committee made up of traditional rulers, retired military officers, academics, businessmen and former public officers, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, stressed that the recurring insecurity challenges in the North and around the country posed serious threat to national stability, unity and development.

He, however, called on members of the committee to look at reports and other white papers such as; reports of the Wammakoled Northern Governors’ Committee on security; report of Northern States Attorneys-General; Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, report on post-election violence probe; Galtimari report on security challenges in North Eastern Nigeria; and General Abdusalami Abubakar and Maitama Sule report, among others to guide them in their work.

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Inaugurate 40-man committee The 40-man committee which is headed by Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim with Nde Joshua Dimlong (Ngolong Ngas) as Deputy and Iliya Ithuve and Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi as Secretary and Deputy Secretary respectively, is particularly charged to C M Y K

ensure that peace and development in the North was not compromised.

Aliyu who noted that “poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness and violence were manifestations of the rejection of the core values of honesty, equity, fairness and justice in the Nigerian society”, told members of the committee to synthesise every report, white paper, communiqué of conferences or commissions of enquiry into the insecurity situation in the nation, particularly in the

northern states, with a view to giving them actionable and practicable proposals that would help tackle issues at the family, ward, local government, state levels and National levels.

Committee on PIB Also yesterday, the NSGF set up a committee to look at the draft Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, currently at the National Assembly and to ascertain how it affects the northern states.

The committee was also given 90 days to submit its

report to the NSGF .

The terms of reference given to the committee include; to liaise with stakeholders in Northern States, particularly the affected states, and get to the root of the security challenges and proffer solutions; dialogue with any identified groups with a view to negotiating the way out of the menace; liaise with the Federal Government and deliberate on the best approach to resolving the security challenges.

Others were that members of the committee should

work out modalities for reconciling warring parties/ communities in the North; organize meetings and have interactive sessions with stakeholders across the states; engage experts from the society for peace studies and practice, SPSP, West African Network on Peace building, WANEP, and other relevant organizations for further discussion and strategic inputs; recommend mechanisms for peace building and entrenchment of enduring democratic values at the ward, local

LAGOSIANS RETURN TO WORK AFTER HOLIDAYS—Cele Bus stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Express way witnessed a large turn out of commuters yesterday after the Eid-el-Fitri holidays. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Stop distracting Jonathan, Gulak warns Obasanjo zAs Obasanjo denies anointing anybody for 2015

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of insinuations in political circles that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed Governors Sule Lamido and Rotimi Amaechi of Jigawa and Rivers states respectively as President and Vice President in 2015 elections, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Mr. Ahmed Gulak yesterday warned the former president to desist from dabbling into the political future of President Goodluck Jonathan but to join hand with him in delivering his electoral promises to Nigerians.

Obasanjo has, however,

denied working towards installing anyone in the next polls, saying he has been pre-occupied with more pressing national issues such as security, poverty, malaria, polio and infant and maternal mortality, to have time for politics.

Governor Amaechi had also denied he was running with Lamido, while some northern groups had received the news of Lamido’s choice with jubilation.

Gulak, who handed down the warning in an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja, asked Obasanjo to stop distracting the president by unnecessarily stirring the

political waters.

The 27 Local Government Areas in Jigawa State are reported to have burst into dancing and singing when the news of the governor’s consideration for the nation’s top job, filtered into Dutse, the state capital on Monday.

Jonathan’s political adviser, who was apparently irked by the development, said it was unfortunate for the former President to be involved in the alleged endorsement of the two serving governors, when there was a sitting President and leader of the party.

Gulak said, “If it is true that Obasanjo is fronting Lamido and Amaechi for

2015, I assume it is not true, I would say that he has his own right. But the question is in what capacity would he do that?

“Is it as the father of the nation or the President of Nigeria or what? First, Obasanjo is not the president of Nigeria and secondly, although he is one of our leaders, nobody has arrogated the monopoly of anointing candidates to him.

“Having said that, if it is true that Obasanjo has done what has been credited to him, then it is safe to say that he is not fair to this country and I believe that what this country needs to do is to deliver on the promises made to the electorate in 2011".

government and state level; and design mechanisms to address youth restiveness and unemployment in the region.

According to the Forum Chairman, "the decision to constitute this high powered committee of eminent Nigerians of Northern states was borne out of the deep concern of the forum over recurring incidents of violence and wanton destruction of lives and property, which have almost crippled the economy of the northern states and paralyzed sociopolitical activities to the detriment of our development and national pride.

"The inauguration of this committee is consistent with the commitment of the Forum to the general welfare of the people, who have given us their mandate to serve them.

Undoubtedly, the primary and fundamental responsibility of leaders is the security and welfare of the people which to us in the forum is sacrosanct.

Hence, our focus has remained the promotion of the peace, unity and progress of all the Northern States within the wider national interest of Nigeria.

"We therefore expect this committee to synthesise every previous report, white papers, communiqué of conferences or commissions of enquiry into the insecurity situation in our nation, particularly in the Northern states, with a view to giving us actionable proposals for tackling the issues at the family, ward, local government, state and national levels.”

On the PIB, he said, “we have set up a committee to look at the draft PIB to know how it will affect the northern states.”

Other members of the committee are Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, Prof. Tijjani el-Miskin, AIG Hamisu Ali Jos (rtd), HRH Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, AVM Mukhtar Mohammed, Gen Martin Luther Agwai, HRH Nde Joshua Y. Dimlong, Sheikh Ahmad Lemu and Mrs Aisha Oyebode, among others.

Governors present at the meeting were those of Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa and Kaduna as well as well as Deputy governors of Benue and Adamawa.

8— Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Briefly

Traders, farmers seek funding

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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AGOS—DISABLED persons under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Disabled Traders and Farmers, NANDTF, have called on organised private sector, OPS, financial institutions and government agencies to assist them with funds to support their empowerment programmes for their members.

Making the appeal, yesterday, at the association’s first business/economic roundtable in Lagos, the National Coordinator, Mr. Ojo Akande, said they had taken the initiative to cater for the needs of their members to ensure that they do not constitute nuisance to the public.

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & DAUD OLATUNJI

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AGOS—NO fewer than seven people were killed in two accidents in Lagos and Ogun states.

In Lagos, two unidentified persons died instantly on Moshood Abiola Road (Ikorodu Road) when a Lagos Bus Service, LAGBUS, vehicle rammed into a Sports Utility Van they were in.

7 die in Lagos, Ogun auto crashes Five persons were also feared dead in multiple accidents in the early hours of yesterday near the Police Divisional Headquarters in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Lagos incident, which occurred about 5.30 p.m. in the Majidun area on Ikorodu-Mile 12 Road,

resulted into a gridlock as motorists and passersby rushed to the scene to see the victims.

It was gathered that the LAGBUS apparently developed a brake failure and ran into the SUV, killing the unidentified male occupants instantly.

5 dead in Ogun

According to an eye witness, the Ogun accident which occurred about 5am involved an 18-seater passenger bus, with numberplate -Lagos XR 822 KSF and two tipper lorries with number-plates Ogun AE 249 DED and Lagos XR 969 BDG. The eyewitness told Vanguard that the driver

Creative Writing workshop ends

...as Amosun launches 77 BMT buses

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AGOS—THE fourth edition of the Nigerian Breweries-sponsored Farafina Trust Creative Writers Workshop which began August 14 ends tomorrow.

The annual workshop, which featured 22 participants selected from 987 persons who applied for the workshop this year, would be ending with a literary workshop at the Grand Ball Room,Eko Hotel and Suites.

Farafina Trust, organisers of the four-year-old workshop, said top on the bill of performers at the event is the elegant stallion Onyeka Onwenu.

Facilitators for the workshop included Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria’s celebrated international writer.

From left, Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Director, Research, Nigeria Institute of Advance Legal Studies, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye; Chairperson, HDI Board of Trustees, Prof. Sarah Oloko, and (back roll) Justice Wale Abiru of Lagos High Court, at the commissioning of Human Development Initiatives new office building on Iwaya Road, Onike, Yaba, Lagos, Tuesday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Fresh electric spark stops Obafunwa's testimony at Dana Coroner's inquest

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—AN electric spark at the Magistrate's Court, venue of the ongoing coroner court, yesterday, prevented a renowned pathologist, Professor John Obafunwa, from given

further testimony on the Deoxi-ribonucleic Acid, DNA, test carried out on victims of Dana Air crash before the ongoing coroner’s into the Dana Air Crash of June 3.

The coroner judge, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, the counsel appearing for the inquest, some of the relatives and witness

Judge lifts order on NAICOM

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS—JUSTICE Pat Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, discharged her earlier order restraining the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, from going ahead with plans to sack the current management of Alliance and General Insurance Plc,A&G. The judge, who said the court had made the re-

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of one of the tipper lorries was driving recklessly thereby ramming into the passenger bus, loaded with vegetables and other farm produce.

The other tipper lorry was also said to have rammed into the accidented vehicles after developing a brake failure too.

The victims and the wrecked vehicles were towed to the Ifo Divisional Police Station.

The unit commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Itori Unit, Fatai Bakare, who confirmed the accident, told newsmen that five vehicles were involved in the crash.

Bakare, however, said only one person died on the spot due to injuries, while four others were seriously injured and were receiving treatment at a nearby clinic.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, also confirmed the accident.

straining order in error, had in a ruling on an exparte motion filed by Alliance and General Insurance, restrained NAICOM from implementing a directive which suspended the insurance firm from carrying out insurance business in Nigeria for the next six months with effect from August 6, 2012.

Justice Ajoku had made the order after the argument canvassed by lawyer to A&G, Ayodele

Akintunde.

The court specifically barred NAICOM from either sacking the management of the plaintiff company or appointing new directors to assume control and management of the company.

However, the table turned against the company, yesterday, as the court vacated the orders saying they were made in error as A&G failed to comply with some mandatory procedure before procuring the orders.

had arrived the venue but were directed to take their leave when the smoke from an electric spark became intense.

The proceedings were finally suspended as smell of burning wires pervaded the court room.

Efforts by technicians to rectify the fault for proceedings to continue proved abortive, which forced the magistrate to adjourn the sitting till a later date.

Prof.

Obafunwa, alongside the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, were expected to make fresh appearances before the Coroner to shed more light on evidence they gave earlier.

It will be recalled that a similar incident occurred on Monday, August 6 when the inquest was brought to an abrupt stop due to an

electrical fault that caused smoke in the court room.

Meantime, anxiety has gripped commercial drivers in Abeokuta, as Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, launches 77 buses under the new scheme, Bus Mass Transit.

The gesture has also divided National Union of Road Transport Workers ,NURTW, in the state following the plan by Amosun to storm some of the garages with the BMT buses.

Kuramo Beach: Victims demand pay out

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—TRADERS from the shut Kuramo Beach under the aegis of Kuramo Tourism Investors Association, yesterday, demanded relocation and compensation from the Lagos State Government, to ease the loss they suffered from the ocean surge and demolition of their shanties.

It would be recalled that the state government pulled down the remaining structures at the beach on Sunday and barricaded the area.

Secretary of the association, Mr. Micheal Onuwaje, told Vanguard

prior to their meeting with the Chairman of Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, said these were some of their demands, to be forwarded to the council boss for onward delivery to Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Vanguard gathered that the meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m, yesterday, at the Council Secretariat, Victoria Island.

Onuwaje noted that a larger percentage of the displaced traders had spent their productive life in the community and would need relocation by the government to ease the losses they suffered from the entire exercise.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—9

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—CHRIS TIAN Association of Nigeria, CAN, President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, attacked the Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Nurudeen, for saying Nigeria is the most Christian-populated Islamic nation in the world.

While describing the sect as a bunch of cowardswho have sympathy among top security personnel for their unGodly activities, he slammed the minister, saying the statement was worrisome and that it was wrong for him to have called Nigeria an Islamic nation.

No basis for dialogue Oritsejafor explained that there had never been a census where the figure of Muslims and Christians were stated in the country.

He declared that there was no basis for government to dialogue with the faceless group which had been terrorising the nation in a desperate bid to

Oritsejafor blasts Boko Haram, Minister ...says Nigeria is not an Islamic nation ...accuses some security chiefs of sabotage make it an Islamic nation.

Pastor Oritsejafor spoke with newsmen in Akure after an Extra-ordinary Council Meeting of the National Executive Council of CAN. He said: ''The Boko Haram people are a bunch of cowards, who go to churches to shoot people that are not armed.

If they think they are strong, they should go to places where the people they are going to attack are also armed.

“They should go and face people that are armed, not unarmed people. They are a bunch of cowards, who kill innocent people that are not armed.''

The CAN President, who read political undertone to the insecurity in the country, argued that top security chiefs are religious fanatics, who aided and abetted youths

to kill innocent people under the guise of religion.

Upbraids security chiefs He alleged that some security chiefs leaked security information to the Islamic sect hence the difficulty in tracking and curtailing its activities.

“I do not understand what they would be talking about. What are they going to discuss? It is puzzling. I see a total religious fundamentalism in the whole episode. If there should be a dialogue, there should be a basis.

“If you are talking of dialogue and the same sect

of people are killing innocent souls, so what is the basis? To me, there is no basis for dialogue.

The security chiefs, according to him, ”are more loyal to their Islamic religion than the corporate existence of Nigeria.''

Asks minister to apologise On the proposed dialogue with the sect, Pastor Oritsejafor declared that while he is not opposed to dialogue to solve issues, he argued that dialogue with the religious fanatics was out of it as they had not pretended about their agenda to Islamise the

country.

The clergyman expressed disappointment over the minister's statement, saying he should explain to Nigerians the source of his information or be sanctioned.

Oritsejafor, however, suggested a military solution to the activities of the Boko Haram sect, stressing the need for all the security agencies to exchange information on security threats.

He regretted that the nation's security agencies rather than see themselves as complementing each other, see themselves as competitors.

A

KURE—THE candi date of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was, yesterday, accused of surreptitiously trying to raise funds for his campaign activities through the phantom offer of 30,000 jobs.

The Mimiko Campaign Organisation which made this assertion, described Akeredolu‘s offer of 30,000 jobs within the first 100 days in office, if elected, as not only a sweeping statement, but a Greek gift meant to raise funds for his campaign from unsuspecting people of the state who are now being asked to collect registration forms at the rate of N1,000 each.

Reacting, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, ACO, through its Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, described the allegation by the Labour Party, LP, as not only untrue, one that only exists

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in the figment of the party’s imagination.

Ajanaku said: “Akeredolu does not need to collect N1,000 from the already-impoverished youths of Ondo State under the Mimiko government, because he has received support from Ondo State indigines worldwide.

“Moreso all the leaders of ACN are solidly behind him, he does not need to raise fund for his campaign using dubious means.

“The Mimiko-led administration lacks ideas and have no capacity to comprehend how ACN will make true its promises. We have always said that job provisions is not rock science and we will put smiles on the faces of the people of Ondo State.

The Mimiko Campaign Organisation, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, had lashed at Akeredolu for playing to the gallery and for attempting to hoodwink the people of the state over what he knew was mere puff and invitation to threat.

Bishops want economic saboteurs sanctioned

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI— CATHOLIC Bishops have asked President Goodluck Jonathan to be firm and prosecute those who have pillaged the nation’s economy.

The bishops from Ibadan Province of the Church, also called on the Federal Government to tackle insecurity with all seriousness In a statement by its President and Secretary, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job and Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye respectively, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, said those involved in the milking of our economy dried should be made to answer their past misdeed. The clerics accused the Federal Government of shielding some powerful people in the country from prosecution over corruption charges.

Monarch charges Akeredolu

Mimiko, Akeredolu bicker over 30,000 job plan

BY DAYO JOHNSON & DAPO AKINREFON

Briefly

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From left, Chief Medical Director, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Patrick Adegun; Founder, Ekiti Development Foundation and wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and Commissioner for Health, Professor Olusola Fasubaa, during the donation of equipment to the hospital by Canadabased Casa Foundation for International Development, which EDF facilitated, yesterday.

Osun govt takes over Ijesa chief's prosecution

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—OSUN State Government has taken over the prosecution of Chief Matthew Ogedengbe, second-incommand to Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, who is standing trial on a three-count charge of stealing, breach of peace and unlawful destruction of property before a Magistrate's Court in Ilesa.

At the resumed hearing of the case, yesterday, a

Senior State counsel, Mr. Ayoola Babalola, told the court that the Ministry of Justice would henceforth take over the prosecution

and directed the police prosecutor, Jimoh Mufutau, to handover all the necessary documents to the ministry.

KURE—GOVER NORSHIP candidate for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, was, yesterday, charged by Onidogun of Idogun in the Ose Local Government Area, Oba Moses Bakare, not to forget the town, if elected, arguing that it had been neglected by past administrations in the state.

Responding, Akeredolu stressed on the need for the state to be fully industrialised before 2015; harnessing the potentials of the youths through empowerment and skill acquisition and empowerment of the women through low interest loans.

He also promised to complete the IdogunImeri bridge.

Olugbo reinstates Ilaje monarch

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KURE—OLUGBO of Ugbo Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, has reinstated the Baale of Awoye, an oil-rich community in the Ilaje area of the state.

A crowd, yesterday, witnessed the return of Chief Mathias Omomowo at a

ceremony at the Olugbo Palace.

Oba Obateru Akinruntan, who performed the ceremony, lauded the community for their loyalty to the throne.

He said the state government created the environment for develop-

ment and peace in the state and appealed for peace in Ilaje during the governorship campaign and election on October 20.

Chief Omomowo pledged his community’s unalloyed support and loyalty to the throne.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Benue govt drags Okupe to EFCC zI handed over the case to Suswam, says Akume

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI— BENUE State Government has dragged Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, on Public Affairs, before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the recovery of over N635.7 million owed the state government for contract not executed.

Benue State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Benjamin Ashaver, told journalists in Makurdi, yesterday, that necessary petitions had been sent to the anti-graft agency. He said the move became necessary to help the state recover the funds.

It will be recalled that Governor Gabriel Suswam, weekend, had hinted that he was not properly briefed on the matter by his predecessor, former Governor George Akume, hence his inability to dabble into the issue. He said this left him in the dark as to what actually transpired at the time.

However, the Commis-

sioner for Works and Transport, yesterday, insisted that the current administration was now bent on recovering the balance of N635.7 million from the failed contract.

Ashaver said: “Due to non-performance, the contractor have been reported to EFCC for the recovery of balance on the advance payment of N635.7 million due to Benue State Government.”

Contract

Ashaver explained that Akume awarded the contract to Okupe’s company, Value Trust Investment Limited for the construction of 230-kilometer rural roads on April 21, 2004 at N2.3 billion.

He said: “The government at that time made a 30 percent advance payment of N691 million to the contractor to commence work and by July 17, 2006, the total amount paid to the contractor stood at N886.8 million.”

He said although the project was expected to be completed within 18 months from the date of award, the contractor failed to meet the target, adding that the volume of work done was later valued at N195.7 million before the contractor abandoned the site.

zOkupe must go— ACN

state government were duly handed-over by his boss to the current governor.

She said: “If there were no hand-over notes, how then did he start running the government at that time?”

Akume speaks

But former Governor of Benue State and Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, has insisted that he presented a formal hand over note to Governor Suswam contrary to the claims of his successor.

Senator Akume’s reaction is coming against the backdrop of claims by his successor, weekend, that he received no hand-over note from the immediate past governor to assist him recover over N600 million owed the state by Value Trust Investment Ltd. for a failed contract.

Special Assistant to Senate Minority leader, Mrs. Becky Orpin, who spoke with journalists in a telephone conversation, yesterday, claimed that all the liabilities and assets of the

ACN reacts

Meanwhile, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has again asked President Goodluck Jonathan to im-

mediately sack Dr. Doyin Okupe as his aide, especially in the wake of the disclosure by Benue State Government that Value Trust Investments Limited owed it N635.7 million.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Presidency will only further hurt its im-

age if Okupe remains in his position as the President’s spokesman as more damaging revelations will soon follow.

What the Presidency and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, must appreciate, according to ACN, is the fact that the appointment of a Presidential aide is a projection of the President’s purpose, personal philosophy and sense of direction.

3 docked over 25-yr-old man's kidneys' removal

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—POLICE in Bauchi State have arraigned three suspects before a Magistrate Court in the state for allegedly removing the two kidneys of 25-year-old Abubakar Buba.

Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Amos Ukpe, told the court that the suspects, Mijinyawa Abdulkadir, Abdullahi Yusuf and Mo-

hammed Zangina were charged with conspiracy, attempt to commit culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt and impersonation, contrary to Section 132 of the Penal code.

Ukpe told the court: “One Buba Ahmadu reported to the Police that his son, Abubakar from Bununu in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, felt sick and went for medical treatment in a private clinic owned by one Mijinyawa Abdulkadir, who is a Nurse by profession.

“At the clinic, one Aminchi introduced himself as a doctor of the said hospital and recommended Abubakar for scanning at Almanzoor scanning centre. Aminchi, with Yusuf Zangina conducted an illegal appendix

surgery, which led to the removal of the two kidneys of Abubakar, who is now critically ill at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

“The patient, Abubakar, is currently undergoing dialysis treatment contrary to Sections 96, 132 and 229 of the Penal Code.”

In his ruling, the trial magistrate, Mr. Isa Mohammed, granted bail to the accused on the ground of his illness in the sum of N2 million with two sureties each in like sum.

He added that one of the sureties must be resident within the court's jurisdiction and own a landed property worth N10 million within the court's jurisdiction and verifiable.

Reps assures on Food & Tech Bill

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday, assured members of Nigeria Institute of Food and Technology, NIFST, that the House will engage the Presidency on why the Food and Technology Bill was being delayed.

Ihedioha spoke when top members of the institute

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paid him a courtesy visit.

He said: “The bill will be pursued with all vigour and we will ensure it sails through because its importance cannot be overemphasised.”

Ihedioha, a Food and Science Technologist, added: “We will engage the executive appropriately and find out whether there is any misunderstanding and get the necessary explanation that will facilitate passing of the bill into law.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—11

Bayelsa guber poll: Court fixes Aug 27 for hearing on CAP’s appeal

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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BRIEFING: Msgr. Buchi Aninye, Chairman, Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board (right) and Mr. Peter Aromanor, Executive Secretary of the Board, during a press briefing, in Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake.

NUPENG strike: Group calls for dialogue

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT—NATIONAL Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has been urged to seek other means besides strike in the resolution of disputes.

President Association for Non-Violence in the Niger Delta, Mr Kennedy West, made the appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, noting that the union should evolve a human friendly approach to press for attention.

The group condemned NUPENG President, Mr. Igwe Achese, for threatening to call out members on an industrial action without exhausting other peaceful means to address whatever grouse they may have against government over subsidy related matters.

The association warned the oil workers not to

overheat the polity, noting that President of NUPENG was too much in a hurry with his threat to embark on strike.

West also enjoined Northern leaders to take practical steps to tackle the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

He said: “Northern elders should act to ad-

dress the security situation in the north. They have to be seen making genuine effort to assist the Federal Government achieve peace in the North. The Niger Delta elders did same when their region had security challenges.”

He urged Northern politicians to exercise restraint in their attack on

Impeachment threat against Jonathan unholy —Aginighan

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — FORMER Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, has described as unholy, the impeachment threat against President Goodluck Jonathan by the House of Representatives over the implementation of the 2012 budget.

Aginighan, in a statement, said the impeachment threat underscored the need for capacity building for legislators in the country.

He said: “The Nigerian press had been awash with unrefuted reports of a motion moved in the House of Representatives, threatening impeachment proceedings against Mr. President if the 2012 Appropriation Act was not

Police rescue robbery suspect from mob attack generation banks at Am- and escaped into the

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA— MEN of Bayelsa Police special security outfit Operation Doo Akpo, yesterday, saved a robbery suspect from being lynched by an angry mob on Mgbi Road in Amarata suburb of Yenagoa.

The suspect, in company of another now at large, was said to have robbed a woman coming out from one of the new

the Federal Government, stressing that some of their statements could provoke unhealthy reactions from other sections of the country.

Mr. West said what was needed now was a concerted effort by Northern leaders in synergy with the Federal Government to resolve the challenges in the region.

arata of her cash at gunpoint and fled in a get away motorcycle.

The hoodlums, it was learnt, were given a hot chase by other angry Okada riders.

Luck, however, ran out on the two men when the angry Okada riders blocked them in front of the Melford Okilo General Hospital.

While one of the suspects was apprehended and given the beating of his life, the other jumped over the hospital fence

bush.

The prompt intervention of a police patrol team that was on surveillance in the area, prevented the angry mob from setting the suspect ablaze.

But the motorcycle with which the robbery suspects operated was not spared as it was torched.

Said a policeman attached to one of the patrol teams: “When we rushed to the scene, we discovered that they had beaten the suspect to stupor and were about pouring petrol on him."

implemented up to 100 per cent by September 2012 when the House resumes from recess.

“Ordinarily, a motion in any of the chambers of the National Assembly demanding proper implementation of the national budget by the executive is in the best interest of Nigerians and should be applauded.

“However, a motion threatening impeachment against the President for not achieving 100 per cent implementation of the budget by September raises fundamental questions on the quality of representation offered Nigerians. It also underscores the need for capacity building for legislators in our country.

“It is common knowledge that Nigeria’s budget is based on revenue, which is generated mainly from daily earnings from crude oil for 12 months from January to December. As at September, revenues for three months of the year, October, November and December would not have been earned. At best revenue performance would have been 75 percent."

ENAGOA—THE Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will on August 27, commence hearing in the appeal by Change Advocacy Party, CAP, over the July 11 verdict of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Yenagoa, which declared Mr. Seriake Dickson governor of Bayelsa State.

CAP and its governorship candidate, Dr. Imoro Kubor, appealed against the tribunal's ruling.

The tribunal had on July 11, summarily dismissed the petition by the petitioners and held that Dickson was qualified to contest the February 11, gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Kubor and CAP appealed against same.

The lower tribunal had explained that the tribunal was compelled to dismiss the petition because the application was presumed lack of merit as Exhibit “N” which was tendered by the petitioners was a Federal High Court document.

Police in Delta hunt for abandoned baby's mother

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LT A State Police Command, said, yesterday, that its men were currently on the trail of a teenage mother who reportedly dumped her new born baby girl in a church at Ibusa, a fortnight ago.

Police authorities confirmed to our reporter that the baby is in safe custody at a motherless babies' home in Asaba, adding that the mother would be arrested once she was fished out.

An unidentified teenage mother was said to have dumped the baby at

Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church Ibusa, leaving a note neatly tucked into the napkin fastened to the child, urging the priest to look after the baby.

Speaking to our reporter in Asaba, yesterday, the state police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, said: “The baby girl has been taken to the Catholic motherless babies' home here in Asaba, after the appropriate documentations had been officially made. That notwithstanding, we (police) are looking for the mother and once we identify and fish her out, she will be arrested.”

Asiodu tasks Oshiomhole on nation building, integration

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—ELDER statesman, Chief Philip Asiodu, has called on Edo State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to devote more of his time to nation building and integration as one of the leaders of the country.

Chief Asiodu, a former Super Permanent Secretary in the Gen. Yakubu Gowon's government and former Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, gave the charge in a congratulatory letter to the governor on his re-election.

He said: “Most people agree that you deserve the landslide majority with which you won the election as they are all witnesses to the clearly visible transformation in Benin City and other parts

of Edo State. They have also seen the energy and dynamism with which you served the state as governor. It is also reassuring from the national point of view and the future of democratic elections in our country that you won three quarters of the votes cast in an open, transparent, and orderly election.

“We join the great majority of Nigerians in sending you the best wishes for greater successes in moving Edo State forward and creating an example of good governance.

"As one of the leaders of Nigeria, I hope you will also devote great attention now in helping to bring about a revolutionary change in the nation’s political processes. I will appeal to you to help initiate a renewed drive for nation building and national integration."

12—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Passengers stranded as bad weather disrupts flight operations

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU &

DANIELETEGHE

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COMMISSIONING: Representative of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Chief Chukwuka Odia, flanked by Director, Corporate and Indirect Sales Channels, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ken Ogujiofor (right), at the commissioning of the new state-of-the-art Etisalat Experience Centre in Onitsha.

Orji decries rot in education sector zSays it's affecting devt

BY ANAYOOKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, yesterday, decried the high-level of rot in the nation’s education, especially the upsurge in examination malpractices, lamenting that it was affecting the development of the country.

The Governor, who spoke at a two-day workshop on conduct of examinations

jointly organised by Abia State Ministry of Education and Exam Ethics Marshals International, at Ibeku High School, Umuahia, however, said, the state was taking action to address the challenge in Abia.

In the message entitled “Education is the Key,” the governor lamented that education had failed as change agent because of “collapse of its moral foundation.”

He said: “It is the role of education to produce change agents for transformation of opportunities and potentials into development realities. But education is having problems in fulfilling this role in Nigeria because of collapse of its moral foundation. We have our own share of this problem in Abia state, hence our determination to do something about it.

“We are taking action to ensure that Abia takes its rightful place as one of the

MASSOB apprehends robbery suspect in Onitsha

BY ENYIMENYIM

O

NITSHA—SECU RITY arm of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has arrested a member of the six man armed robbery gang earlier smashed by

the group in the commercial city of Onitsha.

Speaking to newsmen, the Regional Administrator in charge of Onitsha Region 4 of MASSOB, Chief Arinze Igbani, said the suspect, whom he gave his name as Chinonso, a na-

tive of Umuezeala community, Oturu in Oru Local Government Area of Imo State, was arrested following a tip off after Chinonso’s gang had successfully robbed their victim.

He said the suspect in company of the remaining members of his gang now at large had about 7.30 pm robbed a woman of her bag containing N20,000, cell phone and other valuables along Onitsha-Owerri Express road.

“My security men received a distress call that a three-man gang of armed robbers were operating again along OnitshaOwerri road, they swung into action and noticed that a woman who runs a restaurant along Owerri road had been robbed while she was in Tricycle (Keke NAPEP) at Umuobom junction, Okpoko” According to him, his men arrested a teenager who upon confirming that he knew one of the suspects took his men to the residence of the suspect at No 50 Coorporative Street, Okpoko where he was arrested while entering the gate of the compound.

best exam ethics states in Nigeria as practical step towards addressing the challenge of weakening moral foundation. This is the reason for my declaration of policy of zero exam malpractice in Abia state examination system.”

Orji commended Exam Ethics Marshals International for its effort in fighting examination malpractices, and noted that the effect was already being felt in the state with the bright performance of Abia students in national quiz and debates.

In her address, the commissioner for education, Mrs. Monica Philips, lauded Exam Ethics and reminded the participants that the workshop would equip them to serve as “transformational change agents in the education sector. Commitment of oneself to the code of ethical self regulation and self discipline in carrying out your duties should be paramount to you all. You should also insist on the best practices that will influence the youths who are most vulnerable to the antics of perpetrators of examination malpractices whose sole aim is to destroy these impressionable minds.”

She lamented that “examination malpractices have jeopardised the purpose and desire of most parents and the nation at large”, and called for all hands to be on deck to eradicate this cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our great nation”.

In his remarks, the founding chairman of Exam Ethics Marshals International, Chief Ike Onyechere, insisted that participation and passing the examination at the workshop form the basis for selecting examination administrators.

AGOS—PASSEN GERS billed to travel to Enugu, Port-Harcourt and Owerri were stranded at Lagos Airport yesterday due to bad weather that prevented most airlines going to the South-East from reaching their destinations. The hazy weather prevented most planes from landing as visibility was very poor Confirmed report said Aero Contractors airline went to Enugu twice and had to return to Lagos without landing at

Enugu due to bad weather which made visibility poor. It will be recalled that the airline had a minor accident at Jos Airport last month, when the wings of one its aircraft brushed an Airforce jet parked at the airport.

At the new domestic MMA2 terminal, Lagos, passengers were seen queuing to collect their refund from Aero Contractors airline at the counter. The passengers were orderly and did not show any sign of anger as they were aware that there was nothing the airlines could do about the weather condition.

Commissioner tasks accountants on professionalism

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WERRI—AC COUNTING Officers in Imo State civil service have been charged to ensure strict application of all financial laws in the discharge of their duties.

Finance commissioner, Deacon John Chike Okafor, who spoke at a two- day capacity building workshop for the accounting officers, warned that Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration had zero tolerance for corruption and would decisively deal with any case of financial impropriety.

Okafor who was repre-

sented by the Director of Administration and Finance in the Ministry, Mrs. Perpetual Anyanwu, expressed the hope that the training would rekindle the officers’ commitment to professional ethics, confidentiality in government official business, and result-oriented management.

He said: “It is in realization of the importance of prudent financial management in development administration that the Ministry of Finance is organizing this workshop to make Accounting Officers more responsive and productive."

Imo CAN appeals to Boko Haram on killings

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State Branch of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has appealed to members of Boko Haram and their sponsors to stop the senseless bloodshed and wanton destruction of lives and property of fellow Nigerians.

Chairman of the state CAN, Pastor Cosmas

Ilechukwu, who spoke with journalists in Owerri, reminded them that they did not have monopoly of violence.

He said: “This country has had more than its fair share of bloodshed. The sponsors of Boko Haram and their acolytes should have a rethink and stop the irresponsible and brutal murder of innocent citizens, especially as they do not have the pat-

Community leaders urged to embrace peace

W

ARRI—THE Chief Security Officer of Olomu Kingdom, and exmilitant leader, ‘General’ Ekokotu Abraham, has called on warring elders of the Okpare-Olomu and the President- General to sheath their swords for peace to reign in the community.

Ekokotu who spoke in Warri, urged the Olomu monarch, the Ohworode of Olomu; Olorogun Talib Tebite, member representing Ughelli-South at the Delta State House of As-

sembly and Olorogun Moses Taiga, President-General of Olomu Kingdom to intervene in the imbroglio.

The CSO called for the release of Mr. Eda Okorodudu Robert, the current PresidentGeneral of the community who is alleged to be in the custody of the NigeriaPoliceForceZone5,Benin City in Edo State.

He urged youths of the community to embrace peace to facilitaterapiddevelopmentofthecommunity, stressing that it was only in the atmosphere of peace that thecommunitycould experience development.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 —13

Court orders stay of action on sack of 27 Imo LG chairmen sor, Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and later appointed transitional committee chairmen to run the 27 council areas in the state.

However, the Owerri Division of the appellate court, on July 4, voided the action of the Governor, directing that he should recall the sacked LG chairmen.

In a unanimous judg-

ment, the court which was presided over by Justice Uwani Abbaji, stressed that the governor lacked the powers to sack elected governments at the third tier of governance in the state, just as the panel equally nullified the appointment of Transition Committee Chairmen by the Governor to replace the sacked Council Chairmen.

Cynthia, our 5th victim — Killers of General's daughter Continues from Page 5

hotel first with the laBY IKECHUKWU NNOdy ’s belongings. Mothe case till September CHIRI ments later, his cousin 11.

Nwabufo then left. But at It will be recalled that BUJA—A Federal the reception, one of the Governor Okorocha of All High Court in receptionists asked if he Progressive Grand AlliAbuja, yesterday, apwas checking out but he ance, APGA, had in his proved an application said he was coming back. maiden broadcast in asking for a judicial reTwo hours later, they reJune 2011, announced view of the sack of 27 portedly called the hotel the sacking of the elected Local Government telling them to ”go into council chairmen who Council Chairmen in the room and remove the assumed office under the Imo State by Governor corpse of the bagger.” On tenure of his predecesRochas Okorocha. getting to the room, Justice Gladys Olotu, Cynthia was said to have who granted the motion, been discovered stone equally ordered for a dead with her hands and stay of further action on legs tied to the back and the dispute pending the with series of bite marks hearing and determinaon her back which she tion of the substantive apparently sustained suit that was entered beduring the struggle for fore the High Court by a dear life. constitutional lawyer, Police sources hinted C.0.C. Akaolisa. that investigation into the The Judge warned that circumstances surroundthe leave so granted ing the death of the girl would “operate as a stay proved a hard nut for in the interim of all acthem initially. However, tions and proceedings in the first trace that gave the dispute between the the suspects out was the Local Government areas number with which they in Imo State and the Imo From left: Mr. Obinna Ariwodo, Senior Consultant, Mr. Oliver Nnona, MD, contacted the hotel. Their State Government pendProfiliant Development Resources and Mr. Adebiyi Oladipo, Senior Consult- task was made more difing the hearing and deant at briefing on the Sales Performance Summit, billed to hold on Septem- ficult because the fleeing termination of the suit,” suspects threw away the ber 6, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Sylva Eleanya. just as she adjourned sim card they used in calling the hotel. The detectives, however, went an extra mile and succeeded in using the same quired in previous propos- cials in 2011 to stay in busi- number to get all the susals for manufacturers to be ness. According to the re- pects’ contacts and it was responsible for generic port, World Bank’s 2011 re- from there that the bubby the 2010 Dodd-Frank fiBY OMOH GABRIEL, products made by a third port on investment climate ble burst. The investiganancial regulation overBUSINESS EDITOR, WITH party. haul, but the SEC has dein Nigeria, one-third of mi- tion took detectives to AGENCY REPORTS It will be recalled that a cro-enterprises agreed that Cotonou and Nnewi layed implementing them AGOS—IN its bid to amid industry criticism that World Bank study con- “informal payments/gifts to where Odera who is in assist African Gov- the rules are too onerous ducted in 26 states in Ni- government officials” were his final year was arrested ernment to fight the hy- and may reveal sensitive geria and released two common occurrences, sug- in the school premises. dra-headed monster of cor- information to rivals. The weeks ago indicated that gesting that registered His confessional stateruption, the United States final version of the so-called about 80 per cent of busi- firms deal more with such ment, as gathered, led to of America Securities and conflict minerals rule re- nesses in the country paid requests for bribes.

Exchange Commission moves an obligation re- bribes to government offivoted 2-1, yesterday, to adopt an anti-bribery rule that will require energy and other companies to disclose National Publicity Secre- Chief Victor Umeh, that to “divert attention from the

BY HENRY UMORU payments they make to govChief Olisa the PDP was plotting to serial undemocratic activiBUJA—THE national tary, ernments out side the Metuh contended that cause mayhem in Imo ties being perpetrated by leadership of PeoUnited States and for the accusation by APGA’s State, was not only the APGA- led government manufacturers to disclose to ples Democratic Party, National Chairman, alarmist, but an attempt of Imo State." investors whether their PDP, has urged All Proproducts contain certain gressive Grand Alliance, minerals from conflict torn APGA to address its inAfrica countries especially ternal problems and stop from the Democratic Repub- fingering the PDP in On South East position on what the party termed lic of the Congo.

2015,Azikesaidaformernumber BUJA—A Socio-Po search team.

Two members of the com- APGA’s self inflicted two citizen of this country who litical group, CommitAzike in his reaction said since retired with dignity from the milimission were recused on woes.

According to PDP, tee 21 has decided to seek Nigerians are on the same page tary service. There is a serving the vote, and one Republileadership out credible candidates for with C 21 for a turn around presi- Senator who was a former govercan commissioner voted APGA’s against the rule, saying it should look inwards to Nigerian Presidency come dent come 2015, it is a serious nor, a former two-time minister responsibility. fell outside the SEC’s in- solve the Party’s prob- 2015. from a known political family in He explained that the presi- Enugu State, and a serving state The group, said this is vestor protection expertise. lems and stop the atThe America securities tempt to blackmail the to give impetus to its politi- dency of a country as complex as governor who is keenly being regulators also voted 3-2 on PDP, noting that “APGA’s cal commitment to support Nigeria is not a tea party, nei- watched. a rule that requires manu- woes are self inflicted a presidential candidate ther is it a prize-gift to the unAnalysts ,however, believe facturers to disclose to in- and we wish to remind with firm capacity to real- initiated. that those being speculated upon He said: Our candidate, once andreferredtoinclude;ChiefNnia vestors whether their prod- its leaders once more ise its visions in 2015.

The committee after its identifiedandweaned,wouldbe Nwodo,CommodoreEbituUkiwe ucts contain certain miner- that the PDP does not als from Africa especially the exist to solve their prob- consultative meeting in electorally acceptable across (rtd), Senator Chris Ngige, GovAbuja, recently, asked its board and must be one of the ernor Rochas Okorocha and poswar-torn Democratic Re- lem for them.”

The PDP in a state- Director of Legal Services, bestcompetitivepresidentialma- sibly Prof Charles Soludo among public of the Congo.

Both rules were required ment, yesterday, by its Chief Ziggy Azike, to head the terials around.” others.

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US SEC moves to curb bribery by US firms operating in Africa

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PDP to APGA: Stop blaming us for your crisis

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2015: Group sets up c'ttee to seek credible presidential candidates

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the arrest of his cousin, Nwabufo. Over 40 persons, as gathered, were arrested in the course of the investigation. But gradually, most of them were released when operatives could not link them to the crime.

Another thing that helped the police in identifying the deceased was her Yellow Card, which her assailants reportedly forgot in the hotel room. But the telephone number of the card was discovered to be different from her original number. The Immigration was reportedly contacted in the course of the investigation which was described as a rigorous one.

The command's boss, Mr Umar Manko who paraded the suspects before newsmen disclosed that the footage of the Close Circuit Television, CCTV, in the hotel also assisted the police in their investigation.

He said: “From the footage, we discovered that the two young men came into the hotel, went into the room and came out after a while, so we started from there”. Emphasizing the importance of CCTV in crime detection, the elated police boss said the police was working towards installing it around the state.

“We are talking to the Lagos State government and the Force Headquarters. We have been meeting with bankers but with this development, we do not have more option than to meet with hoteliers. It has become necessary to mandate hoteliers to install CCTV in their hotels because security is a fight against crime and it is not a fight for the police alone but everyone. People who run such businesses must put in place facilities that will make those who come feel safe.” He, therefore, advised young ladies to learn a lesson from this, saying, “ youths have to be more careful. Social media network is good but some criminals are trying to make something criminal out of it”, adding that the suspects will be charged to court soon.”

Meanwhile, the pharmacist who reportedly sold the tranquilizer to the suspects is still in police custody. Although he was not paraded alongside the suspects whose faces the police insisted, should not be photographed, Vanguard gathered that he might be charged to court because he was not supposed to sell the drugs without prescription.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—15

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16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Zenawi: World leaders mourn as corpse arrives W

Governor Mu'azu Aliyu of Niger State, and Chairman, Northern Governors' Forum (middle), other northern governors and members of Northern States Governors' Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security, during the inauguration of the committee at the Niger State Governor's Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Nigeria Police deploy Formed Unit to Somalia

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—NIGERIA Police Force, weekend, deployed a Formed Unit with Contingent Owned Equipment to Somalia to participate in an African Union Peacekeeping mission for that country.

The deployment was the second of such in the ad-

ministration of Mr. Mohammed Abubakar as Inspector-General of Police, after a similar one requested by ECOWAS Commission to model the Strategic Peacekeeping Operation, with the deployment of one formed Police Unit of 140 officers to ECOWAS mission in Bissau on May 24.

Speaking at the commis-

FG assures on energy reforms

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—VICE President Nmadi Sambo has said the Federal Government was determined to address power supply in the country to give a rapid boost to industrialisation and generate employment.

He spoke when the Director-General of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, paid him a courtesy visit.

While briefing Yumkella on efforts made by the government to realise its transformation agenda, Sambo said to address power-related issues, a holistic approach had been employed, thereby developing the required synergy between Power and Water

Resources Ministries.

He said part of the strategies employed included the use of Public Private Partnership, PPP, to develop small and medium hydro-power projects.

According to him, studies had been completed for 10 hydro-power plants and 17 more of such studies, adding that transaction advisers for the project were being appointed.

He said Nigeria has over 200 existing dams and that the combination of water, power and irrigation will boost both small and big businesses.

Sambo said wind-topower pilot scheme was currently ongoing in Katsina State for 10mw, adding that government was trying all alternative sources of energy.

sioning of the Contingent Owned Equipment, the IG, represented by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, said the occasion was an important milestone in the resolve of the current police management to ensure peace and stability in the sub-region.

He added that the force would continually collaborate and support the effort of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS in ensuring that permanent peace returned to all warring states in the African continent.

Earlier, Director of Peacekeeping at Force Headquarters, Mr. Cornelius Aderanti, said when the UN called for formed units, Nigeria was ready, having deployed the unit to Liberia in 2010, noting that Nigeria Police deployed the first individual police officers to Somalia in an African Union mission.

He said: “History repeated itself when in April this year, we rose to the challenge and responded to call by ECOWAS to be among the first to deploy FPU to Guinea Bissau.

“Today, we have taken the lead by being the first, and Uganda, to deploy a formed police unit to Somalia under the auspices of African Union.”

Shettima reads riot act to contractors

BY NADAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State, has warned contractors handling the renovation of eight secondary schools, recently awarded by the state government at N3.7 billion, to ensure they de-

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liver quality work and according to specifications or face disciplinary action.

Shettima, who paid an unscheduled visit to Government Girls Secondary School, Mirnga, in Biu Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, said his administration had identified the rot in the educa-

tion system across the state; hence there was the need to invest heavily in the sector despite the limited resources at its disposal.

He commended the progress made so far in the school and urged the contractor to hasten work on the project so that students can return for their studies.

ORLD leaders yesterday offered high praises for Meles Zenawi, the late EthiopianPrime Minister, whose body returned to Addis Ababa, with thousands of mourners gathering on the streets to pay their respects.

Meles Zenawi, 57, died in a Belgian hospital on Monday after contracting an infection, authorities said. A military band played as the coffin, draped in an Ethiopian flag, was taken yesterday from the Ethiopian Airlines flight, arrived Addis Ababa. The ceremony attended by political, military and religious leaders as well as diplomats. His wife Azeb Mesfin, dressed in black, was seen leaving the plane. Hailemariam Desalegn, the deputy prime minister, 47, who has also been foreign minister since 2010, will take over interim power, Bereket Simon, government spokesman, said.

“Under the Ethiopian constitution the deputy prime minister will take the oath of office before parliament,” he said.

US president, Barack Obama, said Meles deserved “recognition for his lifelong contribution to Ethiopia’s development, particularly his unyielding commitment to Ethiopia’s poor”. He said Meles had earned his own personal admiration “for his desire to lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty ” through his efforts to improve food security following a meeting at the G8 in May.

•Meles Zenawi Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said she was “saddened” by Meles’ death and ex-

pressed confidence “that Ethiopia will peacefully navigate the political transition according to its constitution”.

Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, praised his “exceptional leadership”. David Cameron, UK prime minister, hailed Meles as “an inspirational spokesman for Africa”. Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, called Meles “a true friend” of Israel and “presented his condolences to the Ethiopian people”, his office said.

US to train Nigerian Na vy on por ts security Navy ports

BY EVELYN USMAN

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HE United States Navy warship arrived Nigeria Monday , with a call for the need for the Nigerian Navy to be trained in the area of adequate monitoring of the waterways with a view to combating sea robberies thereby making the water safe for maritime trade.

Commander, Task Force 63 US Navy,Commodore Richard Soucie, who made the call yesterday while briefing newsmen at the Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy Apapa, Lagos, explained that the visit was aimed among other things to train the Nigerian Navy in the area of port security,noting that ninety percent of the economic activities were done through the sea.

He said that the training was not for the Nigerian Navy alone but

for the African continent, particular the West African region, pointing out that the lessons learnt from Somalia and other hot beds in Africa on piracy and sea robberies necessitated the assistance of the American government to train the region’s navies with a view to warding off such economic saboteurs.

Commodore Soucie, who lauded the efforts of the Nigerian Navy at combating the sea miscreants, maintained that the coming of the American warship was a fallout of the Nigerian Navy request.

He said: “The US HSV 2 SWIFT is here as the cornerstone of USA naval African partnership station nation in which we are visiting countries in African continent to conduct various security cooperation engagement.

We have several training evolutions that would take place here in Lagos.

Minister begs as S/Africa mine protest spreads

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OUTH Africa’s min ister of defence has apologised to angry miners, the first government official to do so, after police who said they were acting in self-defence shot 34 striking miners dead in clashes that left 10 other people dead.

This came as theLabour unrest spread to at least two more platinum mines after police killed 34 strikers and wounded another 78 at the Lonmin platinum mine last week.

The striking miners say

they want a pay increase and their living conditions improved. “Right now this group seems fairly peaceful,” Mutasa reported. “They say they will continue to strike until mine managers give them their pay increase but mine managers say this is impossible because the industry is struggling and they can’t afford the 300 per cent salary increase the strikers are demanding.”

Police have been posted nearby in case the

protests become violent, but their main concern is that other mine workers across the country will strike as they have threatened. This could have a detrimental effect on the country’s economy.

Police said they opened fire on the miners, who were demanding a 300 per cent pay rise, after they tried to attack them with clubs and machetes on Thursday. At least 78 people were wounded.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,AUGUST 23, 2012—17

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Wages of the fuel subsidy regime

Motorists queue up for PMS in Abuja what she was publicly stating, was that government will continue to protect jobs in other countries, while we have a huge population desperate for them in our own country. When one is sworn to the biddings of imperialism, as that worthy woman is, that is the kind of statement to expect. The oil subsidy regime has spiraled out of control and like a real monster, is now threatening to eat up our country.

Caught up in a web

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he burden of a historic decision not to build new refineries has now come back to haunt the Nigerian state in a most poignant manner. The major companies caught up in the present crisis are owned by some of the best friends of President Goodluck Jonathan and are often the main

contributors to the campaign funds of the PDP. So far, over N4.2trillion is owed these oil importers in 2012 alone. In the

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OR residents of Abuja, the past week has been particularly difficult. Before you could pronounce FCT, we returned to a regime of queues for petroleum products in the city. At a point, the black market price for the 4 litre jerry can reached over four thousand naira. It was so ridiculous, that I decided not to travel for the Sallah holiday. I will stay here and just watch the charade play out. The more things change, the more they remain the same!

We have been here before; or more appropriately, we have remained locked into the time warp of conspiracies, official but empty assurances to do things differently, without any movement to break the vicious cycle. A major holiday is around the corner, and out of the blues, a contrived regime of scarcity of products is slapped on the faces of Nigerians. Usually, a strike threat by petroleum tanker drivers is issued as part of the conspiracy; chaos reigns around petrol stations; the black market comes alive; more money is extorted from citizens and after a long while, we return to the status quo ante! We are trapped into this unflattering cycle.

But the most recent problem seemed tied to the regime of fuel subsidies; the strategic decision taken at the start of the PDP regime in 1999, NOT to build new refineries by the Nigerian state and to consequently empower a cabal of billionaire oil importers, with umbilical connection to the political elite.

It was this linkage between politics and the fraudulent regime of fuel importation, which made the finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala make the declaration that “the position of the federal government on fuel subsidy payments is clear: we will do our best to encourage honest efforts by genuine companies engaged in fuel importation…”

Apparently, the irony was lost to our World Bankmanufactured minister, that

singling out 21 for criminal investigation. At the same time, the Finance Minister confirmed that 31 companies were paid the sum of N42. 67billion between April and August and an additional sum of N17billion went to 14 oil marketers for claims in April and May. As we have seen in recent weeks, the owners of these companies have links to the highest echelons of government and politics. It is an elaborate network; the Nigerian kleptocracy is one of the most powerful in the contemporary world. The sweetheart deals in the fuel subsidy regime have become so entrenched, that we

As we brace up for the threatened strike by oil workers this week, it is important to remember that we are collateral victims of the unpatriotic decision taken by the PDP regime in 1999, in the oil and other sectors to overthrow the state and public concern and institute private interest and greed as the central philosophy of governance in our country

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meantime, the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy indicted 170 companies while

will need a political earthquake to shake our country free from the bear hug it is held in, by

Peace-building gestures in a fractured North

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S this year’s Ramadan fast ended, I have reflected upon what I felt was one of the most important gestures of the month; and that was the grassroots-based, peacebuilding effort by Muslims and Christians in Northern Nigeria.

From Jos, through to Kaduna and Abuja, a new initiative quickly became widespread; it saw Christian organisations, religious leaders as well as disparate groups and individuals, going to break the Ramadan fast with their Muslim counterparts. Similarly, Christian organisations donated foodstuff to Muslim groups as a gesture of goodwill, to assist the poor amongst Muslims and when a devastating flood tore through the heart of Muslim residential areas in Jos, Christian youths and religious leaders rallied to the assistance of their Muslim co-inhabitants of what is clearly a troubled city, but one which not too long ago, was the most cosmopolitan city in Northern Nigeria.

The gestures might appear on the surface to be token in content, but they are very vital markers of the desire on the parts of people on the various sides of the divide, that is

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hurting the North, to move beyond crises and killings which have devastated economic life; disrupted social existence and torn apart peoples who share the space of geography and history as well as culture. The concerted effort being made at peace building is no longer just at the level of official and often, empty platitudes.

People in communities realise that they have to take the issue into their own hands in order to build peace, encourage reconciliation, inter-community and inter-faith accord. Afterall, everyone realises that no section of the community can wish the other away. Besides, while identity is a fact, we can build mutual respect into the differences which exist in our society. It is therefore important to acknowledge the remarkable gestures which were symbolically tied to the devotion central to Ramadan. We must also hope and encourage everybody in the different communities in the North, to persist with the peace building efforts commenced during Ramadan, into a perpetual process to dig out of the hole of suspicion, intolerance, disrespect, hatred

and killings. They hurt all of us all around!

Central to the problems we face in the North is the irresponsibility associated with the deficit in governance.

Resources supposedly earmarked for development continue to dwindle and whatever is available, is largely stolen by groups of elite on all sides of the divide. Access to power therefore is fought out very fiercely by these groups of elite who then conscript identities of ethnicity and religion into their vicious struggle for power. A huge swathe of the population exists precariously on the margins of society, and is therefore available for recruitment for all manners of destructive purposes, at the instigation of power-seeking factions of the elite.

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he framing of the other, either of the other religion or other ethnic group, has led to negative consequences for our solidarity and peaceful coexistence. In the context of the crises phenomena which face our society today, the responsible elements of the elite must play more central roles in helping to diffuse

tension and suspicion amongst our various communities and faith groups.

I think the gestures we saw during Ramadan, represent significant green shoots of growth, which the various communities of Northern Nigeria must work together to nurture into fruition. It is also indicative of the optimistic trend that reports have emerged, of tentative efforts at negotiation between the Nigerian government and the insurgent Boko Haram group. It is an issue that I hope to examine in a subsequent column on this page. Suffice it to say, that I have been very consistent in my advocacy of peace through negotiation and reconciliation, as the most effective means of breaking the logjam of the Boko Haram insurgency. The killings, reprisals, suspicion between faith and ethnic communities of recent years, have sapped vibrancy out of life in the North, yet I remain incurably optimistic, that we can still get things right, with dedicated labour. The effort of people around the North during Ramadan, show what is clearly achievable, when people are determined to work together to build peace.

this alliance of politics and dubious business. There are no talks about building Nigerianowned refineries in the overall picture. But why should they be built? It is far cheaper and more lucrative to maintain this status quo. The Nigerian people are the losers. Unless and until we break the back of this alliance of crooks, we will not make a sense of our country and its potentials. In the meantime, those unable to see the picture or who have tangential benefits they also make from this elaborate scheme of fraud, detain us with the superficial problems of the nation building process: ‘regional autonomy’; ‘SNC’; ‘state police’; ‘ new constitution’; etc.

Breaking the cabal's backbone

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ne of the main issues to rally around is how to break the backbone of this cabal and the destruction of the unholy alliance, through a national movement which insists on the construction of new refineries by the Nigerian state. The mantra of a market fundamentalist economy is a delusion; it was never meant to work in the first place and is not programmed to serve the Nigerian people. They have used neoliberal capitalism to carry out a dubious privatisation of national assets; under it we have witnessed a deindustrialisation process which led to massive loss of jobs; the despair following in its wake has deepened religious and ethnic feelings with the consequent crises these have engendered. The state must come back to play a central role in the development process in our country. It is the roll back of the state which has entrenched the incredible levels of corruption which has sapped Nigeria today. It is also the basis of the emergence of anti-state forces of violence and the emboldening of the secessionist projects around our country. When the state has become an instrument of a piratical elite that survives on elaborate schemes of kleptocracy, such a state cannot demand allegiance and loyalty of populations it does not take care of! The Nigerian state is illegitimate for the majority of the Nigerian people today; the operatives of the state are mainly glorified thieves, while the ruling elite, federal, state and local, are viewed with utmost contempt, in many cases, as not better than robbers!

As we brace up for the threatened strike by oil workers this week, it is important to remember that we are collateral victims of the unpatriotic decision taken by the PDP regime in 1999, in the oil and other sectors to overthrow the state and public concern and institute private interest and greed as the central philosophy of governance in our country.

The consequences of that decision will continue to haunt Nigeria, until we overthrow those policies through an utter democratic defeat of the political elite which instituted them; in doing so, we will have to take back all that their alliance with the business barons stole from Nigeria. I see no other way to achieve restitution!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY , AUGUST 23, 2012 NE of the numerous downsides of the Internet revolution is the use of it by O perverts, predators and criminals to prey

upon naïve, young and impressionable minds. A huge resource capable of turning enterprising entrepreneurs and creative minds into instant millionaires; an unquantifiable source of knowledge at little cost, is also responsible for tragic loss of precious lives and resources.

The tragic murder of Cynthia Osokogu is a wake-up call to the danger that careless or unsuspecting exposure to the Internet and social media poses. Osokogu was a post-graduate student of the Nasarawa State University and budding business tycoon, who was lured by her Facebook “friends” to Lagos and strangled.

Because the Internet is a free resource and easily accessible with unlimited content of everything good, bad and ugly, the time has come for concerted efforts to be devised to guide, especially young people, on its use. It is a challenge that faces the entire world. Many believe (and we concur) that the United Nations should

Osokogu: Perils of social media

evolve a universal protocol on safer use of cyber sphere.

Governments and concerned corporate citizens, especially those providing content and access to this resource, should develop conselling programmes for students and pupils as well as the general public on ways of avoiding corruptive influences and people floating around the Internet, dangling enticing offers and packages with a view to turning those, who take up their offers into victims. The Internet is a scammer’s paradise.

Parents and guardians have the greatest role on this issue. Because of the proliferation of smart phones and similar Internet-savvy devices, young children are

easily exposed to contents that lure them to dangerous cor ruption and misadventurism, particularly pornography and other forms of perversion and perverts.

Being a relatively new phenomenon, the more proper and safer use of the Internet and social media is an area of great need for expert attention, which is for now severely lacking. We need a platform for the regulation of access to the Internet, especially by minors. We also need a lot of serious advocacy by civil society and community based organisations.

Practitioners, who provide hardware, content and access must be made to be socially responsible for this novelty, whose corruptive and addictive abilities have been well documented, as illustrated by the Osokogu tragedy.

We cannot afford to continue to leave our youth unguided and unprotected. It should be possible for those entering relationships based on Internet linkages to have means of crosschecking their contacts before meeting them and to alert the law enforcement agents when in doubt.

OPINION

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BY UCHE NWADIALOR

HEN oil was first discovered in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State of Nigeria in 1956, there was jubilation not only in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria but all over the country. That euphoria was predicated on the assumption that oil was wealth and that Nigeria’s economy was launched on a prospective future and that both social and political development would in the next few years be ushered in. Meanwhile, agriculture had effectively and confidently driven the economy before the advent of oil economy.

Consequently, member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, are today rated as some of those with high gross domestic products as a result of the multiplier effect of their enhanced national income, balance of trade, balance of payment and external reserve.

Between 1956 and the end of the 30 months Nigeria Civil War, more oil wells had been discovered in various parts of Southern Nigeria with particular reference to Niger Delta.

Many African countries also belong to OPEC, including Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, among others. What baffles international observers, including socio-political analysts in Africa is that it does not appear that the oil wealth in Africa has maximally or at least considerably promoted development on the continent. For example, despite the quantum of oil and gas produced in Nigeria since the past three decades, Nigeria is far more distant to the Millennium Development Goals than Ghana where oil has just been discovered. The standard of living in the oil-rich giant of Africa is a far cry from that of Ghana whose economy is nonoil.

Looking through the African continent, it is safe to claim that the oil-producing countries on the continent are the most prone to conflict. One can further say without any fear of contradiction that the current wave of conflicts involving

Oil and gas in Africa: Boom or doom? political violence, terrorism, corruption, youth militancy, etc, can be traced largely to the problem posed by the authoritative allocation of their oil resources. One of the factors which were enumerated as the causes of the Nigerian Civil War is the discovery of oil and gas in the then Eastern Nigeria made up of the present day Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Cross River State, Imo State, Enugu State, Abia State, Anambra State and Ebonyi State. I don’t know how true this is but it was also speculated that the defunct Biafran Army declared a Republic of Benin in the then Bendel State in order to colonise the oil wealth of the Niger Delta.

However, Nigerians who were adults before and during the Nigerian Civil War can testify to the authenticity of the assertion. There is also this belief in some Nigerian quarters that the task of keeping Nigeria one had become so inevitable not only for the corporate sustenance of the giant of Africa but also that the country might not lose the oil in Niger Delta which is the mainstay of our economy today to break away Biafra. It is gratifying to state that a greater majority of the federating components of the Nigerian states are gradually benefiting, no matter how minimal, from the fallout of Nigeria’s oil wealth. But the truth of the matter is that the authoritative allocation of Nigeria’s oil wealth which has diverted Nigeria’s attention from agriculture remains a pivotal source of Nigeria’s challenges put together.

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n Nigeria, the negative effect of oil exploration and exploitation had devastated many local oil-producing communities, including Odi in Bayelsa State where so many lives and property were destroyed, Ogoni land where oil pollution has been described by the United Nations as

unprecedented. The armed conflict between Ibabu OnichaUkwuani in Ndokwa West L.G.A and Iselegu-Afor in Ndokwa East, both in Delta State, to mention but a few, are all leaving examples.

The wind of changes in Sudan, Libya, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Mali, among other African countries, cannot be tackled in isolation of the materialistic concept of history. Even the youngest African nation state, namely South Sudan which was granted independence recently is in conflict with her mother country over the sovereign ownership of the oil resources between the two countries and this has attracted the intervention of both the African Union, AU and the United Nation. This economic imbroglio has stultified the economies of both oil nations. The activities of the late Libyan dictator, while in power, also come to mind.

More African nations are joining the international committee of oil-bearing states. They include Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Liberia.

There is no doubt that these countries will learn from the experience of the old members of the committee by making adequate arrangements for the proper utilization, judicious and equitable allocation of their incipient oil wealth.

Indeed, one would recommend the Botswana model where that country had provided a stability fund right from the on set from where diversification policies and projects are implemented; Nigeria should borrow a leaf from Botswana.

The numerous challenges posed by the oil and gas industry, which include interstate armed conflict, political violence corruption, environmental degradation, industrial dispute, political instability, gas flaring among others, result in colossal loss of human lives and property. *Mr. Nwadialor, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—19

, Why we lost Bakassi to Cameroun

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HIS article was published on Thursday October 17, 2002 shortly after the International Court of Justice ceded Bakasi Peninsula to Cameroun. Prof Walter Ofonagoro, who is making a presentation today at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island Lagos, called my attention to its validity even today. I am hereby granting his request that I should republish it unedited. Thank you. O.N. As Nigeria reels from the judgement of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, which awarded the Bakassi Penisula case to Cameroun it is time to look beyond the obvious as we analyse the situation. We know that the ICJ apparently depended almost solely on the pre-colonial Anglo-German Agreement of March 11, 1913 in granting what it described as “Cameroun’s conventional title” over the territory to our eastern neighbour. The temptation, therefore, will be for people to exonerate General Yakubu Gowon’s cession of the territory through the Maroua Declaration

of June 1, 1975. It was one of the final major activities of Nigeria’s “civil war hero” before his fellow “civil war heroes” booted him out of power a month later. It is my considered opinion that if we yield to this temptation and exculpate Gowon we will merely be excusing the tragic syndrome of shallowmindedness and below-average or unproductive intelligence of the people who have been presiding over the affairs of Nigeria from independence till date.

Clearly, there were certain lapses of commission and omission that encouraged the French worlddominated World Court to give sovereignty over Bakassi to one of their own. In the first place, Nigeria, including even the Efik and Ibibio owners of the Bakassi property, have acted with stunning shortsightedness in the pursuit of our right of ownership of the territory. Secondly, our leaders, before oil was discovered in the area in commercial quantities, had tended to see the Peninsula as an expendable property that we can afford to give to financial institutions as a collateral for other

Our leaders, before oil was discovered in the area in commercial quantities, had tended to see the Peninsula as an expendable property that we can afford to give as a collateral

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things we consider more important.

In April of 1994 there was another round of troubles in the Peninsula. It was consequent upon the incursion of Camerounian armed forces and gandermerie, leading to loss of several Nigerian military and civilian lives and property. Our armed forces were mobilised and it seemed as if war was about to break out between Nigeria and Cameroun. I decided to visit the Peninsula. I went through Calabar rather than Oron in Akwa Ibom. The trip was aborted at the fishing port of Abana in Akpabuyo Local Government Area when I was told by a group of Nigerian soldiers that there was military action and civilians were barred from entering the troubled area.

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he distant booming artillery shells was quite evident. I had to return to Calabar in the same hired cab that brought me. But I

was glad to be joined by another young man, Okon Bassey, who was a staff of the Nigerian Chronicle.

Bassey told me he had just made a lucky escape from Bakassi, his native hometown. There had been this talk, even way back then, that Cameroun started contending furiously over the territory as a result of the infamous Maroua Declaration through which General Gowon had conceded the Peninsula to Cameroun. I wanted Bassey to tell me all he knew about it. I listened carefully.

Bassey said when the crisis brewed between the military government of the defunct Eastern Region under Col. Emeka Ojukwu and the Federal Military Government under Col. Yakubu Gowon, the Peninsula was under the command of the late Ijaw revolutionary, Isaac Adaka Boro.

Boro had just been re-absorbed into the Nigerian armed forces after he was pardoned for pioneering the first secessionist attempt in the Eastern Region (Biafra) and Nigeria, Boro was withdrawn from the Peninsula and a division of the Nigerian Marines under Col. Benjamin Adekunle was sent to retrieve the Calabar area from the Biafrans. Boro was said to have felt alienated by this.

As soon as Adekunle came to the Peninsula, he was reported to have set about flushing out Camerounian security presence with a view to securing it against Biafran infiltration. But he was reckoning without higher military chess games being played in Lagos between Gowon and Alhaji Ahmadu Ahidjo, the Camerounian President. Obviously, Britain had encouraged Gowon to pledge Bakassi to Cameroun. Without Cameroun’s active support the “rebels” would break the policy of

encirclement or blockades and maintain the resistance with supplies it would be getting through the long border with Cameroun.

Adekunle and his troops were told to vacate the Peninsula and allow the Camerounians to hold it. The Maroua Accord, therefore, was only the honouring of the civil war pact and the reconfirmation of the pre-colonial agreement between Britain and Germany.

Now, what I found sad but insightful was the language and passion that Bassey employed in describing the capture of Minority cities and territories in the former Eastern Region. He talked effusively about how the Federal side “liberated” Calabar, Oron and other places. You see, people actually believed the propaganda rubbish they were being fed that the Igbos were their problems and as soon as the Igbo problem was solved their problems were over.

People found it convenient to accept that a disagreement between Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Professor Eyo Ita in the early 1950s was a valid ground to discount any other positive fallout of the cohabitation between Igbos and their neigbours in the East through the centuries. But they did not pause to think through the selfish motive behind the anti-Igbo Federal propaganda, which Chief Anthony Enahoro, as the Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture was so enthusiastically churning out. But the Federal side, particularly the Hausa-Fulani, egged on by the British authorities and supported by the Yoruba leadership, knew that once the big trees in the forest were cut down, it becomes a jungle open for anyone to go hunting for bush meat. TO BE CONTINUED

An open letter to NASS and INEC E have just emerged from a gubernatorial contest in Edo State.

The election is being adjudged as free, fair and credible(?). For fear of being labelled a sadist, one is forced to join the bandwagon and admit that even if the election was not an outright success, it was perhaps a lesser failure than its forebears.

Apart from the early release of results and perhaps a fair reduction in violence and bloodshed, the Edo contest has nothing much to recommend it. The circumstance invariably puts a big burden on the National Assembly Committees on INEC to immediately demand a comprehensive report from INEC with a view to addressing some obvious pitfalls, for future advancement.

It has become the conventional wisdom that the more time INEC has to prepare for an event, the more shoddy job it does. INEC had five years and three months to prepare for the Edo contest because the gubernatorial election in the State before the last one was held on April 14, 2007. Yet, INEC behaved in a way that seemed like it was stampeded into the election within one week: As usual, election materials were in short supply and they arrived terribly late to most polling centres, even in the heart of Benin City! Obviously, there were glaring efforts from within the Commission to frustrate the election. Election derailment is the moral equivalent of murder because bad elections have been some of the major killers of this nation. One month is enough time to find out what has been done to all perpetrators of the evil here. This we demand.

It is a capital offence to disenfranchise people. History is instructive here. To think that minorities in America and other

civilized places fought so hard, with their lives and their blood, to gain their voting right; and that this is the same God-given right that Nigerians are being denied with impunity, is rather unfortunate. People do not realise that the denial of voting right is as grievous as the denial of the right to life.

What would anyone be living for if he has no right to partake in choosing who governs him? In fact, denying anyone the opportunity to vote is akin to reducing him to a level lower than that of cows and goats for we really have no way of knowing the involvement of those lower animals in the emergence of their leaders.

In Edo State, there were deliberate attempts to manipulate and falsify the voters' registers: many names were omitted; in some cases, photocopies of the registers were provided; and in other cases, registers had names but no photographs. In the process, hundreds of thousands of people were disenfranchised. At the end of the day, we were left to talk of low voter turn-out, when the real voting population had been buried under those who had been criminally denied the right to vote. The perpetrators of these crimes did not come from outer space but within INEC itself. We hear that some of the crimes were even orchestrated from the INEC high command. Why should these people still be walking our streets in freedom while we expect improved electoral systems?

The fact is that these people must now be waiting for the next round of elections. We expect the INEC report to reveal how many people have been indicted and how far the process of punishing them has gone.

It is totally unacceptable that the results from some polling booths were cancelled because of some irregularities. This was one

,

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INEC had five years and three months to prepare for the Edo contest, yet, INEC behaved in a way that seemed like it was stampeded into the election within one week

,

of the ways in which people were disenfranchised. We deserve to know the people responsible for the irregularities and how far they have been brought to book.

That system, which puts pickpockets and other small offenders behind bars but leaves big time criminals in total freedom is, to say the least, horrendous. The moral message it leaves behind is that big crime pays and if you must do it, do it big!

A

ccountability demands that we know how much was spent on the Edo election. Apart from helping in the planning of future events, a good financial audit could easily detect areas of unnecessary expenditures. People must not see election as their own windfall. We cannot continue to blindly throw money into a sinking fund

without occasionally stopping to appraise what we are doing. Even in the remotest villages that are made up of total illiterates, the village heads still account to the people after major events.

The Ologbo boat mishap in which three policemen and an INEC ad hoc staff perished must not be swept under the carpet.

We deserve to know why the fate of the victims was left in the hands of an ogogoro drunken driver. While it might be too much to expect INEC to procure its own speed boats, it is not too much to expect that the victims should have been equipped with life jackets. And what measures have been put in place to prevent future occurrence?

Elsewhere, we have recommended life insurance policies for people engaged in election duties.

The National Assembly must be interested to know which of its laws are working and which need further improvement. The INEC report must dig deep in such areas as: Were there issues that created peculiar problems at the election? What could have been done otherwise - were there hindrances that were created by existing laws?

All we need now is a good system in place, a system that would reward diligence and punish offenders. When there is a good system in place, any warm body can operate it. A presidential election would be like the process of enrolling students and selecting the faculty for a new institution. Who would then need a professor or a retired judge to man the system when, in fact, no one has ever been to a special school for election organisation?

20—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, AUGUST 23, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 — 21

By MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, said the bridged banks — Keystone Bank Limited, Enterprise Bank Limited and Mainstreet Bank Limited, have all broken even and will soon return to profitability.

Speaking on the performance of the banks, Executive Director, Finance and Operations, AMCON, Mrs. Mofoluke Dosunmu, said the banks have taken the necessary steps to drastically reduce the rate of their loss, through the efficient management of the banks.

She said, “I would be careful to say whether the bridged banks are profitable. What I would say is that they have taken necessary measure, corrective steps to ensure that the banks run better, going forward,thereby, showing improved performance.

“You find that the rate of loss has definitely changed drastically for those that have not broken even. And some of them have broken even.

“But if you’re talking about a whole year, while they might have been making loses as at December, between then and now they have broken even.

But if you are looking at a whole year’s profit for 2011, you might not find profit at the end of that whole year but if you compare it with what it was before, you will see an appreciable difference.”

Dosunmu said confidence has been restored in the bridged banks, adding that they are now effectively competing with other banks in the country.

She explained that the segregation

Federal government committee on Inter-Agency Maritime Coordinating Committee (IMOCC) visited the headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Picture shows from left: Chairman of the committee, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor and the Managing Director of NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi in a warm handshake during the visit.

Bridge banks’ve broken even, to declare profit soon — AMCON among the banks, especially in the area of healthy and unhealthy banks, has fizzled away.

She declared that the bridged banks have been able to reduce their costs of

funds, especially as current account balances now constitute a higher proportion of their deposits unlike a year ago when term deposits, which were at high interest rates formed the

Insecurity, unstable power supply killing hotel business — Labour

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

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RGANISED Labour in the hospitality industry under the umbrella of Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association, HAPSSSA, has decried the state of insecurity and unstable power supply in the country, saying insecurity and

162.45

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2,438.00

+38.00

20.36

+0.65

113.78

-1.49

95.77

+0.17

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.8 POUNDS 242.9586 EURO 191.0387 FRANC 158.9975 YEN 1.9494 CFA 0.2704 WAUA 232.4657 RENMINBI 24.3441 RIYAL 41.2778 KRONER 25.6508 SDR 233.6706

155.3 243.7434 191.6557 159.5111 1.9557 0.2804 233.2165 24.4232 41.4111 25.7336 234.4254

155.8 244.5281 192.2728 160.0247 1.962 0.2904 233.9674 24.5022 41.5445 25.8165 235.1801

CBN Exchange rate as at 22/08/2012

C M Y K

unstable power supply are undermining the growth of hotel business in the country.

This came as the association called on the government to revamp the tourism sector, arguing that the sector is a huge money spinner for the nation, instead of solely depending on oil.

In a briefing in Lagos, President of HAPSSSA, Comrade Micah Isaiah, challenged government to tackle the rising insecurity and unstable power supply among others, to assist in improving industry standard in the country.

He said, “Insecurity and poor power supply is draining hotel revenue. Over 30 per cent of revenue is spent on alternative power supply. This is minus the rate paid for electricity consumption. Also, Boko Haram for instance has led to the fall of the hospitality industry in the North. It is quite unfortunate that in Nigeria, we have a lot of resources to generate income for us, why then devoting much time on crude oil? The government should diversify into other sectors. The tourism sector is dying, meanwhile, the government can tap huge resources from it just like many other countries. So we appeal to government to live up to the challenge. If other sectors are opened up, more people will be engaged productively.”

Comrade Isaiah said it had been

discovered that most hotels that are operating below standard were nonunionised hotels where slave labour had become fashionable, explaining that HAPSSSA has planned to begin massive unionization campaign, hence it was recruiting more manpower especially organizing secretaries to have enough manpower to confront the challenges in the industry with a view to improving industry standard.

“We are embarking on reorganization of the union and employment of more manpower. When this executive came on board last year, we saw that there was not a strong organization. So, we have decided to embark on secretariat reform by employing more organizing secretaries. Also, we shall employ other manpower that will hold other key positions. We are transforming for the purpose of easy administration. As such, we have gotten Eastern, western and Northern zonal council. All these will be equipped with staff. This will not only help to reduce unemployment in the country, but will help re-organise the union for a better performance.”

“Also, we are trying to unionise all hotels in the country. Any industry that does not respect labour union is not doing well. If you go to those hotels where there are no unions, you will discover that there are no standards and rule of engagement.”

bulk of their deposits.

She also attributed the improvement in the fortunes of the banks to the fact that they have taken a number of cost cutting measures that have helped solidify their position.

She said, “In the first place, we have confidence back in the industry. Before you had a kind of segregation in the market, some banks were healthy, some were not healthy. Now you don’t have that anymore. What we saw was that initially when the banks (bridged banks) started, they did lose some depositors funds, but when the customers saw that anytime they walk into those institutions they can get their money back, they started banking with them.”

“The bridged banks have decreased their reliance on term deposits. If you look in terms of percentages from what you had before - where you had current account deposits being only about 30 per cent, now it is almost 50 per cent. So that has reflected in the confidence back in the banks.

“It has reduced the case of frauds and it also reflects in their other income like fees and commissions because people don’t just put money in current account, they actually do business with the institution, which result in things like COT, fees and commission,” she explained.

“A lot of waste has been stopped.

Leakages have been stemmed. I’m sure you are aware that over the years, there have been some adjustments in their staffing whereas people that were not really contributing to the bottom line of bank have been successfully exited.

So you find out that even the operational cost of running those institutions have come down. Now you have in addition, more focused management team who are aware that they are there for a specific purpose.”

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

IOSCO cautions stock exchanges on dangers of automation

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE International Organization of Securities Commissions, IOSCO, yesterday, raised an alarm on the dangers posed by technological advancement and automation on the effective surveillance of stock exchanges across the world.

According to a statement signed by Carlta Vitzthum, spokesperson for IOSCO, risks posed to markets by illegal or otherwise

inappropriate conduct can be substantially increased by automation, as market participants have the ability to trade numerous products and enormous volume in fractions of a second.

She further disclosed that the speed at which trading occurs in a technologically advanced and highly automated exchange, makes it difficult to effectively monitor activities in the exchanges by the authorities.

She said, “Securities markets have

experienced a dynamic transformation in recent years.

Rapid technological advances and regulatory developments have produced fundamental changes in the structure of securities markets, the types of market participants, the trading strategies employed, the increase in the speed of trading and the array of products traded.

“Trading of securities has become more dispersed among exchanges and various other trading venues.

The markets have become even more competitive, with exchanges and other trading venues aggressively competing for order flow by offering innovative order types, ne “Moreover, because trading has become more dispersed across multiple trading centers, it has become more difficult to monitor and trace orders and transactions. These developments pose challenges to regulators in conducting market

analysis and surveillance, and in reconstructing important trading events.

She stated that current surveillance techniques, which include the collection, storage and accessibility of data, are not adequate for regulators to effectively and efficiently monitor trading activities, as the data are insufficient to capture in a timely manner all of the necessary information needed to properly regulate an highly automated and dispersed markets as is obtained these days.

Continuing, she explained, “The absence in many jurisdictions and within geographical zones of certain market surveillance tools (e.g., an audit trail system) seems to be one of the more significant problems facing the markets in light of these technological developments.

To this end, Vitzthum

said IOSCO, yesterday published a Consultation Report on the ‘Technological Challenges to Effective Market Surveillance: Issues and Regulatory Tools,’ which seeks public comments on a series of proposed highlevel recommendations aimed at helping Market Authorities improve market surveillance.

She noted that IOSCO, after its analysis of the public responses to this Consultation Report, will issue a final report, adding that comments on the Consultation Report are sought by October 10, 2012.

“The Consultation Report examines current regulatory market surveillance and audit trail capabilities of securities markets and considers the feasibility of both existing and additional regulatory tools to deal with the challenges arising for market surveillance in contemporary markets,” she explained.

UBA targets energy and infrastructure financing in East Africa

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Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Kenya, Tunji Adeniyi; Kenyan philanthropist and Chairman Comcraft Group, Kenya, Manu Chandaria; GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Chairman, UBA Kenya Limited, Mr. Ngugi Kiuna, at the Breakfast session organised by UBA Kenya for business and government leaders, in Nairobi.

Vetiva reiterates buy rating for UACN

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ETIVA Capital Management has reiterated buy rating for UAC of Nigeria (UACN) Plc shares at a year end target price of N42.42.

According to the company’s research unit, “We believe there will be an upside potential of 25% to last close price of N33.86. Since our last company report, UACN: Reshaping for Growth, there has been some major developments in the Group; below, we provide some key updates on the conglomerate’s restructuring efforts.

“UAC Foods expansion amid headwinds: UAC Foods added two lines in the first quarter of the year,

a contributing factor to the much improved second quarter performance. However, there are significant policy headwinds to Gala Sausage Roll sales, the key revenue driver for UAC Food. “The Lagos State Government (LASG)’s new traffic law includes a prohibition against eating while driving.

More importantly, sales of Gala (significant portion from street trading) could take a hit as a result of stricter enforcement on the ban of street trading, a fall out of the new traffic law.”

It further said, “ Paints business steps up competitiveness

with acquisition: UACN’s paint business received a boost following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc (Portland Paints) to acquire a 60% majority stake in the company.

Portland Paints, listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, is the market leader in the standard mainstream paints segment. UACN has said that in the near term, it would operate the company separate from its paints subsidiary, CAP Plc, which is the market leader in the premium paint segment.”

In terms of the UACN

feeds business, Vetiva, stated “The expected Rights Issue for Grand Cereals was opened in July to full subscription from all shareholders.

UACN had anticipated an opportunity to increase its share in the thriving subsidiary from its 60% stake; however, we gather that other shareholders have fully taken up their Rights. This did not come as a surprise to us given the robust performance in Grand Cereals, which has doubled revenue in the last three years. The funds raised will provide much needed capital for the rapidly expanding oil and feeds business.

NITED Bank for Africa Plc is to consolidate its business in East Africa, by positioning strongly in the emerging energy industry and providing the much needed financial bridge for infrastructure financing in the region.

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Phillips Oduoza disclosed this while addressing leaders of the organised private and public sector in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, as part of his business visit to Zambia , Tanzania and Kenya. .

According to Oduoza, UBA would explore areas of collaboration with key players in private and public sectors as part of efforts to engineer growth and development of the economies of these countries where it presently operate. In this regard, he said UBA would be providing financial advisory services, infrastructure financing particularly in the emerging energy sector and efficiency in revenue collection in the region. ”Energy is one of the strengths of UBA and we

hope to build capacity by bringing in people who have expertise in energy transactions, Oduoza said. “ We have knowledge in structuring oil and gas transactions and we shall train our people here in the region on financing oil and gas deals, no matter the volume and magnitude of the transactions” he a d d e d .

He said that UBA, being a big player in Nigerian oil industry for decades, has started playing big in the downstream sector of Uganda and Tanzania oil industry by financing oil imports and is keen on going for big deals that would involve firms in the exploration business.

Oduoza listed tourism, a g r i c u l t u r e , infrastructure, interAfrican trade and utilities as some of the bank’s target business areas in the region.

Just recently, East Africa has become abuzz with activities around the exploration of oil and gas as well as development of this sector after reports of oil finds in Kenya and Uganda and large deposits of gas in Tanzania.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—23

FG directs MAN to compile locally made goods for import ban STORIES BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE Federal Government has directed Manufactures Association of Nigeria (MAN) including chambers of commerce bodies in the country to compile the lists of locally made goods, in which the country has comparative advantages ahead of import ban.

In a statement from the Ministry, Tuesday, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga said that government will soon ban importation of goods that are produced locally as part of a deliberate policy to protect local industries, boost their productivity and create more job opportunities for Nigerians.

He noted that the new initiative was part of the National Industrial Revolution Plan of his administration, and it is aimed at repositioning the manufacturing sector in line with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.

“As a country, we have a large market comprising 167 million people. We are the gateway to ECOWAS, which is about 300million people .What this means is that local patronage is very important to us as a country because we must

Shoprite plans N32.8bn fresh investment in Nigeria

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OUTH Africa’s Shoprite has outlined plans to invest 32.8 billion naira ($205 million) on securing new locations in Nigeria, its chief executive, Whitey Basson, said on Tuesday.

Basson made the comment following the release of the company’s full-year results.

Vanguard’s check confirmed that Shoprite first entered Nigeria in December 2005, when it opened a store in the shopping centre, The Palms in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The company has since opened a store in Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, and in the Central Business District, Ikeja, Lagos as well as another store in Enugu.

Shoprite is Africa’s largest food retailer which operates 780 corporate outlets in 17 countries across Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands and southern Asia. The company’s head quarter is situated in the Western Cape province of South Africa and it is a public company listed on the JSE Securities Exchange, with secondary listings on both the Namibian and Zambian Stock Exchanges.

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take advantage of our large market to drive our Industrial Revolution Plan.

“In fact, local patronage is keyed to President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda because it will help us to increase the productivity of our local companies; reduce foreign exchange spent on importation of goods from other countries and create more jobs for our peo-

ple.

“Already, the President has directed us to compile the list of goods produced by Nigerian companies so that we will not have reasons to import those things into the country.

We are going to do same thing in the states by adopting the same policy.

“I have already met with the Chairman of Nnewi Chamber

of Commerce and Industry over this matter and they will submit their list to me within the next one week.

“What the President has directed us to do is how to review the 15 per cent differential to give Nigerian companies more opportunity in other to increase their productivity and create jobs for our people.

Growth in mining, quarrying sector has slowed — UNIDO

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ROWTH in global produc tion from activities relating to mining and quarrying - a sector that includes the mining of coal and the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas – has slowed down, according to a report released by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

World Statistics on Mining and Utilities 2012 shows that the total world production of the mining and utility sectors slowed to a growth rate of 1.9 per cent per annum between 2005 and 2010, compared to an average annual growth of 2.7 per cent between 2000 and 2005.

Nestle chief calls for end to using food in biofuel production

T L-R The Director General, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Dr.Joseph Odumodu; National Sales Manager, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sam Ndionyenma; Industrial Director, Paul Rogers, and Plant Manager, Ewekoro II, Mr. Lanre Opakunle during the courtesy visit of Odumodu to the company’s plants in Ewekoro.

South African Brewery berths in Anambra T

HE South African Brewery (SAB) has made its entry into the Nigerian beer and beverage industry with its production plant in Anambra State. Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, while fielding questions from newsmen, said that the SAB production plant which will be commissioned this month in the State is the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa.

He observed that foreigners’ perception of Nigeria was at variance with the true situation in the country.

“The perception of Nigeria by foreigners is far worse than it is in reality. The truth is issues about Nigeria are usually over exaggerated by foreigners. The South African Brewery, if they show you their report and perception about Nigeria before coming to build their plant in the country, they wouldn’t have invested in the country. For instance, if you look at Heineken’s global income, 11.5 per cent of their income is from Africa and Middle East. “Out of this 11.5 per cent, six per cent comes from Nigeria. Today, Guinness derives 6.1 per cent of its global income from Nigeria. In fact, Guinness sells more in Nigeria than its home country. This will

tell you that despite the challenges we have, which the Ministry of Trade and Investment is working with state governments to address, Nigeria still remains the best investment destination for genuine investors across the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, SAB operates seven breweries and 40 depots in

South Africa with an annual brewing capacity of 3.1 billion litres. Its portfolio of beer brands are Carling Black Label, Hansa Pilsener, Castle Lager, Castle Lite and Castle Milk Stout. Its full brand portfolio includes ten beers and five flavoured alcoholic beverages.

HE chairman of the world’s biggest food group Nestle, Peter Brabeck, has called on politicians to lobby to end the use of food in the production of biofuels.

“This does not mean that biofuel should be scrapped entirely but that producers should use other organic materials,” Brabeck said He joins a growing chorus of politicians and scientists who are calling for a rethink in the production of biofuels.

“Our problem is that almost half of U.S. corn production and 60 percent of European rape is being used for fuel production,” he said.

Biofuel production is adding pressure on food prices which are already being boosted by climate change. “(Food) prices are increasingly prone to swings and correlate more and more with oil prices,” he said.

Daimler joins Foton to manufacture heavy duty trucks G

ERMAN auto maker Daimler, and Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., have entered onto a 50:50 joint venture company Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd (BFDA) to manufacture medium and heavy duty trucks at Foton Auman’s existing facility in Beijing’s Huairou district in China.

“With the newly established joint venture with Foton Motor, Daimler is the first and only international automotive manufacturer that had successfully deepened its cooperation with China in all segments of automotive industry” remarked Ulrich Walker, CEO and Chairman of Daimler North East Asia during the ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by the constituent meeting of BFDA’s Board of Directors, chaired by Andreas Renschler, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, and Wang Jinyu, President of Beiqi Foton. The BOD appointed BFDA’s Board of Management, with Wu Yuejun from Foton as President and Stefan Albrecht from Daimler as Executive Vice President. The clear aim of both partners in joint venture is to make use of the “best of both worlds.” Besides making a financial investment, Daimler will share responsibility for the joint venture’s Finance, IT, Quality Management, and De-

velopment departments. In addition, Daimler will set up the production facility for the OM 457 engines at BFDA’s headquarters. The OM 457 engine, which is being successfully used in MercedesBenz commercial vehicles in Europe and Latin America, will meet the future China IV emissions standard (corresponds to Euro IV).Foton contributes its existing Auman Medium- and Heavy-duty truck business, including the production sites and the sales and service network. The joint venture will also be able to draw on Foton’s market know-how in China and the rest of the world to facilitate faster business development.

24—VANGUARD , THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

NIMASA, ISAN disagree over incentives for local shipping practitioners

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

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sharp disagree ment has arisen between the management of the the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) over provision of incentives for greater participation by local shipping practitioners.

While the management of NIMASA is alleging that ISAN members are not taking advantage of the incentive for repairs of their vessels to enable them compete in the foreign dominated shipping industry, ISAN on the other hand is alleging that they have been neglected.

In responds to Vanguard’s question on their seeming neglect, Legal Adviser/ Board Secretary of NIMASA, Mathew Egbadon, said that NIMASA recognises the fact that local operators have some shortcomings and therefore told them they can make a list of all their vessels that need repairs for assistance.

Egbadon noted that the agency had budgetary provisions to assist local shipowners this year, saying that since the meeting where ISAN was told to make the list, the agency is yet to come forward with it.

According to him, “We recognise that the local operators have some shortcomings that is why we have some intervention policy. We held a meeting with ISAN, where we told them to go and identify some of their vessels that we can help them repair so that they can be competitive, and as we speak; we are

still waiting for them.”

On the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF), he explained that local operators are not going to get it like that. The NIMASA boss explained that getting a loan from the fund is tied to their ability to pay back.

However,, General Secretary of ISAN, Capt.

Olaniyi Labinjo, charged the Federal Government to put in place incentives to enable indigenous operators perform better in domestic shipping, otherwise known as Cabotage.

In his words, ‘There are no established rewarding incentives as well as patronage policies and guidelines for Nigerian operators engaged in domestic shipping. This is unlike what obtains in other maritime jurisdictions such as the UK, US, Canada, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, where their governments have robust promotional and support initiatives,” he said. Labinjo recalled that the association had s u b m i t t e d a memorandum to the

National Assembly in this regard during the Presidential Maritime Retreat held in Abuja in July.

The ISAN scribe said that there was need to

develop several incentives, including cargo support, tax relief, duty waivers for ships and spares.

He also urged government to provide fi-

nancial incentives and reduce port and harbour dues for cabotage vessels. Labinjo expressed concern on the absence of a conducive environment for the indigenous

Deputy Comptroller of Customs,Hassan Shallangwa, being decorated at Seme border by Customs Area Comptroller, Alhaji Sadiq Sahabi(L) and Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI)Ema Etim (R) during a recent promotion exercise by Nigeria Customs Service.

Ministry wants to take over regulatory function — Shittu

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

N

ational President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu has said that the Ministry of Transport is scheming to make a department under it the commercial regulator of the industry.

Shittu who disclosed this at a one day shippers’ clinic organised by Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) in conjunction with Akabogu and Associates in Lagos, explained that despite the out cry by stakeholders over the absence of a commercial regulator in the industry, seven

years after the concession exercise, the ministry seems not to be interested.

The ANLCA boss pointed out that the Ministry has thwarted all efforts in the past for the establishment of a commercial regulator in the industry. He throw his weight behind the call for the conversion of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the commercial regulator. He said instead, the Ministry is scheming to make a department within the regulator.

He said that the absence of a regulator has led to the arbitrary charges by almost every operator in the sector, ranging

from the terminal operators, to shipping companies etc. This, he said, has led to the exploitation of importers and their agents.

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hitu however admitted that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has some problems and this is as a result of the fact that they have not gotten the expected result from the perspective of industry operators.

He attributed this to the fact that the Act establishing the Council does not give it the neccesary powers to be able to effectively implement the law

Freight forwarders condemn attack on Customs chief

BY GODWIN ORITSE

F

REIGHT Forwarders operating at the Lagos ports complex have unanimously condemned the attack on Barr.( Mrs) Jayne Shoboiki, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Tin Can Island Port Command.

Their reaction followed the recent campaign of calumny being orchestrated by Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the Founder of National Association of Government Approved

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shipping fleet, adding that government should encourage local ship owners who, according to him, have invested so much in the business.

He also suggested exemptions from customs duty, company tax, exemption of seafarers from tax, as some forms of relief which could be granted the ship owners.

Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) against the Customs chief for her uncompromising stand on strict application of customs clearing process.

Dr Aniebonam, it was gathered, in one of his recent transactions at the Tin Can port, had have fallen foul of the guidelines on customs clearing procedures when he allegedly made false declaration of his consignment, an offence which attracted outright seizure under section 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Act Management Act (CEMA).

It was also alleged that in March, this year, the NAGAFF chief was involved in the clearance of a 1x40 footer container laden with plastic combs which is a prohibited items and was consequently seized, an action which was said to have infuriated him.

In an apparent show of desperation and frustration, the NAGAFF chief consequently launched series of attack through coordinated but damaging petitions against DC Shoboiki, an intelligence customs officer for her refusal to shift ground on strict observance of the rules on goods clearance despite all the pressure to do so.

to the satisfaction of industry operators.

He further stressed that under normal circumstances, the exercise would have been completed with just three or four firms operating all terminals. The present arrengement has led to patitioning of the port, resulting in the space problem that is presently confronting the system.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippersf Council, Capt. Adamu Biu, observed that factors that led to review of local shipping charges in 1997 still persists. He said that the concessionaires have introduced new tariff headings outside the officially approved nomenclature.

According to Biu, the council has received complaints from shippers and freight forwarders on excessive charges by service providers adding that this calls for thorough overhaul of the system to ascertain various cost structures unit in terms of tariff bands and charges under the concession regime.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 — 25

WAEC: Uwadiae tackles exam malpractices, results leakage, others

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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N less than five weeks, the Head of Nigerian Office (HNO) of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Dr. Iyi Uwadiae will bow out of office, giving way for a new man, Mr. Charleston Mivoghenubo Eguridu. While announcing the release of the May/June 2012 West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, Penultimate Friday, Uwadiae happily disclosed to

journalists that his bowing out is for good, as he has just been ratified during WAEC’s 60th Annual Council Meeting to step in as its new Registrar on October 1, 2012. He will therefore assume office, when Alhaja (Mrs.) Mulikat A. Bello, statutorily retires from the council.

Amidst pomp and champagne by close friends and associates for this progressive move, it however, becomes expedient to critically overview the exam body under the administration of Uwadiae.

Myriads of challenges ince assuming office four years ago, like what many termed baptism of fire, Uwadiae went through hurdles in handling reported cases of gross involvement in examination malpractices by students, as aided and abetted by teachers and officials; leaked exam question papers, release of conflicting exam results, touts who extort and dupe candidates and their parents to upgrade results and correct informational errors on

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certificates, controversies in Council’s Award of Excellence to performing candidates.

No miracle centres, but substandard centres esponding to questions from journalists, at the 2012 announcement of May/ June WASSCE results, the outgoing HNO, when quizzed on what his administration has put in place to tackle the rising spate of examination malpractices and miracle centres said: “We don’t have miracle centres in our dictionary, as far as WAEC is

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NERDC builds teachers’ capacity on SSE curriculum implementation

BY DAYO ADESULU

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aving realized that an excellent curriculum can only contribute to the development of any nation’s educational system if it is well implemented at the classroom level, the South – West Zonal office of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) recently trained Ekiti State teachers on the implementation of the new Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC).

The capacity building workshop which took place at Olaoluwa Mushin Grammar

Teachers at the workshop School, Ado Ekiti turned out to be an eye opener for the teachers who, until the exercise, knew little or nothing about the new curriculum whose implementation commenced in SS1 nationwide in September last year.

According to the Director/ Head of NERDC South-West

TUC president urges Nigerians in diaspora to come develop the country —— Page 26 C M Y K

Zonal Office, Dr. Moses Salau, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the parastatal, Prof. Godswill Obioma, the two-day training programme was necessary to inform, educate, retool, update, equip and strengthen the capacity of teacher in the state because the structure of the new curriculum is different

from the old one.

This new curriculum, according to him, provides for a systematic connection between basic education curriculum (BEC) contents and the learning of the future contents, and for 42 curricula (subjects) as well as 34

Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, HNO, WAEC concern. Again, as a citizen of this country, I can’t deny the fact that we have sub-standard exam centres. That was why we have over time, enjoined State Ministries of Education never to endorse schools or centres that are substandard and do not meet the conducive requisite for conduct of exams.

“We have told them to only endorse centres that are good.

Because as an honest and genuine businessman, you don’t just rent a threebedroom flat and approach the Ministry for recognition. If eventually, the Ministry gives recognition to any centre, there’s little we can do as WAEC, but to work on the ministry ’s report and give centre numbers. We have also told them never to endorse these substandard centres, because the proprietors are just there to make money.

“How do you expect a threebedroom flat to conducively house 150 candidates, including SS1 and SS2.”

While reiterating that the Council does not recognize miracle centres, but

Continues on page 29

Continues on page 31

How Nigerian students dominate Houdegbe varsity —— Page 27 —

FG directs unity schools to prioritize projects ahead of 2013 budget —— Page 29

26— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Graduating students of Westerfield College, Lagos

TUC president urges Nigerians in diaspora to come develop the country

BY DAYO ADESULU

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othered by inadequate skills to drive our various sectors, Comrade Peter Esele, President of Trade Union Congress TUC in Lagos urged Nigerian best brains in diaspora to come back home after their studies and contribute their quota to develop the nation’s dwindling economy, adding that their services are more needed in Nigeria than overseas.

Speaking at a graduating ceremony in Lagos, Esele told graduands who have successfully completed their A Level exams at Westerfield College: “This country needs you. It needs the skills which you are going to acquire, adding, You must therefore come back home after your studies as this is where you will be needed most.”

He noted that the Power sector which is one of the key areas where we are confronted with major challenge is waiting for trail blazing engineers who will transform it. Moreover, on the need for the country to engage in massive food production, Esele reiterated that the agricultural sector is waiting for men and women who will revolutionise the industry and provide food for the teeming and hungry Nigerians. Esele who also lamented the current state of the oil and gas sector said, there is need for Nigerians to fully take over the oil and gas sector, stressing that the oil and gas sector needs the best brains of Nigerians to domesticate the major technological processes within the sector and C M Y K

transform it into a truly great catalyst for national development. “The best of ICT professionals are needed to build an ICT compliant processes and backbones that will enable and activate creative governance in all segments of the Nigerian society,” he said.

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sele who urged students to be driven by the fore-mentioned national needs,

argued that students are capable of setting them up for life and leading them on the best path to greatness. He, however told the youths, “You must refuse to allow the pursuit of money to be the driving force behind your efforts.”

Stressing the need for Nigerians abroad to be proud of their country, he said: “You are first of all Nigerians and not Americans or Europeans, adding, those societies were built by their brightest, youngest and strongest like you.” He therefore charged them to acquit themselves in every way and seek avenues to project in a positive way the image of our father land.

“Acquire newer skills and build capacities that would enable you create value for the greater good of the Nigerian State and her people,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, first lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola stated that any institution or nation which fails to recognise and celebrate the potentials and ideals of her subjects that have brought honours to her is akin to a mother who fails to celebrate the achievements of her brilliant child thereby denying her of being appreciated by her immediate environment.

for success to be Winners of Mike Okonkwo achieved.”

She also National Essay contest emerge acknowledged the

work hand in hand

*Aiha Fego -1st Position

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*Chinaza

inners of 9thedition of Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition have emerged. Master Ahia Fego of Brilliant Child College, Akoka, Lagos State emerged the overall winner among over 900 students across the nation that participated in 2012 edition of the Competition.

Fego was announced the star winner with a total score of 81% after a keenly contested and closely monitored essay competition for the best 9 candidates out of the 10 shortlisted candidates for the second stage of the essay competition. The examination was conducted and supervised

by Prof. Akachi Ezigbo at TREM Headquarters, Lagos.

She is the Chief Examiner, and also a Professor of English, University of Lagos.

intelligence of the overall winner, who happens to be the 2011 overall winner, she commended him for his development academically in the last one year. In her words “Ahia Fego was outstanding in all aspects with Okoli -2nd Posistion *Mark-3rd Position hardly any blemish.

The Second best student firm grasp of language and was Miss Chinaza Okoli of creative handling of the Vivian Fowler School for subject matter were far ahead Girls, with total score of 74% of others. He deserves the while Master Mark of Lagos victory and all the State Senior Model College encouragement he needs to came third with total score of continue to excel” 67%.

As a result of emerging the The Chief Examiner, a 2012 edition winner, Fego literary guru of repute, Prof. will be receiving the star prize Akachi, also commended the of a Laptop and N100,000 singular effort of Bishop Mike cash for himself and 3 set of Okonkwo of TREM on this Internet ready Desktop laudable project of computers with printer for his empowering the youth of our School. Miss Chinaza Okoli, nation and also rewarding the the second best winner will be winners of the competition. receiving a cash price of Her words: “The essay N75,000.00 for herself and 2 competition teaches the youth Internet Ready Desktop the value of hard work and Computers with printer for her inculcates in them the virtues school, while the third best student of integrity and discipline. An will be receiving N50,000.00 for old proverb says “To work is himselfanda setofcomputer forthe to pray ”: through this school.ConsolationpricesofN20,000 competition, TREM stresses naira each will be given to the that diligence and prayer remaining six finalist.

Bowen varsity obtains accreditation for College of Medicine

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owen University has recorded a land mark achievement as it has been given the nod to run its College of medicine programme. With this development, the university becomes the first private university to have a full fledged teaching hospital to run its College of Medicine programme and obtain accreditation for medicine.

Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) in Ogbomosho, Oyo State is the teaching hospital for the University with state of the art facilities and infrastructures to enable the university accomplish its goals.

The accreditation which was given by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) clearly positioned the university as an institution of choice in Nigeria. A statement for MDCN stated that the university fulfilled all requirements through its strong focus on academic learning and development, huge investment in competent manpower and infrastructural development.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Timothy Olagbemiro while speaking on the accreditation said it is the vision of the university to provide first rate graduate in key disciplines. He asserted further that the College of Medicine is one of the strategies plans of the university to become a centre of learning and research of distinction.

Olagbemiro said that the university is poised to provide high quality, morally sound and socially relevant education in the most cost effective manner to all her students.

The Acting Chief Medical Director of Bowen University Teaching Hospital and Provost College of Medicine, Professor Olusola Akute said the accreditation by the MDCN is basic and fundamental to the offerings of the college adding that a medical school has to conform to a reasonable standard to obtain accreditation.

The plan of the college according to him is to enable students have based community knowledge to be useful to the society.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—27

US embassy/ Gordon Barret hold entrepreneurship workshop for corps members

How Nigerian students dominate Houdegbe varsity

BY MOSES IKEBELI

H

oudegbe North American University Benin (HNAUB) which is located at Republic of Benin, Cotonou to be precise, is a university that boasts of high international standard when it comes to education.

The university was established

by DR. Octave Houdegbe who is the president of the varsity, and also a former government minister of the Central African Republic. The university is bilingual, which means before a student graduates, he or she should be able to speak both French and English languages.

85 percent of the students in HNAUB are from Nigeria, while students from other countries make up the remaining student body.

Gaining admission to the university is like gaining entry to any university abroad, a student looking to gain admission must have 5 credit passes required for the course in which the student will be looking to study. For instance a student that wishes to study Mass Communication, must have at least credit passes in Math’s and English and three other art subjects before he can be considered for admission.

Many Nigerian students use this to their advantage as students who have this requirement, but have failed to gain entry into Nigerian universities due to issues of JAMB and post UME rush down to HNAUB to gain

PICTURE CAPTION: Crosssection of some Nigerian students at Houdegbe American University BeninRepublic

admission.

Every year, the majority of students that gain admission into the school are from Nigeria, parents bring their children from as far as Sokoto, Jos and even Maiduguri to seek admission into the varsity.

Although the fees can be said to be a bit on the high side, students keep trooping in from Nigeria especially, as it is believed the Nigerian students have a lot of money and are highly respected on campus.

The students from Nigeria put on a show of wealth, most of them drive expensive cars, rent houses off campus and use all sorts of expensive phones including the latest blackberry handsets. As a student in HNAUB, owning a blackberry

is of paramount importance, phone numbers are hardly exchanged among students as blackberry pins take over phone numbers. However, in terms of academics the Nigerian students still deliver as is often the case, and after graduation, the students from Nigeria return to proceed with their NYSC. Recently, exchange programmes have been on the rise in HNAUB, as other universities from America strike partnership with the school. The school has a lot to offer, unlike in Nigeria where summer is mainly for students who had carryovers from the previous semester, summer sessions in HNUAB are counted as full semesters for students who wish to round up their studies in school on time,

this means that a course of 4yrs can be run in 3yrs, just like the universities abroad.

Nigerian students in HNAUB dominate proceedings both on campus and off campus, activities organized by the school and by the students’ body is always actively attended by the students from Nigeria. Social gatherings see the Nigerian students make active participation, celebrities from Nigeria are often called to grace events organized by the student body. The likes of naetoC who is a rap superstar and singer, durella aka “king of the zanga”, saucekid the carolina crooner” and Karen Igho, winner of the prestigious Big Brother Africa have all been to HNAUB for one event or the other, courtesy of the Nigerian students in the school.

develop or to become fully grown’. The letter ‘-d’ past tense marker of verb follows mature when it is used as a verb in the past tense or present/past participle form.

Examples:

Mature candidates are exempted from the written examination.

Leadership is for mature people.

Girls are in some ways more mature than boys of their age.

A boy of eighteen years is sexually mature.

Frequently Confused Words Mature – Matured Mature can function as an adjective or as a verb. The adjective and the verb forms are commonly confused. The adjective mature means ‘fully developed, fully grown e.g mature people, mature plants, mature wine. In the three examples, the adjective mature qualifies the nouns ‘people’, ‘plants’ and ‘ wine’ respectively. ‘To mature’ (verb) is ‘to

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Wale has matured a great deal in the past two years.

She has matured into one of the best poets in the Creative Writing class

By Prisca Sam-Duru & Vera Samuel Anyagafu

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he Public Affairs Section, United States Embassy, in collaboration with Gordon Barret, a human resources and outsourcing company, and the Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties held a youth entrepreneurship/ empowerment programme to inspire creativity and innovation among youths, especially corps members.

Tagged, “Sparking Creativity and Innovation”, the workshop, held at Terra Kulture, Lagos, was aimed at facilitating change and developing communities to promote unity and integration amongst corps members in their places of primary assignment.

It was also designed to serve as a strategic workshop to equip them with basic ideas on entrepreneurship, necessary for nurturing successful business ideas from start to finish so as to decongest the labour market.

Tasking the corps members on the importance of self-reliance, the Director, Special Duties, Lagos State Government, Mrs. Cordelia Okechukwu, advised them on the importance of not dwelling on limitations, but looking within their environment and coming out with ideas that will provide opportunities for innovations that will make a difference in the economy.

is a phrase meaning ‘completely prepared’. Already , an adverb, means ‘(1) previously; before now or a particular time in the past (2) so soon or so early’.

Examples: The students are all ready to write the examination.

The players are all ready to start the game.

I’ve eaten already, thank you.

All ready – Already

By the time he got home, his children were already in bed.

It is easy to confuse words that are similar or almost similar in sound and spelling like all ready and already. All ready

I’m fifteen minutes late already.

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

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Expert identifies freedom as students’ major challenge

BY MOSES IKEBELI

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raduating students were challenged to be pre pared to face the reality of life, as there must be things to contend with in the course of fulfilling their desired dreams.

“Very soon, you will begin to face the reality of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), hoping that JAMB will not frustrate you, but you will scale through” This was the reality of life that Mr Emmanuel Ekpo, chairman of the graduation ceremony told the graduating students, citing an example of his son who sat for JAMB examination three times before he secured admission into the university.

He reiterated that students have to prepare for their future as they are living for a place where nobody will monitor them but leave them to the freedom that exist at the insti-

tutions of higher learning.

“Freedom is the major challenge you will confront within the university, as no lecturer will look for you to attend classes, if you are not there during test, it is on record,” he said.

According to him, if you are a first class product but end up with third class, it is because you could not manage your freedom on campus, adding that your entire future depends on how you manage your freedom.

“Spend your life doing the best and success will chase you,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, the principal, Early Life Secondary School,Festac, Lagos, Mr Onyema Onyenankeaya who charged the graduands to go and conquer, noted that in life, there must be obstacles that will contend with ones goals. He said, “There may be betrayals, failures, hardships and frustrations, however, in the midst of all these, students should remain

focused and be yourself.”

His words: “Do not cease in acquiring knowledge and to positively impact the lives of others.

Be very careful in making your choice because it is true that “the choice we make, make us or mar us”.

Because of the solid foundation we have given you, we are confident that in a few years time, like your predecessors, some of you will be graduating with first class honours, some of you will be captains of industries, notable professionals, distinguished ladies and reliable parents.

In the course of their education here, we have seen their good, their best and their worst. We have also seen students from other schools and can unequivocally state that the worst of the students we are sending out today can be the best of the students from some schools. This is an eloquent testimony of the caliber of the graduates - a testimony that is exemplified in the lives of their predecessors.”

On his part, Chairman, Managing Director, Early Life Schools, Chief Innocent Nwokeji, said his vision is to help less privileged students who live around him have quality education and also to help teachers get job in his school.

National Quiz Championship:

Lumen Christi emerges first

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youths within the secondary school age bracket towards education, by creating fresh role models and making the entire process very rewarding to all the stakeholders”. This he said “will include the selected participating schools, the competitors, the educational system and the respective sponsors.”

Selection for the contest is based on outstanding performance in the WAEC/NECO examinations which has seen Lumen Christi High School atop

,

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umen Christi International School, Uromi has put up an awesome performance at the 2012 edition of the National High School Quiz Championship (NHSQC) which was held recently at Owerri.

Based on their outstanding performance in the last WAEC/ NECO exams, the contest featured the best high schools from the 36 States of the federation with an addition from the FCT. Lumen Christi, representing Edo State emerged top after beating all participating schools in a tough intellectual bout. The annual championship is packaged by Inquest Limited in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education In its second edition, the championship took place in Owerri, Imo State as facilitated by the state Ministry of Education, and commenced after an opening ceremony anchored by the commissioner, Prof. Victoria Obasi at the Main Auditorium, Imo State University on July 31, 2012.

National Project Coordinator of the quiz initiative, Dr. Chidi Enwerem disclosed that “the contest is aimed at redirecting the minds and attention of

The criteria is purely on merit as data from the two major examination bodies; WAEC and NECO is used in getting only schools that have consistently produced excellent results in the terminal examinations conducted by the two bodies

,

the country ’s score board for three years. “The criteria is purely on merit as data from the two major examination bodies; WAEC and NECO is used in getting only schools that have consistently produced excellent results in the terminal examinations conducted by the two bodies” Enwerem said.

Coming second and third respectively at this year ’s competition were PHCN Staff Secondary School, Sapele, Delta State and Air force Comprehensive Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The quiz questions came from all teachable subjects in the Nigerian secondary schools system, excluding local languages while embracing the natural sciences, arts, management and social science. This made it a battle field of intellectual dexterity.

At the end of the competition, Lumen Christi International high School, Uromi went home with a cash prize and electronic board called “Panaboard”. The presentation was made by Mr. Okoaze Patrick a representative of the event part sponsor, Panasonic.

The yearly National High Schools Quiz Championship is also powered by NERDC, Dufil Prima Foods, Onward Paper Mills Plc, GSK Plc and Nutricima Plc.

UNILAG alumni honour Akeusola, 34 others

Pro- chancellor UNILAG Prof. Gamaliel Onosode honours Prof. Olu Akeusola, Provost ,MOCPED.

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n recognition of hard work and service to humanity, the University of Lagos Alumni Association last Friday honoured the Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, Prof. Olu Akeusola; National Chairman, All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Femi, and 34 others with Alumni Distinguished Award.

They were honoured during the Alumni Association’s Golden Jubilee Reunion and Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner held at UNILAG Multipurpose Hall as part of activities marking the institution’s 50th anniversary.

The award dinner night, was designed to recognise and celebrate those great men and women who passed through the university and are posting outstanding performances in their chosen professions and for their immense contributions towards the development of mankind.

Speaking to newmen shortly after the conferment, an excited Prof. Akeusola said he was grateful to University of Lagos Alumni Association for recognising the little efforts he has made to the body of knowledge and development of mankind.

He expressed happiness that the award came from the academic world, stressing that since he has had many traditional titles, this very academic award from group of technocrats, and professionals was a confirmation of his versatility in both tradition and academics.

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ccording to him, a good academic must be ready to bring the Town and Gown together to produce a good result and I am happy that I was able to bring the two together for the purpose of enhancing human capital development and touching lives.

Among those honoured include the Minister of Health. Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru; Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar; Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida; Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; General Overseer, Latter Rain Assembly Church, Pastor Tunder Bakare; General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Others were the wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; Justice Bode Rhode –Vvour of Supreme Court; Justice Inumidun Akande (Mrs); Legal consultant, USA, Mr. Owalabi Salis; country chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu; Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Philips Oduoza; the first female student to register at the institution, Prof. (Mrs) A. A. Majekodumi, and others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—31

SUBEB allays teachers' fear on new pension scheme

By DAYO ADESULU

I

n its bid to create awareness of the new pension scheme for both teaching and non teaching Staff, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has embarked on a sensitisation tour to the twenty local governments education authority which ended Friday in Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman Lagos, SUBEB, Mrs Daudu Gbolahan,who was represented by Mr Fagbamila James, Head of Department, Pension, SUBEB noted that ignorance of workers toward the workability of the new pension scheme necessitated the creation of enough awareness to give pensioners rest of mind.

The programme which brought together six pension fund managers who spoke on various topical issues that have been negatively affecting pensioners and the delay on the part of fund managers in releasing pension funds at their disposals, attracted over three thousand representatives who asked questions on the scheme.

Pension managers at the event include; Lead Way Pension, Trust Fund Pension Plc, ARM Pension, Stanbic IBTC Pension Fund, NLPC Pension Fund and Crusader Pension Fund. Also, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), was represented by Mr Ademopo Toyese and Mr Kotun Ahmed who introduced the four annuity

providers approved by Lagos State government which include; Leadway Pension, AIICO, Crystal Life and African Alliance.

“There are beneficiaries already of the scheme, so, it is no more new,” he said.

Fagbamila who urged workers to plan for the future said, pension is the end result of every worker adding, “There is time you come into the service and there will be a time you must retire either by compulsory age of 60 or 35 years of service.” He, therefore reassured them that SUBEB is available to guide them, stressing that there is nothing to worry about if all pensioners will follow due process.

Julius Berger donates 8 classrooms to communities

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By Bose Adelaja

s part of its corporate social responsibilities, Julius Berger Nigeria PLc donated eight block of classrooms worth N85,000b to the secondary school in Atlas-Cove communities comprices Abagbo, Ebute Oko, Okun Ayo, Store and Tarkway Bay, located near the Nigerian Coastline in Lagos.

The project which was built to accomodate about 240 students will become functional in September.At the handing over ceremony which took place at the weekend, Project Manager Henk Rypma, said the project was subcontracted to Cornelec Ltd, while Julius Berger provided logistics and material support.

In his words, ‘’our company was chosen to build the New Atlas-Cove jetty facility,

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commissioned in 2003, and to carry out repair works in 2011 resulting from the damage of a bomb blast which occured in July 2009,’’ he said.In his response, Baale of Iru land Chief Femo Alade appreciated the gesture of the construction company saying the communities will make the best use of the project. He also called on stakeholders to ensure that qualified hands are put in the school to bring the best out of the students in these Coastline communities.Also, Coordinator Atlas-Cove Communities Abraham Naikon commended the construction company for a job well done, ‘’today is a happy day, as we all come to witness the glorious gesture of Julius Berger towards the host communities in performing her civic responsibility.

In order to enlighten the workers on the new pension scheme, six areas were addressed which include: The process of retirement- the role of LGEA, SUBEB, LASPEC, PFA and PENCOM. You and your retirement savings account, Common mistakes that hinder quick access to retirement benefits, The issue of unfunded R.C.S.A, Options for pension paymentsprogrammed withdrawal and annuity for life and The process of death benefits ie the importance of a w i l l .

On ‘ you and your retirement saving account,’ Fagbamila urged workers to ensure that their monthly deductions are remitted to their chosen pension manager.

PICTURE CAPTION: Crosssection of teachers at sensitization programme held recently in the 20 local government education authority, Lagos.

On her part, representative of LeadWay Pension, Mrs Sherifat Abrahim urged pensioners to monitor their retirement savings accounts with pension managers, adding, “Your statement of account must reflect all the transactions in your account, if you notice there is a missing month or year, quickly alert your Retirement Savings Account (RSA) manager.”

According to her, there is need for workers to update their information with pension manager stressing that if you are moving from job A to B, you are to notify your account officer.

She pointed out that many workers who have problem getting their benefits after retirement are due to incorrect document, especially date of birth which some workers change yearly.

It was noted however that many retirees benefits are delayed, because some of them do not inform their pension fund manager before retirement. Mr Lanre Durowoju representing NLPC pension noted that some workers who have delay getting their benefits, was due to late clearance from employers and incomplete documentation with PFA. Other factors that delay payment include; failure to notify PFA of change in contact details, delay in remittance of acrew benefit, hanging on to original certificate and not having your account officer's telephone numb e r .

Talking on processing death benefit and the importance of having a will, Tayo Akinsanmi representing Stanbic said, in case of eventuality, every worker whether old or young should write his will to avoid conflict over their property after death.

NERDC builds teachers’ Continues from page 25

vocational trade/ entrepreneurship subjects. He added that the curriculum is designed to equip secondary school students with functional education which will make them self- reliant on the completion of their education.

Dr. Salau said: “The SSCE is to ensure that every senior secondary school graduate is well prepared for higher education, has acquired relevant functional trade/entrepreneurship skills needed for poverty eradication, job creation and wealth generation, and in the process strengthen further the foundations for ethical, moral and civic values acquired at the basic education level.

Apart from the capacity building workshop for teachers which is to be carried out annually in all the states of the federation, Salau disclosed that NERDC has also put in place other strategies to ensure an effective delivery of the curriculum. These include the

distribution of the curriculum to all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, reviewing and developing textbooks on all the approved subjects, regular assessment of educational books and reference materials and annual evaluation of the curriculum implementation process.

While assuring all stakeholders at the workshop of NERDC’s readiness to fulfill its own obligations, Salau urged Ekiti State government to recruit teachers who are academically and professionally competent and train or re-train adequate number of teachers who would implement the curriculum ,adding that both the state Ministry of Education and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) should replicate the training exercise in each of the Local Government Areas of the state in order to increase the number of trained teachers.

The boss of NERDC South- West Zonal office explained that it is the responsibility of the state government to build and equip workshops for the vocational trade/entrepreneurship subjects which it closes out of the available 34 trade curricula, reiterating that the state government must also create an enabling environment for the teachers, who, in turn must seek all avenues to make them competent in the discharge of their job.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—33

‘Life buoy Musketeers’ Win second edition of Unilever Ideatrophy competition

BY MOSES IKEBELI

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he winners of the second edition of Unilever Nigeria sponsored Ideatrophy business challenge emerged at the grand finale of the competition which held recently in Lagos.

Team ‘Life buoy Musketeers’, from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, beat six other teams in a keenly contested battle of business ideas to emerge winners. Two other teams ‘Aspire’ from Federal University of Technology, Minna and ‘Deluxe Brains’ from Abia state University emerged first and second runners up respectively.

The Ideatrophy competition is a national competition which gives Undergraduates from various Universities in Nigeria an opportunity to develop and execute strategies that deliver business results.

Speaking at the grand finale, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Thabo Mabe congratulated the

Winners of the Unilever at Ideatrophy contest

winning team “I congratulate the ‘Life buoy Musketeers’ for a well deserved victory. They brilliantly analysed the business case they were presented with and came up with winning ideas. I also congratulate the other participating teams who also made an impressive showing during the regional draws and the grand finale”. Mr. Mabe

also expressed Unilever Nigeria’s passion to help equip Nigerian Undergraduates with invaluable business skills that will help them become successful entrepreneurs or outstanding employees when they graduate, “Our sponsorship of the ideatrophy business challenge is in line with Unilever’s commitment to

developing the quality of lives of citizens in communities where we do business. We believe at Unilever that one of the ways through which Nigerian youths can be equipped to contribute to this country ’s economic development is by helping them acquire cutting edge business skills, and that is exactly what the Ideatrophy competition is all about” Members of the winning team could hardly contain their excitement. One of the team members, Brenda Agidi, a 400 level Geology student at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said winning the competition gave her an “indescribable sense of Achievement”, she was also immensely grateful to Unilever for giving her an opportunity to participate in the competition.

“Participating in the Ideatrophy Competition has been a lifechanging experience. Although I haven’t graduated, I have learnt so much about the world of business and how to develop potent strategies that can win in the marketplace.

I can’t thank Unilever enough for this huge opportunity”

Six zonal champs win AUN’s scholarships

By Alade Aromashodu

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ix high school students from across the Federation have emerged winners of the American University of Nigeria’s scholarships contested in the nation’s six geographical zones for the first time at the maiden AUN Day. The lucky winners: Nneoma Jennifer Emejuru (female, Providence High School, Enugu), Chiamaka Elsie Nwachukwu (female, Cita High School, Port Harcourt), Zamiyat Ozohu Abubakar (female, May Day College, Lagos), Joseph Shwarmu’ut Dalughut (male, St. John’s Vianney Seminary, Jos), Kingsley Celestine Jima (male, St Peter ’s Seminary, Yola) and Fatima Zahra’u Ali (female, Queens Science Academy, Kano).

According to Mr. Abubakar Abba Tahir, Assistant Vice President for Public Relations and Communications, “the examination was used to assess 54 candidates for meritbased scholarships and will henceforth be held annually”, saying, “about N120 million for the six winners cover full tuition, accommodation and feeding for all beneficiaries throughout their undergraduate years, provided that they meet the C M Y K

renewal condition of a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale”.

Apart from those based on merit, Tahir noted, “there are also need-based scholarships for the under-served, enrolled students. Sports and other achievement scholarships are also available at AUN. In another development, AUN recently received a scholarship from the Peace

Corps Nigeria Alumni Foundation (PCNAF) and the Friends of Nigeria (FON).

This scholarship will support a female student at AUN. AUN is located in Yola, northeast, Nigeria, near the border with Cameroon.

Candidates for qualifying examination must have a minimum score of 245 on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Unified

Tertiary Matriculation Examination (JAMB-UTME) test and a minimum of 10 A’s and B’s obtained at the highschool level. These must include 4A’s (preferably in English Language and Mathematics) and 6B’s on the other academic subjects, not including Agricultural Sciences, a Nigerian language, Religion, or Home Economics.

College of Education, Warri, holds matric ceremony

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or two reasons, the 4th of August, 2012 has gone down the annal of history of the Koko study centre of the College of Education Warri. The first, being the marking of its second matriculation ceremony, were 51 students graduated, while the other reason was the unflinching support from the duo of Hon Irene Imilar and Comd. Atigan Jeremiah, the Chairman of Koko Community Management Authority (KCMA).

Presenting a cheque to cover the tuition fees of the 26 students, Mr. Clem Ogbor, Senior Special Assistant to Hon. Irene Imilar, and the PRO of Irene Imilar’s Education Foundation, said Hon. Imilar was committed to brightening the educational future of youths in the riverine of Warri North LGA, which she represents at the Delta State House of Assembly.

Comd. Atigan Jeremiah was delightedthattheKokoStudycentre has came to stay. He said that the community, under his regime as the chairman of the community trust will do everything possible to ensure that the centre thrives to meet the expected academic standard. He also announced the award of a one year motivational scholardhip to 20 matriculating students of Iweroko and Ameren indigenes The Provost, Elder SS Ebisine was confident the Koko study centre will live up to the expectation of the parent institution. The coordinator of the Centre, Mr. Okofu Ubaka Omamuli thanked Hon. Irene Imilar and Comd. Atigan Jeremiah for their kind gestures.

Builders Consult hunts for teenage talents to develop

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uilders Consult Limited, a teenage oriented private initiative, has pioneered a platform for discovering raw and budding teenage talents within the entertainment and educational sphere.

Tagged Teens Ambassadors, the talent hunt is targeted at teenagers between the ages of 13-19 and is aimed at empowering them to become future leaders.

In a statement issued by the organization, the Chief Executive Officer, Builder Consult limited, Mrs. Modupe Lawrence, said it was important to engage youths positively on an engaging platform like Teens Ambassadors.

She added that, “Having

seen the different entertainment channels for rewarding and promoting excellence among youths, we realized that teenagers have been pushed to the background and this has inevitably had an adverse effect in their creative and developmental process, especially within the sphere of entertainment and education.

We believe that the teenage period is very crucial and attempts to neglect children’s talent at such a time could be suicidal.

Apart from harnessing the talents of teenagers in all art form, moral excellence is a vital prerequisite for being nominated the ‘Teen Ambassador ’ every year”.

Mrs. Lawrence added that,

the concept is a way of contributing to developmental process of our teenagers and giving them the platform to display the unique gift in them.

Nollywood actor, Mr. Kalu Okiagbo was also on hand to lend his support for this teenage initiative. According to him, “Nigeria is brewing with talents among these teenagers and there is a serious need to nurture them towards their dream”.

He called on government, parent and stakeholders in every aspect of child development to give proper attention to God given talents in our teenagers as this will not only contribute to better tomorrow but will help our Nation attain

quality leadership.

The Teens Ambassadors Season1 will run throughout the month of August. Hence, teenagers are expected to express themselves in art forms ranging from singing, broadcasting, acting, playing musical instruments, comedy, and others. This noble teenage brand programme will no doubt elevate the image of teenagers who are considered the leaders of tomorrow.

Builders consult ltd is a purpose driven enclave encircling various agegrades of our polity, setting sights on note-worthy facets of societal norms and family values that had hitherto been nipped in the bud.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

KwaraPoly expels 45 students over exam malpractice

BY ADEKUNLE OLADUNNI, SLT Student KwaraPoly

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ollowing the con clusion of the second semester examination at the Kwara State Polytechnic (KwaraPoly), Offa-Ilorin, the management has just released names of forty-five students who have been expelled owing to gross cases of examination malpractice. The list includes eleven (11) HND finalist preparing for camp, twenty (21) ND finalist students planning for industrial training and 13 fresh students.

Their names and passport photograph were published on the school newspaper tagged flash news but not

yet pasted at their various department.

The school management, however, gave kudos to the Director of Students’ Service (DSS) for the great work and effort made during the examination, while commending the division for been able to fish out students who indulged in examination malpractice.

The statement also read: “The expulsion of those students involved in examination malpractice, after investigations, will also serve as deterrent to others, as it will gear them to adequately prepare before exams,” noting that “the school authority has zero tolerance for exam malpractice or other related cases.”

Foundation charges students to discover purpose in life

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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orried by the rising spate of revolutionary tendencies by today’s teenagers, culpable of destroying their future and making the nation a hostile place for living, Polished Pillars Foundation (PPF), Weekend, brought together no fewer than 400 teenagers, spanning primary and secondary schools across the country, charging them to discover their purpose in life.

Being the 4th edition of the Foundation’s Teenagers Summer Retreat, Mrs. Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu, President/Coordinator of PPF said the teenagers were camped for two days to enable them discover their purpose in life, instead of living another person’s life.

She said: “Knowing fully well that the teenage period is a delicate time

of a growing child’s life, we have brought these teenagers together for them to exhibit their talents, learn new skills, interact and network among themselves. This creates an atmosphere for a brighter future.”

Meanwhile, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and borne vision to support teenagers capacity building, Slot Systems Limited (SSL), an IT-based outfit, presented laptops and phones to some of the teenagers who have distinguished themselves for their academic and talented performances in their respective schools and at the two-day retreat.

Presenting the gifts to the awardees, Mr. Patrick Egbulefu, Head of Marketing Business Development, SSL, charged them not to rest their oars, but remain focused in being good ambassadors of their family and country at large.

Corps members execute CDS project in CRUTECH

BY OGAR EMMAUEL & STANLEY UCHEGBU

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wo corp members of Peer Educa tion Trainer (PET) Abraham Egbe and Adegbemi Lauretta and HIV/AIDS Community Development Service (CDS) have executed a joint personal CDS project tagged “A day seminar, counseling and testing on HIV /AIDS and Hepatitis at Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH).

The CDS project which targeted an audience of three hundred students experienced a huge turn out twice the expected number.

Dignitaries in attendance were Dean Students Affairs Dr. U.U Effiong, NYSC zonal inspector Mr. Ndirika Chinedu, NYSC PET/HIV/AIDS scheduled officer and representatives from Cross River State Agency for the Control of Aids (CRSACA). Others were members of Society for Family Health (SFH), Excellence Foundation International C M Y K

Health Incorporation (EFI-HealthINC), Non Governmental Organization on viral Hepatitis in the state and Executive members of Student Union Government of the institution were all present as partner.

Law Faculty agog, as finalists write last paper

BY ADEYEMI MOSES

I

t was celebration galore at the Fac ulty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), as the 500L students threw the faculty agog in celebration of their final exams as students.

The event was heralded with a dancing show that lasted for more than six hours, with all the finalists in their reverend white and black attire. To colour the day, the ecstatic students wrote several inscriptions and signatures on their white shirts signifying that they are going to miss their pens.

In a chat with Olaniyi Jones, 500L said: “We have just finished our exams today and we have actually thrown a party in celebration. Registration for our Law school billed for October, 2012 has also began.”

Asked how he felt, Jones explained: “I’m happy that there is no more lectures and assignments. All the students that know you, are expected to write on your cloth how they feel because they might not see you around gain.

Corps members clean community market

BY LAJUARENYEKA

"

Una do well, Ekuse” were the thanks that greeted members of the National Youth Service Corps, Ajeromi Ifelodun Division of Lagos state, as they swept the streets of the new Alayabiagba market, Alaba Suru, last weekend.

One of the corps members, Omotosho Kayode, who spoke to Quadlife said that the cleaning of the market was to “encourage the traders to make sure they keep their surroundings clean because it will help eradicate infections.”

The Chief Liason Officer (CLO) of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Emetu said: “This is the Education and Public Enlightenment Community Development group, today we have helped improve the picture of corps members in Lagos state. We’ve also inspired other youths to make an impact.”

Today is also aimed at fostering healthy and cordial relationship between the finalists and the Law undergraduates.

On her part, Kehinde Morakinyo, another finalist said: “I feel relaxed and satisfied, but I will miss my friends and colleagues and some lecturers. The truth is that I just need to go out of the school and move forward. All the glory must be given to God,” she added.

UNICAL inducts 32 radiographers

BY STANLEY UCHEGBU

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he Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences in the Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, University of Calabar has officially inducted no fewer than 32 Radiographers into the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria ( RRBN) at an event marking the 6th Induction and Oath taking ceremony held at the Centre for Teaching and Learning Excellence Auditorium of the University.

The Ag. Registrar Chief Executive Officer Radiography Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) Mr. Michael Okpalaeke presented the new graduated Radiographers for induction.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar Prof. James Epoke who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration Prof.

Simeon Utsalo, in his opening remark felicitated with the graduates and commended the staffs of the department for the job well done in producing professional Radiographers.

Prof Epoke said that induction ceremony of the Radiography department, signifies the professionalism in education as reflected in the results and performance of her product in the outside world. He charged the new inductees to uphold the ethics of the profession with passion and shun unethical principles. He equally stated that the University products are always distinctive among equals and that the inductees should not betray the trust and confidence the University has in them.

The Provost of College of Medical Science Prof. Saturday Etuk in his biblical advice enjoined the new inductees to put their trust in God and be focused as they have entered into another phase of their life, adding that this time it’s away from the academic environment and the challenge will be a new one.

He admonished them never to forget God who made them what they are today adding that what they have achieved has brought joy to their families, friends and indeed the Col-

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—35

FG directs unity schools to prioritize projects ahead of 2013 budget

2011 WASSCE and they are ready for collection.

For this 2012, we are working round the clock to release the certificates by December.”

Resolution of queries ccording to Uwadiae, one of the cases which the Council is presently resolving is the issue of candidates who had their OMR sheets used in answering multiple-choice questions torn. “The results of these candidates have not been released until we resolve their issues. What we are doing is to mark the OMR sheets manually, because the computer can’t recognize them. For some candidates who have their names and centre’s name correctly written, but with no exam number, we have contacted our State comptrollers to visit the schools for further clarification.”

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By Favour Nnabugwu

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he Minister of State for Education, Barr Nyesom Wike has directed principals of Unity schools across the country to prioritize their projects ahead of the funds that would be made available to the colleges in the 2013 budget.

The Minister while addressing unity college principals at a meeting with managers of Unity colleges and some higher institutions on 2013 budget in Abuja on Tuesday told them that the federal government would continue to uplifts unity schools in the country though in phases.

He also stated that the government was working on best ways to give all the Federal Technical Colleges a face-lift in the 2013 budget in line with government determination to promote technical and vocational education.

Wike further challenged the principals to direct funds available to them on only projects and programmes that would enhance academic achievement of the students, noting that it is by so doing that they can justify their positions in the schools.

He said, “Federal

U

L - Minister of State for Education, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike addressing principals and other participants at the meeting in Abuja with the permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ben Ibe. Government has invested much in the Basic Education sub-sector through its intervention strategies with a view to improve the system as state governments and other stakeholders in the sub-sector are enjoined to join hand with the Federal Government’s drive to reposition the Basic education system”.

Though he stated basic education was not directly under the responsibility of the Federal Government explaining that the

intervention initiatives were to assist the states to put the system on the right track, noting that poor quality at the basic level has direct impact on tertiary education.

Wike said that the processes were on to absorb qualified part-time teachers in the schools with about 1000 teachers in core subjects – Mathematics, English Language and Science –related subjects for employment.

WAEC: Uwadiae tackles exam malpractices, results leakage, others

C M Y K

On results leakage esponding to the mishap that greeted the council in 2011, when two conflicting results were released on its website, Uwadiae clarified that the fault was not from WAEC but from a staff who was bent in satisfying his selfish interest, revealing that the staff had been brought to book by appropriate authorities.

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On touts who dupe candidates he WAEC boss noted that the Council had always placed notices on different strategic locations warning candidates and their parents to beware of touts who claim to be working for WAEC or know one WAEC official or the other.

He advised: “If you have issues bordering on errors of names, age or others on your

T

certificate, come straight to WAEC and lodge your complaints. We shall attend to you, instead of patronizing touts who hover around claiming to have links in WAEC.” Adding, “In our efforts to forestall the recurring decimal of these incidences, what we tell candidates is that after the day of their last paper, either in (May/June or Nov/ Dec), it takes about 60-80 days before we release results. Tied to this, what we are also doing now is to ensure that before the next exams, candidates get their certificates. We have printed certificates up to the

,

Continues from page 25 substandard centres, the incoming Registrar, however noted been working lege thatofit hasMedical round the clock withofState Sciences, University Ministries of Education to Calabar. curtail the existence of these centres. “States such as Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Ekiti have driven these centres away. They have told them to go and register for Private Candidate Exams (Nov/Dec), if really they want to hold exams.”

This year, even though the cases of candidates’ results held for alleged examination malpractices increased by 30, 427; from 81, 573 to 112, 000, he affirmed that the Council polices every centre and frustrate perpetrators of exam malpractices, noting that “when there is good learning environment, students need not go looking for how to indulge in malpractices.”

Controversies in WAEC’s Award of Excellence wadiae made clarification to controversies that rocked the Council’s 2011 award of excellence to performing candidates. Last year, a candidate Miss Falokun Tolulope Janet from Saint Louis Secondary School, Ondo, scored 9 A1s in the 2011 May/June West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), but did not make the Council’s merit list.

Then, the Ondo State Government had celebrated Falokun, who had 9 A1s with a T-Score of 742.6992 for her outstanding performance in the examination, based on a letter it received from a Lagos-based organization, Midas Global Associates, which alleged that Falokun had the highest T-Score and was denied recognition by the Council. This non-recognition was to the chagrin of the Ondo State Government.

Amidst these controversies, the HNO said Falokun based on WAEC’s criteria came fourth and could not be rewarded since those who qualified for the merit award were candidates in the first and third position. He explained that Falokun came fourth after the trio of Adeloye Christiana Opeyemi, Omigbodun Iyeyinka Aanuoluwapo and Nwigbo Kanayo Uduani, who were honoured in Abuja during the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Council.

He said: “In the award ceremony in Abuja, Adeloye Christiana Opeyemi, of Charis International College, Abeokuta, came first in the National Distinction/Merit Award having had 8A1s including Mathematics and English Language with a T-Score 682.3283; Omigbodun Iyeyinka Anuoluwapo, from Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State, came second having had 8A1s with a T-Score of 680.9797; while the third position went to Nwigbo Kanayo Uduani, who had 8A1s with a T-Score of 675.2813.

“All the candidates in Nigeria scored nine A1s including Mathematics and English Language and qualified for the first stage of the award, but the raw scores from all the entries were pooled together for standardization before arriving at the final grading.”

Speaking further, Uwadiae held: “WAEC has no interest in any candidate, but we looked at the criteria approved for the five-member countries. We went through this process and took it to all the committees which scrutinized the scores. We used internationally acclaimed criteria to select the candidates.”

Affirming that the criteria used by the Council for its International Excellence Award and National Distinction/Merit Award was based on international criteria, the Council boss, said the maximum subjects for Ghanaian candidates is eight subjects, while in Nigeria it is a maximum of nine and minimum of seven subjects.

Noting that there was no controversy in the merit award, he, however alleged: “The gentleman went to Ondo State with the letter to defraud the government, brandishing that the Ondo student was cheated by WAEC.”

WAEC has no interest in any candidate, but we looked at the criteria approved for the fivemember countries

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36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Re: Tales from tenants (3)

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humananglepage@yahoo.com Cheers!

Dear Yetunde, The tenants raised alarm and went to get the Police.

Though baba tried to escape, he was arrested but later released

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i, The problems associated with landlord versus tenant relationship are innumerable.

From indiscriminate hikes in rent to molestations over how occupants manage the premises. In extreme cases, landlords and tenants have had to trade punches or taken their grieviances to the courts of law.

Almost every tenant has a story or another to tell about their landlords, from the bizzare to the hillarious. Stories of greed, jealousy and hatred and of course, kindness and love.

A couple of weeks ago, we published stories from two respondents who narrated some perculiar tales.

According to Amune, he strongly suspected that his wife of barely four years was killed by his landlord who disliked her from the first day he brought her into the house. The old man he said, wanted him to marry one of his young daughters.

Amune’s wife was considered as the clog in the wheel of his plans, so she had to go, at least, that was what Amune said his mother was told by some spiritualists.

Today, we bring you some of what our readers have to say on the issue.

Dear readers, we will still love to hear from you on this topic. Share your views/opinion and contribution with us by sending them to our address: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or e-mail us via:

These two children combined are now even more lousy than their father. You will not believe that when the man died, we were all forced to pay for one year rent in advance in order to raise money for

It is just unfortunate that one cannot carry a house from one place to another, otherwise, I will not be a tenant in Lagos

because his children and family members rose to assist him eventually, even though they initially left him.

Baba returned from the Police after almost two weeks to continue in his wicked lousy ways.

If anyone was owing babalandlord for over a month, he will have such a persons’ light disconnected and then his roof removed.

Although he would do the later only to those he wanted to vacate his p r e m i s e s .

This old man’s antagonistic behaviour did not stop with his tenants, he would always fight with his wives and children.

Several times, his children were forced to beat him up or have him arrested by the Police and kept in their custody for a few days. This is besides the numerous fights he had with the visitors and neighbours.

The unfortunate thing about this house is that, now that the man is dead, his children have taken over the compound as their inheritance and two of them are proving to be the true sons of their father.

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the burial.

Even those of us who had just paid our rent for that year to babalandlord before he died were forced to cough out some money to the children.

It is shameful the way many people go about treating their tenants just because they are in a vantage position over them.

It is just unfortunate that one cannot carry a house from one place to another, otherwise, I will not be a tenant in Lagos.

But such is life and you have to live it. Thanks so much for having me.

Akintunde E. E m m a n u e l .

By E- mail.

Dear Yetunde, Please permit me space in your widely read column. I read the story by one Amune about how his landlord wanted him to marry his daughter.

It is unfortunate that Amune did not see the handwriting on the wall before it was too late. otherwise, he would have figured things out and moved out of the house long before all those evil things started happening to him.

Though Amune’s case may look like a fairy tale to some people, it is not because it almost happenmed to me. Not only once, but twice, in the first two houses I rented after I moved out of my parents home. My two landlords were women, the first one a divorcee who built the house by herself and the other, a widow who inherited the house from her husband.

After my graduation, I was lucky to secure a job with a second generation bank and was posted to their Apapa branch.

My parents live at Ikorodu, so it became almost impossible for me to commute from Ikorodu to Apapa on a daily basis and I had to get an accommodation nearby. I got one around Otto-Wharf.

The house consisted of the original four flats of three bedrooms, then a set of six rooms at the back and two sets of one bedroom self contained at the left wing of the house. No parking space as the little space left in front of the house also had a shop where the woman sold provisions and drinks. I rented one of the single room self contain apartment.

Alhaja as she was called started on a very good note with me right from the onset, especially after she learnt that my mother and her were from the same place in Ijebu. So, she would call me her son. She informed me about the tenants, those she liked and those she did not and what she expected of me in the compound.

Though, I had a very tight schedule at the time, my weekends were free and I used to have lots of friends over. So, we bought loads of drinks from Alhaja along with other stuffs. She had a sepearate account book opened for me where she will just update what I was owing her and I will pay up.

It was convenient for me as I could entertain my guests even if I was not around.

Alhaja had four children, two boys and two girls. The older girl was at Ire Polytechnic

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Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

Poetry of love set for launch, as writer institutes contest

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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young Lawyer, A d e w a l e Oreshade, is set to launch a new anthology of poetry titled ‘the poetry of love’. The book which is already on sale would be launched officially on November 3, 2012, in Lagos.

Oreshade in an interview, disclosed that aside from being a Lawyer, he had always loved the work of poetry, which prompted him to writing, his book of love. Aside the launch of the new poetry collection, Oreshade has also instituted a picture competition tagged The Loveliest Picture Competition with a cash prize of $500 for the winners.

Oreshade said that in the Loveliest Picture Contest, the winner will get $200, the first runner up gets $150, the second runner up will go home with $100, while the remaining $50 will go to the winner adjudged to have the most Creative Picture.

He also revealed that the most creative picture will be decided by guests on the day of the book launch.

According to him, to be a part of the competition, interested participants must first read the book, understand it, then do something creative that will be snapped and forwarded to the organizers.

The picture must depict love and life as depicted in the book in the

interest of spreading love.

Getting the book is easy as it can be found in places such as TT Talk Store at the Silverbird Galleria; Domino Store, Terra Kulture, The Hub at The Palms; Lekki and Faculty of Law, University of Lagos from 17th August.

The picture should then be sent to adewaleoreshade@yahoo.com with the unique code on the book attached to the mail.

All pictures sent in will be uploaded to Poetry of Love’s Facebook Album and a short but unique link will be sent to participants as confirmation of receipt.

That link is designed in a way that when the participants click on it, it takes him to the picture he sent in to participate in the contest.

The final step is for all participants to ensure their friends on Blackberry, Twitter and Facebook access the link and click ‘Like’ which is the manner of voting in the contest.

The pictures with the three highest votes will win.

The contest will be on till 12am of November 3, 2012, the official book launch date.

Winners will be given their prizes during the launch.

Participants and fans are enjoined to join the book’s Facebook page: Poetry of Love by Prince Adewale Oreshade.

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38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA

Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi

•Road protests during the January fuel strike

Impactful Labour Ministers

,

Enahoro’s greatest contribution to Labour was at the continental level. Following the Second World War, the cold war set in and battles at every level conceivable in the world were fought on that basis. Nigerian and African workers were caught in these endless battles

,

This is the eleventh edition of the serial on OWEI LAKEMFA's latest work: "One hundred years of trade unionism in Nigeria". The tenth part was published yesterday.

J

OHNSON: The Anti – Apartheid Labour Minister Chief Joseph Modupe Johnson (JMJ) the ex-soldier, former radio broadcaster and businessman was elected chairman of the Ibadan District Council in 1948.

His election was spectacular because he was a Lagosian, but people in the Ibadan province preferred him as their leader. He was Labour Minister from 19571964 a period of serious Labour turmoil including the crippling general strikes of 1963 and 1964.

Johnson’s greatest contribution to Labour was on the world stage.

Nigeria became independent on October 1, 1960, at its first attendance of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Conference in Geneva nine months later, Johnson, as Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and head of the Nigerian delegation personally moved a motion that apartheid South Africa should be thrown out of that tripartite United Nations organisation.

He stood up at the ILO Conference and pronounced that the resolution was in the name of the Government of Nigeria and that “of the 40 million people of Nigeria.” He said the Nigerian people “have good will, love and affec-

tion towards other people irrespective of the colour of their skins, (and) believe in the equality of all races, abhor racial discrimination in all its forms and with all its trappings, wherever and by whomever it is practiced.”

The motion by Johnson and some amendments made on the floor read: •“Whereas the International Labour Organisation, dedicated to the pursuit of lasting peace based on social justice, has stressed the need for freedom of expression and of association, and the right of all human beings irrespective of race, creed or sex to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritualdevelopment in conditions of economic security and equal opportunity, as fundamental to the attainment of the aims and purposes of the organization, •“Whereas the organisation has adopted a series of Conventions and Recommendations calculated to implement these aims and purposes, especially as regards the promotion of freedom of association, the abolition of forced labour, the elimination of discrimination, the free choice of employment, and just and favourable conditions of employment,

•“Whereas the Government of the Republic of South Africa, in spite of its long association with the International Labour Organisation, accepts and practices the policy of apartheid, which said policy subjects indigenous African citizens to racial discrimination to their economic and social disadvantage, in contravention of the principles, aims and purposes of the International Labour Organisation.

"Now, therefore, this Gener al Conference of the International Labour Organisation, meeting in its forty-fifth Session in Geneva, this day of June in the year nineteen hundred and sixty-one, hereby “1. Condemns the racial policies of the Government of the Republic of South Africa. “ 2. Expresses the utmost sympathy with those people of South Africa whose fundamental rights are suppressed by the apartheid policy of the Government of the Republic of South Africa as well as those courageous people who irrespective of race and colour are opposing apartheid. “ 3. Declares that the continued membership of the Republic of South Africa in the International Labour Organisation is not consistent with the aims and purposes of the Organisation. “ 4. Resolves that the Governing Body of the International Labour Office is requested to advise the Republic of South Africa to withdraw from membership of the

Organisation until such time as the Government of the said Republic abandons apartheid which is against the declared principles embodied in the constitution of the International Labour Organisation, and further requests the Governing Body to ensure speedy implementation of this resolution”.

Employer delegates At the ILO Resolutions Committee meeting, 163 delegates voted for the Nigerian resolution, none against while there were 89 abstentions. Most European government and employer delegates including those of United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Australia, Italy and Spain abstained as did the United States and of course, South Africa. When the final report was presented, there were 6,664 votes in favour, with none against and no abstentions.

The other Nigerian delegates to that momentous ILO Conference were Messrs Tom Edogbeji, Aitkins Salubi, Tijani. M. Yusuf (Government) Mrs. Moore (Employers) and Comrade Lawrence Borha (Workers). Twenty nine years after Nigeria moved that motion, Nelson Mandela, newly freed from apartheid jail after twenty seven years, stood before the ILO Conference on Friday June 8, 1990 to thank the international body for its actions and declared that: “The apartheid system can no longer be sustained. Those who were imprisoned have had to be released.

Those who were driven into exile shall return to the country of their Continues on page 39

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—PAGE

39

Impactful Labour Ministers birth. Those who were condemned to a position of slavery shall be masters of their destiny. The tragedy is that those who were killed by the apartheid system cannot be resurrected.”

Enahoro: Pan Africanist as Labour Minister Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, foremost nationalist born on July 22, 1923 has the distinguished records of being the youngest editor of a national newspaper when at 21 he became the Editor of the Ibadan-based Southern Defender. He moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence in 1953 and was such a thorn in the flesh of the British Colonialists that they jailed him at least thrice for political activism.

He was indicted in an attempt to unseat the Tafawa Balewa government by force and became a fugitive in Britain. But in 1967 when the country faced secession, he was appointed Minister of Information and Labour. His tenure in the Labour Ministry which lasted until 1975 was quite turbulent. The

the increase of the N400 per annum wage to N720. The Udoji Commission and Government whitepaper on it led to one of the most serious labour crises in the country’s history. Within a few months of the Commission's Report, there were 86 strike actions while from January to March 1975 there were 381 disputes and 197 strike actions. The Enahoro ministerial work simply sank into near hopelessness.

But Enahoro’s greatest contribution to Labour was at the continental level. Following the Second World War, the cold war set in and battles at every level conceivable in the world were fought on that basis. Nigerian and African workers were caught in these endless battles; they were split on ideological lines and their unions and Labour Centres hopelessly factionalised. The continent’s trade unions became major battle grounds for the Soviets and Americans; Western and Eastern Europeans, capitalists and socialists.

In the specific case of Nigeria, workers were split amongst four labour centres; the United Labour

done. That was until the1972 African Labour Ministers Conference in Kampala, Uganda when Enahoro tabled the matter and proposed that the African Ministers should look at the possibility of spearheading the creation of a single, independent continental organisation of African trade unions.

The founding General Secretary of the unified continental Labour centre, Denis J. Akumu of Kenya documented Enahoro’s call and its effects thus: “Following this call and under the auspices of the OAU, a conference was held to discuss the unification of the African Trade Unions in Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) in April, 1973 where the birth of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, was realized. The Constitution (Charter) of the Organisation was adopted and a new Executive Committee to steer the affairs of the Organisation for the following three years were elected. Nigeria was represented in the new Executive Committee. Among the main provisions in the adopted Charter included (1) the principle

•JAF led protests over fuel strike in January end of the Civil War in 1970 witnessed severe food shortages, prices of commodities had skyrocketed and there was hyperinflation. The workers who had not had wage increases since the 1964 Morgan Commission Wage increases began major agitations for increased salaries. The government established the Adebo Commission to address workers agitations. Salaries were increased and arrears paid.

But Adebo could not address a lot of workers demands. So on September 13, 1972 the Government with Enahoro as Labour Minister set up the Jerome Udoji Commission. The Government accepted Udoji’s recommendations of unified salary structured, establishment of a National Public Service Negotiating Council and

Congress, ULC, which was rightwing, the Nigeria Trade Union Congress, NTUC, which was leftwing, the Nigeria Workers Council, NWC, which was affiliated to a pro-Christian international, and the Labour Unity Front, LUF, which was torn amongst the various tendencies.

A

t the continental level, Afri can trade unions were split into three ideologically opposing camps; the All African Trade Union Federation, AATUF, the PanAfrican Workers Congress, PWC, and the African Trade Union Confederation, ATUC. The trio belonged to different union internationals and Africa workers had no shared platform. It appeared an hopeless situation.

It seemed nothing could be

of non-affiliation to International Workers’ Organisation and (2) the realization of single viable trade union organisation in each country and especially in those states where plurality of trade unions still existed.

In the same year the Conference of the Labour Ministers and Sessions of the Council of Ministers and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government which were all held in Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) during the Tenth Anniversary Celebrations of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) endorsed the documents establishing the OATUU and further granted it a consultative status within the OAU machinery. In other words, the birth of the OATUU had the support and the blessing the highest decision-making organ of

the continent which is that of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.” When the country went through trying periods under the regimes of Generals Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Sani Abacha, Enahoro emerged to lead the opposition against them and for the enthronement of democracy.

Adefowope: Importing Dictatorship into Unions: General Murtala Ramat Mohammed became Head of State on July 29, 1975 following the overthrow of General Yakubu Gowon. The new regime decimated the armed forces, weakened the judiciary by carrying out mass sack and carried out series of purges in the public service which destroyed it as job insecurity set in.

Delegates conferences It appeared that the only institution untouched was the Labour Movement. The regime then turned its attention to Labour. It had in place as its Labour Minister, a serving Major General, Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefowope, an ex student of the CMS Grammar School, Lagos and a Glasgow University, Scotland-trained medical doctor. Before the Mohammed coup, the four Labour centres in the country; the United Labour Congress (ULC), the Nigeria Trade Union Congress (NTUC), the Nigeria Workers Council (NWC) and the Labour Unity Front (LUF) had decided to merge into a single Labour centre.

The four centres had held their various Delegates Conferences, dissolved themselves and took resolutions to jointly found the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the Sole Labour centre in the country. Labour Leaders then fixed December 18-19, 1975 as the inaugural day of the NLC which elections will be held.

But strategists of the General Muhammed regime thought that the merger of the existing four Labour centres into a single one would make Labour too powerful for the new government, it therefore decided to stop the process.

On December 4, 1974, fourteen days before the NLC inaugural Conference, Adefowope invited Labour leaders and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) to a Conference at the Senate Chambers in Lagos where he unfolded “The New National Policy on Labour” with the following Principal objectives:(i) “The need to give a new sense of direction and a new image to the trade union movement in Nigeria; (ii) The desirability of removing completely from the trade union arena ideological or external influences which have plagued Nigerian trade union unity for more than a quarter of a century; (iii) The need to rationalize the structure and organisation of trade unions and to ensure that they are self-sufficient financially

in future and not dependent upon foreign sources of finance; (iv) The need to provide facilities for trade union education in order to improve the quality of trade union leaders and the general knowledge and understanding of the purposes of trade unions by the rank and file members of these organisations; (v) The need to strengthen the labour administration system in the country through the provision of adequate material and human resources for the Ministry of Labour for the enforcement of Labour laws and regulations, and the enhancement of institutions established by the Government for the purpose of promoting effective labour administration in the country; and (vi) The need for the continued support of the principles and objectives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) subject to the over-riding interest of the Government and people of Nigeria.

Continues tomorrow

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Continues from page 38

When the country went through trying periods under the regimes of Generals Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Sani Abacha, Enahoro emerged to lead the opposition against them and for the enthronement of democracy

,

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Uduaghan assures on construction of Delta roads

BY FESTUS AHON

U

COMMISSIONING: From left: Mr. Oluwatoyin Onisarotu, Director, Monitoring Enforcment Dept, Lagos State Ministry of Environment; Mr. Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Mrs. Arinola Arowolo, Prosecutor, Lagos State Ministry of Justice; Mr. Adeniyia Mobolaji, Nigerian Prison Service, and Mr. Olabode Aroge, DPO, Ikoyi Police Station, during the commissioning of blocks of Magistrate Court for Environmenatal Offenders, by Lagos State Government, at Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

DEDICATION: From left: Rev. Olumide Aluko, a cleric of the Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria; his wife, Kike; his father, retired Very Rev. Akindele Aluko; his mother, Mrs. Mogbonhubola Aluko; Mr. Taiwo Aluko, Mrs Remi Akpotowhjo and Mrs. Kenny Ojo, at the dedication of the Kings Delight Hotel, in Ibadan.

GHELLI—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has assured that the Emevor-Orogun Road connecting part of Isoko North and Ughelli North Local Government Areas of the state will be constructed in 2013.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service organised

by Umeh Needs Road Facebook Forum to mark its first year anniversary at St Michael Anglican Church, Emevor, the governor said the road would be captured in the 2013 state budget.

Thanking the group for attracting government attention to Umeh and other parts of Isokoland that were in dire need of development, Uduaghan said his administration was committed to the well being of the people of the state. He said: “Infrastructural development, peace and security are cardinal points of my agenda for the state and we will do everything in our power to promote peace in our communities.”

Administrator of the forum, Mr. Duncan Afa-

CLO to FG: Avert NUPENG strike

BY INNOCENT ANABA

C

IVIL Liberties Or ganisation, CLO, has warned the Federal Government, not to allow the planned nationwide strike by National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to protest government’s disrespect for the agreement it signed with the union to take place.

CLO also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to order without delay the arrest and prosecution of all those who were involved in the brutalisation of journalists at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, Lagos, rejecting totally, claims by the Lagos State Police Command that the culprits could not be found and that they were resolving the case amicably.

CLO, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike, in Lagos, said: “It is worrisome that despite the trillions of naira wasted by the government on C M Y K

the non-existent oil subsidy, it cannot pay NUPENG members, whereas their colleagues have been paid. We condemn in very strong terms, the selective payment of the subsidies to the recipients and urge the government to do anything practically possible to comply with the demands of NUPENG to avert further suffering and exploitation of the masses.

“We welcome NU-

PENG’s planned industrial action in the event government refuses to pay their subsidies and enjoin them to do anything lawful to ensure that their genuine demands were met.

“We salute the courage of NUPENG to continue its industrial action to get the government to respect the terms of the said agreement, which includes but is not limited to putting our existing refineries to effective

use and building of new ones, repairing death trap roads across the country, payment of subsidies to its members and continued casualisation of workers in the sector, all aimed at reducing corruption and correctly fixing Nigeria for the good of all.

“We totally support the action of NUPENG and urge its leaders not to back down on its members’ demands till they are fully implemented by the government."

hoko, said: “The basic objective of the forum is to draw the attention of government to the plight of Umeh people in Isoko South council, who before independence had no access road. The forum is also to serve as a development advocacy group in Isoko land.”

Afahoko commended Governor Uduaghan for awarding contract for the construction of Umeh Road for N4 billion “in less than six months after his attention was drawn to it,” adding that “it is the single largest project to have come to Isoko since 1999.”

N-Delta ethnic nationalities launch pressure group

BY EMMA ARUBI

W

ARRI—AG GRIEVED ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, known as Savannah Deltan People’s Assembly, has been launched in Warri, Delta State, with the aim of agitating for the emancipation of minority ethnic groups to ensure even and equitable development of the region.

The inaugural meeting which took place at the residence of the Akulagba of Warri Kingdom, was attended by youth leaders from across the Niger Delta region.

Addressing the gathering, Protern Secretary of the group, Mr. Jaro

Egbo, said the formation of the group was in response to the lopsided distribution of amenities to the region by the Federal Government.

He claimed that Federal Government patronages in terms of political appointments, distribution of infrastructures and other gestures aimed at developing the region had been appropriated by one of the ethnic groups in the Niger Delta, necessitating the formation of the pressure group.

Convener of the meeting, Chief Ayirimi Emami and the new body’s legal consultant, Dr. Akpo Mudiaga–Odje, said the body was to agitate for even development of the region.

NYSC opens bid for 2012 capital items

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—IN an ef fort to ensure competitiveness, accountability and transparency in contract execution, leadership of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has opened bid for 2012 capital items, with no fewer than 19 companies taking part in the bid.

At the opening of the pre-qualification docu-

ments in Abuja, Director General of NYSC, BrigGen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, said the scheme was carrying out the exercise in line with government’s position on due process, to gain public confidence in contract implementation.

He warned contractors to desist from the habit of delaying contract execution or perform below expectation as specified in the contractual agreement.

Police quiz suspect over demolition Rep assures on devt in Ukwuani of Asaba Sports Club

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—A MAN laying claim to the ownership of the land on which Asaba Sports Club, Delta State, is situated, has been arrested over the alleged demolition of the complex.

Asaba Sports Club, founded in 1863, was brought down by bulldozers in November last year and since then, the

club members under, the leadership of Mr. Ben Anazia, have expressed concern that the culprits, including some policemen, who provided security for bulldozer to demolish the club, had not been brought to book.

Delta State police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the arrest yesterday, said: “The suspect was invited, questioned

and released on bail while the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, is investigating the matter.”

Affected in the demolition was one of the courts named after Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Uduaghan had, few years ago, donated N10 million to the management of the club to upgrade facilities including two lawn tennis courts at the premier club.

T

HE member repre senting Ndokwa/ Ukwuani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ossai N. Ossai has pledged to alleviate the suffering of his people whom he described as the most backward in Delta State.

He gave the assurance when he visited Ndokwa citizens in Lagos. He said the visit was part of his constituency briefing

and interaction with his people both at home and in the diaspora.

President of Ukwuani Foundation Union, UFU, Chief Joseph Olise, in his address recalled the promise made by Mr. Ossai that if elected into the House of Representatives he would brief his people at home and in the major cities and noted that the promise had been kept.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—41

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

Constitution amendment: Hurrilaws advocates joint civil society inputs — Pg 43

Insecurity and religious tension in Nigeria: Seeking the Third Way (2) — Pg 43

Nigeria over ripe for State Police — J.B. Daudu

worry for us. The problems have grave repercussions of gargantuan economic proportions and consequences. There is a direct correlation between poor legal services arising from ignorance and low quality and diminishing economic returns which afflict the service provider i.e. the lawyer. We have tried to energise the Nigerian lawyer by drawing his attention to the necessity of continuing legal education and ceaseless investment in the process. Our lawyers unfortunately want to put the cart before the horse.

BY INNOCENT ANABA

MR. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, is the out-going President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA. He ceases to be NBA President, next week Friday, when he will hand over to his successor, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, at the association’s Annual General Week long conference, slated for Abuja.

In this interview, he spoke on his two year tenure; corruption in the judiciary; standard of practice in the legal profession; hike in lawyer’s annual practice fee; 1999 constitution amendments process; establishment of state police; the controversy trailing the association’s national elections among others.

Excerpt: S the outgoing NBA president, how would you describe your two year tenure?

Much as I do not like self – assessment or glorification, I must first and foremost thank God Almighty, who I committed the entire Presidency to for a fulfilling two-year tenure. It has been an inspirational period during which I learnt a lot. I came into the office with the benefit of what I though was considerable experience in Bar activities.

What I have assimilated in two years surpassed what I brought to the office. I came with a plan and by HIS grace I have covered the field. I will, however, leave it to the historians to document the specific achievements of my administration.

In what ways would you say that your administration has impacted positively on legal profession generally?

I will say that we went right from the outset to promote professionalism as opposed to politics. We started by organising the NBA secretariat in such a way that it would be able to execute professional programs and projects such as specialised workshops and conferences, we created 3 directorates (a) Administration, (b) Bar Services and (c) Programmes and as at today, they are all up and running. For example, NBA organised 2 successful Human rights day roundtable for the year 2010 and 2011 in which the germane human rights issues were deliberated upon, we organised a seminar on the readiness of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and stakeholders for the 2011 general elections chaired by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, our Rule C M Y K

Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, of law committee headed by Mallam Yusuf Alli SAN organised a successful Rule of Law summit to draw attention to rule of law lapses in the prevailing democratic dispensation. In February 2012, the NBA organised an epochal

,

A

Financial returns

The truth is that insufficient policing is affecting the economic wellbeing of over 90 percent of Nigerians

,

meeting with our development partners such as the OSJI, UNICEF, Mac Arthur Foundation, USAID, DFID, OSIWA, UNDP, Lawyers Without Borders, EU, Legal Resources Consortium, Access to Justice and a few others.

Another flagship event was the highly accepted Criminal Reform Conference 1 and 11 held in 2011 and 2012 at Abuja and Asaba respectively. These conferences have highlighted the deficiencies in our criminal justice

system and have offered comprehensive solutions thereto. Further to these, NBA organised a seminal symposium on the performance of Election Tribunals in Nigeria in the aftermath of the 2011 general elections at Benin-City Edo State, which was superlatively attended by high judicial officers and legal practitioners in the electoral justice circuit. The Sections on Legal Practice and Business Law held their annual conferences and they have been adjudged to be of international standard.

There were other numerous middle level programmes like training workshops for Staff and national officers, interactions with other Bar Associations and institutional visits to dignitaries and other personalities such as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Senate Majority Leader, Chairmen of the various anticorruption commissions, Road Safety Corps, Judiciary heads in the States and FCT, National Orientation Agency to mention a few. These institutional visits are essential and or indispensible with a few to assessing the effectiveness of our national institutions and agencies and exchanging ideas with their chief executives.

Are you satisfied with the standard of practice in the legal profession considering your administrative capacity building inputs?

No, I am certainly not satisfied with the standard of legal practise in Nigeria and this has been a source of substantial

They love the financial returns that flow from legal practise but unfortunately a substantial number and they constitute the majority do not invest in those tools i.e. books, internet services, office equipment i.e. computers, printers, scanners, qualified staff etc. A number of lawyers also fail to subscribe to the best practices that they were taught in the law school. There are more reported cases today of incompetence, fraud and failure to act in good faith by lawyers in the course of client-counsel relationship than ever before. Upon assumption of office I set up a committee to review the state and quality of legal education in Nigeria. It was headed by Professor Chukwuemerie, SAN, their report, which is quite comprehensive and instructive gave rise to the Legal Education Bill that has enjoyed the 1st reading in the Senate. It is hoped that when that Bill Is passed into law it will reset the structures for an efficient legal system as it relates to the quality of the legal practitioner.

Corruption is a monster which the NBA under your leadership promised to stamp out of the judiciary. Were you able to achieve this?

I need to preface the answer by Continues on page 42

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

42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

'NBA position on Justice Salami stands what is your reaction?

Respectfully, that will not be correct. As the leader of a respected Association like acknowledging that corruption is the NBA, whose members are endemic in all the sectors and segments intelligent, vibrant and fearless in stating of the Nigerian society and not limited to their views, I can act no less than being the judiciary alone, indeed, it is the firm in the taking of decisions on behalf quest to be like other corrupt segments of of and in the best interest of the the society that has led some misguided Association. elements to trade with justice as if it is a The NBA delegate conference in merchantable commodity. There is Abuja, which produced the in coming therefore large scale corruption in the executive has come and gone, but the judiciary and justice sector. The NBA can dust it raised, is yet to settle, what do only draw attention to this terrible you have to say? scourge and make suggestions for its The NBA delegates’ conference which eradication. saw the election of new national officers We do not possess the machinery in the led by Mr Okey Wali SAN elected as nature of enforcement mechanisms to President NBA has come and gone. It bring down corruption in the judiciary or Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, has been adjudged as the best organised any other sector of the society. Only delegates’ conference ever conducted by Government can do the stamping out but law societies of East Africa, England and the Association. No dust was raised first they must show sufficient resolve by Wales etc, these organisations do not go except by one of the candidates that did first acknowledging the existence of the cap in hand asking Governments that not win the office that he contested for problem, its magnitude then they can they will eventually criticize to sponsor i.e. the office of the President. i.e. Emeka move to the stage of mapping out Ngige SAN. 14 offices were contested their conferences. strategy for combatting the problem in As I earlier said conference is a costly for; the question to ask is why he is the consultation with stakeholders like the event. We the organizers’ know the costs only one complaining. The rest soberly NBA. On our own part, we live by accepted the outcome of the election. we are faced with; take security for example; our finances are zero-tolerant example, the cost of providing security in The reasons he has given for his to corruption. We have just conducted a this days of bomb blast has gone up by at protestations are lamentably frivolous. In magnificently free and fair election, we any case we have fully responded to his least 1,000 percent, add the cost of also speak out against the cankerworm; conference venues in Abuja, hospitality allegations. I will not dignify them any that is for now the only thing we can do. by way of refreshments and meals, further by joining issues with him.

Specifically, Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, printing of materials, invitation cards, Salami's labels, ushers uniforms, friendship is insisting on his allegation of voters registration manipulation, how do you centre, organising the Annual General suspension react? meeting, etc.

Mr Ngige is confusing NBA elections Despite NBA’s strong position on with Independent National Electoral Subsidising Justice Ayo Salami’s issue, how does it Commission, INEC, organised elections make you feel that he has not been delegates for the whole nation. We do not have reinstated as you are leaving office? voter registration in the NBA. Our voting At the time of Justice Salami’s Multiply these variables by about 5000 population is known, identifiable and suspension, we i.e. NBA condemned it attendees and divide it with the amount ascertainable. Our delegates list is because there was a pending court case that they are paying, you will discover prepared based on those who are seeking to restrain the NJC from taking that the NBA is still subsidizing every qualified to vote as delegates. We have any further action. delegate by about 35 percent. Honestly, an electoral committee that should on The President through the Attorney we cannot give what we do not have; account of the sterling and yeoman’s General of the Federation took the despite letters for donations and position that there could not be a vacuum assistance no one has given a kobo to the work that they have done be praised rather than vilified. As I said, we have in the administration of the Court of organisation of the conference. Be it since moved on.

Appeal and appointed an Ag President. noted that no one is doing J.B. Daudu a What is your advice to the in-coming These cases are still pending in court, favour by attending the conference. It is executive? just as the NBA position against the an NBA event and lawyers are free to The NBA’s goals and objectives as an initial action is clear. Nothing in that decide to attend or stay at home. association is well known to the regard has changed. The only snag is Some lawyers have described your that the matter is sub judice and there is leadership style as somewhat dictatorial, incoming executive. They were elected because the Bar trusts that they will best a limit to which we can comment on pending court cases.

The last National Executive Council, NEC meeting of NBA endorsed what most lawyers described as an astronomical hike in lawyer’s annual practice fee and they called it an unpopular decision, how do you react to this?

Conferences are very expensive to organise. In the past when the economy was tolerably buoyant, sponsors contributed to the cost of previous conferences. But this year the sponsors are simply not there. Again, reliance on sponsors that you are likely to criticise should be discouraged.

This year I am moving the Bar in the direction of our paying for our conferences just as it is done in most places like the International Bar Association, NBA (where our members shell out about 1 million minimum per person to attend yearly conferences) the American Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the

Continues from page 41

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project and execute the objectives of the Association. The NBA is a continuum. I am confident that they will keep the flag flying.

The National Assembly is about to commence another round of constitution amendments, what is NBA’s position on this?

The NBA on behalf of all Nigerian lawyers and indeed all Nigerians is a critical stakeholder in the constitution making process. While we know that in most cases, flaws detected in implementation of the country’s fundamental law need to be changed through the process of amendment. We believe that the process of amendment is not and should not be a ploy for the wholesale substitution of the existing constitution. The areas that require amendment must be areas that (a) promote true fiscal federalism, (b) promote an independent democratically elected local government, (c) promote a corrupt free, independent and impartial judiciary, (d) remove a substantial number of responsibility from the Federal Government of Nigeria as contained in the exclusive legislative list and move to a residual list or at best the concurrent list those items that obstruct true fedralism,(e) create the parameters for the establishment of State Police, etc.

The exercise must not attempt to create additional States as majority of the existing ones are not economically viable and are merely escalating the cost of governance to the detriment of genuine transformational development.

Despite NBA’s warning that the federal government should call Bayelsa Government State and the Ogoni people to order over self-determination declaration by the latter, some have argued that UN recognises people’s right to self-determination, what is your take on this?

Let me ask a question; is it feasible for the State of Florida in the USA or any other State to advocate for selfdetermination? Not possible. The bottom line is that our constitution is our basic law and it is superior to the UN Charter which is being misinterpreted.

Continues on page 43

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—43

Insecurity and religious tension in Nigeria: Seeking the Third Way (2) Continues from last week

BY UDO JUDE ILO The goal of this project is to create an alternative credible platform for dialogue between Christians and Muslims. This platform will work to ensure better communication, collaboration and engagements that further mutual trust and stability of the country. It is informed by the urgent need to initiate constructive engagement and communication between faiths to stem the growing tension and discord in the country. Existing government platforms have proved

inadequate and in some cases discredited. Clerics in particular would be assisted to better use their influence at the pulpit to educate their followers and preach the message of peace and coexistence. IFAP will work at both national and subnational levels for the peaceful coexistence of religious groups in Nigeria through an integrated set of educational and advocacy programmes, projects and initiatives that will enlighten adherents of both faiths, diffuse tension, and promote peace.

It is imperative that initiatives of this mould are encouraged as a third way in

•President Jonathan addressing insecurity and religious tension.

Government policy of military force to address sectarian strife and Boko Haram challenges has largely failed.

Initiating dialogue with Boko

Haram has largely been unsuccessful. While government continues its trial and error approaches, relationship between religious groups are strained and Boko Haram continues to be on rampage. Engaging civil society initiatives or people’s driven effort to rebuild relationship and ensure security has not been aggressively pursued. Now is the time for government, development agencies and international community to seek out community driven initiatives aimed at addressing sectarian crisis and problems.

Security and stability is a

collective responsibility of both government and citizens. Citizen’s initiatives have proved credible, result oriented and cost effective.

Violence is being perpetrated by citizens and the solution to the problems most logically can be found within citizen’s initiatives.

Government has not drawn this link unfortunately. It is the people’s movement that will awaken government to its responsibility and provide an unadulterated platform for genuine dialogue and cooperation. Therein lies the third way!

Udo, a Lawyer, writes from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa

Constitution amendment: Hurrilaws advocates joint civil society inputs

BY ONOZURE DANIA Civil society groups in the country have been called to come together and form coordinated inputs for the forthcoming review of the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly.

The call was made by an advocacy group, Hurilaws in Lagos where it sought a joint effort from the civil societies in addressing the constitutional challenges and the expected amendments.

“In spite of the different approaches to constitution making in the colonial and post colonial years and the various constitutions, it has not emanated from the full involvement of the Nigerian people.” The body noted It said the effort has in turn generated extensive alienation from various constitutions which has just remained elitist documents, “but had failed to serve as the basis for Nigeria’s corporate existence and vast majority of Nigerians have never seen or read the constitution and it can not be considered as the source of Nigerian’s corporate existence.”

According to the senior programs officer, of Hurilaws, Collins Okeke, who noted that history of constitution making in Nigeria, had not been evolving and Nigerians have not been contributing to the constitution making in the country.

Okeke, said Hurilaws and other civil societies have been advocating for the

review of the 1999 constitution, adding that Hurilaws had started a process which was by participatory approach to constitution making in Nigeria.

He said constitution making in Nigeria should not be a secret affair dominated and directed by

the political elites especially conservative lawyers and politicians, but should be guided by the principles of inclusively, diversity, transparency, openness, autonomy, accountability and legitimacy.

He added that as the amendment debate begins, it would be crucial that civil society groups in Nigeria, makes inputs into the review

process.

Okeke, said “This will require that the debates be streamlined and structured in such a way that it would give room for specialized and focused discussions by the relevant stakeholders and experts in various areas of constitution making.”

Continuing, he said Hurilaws, wants to start the process with a view to

fostering national consensus on the content and process of review needed in our country.

“It is Hurilaws belief that by raising public consciousness and expanding the base for united action, the constitution review project, will benefit the Nigerian people.”

'NBA position on Justice Salami stands ' Continues from page 42 These arm-chair analysts have got it wrong. The truth is that every situation must be viewed in the light of its own peculiar facts. I will attempt to restate the basic principles as it applies to the scenarios you have identified above. There are some States that have adopted jingles eulogising some perceived qualities of their indigenes and at times their land. So long as these States locate their conduct within the ambit of the Federal Republic of Nigeria i.e. a coat of Arms for Ekiti State of Nigeria or Bayelsa State of Nigeria, there is no problem. Federating units though numerous have a certain level of independence and autonomy granted to them by our constitution. The problem however arises, when a people who make up only one or two local governments in a State suddenly wake up and assert independence or selfgovernance or political autonomy. This is clearly secession which the Constitution forbids. It is a needless provocative act that aggravates the tension in the country today. The 3rd scenario is that of the Bakassi Peninsular,

this is a unique case and flowing from the judgment of International Court of Justice, the land was adjudged as part of Cameroun. Curiously, Cameroun regarded the autochthonous indigenous people as Nigerians for obvious reasons as the entire peninsular is soaked in oil reserves. In such a situation I find it difficult to divorce the owners of the land from the land itself. It would have been a different matter had the Cameroun acknowledged the people they found on the land as their citizens. Whose land are they coming to take in Nigeria? Consequently, it is clearly in such an incongruous situation that the right of selfdetermination is recognised and encouraged.

What is your position on the calls for the establishment of state police?

The truth is that Nigeria is overripe for State and Community Police, the opponents of State Police only cite one constraint which is that Governors would use their respective State police to perpetuate their political interests in the run up to elections. While that point answerable as it is cannot be

easily dismissed, it must be said out right that a police force is not created for political objectives, a police force is created for the maintenance of law and order, to ensure free movement for the conduct of economic, social and cultural activities within the State, to deal with issues of border infiltrations by persons who do not have good intention in that State.

Apprehension of local criminals In essence, State Police should from the onset have clearly defined jurisdictions such as being responsible for the apprehension of local criminals who engage in theft, robbery, affray, breach of the peace, offences against the body, inchoate offences and other offences of like municipal nature, while the Federal Police or Federal anti-crime/corruption agencies can deal with crossborder inter-state crimes, white collar offences, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC cases, drug cases, examination malpractice related offences, kidnapping, terrorism

etc. It is really saddening that retired Inspector Generals of Police are viewing the matter from the protectionist position of their former offices.

Nigeria is not occupied by politicians alone and how the police was used by the Regions in the 40’s and 50’s when there was not much enlightenment is of little moment in today’s Nigeria. The truth is that insufficient policing is affecting the economic well-being of over 90 percent of Nigerians yet the Inspector Generals and their supporters want us to look at politics as the only determinant factor of survival in Nigeria. It appears as if some States don’t want State Police, it is not compulsory and no State should be compelled to have it if they don’t see the need for it. But States that desire it being component units of the Federation are entitled to it. It is like the provision of the Constitution that sets up Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal, Some States have one or the other, and some even have both, while some don’t have any at all. But the right to protect one’s self is an all-important right in the circumstances.

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44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSD AY, AUGUST 23, 2012 —45 THURSDA

Common chemical makes food bad for health A

CRYLAMIDE. This is a common chemical caused by frying, barbecuing, roasting or grilling of beef, chicken, corn, or any food substance for that matter. Scientists warn that this chemical is a carcinogen, that is, cancer-causing. It is believed to have potential of doubling the risk of cancer in women.

Acrylamide is commonly found in normally “cooked” foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, coffee, meat products and potatoes which have been fried, baked, roasted, grilled or barbecued.

In a study, researchers enrolled 120,000 people – half of whom were women, and established a direct association between consumption of food containing this chemical and the incidence of ovarian and womb cancer.

From the study, it was discovered that women who had more acrylamide were twice as likely to develop ovarian or womb cancer as those who ingested a smaller amount.

Actually, the higher amount of the chemical ingested by the women involved, was the equivalent to a single packet of crisps, half a pack of biscuits, or a portion of chips a day.

It has now been suggested that people should avoid eating burnt toast or golden brown chips because they contain higher levels of acrylamide.

People are also advised to stick to eating home-cooked meals, which contain much lower amounts of the chemical than processed products, fast food and restaurant meals.

The study generally supports

nutritionists’ advice and policy, which already assumes that acrylamide has the potential to be a human carcinogen. Since acrylamide forms naturally in a wide variety of cooked foods, it is very difficult to have a healthy balanced diet that avoids it.

Barbecue grills are particularly problematic because of production of tiny soot particles that pollute the air and can aggravate heart and lung problems. Also, the grilling forms potentially carcinogenic compounds - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs and Heterocyclic amines, HCAs.

Beware of babecured and roasted food!

Apollo Hospitals, Diamond Helix train doctors in Enugu

I

NDIA’S biggest hospital enter prise, the Apollo Hospital Group, in collaboration with Diamond Helix Medical Assistance Ltd., holds a Medical Boot Camp and Continuing Medical Education, CME, session for medical doctors in Enugu August 23-24, 2012.

In July, a team specialists from the Apollo Hospital group in the Field of Interventional Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Emergency Medicine held a similar session and evaluation of patients.

At the Enugu CME session, another team of specialists in Urology, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Vascular Surgery and Renal Transplant Surgery would be deliberate on topics such as Current Management of Kidney disease patients, Advances in Common Venuous and Arterial Diseases, Early diagnosis of Prostate Cancers, Timing of Surgery in Congenital

Heart Disease, Challenges in Renal Transplant and many more.

The CME also offers 5 CPU accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN. The training which holds at the Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu

would also afford the general public, a unique opportunity for free consultations with the doctors. Specialists are encouraged to go with investigative results to aid further evaluation. Diamond Helix is accredited by the MDCN.

NAPHCP holds 6th Congress

T

HE National Association of Pax Health Care Providers, NAPHCP holds its 6th National Congress in Benin City, Edo State , on Friday August 24, 2012. The event is to be chaired by Professor Aaron Ojule,, Chief Medical Director, University of Port- Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

NAPHCP is committed to development of African Herbal Medicine through the initiatives and motivation of PAXHerbals. In a statement, Bolanle Alabede, Public Relations Officer of the Association, said the e aim of the yearly PAX-Herbal congress is to bring all PAX distributors, and other satkeholders together to celebrate the gift of nature to humankind and propagate the immense potential and benefits of African Herbal Medicine. The new edition of a publication - "Nature Power: A Christian Approach to Herbal Medicine, would be launched. It was first published in 2000.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

M

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46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

SOKOTO 2015: After Wamakko who?

AFTER Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who is next? This is the reigning question on the lips of politicians and observers in Sokoto State. supporters joined and the new entrants. However, Wamakko has on many occasions debunked the alleged dual status of the PDP in Sokoto. “The PDP is one indivisible entity in the state and I am the leader of the party,” he has repeatedly said.

Issues for determination: Shagari had sailed through as the PDP governorship candidate in 2007 when, determined to win Sokoto State for his party and for the fact that Wamakko, presumably had wider support, then President Olusegun Obasanjo solicited his defection from the ANPP. Shagari became the running mate and PDP won overwhelmingly.

BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

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HE question was stirred by Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, during his recent visit to Sokoto to commission some projects executed by Wammako’s administration.

During one of his speeches, the visiting governor commended Wamakko for the number of people-oriented projects he had executed. He wouldn’t stop there. For him, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari is one of the most loyal deputy governors, one according to Aliyu that had “been committed to Wamakko’s policies and programmes” and had refused to be engaged in any face-off with Wamakko. ”Wamakko should allow Shagari to succeed him because he had shown to be dependable and loyal over the years without any rancour. I have never heard of any quarrel between the governor and the deputy. He performed well as Minister of Water Resources for six years and as such is competent to succeed Wamakko as the governor of Sokoto State come 2015,” Aliyu suggested.

Personal politics Obviously, he made the suggestion unmindful of the workings of the personal politics of Governor Wamakko or that of the PDP in Sokoto. Wamakko has firmed his grip on the reins of governance since he assumed office after Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa in 2007 though he was, on two occasions, interrupted by court interventions. Although political opponents gave him a fierce fight at the polls in his first coming, he has managed to hold his own. And at the February 2012 governorship election, most of the opposition parties except the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, put up a feeble resistance to Wammako’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. As the undisputed political leader and incumbent governor, he is expected to anoint his successor, and until Governor Aliyu’s suggestion, the issue of who would succeed Wammako in 2015 was on the back burner.

As expected, Aliyu’s suggestion is raising dust in the Sokoto political landscape. As he dropped the bombshell, some heads shook in bewilderment as to how a visitor would come to a C M Y K

Democratic deliverables

*Wamakko: Who succeeds him? place and make such serious comments based on mere assumption that all was well.

“This man should have found out about how politics works here before he anoints a successor to Wamakko that we have never seen in Mukhtari Shagari,” a political bigwig told Vanguard at the occasion.

Yet, some other heads nodded in agreement with the postulations of Governor Aliyu.

“In fact, they say that this man makes too much noise but he has never said it so right. There is no better successor to Wamakko than Mukhtari, the man having been prevailed upon to step down for Alu,” a man, who simply identified himself as Yahaya, told Vanguard.

The division is anchored on the perceived existence of two PDP in Sokoto: those who were in the party before Wamakko and his

Those who support Shagari to succeed Wamakko argue that the former was ‘magnanimous’ enough to have stepped down for Wamakko, an act they insist is enough to make Wamakko reciprocate. Another argument is that Shagari has wealth of experience that would put him ahead of other aspiring politicians in terms of democratic deliverables.

However, some pundits see it differently. “It’s not about wealth of experience. It’s about the capability to, not only garner popular support but also align yourself with the people.

Democracy is about the people.

It is about being ready to cater for the people; be with them; identify yourself with them by

being there for them when they need you. These are found in governor Wamakko and we need someone who will thread his path,” a PDP chieftain in the state said.

It is observed that in this era when welfare politics is the inthing, “Shagari is doing very little to lubricate the rough road that lay before him to the Government House. He is not simply in touch with the people,” an observer said, adding that he did not accompany Wamakko to the PDP national secretariat to submit his nomination form.

Zoning: Although there doesn’t seem to be a written agreement on zoning of the office of the governor, since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the office has rotated between Bafarawa, who hails from Sokoto East Senatorial District and Wamakko, who is from the North (some call it Central) Senatorial District. So if zoning is anything to go by, the next governor should come from the South Senatorial District.

Likey contenders in Sokoto South: Notable among likely contenders from Sokoto South are the Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Deputy Governor Mukhtari Shehu Shagari who is also Mu’azu Babangida’s anointed and Faruk Malami Yabo.

The Tambuwal factor: Speaker Tambuwal was visibly and solidly behind Wamakko during his travails when he was confronted by the ambitions of Sen. Abubakar Gada and former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman. The Speaker was said to have influenced other members of the National Assembly from Sokoto to declare their support for Wamakko, which they did unequivocally.

Insinuations that the Speaker is

Continues on page 47

Jonathan is surrounded by wrong people — Keku, INC chairman CHIEF Patrick Hebrew Keku is the Chairman of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Lagos Chapter. INC is the umbrella governing body of all Ijaw groups and associations. His view is taken as the opinion of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. He is the third Chairman of the Lagos INC. He spoke with Vanguard on a range of national issues, including the security challenges facing the government.

BY AZU AKANWA

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S the new chairman of INC in Lagos, what was your first major challenge?

Well, my first challenge was to bring everybody together again as one body. I put premium value on Ijaw unity. Also another

challenge was humanitarian.

Just as I came on board, an Ijaw woman in Lagos here was delivered of triplets. The husband had no job. We took up the challenge, visited her, paid the bills and restored hope and confidence. INC plays a father figure in matters concerning the

Ijaw people.

The Ijaw National Congress has not been vocal since the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan. Why? It is not really true that INC has not been speaking out. What happened was that the Lagos INC is seen as the mouth piece of the body, but unfortunately not many understood that.

Moreover, not many people put the interest of Ijaw nation first before their personal interests. I just came on board and I have the mandate of the national body to speak. Things will be different now.

Then let’s look at some Continues on page 47

*Keku:

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012—47

Jonathan has not been allowed to perform — Keku, INC chairman Continues from page 46 national issues. Nigerians are worried about the state of insecurity in the country and they blame it all on President Jonathan...

(Cuts in) Why should any body blame the president? Has he been allowed to govern? The present situation was a grand design to make Nigeria ungovernable because some people had vowed to do so if Jonathan emerged as President.

They are now manifesting their promise. Jonathan is surrounded by a lot of wrong people who weigh him down. Jonathan is not being helped by those around him. He wants to dialogue. He wants a peaceful solution. His predecessors would have used force as they did in Odi. But he doesn’t want that. People are made differently.

Annoying condition Now look at the annoying condition they are giving him; that he should resign and convert to another religion. You can now see what their intentions are. They won’t succeed.

But he is the President. He should be able to do something.

Something like what? The man said he won’t go all out and do like his predecessors did in the Niger Delta, in Odi. He wants to talk, to dialogue. But who will he talk to? The leaders in the North know these killers, yet they refuse to bring them to the table for talks. Ijaw leaders talked to the boys in the creeks and they ceased fire. Why can’t they do same? Sometimes I wonder if really those killing and destroying people in the North are Nigerians. I had the thought in the past. With every bombing and killing, they are reducing their population. Are they really Nigerians, are they really Northerners?

The American government said Nigeria can not fight the battle alone.

How did it all start in the first place? Some people threatened to make the nation

ungovernable, if Jonathan wins.

The perpetrators are not faceless.

The new National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki said he has the contacts of those involved. He promised to meet them for a peaceful solution. Why is it difficult to reach them? So what are we talking about? So in Jonathan’s case, I believe he has not really been given the opportunity to handle these issues. Politics and security can not go together. Immediately they go together, politics will overtake security. And that has been the case with Jonathan.

House of Reps members have threatened to impeach the President over poor budget implementation.

Are the saying that government has done nothing? I think the threat is unnecessary. They atmosphere is not peaceful enough for any meaning development. Let everybody work to restore peace and government will be encouraged to release fund for projects.

What’s your take on the Amnesty Programme?

There is no grassroots orientation for youths. Amnesty will cause more problem when it is stopped. Niger Delta youths need to build themselves for the future. Relying on Amnesty will not help them. Those sent on training under the programme, not all of them have come back as good ambassadors of the Amnesty Programme. The youth need a new focus. They must not take things for granted because, the time Amnesty is over, we would realise the damage it has done to the psych of the youths and development in the Niger Delta.

Now that you have produced a president and Amnesty is in place, I guess the struggle is over?

Over? The struggle is not over.

What development do you see in the Niger Delta? Point out one company, one manufacturing company in the region.

Tell me what is in place to stop our agitation for the development of the region. It is not over yet my brother.

Who succeeds Wamakko in Sokoto?

Continues from page 46 angling for the top job in the State have refused to die despite denials by his close associates and aides. The Speaker's Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam, told journalists recently in Sokoto that he was more focused on his people’s mandate at the House of Representatives and would not be dragged into the politics of the state.

"As you are aware, the Speaker just spent a year of the four-yearterm in the House and should not be dragged into idle talks because it is just a mere distraction,” Imam had said.

This might just be a postponement of an inevitable day when the bubble would burst C M Y K

—Yabo He was Commissioner of Finance during the first term of Wamakko administration and now that of Ministry for Local Government and Community Development. Described as a financial disciplinarian per excellence and one whom Wamakko used to instill financial discipline in government functionaries, Yabo is also softspoken and described as generous, humble and simple.

He relates with people of all shades.

What you see when you pay a visit to his office, supports this assessment that he is peoples loving. Some say that Yabo has the attributes of Wamakko.

www dot facebook @ danger dot be careful

zAs social media takes negative turn among Nigerian youths

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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the process, they reportedly got to know that she owned a boutique in Nasarawa State, following which they faked a business proposal that lured her to their den.

HEN Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes started Facebook in 2004, it was meant to be a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. But they did not know it would become a massive tool for criminals in the future.

However, as the social site begins to spread like wild fire, other uses have emerged which have currently started to engulf teeming youths across the world.

As of June 2012, Facebook has over 955 million users and more than half of this number use the site on a mobile device.

For emerging markets like Nigeria, where mobile subscription grows in geometrics, the number of people accessing the social site from their mobile phones increases by the day.

In a recent statistics Late Miss Cynthia Osokogu. published by SocialBakers, Nigeria was ranked the number one country in the world with over 80% Facebook mobile penetration. However, the risk of this development is beginning to make negative impacts among Nigerian youths.

Facebook friends For instance, a month ago a young Nigerian female student, Miss Cynthia Osokogu, the only daughter of General Frank Osokogu (rtd), who was declared missing was recently found dead in Lagos and investigations are revealing that her murderers could be her Facebook friends.

Already, six persons, among them, two university students, a pharmacist and an employee of the hotel, where the 24-year-old post-graduate student was murdered, have been arrested.

According to Police sources, Cynthia may have been strangled to death in the hotel by her assailants, who thereafter left with her money, student identity card and phones.

Vanguard gathered that the young lady had known and chatted with her alleged assailants on Facebook for several months before she decided to pay them a visit. In

months on Facebook became so close and invited me to visit him in Warri, Delta State. On the fateful day, I set off from Lagos and got to Warri before 2.30 pm.

I was stranded between that time till 7pm, when I called one of my lecturers who lived in the town to come and take me away. My Facebook friend switched off his phones and never appeared until I left Warri

On her arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, on July 21, she was said to have been picked up by the two undergraduates and driven to a hotel in Festac Town, where she met her waterloo.

Unfortunately, Cynthia is not alone. Many Nigerian youths, particularly ladies have confessed to experiences close to what took Cynthia’s life. A few who spoke to Vanguard make startling revelations.

For instance, a lady who just introduced herself as Sarah, said: “The news was a shock to me. It is unfortunate for such a young lady to be so treated. We must be careful now with this Facebook thing.

“I have had almost a similar experience. A friend I had chatted with for over six

“However, I was stranded between that time till 7pm, when I called one of my lecturers who lived in the town to come and take me away.

My Facebook friend switched off his phones and never appeared until I left Warri.”

Another Nigerian youth, who spoke to Vanguard, also recounted how he rescued a lady who came all the way from Ghana, visited her Facebook friend in Port Harcourt only to be stranded at the end of the day.

With Facebook connection spreading like virus, actually making communication easier, there is also the need to be very careful because a Facebook friend remains a stranger no matter how long the virtual friendship has lasts.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012 — 55

Yobo ready for Lone Star challenge S

UPER Eagles skip per, Joseph Yobo played his first competitive game in the European Champions League qualifier for Turkish side Fernabahce against Emmanuel Emenike’s Spartak Moscow on Tuesday, with a huge sigh of relief that he is back to competitive football after three months.

Yobo, who was in action for all the duration of the encounter said apart from the relief of returning to competitive football, it feels like three years since he kicked the round leather game, given God the praise for seeing him through his period of travails through injuries and the long period it took for him to negotiate his way from Everton to Fernabahce.

Yobo’s side lost the away tie by 2-1 but the towering Eagles skipper, said he was glad to be back in competitive football and expressed optimism that his side will win the return leg in Tur-

key to join the lucrative group stage of the Champions League.

Yobo, again expressed his readiness to be back in the thick of things for the national team after missing the last three qualifiers for the World Cup 2014 and the Nations Cup 2013. “If invit-

ed I will give my best as always to the nation, because like I have always said I want to win trophies for the Super Eagles”.

The Super Eagles play Lone Star of Liberia September 8, and Yobo is one of the stars expected to be called up by Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

•Yobo

Glo to Falconets: Go for the trophy

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EADING telecom munications company, Globacom has advised the NIgerian U-20 female National team, the Falconets to go out and win the trophy as the U-20 Female World Cup hots up in Japan.

Globacom in a press statement in Lagos congratulated the team on it’s deserved victory over Korea Republic and the draw against Brazil in their second match, urging them to concentrate and play cohe-

sively in order to ensure constant victory as the competition progresses towards the next round.

According to Globacom, the performance exhibited by the team so far suggested that the Falconets are on the rise, adding that they need encouragement as they face Italy in an explosive encounter that will determine the group leaders.

Globacom therefore enjoined the Falconets to put in hundred percent performance in the encounter to

Brazil Continues from BP ping heat, there were few chances on goal until the later stages of the first half when both teams made some inroads, with Nigeria eventually profiting from Odega’s intervention.

The second half was an entirely different affair with Brazil on top and narrowly failing to score on several occasions.

Notably, Ingrid headed home a free-kick at the back post only to be C M Y K

denied by the offside flag. Brazil finally made their domination pay as Thais Guedes’ whipped in free-kick was glanced home.

Nigeria will have a second opportunity to qualify for the last eight when they meet Italy, while Brazil face a must-win encounter with Korea Republic.

“The draw wasn’t a good result, but at least we can control our destiny in the last match,” said Brazil coach Caio Couto.

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IGERIA’s U-20 Women National Team were on Wednesday denied a second victory by Brazil who got a late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw at the on-going FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Saitama, Japan.

A superb shot from Francisca Ordega in the 44th minute put Nigeria in the driving seat until the 87th minute when it was cancelled by Brazil’s Olivera.

This would be the first time that Nigeria would be conceding a goal right from the African qualifiers.

It was a physical encounter that produced six yellow cards with four going to Nigeria and two to the South Americans.

Chief Coach, Edwin Okon has however commended his girls for their fighting spirit.

Speaking at a Post Match Conference, Okon said he anticipated a tough match given the level of opposition. ”We played against a good side and l must praise them,” he said. ”But my girls were equal to the task. We wanted the victory but a draw is not a bad result either. Our focus is on our next game against Italy which we have to win.

We’ll punish Italy in our last match — Falconets’coach A draw with Italy would however see Nigeria through to the last eight should Korea defeat or draw with Brazil.

In Brazil’s case, it needs an outright victory.

Meanwhile Nigeria still tops the group with four points from two matches and are followed by Korea Republic with three

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EAL Madrid defender Pepe will miss Thursday’s Clásico Spanish Super Cup clash with Barcelona after picking up a head injury in the season’s first game, coach Jose Mourinho has said.

“Pepe won’t play,” he told a news conference on the eve of the match against arch-rivals Bar-

Osaze gets Eagles recall even though coach Stephen Keshi still has reservations about how the player will cope on the artificial pitch in Liberia.

Yobo, who was sidelined by injury for the team’s June qualifiers, will return to lead the team to battle after he has sorted out his club future by joining Turkish giants Fenerbahce on a permanent deal from EPL side Everton.

“With his transfer issues sorted out now, Joseph Yobo is expected to return. And being that the team is playing away, the thinking of the coach is to bring in players that would add bite to the team up front,” stated a top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official.

The foreign pros will in the week leading to the match join up with players from the Nigeria Premier League, who resumed training on Monday in Abuja.

points. Brazil are third with two points and Italy fourth with a point.

Pepe to miss El Clásico

ensure total victory and a place in the next round.

Continues from BP Monrovia.

A top team official inf o r m e d MTNFootball.com: “Keshi wants more fire power and so the recall of both Osaze and Brown (Ideye).”

Osaze got off to a flying start with a penalty goal for his English club West Bromwich Albion against Liverpool at the weekend, while Ideye has been in fine form in front of goal for his Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev both in the UEFA Champions League and the league.

Other foreign-based pros for the Liberia clash are Mikel Obi, Elderson Echiejile, Vincent Enyeama, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Austin Ejide, Ike Uche, Obiora Nwankwo, Efe Ambrose and skipper Joseph Yobo.

MTNFootball.com has already revealed that Chelsea midfielder Mikel is staging a return to the national team

•Okon

•Pepe

celona at the Camp Nou. Mourinho said that if Pepe had a choice he would play, despite clashing heads in midair with goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the 1-1 home draw with Valencia on Sunday.

“For him yes but for us no,” he added. “It is not human to risk a player for a football game, whatever the game is.

So, there is no doubt either with the medical department or with the coach that Pepe will not play. He is progressing well. He is very good, he is already training.

And without wanting to go too far, our feeling is that he could be there on Sunday without any risk.”

Tennis referee arrested over death of husband

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professional tennis referee from Los Angeles who for years has officiated matches between the game’s top players has been arrested in New York City on a felony warrant charging her with killing her elderly husband in April.

Prosecutors said 70year-old Lois Ann Goodman, a longtime line judge on the tennis circuit, was taken into custody as she prepared to work at the U.S. Open tournament.

She was charged with murdering her 80-year-old

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•Goodman husband, Alan Goodman, in their home in Woodland Hills, Calif. Prosecutors allege she bludgeoned him to death with a coffee mug on April 17.

Spurs unveil Adebayor

OTTENHAM’s revolving door remains in full swing as Emmanuel Adebayor finally completed his return to the club.

The big striker, who spent last season on loan at White Hart Lane, signed a permanent deal on Tuesday. And he could soon be joined by fellow attackers Willian and Leandro Damiao as manager Andre Villas-Boas ramps up his recruitment drive.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

Ideye, Osaze get Eagles recall S

TRIKERS Osaze Odemwingie and Brown Ideye will be recalled by Nigeria as they gun for a win in

next month’s AFCON qualifier in Liberia.

MTNFootball.com has again scooped that Osaze and Ideye, who were

PILE DRIVER: Thais Guedes of Brazil tries to tackle Fasilat Adeyemo of Nigeria in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2012Group B match yesterday Photo/ FIFA/FIFA

both not considered for Nigeria qualifiers in June, will on Thursday be named among the Europe-based stars for the 2013 Nations Cup clash on September 8 in Continues on Page 55

Top stories •Yobo ready for Lone Star challenge •We'll punish Italy in our last match — Falconets'coach •Pepe to miss El Clasico •Tennis ref arrested 55 e ag P n so e i or t S

Brazil escape defeat from Nigeria •Nigeria still top Group B F

OR the second time in as many matches a late equaliser from Brazil has rescued a point for the South TODAY'S

Americans at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, with Giovanna Oliveira’s header denying Nigeria early passage to

PUZZLES

the knockout stage.

A superbly hit drive from Francisca Ordega a minute from half-time appeared enough for NiYESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

geria to claim all three points in a hard-fought and at-times physical encounter in Saitama.

However, Oliveira secured another important point for Brazil with a glancing header three ACROSS: 1 Deception (6) 5 Orb (6) 9 The same (5) 10 Haphazard (6) 11 Pass (6) 12 Slander (5) 14 Sleigh (4) 17 Immerse (3) 18 Snare (4) 20 Dense (5) 22 Trunk (5) 23 Cylindrical (7) 24 Calm (5) 26 Soar (5) 29 Roguish (4) 30 Allow (3) 32 Decrease (4) 33 Madness (5) 35 Believe (6) 36 Sieve (6) 37 Measured (5) 38 Epistle (6) 39 Edict (6)

minutes from the end, after an injury-time equaliser earned A Selecao a draw in their opener against Italy.

Despite a good pace to the contest in the sap Continues on Page 55

Federation Cup Result: Lobi 5 Pillars 4 (pen) Score at regulation time 0-0 Heartland 3 Prime FC 0

DOWN 1 Compulsion (6) 2 Annul (6) 3 Image (4) 4 Shy (5) 5 Precipitous (5) 6 Referendum (4) 7 Die (6) 8 Excused (6) 13 Tar (7) 15 Admirer (5) 16 Trench (5) 18 Toss (5) 19 Pale (5) 21 Owing (3) 22 Feline (3) 24 Package (6) 25 Stress (6) 27 Roam (6) 28 Venerate (6) 30 After (5) 31 Weary (5) 33 Mimic (4) 34 Assistant (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Spite 7, Trench 9, Lie 10, Eat 12, Daily 13, Plod 15, Lower 17, Raffle 19, Land 20, Demur 22, Elm 24, Bearded 27, Era 28, Seedy 31, Chic 33, Itched 35, Under 37, Dial 38, Snare 39, Dad 41, Saw 42, Grille 43, Lever.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Stupid 2, Deform 3, Ace 4, Side 5, Pearl 6, Talented 8, Half, 11, Tolerated 14 Daub 16, Weld 18, Free 21, Exchange 23, Mesh 25, Arid 26, Deed 29, Edible 30, Yelled 32, Curse 34, Crag 36, Near 40, Dry.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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