N255M CARS SCAM: Jonathan queries Oduah by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61998

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Nigerians against same sex marriage — FG 8

Explosion rocks Warri Refinery

N255M CARS SCAM:

Jonathan queries Oduah

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, & LEVINUS NWABUHIOGU

•Reps summon her, set up probe committee •NAMA denies buying limousines for minister A

BUJA— President

G o o d l u c k Jonathan, yesterday, queried the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah over the N255

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Nnamdi Okonkwo emerges Fidelity Bank new CEO; succeeds Ihejiahi 16 COLUMNISTS:

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NO WAY—Musa Yahaya of Nigeria challenges Erdal Rakip of Sweden, for the ball, during the FIFA U-17 Group F match between Sweden and Nigeria at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates yesterday. It ended 3-3.

ASUU strike over in few months — Wike Wednesday 23, October, 2013 Vol. 1 NO 15

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Mr & Mrs

What solution for Nigeria's failed roads? •Do cement manufacturers have the answer?

Inside C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON buying limousines for Oduah

President Goodluck Jonathan (R) receiving Letter of Credence from the Head of European Union in Nigeria,Mr Michel Arrion at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yestrday. With them is the Miinster of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.

N255M CARS SCAM: Jonathan queries Oduah Continues from page 1 million armoured cars scandal involving her and some agencies of her ministry. Jonathan’s query, signed by one of his aides asked the minister to explain her role in the purchase of the vehicles which had generated nationwide controversy. It was further learnt that the President also asked the minister to explain the circumstances under which the purchase of the cars were made. President Jonathan will begin a visit to Israel today where he is expected to sign a bilateral air serv-

ices greement with the country. Still on the matter, the

House of Representatives yesterday summoned Mrs Oduah to appear before it tomorrow in an investigative hearing over her role in the alleged purchase of two bullet proof BMW cars valued at N225 million. This is pursuant to yesterday’s resolution of the House to begin investigation into the purchase. A statement from the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

Don’t listen to the malicious comments of those who, never taking any risks themselves, can only see other people’s failures —Paulo Coelho

HERE is risk in all of life. But aren’t some things worth it? Artist Vincent van Gogh put it this way: “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” There are good and valid reasons to take necessary risks. In fact, I am sure we cannot experience a full life and shy away from all risk at the same time. We usually have a choice...we can choose to live boldly or we can choose fear. But be sure of this: The one we pick is all important. Especially when it comes to major life decisions. Deciding to pursue a compelling idea. Going back to school. Changing vocations. Marriage and family. Moving to a brand new location ... these can be chancy life choices. We can listen to our hearts, or we can decide not to take risks, not to do the scary thing and, perhaps, not to fully live. May Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Inc., once remarked: “Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. Here is another beautiful summation from Steve Goodier. “At the end of my life, I don’t want to say I always played it safe, I want to say I played my music. I want to say I attempted to stretch my wings and jump. I want to believe I took reasonable risks at the right times.

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha indicated that the investigative public hearing is billed to hold Thursday (tomorrow) at 10:00am. Others expected to appear before the committee are the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Managing Director, Coscharis Motors; Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement; Managing Director, First Bank PLC; Federal Ministry of Finance and members of the general public. Meanwhile, another agency in the aviation ministry, the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), was also said to have purchased four Toyota Tundra vehicles for Mrs. Stella Oduah. NAMA however denied the report, saying it is false. According to an online media which published the photographs of the limousines, the Tundras are in addition to four stretch limousines allegedly purchased for the movement of VIPs. The vehicles were said to be parked at the headquarters of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) grounds in Abuja, yesterday. The purchase and donation of the Tundras to the minister was allegedly made earlier, in June, while the four limousines were received in the third week of June but have not been put to use.

NAMA denies

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency {NAMA} has, however, denied the online media reports that the agency purchased eight limousines for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. A statement issued yesterday by Mr. Supo Atobatele, General Manager, Public Affairs Department of NAMA said: “The attention of NAMA has been drawn to frivolous, malicious and mischievous reports being bandied by an online news outfit to the effect that the agency bought four limousines along with other brands for the Ministry of Aviation or its leadership." According to Atobatele: “We hereby make it categorically clear to the public that this evil story, as being promoted is patently false in its entirety and is calculated to put the agency and the office of the honourable minister into disrepute.” He continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, the said limousines belong to a concesssionaire who is running a VIP shuttle service for non-scheduled operators. The said vehicles were never on the inventory of NAMA and we would like to declare with all emphasis that we do not run ground services as we are statutorily an air navigation service provider.” The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation which was mandated to investigate the car scandal was specifically instructed to submit the report of its findings within 168 hours — one week, to the House for further deliberation. The action of the House followed a motion brought to the floor of the House by Rep Samson Osagie, APC, under matters of National Importance and seconded by Rep Sehu Gusau, APC representing Zamfara State. Osagie had argued in the motion that investigations into the purchase of $1.6million bullet-proof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) for the Minister of Aviation, pursuant to Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended) has become mandatory. The Edo legislator further explained that "given the poverty and unemployment ravaging our dear nation and its people, it will be absurd, unthinkable and indeed unpatriotic for an agency of government to connive with its political head to incur such an expendi-

ture simply for the comfort and safety of one public officer.” Osagie said that “over the past four weeks, the nation has been inundated with the news of the purchase of $1.6m BMW bullet-proof cars by the NCAA for the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.” He observed that “the furore generated by the said matter has left tongues wagging on the sincerity and objectivity of this administration’s stand on fight against corruption which was again re-emphasized by Mr. President’s nationwide broadcast on October 1, 2013". Continuing, the Minority Whip of the House said that “the RMAFC has elaborate recommendations as to the way public officers including Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are to be catered for in terms of salaries and emoluments, housing and motor vehicles, which recommendations have been passed into law by the National Assembly.”

Issues before House committee

He appealed to members to mandate the House committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report back to the House within one week with specific reference to the following: zWhether it is correct that the purchase was made; zWhether the purchase was authorized by any appropriation law; zWhether NCAA has been complying with FRA on IGR; zWhether the Minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria; zWhether (if the answer to 2 above is in the negative) the EFCC and all anti-corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved; and zWhether ( if 2 above is correct) the President and Commander-inChief can continue to retain the services of the Hon. Minister and all

those involved in the matter. At this juncture, the presiding officer, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal cautioned members saying: “We need to be mindful of the fact that we are investigating a serious matter; we should reserve our comments so that we are not seen to be judgmental in our arguments.” In his contribution, Rep Kigbu Haruna, representing Nasarawa State said: “This is an issue we should talk about until we get it right. The MDAs are involved in lots of extra-budgetary spending and who among them is greater than any Senator or an elected member of this House? “Soon and very soon, Senators and Reps would be asking for bullet-proof cars when we can’t feed the poor or give quality education to the people of Nigeria.” Rep Hassan Saleh, representing Benue State asked: “Is this the right way to go! "Is this the priority of the Ministry of Aviation? Recently, aircraft inspectors were not being paid allowances and what we hear is that bullet-proof cars were bought.” Rep Emmanuel Jimeh, PDP, Benue, in his contribution said: “This calls for serious introspection in this House on the way public officers are conducting their businesses. I have listened and I am not in any doubt that the amount of money was used for the purchase of the vehicles, the main question therefore is what is the nexus between the purchase of the vehicles for the minister and air safety in this country. "Recently, an air accident occurred. That is why we must be angry that the people in charge of air safety in the country are busy protecting themselves on the ground. We should stop profligacy in the way that the fund of this country is being managed. This NASS will not sit back and watch the resources of this country being frittered away by a few Nigerians."

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—7

FG arraigns 4 Boko Haram suspects in Lagos BY INNOCENT ANABA

REPAIR: Mobile phone repairers at Shuarin Village Market, Jigawa State. NAN PHOTO.

HE Federal Government, yesterday, arraigned four suspected members of Boko Haram sect before a Federal High Court in Lagos on terrorism-related charges. The suspects, Adamu Mohammed, Mohammed Mustapha, Bura Hassaini and Mohammed Ibrahim, were said to have been arrested at Wasein area of Orile-Iganmu in Lagos by security forces, while planning to attack Kirikiri Prison. The suspects, who were brought to the premises of the court at 8:30a.m. by officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, were arraigned before Justice Saliu Seidu on a three-count charge. In count one, the suspects

Explosion rocks Warri refinery zWe did it— MEND BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI— THERE was an explosion at the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, Warri, Delta State, which forced the 35-yearold company operating mostly with outmoded equipment, to shut down production, yesterday. Vanguard learnt that the fire started at 11a.m. in the refining section of the company, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with an installed capacity of 125,000/bpd, while crude oil refining process was on. A source said: “It is the 10-H02 equipment in Area 2 that exploded. The fire lasted for few minutes before it was put off by firefighters and safety officials of the company. “The exact cause of the explosion, which sent huge balls of fire skyward, has not been ascertained and I can tell you that investigation is on. I cannot say the actual cause of the explosion.” It was feared, yesterday, that some workers might have sustained injuries. When Vanguard visited WRPC, about three siren-blaring ambulances where zooming in and out of the refinery. The source said: “Most of the machinery are old and need replacement. The refinery is also long overdue for a TurnAround-Maintenance, TAM. “I hope that government would provide required funds for TAM very quickly. The management has tried a lot. C M Y K

“They have, within the limits of available resources, managed to keep the old equipment working. It has been stretched to its limit. What is required now is TAM. “Before now, WRPC was no longer producing at full capacity because of the problems. Nigerian engineers have done everything to keep the place

going. The explosion occurred during crude oil refining.”

‘Why we did it'

Meantime, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, said yesterday, that its operatives were responsible for the explosion. The militant group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said: “MEND takes responsibility for the sabotage this morning (yesterday) inside the Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation, NNPC, refinery in Warri, Delta State.” It said the operation, codenamed Hurricane Exodus, “was intended to burn down the entire refining facility. “As long as President Goodluck Jonathan continues to rely on an unsustainable and fraudulent Niger Delta amnesty programme, peace and security will continue to elude his government in the region,” MEND said, adding “Hurricane Exodus is on course.”

30 gunmen storm palace, kidnap monarch zIt's over ExxonMobil's N2.6bn oil spill money— Source BY TONY NYONG

YO— THE Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Ubong Assam, was yesterday, abducted by no fewer than 30 gunmen, who stormed his palace at 2a.m. The kidnappers took the royal father to Unyeghe village, Mbo Local Government Area in a car, transferred him to a waiting speedboat and left for the high seas. The kidnap, it was learnt, might be in connection with N2.6 billion compensation paid by ExxonMobil to the four host local government communities, which the youths had rejected. Although the security personnel attached to the royal father attempted to rescue him, the kidnappers' superior fire power won the day. The Paramount Ruler, who was sleeping when the gunmen

struck was, according to a source, not maltreated by the abductors. The source said the abductors were demanding N150 million ransom to release the victim, as their share of the compensation money, which they claimed they joined in agitating for. A family source said: “Some of the gun shots sounded like bomb blasts. The operation was like an invasion.” The Esit Eket Divisional Police Officer could not be reached, but a senior police officer that identified himself as Ogar, said they had received distress calls around 2a.m., but that before Police arrived, the kidnappers had gone. Youths of Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno local government areas of the state, last week came out to say they had demanded for N26.5 billion from the oil giant due to the oil spill last year September, but that the company

paid N2.6 billion. They had alleged that some of the royal fathers in the area connived with the oil company to shot-change them.

were said to have been arrested by a team of security agents for being members of proscribed terrorist organisation (Boko Haram), contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 2 (3) (1) read in conjunction with Section 33 (1) (b) of the Act as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice of 2013.

Planned Kirikiri attack

In count two, Adamu Mohammed and Mohammed Mustapha were accused of conspiring with others now at large “on or about June 16, 2013 to commit felony to wit: act of terrorism by organising a planned attack of the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos to free your detained members.” The offence is said to contravene Section 8 (1) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under Section 8 (1) of same Act.

They monitored security agents

In count three, Bura Hassaini was said to have, between 2012 and 2013, at Bama in Borno State, assisted the Boko Haram activities by monitoring the activities of security agents and reporting same via telephone to the leadership of the sect in the area headed by one Yamodu. The monitoring process was said to have been set in motion by the sect members to evade arrest and investigation. The charges were read in English Language but explained to the accused persons in Hausa. They, however, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them, while the prosecutor from the Federal Ministry of Justice, E. K. Ugwu, applied for a trial date. Ugwu further applied that the suspects be remanded in prison custody. In a brief ruling, Justice Saidu ordered the suspects to be remanded in prison and fixed December 16 for trial.

Curfew imposed on warring Osun communities BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO— OSUN State Government, last night, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Oba-Oke and Oba-Ile communities in Olorunda Local Government Area of the state, following the clash between indigenes of the neighbouring communities, Sunday. Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, made the announcement in a special broadcast.

The curfew, according to the announcement, is from 6p.m. to 6a.m. daily. The two communities had, on Sunday, engaged themselves in a bloody clash over an agelong land dispute. At least two persons were injured, while the palace of the Oloba of Oba-Oke, Oba Dahunsi Iyiola, was razed by the youths of Oba-Ile. The fight started when the people of Oba-Ile moved to the neighbouring Oba-Oke at the end of their annual Oro festival.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

No going back on demolition of nPDP secretariat unless...,says FCTA BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, vowed that there was no going back on planned demolition of the secretariat of the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, located on Plot 3206A, Number 4, Oyi River Crescent, off Babangida Way, Maitama, if the faction fails to adhere strictly to land use Act. Speaking with Vanguard, Director, Development Control, Yahaya Yusuf boasted that the occupiers of the marked building must revert to the original plan of the structure of residential as against the present usage or it will be demolished. He also disclosed that the building forms part of the 202 buildings that have violated Land Use Act. Yusuf noted that the FCTA might not demolish the structure if the factional PDP stops using it as a party secretariat, adding that converting it to a party secretariat, has violated the Abuja master plan. Reacting yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of Baraje faction, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze dared the FCTA authorities to demolish the building and face the legal consequences. “Let them go ahead and demolish the building. We can assure them that we are going to rebuild the building with money from the Federal Government of Nigeria. “We will sue them for willful destruction and they will be made to know that the building belongs to a Nigerian citizen with constitutional rights to own property in any part of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.” Eze who noted that the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed was on an agenda to destroy President Goodluck Jonathan, stressed that under no circumstances would a cabinet minister embark on such destructive mission. According to him, “The minister has been mandated by some forces to find a way of destroying President Jonathan and he has happily embarked on that mission."

Nigerians against same sex marriage — FG BY INNOCENT ANABA

HE Federal Government, yesterday, declared before the United Nations Human Rights Council, that it will not bow to international pressure to allow same sex marriage in the country. The government argued that it is not only against the cultural and traditional values of Nigerians but that 92 percent of Nigerians support the Anti Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed by the Senate. Nigeria also accused foreign countries of sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the country even as it justified the execution of death row inmates in the country, contending that it was in accordance with Nigerian laws. Defending Nigeria’s human rights record at the on-going 17th session of the Universal Peer Review, UPR, mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, said “Nigeria does not accept recommendation of some countries on same sex marriage, because it is against its national values. Recent polling data suggests that 92 percent of Nigerians support the Anti Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed by the Senate. “The Marriage Act defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. Christianity and Islam, which are the major religions in Nigeria, also recognize marriage as relationship between a man and woman. Same-sex marriage is not in the culture of Nigerians. Sexual and gender minorities are not visible in Nigeria and there is no officially registered association of gays and lesbians. In writing this report, a consultation and validation process was held with various stakeholders where the issue of same-sex marriage was brought up, and the general view of the participants was that samesex marriage was not a human rights issue in Nigeria.” On the security challenges in the country, Mr Adoke said, “Nigeria is experiencing the impact of externally-induced internal security challenges, manifesting in activities of militant insurgents and organised crime groups which has led to the violation of the human rights of many Nigerians. To address the problem, the government has adopted constitutional measures which include the “declaration of a state of emergency” in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of the North-East Nigeria, where the insurgents have their base. As a result, a Joint Task Force and a Special Task Force have been deployed with the required legislative authorization to utilize rightsbased “Rules of Engagement” and “Operational Plans” in combating the insurgency. “However, the Nigerian

Government has kept open communication channels through activities of a Presidential Committee on Security Challenges towards working out a peaceful

resolution of the crisis. Meanwhile, Government has already proscribed Boko Haram as well as the Jama-atu Ansaril Muslimi-na fi- Bila-dis Suda-n and stipulated a 20-year

jail term for anybody who aids or sponsors them in any manner whatsoever. The Government has also put in place an amnesty programme to dissuade terrorists and other extremists from violence.

AWARD—From left: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Anders Kristiansson; Corporate Treasury Manager, Mr. Rotimi Osadare, both of Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Limited and Minister for Information and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at presentation of the 2013 CBN Electronic Payment Excellence Award to NBC in Abuja.

ASUU strike 'll be over in few months — WIKE zAs Police stop lecturers' rally in Bayelsa BY SAMUEL OYANDOGHA & LAIDE AKINBOADE

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, assured Nigerian students that the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be over in a few months. The Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike stated this at the anniversary lecture of National Universities Commission, NUC, in Abuja. The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala, reiterated Federal Government commitment in resolving the ongoing strike of ASUU. According to Wike, “The Federal Government is very concerned about the state of public tertiary institutions in the country. The Federal Government is really worried about the ongoing strike of ASUU and the strike would be resolved in a few months.” Professor John Daniel in his paper presentation titled, ‘Turbulent and Testing Times for Global Higher Education: Lessons for Nigeria’, said

“online teaching and learning is now part of the future of most universities. Nigeria should be very good at this because without embarrassing you by pressing the point, I note that your country, through 419 scams, is a world leader in the use of the internet for less desirable purposes.” He said higher education all over the world is facing lot of challenges that included youth unemployment and the current changes in the university system. “These are indeed turbulent times, not only for United States of America but also for much of higher education globally”, he said. A former Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Jubril Munzali, in his goodwill message, said the education sector for 21 years have been under funded and the significant increase in the funding of tertiary institutions were done through the struggle of ASUU. He blamed the Federal Government lingering crisis rocking the nation’s university system. He said it is time Federal Government listened to its agencies and allow NUC

perform its statutory role and fund universities based on the advice of its agencies like NUC. “Successive administrations in the country never paid adequate attention to university education”. He said the Federal Government process of direct funding of universities, have over the years resulted in mismanagement of the funds allocated to the institutions.

Police stop ASUU rally in Bayelsa Meanwhile, the police authorities in Bayelsa State, yesterday, stopped the planned public protest by lecturers of the state owned Niger Delta University, NDU, Amassoma in the prolonged strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The police order, issued against the planned public procession by the ASUU, NDU chapter, was reportedly signed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Okpara. But the undaunted lecturers converged at the Yenagoa campus of the university to stage solidarity rally and also held a prayer session to seek the face of God over the lingering crisis.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—9

Opposition govs accuse FG of manipulating Federation Account zSay FG deduct States' funds illegally zDescribe Delta Central by-election as charade BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

B U J A — OPPOSITION governors, yesterday, accused the Federal Government of deliberately manipulating the Federation Account to give the impression that there were inadequate funds to share despite steady oil prices since the beginning of the year. The governors, who met in Abuja under the Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, also condemned the Federal Government for illegal deductions from states’ funds. Besides, the All Progressive Congress, APC, governors frowned at what they called ‘flagrant disregard by the Federal Government of the Constitution and the Appropriation Act with regards to collection and sharing of government revenue and implementation of budgets. The governors wondered why the President Goodluck Jonathan's administration had been consistently unable to implement budget provisions, which it

willingly formulated and passed into law by the National Assembly. In a communiqué, the governors vowed to take appropriate legal actions to compel the Federal Government to respect the constitutional rights of states and comply fully with the Appropriation Act. “We wish to say that there is no justification for the continuous dwindling revenue collections into the Federation Account given that the price of crude oil, being the main revenue earner, has been relatively stable and above $100 per barrel since the beginning of 2013. “Forum excoriates the Federal Government’s consistent flagrant disregard for the Constitution and the Appropriation Act as passed by the National Assembly. “In fact, we wonder why the Jonathan's administration is unable to implement the budget provisions, which it willingly formulated and which the National Assembly passed into law,” the governors noted. Turning to the political turf, the governors dismissed the justconcluded Delta Central Senatorial by-election,

which was won by the PDP, as a charade and vowed to challenge it in court. According to them, the outcome of the election rubbishes Jonathan’s avowed pronouncement to promote credible, free and fair elections. They expressed concern at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s weakness to conduct free and fair elections despite huge funds that had been channelled to the commission by the government. The governors said they were watching how INEC and other supporting federal agencies would ensure that the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra is free and fair. They noted, “In the face of the sham in Delta, forum’s confidence in INEC is shaky unless urgent measures are set in motion to ensure that Anambra Governorship election is credible and transparent. “In same vein, forum calls on INEC to immediately set machinery in motion for the conclusion of the Oguta State Assembly election, as it is inconceivable that INEC cannot successfully conduct election in five polling booths."

Jonathan assures local industries of govt's protection

BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government will continue to give necessary encouragement and protection to emerging industries in Nigeria to ensure steady economic growth and facilitate the creation of more jobs in the country. Speaking at an audience with the new Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr. Michel Arrion, President Jonathan said that in protecting its emerging industries, Nigeria will not be acting differently from the advanced nations of the world who, at similar stages in their development, put

measures in place to protect their domestic production. According to the president “We will need to protect the budding industries in Nigeria because we know that every country in the world that wants to grow industrially, at some stage, needs to put instruments in place to protect the upcoming industries to stimulate and sustain growth and employment. “We have a lot of young people coming out of the universities and we have to plan for them,” the President said. President Jonathan who identified adequate power supply as essential for rapid economic growth and job creation, called on the

European Union to support ongoing efforts to ensure stable and constant electricity in Nigeria. He commended the European Union for its ongoing support for other developmental programmes in Nigeria. In his remarks, Mr. Arrion assured President Jonathan that the European Union will give Nigeria all possible assistance for the development of its energy sector. He commended President Jonathan over Nigeria’s improving economic outlook and promised that the European Union will continue to support growth and development in the country.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Two suspected kidnappers arrested in Ogun BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA — TWO suspected kidnappers were arrested in Abeokuta, yesterday, by men of Vigilante Service of Ogun State for allegedly abducting three persons including a 15-yearold Secondary School female student in Abeokuta. The two suspects, identified as Gbenga Adesanya and Sodiq Osanyintola, were said to have inscribed incision on the body of their victims.

Clark chairs book launch in Lagos

ORMER MINISTER of Information and Niger Delta Leader, Chief Edwin Clark will on Sunday, October 27, this year, chair a public presentation of a book, 'Challenges of Development,' a compendium of speeches of Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) at LagosAirport, Ikeja, Lagos, by 1p.m. The book, which identifies some of the economic problems facing the country and Ogun State in particular attempts solutions in a lucid form by Isiaka an award winning Investment Banker turned politician. The book is edited by Fatai Adesegun.

SUBSIDY: Witness says marketer

obtained N963.7m fraudulently BY ONOZURE DANIA

AGOS — AN Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s witness, Mr. Ihechukwu Ireogbu, yesterday, alleged that an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, forged some documents which he used to collect N963.7 million subsidy payment from the Federal Government. Ireogbu, who is the Managing Director of MGI Inspec-

tion Ltd, made this allegation while he was giving witness before Justice Lateefa Okunnu at the resumed trial of Jubril before of an Ikeja High Court. Jubril was arraigned alongside his company, Brila Energy Ltd., by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Ireogbu, who was being cross-examined by the counsel of the defendant, Mr. Raphael Oluyede, admitted that his firm had a prior busi-

ness relationship with the defendant. He insisted that the company did not participate in the inspection of the 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, purportedly imported by Jubril. The witness also said that the claim by the defendant that the company inspected the product between January 26 and 27, 2011, at off-shore Cotonou in Benin Republic, was false. Ireogbu said he instructed

one Felix Iweka, a staff of Port Cargo Services, which is a subsidiary of the company, to go to Cotonou to carry out the inspection. According to him, Iweka later confirmed that he did not inspect ship-to-ship transfer of the products between the mother vessel, MT Overseas Lima and the daughter vessel, MT Delphina. The matter was adjourned to January 21, 2014.

.... Marketer, loses bid to quash N4.4bn subsidy fraud charge

EANTIME, AN Ikeja High Court, yes terday, struck out the application of an oil marketer, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, seeking to quash the fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against him and three others. Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo dismissed the application for what he called lack of diligent prosecution. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Ogunbambo over alleged N4.4 billion fuel subsidy scam. Also charged with him are Mamman Ali, son of Dr. Ahmadu Ali, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Christian Taylor, and their firm — Nassaman Oil Services. Ogunbambo and his lawyer were absent in court at the resumed hearing of the case, yesterday. But other defendants and their lawyer, Mr. Toyin Pinheiro (SAN), were present in court. Following the development, the judge struck out the application dated June 21 for lack of diligent prosecution. He adjourned the case to Oct. 23.

CONCERT: From left, member, Board of Trustees, Mr. Akintola Williams (OFR); General Manager, Mr. Gboyega Banjo, both of MUSON Centre, and Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, at a classical concert during the MUSON Music Festival, at the MUSON Centre in Lagos

Fashola, Oshiomhole say high population hampers national devt zDrum support for female president BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS — The Governors of Lagos and Edo states, Babatunde Fashola and Adams Oshiomole respectively, have identified the need to tackle poverty by addressing Nigeria’s population growth. The duo, who expressed concern over

PUBLIC NOTICE

AGU SUNDAY FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, Cap 1 of 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. AGU SUNDAY 2. MRS. AGU OROBOSA RITA 3. MR. AGU CLEMENT 4. ENGR. AGU UCHENNA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To promote education and social standard of living among the youths, orphans and vulnerable children. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, PMB 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within twenty-eight days of this publication.

Signed: AGU SUNDAY – CHAIRMAN C M Y K

Nigeria’s spiralling population, decried that it was taking a toll on governance while also reducing quality of lives of Nigerians. Also as Nigerians and politicians anxiously await the 2015 general elections, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and his Edo State counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday, advocated the need for a woman president in the country, saying time has come for the country to be ruled by women. Oshiomhole, however, said that the current faceoff between the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government was a pointer to the leadership challenge confronting the country. The governors spoke, yesterday, in Lagos, at the flag-off of the 12th annual national conference by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO. Fashola emphasised the need for women to begin to make conscious efforts

towards cutting down on reproduction. “You have both the yam and knife. We can only have a real chance to solve the problem of poverty if we slow down on our population. "If two in three persons are already living in poverty in our world, what chances exists for those who are coming? Poverty should rather be reducing to one in three! "In 1970, London had a population of about 8.5 million people while Lagos had 1.4 million people. Today, the city of London has dropped to 8.1 million people while Lagos has grown to 21 million! Is our land growing? Are our water resources increasing? Those are the resources we need to sustain life!”, Governor Fashola said at the conference tagged ‘See Beyond Today: Enhance the Quality of Life.’

Vanguard, WEDESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—11

Bamidele resigns as Ekiti Reps caucus leader BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

BUJA — MR. Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday, for mally resigned his position as the Ekiti Parliamentary Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives. Bamidele, who is the Chairman, House Committee in Legislative Budget and Research, said the resignation is to allow him realise his ambition to govern the people of Ekiti State in 2014. In a letter to the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and copied to the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Opeyemi noted that he could no longer tarry in responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the people in the state. ANNIVERSARY: From left, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor, Ekiti State; Prince Williams Akinyede, The letter dated October 22, 2013 and entitled, 'Resignation as Ekiti Caucus Leader in the House of Repre- Principal, Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti; Professor Akin Oyebode, former Vice–Chancellor, Ekiti State University, and Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman, Christ’s School Alumni 80th Anniversary Committee, sentatives,' read in part: “I hereby resign with immediate effect, my appoint- at the 80th Anniversary Fund-raising Dinner for the school, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos. ment as the leader of Ekiti State Caucus in the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “This resignation has become a cogent and compelling step for me to take at this time to enable me pursue, by the special grace Continued from Page 8 and uncommon favour of Almighty God. THE LECTURERS were “My aspiration to be Governor armed with placards some of Ekiti State by the year 2014 of which read, 'Agreement based on my personal conviction is agreement,' 'Our univerand in response to the popular sities must not be allowed demand and clarion call of wellto die,' 'Can your child also meaning Ekiti sons and daughafford to go to Ghana and ‘’While we are not opposed to road is being constructed. You BY CHARLES KUMOLU & ters at home and in the Diaspora Malaysia?' 'If no, then join development, we must con- cant say the cost of per DAUD OLATUNJI who believe that our dear state ASUU to better our univerdemn in its entirety a situation kilometer is higher than what needs a critical intervention at sities' and 'We must stop where the Ibikunle Amosun led obtains in other places.’’ this time so as not to become a movement of students GUN STATE administration continues to put In addition he said, ‘’people failed state. abroad,' among others. G o v e r n o r, S e n a t o r tears on the faces of the people should not just criticise for the “I can no longer tarry in reChairman of ASUU, sponding to the yearnings and Ibikunle Amosun was under at- of Ogun State in the pursuit of sake of criticism. We have big NDU chapter, Mr. Beke aspirations of the violated chil- tack, yesterday, over his al- the government’s ill-planned plans for the people and it Tuboukiye Sese, who spoke should be appreciated. We dren, the deserted youth, the dis- leged plan to spend N52 billion road expansion programme. at the rally/prayer session "It is simply callous for have paid compensation to illusioned women, the unfulfilled on expansion of 37-kilometre said though the union civil and public servants, the ne- Sango-Ijoko-Akute-Ojodu Road Amosun’s bulldozers to have those who were affected by the abided by the police order, glected artisans, the jobless and in the Ifo Local Government swooped down on the land- expansion and this is the first the prayer session was to lords and residents of the af- time that an administration in underemployed men as well as Area. call for divine attention to the heart broken elder statesmen This came from the Peoples fected areas without adequate the state is paying compensathe cases of blackmail and and frustrated founding fathers Democratic Party, PDP, Public- notice and a well thought out tion to those affected by road intimidation by the Federal expansion. who genuinely desire to see the ity Secretary, Mr. Waliu resettlement plan. Government over the de"The Amosun government is "Only those who are not genuemergence of a rallying point Oladipupo and a governorship mand of the university lec(across political and ideological aspirant of the Labour Party, LP, simply confused as regards how ine criticise without facts. Go to turers. divides) that would herald a new in the state, Mr. Sina Kawonise. to implement its road expan- Sagamu, we experienced the The prayer session, sion programme.” same unfounded criticism, but and united Ekiti State." which was witnessed by The duo criticised what they today people are enjoying the According to the letter, "past described as wasteful spending multitude of ASUU placGovt reacts what we did there. Same thing glory will be brought back from and lack of human face by the ards carrying members, Reacting to the development, was also done when we were sabbatical; where integrity and was conducted by Rev. state governor. the state Commissioner for working on the Ilesa/Ago Iwoye strength of character, which is the Jephthah Otobotekere. Oladipupo in a Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Road. They tried all they could Mr. Beke Tuobokiye Sese hallmark of Ekiti personality, will statement said: “It is all the Olanilekan Adegbite dismissed to frustrate that project.’’ in his speech denied be celebrated again. knowledge of the state govMeanwhile, the state gover"Where job creation, food secu- more heart-rending when you the allegations as misleading. His words: ‘’That is is not true. nor has called on owners of ernment pressure on rity, law and order, as well as in- hear that these buildings are ASUU chapter in the state frastructure and human capital being destroyed without ad- The information is misleading. structures affected by the onto pull out of the industrial development with high premium equate notice, relocation plan There was never a time that we going reconstruction of action and declared that by agreed or planned to spend and compensation. the road to come to Abeokuta in health and education will be the dynamics of its opera“We recall that elsewhere in N52 billion on 37 kilometre for their compensation. the utmost priority as the minition, no ASUU president or road. The road was a four-lane Amosun, who said this at the mum agenda for good govern- Abeokuta and Ijebu Ode where branch chairman has total road. We decided to add a bus commissioning of a poultry similar demolitions were done, ance in compliance with global power to unilaterally debest practice standard.” the state government is yet to route to allow for easy vehicu- built by the Chairman, Ifo Loclare, sustain, suspend or lar movement. cal Government, Chief Oluwole commence work there let alone call off a strike action by the "What we are doing is to make Enilolobo in Ifo, noted that the compensate the people. union. "This government is uncon- it six lanes. There are so many fund is at the Bureau of Land Tuobokiye Sese said: “It scionable. And like we have things we are doing on the awaiting collection. is not lost on lecturers that His words: ‘’The compensasome politicians and politibeen saying our people were road. There are fly-overs, pedestrian crossing, among oth- tion has been ready before now, cal parties have started usliterally tricked into buying ers. but our people need to go and ing the lingering industrial wares in the dark. How can a "So the claims by the critiques pick up their cheques at the action embarked upon by government whose primary re- of this administration is bogus. state secretariat ( in Abeokuta) lecturers as a political sponsibility should be the wel- So many people are ignorant "And we have paid the Cenweapon against the Fedfare of the people be inflicting about the good job we are do- tral South Construction Comeral Government. untold hardship on them with- ing. A road can be constructed pany whom we awarded the “We are not a party to the out any care? This is simply without some things but the ba- project to for the past two cheap manifestation of powicked and totally uncalled for.” sics must be there to reflect the months.” litical opportunism." Similarly, Kawonise said: nature of that place that the

Amosun under attack over planned 37km road zCompensation is ready — Amosun zAllegations are untrue — Works Commissioner

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ASUU strike over in few

months — FG

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 13

Odi threatens criminal suit against CBN over N37.6bn compensation

National Confab won’t divide Nigeria —Clark

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

BY HENRY UMORU

ORT HARCOURT— COUNCEL to Odi Community of Bayelsa State in its case against the Federal Government over 1999 army invasion of the community, has threatened to press criminal charges against the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, if it fails to pay the N37.6 billion compensation awarded to the community by a court The counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, spoke, yesterday, after Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, described as baseless and dismissed CBN’s application to set aside the judgment ordering payment of the N37.6 billion to Odi. Justice Akanbi had, on February 19, 2013, convicted the Federal Government for genocide against Odi and awarded N37.6 billion compensation to be paid within 21 days from date of judgment. Following government’s reluctance to respond to the ruling, the plaintiffs (Odi) on May 3, filed a motion exparte demanding a garnishee order absolute to be made to the CBN to effect the payment of the judgment sum, an application the court granted. The CBN, in response, claimed it was not given ample time to be heard as an affected party and consequently filed an application to the same court asking that the garnishee order be set aside and the matter retried. In his ruling yesterday, Justice Akanbi insisted that the apex bank was duly represented in the matter on June 17 as its legal representative did not ask for extended date to allow the motion to mature. Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, after the ruling, said of his client (Odi), “We are very happy about that ruling. The application was misconceived from the beginning. It is part of the long term ploy of those who invaded Odi to ensure that they do not get justice.”

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PORT HARCOURT BOOK FESTIVAL: From left: Guest Speaker, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Director, Port Harcourt Book Festival, Mrs. Koko Kalango, at the opening ceremony of Port Harcourt Book Festival, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

APC wins Esan N-East LG by-election in Edo BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairmanship candidate, Sam Oboh, has been declared winner of the Esan North-East Local Government Council of Edo State, by-election, held yesterday. Chairman of Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, Mr. Solomon Ogoh, who announced the result at about 8 pm, said Oboh scored 12, 672 votes to defeat the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Mr. John Yakubu, who scored 3,314 votes. In the rescheduled Chairmanship and councilors elections which held amid tight security, leaders of both the APC and PDP had earlier accused each other of rigging. Two persons were allegedly caught with already thump printed ballot boxes while 22 others were arrested for alleged disturbances and taken to Uromi Police Station where being detained at the time of this report. Prince Joe Okojie, APC leader, who spoke to newsmen, where he was detained by the police at Uromi police station, said: “I came to the police station to lay a complaint. I later left to my polling unit to bring a camera which I intended to give to somebody at the station. As I was coming back, the MOPOL Commander who is based in Lagos but came back home to work for the PDP, ambushed me and some other APC leaders and brought all of us to the police station. They feel that they can rig the election if we are detained here. They disrupted the election in my Ward, Ward 5 and Ward 7, when they found out that they

were losing. We knew this would happen because they flooded this town with mobile policemen from Abuja and Lagos and they are intimidating, harassing and arresting APC leaders. But we will resist this intimidation. Their PDP leader, the minister is around. They came with thousands of mobile policemen to kill our people but they have failed.”

Violence in Ward 5

Elections into the twelve wards in the Council had commenced peacefully until 1:30pm when violence erupted in Ward 5, which had the highest number of polling units in the council. The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih and the Minister of Works, Arch Mike Onolememen, were around to cast their votes. Tension heightened at about 12:30pm at Ward 5, when the people were yet to receive voting materials. A MOPOL officer stormed the ward arresting some APC youths. The youths resisted him, an action which further heightened the tension at the polling unit. However, temporary relief came when the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adebanjo and the state Director of State Service DSS, Bello Bakori, arrived the place to restore peace. Adebanjo told Vanguard that “there is water tight security, nobody will mess up here”. At 12pm, leaders of the APC and PDP all agreed that the election was peaceful but expressed concern over alleged plans to rig.

Ward 7

At ward 7, the member representing the area at the Federal House of Representatives and PDP chieftain, Mr Friday Itulah, said though the election commenced late, he was happy that people were voting peacefully. He however alleged that an EDSIEC official was seen with ink all over his body indicating that he might have been thumb-printing for the APC candidate. In his reaction, APC chieftain, Prince Joe Okojie, accused the PDP of alleged rigging, harassment and intimidation of their members. He said: “Somebody from this community, who is a MOPOL Commander based in Lagos, who obviously is working for the PDP, came this morning arresting three of our members. I went to the Police station to bail two of them but I was shocked while I was coming from the Police station he came to arrest two more persons. ” It was at that point that our people resisted him. The PDP tried to use their federal might to intimidate and harass our people but we will resist them.” At Atani Primary School the camera of Tell Magazine’s Director of Special Duties, Mrs Adekunbi Ero, was allegedly snatched from her as she attempted to take photographs of the chaotic scene caused by political thugs. A reporter with The News Magazine, Jethro Ebileke, was also allegedly rough handled. Meantime, at the time of this report, early results indicated that the APC won the councillorship election in Ward 9, Ovia North-East Local Government and in Isi Ward, Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

BUJA—FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has said that the National dialogue proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan will not divide Nigeria, just as he stressed that critics of the President were shocked hearing that the Senator Femi Okuroumi-led National Advisory Dialogue Committee was set up. Speaking, Monday, during the launch of the Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Foundation and 25 billion Naira Fund Raising Dinner for the proposed Edwin Clark University of Technology, Kiagbodo, Delta State and the Edwin Clark Centre for Youth Orientation and Development, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the elderstasteman took a swipe at former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for lampooning the President on the proposed conference. He said: “The National Conference will not divide Nigeria. Before now, Tinubu and others were clamouring for a national conference. They are now shocked that the humane President agreed for a conference. Those who did not want it are shocked. The Yorubas believe in national conference, Asiwaju Tinubu is alone.“ Speaking on the Edwin Clark University of Technology, Chief Clark, who noted that he decided to embark on the project to contribute to humanity as well as see a situation where young men and women will come together from all over the country in his home town, Kiagbodo, and share knowledge, said that it was not set up for money as he was not looking for money at his age. He said that when he got to the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton, venue of the launch, he was happy that all the chairs were occupied, adding, “donation or no donation, Nigerians have recognised me.” On why he decided to establish a University at 86, he said, “ I had always thought of education as the best legacy.”

14— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Ngige campaign slams Gov Obi on zoning BY ENYIM ENYIM

N I T S H A— S E N A TOR Chris Ngige’s Campaign Organisation in Anambra State, yesterday, described the zoning of the governorship position to Anambra North Senatorial zone by Governor Peter Obi as a political gimmick aimed at denying the people of the area the plum position in the November 16 governorship election in the state. Head of media, print, of the organisation, Mr. Tony Icheku who made this known in an interview with Vanguard in Awka, said there was no sincerity in the governor’s action as he did not allow governorship primaries to hold in the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. He said: "You will recall that there were many governorship aspirants including two former Secretaries to the State Government, Chief Paul Odenigbo and Mr. Oseloka Obaze and the former governor of the Central Bank, Prof. Charles Soludo jostling for the contest in APGA but Governor Obi forced the party leadership not to hold primaries for them.

CONFERENCE: From left: Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, Conference Chairperson, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Special Guest of Honour, Mrs. Bola Adesola, MD/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Inspirational Woman of the Year 2013, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Chairman of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, the chief host, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, wife of Benue State governor and wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, during the 13th national women's conference, organised by COWLSO in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

2 die of exhaustion at Onitsha Bridge traffic gridlock BY OKONKWOEZE NITSHA—TWO persons yesterday died on top of the Niger Bridge, Onitsha in Anambra State following a heavy traffic jam on the bridge. The victims, a middle-aged man and a little child, allegedly died due to exhaustion arising from the long hours spent in their vehicles while trying to cross the Niger Bridge which passage has for some time now remained a nightmare to both transporters and their passengers. Vanguard sources, however,

Obama flays US Senator’s comment on Nigeria 419ners

NITED States President Barack Obama and a members of a leading US Senator, Ted Cruz yesterday exchanged words over remarks by the senator that Nigerians scammers run the Obamacre website. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican senator last Monday addressed a crowd of about 1,000 people where he

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suggested that the Nigerian email scammers were running the Obamacare signup website. Cruz made the comment during his welcome-home rally in Houston, fresh off his fakefilibuster in which he tried to derail Obamacare. The move is partially blamed for the government shutdown that lasted for two weeks.

said that the deceased whose identities were not immediately known was a minor who was coming back with his mother in a commercial bus from Lagos, while the second victim, was a trader who travelled all the way from the North to Onitsha to sell his goods. It was learnt that while the small child died instantly on her mother’s lap at the Bridge, the business man died minutes after crossing the bridge to Onitsha from the North. It was alleged that the child had cried for a long time due to heat in the vehicle while waiting

to cross the bridge before the mother eventually discovered that her child was no longer breathing. The bewildered mother was said to have become hysterical as she burst into tears running helter-skelter when she discovered that her child whom she thought fell asleep was actually dead. The trader was also said to have boarded the vehicle from the North and travelled smoothly until the Asaba end of the Bridge where they spent several hours under the scorch-

ing heat in an attempt to cross the Niger Bridge. An eye witness account said that the victim and other passengers with him in the vehicle had already crossed the bridge and was offloading his goods from the vehicle when he suddenly slumped and died. The Federal Government had repeatedly promised in the last 10 years to build a second Niger Bridge to ease traffic congestion on the bridge which is the gateway from the Lagos and other Southwest states to the South-east and South-South.

Anambra: D-Day for Nwoye, Ukachukwu zAs S-Court gives order for judgment BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA—THE Supreme Court, yesterday, rejected the appeal by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu to stay judgment of the Court of Appeal on the candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming

gubernatorial election in Anambra State. The Court of Appeal in PortHarcourt which heard the case upon the ruling of the apex court yesterday fixed today for delivery of judgment on the case. A five-man panel of the apex court, in a ruling threw out the application which was filed before them by Ukachukwu, describing it as an invitation to judicial anarchy. Striking out the suit, the Supreme Court panel which was presided over by Justice Walter Onnoghen, further accused Ukachukwu of subtly inviting it to arrest the judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of the appellate court in the appeal that was lodged by another candidate of the party, Mr. Tony Nwoye. Ukachukwu had in his appeal urged the Supreme Court to order the appellate

Court to suspend its judgment on the matter, insisting that the appeal court panel was bribed by both the national leadership of the PDP and Nwoye in a bid to upturn his candidacy. Arguing through his counsel, Prince Nwafor Orizu, Ukachukwu, asked the appellate court panel to disqualify themselves from the matter, saying he would not be granted fair hearing and justice in the matter. He argued that Order 8 Rule 10 of the Supreme Court forbids the Appeal Court from proceeding with hearing on any aspect of the matter pending the determination of his appeal before the apex court. Meanwhile, though the appellate court had already concluded hearing on Nwoye’s appeal, it, however, reserved its verdict on the matter to await the ruling of the Supreme Court. Specifically, Nwoye had in his suit before the appellate court, maintained that he was the winner of the governorship primary election that was conducted by the party in Anambra State on August 24, 2013, which he said was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 15

THE E.K. CLARK’S EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUND RAISING DINNER IN ABUJA

From left: The national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, President Goodluck Jonathan, South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, his wife, Dr. Bisola Clark, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and the guest speaker, Rev. Jesse Jackson, during the N25 billion fund raising dinner for the Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Foundation, at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida.

Chief E.K. Clark (left), his brother, Professor John Clark (right) and a guest.

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From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Chief Seriake Dickson at the event.

From left: Former FCT Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Abba Gana, former Kogi State deputy governor, Mr. Adaba, former Anambra State governor, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

From left: Brig. Gen. David Jemibewon, Mrs. Bolere Ketebu, Chief Graham Douglas and Mr. Mike Okiro.

Chief Edwin Clark and NNPC boss, Engr. Andrew Yakubu.

From left: Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho; Prof. Oladapo Afolabi and Engr. Jide Arowosafe, at the event.

From left: Chief Richard Lamai, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Nenadi Usman and Sen. Smart Adeyemi.

From left: Chief Graham Douglas, Mr. Ima Niboro and Amb. Godknows Igali.

Some Traditional rulers on the occasion.

16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

20-yr-old accused of raping 14-yr-old BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO— A 20year-old boy, Feyi Olatunji, has been arrested by the Police in IleIfe for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, for the state Police Command, DSP Folashade Odoro, said in a statement in Osogbo that the suspected rapist was arrested in Ile-Ife after committing the alleged offence. Odoro said the 14-yearold girl was sent to buy an electrical bulb and food items by her guardian on October 12, when Olatunji dragged her to his mother ’s shop at Ogo-Oluwa area of the town and raped her atop a table, then locked her up till the following day. She said that the state Police Command had launched investigations into the matter and would ensure that justice is done, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court after completion of investigations on the matter.

Police rescue Indian from drowning

HE anti-crime unit of Marine Police rescued one Singu Amanpreet, 29, an Indian, who was stranded on the high sea in the Lagos, yesterday. He was said to be aboard his vessel, MSC Monica, that left Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, yesterday, at 1a.m. and for over four hours, the vessel was floating on the sea. Vanguard learnt that an alarm was sent to policemen attached to the marine section, who embarked on a rescue mission. After he was saved, the Indian was taken to the Military hospital for medical attention. Speaking later from his hospital bed, the Indian said he was in the sea for over five hours and if not for the timely intervention of the Marine Police, he may have died there.

VISIT: From right— Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (middle); flanked on his left by the Chairman, Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Senator Femi Okorounmu; Secretary of the committee, Dr. Akilu Indabawa and members of the committee and senators, during the committee's visit to the National Assembly.

Soldiers kill 37 Boko Haram suspects in Borno BY NDAHI MARAMA

AIDUGURI— MILITARY troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, launched an attack on Boko

Haram camp located in Alagarno village of Borno State, killing no fewer than 37 suspected terrorists, while several others fled with gunshot wounds.

The troops also recovered several arms and ammunition, destroyed three Hilux vehicles and motorcycles belonging to the insurgents. Residents of the village scampered for safety while the coordinated ground and air assault lasted. No civilian was

Okonkwo to succeed Ihejiahi as Fidelity Bank's CEO F

IDELITY Bank Plc has appointed Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, Chief Executive Officer designate, to take over from Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, who is expected to retire from the bank, February 2014. According to a statement by the bank, Okonkwo, who is currently Executive Director in charge of South Directorate of the bank, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agric Economics from the University of Benin and an MBA in Banking & Finance from Enugu State University. The bank also said he is a graduate of the Advanced Management Programme of INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France, adding that he has attended various business and management training locally and overseas, including Harvard Business School, Oxford.

Experience

The bank said, “Nnamdi comes with over 23 years of experience in various aspects of banking. Between 2006 and 2009, he was Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Ghana, and between 2008 and 2009, he doubled as the Regional Chief Executive Officer for UBA West African Monetary Zone, with responsibility for Ghana, Liberia and

Sierra Leone. “He later became Divisional Head for the Corporate Bank Directorate between 2009 and 2012, before coming back to Fidelity Bank Plc, as Executive Director, having earlier worked in Fidelity Bank (old FSB that consolidated to form the enlarged Fidelity) between 1998 and 2000. In that period he had been Senior Manager in branches both in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

At UBA

“Between 2004 and 2005, Nnamdi had been General Manager in Standard Trust (which later became UBA) and later in 2005, was Regional Director of UBA in charge of branches in the FCT, Niger and Kogi states. “This is the third CEO of Fidelity Bank after 25 years of operation, making it one of the banks with the most stable management in the industry. “Following the Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria which stipulated a maximum term of 10 years for Bank CEOs, the current CEO, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, who assumed duties in early 2004 will have served out his term in February, 2014.” Continuing, the statement noted, “Mr. Ihejiahi took over Fidelity Bank Plc and inherited the challenge of setting the

course for growth.

Ihejiahi's achievements

“From being in the top 30 banks in Nigeria with N20 billion in deposits, N30 billion in total assets and less than 150,000 in customers, he orchestrated the consolidation of the legacy Fidelity Bank with the former FSB International Bank Plc and Manny Bank Plc to form the currently enlarged Fidelity Bank Plc. “The bank now ranks among the top 10 banks in Nigeria with over 1.0 billion US Dollars in equity, over N1 trillion in total assets and 2.3 million customers, represented in 220 branches compared to 17 branches at take on, with presence in all the state capitals and major commercial centres in Nigeria. “Fidelity is today the 6th largest bank in Nigeria, by shareholders’ funds, and one of the few companies that have consistently paid dividends, without fail, in the last eight years. Mr. Ihejiahi and his team also led some of the landmark international financial transactions in the industry including the issue of Global Deposit Receipts (GDR) in 2007 and the $300m debut issue of internationally traded Eurobond in 2013.”

hurt during the three-hour operation. The spokesman of the Division, Captain Aliyu Danja, said in a statement in Maiduguri: “Based on available intelligence, troops of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army launched an attack on terrorists camp in Alagarno. “The operation, which commenced Monday, involved a coordinated ground and air assault by our troops in conjunction with 79 Composite Group, Nigerian Air Force, Maiduguri, destroyed the terrorist’s camp. “A total of 37 terrorists were killed, while several others fled with gunshot wounds.”

Sunday's attack

Danja also confirmed last Sunday’s Boko Haram attacks on motorists and passengers in Logomari villages of GamboruNgala-Dikwa council areas of the state, but denied that 20 people were killed. He said that only four civilians were killed and two injured. He said: “In the early hours of Sunday, Boko Haram terrorists, numbering over 50 and armed with AK-47 rifles, and rocket-propelled launchers, blocked roads at GamboruNgala-Dikwa in Logomari village, killing four civilians with two injured.” He added that the terrorists also set four civilian trucks loaded with provisions ablaze before they attacked members of the vigilante youth, who were on their way from a funeral. He said three of the vigilantes were killed. He said the youths that escaped reinforced, pursued the terrorists and destroyed their hideout, killing several terrorists, while others escaped. Danja noted that troops of the 7 Division were conducting aggressive patrols in the area to trace and destroy Boko Haram elements.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013— —17 “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last.” Winston Churchill

HE outcome of the public engagements by the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue may offend one of the basic assumptions which informed the need to subject the nation to critical scrutiny and review. This is the assumption that we Nigerians have no consensus over the legitimacy of our nation and the laws that give it substance; we disagree over whether we want to continue to live in such a nation; we disagree over why it has failed to live up to our expectations; we disagree over how its resources are appropriated and shared; and we disagree over just about everything of value which should create peace, security and unity. Colonialism is blamed as the genesis of all these ills, but since we are not the only nation which was cobbled out of imperialist designs, the search for sources of our profound dissatisfaction with our nation went beyond the foundations. The postindependence democratic government let us down for taking off from where the British left. Long periods of military rule complicated the problems of emergence of a nation out of basic and endemic structural crises. Reversals to democratic governance merely confirmed that it is not the type of rulers we have that is the problem; it is our nation which is fatally structured, rooted

Getting what you wished for interpreted in its literal sense: Let the ethnic groups and nations which pre-dated colonial imposition exercise that sovereignty directly and totally. Allow representatives of the people who were forced into co-existence by imperial interests to question everything about the nation, and what they decide will be final. They could re-create the nation in any number of ways; they could affirm its unity under different values and institutions; or they could end the Nigerian enterprise in everyone’s interests. This, basically, was the chorus that was heard in the last two decades in some parts of the country, notably the South West

The nation is united; it is solidly united behind the idea of a thorough and genuine reassessment of the Nigerian nation; this is not what President Jonathan wanted; he had thought he will tap into a sentiment that will win him applause in some quarters

in false values and assumptions, and working towards deepening our problems rather than solving them. Since shifts between military dictatorships and democratic governance have failed to move the country beyond its basic limitations, and constitutional amendments have merely provided a cover for incumbents to prolong their stay in power, the solution was unlikely to be found in tinkering with laws. The constitution and the institutions it has created will not subvert themselves in a manner that will allow an unhindered and popular effort to create genuine alternatives. The case began to be made for a wholesale rejection of the structural foundations of modern Nigeria and the creation of avenues for evaluating its relevance, utility and even continuance. The claim that sovereignty is vested in the people began to be

which felt hard done-by when Abiola’s election was aborted; as well as in SouthSouth minority communities which felt that too much of what they have is being shared with too many fellow Nigerians. It also found resonance in circles in the South East which created their own versions of the build-up and aftermath of the civil war, and concluded that Igbos would have built the greatest nation in Africa but for the liability which they carry called Nigeria. Here and there, pockets of disciples of the idea of the wholesale unravelling of the nation emerged, motivated by a variety of reasons. Some saw it as the best means of freeing small groups from domination by larger groups. Some saw it as a means of keeping more of what should be shared. Other saw it as a solution to the domineering position of the North in national affairs. In general terms, mainstream Northern

BY GODWIN ORJIMMADU

HY do you like courting controversy and cheap popularity all the time? Does it mean there will be no governance in Imo State without causing confusion to attract attention? Why creating and engaging in unwarranted political gimmick which was also evident when you were Senior Special Adviser to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Inter Party Relation, where you were fingered in the controversy involving then Chief Don Etiebet-led national leadership of the now defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, that destabilized the party. These germane questions are meant for the executive governor of Imo State, Chief Owelle Rochas Okorocha as he stirred another controversy in the commercial city of Aba recently on his alleged botc hed plan to secretly launch his Rescue Mission Programme and All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state. The choice of the venue of the botched event which was Abia State Polytechnic Aba, without informing or getting the permission of the Abia State Government raised questions and suspicions about the real motive of the organisers. But reacting to the development, Okorocha’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Chinedu Offor, had denied that the event was a political one. According him: “The Rescue Missionaries had a convention in Aba and decided to use the occasion to honour C M Y K

political opinion was, at best, suspicious, and at worst, hostile to the very concept and feasibility of the idea. Its core leadership put itself forward as the custodian of the integrity of the nation, its unity and survival. It felt justified in putting a robust defence against any idea that the nation’s unity is questionable, and that its future can be discussed or negotiated away by elites from parts of the country which had narrow political goals to pursue. Northern leaders died in 1966 in the hands of military adventurers who set in motion a disastrous chain of events leading to a civil war. Northern lives and limbs in their hundreds of thousands were sacrificed to free Southern minorities from Igbo domination and to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation. If the nation shed no blood in the fight for independence, it certainly shed mostly Northern blood to preserve the unity of Nigeria. Northerners overthrew or murdered other Northerners in 1974, 1976, 1983 and 1985, and made many futile attempts in between in the name of improving the state of the nation. Northerners plucked Obasanjo from extinction and installed him in power in 1999 when it became accepted wisdom that other Northerners prevented Abiola from becoming President in 1993. Northerners suffered massive depletions in their stock of political leaders in the hands of fellow Northerners and Obasanjo, and have borne this loss as a price to pay for preserving the unity of the country under a democratic system. The North has been forced open, polarized and endangered by the exploitation of its pluralism, all in the name of the democratic process. While the South West found security in a political cocoon, the South-South basked in the glory of temporary and problematic wealth, the East continued to walk on any side of the

political street which paid it the most, the North shrank under poverty, insecurity and poor governance. The initial response to the offer of a National Dialogue is revealing some startling postures that had been largely invisible. Virtually every major geopolitical cluster of opinion will now make a case for a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, without delay. Tinubu’s repudiation of the idea as a deceptive diversion has effectively set the basic agenda for political South West. The traditional SNC priests will follow with a condemnation of anything short of a SNC. The South-South will not see their hope of a radical review of the manner revenues from petroleum resources are allocated in a polite dialogue which will end up as a document before the National Assembly where the North has majority. The East will likely support a SNC because not to do so will harm its interests. It will make the case for it because it has unresolved issues with Nigeria, particularly one which will not accord due respect for its demands for an additional state, and in which Igbos build the nation and are targeted routinely by other Nigerians virtually as a national pastime.

Unity and integrity The far North will demand a SNC because it is beginning to question the value and practicability of its continued support for the unity and integrity of the nation in the light of its current positions and experiences in the nation. It will highlight positions that the North will benefit from a critical scrutiny of the entire structure, functions and viability of the nation’s basic institutions. It is likely to support a wholesale revision of every arrangement which currently sustains the nation from the perspective of a disadvantaged and threatened partner. Minority Northern interests will support a SNC because they will see it as an avenue to assert their autonomy from being appendages of the majority in the North, or pawns in the hands of the South. So the nation is united, after all. It is solidly united behind the idea of a thorough and genuine reassessment of the Nigerian nation. This is not what President Jonathan wanted. He had thought he will tap into a sentiment that will win him applause in some quarters, and send other quarters into panic and disarray over the initiative. Now that he knows what the nation wants, how will he respond to this national consensus against his dialogue?

OPINION Imo and Abia govts row over Okorocha’s reception His Excellency on his birthday. They are a group of missionaries from the South East and South-South zones. They got police permit, paid for the venue and had their receipt. His Excellency was getting ready to go and honour their call when we heard that the powers that be had ordered the event cancelled. Somebody is to trying to be funny by cancelling the event. "They should be careful when they are dealing with God. It had nothing to do with APC. I wondered why political meaning is being read to a purely religious event. Did you see the APC flag? Did you hear the presence of any APC governor? If the APC wanted to do a rally, it would have been an open affair. There is no politics in the event and nobody has told us why it was cancelled.” But dismissing Offor’s claims as laughable, Chief Press Secretary to Abia State governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, alleged that Okorocha planned to use the occasion to launch his pet project called Imo Rescue Mission without permission from the school authorities. Emezue wondered why the Imo State government would want to sneak into Abia to hold such a programme without observing laid down procedure.He warned Okorocha to restrict his Rescue Mission programme activities to Imo State, stressing that Gov. Theodore Orji would leave no

stone unturned to ensure that the hard-earned security in Abia State is not compromised from any quarter. In the face of all these claims and counter-claims by both state governments on the botched event, Okorocha as the executive governor of a state ought to have known what protocol demands in such situation. Why should he decide to leave his fellow governor of a sister state in the dark over the arrangement of his alleged birthday event in the state if his intentions and that of the organisers were clear and non-political as claimed by his Chief of Staff? Ordinarily if Okorocha is on a private visit to a friend's house in Aba to celebrate his birthday or do other things privately, nobody has right to stop him, not even the security agents because he has constitutional right to association and movement. But when it has to do with political gathering of any sort, there is need for permission and notification from apropriate authorities in the host state. Every Nigerian is aware of the security challenges in Aba before the state government tackled it headlong and brought it under control. Continues tomorrow on pg 18

*Mr. Orjimmadu , a university lecturer, wrote from Owerri, Imo State.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

IGERIA’S terrorist insurgent group, N Boko Haram, has formed the habit of preparing special “gifts” for ordinary, innocent Nigerians in parts of the North as festivals draw near, when vigilance is at the lowest ebb and citizens are in carefree mood. As the countdown to this year’s Id El Kabir festival drew near, agents of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), acting on a tipoff by patriotic members of the public, discovered that Boko Haram had perfected plans to attack Kano and environs. On Monday, October 7, 2013, JTF stormed a house in Gunduwawa village in Gazewa Local Government Area of Kano State, and hauled in 193 rounds of 5.3mm ammunitions, one AK 47 magazine, 107 rounds of “special ammunition and tools for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs)." It will be recalled that Kano has been the theatre of the most frightening coordinated gun and explosives attacks since the Boko Haram insurgency took upon a scale of national emergency. Thus was saved an unknown number of lives and property that would have increased the sad states of ter-

Kano arms factory bust ror in Northern Nigeria. We will never tire in urging members of the public to continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies, who are making gallant and selfless efforts to keep us all safe from our collective enemies. The people of Kano and other areas menaced by agents of terror must emulate the brave decision of the youth of Borno State to partner with the JTF in identifying and eliminating cells of terror within and around their communities. The discovery of this arms dump was a chilling indicator that Boko Haram was already beginning to re-establish a foothold in Nigeria’s second largest city after the security agents succeeded in driving them to

the edges of the Lake Chad in the ongoing emergency operations. The modest recovery of Kano from its wartorn status would have suffered a numbing setback had these anarchists succeeded in their designs. It would seem that even those mischievous politicians and social commentators, who had, at the outset, lionised Boko Haram as if they were fighting their political and cultural interests, have now seen the light; that these terrorists have no friends, only enemies. They do not discriminate. This is why we must always side with our security agents. Even when they make mistakes, we must not descend on them with the venom with which some critics came down on the security agents that dislodged alleged Boko Haram members from an uncompleted building in Abuja. We must bear in mind that the security forces, especially the army, are our last stand against an armed enemy. We must continue to motivate them with our support and encouragement.

OPINION BY CHINEDUM NWAJIUBA

E have heard that the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has named new commissioners, and therefore the state Executive Council, Exco, is on the verge of returning fully as known to law. This set should be a thinking and doing group which the governor allows space to bring forward and contribute new ideas that help the government take a systematic and holistic approach. Obvious challenges confronting the Imo State government now include identifying her current project exposure, aligning that to available resources, embarking on strategic planning and realistically implementing, with a critical target delivery date of June 2014. The government must change style otherwise election 2015 will be a shocker. The government is fast losing the middle class in Imo State. The class is lost slowly, but also slow to gain. Who are government contractors? Zonal and other discrimination charges are simmering. Flagship education, roads, infrastructure, and other projects have become some of the areas considered areas of weaknesses. Planning is no longer optional as tikitaka style has to change. Spanish tikitaka approach to football requires effective strikers, something obviously lacking in team Rochas. There is neither Ronaldo nor Messi in the team. Strong in the midfield where captain/trainer/coach/

On Rochas new cabinet in Imo State technical adviser Rochas plays, very few goals have been scored compared to high percentage ball possession. Higher ball possession does not win matches. Two German teams in UEFA championship final both emerged by beating Spanish flagship teams, and Brazil beating Spain in the Confederation cup shows that tikitaka is vulnerable with planning, and comparable fans-cheering skills. The Rochas government has had the rare luck of a clueless opposition, especially the PDP. The Governor has had a rare total control of the Imo polity, deciding what, how, and when to do what he chooses. That luck increasingly needs rigorous thinking, planning, and work, as the PDP congress next year will bring change to the political environment in Imo State. Even ahead of that, the Anambra election of November 16, which has been cast locally as a Rochas project, may be wrong strategy, as the indicators are pointing elsewhere, most probably in the direction of APGA, and may alter the political temperament in Imo State. These are related political challenges. Among the Imo middle class in which government is losing support fastest are worries of poverty, and declining wellbeing. They raise questions about how Imo money is spent, who gets contracts for school buildings, uniforms, etc. Shouldn’t these be people in Imo,

they ask. People associate this to electing persons not resident in Imo, and are saying we have to elect Imo residents next time. Is the tertiary level scholarship only for one year? they also ask. Also 27 new hospitals suffer poor funding, even when not needed in the first instance. Road projects show evidence of overtrading, with many contractors disillusioned. Wastes in earthworks, bitumen, MC1, etc., are mentioned, with worsened conditions of many roads abandoned at various stages. The completed ones are failing. Location of the roads and school buildings are subject to sundry anti-government interpretations. Government seem not conscious of the voting trend in a highly competitive election as in 2011 and most likely in 2015.

he silence of critical opinion leaders in Imo State, including the clergy, academia, journalists, et al., should no longer be taken for granted as this attitude was informed by a 'let’s give him a chance' resolve, especially against the background of the particularly difficult preceding four years. This concession to Rochas was informed by a belief of his good intention. But good intention is not enough. Every political office holder running for re-election, as Rochas will in 2015 despite what he says about

seeking the Presidency, will be assessed by his performance. Election 2015 in Imo State will be based on Rochas performance. Rochas cabinet must therefore help him. No one knows it all. Positive about the new cabinet is wisdom in reappointing some of those perceived to have suffered for the Governor. If that was not done would have convinced his appointees that he is not worth sticking out your neck for. Bravo. The people Rochas has chosen to work with him, especially those who were not unemployed, therefore owe him the duty of sincerity and boldness, and tell him the truth. They should listen to Imo people and work for Imo people, and not wring their fingers in helplessness, and resignation that he seems to know everything, and wouldn’t listen to them, and not let Exco meetings degenerate to instruction classes with a teacher who brooks no questions, or a Maradona and ten nameless others. This was the case with the gang of 2007 to 2011. We know where that left them and Imo State. This set needs to learn from the Mbakwe Exco, peopled by informed and confident persons, most of whom were capable of being Governor. Anyone of the present set on request can have a free copy of my book The Glorious Mbakwe Era. Ta bu gbuo. *Prof. Nwajiuba, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Owerri, Imo State

—19 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—

, Security agencies, stowaways and air safety in Nigeria

S I got down to write this a day after the Muslim holidays one of the items in a review of newspapers on television is the report that airline fares have been increased. Above the headline of this report in the National Mirror was a photograph of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, whose tenure seems perpetually steeped in controversy ranging from charges of corruption, ethnic bias to highhandedness. These are standard accusations against public officers in Nigeria where appointment into public offices are often viewed as opportunities for corrupt enrichment in the name of such officers’ places of origin. The only difference here is that while most public officers manage to take care of their personal interests in this manner with little attention, Mrs. Oduah seems to relish the unfortunate controversy that goes with it. Which gives one the impression she must be doing something wrong or she wouldn’t be trailed by such frequently negative publicity. But the report on new increases in air fare was a reminder, for me, of how non-performing commercial organisations, whether privately or publicly owned,

nonetheless expect to get paid for the poor and even harmful services they provide their Nigerian customersfrom PHCN to the telecommunication companies daily repatriating billions of dollars out of Nigerian and, of course, the airline companies that own those flying coffins called airplanes that randomly crash out of the skies across our domestic airspace. The bad smell created by the crash of the Associated Airlines plane earlier in the month is yet to clear up. Many homes are still plunged in the deep sorrow of that most unfortunate of air disasters in which the remains of the former governor of Ondo State, himself a former Minister of Aviation, Olusegun Agagu, was being conveyed for burial in Ondo State. The fact that Agagu was once in charge of the Aviation Ministry caused many Nigerians to make angry statements that could at best be described as speaking ill of the dead. Several family heads and their children needlessly perished in the crash involving a plane that shouldn’t have been flying at all or a company, like many in Nigeria, that shouldn’t have been

The Nigerian aviation authorities should know that they bear responsibility for the safety of millions of travellers who go through our airports

registered to operate as an airline company if some people had been doing their job. Since that crash, the Nigerian aviation authorities have gone through the usual motions of finding the ‘’immediate and remote causes’’ of the crash. They’ve parceled out blame and sanctions like a stale meal to those thought guilty, even to Dana Air, a company that was given the green light to resume business after it had been grounded following an egregious disaster whose investigation was typically shoddy. In a sudden access of belated anger and hunger for culprits, our aviation authorities decided to punish an airline company it had absolved of blame for a past misdeed, if one could so describe the Dana crash.

n the wake of the Associated Airlines crash, several air disasters have been averted or so Nigerians have been told. There have been such scary episodes as plane tires bursting midair, planes crash landing or being forced to land, etc. Our air safety records must rank among the worst if not the worst in the world. Air travel is generally

seen as the safest means of travel going by rate of accidents. But this is not the case in Nigeria where air disasters have become as common as carnages on our roads. The fact that these disasters are limited to the domestic airspace is simply because Nigerian airlines have ceded the international route to foreign airlines. Yet our safety record is simply atrocious. The initial report from investigation into the Associated Airlines crash indicates pilot error. The fact that the pilot of the plane refused to follow instructions to abort the flight following safety concerns is proof of the total lack of governance or control in our aviation sector. Are we to understand that pilots can choose what safety instructions to follow? Or that a suicidal pilot or crew could endanger the lives of passengers without a means to bring such erring pilot/crew to order before take off? It’s crazy what our aviation sector has been reduced to. Safety issues are simply not among priority issues at our airports. Rather than paying attention to what passengers have on their persons or luggage, security officers in our airports are always eager to beg for tips and other kinds of unauthorised tolls from the passengers. They are not ashamed to ask passengers for what ‘’you bring for us’’. They are ready to delay passengers in long queues asking foolish and irrelevant questions until they are given their ‘’tips’’. Passengers eager to get out of the stiflingly hot and smelly departure/arrival lounges are often obliging. And those who know what contraband they are freighting across our borders would give very generously, assured that these socalled security officers wouldn’t bother to check for anything once they’ve got their bribe. A suicide bomber could walk through the

porous security checks at our airports without anybody asking a question. Only God knows what amount of our recorded air disasters are connected to security lapses. Once it was stray animals that graze on our airport tarmacs. Now it’s the era of stowaways who in fact ought to be seriously reprimanded and chastened but are granted heroes’ reception for their ability to breach security cordons. Nobody in the airports is thinking of the security implication of young boys walking into airports with plans to board planes without travel documents. We all think these are matters to joke about until some of these children start carrying bombs in their backpacks to board aircraft. Even the seriousness of the situation seems lost on people who should be alert to such incidents as the police commissioner at the Lagos airport who, on arresting two suspected stowaways, called on their respective state governments to help ‘’rehabilitate’’ them. What has youth delinquency got to do with rehabilitation? Boys who should be spanked at home for misbehaving are being turned into overnight heroes for embarking on dangerous pranks. Is it any wonder that more Daniels are finding their way to the airport as if that is the place for rehabilitating misguided delinquents? The Nigerian aviation authorities, by which I mean all agencies at the airports including the Aviation Ministry, the police, the Immigration Service, NDLEA and NACA etc- every single agency connected to our airports must be alert to their duties. They should know that they bear responsibility for the safety of millions of travellers who go through our airports and they cannot afford to toy any more with human lives in the manner they’ve been doing for so many years.

No, Mr President, Legislators — Sovereignty belongs to the People! ND just like that, President Good luck Jonathan took the wind out of his own sails! With his Independence Day announcement, and subsequent empanelling of a National Conference Advisory Committee, his floundering presidential ship of state seemed set to sail out of troubled waters. I was, and remain, cautiously optimistic about his decision to convene a national conference. Frankly, at this calamitous point of our life as a nation, I would be delighted by any chance of airing out grievances, real or imaginary, sitting face to face with the “enemy other,” before we all go mad. Thus, I offered a tentative endorsement of the national conference in my last column, “Salvaging Nigeria: Only a Sovereign National Conference Will Suffice!” For me, the qualifying word “sovereign” is the litmus test of Jonathan’s sincerity, foretells whether or not his national conference will be a transforming event or just another bloody waste of time. Precisely in the same waythat his combative refusal to publicly declare his assets has been a test of his so-called “zero tolerance” war against corruption.Now that he has said he would forward the proceedings of the conference to the National Assembly for ratification, I feel even more confirmed in this view. More than mode of representation (ethnic or acrossthe varied strata of civil society) or agenda, the question of sovereigntystrikes me as the most important. Lest it be forgotten, especially by the self-serving individuals (with very few exceptions) known as our national legislators, a sovereign conferC M Y K

ence means no more than that its proceedings be ratified only by referendum. This would be a straightforward enough proposition in any sane polity, except in ours of the most expensively paid parliamentarians.With a straight face, our legislators insist that sovereignty resides not in the people but in them, the mere agents sent on the errand of executing the people’s will. Their arguments in defence of this outrageous claim are so patently disingenuous a secondary school student would beg to debate them on television. Since our return to civilian rule (not to be confused with democracy), I have had cause to dismiss the majority of our“honourable” legislators as illiterates. By which I mean not the inability to read or write but lack of the requisite cultivation of mind to fit the citizen for service to his society and humanity at large.But after the arguments advanced by a gaggle of senators and representatives in support of their contempt for the people, I am beginning to think that perhaps they are functionally illiterate. For what do they not understand in the clear provision of Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution:“Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government •••derives all its powers and authority”?Perhaps, that government includes the legislature? In what world does the agent ratify the principal’s act? Well, then, suppose the nine villages of a clan—let’s call it Umuofia—resolve, after protracted deliberations on the root causes of incessant conflicts among them, to set up a Council of Elders with a representative from each village. And

this council’s duty is to make subsidiary resolutions towards the implementation of their decision on ways ofsettling their differences and ensuring lasting peace. Suppose that four years after, relations among the villages have not only failed to improve but

Only a sovereign national conference will do; which means that its final resolutions may only be ratified by referendum and adopted into law wholesale by the National Assembly

have degenerated. And that, consequently, they decide to rewrite the original resolution. For which purpose, they constitute another body to draw up better principles of co-existence for the clan. Would President Jonathan and our legislators insist that the new body’s recommendations are to be ratified by the Council of Elders and not by each of the nine villages? I should hope not.The best one can say for the National Assembly is that it is the “custodian” of the sovereign will of the people. But a custodian is only a caretaker. His powers are subject to, and

determined by, the over-riding powers and rights of “the owner” or “beneficiary.” If Jonathan and our federal legislators do not understand this principle, then they confirm the fears of those who suspect a hidden agenda in the sudden conversion of hitherto sworn enemies of a (sovereign) national conference.After all, in what democracy do public servants hold their masters, the people, in such utter contempt? Oh, I know: one in which politicians have perfected the art of rigging elections and so do not need the electorate. Still,I remain cautiously optimistic about the conference for the simple reason that it is better to “jaw” than to “war,”particularly at this ominous juncture of our national life. But I have no confidence in Jonathan or the National Assembly. All my hope is in the people. And to some extent, on the Okurounmu Committee whose members, I pray,will choose to be patriots by taking the side of the people. If the goal is to salvage Nigeria and set her on the path toselfactualisation in a free, fair and genuine federation, then only a sovereign national conference will do. Which means that its final resolutions may only be ratified by referendum and adoptedinto lawwholesaleby the National Assembly.That is the only way the resultant Constitution can claim to have been made by “We the people.” Anything else would be a travesty.

20 — Vanguard ,

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, OCTOBER 23 , 2013

Panic, confusion in Imo community as school boys launch rocket BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

EPTEMBER 27, 2013 is a day residents of the sleepy rural community of Umuchima, Ubaha, Okigwe Local Government Area of the state will not forget in a hurry. On this fateful day, a very unusual but deafening noise suddenly rented the air, accompanied by a rare spectacle that threw all and sundry into panic as they scampered into safety. The strange sound was later traced to the family home of a visuallyimpaired pensioner, Mr. Augustine Eke. What further heightened people’s anxiety was when they also noticed a thick smoke coming from the hapless man’s compound. They had every reason to believe that Boko Haram insurgents had invaded the community. News quickly spread that a rocket had landed in Eke’s compound. They were right but it was not coming from Boko Haram! Indeed it later turned out that there really was no cause for alarm as the rocket was nothing but a practical expression of the technological talents of an ex-student of Federal Government College, Okigwe, Gideon Chiadikobi Emenike and his friend, Chibuisi Nwafor. The duo fabricated and launched a rocket that travelled over five kilometres into the sky before crash landing. The exploits of these youthful Nigerians may never have come to light but for the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina. Again, if they had been treated like common criminals, the story may have taken a different shape. Truth is that Katsina moved journalists to Okigwe for on-the-spot assessment of the exploits of the young lads. Giving account of what happened to newsmen, the Commissioner of Police said although the boys who fabri-

*CP Mohammed Katsina addressing the boys the world of science and technology by some adventurous, skillful and intelligent young boys with incredible creativity. “This endowment propelled them into designing their own style of spacecraft. When they launched this thing, there was about 30 minutes dream journey into space. The element eventually lost focus and crash-landed here (pointing at the point). We thank God that there was no fatal consequence to either life or property. “The element has been deactivated by our bomb disposal unit. I can tell you that the contraption does not contain any toxic or radioactive material. I like to authoritatively

The contraption does not contain any toxic or radioactive material; the boys’ conduct was not an act of terrorism; it was a mere adventure by two young boys

cated the device were reckless, preliminary investigations did not raise any serious security concern. The CP’S account: “We have identified the launch site and where the rocket crash landed. I know that the young chaps used simple components in activating this element. It is a combination of computer accessories and a highly inflammable substance. “I will not, for security reasons disclose all the details we have concerning the device. What I want you to understand is that one of the components is something very common, something you and I use on a daily basis- sugar. We know sugar is highly inflammable. It is this sugar and some other components that propelled this device you hear that crash landed in Okigwe. “Although the young boys can be said to be excessively reckless, preliminary investigations have not shown any criminal motive behind the adventure. I see the development as an excursion into

inform you at this juncture that the boys’ conduct was not an act of terrorism. It was a mere adventure by two young boys. “Let me also say that people should feel free and go about their normal business. We have taken possession of the whole area. Everything has been cleared, cleaned and rendered safe for human habitation. Apart from the initial pandemonium and fear created in the minds of the people in the neighbourhood, everything ended well. “The boys are just between 16 and 17 years old. They only tried out their learning while in the secondary school. They wanted to know if they can practicalise the theories they learnt in school. The dream of these young boys is to design a spacecraft. It was launched without funfair. “The device went some kilometres into the sky before crashlanding. Let us not forget that the command has some formidable structures on ground. We have since commenced

*The CP holding aloft the rocket after it crashlanded

the sweeping of Imo State of all explosive ordinances. I want these boys to be encouraged. May be, who knows tomorrow, at my old age, I may be the lucky one that would fly in the spacecraft made by these young lads. “So, I would rather not think of punitive measures against the boys. I would rather dwell heavily on protection, rehabilitation and encouragement of these young boys. Those who ran away are free to come back. From this moment, we have ended this case. Gideon speaks: “My name is Gideon Chiadikobi Emenike and my friend’s name is Chibuisi Nwafor. I studied in Federal Government College, Okigwe and I graduated last year. This project started when I was still in school. I was told to build a project in school for a competition. “In my SS1, I built a helicopter. In my SS2, I was told to build another project. I built this rocket and we went for a competition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. I came second in the competition with the project. This was at the national level. “We also went for another competition organised by the Society for Science and Technology. I also came second. I also went for Olympiad and I equally came second there. I was told that I was going to represent Nigeria in Brazil but later, my principal said that I was no longer going to represent the country. “I still don’t know why the principal cancelled the trip. This frustrated me somehow but later, I picked up from where I dropped and started again. I now met my friend at a learning centre. I found out that he has for things related to science. We now pooled our brains together. “That was how we planned to build a rocket and a satellite, as well as sending it into space. It was an amateur satellite because you know we have

not yet university graduates. We just graduated from secondary school last year. “We have done this for now. I was really challenged when I heard that other countries were planning to launch satellites into space. It made me to think deep. This is what pushed to do what you are seeing today. If government can adopt our technology, we can help them to actualize their dream of launching a satellite. “This particular project was a mere attempt to reach a particular altitude. It was not fashioned to remain in space. This project came through after several experiments. If the Federal Government can sponsor us, we can take Nigeria to any level they want.

The boy’s father speaks “My name is Friday Mgbemena Emenike. My son is curious about science. He got admission in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, the last time. I tried to make him to study medicine but he rejected it and preferred to read aeronautic engineering. That was why he refused the admission. That is why he is still at home. “He got an opportunity to travel to Brazil but the principal of his former school frustrated the move. He is intelligent. I am aware of this incident. When it happened, I didn’t feel too good till I learnt that the thing did not kill anybody and that it did not destroy anything. That increased my joy and I described it as the first victory. “The question which Vanguard Metro and well meaning people of Imo State are asking is whether the Federal and State governments have taken note of the success recorded by these boys. What they will do with these boys thereafter equally remains a huge guess.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 21

French firm dominates Nigeria’s Cabotage trade BY GODWIN ORITSE

From left: Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director, Access Bank; Ms. Oghenekaro Ighojovbe, Manager, Pension Operation, NigeriaAgip CPFA Ltd; Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank and Mrs. Taiwo Adeniun, Head, Financial Services, UAC of Nigeria Plc, at the launch of Access Bank’s Corporate Internet Banking Solution - Primus, at the Civic Centre, Lagos.

Nigeria to earn N13bn from energy saving bulbs By FRANKLIN ALLI

igeria can earn $85 million (about N13 billion) annually by transiting from incandescent lamps to energy saving bulbs. This was disclosed weekend by Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON during a separate meeting with importers of electric bulbs and automotive battery into the country. Those at the meeting include: Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) and General Electrical Dealers

5.95

-0.5

2,747.00

-13.00

18.97

0.27

110.81 +0.85 102.39 +1.18 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.9 155.4 250.0086 250.8156 211.5314 212.2142 171.2738 171.8266 1.5769 1.582 0.304 0.314 238.1479 238.9166 25.4242 25.5067 41.3045 41.4378 28.3508 28.4423 237.7474 239.518

SELLING 155.9 212.897 212.897 172.3795 1.5871 0.324 239.6853 25.5893 41.5711 28.5338 240.2887

CBN Exchange rate as at 22/10/2013

Association (GEDA) at Alaba International Market; and auto dealers under the umbrella of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) Lagos trade fair complex. Dr. Joseph Odumodu, SON Director General, while addressing the importers said despite the huge returns on investment there is no company in Nigeria manufacturing electric bulbs. He called on both local and foreign manufacturers to come on board and fill the gap. He frowned at the proliferation of substandard electric bulbs in the markets typically characterised by their short life spans due to non-adherence to standards in their production processes by foreign manufacturers. “It is possible to buy bulbs that can last up to one year with the consumer happy and the seller equally making profit. It is possible for us to celebrate a new Nigeria that is substandard free within one year if we all join hands together.” In a presentation on ‘Effects of substandard electric bulbs on the economy and the new direction to tow, SON’s head of electrical laboratory, Engr. Richard Adewumi, noted that there is need to manage Nigeria’s less than sufficient power generation efficiently as 30 per cent of electric consumption was through domestic and industrial lighting. He defined a substandard electric bulb as any lamp that does not meet the minimum required standard in terms of safety, performance, marking and design. “Available records with SON shows

that all the 105 watts electric bulbs in the country today are actually less than 40 watts.”What we are asking for, is that whatever is marked on the bulb must be guaranteed by the manufacturer or the product vendor and CFLS shall not have less than a minimum of 6,000 hours,” he said. In his address, the Chairman of EDAN, Engr. Paul Chijioke Okenwa, noted that his association and its sister body have signed a collaboration agreement with SON to nip the influx of substandard electrical products and accessories in the bud. “Our efforts are connected to the danger substandard products pose to our economy, the fight against substandard products should not be seen as witch-hunting anyone but rather should be viewed as a way to ensure that we all enjoy our hard earned money, “ he said. SON also charged dealers of auto spare parts in the country to take bold steps by venturing into manufacturing of auto parts and set up a laboratory for testing them so as to advance the level of industrialisation in the country. “Instead of just concentrating on importation of these spare parts, you can also aspire to set up factories here in the country that would help to provide jobs for our teeming unemployed youths, with determination and strong-will we can find sustainable solutions to the challenges of industrialisation in the country as we join hands together to move Nigeria forward,” he said.

VEN as Nigerian firms complain of neglect in the implementation of the Cabotage Act and specifically about alleged abuse of the all-important waiver clause, investigations have shown that major beneficiary of the waiver is a firm called Bourbon Interoil Nigeria; which has its origin in France. It was learnt that the company currently has an application before the Minister of Transport; Senator Idris Umar, seeking waiver for 50 of its vessels that are currently engaged in coastal trade in Nigeria. The company had applied to the minister in 2011 for the ships to continue to enjoy waiver and also continue to fly foreign flags on Nigerian waters. Confirming the seemingly awkward arrangement, the minister told a recent seating of the Ad Hoc committee of the House of Representatives on the controversial Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) that Bourbon had hinged its request on its assurance that the waiver comes with the potential to train more than 1400 Nigerians onshore and offshore. According to the minister, the waiver clause to the firm also comes with the promise that it will enhance earnings for the CVFF, in addition to creating an additional 250 jobs in the Onne, Rivers state-based West Atlantic Shipyard. The firm also promised to donate 42 vessels in support of Cabotage. The minister also confirmed that the firm applied for an extension of the waiver and that it was granted up to February 2014 when the ships are expected to start flying Nigeria flags. And apparently agreeing that the waiver clause may have been abused, the minister confirmed that report of a committee that was set up to review the process had been submitted and awaiting deliberations by stakeholders. The issue of Bourbon become a heated one at the last Public Hearing as the leadership of the Nigerian Shipowners Association accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of aiding the operations of foreigners on Nigerian waters. Chairman of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association, Chief Isaac Jolapamo said that Bourbon is not a Nigerian firm even though the company is registered in Nigeria and has a Nigerian Managing Director . Speaking in defense of the firm, NIMASA’s Executive Director in charge of Cabotage and maritime labour, Barrister Calistus Obi Nwabueze said that Bourbon met all the requirement needed for waivers to be granted.

22—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Why Nigerians should take third party insurance serious The enormous benefits provided by the policy are enough justifications for the Nigerian buying public to show more seriousness towards buying the motor Third Party Insurance cover. For example - the unlimited amount of compensation payable to the defendant of innocent third parties that might be killed following an accident involving an insured vehicle, or the relief from liability claims and damages to the insured having transferred his or her liability risks to insurers by buying the third party insurance cover. In like manner, one portrays being a law abiding citizen as one abstains from committing a criminal breach of the 1945 ACT- the enabling law by buying the Third Party cover. Above all, the overall objective of the law becomes fulfilled in the interest of innocent third parties by strictly adhering to its compliance and buying the covers. Why third party is not just to escape law enforcements The purpose and intention of the Motor Third

To make a claim under a third party cover Making a claim under a Third Party Insurance Cover entails the following procedure. The incident leading to a claim must be formally notified or reported to the Insurer directly or through the handling Insurance Brokers: The statement or estimate of loss or damage, a police report, notice of any law suit or litigation including all correspondence exchanged must be submitted to the insurers for processing of the claim. In the event of accident, the practice is for all the parties involved to exchange particulars of their vehicles including insurance details pending the submission of claims supporting documents by the aggrieved Third Party.

NICON, IEI, others yet to submit accounts to NAICOM

By Dr. Wole Adetimehin, Managing Director, Jully Insurance Brokers and Immediate Past President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN

Your third party motor policy works (2) The insured would then forward along with the completed claim form to the insurer for processing. The need to patronise genuine insurance company against roadside touts The need to patronize genuine insurance firms and not the touts at the vehicle registration centres cannot be over – emphasized, if the laudable ideals underlying the compulsory motor third party insurance under the 1945 Act

Insurance Act 1945 is sound, genuine and deep-rooted. It cannot therefore be faulted. Neither can it just be for the satisfaction of the law enforcement requirements. We have got to understand that the law by its provisions imposes strict liability on anyone who by his act, omission, or negligence is found responsible for the death or inflicting bodily injury to innocent third parties. It is therefore meant to reinforce the advocacy of a functional and resourceful public policy. This is further strengthened by NAICOM the industry Regulator that ensures that insurance operators granting the covers are sound, viable and reputable. NAICOM also ensures that all insurance firms abide by the regulations and guidelines, while their reserves and solvency levels are closely monitored. Above all, the overall objective of the law becomes fulfilled in the interest of innocent third parties by strictly adhering to its compliance and buying the covers.

BRIEF

Prior to the enactment of this Act, innocent third parties or members of the public were unduly exposed to uninsured risks of this nature, and were therefore left to suffer as there was no form of compensation or relief accessible to them

Insurance Limited, WAPIC Insurance Plc, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Oasis Insurance Plc, FBN Life Assurance Limited and Continental Reinsurance Company Plc. Others are AIICO Insurance Plc, Leadway Assurance Company Limited, Crusader General Insurance Limited, Crusader Life Insurance Limited, UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Zenith Insurance Company Limited, Standard Alliance Insurance Life, UnityKapital, Unitrust Insurance Company Limited, Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc, Regency Alliance Company, Royal Exchange Assurance Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Zenith Life Insurance Ltd and Royal Prudential Life Assurance Plc. NAICOM said it is reviewing the responses of Prestige Assurance Plc, FIN Insurance Ltd, Equity Assurance Plc and Sterling Assurance Nigeria Ltd while Law Union & Rock Insurance Company Plc, Wapic Life Assurance Ltd, Nem Insurance Plc, Crystal Life Insurance, Oceanic (old Mutual), PHB Insurance Plc, Lasaco Assurance Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Great Nigeria Insurance and Lasaco Life Assurance have been queried and awaiting responses. Accounts being reviewed are those of Niger Insurance Plc, Nigeria Reinsurance, Linkage Assurance Plc, Universal Insurance Company Ltd and Union Assurance.

is to be accomplished. Needless to say that the issuance of fake Third Party Insurance covers by touts or unauthorized and illegal persons has done a lot of damage to the image of insurance industry and its reputation. This is because Third parties that are supposed to benefit and be protected have often been frustrated as they can hardly make any valid claim with fake policy documents. The way forward

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

There is an urgent need to strengthen the on – going education and enlightenment of the general public to desist from patronizing touts and buying the motor third party insurance cover at the point of registering or licensing their vehicles, rather, they should approach registered insurance firms, or insurance brokers to obtain genuine and protective insurance covers. This will surely compliment the efforts of NAICOM – the Insurance Regulators that has been raiding and prosecuting the touts operating within the states vehicles Registration and Licensing offices throughout the Federation including the NIA’s latest efforts in developing a database (NIID) for all vehicles insured by approved insurers in Nigeria, and that has produced electronic equipment for detecting fake insurance documents.

he National I n s u r a n c e Commission, NAICOM, said that 18 companies are yet to submit their 2012 audited annual accounts. According to NAICOM, the companies include NICON Insurance, Alliance & General, Alliance & General Life Assurance Plc, African Alliance, Anchor Insurance, Capital Express, Goldlink Insurance, Spring Life Assurance, Guinea Insurance Plc, Industrial & General Insurance Plc and International Energy Insurance Plc. Others are Investment & Allied Assurance Company Ltd, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Company, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Staco Insurance Plc, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc and Unic Insurance Plc. However, the Commission also said it has approved the accounts of Royal Exchange Insurance, Prudential Life Assurance, Regency Alliance Company and Zenith Life Insurance Ltd. According to NAICOM it has approved a total of 22 accounts of underwriters out of the 42 firms that have submitted their financial reports, while 20 underwriting firms are awaiting approval. The 22 companies whose accounts have received approval are Mansard Insurance Plc, ADIC

Olumide Emmanuel Foundation distributing food items at Sango, Ogun State, in commemoration of the World Poverty Day

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 23

BRIEFS

Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

Access Bank launches corporate internet banking solution

ommissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel has decried the persistence of low level financial literacy in Nigeria and some other African countries which is the cause of the low insurance penetration in such places. Daniel said, “It is a wellknown fact that insurance is not very popular in our subregion for various reasons amongst which are; low level of financial literacy, lack of adequate awareness of insurance mechanism and poor perception of the industry.” According to Daniel, insurance practitioners need to come together to tackle the menace. It will be recalled that Managing Director of Riskguard-Africa Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yemi Soladoye had said that the future and solidity of the Nigerian insurance industry can only come from market expansion. Soladoye said that the concentration on premium growth, as against market expansion by insurance operators is inimical to growth. He said operators often focus on how to raise their yearly premium, abandoning the need to create expansion through good services and people tailored products. He said, “All the operators want is to ensure that their premium for this year is higher than what it was the previous year, and they are ready to spend anything to achieve that. If their market

From left: Olumide Balogun, Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa; Maurice Phohleli, General Manager, Etihad Airways, Nigeria & West Africa; Charles Ogunwuyi,Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria and Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Renowned Photographer, at the launch of Nokia Lumia 1020, at Etisalat office, Ikoyi, Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Financial literacy cause of low insurance penetration – NAICOM position last year was number six and they move to number five this year, their board would applaud their effort, not minding the cost. “The companies cost of doing business is indeed very high; the claims ratio is quite low. These are pointers to the fact that insurance companies

need something new and better. “The issue of unhealthy competition will be getting worse until they look for better, cost effective and nonvolatile distribution channel. This can be achieved by bankassurance which is insurers having collaboration

Fake insurance racketeers defraud insurers of N15bn annually

he Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, has said that the insurance sector loses over N150 billion yearly to fake vehicle policies racketeers. Director General of the NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, who revealed this said that of the over 12.5 million vehicles on the nation’s roads, only I.5 million have genuine insurance particulars, which are either comprehensive and are sold at 10 per cent of the worth of the vehicle or third party which are sold at N5,000. Thomas said that about 1.5 million vehicle policies have so far been uploaded on the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID, which was designed to capture the data of all insured vehicles in the country. He said, “So far, close to 1.5 million vehicles have been

uploaded, which is still a far cry from our expectations. Our target is to upload all the vehicles in the country. “One of the major objectives of the NIID is to capture the data of transactions within the market. In the past, this has been very difficult to get. We had people bouncing different figures all around, we want to put an end to that, and we need some time to do that. “We will continue to update the record. There has not been any structured policy in the past to get figures of numbers of vehicles. We only transact in terms of the financial reports not the physical presence of number of vehicles. We are looking at a situation where we would be able to say this is the number of lives and vehicles insured in Nigeria. “If you ask me today about the number of insured

vehicles in the country, I would tell you that they are about 1.5 million, because that is what I can account for and have on my system.” Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, also said that of all the vehicles plying Nigerian roads, 90 per cent of the third party are fake papers. Ogunbiyi said “We have 12.5 million vehicles on Nigerian roads according to statistics, outside Okadas and tricycles. If you want to achieve the objective of Market Development and Restructuring Initiative, MDRI, increasing insurance contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), this aspect of insurance that is compulsory is in the hands of touts and we are losing income on daily basis.”

with banks to grow their retail businesses. It also means engaging in strategic alliances with organisations, like Shoprite, Megaplaza and others,” Soladoye said. He also urged operators to initiate collaboration with cooperative societies and other relevant bodies to deepen insurance penetration. Meanwhile, Managing Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Gus Wiggle said that the insurance industry is grappling with inadequate infrastructure and unstable weather which exposed insured assets to natural disasters such as floods. According to him the current performance of the industry has not been sufficient for it to reach the critical mass necessary to make the desired impact on the economy. Wiggle said that the Nigerian Insurance Association, NIA, was reviving the Nigerian Oil and Energy Insurance Pool to improve the industry ’s oil and energy underwriting capacity. According to Wiggle, the Association had completed and started deploying the first phase of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID) Motor Insurance Module adding that delay in claims payment had reduced as its members continued to live up to their obligation of prompt claims payment to policy holders.

CCESS Bank Plc has launched a corporate internet banking solution that will assist organizations carry out their payments, collection, cash flow management and investment functions, among others, seamlessly. Speaking at the launch of the solution, called Primus, in Lagos, Mr. Aigbojie AigImoukhuede, Group Managing Director, Access Bank, said the the product is the most innovative and robust electronic business solution in the financial landscape, covering the typical deliverables of Chief Financial Officers, procurements and logistics directors. He said the launch of the solution is part of its five-year medium term strategy to emerge as a dominant player in the Nigeria’s financial landscape. Also speaking, Mr. Okey Nwoke, Executive Director, Access Bank, maintained that the areas covered by the product include: payments management, cash flow forecasting, receivables management, investment management, liquidity management, supply chain management, trade services optimization, reporting and reconciliation and foreign exchange optimization.

Australia bushfire claims hit $93 million

he Australian bushfires have so far led to 855 claims totaling $93 million, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). Fifty-eight fires are still burning in the state, with 14 out of control, and weather conditions are expected to worsen. Three major fires – at Lithgow, Mount Victoria and Springwood – could join to form one “super fire”, officials warn. ICA formally declared the event a catastrophe last week. NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has declared a state of emergency for the next 30 days, giving special powers to emergency services. The council’s GM Communications and Media Relations, Campbell Fuller, says the industry is handling the situation “very well”. “Insurers and ICA are standing by to send teams into recovery centers once they have been established by the State Government,” he said.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Secondary Education and Youth Employment

NSE eyes 500 companies for public offering in next five years STORIES BY PETER EGWUATU

he Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE will target 500 companies for initial public offerings over the next five years as the Exchange seeks to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization by 2016, the Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC), Arunma Oteh has said. Oteh said in an interview with Bloomberg, in London last weekend said the Exchange expects five companies to start trading their shares by year-end, without identifying the businesses. The bourse needs oil and gas, power and telecommunications companies to list stock to meet its market-value objective, she said. “There are a number of large, significant companies that are preparing to come to the market,” Oteh said. Power producers needing funds to cover spending needs are expected to list “at some point,” while talks are being held with telecoms companies on encouraging them to trade their shares, she said.

The NSE’s All Share Index gained 33 percent this year, compared with a 1.3 percent decline in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, for a market capitalization of $74 billion, excluding exchange-traded funds and depositary receipts. Nigeria’s economy, the continent’s second-largest after South Africa, which also has the largest stock and bond markets, may expand 6.75 percent next year, compared with an estimate of 6.5 percent in 2013, Finance Minister Ngozi OkonjoIweala said in an interview in Washington Oct. 11. “It is an ambitious target,” Pabina Yinkere, head of research at Lagosbased Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., said by phone today. “The NSE has to list large corporations. There has to be incentives to list and economic growth. The equity investment climate globally has to be right and favorable to the country. Some factors that will support the target are global in nature and outside the control of the NSE, making the realization even more challenging.”

Forte Oil posts N3.2bn PBT in Q3

orte Oil Plc has recorded a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N3.2 billion for the unaudited third quarter (Q3) financial results ended September 30, 2013. This represents a 258 percent increase compared to N0.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2012. The Profit-After-Tax (PAT) of the company increased by 317 percent to N2.7 billion compared to N0.7 billion recorded in the corresponding period of in 2012. Other performance indicators showed revenue increase of 29 percent to N92 billion compared to N71billion recorded same period of 2012; Earnings per share increased by 317 percent to N2.54. The Group’s profitability outperformed its third quarter projection of N2.6 billion PAT. In the same vein, the company recorded N92 billion revenue in Q3, 2013 , thus surpassing the N78 billion expected

C M Y K

in the period under review, as the group pushed to regain market share. In his comments on the performace, Mr. Julius Omodayo-Owotuga, the Group Chief Financial Officer, Forte Oil Plc said: “With a Return on Equity of over 26 percent and a 317 percent increase in Profit after tax year-on-year (YoY), it is clearly a new dawn at Forte Oil Plc as we consolidate the gains of our business restructuring efforts. Our financial and overall business performance as at end of Q3 is a clear demonstration that Forte Oil Plc is on a clear path to dominate our primary market; the downstream petroleum marketing sector. We shall continue to pursue initiatives that will spur business growth and efficiency, liquidity management and aggressive diversification into related high margin business that would continue to increase shareholder value such as our recent acquisition of the 414 MW Geregu Power Generation Plant in Kogi State”

support of these industries, skills development/acquisition centres should be established for short intensive modular programmes in the form of high-breed apprenticeship programmes. We have considered funding for the education sector and we should always bear in mind that there is a long-term cost to the country if our citizens are uneducated. What then should be the content of secondary school education? The yardstick for measuring successful completion of the secondary school programme is the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, WASSCE. A successful student is expected to obtain the credit grade in five subjects and which subjects should include English Language and Mathematics. There are many subjects being offered in the junior secondary and senior secondary school programmes. However, students should be given adequate classroom instruction, homework and regular class tests such that a student is proficient in

constitution retained the content of the 1979 constitution in respect of the provision of social infrastructure by government. The result has been that, from one year to the next, budgets are proposed by the executive arm of government and passed into law by the legislative arm of government but not much has been achieved in the provision of social infrastructure for the population. A national conference in 2013 therefore should state in very precise terms the investment to be made by government for the provision of social infrastructure over a twenty-year period. After this first twenty-year period, the general approach to the provision of social infrastructure by government would apply. Coincidentally, a joint conference of national and state assembly committees on education was held in Abuja during September 2013. The conference identified the need for massive recruitment of qualified teachers for our schools as well as for legislation that would provide substantial funding for education over several years. The conference recognised that small and medium scale industries are critical to the national economy and that, in

the eight or so subject for which the student presents himself/herself at the WASSSCE. One important aspect of secondary education, if we are to obtain results from the students, is that a student should be made to repeat a year if he/she fails the examination at the end of the school year. The completion of secondary education should be the springboard from which the student is launched into future employment. The student could continue his education at a university, a polytechnic, a college of education or at an intensive two-year programme such as offered at the Institute for Industrial Technology where school leavers are transformed into world-class versatile, hand-on technician engineers. A conservative estimate puts the number of jobs that should be created for our youth each year at not less than 500,000 jobs. How is the Nigerian economy going to create these jobs even if government now expects most of our youth to be self-employed? We shall look at this and related matters next week. TO BE CONCLUDED

From left: Divisional Head, Product & Market Support, Keystone Bank, Mr. Sunny Obazee; Product Manager, Remittance, Keystone Bank, Mr. Gbolahan Aminu and Marketing Executive, Anglophone West Africa, MoneyGram, Kofi Akyea during the MoneyGram Gear up for School 2013 Mini Library Donation to select primary schools in Benin City, Edo State.

his column on September 25 2013 indicated that our youth must acquire knowledge and skills for the eradication of malaria, for making food readily available to the population, for the creation of wealth and the progress of our civilisation. On October 9 2013, the column identified the used for a huge investment in primary education over a six-year period for the provision of adequate numbers of teachers and classrooms. Following on the investment in primary education, there should be the corresponding investment on secondary education over a six-year period. One may ask whether a twelve-year investment programme, first in primary education and next in secondary education would ever be implemented when governments are elected for four years at a time. It is such questions as this that a national conference of all comers, ethnic nationalities, engineers, doctors, teachers, industrialists, traders, nurses, bankers, lawyers, performing artistes, farmers, journalists, sportspersons, accountants, religious groups, civil servants, pilots, youth, etc should address. When the 1979 Nigerian constitution was being drafted, there were proposals making it compulsory for government to provide schools, hospitals, roads, housing, water supply, power supply and other social infrastructure for the population. These proposals were dropped and the constitution only advised government to provide social infrastructure. It was argued that the compulsory requirement would invite too much litigation against government. The 1999 Nigerian

The conference identified the need for massive recruitment of qualified teachers for our schools as well as for legislation that would provide substantial funding for education over several years

DR. AKINTOLA OMIGBODUN omigbodunaa@yahoo.com

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—25

DIARY

Select ICT events z GITEX Technology Week 2013. Holds 20-24 Oct 2013 in Dubai, UAE.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

R&D crucial to national development — EXPERTS

z FUTURECOM 2013. Holds 21-24 Oct 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. zSAP TechEd 2013. Holds 21-25 Oct 2013 in Las Vegas, USA. zBroadband World Forum Europe 2013. Holds 22-24 Oct 2013 in Amsterdam, Holland.

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

zSMAU 2013. Holds 23-25 Oct 2013 in Milan, Italy.

New inventions shaping life and living

Mobile heart monitor

HE versatile Heart Monitor from AliveCor can be attached to any compatible smartphone, allowing it to be used by different mobile devices in almost any location. Unlike current portable heart monitors, the AliveCor Heart Monitor is not integrated into a smartphone or smartphone case. Instead, the pocket-sized sensor is embedded in a plate that can be attached to the back of a mobile device or case. The monitor communicates with the smartphone via ultrasound picked up by the phone’s microphone and does not require Bluetooth—which makes it more energy efficient. Because the Heart Monitor can be used with lower-cost Android phones, it could be particularly useful in developing countries.

ISPON CONFERENCE & COMPETITION: From left, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, and President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Mr Chris Uwaje, at the opening of the 2013 ISPON National Conference and Software Competition at the Tinapa Resort, Calabar, yesterday. Photo by Emeka Aginam.

Broadband council rolls critical issues into infrastructure bill BY EMEKA AGINAM

C C E L E R AT E D work on a Critical National Infrastructure Bill that covers issues critical to rapid broadband deployment is in progress, courtesy of the National Broadband Council. Issues central to broadband deployment which will need attention from various perspectives include damage to all infrastructure including telecoms, a spectrum audit, and a wholesale pricing audit that will lead to reduction in the cost of deploying telecommunications infrastructure. These, among others will be addressed by the Infrastructure bill, which when passed into law, will help achieve national broadband plans by 2017. The Broadband Council inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology on the 16th of July 2013

I N S I D The free reign of E pirates C M Y K

had met at the weekend in Abuja, and top on the agenda, it was learnt, was the progress of public and private sector efforts against projections of the broadband plan. Accordingly, the President’s goal to see broadband penetration increase by 2017 (80% of the population will have access to mobile broadband, and

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Maikano, Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, Mr Jim Ovia, Mr Lanre Ajayi, Mr Titi Omo-Ettu, Professor David Adewumi, Mr Olayinka Oni, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, Mr Bayo Banjo, Mr Muhammad Rudman, Mr Junaid Dikko, and Mr John Ayodele. So far several steps have been taken, and there are

On the issue of spectrum, the Council noted that a spectrum audit has been initiated and will be completed within six months. Following this an auction of spectrum is being planned

20% to fixed broadband), it was gathered was reemphasised. In attendance at the meeting presided over by Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson were the secretary of the USPF, Alhaji Abdullahi

ZTE drives smart phones into Nigeria

a number of core deliverables to be seen by the end of the year, chiefly increased awareness of the importance of broadband to the social and economic agenda (increased broadband penetration has a direct correlation to increased economic activ-

ities and GDP contributions). At the meeting the progress against the plan was reported under the following categories. On the issue of Policy & Regulation, a nationwide publishing and communication of the agreed right of way guidelines will commence in November. Also a legal services firm has been appointed to draft a Critical National Infrastructure Bill. The firm has submitted an inception report and initial requests for comments by stakeholders have been made and are now under review. Also on the matter of an Open Access framework, a preliminary report that will enable broadband penetration is being developed and is expected by the end of November 2013. Further to this Long Distance fibre interconnectivity is planned through the Nigerian Internet Exchange. A stakeholder forum on developing an Interconnect scheme for National and

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Why A4Ai pushes low broadband cost — ROBERT PEPPER

XPERTS at a oneday training organized for the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC staff in Abuja last week said, the future of Nigerian economy will depend on technology research, innovation and development. Though, they acknowledged that research is capital intensive, they maintained that Nigeria must begin now to inculcate the habit of research in the youth and also engage both local and international research agencies in research and development, since government cannot do it alone, without collaboration with other stakeholders. A members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Osai Nicholas Osai, while speaking at the programme, said that the role of Raw Material Research and Development in a developing economy, cannot be under estimated, considering its role in sustaining the industrial sector. He said there are little Nigerian can do in area of development, without research and development and harped on the need for collaboration between government agencies and private sector. He recommended that there should be a conscious effort by the researchers to make raw materials available at all time, since human existence depends largely on such wants and needs. ‘‘ Raw materials drive production and production drives the economy, the projected crises that may arise as a results of Continues on Page 28

NCC sets pace for better telecoms regulation

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The free reign of pirates

HE movie and mu sic industry in our country is a unique one that I find difficult to understand with the passing of each day. To borrow a cliche, it is one industry where the monkey works and the baboon makes away with the proceeds of the monkey’s work, leaving the monkey high and dry, left only to scrape from the peelings of the banana discarded after the baboon has had its fill. Of course, I am talking about how piracy has redefined the shape and structure of the industry. Our people are very clever; some of us invest in high-tech equipment for one purpose only; to take the icing off the cake of others. Musicians and songwriters sit down, and after labouring on their compositions, go to the studio and come out with albums. Ditto for those in movies; they struggle to produce a movie which they hope to earn good returns from, but alas, pirates snatch the thing away and make all the money. Though the artistes and industry regulators seem to be trying their best, it is still not good enough. At one level, it can be understood if the global community discerns that we are merely ONLY hurting ourselves, but it is a different thing altogether if it is seen that it is in our character not only to hurt ourselves but others as well. I am sure not a few of us must have noticed a weird development in the movie sub-sector of the entertainment industry. The pirates have upped the ante: they now take foreign movies and voice them over in local languages. So at major busstops in our towns and cities, it has become a common sight to see people clustered around a TV set mounted by an itinerant audio/video CD seller, enjoying a movie in which names like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others are starring, with the

lines (audio) rendered in Yoruba! It is not sub-titling, in which a movie whose audio lines are, for example, in Mandarin or Malaysian are sub-titled in English to enable non-Mandarin speakers follow the dialogue. Even our local movie-makers do this; it is standard practice. Movies made in Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa languages are sub-titled in English for the benefit of the global audience. In the ones I am talking about, first the movie being shown is a pirated copy of the original, and the piracy is compounded by voicing over the original audio in one of our local languages! H o w m u c h worse can we get? To what level are we taking piracy in this country? I am sure we all want a g o o d c o u n t r y. No Nigerian that has ever traveled abroad fails to be impressed by the orderliness with which people in other countries conduct their affairs, as well as the allure of their clean environment. They did not do magic; they simply obey laws. The argument is that discipline is a pre-condition for law and order, itself a situation whereby each and everyone of us willingly, without compulsion or coercion, obey the laws of the land. If the majority of us willingly abide by our laws, it will be easy pickings for the Police to track the errant few who choose to operate outside the law. The way things are now, it is nearly impossible for the Nigerian Copyright Commission and the selfpreserving activities of music and movies producers to check piracy and pirates. It has got to a level where the security agencies have to take more than a passing interest in piracy; it must be seen as a major security breach at par with crude theft, and treated as such. Indeed, it is a major economic crime, and the EFCC must take interest.

Pirates have upped the ante: they now take foreign movies and voice them over in local languages

O further expand its operations in Nigeria, telecommunications equipment maker, ZTE is set to launch its smartphones in the Nigerian market. ZTE is currently the fastest-growing smartphone provider in the US. With 11.5 million smartphones shipments in the second quarter of the year, the telecom giant now controls 5% of global smart phone market. The company has been making record showing with its high-end Grand S, Grand memo and the ZTE Nubia 5 smartphones leading to a year-on year increase of 79%. Recently, the Houston Rockets and ZTE USA, jointly announced their first partnership, making ZTE the official smartphone of the Houston Rockets for the 2013-14 NBA season. ZTE Nigeria which entered the country about 10 years ago is perfecting arrangements to introduce same highend smartphones deployed in the US into the Nigerian market. A company official said

ZTE drives smart phones into Nigeria the company is interested in secured outlets that will ensure that the ZTE brand maintains its global acclaim in the Nigerian market. ZTE has one of the industry’s most comprehensive range of Android products, featuring devices with 4-inch, 5inch and 5.7 inch HD displays, in addition to 5 megapixel, 8 megapixel and 13 megapixel cameras. Through the company’s collaboration with Intel and Firefox, ZTE is well-positioned to take advantage of the growth in the non-Android segment of the global smartphone market. In July, ZTE and Intel jointly launched the GEEK smartphone,

powered by Intel’s 2.0GHz dual-core Atom processor Z2580, with Intel’s hyper-threading technology and Turbo Boost feature providing superior multitasking performance and power efficiency. The GEEK smartphone further strengthened ZTE’s partnership with Intel, after the two companies collaborated to offer the Grand X IN smartphone in 2012. This year, ZTE and

Firefox collaborated to offer the ZTE Open, featuring open Web technology and support for HTML 5 applications in a new operating platform. As the first Firefox phone, and featuring ZTE’s intelligent offline search technology, ZTE Open has first-mover advantage and generated positive user reviews from customers. — With EMEKA AGINAM

Cisco's new system to power ‘internet of everything’ With Internet traffic rapidly growing amid new waves of cloud, mobile, video and machineto-machine applications, Cisco® today introduced the Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS), a network fabric family designed to serve as the foundation of a massively-scalable, smarter and more adaptable Internet. Several leading global service providers are already deploying the Cisco NCS to create new revenue streams, simplify operations and deliver exciting new custom experiences to their customers. The NCS’s industryleading capabilities, many of which are shipping today, enable service providers to not only facilitate growing network traffic but also seize the opportunity created by trillions of programmable devicedriven events predicted to come online in the coming years. These events, created via the networked connection of people, data, processes and things and known as The Internet of Everything (IoE), create triggers requiring actions or reactions from various policy, control and information processing functions across networks and data centers. Cisco Network Convergence System: Industry-leading Capabilities The NCS family, with

over 100 patents, joins the industry-leading Cisco Carrier Routing System (CRS) and Aggregation Services Router (ASR) families and acts as a foundational network fabric to interconnect the architecture, delivering the following benefits: Scale: A system capable of supporting trillions of events across a connected fabric. The NCS will be able to transport the entire NetFlix library in less than one second. Agility: Industry’s first carrier-grade, programmable convergence system designed for advanced virtualization capabilities. The NCS extends, connects, controls

and responds to applications, networks and data centers by managing and moving network and compute resources wherever and whenever they are needed across the architecture, in real time. Efficiencies: When deployed as part of the Cisco ONE Service Provider Architecture, the Cisco NCS family can help network operators reduce total cost of ownership by 45 percent while consuming 60 percent less power. General Manager Cisco, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, Mr. Dare Ogunlade, said, “We are at the dawn of a new era in telecom-

munications, in which service provider networks are evolving to support trillions of connections between people, processes, data and things, including smart programmable devices like phones, tablets, TVs, and much more. The Cisco NCS was engineered with the programmability, intelligence and scalability to meet the demands of today and tomorrow. The NCS delivers an evolved programmable network that will enable service providers to generate new revenue streams and business models, while delivering exciting new experiences to their customers.”

PROMO: From left, Mr Adebayo Shobanjo, Network Operations Manager, Infinix Mobility Ltd; Mr Peter Awotimehin, Star Prize winner; Mr Charles B, Presenter, Rhythm FM; Mr Stanley Uzoechina, General Manager, Slot System Ltd at the presentation of star prize winner in the Infinix Alpha Big dream Promo held in Ikeja, Lagos last Friday.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 27

Ericsson, Zain Bahrain sign managed services deal

Why A4Ai pushes for low broadband cost — ROBERT PEPPER BY EMMA ELEBEKE

z Pepper

VICE President, Global Technology Policy, Cisco, Mr. Robert Pepper is advisory council member of the Alliance for Affordable Internet, A4AI at the just concluded Commonwealth T e c h n o l o g y Organization, CTO in Abuja. He moderated a panel discussion with ministerial experts on affordable broadband. In this interview, he bares his mind on the purpose of A4AI, Cisco’s role in the project and how A4AI plans to boost broadband access and plan to crash the cost of broadband in Africa, among others. Excerpts: Tell us about Alliance for Affordable Internet, A4AI that was formed at the just concluded CTO? It is a new organization with 30 members that include companies, Non G o v e r n m e n t a l Organizations, NGO, Civil Society and government. The purpose of the alliance is to help countries lower the cost of access to the internet and how to make internet and broadband more affordable across the world especially in Africa, working with Nigeria and Ghana as key countries in Africa. Cisco believes that by connecting everybody in the world to the broadband, there would be clear benefit to both the economy and would help business, education and healthcare. Is Cisco’s studies on broadband plan in partnership with the UN B r o a d b a n d Commission? After looking at data from over 160 countries, for 10 years, it was discovered that if you have a National Broadband strategy that increases broadband deduction, it can increase fixed broadband deduction by 25 percent and increase mobile broadband deduction by 30 percent. The difference between having competition and monopoly for mobile doubles mobile broadband subscription. Public private partnership is extremely important because the government can't do it by itself, it is the

The goal is to bring the price down to not more than five percent of monthly household income. At the UN Broadband Commission, we have seen the prices declining

private sector that makes most of the investment, it is the private sector and technology companies like Cisco that provide the technology. Having a partnership with government, setting up a framework, government providing the leadership and private sector building and operating the networks makes the difference. Public private partnership, PPP in broadband results to more effective broadband in countries. Major findings from the studies? Another major finding was that because technology and market is so dynamic, broadband plans need to be reviewed periodically. Average broadband plan is seven years old but we believe that you need to review them every two to three years because the market moves quickly. Importance of these studies? This finding is extremely important to Cisco because we work with government and service providers as well as users of broadband to build up networks and provide the benefits of broadband across the economy. We evaluated broadband plans globally

and we found that balance broadband plans have ten components, five that are on the supply side and five on the demand side. So, building the networks by themselves is not enough. There is another part that is important, which is the demand side. During the Ministerial Panel that I moderated, a lot of ministers made an important point on affordability, local content government bringing the broadband to rural areas to bring the benefits of the technology across the entire economy and across the entire society. Cisco believes that Alliance for Affordable Internet is very important. One of the things we at Cisco do to bring about ICT components adoption is skills. People have to have skills to not only build, install, maintain and operate networks but also to use ICT and use the internet effectively. Cisco network Academy? We have a programme called Cisco Networking Academies. In the Academies across Africa, we have about 77,000 students in approximately 800 academies across Africa. Here in Nigeria, we have about 10,000

students in about 52 academies who have passed through those academies we have in Nigeria. When can internet be said to be affordable and the role of Cisco in the Alliance for Affordable Internet? We were at the very beginning part of conversation with other companies and government to set up the Alliance. We are part of the advisory committee for the alliance. Part of the alliance's agenda is a research track where we have more things to understand about the best practices, what are countries doing that appear to be working the best and then working with countries to have countries share the best practices with each other, so that we can actually bring down the cost of internet everywhere. On what is affordable internet, this is one of the big issues we looked at as part of the UN Broadband Commission. We decided that as part of the UN Broadband Commission's goals, which is having broadband everywhere, is to have the price of broadband in not more than five percent of the average monthly income of a household, we looked across the world and what is affordable is not a single number because different countries have different levels of income. So, a number that might be affordable in Europe may be extremely high in Nigeria, so the best is to look at the percentage of household income and we looked at five percent as the threshold. The developed countries are 1.7 percent of average household income. In Africa, it is between 15-30 per cent. That is not affordable. Why all this research? The goal is to bring the price down to not more than five percent of monthly household income. At the UN Broadband Commission, we have seen the prices declining and we now have more countries with the price below five percent. We have more countries coming below 10 per cent, they are on the right track but they are not yet there.

ZAIN Bahrain has announced the signing of a four-year deal with Ericsson, to manage its network and enhance its customer support services. The new partnership will see Ericsson managing the day-to-day operations of Zain’s network in that country, enabling operational excellence. In parallel, Zain will be able to allocate more resources towards higher-end services and offerings allowing subscribers to ultimately benefit from an increased network quality and stability. “At Zain, providing customers with advanced technologies that enhance their mobile experience is of a paramount importance. With that ultimate aim in mind, we selected Ericsson to manage our network operations,” said Mohammed Zainalabedin, General Manager, Zain in Bahrain. “This latest partnership with Ericsson helps to increase our internal productivity, and the result of that efficiency will be reflected in what our subscribers will experience of superior communications that they have become

accustomed to,” added Zainalabedin, “As a telecoms operator, we are confident that this managed services solution will mean that our network and business complexity will be well-managed by Ericsson, leading to cost-effective launches of new services, dependable performance and operational competence.” Ericsson’s Customer Support solutions ensure customers only receive high-quality services, supporting the overall network quality. Ray Hassan, Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Customer Unit Zain at Ericsson, said: “As we transition towards the Networked Society, when everything that benefits from being connected will be, new opportunities are opening up for communication in terms of innovation and productivity. By deploying this differentiated solution, Zain Bahrain’s network will operate at upgraded productivity levels, enabling the operator to continue innovating and providing customers with a premium mobile experience.”

SAP backs SMEs, innovators with cloud computing BY EMEKA AGINAM

Market leader in enterprise application software, SAP, has said that it is increasingly turning its focus to small businesses and technology innovators with cloud computing. While playing a small part in sparking a small business revolution that can literally change the continent forever, Richard Edet, Managing Director, West Africa, SAP Africa, who believes that Cloud computing is not just a game-changer for big businesses in developed nations, said that in Africa, it is rapidly turning the continent into a place of rich opportunity for bright-eyed entrepreneurs, who are finding they can turn good ideas into market opportunities almost overnight. The reason for this is just simple. Even with patchy broadband access and high data costs, the cloud, he disclosed, is providing an easy entry point to markets and platforms for entrepreneurs and small businesses across all sectors by reducing the cost and complexity of using technology to grow a business. Cloud drives job creation: Importantly for Africa, the cloud, he believes is not only fundamentally

changing the way business operates, but is also driving a new wave of job creation opportunities. According to a recent Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey, the world needs to create more than half a billion jobs for people joining the global workforce by 2020. By harnessing Africa’s natural entrepreneurial spirit, the cloud, he said with optimism, could boost small and medium businesses and stimulate job creation. Opportunities “One of the clearest opportunities being created by the cloud is in the technology space, where 600 million cellphone-using Africans are hungry for apps and services. “Here, the cloud is offering African entrepreneurs almost inconceivable opportunities to explore new business models and even conceptualise, create and roll-out 'home-grown' feature-rich mobile apps, be it for social, finance, investment or business or even sports. All you need is an idea, and the world is your oyster. “A glaring opportunity for our sports-mad continent is the creation of socalled 'killer apps' for avid fans. The African continent has a deep-rooted passion for anything sports-related."

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Broadband council rolls critical issues into fecting the rollout of base with the NCC and NBC. infrastructure bill stations. On the issue of Under the topic of afContinues from Page 25

Long distance operators to actualize this will be held in November. To support this, GIS Mapping of fibre infrastructure is also underway with the 6 zon-

al maps produced for each geo-political zone being integrated into one by December 2013. The Council also deliberated on collaborations with state governments on resolution of issues af-

spectrum, the Council noted that a spectrum audit has been initiated and will be completed within six months. Following this an auction of spectrum is being planned by the NFMC in collaboration

R&D crucial to national development

zExecutive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah

Etisalat assembles judges for 2013 Innovation awards BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

TISALAT Nigeria, last week gathered the top technology experts practising in Africa to sieve through heaps of nominations and applications in its 2013 Pan African Prize for Innovation Awards and select the undoubted winners. It is expected however, that the tough job may not be too difficult for the judges based on their experiences in different fields that prospective awards recipients would be scrutinized on Etisalat's Pan-African Prize for Innovation is at its second edition and serves as the telecom company's vision of recognizing and celebrating innovation across the African continent. Unveiling the Judging panel in Lagos last week, Etisalat said it was proud to announce that Senior Director of Business Development and Managing Director, West Africa, Qualcomm, Mr. Alex Dadson, Head of Developer Outreach in the Emerging Markets team, Google, Mr. Chukwuemeka Afigbo, Principal, McKinsey & Company , Mr. Reinaldo Fiorini and Mr. Simdul Shagaya, a serial technology and media entrepre-

neur, who founded Dealdey and Konga, were among the team. Others included Mr. Tayo Oviosu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paga, a leading money transfer and payments service in Nigeria; Mr. Audu Maikori, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chocolate City Group and Mr. Wilson Feng, Director at Huawei. According to the Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, the Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation was founded on the premise of rewarding the most innovative mobile broadband idea, product, or service that provides a significant utility to mobile users. “There is an abundance of innovative talent in technology residing in the continent. We believe in showcasing these talents that not only create viable opportunities for individuals but also improves the social and economic livelihood of people who use these technologies,” he said. The Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation will be awarded at the 16th Annual AfricaCom Conference holding in Cape Town, South Africa, in November.

Environment. The Broadband Council was inaugurated on the 16th of July and is made up of 19 members chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson. The Council is charged with the responsibility of working on implementation modalities for the newly developed and approved Nigerian National Broadband plan for the period 2013 – 2018.

NCC sets pace for better telecoms regulation in Africa BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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shortage in raw materials have led to the quest for researchers and development to sustain the available ones and develop new ones to avert industrial and economic crisis,’’ he said. As a factor of production, constant research and development, Hon. Osai urged RMRDC to constantly fashion out ways to promote utilization of the locally sourced raw materials by encouraging massive researches. As a government agency saddled with the responsibility of developing and sustaining and retraining of her staff, he also urged RMRDC to engage in the training and retraining of her staff to meet up with modern realities. In his remarks, the Executive Director, African Technology Policy Studies, ATPS Network, Prof. Kevin Urama said the training of RMRDC staff and building of other local capacity in area of research and development, Nigeria can create enormous wealth and unlock hidden potentials of the youth for economy prosperity. He said that research has been the engine of growth all over the world and can not be underestimated my Nigeria, if it truly desires to lead the rest of Africa and compete favourably with the rest of the world. ‘‘The Europeans and the Western have come to Africa to take raw materials to grow their economy. Now, it is time for Africa to begin to use these raw materials to harness what is available to us to also grow our own economy.,’’ he said. While stressing the importance of collaboration with international agencies in research findings, Prof. Arama said that innovation does not occur in the main stream but in the interaction of actors.

fordability, a cost-based pricing model for guiding fibre duct leasing is being drafted and will be ready by the end of November

as part of the open access framework. Among the key wins the council wishes to see are clear targets for increased collocation on Base Stations, and increased rollout to improve nationwide coverage. These targets are yet to be collated but work has started. The Council is also looking into resolving thorny issues to do with the speedy roll out of base stations between NESREA, NCC and the Ministry of

IGERIA's telecoms revolution and the over $25bn FDI it brought, among other things, last week, became strong credentials that lured African regulators to Lagos to discuss ways regulatory policies could give hope to African telecom consumers. This is more so as the conference, powered by Nigeria's regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, followed a summit of Commonwealth nations in Abuja ,the previous week, to also discuss how the country would be made launch pad for affordable broadband access in the Commonwealth. Tagged “First Conference of African Telecom Regulators on Consumer Affairs” the organisers deliberately themed the two-day conference around ‘Harnessing Regulatory Policies to Protect Telecom Consumers in Africa,’ Chief host of the event and Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah in his open-

ing remarks reminded his colleagues that though the potential for growth in the continent's telecoms sector was huge, if regulators did not begin make haste to shift emphasis from licensing to other obligations like consumer protection, the blessing could easily turn problematic in the future. Cueing from NCC's enabling law, Juwah said: “The Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, binds us to three primary stakeholders, namely: the government, operators and the consumers. Of the three however, our position as regulators has always been that the consumer is king because he supplies the fuel that keeps the market in perpetual motion. "We are charged with the protection and promotion of interests of the consumers against unfair practices including but not limited to matters relating to tariffs and charges for and the availability and quality of communications services, equipment and facilities.’ He flaunted some of the initiatives his commission

GOtv @ 2, hails Nigeria's friendly business environment BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

IGITAL pay TV platform, GOtv, last week declared that Nigeria has been most friendly to its two years of operation in the country even as it declared year 2013, in particular, as a special one. At a Content Showcase event to mark its two years o operation, GOtv said it need to raise awareness of the exciting content and programming which it has been offering for family entertainment. General Manager GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa, said: "This pay-TV brand has brought viewers content that sizzles, inspires and provides entertainment for the whole family. From movies, series, documentaries and news; to sports, fashion,

kids and music, GOtv has been bringing GOGetters television that’s all about quantity and quality" She however added that “this year, not only do we celebrate GOtv’s second birthday, but also the fact that we have been bringing subscribers television that’s all about quantity and quality. We’ve also brought big events such as the 2013 AFCON Cup and Big Brother, and the month of August kicked off another exciting season of football. In August also, we launched PRTV and Telemundo – a channel we are very thrilled to have on our platform, she added.” She promised that subscribers would not miss out in the 2013-2014 football season because GOtv would be bringing its viewers action from leading football leagues.

had put in place to prove that its regulatory policies were consumer centred, including the Consumer Affairs Bureau which he said was established purposely to handle all consumer issues by ensuring that their interests are adequately protected. General Manager, Consumers Affairs at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Mr. Phosa Mashangoane, agreed that much as regulators were accountable to the government, they must also be accountable to the consumers to earn proper legitimacy. He said, "the regulators must be accountable to the government and the telecoms consumers. This can be achieved by putting adequate mechanisms in place to educate and protect consumers” Programme Coordinator, African Telecom Union, ATU, Alice Koech, advised the regulators to interact more with bodies like the ITU to learn the prevailing and emerging best practices. “We also need robust and more frequent regional and continental ministerial meetings to adopt and review performance of harmonization as well as using case studies that show the benefit of harmonization,” Koech said. The conference also provided Nigerian operators, through their umbrella organization, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, an opportunity to ventilate their experience wih regulation. Represented by one Olajide Aremu, ALTON declared that some state governments, including Lagos state, did not have respect for telecom facilities. " As we speak, one telecom company in Nigeria has up to 180 fibre cuts in a month mostly from government construction projects around the country. But the irony is that even in trying to restore the damaged fibre, they expect the operators to pay before restoring their cables."

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Robben aims to equal Ronaldo’s goal-scoring record

HE Dutchman has netted in his last five games in Europe’s premier club competition, putting him in a position to match a feat achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo and two others Arjen Robben can equal a goalscoring record in Bayern Munich’s Champions League clash against Viktoria Plzen today. The Dutchman has netted in his club’s last five games in the competition, a streak that includes the 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2012-13 final at Wembley in May. Only three players in the

EAL Sociedad striker Carlos Vela is confident he has grown a lot since his days at Arsenal as he prepares to face his former team-mate Robin van Persie. Vela started just three Premier League games during his seven years at Arsenal, with the bulk of his 64 appearances coming as a substitute. The Mexico international joined Sociedad, initially on loan, in 2011 and he is back in England for today’s UEFA Champions League group game against Manchester United. ”We used to sit next to each other in the dressing room and talk. I used to ask him about his movement, what was going through his mind when he did certain things, and he would explain. If I was missing something in my game he’d speak to me and give me advice and I’m grateful for that.” Carlos Vela He will come up against United striker Van Persie and Vela acknowledged the Dutchman was a great source of advice during their time together at Arsenal. ”I learned a lot from him,” Vela told The Independent. “For me, he’s the best striker in the world and it was a pleasure to be able to share moments in training with him.

Vela ready to face Van Persie at Old Trafford M

• Pallengrini

the decision overturned. The Russian side’s pitch is in such a poor state that the club informed City before they left that the grass would not withstand a single session. UEFA were ready to order the match to be switched to another ground earlier this month but it will go ahead as scheduled after CSKA carried out major remedial work, even though the surface remains poor and temperatures are hovering around freezing. A City source said: “To say we need to win this game is an understatement, especially with a trip to Bayern Munich still to come. ”We have become increasingly worried about the state of the pitch and the training sessions would have been a chance to at least see what we’re up against. ”However, we are not allowed to train on there, so we will be facing the unknown tomorrow (today) tea-time. They know what it is like to play on such a

Following his cameo appearance against Malaga, Bale is expected to play more minutes in today’s Champions League clash with Juventus, with a view to starting Saturday ’s Clasico against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. Speaking at a press conference before the clash with the Serie A champions, Ronaldo said Bale was settling in well at Madrid, but could do with less pressure on his shoulders. “I think he is doing well. Since he arrived he’s had it a bit tough, he didn’t have a pre-season and he was injured so it’s not been easy for him, but you can see how excited he is to be here,” said the Portuguese superstar. “We shouldn’t put too much need to go there and leave with pressure on him, that’s not three points.” good for him. Having spent eight years in “He always wants to learn the Ukraine, the Brazilian and we have to try and help midfielder knows a thing or two him, not put pressure on him, about Russian football as well, and leave him alone, because but it is the playing surface in I’m certain he’ll be very good Moscow he is particularly for the team.” concerned with ahead of the Ronaldo was also asked game. about stories that emerged in “We will see when we train the Italian media this week there on the day before the that he had been close to game and if the pitch is poor, joining Juventus before he we may have to fight to win the signed for Manchester United game, but that is no different in the summer of 2003, aged to any other game – it is always 18. a fight to win.” “According to the press, I After an excellent performance have been close to signing for against West Ham, City ’s every club,” he added. summer recruit from Shakhtar “People can say what they Donetsk is showing signs that want but the only team I he is really settling into Premier signed for when I was 18 was League life. Manchester United.

RISTIANO Ronaldo has urged the media and Real Madrid fans to ease the pressure on Gareth Bale. The Welshman returned from a thigh injury in Saturday ’s 2-0 win over Malaga at the Bernabeu, coming on with 14 minutes remaining and then winning a penalty in stoppage time, which Ronaldo converted. Bale has only made one start since his summer move from Tottenham to Madrid, which is estimated to have cost Los Blancos 101 million euros (£85.5 million).

...as Fernandinho vows to beat Moscow F

• Fernandinho

The Bavarian giants have scored in their last 31 games and survived a scare to defeat Mainz 4-1 on Saturday. Bayern’s 33-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga came under threat when Shawn Parker ’s goal helped Mainz to the lead at the break. However, Mario Gotze came on at half-time and helped to change the match, as two goals from Thomas Muller and additional strikes from Robben and Mario Mandzukic carried Pep Guardiola’s side to victory. Winger Franck Ribery was rested as a precaution, but the Frenchman is likely to be fit for today’s clash.

Ronaldo offers to bail Bale, plea to Real fans C

Man City in turf war with CSKA Moscow ANCHESTER CITY have had a bust-up with Champions League rivals CSKA Moscow after being banned from their pitch. Manuel Pellegrini’s men jetted to Russia last night ahead of today ’s Group D clash. The Blues wanted to train in the Khimki Arena last night and then have a light session on the morning of the game. Under UEFA rules the visiting team is entitled to use the pitch to prepare on. But CSKA bosses stunned the Blues by refusing to let them use the pitch because of fears over the dodgy surface. The decision has left Pellegrini’s men with nowhere to prepare for the crunch encounter. Starsport understands CSKA’s attitude has caused illfeeling between the two rivals and fuming City chiefs have called in UEFA in a bid to get

history of Europe’s premier club competition have scored in six successive fixtures and Robben will aim to join Marouane Chamakh, Burak Yilmaz and Cristiano Ronaldo in achieving the feat. The reigning champions will enter their Group D home game against the Czechs as heavy favourites after their superb start to the season. Bayern top the Bundesliga with seven victories from nine matches and have easily won both of their Champions League fixtures, proving particularly impressive in a 3-1 win at Manchester City earlier this month.

ernandinho says City must go for broke against CSKA Moscow this afternoon. The Sky Blues will be looking to take maximum points and strengthen their hold on second place against the Russians and Fernandinho believes nothing less than a victory will do. “This is all about six points because we play CSKA twice back-to-back and we must win there,” he said. “If we do that and then beat them at home, we will take a big step towards qualification. We have two hard away games this week with Chelsea coming up on Sunday, but we will try to keep our concentration. “We have to go for the win. We can’t think about the draw – we

League matches today CSKA Moscow Anderlecht Bayern Leverkusen Bayern Munich Benfica Galatasaray Manchester Utd Real Madrid

v v v v v v v v

Manchester City Paris St. Germain Shakhtar Donetsk Pizen Olympiakos FC FC Copenhagen Real Sociedad Juventus

5:00pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm

Heineken spreads excitement, as Ikpeba hits Abuja

HE fun and excitement of UEFA Champions league awaits fans Wednesday courtesy, International premium lager beer, Heineken, as former African Footballer of the Year and Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, is set to thrill football fans on digital platform during the match day three of the Champions League. On Tuesday, when the star match of the day between AC Milan against FC Barcelona was underway at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Ikpeba with over 15, 000 followers on twitter, engaged by football fans before, during and after the match on digital platforms.Other twitter users are encouraged to join the conversation by tweeting @IkpebaOfficial and @Heineken_NG with #MatchNightWith International premium lager beer, Heineken, since 2006, has been rewarding its consumers with exclusive premium viewing experiences of UEFA champions’ league football, in the Heineken

Champions’ Planet in Victoria Island, Lagos. In the ongoing season, the brand has been showcasing a unique experience at 100 premium bars with the sole aim of being closer to its consumers in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja. Expectedly, like it was on match day two, when Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha was on point, the traffic on @Heineken_NG twitter handle is expected to be huge because with more awareness on the digital engagement, hundreds of passionate followers of the club competition will be active all through the thrilling match conversation. While the matches are going on in real time, Ikpeba, fondly referred to as ‘Prince of Monaco’ in his playing days, will be live at the Dreams Active Recreation at 792A Aminu Kano Crescent, Opposite UBA, Wuse 2 in Abuja, where he will be part of the viewing crowd. Consumers will have the privilege to engage the former Super Eagles legend for in depth analysis of the matches.

2016 Olympics: Nigerian weightlifters begin preparations BY OKEY NDIRIBE

IGERIA has commenced preparations for participation in the weightlifting event at the 2016 Olympics scheduled to hold in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. This was disclosed yesterday in Abuja by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chief Chibudom Nwuche, who is also the National President of the Weightlifting Federation of Nigeria. Giving a deeper insight into the preparations, Nwuche said the federation had successfully held a national championship in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital, which attracted the participation of over 20 states and clubs. He further stated that Nigerian weightlifters had already reported to camp for participation in next month’s Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships holding in Malaysia. Said he: “We are confident Nigeria would excel at the Championships and it would serve as a solid build up for us ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. “ He further said that 32 weightlifters reported to camp last Sunday as part of the preparations for participation in the Glasgow games. Said he: “ We have taken adequate steps to make the athletes comfortable as they train under the watchful eyes of Coach Emmanuel Oshomah and four others who were picked on the basis of merit”. He further stated that the federation had drawn up a code of conduct for the athletes adding that “we have made it clear that there must be a high level of discipline in camp as that is the only way to get the best out of the athletes.”

34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 35

C M Y K

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

I am sure it will protect those investors who are willing to come to Nigeria and invest by assembling or manufacture vehicles here.” Chief Innocent Chukwuma is another person who is enthusiastic about the development.

Motor vehicle manufacturing

A car assembly plant

FG’s automotive plan excites industry operators •As Nigeria joins auto producing countries

HE news that plans have been concluded by the Federal Government to commence the implementation of measures to develop the Nigerian Automotive Industry, NAI, is generating excitement in the auto industry. The enthusiasm stems from the fact that Nigeria is at the verge of joining the league of auto-producing countries. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga disclosed that “with our current population and economy, our potential vehicle market is about a million vehicles a year.” This figure, he noted, “is more than sufficient to support an automotive industry. We are the seventh most populous economy in the world with a growing middle class (38 million), and a potential vehicle market of one million vehicles annually.” He posited that the “automotive industry will create significant, good quality employment and a wide range of technologically advanced manufacturing opportunities,” adding, “This industrial base can then form the foundation for other modern advanced manufacturing activities. For example, commercial vehicle production will lead to the manufacture of agricultural, mining and railway equipment, mil-

itary hardware and transport”. Regardless of this assurance, some are still skeptical about the workability of the National Automotive Policy,NAP, given that policies like that which appeared promising from inception, ended up unimplemented.

Periodic reviews Mr. Sheun Bamkefa, an engineer, told Vanguard Features,VF, “It will be good if the government allows for full implementation of the policy, but experience has shown that good policies are usually abandoned midway. You know we had a booming auto industry in the past but that is history now.” The fears of Bamkefa and others were, however, dismissed by the Director-General National Automotive Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal, also an engineer. He stated that the plan would be subjected to periodic reviews to enable the industry achieve its potential for the economy. As far as Jalal is concerned, the policy would revitalise and boost the existing Nigerian automotive industry. While puncturing the assumption in most quarters that NAP is banning the importation of vehicles into Nigeria, he stressed that the policy would

focus on promoting investments in affordable made-in Nigeria vehicles that will minimise the importation of vehicles. He disclosed that some international automotive manufacturers, in particular, Toyota, Nissan, Renault and GM, have indicated interest to invest in the country, against the backdrop of the automotive development plan. Jalal added, “Nissan, Toyota and others are now conducting a feasibility study on vehicle assembly in Nigeria, believing that a comprehensive automotive development plan will be in place. Accordingly, a holistic, comprehensive and long-term automotive development plan was therefore developed and implementation has commenced.” On the country’s potential capacity, he said, “At full capacity, the Nigerian automotive industry has the potential to create 70,000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs along with 210,000 indirect jobs in the SMEs that will supply the assembly plants. 490,000 other jobs will also be created in the raw materials supply industries.” Further checks by VF on the acceptability of the policy showed that the House of Representatives Committee on Industry is also excited about the development. Speaking during an over-

sight visit to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chairman, House Committee on Industry, Mohammed Onawo, hailed the implementation of the new measures. He said it would attract new investments into the sector, protect local automotive manufacturers and create employment. Onawo noted, “I was pleased to hear about the new measures by the

By THEODORE OPARA

Chukwuma, who is the founder of Nigeria’s first indigenous motor vehicle manufacturing firm, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, IVM, is certain that the country will rule Africa’s motor market if the policy is implemented to the letter. He said, “We have been in this business for more than seven years, driven solely by faith in our country. It has been tough. But I can assure you that when this policy takes root, and the industrial clusters begin to develop in our region, Enugu and Anambra, many more allied industries that will feed factories like ours will develop and that is even more jobs, more capital injection, more hands-on training and development for the industry and more research that can afford us the truly Nigerian cars, like the ones we are building at the moment. I bet you, Nigeria is in pole position to rule the African motor vehicles market if this policy is followed to the letter.” Meanwhile, it was gathered that auto giant, Nissan and Stallion Group, have concluded plans to jointly launch a vehicle assembly plant in Nigeria. The agreement by the two organisations would see Nissan become the first major international manufacturer to launch vehicle assembly in the country. Chairman of Stallion Group, Sunil Vaswani, said, “The new automotive policy spearheaded by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Agan-

One of the major challenges facing those that are manufacturing cars in Nigeria is the multiple taxation they pay vis-a –vis what somebody pays when he imports a complete car

Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment to transform the automotive sector. Of particular interest to me is how to use tariff to protect local manufacturers. One of the major challenges facing those that are manufacturing cars in Nigeria is the multiple taxation they pay vis-a –vis what somebody pays when he imports a complete car. “If somebody who is importing a complete car is paying less than somebody who is manufacturing, then you are not encouraging the person who is manufacturing. With the new measures being put in place by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment,

ga, is a laudable government initiative aimed at making Nigeria the regional leader in the industry.’’ Lending his voice to this, President of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, said: “We welcome the proactive measures being taken by the Government of Nigeria to encourage inward investment and job creation driven by local auto manufacturing. Together with our local partner, Nissan is preparing to make Nigeria a significant manufacturing hub in Africa. As the first-mover in Nigeria, we are positioned for the long-term growth of this market and across the broader continent.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 37

TOKUNBO VEHICLES:

Nigerian engineers set for made-in-Nigeria car by 2014 BY CHARLES KUMOLU

HE recent decision by the Federal Government to stop the importation of Tokunbo vehicles is generating diverse reactions across the country, ostensibly because most Nigerians depend solely on imported fairly used cars, popularly called Tokunbo or ‘Belgium’ depending on which part of the country you are coming from. The proposed ban which came through the National Automotive Policy, NAP, is aimed at reducing the huge amount expended annually on importation of cars. Reports claim that Nigeria spent about a staggering $4.2 billion (about N550billion) on the importation of cars in 2010, and $3.4 billion in 2012. The move is expected to make ownership of cars easier and encourage lo-

University of Benin ,UNIBEN and Ahmadu Bello University ABU, Zaria. The team from UNIBEN includes Prof. Akaehomen Ibhadode and his students - Adetunji Taj-Liad and Adekola Adeyemi; while the ABU team is made up of Mohammed Dauda of the Mechanical Engineering Department and his students, Bartholomew Njoku and Yusuf Sadiq. Similarly, the UNILAG team is led by Prof. Ike Mowete of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and two of his best students, Messrs Obinna Agba and Abraham Imohiosen. A member of the team, who spoke to VF, said the near 100 per cent environment-friendly car, would be available before the first Africa/Middle East version of the Shell Eco Marathon scheduled for Doha, Qatar in November 2014. Ibhadode who

A lot goes into building a made in Nigeria car. If you look at it from various dimensions, you will discover that there are quite a few opportunities that are open to us

cal manufacturers. The decision is generating anxiety among those who depend on such fairly used vehicles for their transportation needs. It was perhaps against this backdrop that Nigerian engineers, who were at the recent Shell Eco-Marathon in Rotterdam, Netherlands unveiled plans to design, build and test ultra-energy-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles by 2014. This piece of information may be a happy news for a people who are already jittery over the automotive policy, given the harsh economic realities in the country. The project, Vanguard Features, VF, learnt, is being supported by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, on behalf of Shell Companies in Nigeria. The team of engineers, who are working on the project, comprises professors and students drawn from the University of Lagos ,UNILAG;

is a professor of Manufacturing Engineering at UNIBEN gave reasons why a Nigerian car has become inevitable. “We are not looking at just competing, but far beyond that we are looking at coming out with a made in Nigeria car, which will form the basis of Nigerian made car. That is our focus. We are going there to participate, make our mark and beyond that we are hoping that this will be the pioneer effort in getting this dream called the Nigerian car. Judging from the work we have done previously and the one we are doing now concerning the World Bank sponsored project on the making of engine parts, developing local skills in making of engine parts, we are hoping that at the end of this process we will be able to put together almost a 100 per cent made-inNigeria car.” Another person who is also confident that the project would

Vehicles on Nigerian roads... be realistic, is Dr. Mohammed Dauda. Dauda, a mechanical engineer at ABU. He said, “Indeed we can link up the Shell Eco-Marathon to the quest for competitive made-in- Nigeria car. We went to Rotterdam as observers at the 2013 Shell Eco-Marathon in Europe but we are going to participate in Shell Eco-Marathon in the Middle East and Africa holding next year in Doha. Remember this event is tailored at producing a highly energy efficient car both prototype and sub-urban concept.

Energy efficient cars So all the parts that will be used in making this highly energy efficient car will be fed into our Nigeria car project. So in essence, participating in EcoMarathon will help us make a highly energy efficient and sophisticated car. “Nigeria will be able to make a highly energy efficient car. Remember sometimes because of the economics, it will make it cheap when it comes to Nigeria. We might adapt some technologies rather than say we will simply make all of it because it may increase the cost. But what I am assuring you is that we will be able to make cars in Nigeria. But when you say 90 per cent, it means all the 90 per cent of the materials and inputs will be sourced locally. That I am not sure because we do not have the empirical evidence to show you as it is now.” While tracing the story of the project, Dauda said, “The optimism for a 100 per cent madein-Nigeria car started as part of the Centre for Automotive Design and Development, CADD. It started as a project called Three wheel project, which began under one of the military regimes. The threewheel project was tasked with looking at the possibility or feasibility of making a Nigerian

car. So when it completed its work, the military administration went ahead to set up CADD and domiciled it in ABU. It was headed by Prof. Clement Folayan who was then Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Dean of Engineering ABU, Zaria. The CADD has been closed and its functions merged with the National Automotive Council.” How the car will be built: Following this level of confidence on the possibility of the project, many Nigerians believe that the absence of local technological requirements may constitute a challenge. But Prof Mowete of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, UNILAG dismissed such fears. According to him, local capacities are being built. “A lot goes into building a made in Nigeria car. If you look at it from various dimensions, you will discover that there are quite a few opportunities that are open to us.

Battery management Take the electrical system for example: How do you design a battery management system that will significantly reduce the way the car consumes fuel or energy? How do you design a breaking system that contributes to the entire vehicles fuel efficiency, which has the aesthetics the wiper, the lighting systems, dash-boards? “There are quite a few opportunities open to our students. More importantly let them now go from drawing board to hardware. We will design and try to implement in hardware and see that in doing so that each time we are conscious of the larger objective of building a fuel efficient car. Fortunately for now, we are not looking at the engine. In my own team, for example, we are focusing on the electric vehicle. And there

are quite a few opportunities for that. I can see now on paper that when we get going, we begin to see many things that will be open. “Many researchers on campus have shown interest in various forms. Some on Information Technology, IT; what will they contribute with their IT skills? We have interviewed them. Some we have finished interviewing and we have made them part of the team based on the interview performance. So it will be unfolding gradually. Certainly it will contribute to the eventual madein-Nigeria car because now we are localising talents, we are building local capacities. I am sure at some point, we will have the critical mass necessary for us to begin to move from there.”

Global automobile map Meanwhile, the External Communications Manager, African Cluster, Shell Nigeria, Mr. Phillip Mshelbila, has expressed confidence that the project would launch Nigeria into the global automobile map. He said, “It is an opportunity to put Nigeria on the map. You will concentrate on your design to build, test and actually race this car next year. I call it Eco Marathon challenge. So we have to conquer this challenge and win. We are looking forward to the team Nigeria coming back with the prize; to build a car that can take you the farthest distance with the least fuel. It also gives us the opportunity with a Nigerian automobile. See how far India and Brazil have achieved. We see this as an opportunity as well to rekindle that flame in Nigeria to develop a Nigerian car despite these challenges. Our support is to enable this process to go forward and bring this into the consciousness of Nigerians.”

— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

LIBRA; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis may bring you personality clashes base on envy from the other party. Slow down and give peace a chance at least for now. SCORPIO; Full-Moon in Aries points to possible misunderstanding (probably) within your working arena. This is the wrong time to fan the embers of discord. SAGITTARIUS; Although the full-Moon is generating tension, your wish is to have your good time. It’s wrong to under-rate the havoc jealousy can wreck. CAPRICORN; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis will bring pressure from many fronts, the more noticeable ones are career/business and domestic related types

THOUGHT FOR TODAY By Richard Eromosele

F you are living in this part of the globe, the country of Nigeria to be precise, you must have heard of the phrase ‘I beta pass my neighbour.’ This is the popular name by which the little generator used for generating electric energy is well known in

‘I beta pass my neighbour’ Nigeria. Virtually every house has it. Now it is no news that Nigeria is alleged to be the largest importer of generating set in the world. Now if you think this phrase refers to this generating set alone, you are making a mis-

take. I want you to look at yourself dispassionately and answer the following questions: Were you born with any deformity? Is it not in your 20’s that you graduated from the university? You live in a choice area, isn’t it? You have the privilege

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

to change your job every time, isn’t it? Have you not travelled round the world? You can afford what to eat and when to eat compared to your mates who are local champions, can’t you see, you are better than your neighbour? Indeed, you beta pass your neighbour. Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Full-Moon in Aries warns you to watch what you sign and verbally agreed to do. If you fail to respect the law, it’ll back-fire very soon. PISCES; Today’s full-Moon in Aries does not encourage carelessness with money as such can actually lead to avoidable but serious troubles. Avoid jealous approach ARIES; Full-Moon in your Star sign will encourage you to under-rate many to their resentment the way you too’ll be negatively affected. Don’t ignore your spouse TAURUS; Full-Moon in Aries warns you to do away with whatever can not be placed above board. Take your health seriously today more than before GEMINI; Today’s full-Moon in Aries can tempt you to expose your love life unnecessarily. Separate your private/personal affairs and open friendship CANCER; Full-Moon will certainly affect your mood and make you aggressive but, encouragement of tension along your career line and/or within your business circle can not help your cause now. Protection of your image is important however.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; Full-Moon may bring you what you’re likely to see as an insult but in reality it is not one. You only need to be on the right side of the law so that you’ll have the last laugh to the detriment of your opponents. Discourage of jealousy within you. VIRGO; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis may generate tension around you but, the best way for you not to be the loser is to make sure your finances are well protected. Then green eyed monster called jealousy may make things a little bit difficult.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Basic characteristics of Pisces Pisces is 12th of the twelve Zodiac signs ruled by mysterious Neptune. It quality is mutable while it element is water. Mutable aspect of Pisces indicates that people born under it are changeable, by this I mean they change their minds often times. Being a water sign, naives of this Star have very strong intuition and can flow into anybody heart and/or mind. Neptune as the ruler of Pisces brings compassion and ARTISTIC talent into Pisces born people’s creativity quotient. Neptune rules psychic related thing and many of things that cannot be placed above board; Neptune makes most natives of this star sign secretive, hard to understand and dreaming. Two opposing fishes as joint symbol of Pisces oftentimes responsible for occasional confusion suffer by all natives of Pisces one time or the other. It is truly important for them to learn how to control both their emotion and mind. Because it is easy for Pisces people to become pessimistic unnecessarily The reasons are while one of the fishes may head for optimism and day dreaming, the other ’s inclination may be of fear, despondency and timidity. Thus, confusion can creep in and that will be to the detriment of their confidence. Cultivation of practical nature and adoption of realistic method in all you do will be of great importance. It is equally important for Pisces born people like you to take psychic related things more seriously because they can make use of psychic and/or spiritual related things.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 39

I encouraged my toy-boy to date my daughter

She pretended to be a friend to get to my husband Dear Bunmi, I am a mother of five children married for over 25 years. Recently, I found out that my husband’s been cheating on me with his colleague’s wife, who is his boss’s daughter. It’s been going on for years before I found out. They even planned it so that my family, this woman and her brother became close family friends. So close that her brother and my first daughter are currently going steady. I can’t get over the betrayal of how this woman pretended to be my friend, while sleeping with my husband. My daughter and her boyfriend are already discussing marriage. Unfortunately, I can’t visit them with my husband because of what’s happened and my daughter’s boyfriend told her I hate his sister— which I do! This is all such a mess. My husband even gave me a sexual disease, but I’m alright now. Please help. Jennifer, by e-mail. Dear Jennifer, Will you ever get over this betrayal? Staying in your marriage, but getting so stressed without doing anything about it will only make you ill eventually. You either have to put it behind

you, or make a new life for yourself. After five children, this other option might not be easy. You need to discuss your daughter’s boyfriend’s hurtful remark with her. Do

‘

You have had your moment of glory; now go back to your husband before you make a complete fool of yourself

’

Mother-in-law from hell! Dear Bunmi, I’m beginning to hate my mother-in-law. My father-inlaw was violent to his kids and she allowed him to get away with it. All the children had tales of scary beatings and punishments when they were young. For 10 years, my husband cut his parents off because he single-handedly saw himself through university. Now they’re in each other’s good books, my mother-in-law

He dumped me but I want my money back Dear Bunmi, My boyfriend and I started living together after we got engaged. Five months ago, he got a better teaching job at his home town and I was to join him as soon as he settled. The few weekends I stayed with him, he said I should be patient about our getting married. Then out of the blues, he told me on the phone it was over as he’d met someone else who was a staff in the same school, and that she had moved in with him and is expecting his baby! Some of my household things are still with him and he hasn’t paid back the money he owes me. He promised to send my things down to me

both of them know the depth of your betrayal? You need to talk to your husband also. If he can express his regret at what he did, which might help you get over the pain of the past, it

but threatened not to do anything if I hassled him. How can I get my money back? Eunice, by e-mail. Dear Eunice, Unless he owes you a lot of cash, I think you should close the door on this relationship that has brought you nothing but heartaches and regret. To get your cash back without his willing to part with it, you would have to take him to court. It is a lot of trouble and in the end you might not get any cash that was not documented. You still have your pride. Hold on to that and look for a less fickle-minded man.

thinks she can run my life. She says my little girl’s spoilt, which is not true, and she interferes in virtually everything I do. Because of her constant criticism, my husband now believes he has to be tougher on our daughter. I’m quite fed up with all her criticism, but if I put my foot down, her other children may turn against me. Nkiru, by e-mail. Dear Nkiru, She doesn’t sound like someone who’d listen even if you put your foot down. She’s obviously very unhappy about the past and probably feels guilty that she didn’t protect her children from her ironfisted husband. This makes her take it out on those around her and pose as the perfect mum who wants things just right for her children. If it was just you, I’d have said ignore her. But your husband’s behaviour to your daughter is worrying. Explain to him how unhappy this makes you. You might have to involve a third party that would make him see how serious this is. But try not to criticise your mother-in-law too much. There’s so much baggage from the past in this family that stirring things up could be very unwise. Try to feel sorry for her. She doesn’t have a loving heart like yours and that’s her misfortune.

Dear Bunmi, I moved into a new flat early last year and ran into a neighbour ’s son shortly after. I am a divorcee and my two children are away at school. I am in my late 40s and this young man is in his midtwenties though still living with his parents in his own apartment. At first he used to help me do a few things in the house and enjoyed just hanging around chatting. I used to look forward to his visits as he is a very intelligent man. In short, one thing led to the other and we started an affair. You need to see this young man— he is tall, handsome and well-mannered. His lovemaking always blows my mind. He has a car and a good job and would make a very good husband to a lucky girl. Only, I want him for my daughter, who is in the university. They have met and I’m sure he likes her. I have told him I wouldn’t stand in his way if he fancied her and

now they have a relationship. I have told him we have to put an end to our affair and he says my daughter is not his priority— I am. That if he eventually marries her, he would stop making love to me. I just have a feeling that this is all wrong. Modupe, by e-mail. Dear Modupe, This young chap is definitely into a good thing and he knows it. It is bad enough that you are having a relationship with a man young enough to be your son, but passing him on to your daughter is a bit reckless. You know that you must stop sleeping with this man now that he’s also sleeping with your daughter before your daughter cottons up to what is going on. Find a man you’re not ashamed to be seen in public with and stop match-making men with your daughter— she is obviously old enough to know the type of man she likes.

‘

You still have your pride. Hold on to that and look for a less fickle-minded man

’

Having an affair with an entertainer Dear Bunmi, I am a married woman with two lovely children. My husband has a small church he runs and I help with the church. Some months back, I attended the wedding of one of our members and had a good time. My husband was not able to attend. The musician at the party was this handsome man, who kept showering me with praises. When I was ready to leave, he offered me a lift in his bus and gave me his card. I called him from a business centre a few days later and agreed to meet him. We later started an affair and I’m now in love with him. I’ve attended some of the parties he played at on his invitation, and I just love the way he sings and dances. He loves me too but has a wife and three kids. He is also a Muslim.

He said I should leave my husband, but I don’t want to leave certainty for uncertainty. Yet, I’ve never felt like this about a man in my life. Should I follow my heart? Patience, by e-mail. Dear Patience, Of course, you couldn’t have felt like this with any man but your present lover because he’s not only an entertainer, he is a smooth operator. This hunky “celeb” brings you the feeling of excitement that marriage has dimmed. But be rest assured that even if you lust after him, you can’t really have him. This thing you are experiencing is what is called a ‘flash in the pan.’ So don’t throwaway a solid marriage for a mirage. You have had your moment of glory; now go back to your husband before you make a complete fool of yourself.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

•Ogba retail market entrance

Traders, govt disagree over 28-yr-old market ‘re-development’ •They want to share our shops – Traders •We want to build 21st century mall – Govt BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

HERE is bad blood between traders at the Ogba retail Market and Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos over planned re-development of the 28-year-old market. The market was inaugurated in 1985 by the late Air commodore Gbolahan Mudashiru administration in the state. Mudashiru was the military administrator of then tinniest and richest state between January 1984 and August 1986 under the Federal military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari. The crux of the matter is the

umuyiwa Oloro at the council secretariat, Oke-Ira, Ogba. The proposed re-development by the government sparked off angry reaction from the traders on September 30, 2013, who were spoiled for a showdown with the authorities, even as they shutdown the market in protest over the action of the government and marched down to the State House of Assembly to register their grievances. After the protest, our correspondent learnt that the council chairman on October 3, this year, invited the traders to a parley at the council secretariat. The meeting which commenced late however ended in a deadlock. The traders alleged that the

The rumours that we will demolish the entire market by December or that we wanted to set the market ablaze were all lie, because the ‘re-development’ project would be in phases

controversy generated by the announcement of the council to demolish the existing structures and re-develop the retail market into a 21st century mall with 500 shops. The announcement, Vanguard gathered, was made by the Iyaloja of the market, Alhaja Ganiyat Kasumu last month during the monthly meeting of the market executives. This was the outcome of the meeting held earlier between the Iyaloja and the LCDA chairman, Mr. Ol-

re-development plan was the idea of the council chairman to convert the money to be realised from the project into personal use and to give the shops to his political associates. The traders, who were largely retirees and widows have vowed to employ every possible means to truncate the project. They argued that the proposed plan will further inflict economic hardship on them, as over 1, 000 bread winners that depend on the market for sur-

vival would be dislodged. They contended that the market already fits into the megacity status of the state and wouldn’t require any redevelopment, as proposed by the council chairman. The traders opined that the re-development of the market is a misplaced priority on the part of the government, which has other pressing responsibilities like roads, especially the Abiodun Jagun road, the access road to the market, health, education and other dividends of democracy to provide for the people.

Allegations by the traders Responding to the allegations by the traders, the council Manager of the LCDA, Mrs. Grace Olaopin debunked their allegations, saying: “We expect such from the traders because we know that there is no one who wants anything to alter his mode of operation. More so, larger percent of those who were against the plan were tenants and not shop owners. “I believe that those who were against the project have forgotten that the market belongs to the state government. “We have thought about this well and I can assure you that the 18 months duration for the project will not be altered. And the project has gotten its contractor. The contractor is Eliezer Nig. Ltd” According to Olaopin; “The

rumours that we will demolish the entire market by December or that we wanted to set the market ablaze were all lies. because the ‘re-development’ project would be in phases. And the place is ex-

pected to have 500 new shops. And we will triple the number of the key-clamps for the petty traders in the market. “The project has received its first approval and all the council is waiting for is the second

7-kilometre Ayobo-Ipaja BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO DURING his governorship reelection campaign in 2011, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state excited residents of Ipaja-Ayobo axis, promising to hand over a well reconstructed seven-kilometer road to them in 18 months. Two years, four months after Fashola commenced his second term in office, residents of the Local Council Development Area, LCDA, are yet to see any meaningful construction of the road which has crippled activities in the council. The contract for the road with total length of about 7.5 km and 16.cm in width was actually awarded in May 2011 by the state government with work commencing in October, same year. The hopes of residents early in the year soared when the state government supported by the contractor, Plycon Construction Company Ltd, an indigenous construction firm, assured that the much await-

•Fashola announces

•Ipaja Ayobo Road...at the weekend ed project would be completed and handed over by November this year. Barely 40 days to the completion date, residents are yet to see any sign of a road nearing completion, a development that is raising concern over the delivery date proposed by the state government and the contractor handling the project. Their hopes were completely dampened last Thursday after they had trooped out en-masse to wel-

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

approval from the state ministry of Physical planning and Urban development. For me, I don’t see them halting the project. “And the first phase of the project will start at the toilet axis of the market. This is where the new mall will be sited. And the front space will be used as the car park for the mall. “The traders within this area would be relocated to the 40 empty shops in front of the market. While those who object to such idea would be given N150, 000 to secure where they can carry out their business. “When the first phase, which is the most important aspect of the project is completed, by then we would have achieve 80 percent of the project, the traders will be relocated back to the new mall.” “The costliest shop will be sold at N5 million and the traders are expected to either pay in two years or go for the mortgage which allows 5 years pay back time. “We have also commenced a Tuesday forum where the council chairman explains to whoever want to seek clarification on the proposed mall.”

Lagos-Badagry Expressway enters phase 2, to cost N200bn BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

HE 50-year-old LagosBadagry Expressway that leads to the other parts of the West Coast from Lagos is arguably one of the most important roads in Africa and its rehabilitation /expansion into 10-lane carriageway that will incorporate Light Rail Transport, LRT, on the median and a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, system is taking its toll on socioeconomic activities of residents. The first phase of the reconstruction is nearly completed. So in focus now is the second phase (Lot II) covering Mazamaza- OkokomaikoAgbara stretch. The phase is to cost the state government N220.00 billion which was approved a year and eight months ago by the House of Assembly. The completion of that phase is billed for Thursday January 30, next year. In the first quarter of this year, the state commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Olufemi Hamzat, disclosed that the Federal Government owes the state about

•Completed section of the road N51 billion it used to reconstruct and rehabilitate federal roads in the state, urging the Federal Government to pay the debt to enable the state carry on its infrastructure upgrade. This means funds is also a factor for the slow pace

of the reconstruction. During the reconstruction of Lot I, 42 electric poles and several pipelines were relocated. The commissioner, in a forum, explained the choice of foreign firms for roads construction in the state, saying, “Chinese, for instance, is becoming the big-

road: Work stalls 28 months after December partial opening date

d come governor Fashola, his Deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and other EXCO members who accompanied the governor and his deputy to inspect the ongoing road project. After being conducted round by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the governor said he wasn’t sure anymore of the road’s completion date. “Thank God the governor has come here to see what we have been going through as residents of

— 41

Ayobo-Ipaja, who have no alternative road than this Mosalasi-Ipaja-Ayobo road,” Mrs. Monsurat Salam told Vanguard. Salam lamented: “From the present state of the road, it showed that the contractor cannot complete it anytime soon. Even if the governor didn’t say that, we all know that the earlier proposed date was a joke.” “It is an indication that we will

continue to pay exorbitant transport fares to commercial vehicle operators, who attributed the high fares to the poor state of the road. And we have to be cautious of whatever we wear, especially below the knee, because it will be stained easily by mud,” Mr. Ise Ifih, a graduate of Mass Communication added. “That is why whenever the cloud gathers, we are gripped by fear wherever we are, of what will befall us when we leave for home after our daily business. Sometimes, we spend over two hours on the road before getting home the high cost of transportation we pay not withstanding,” Olawale said. Mr. Solomon Tochukwu, a commercial bus driver who plies the road, said:“Don’t blame the commercial bus drivers. It isn’t thier fault; the blames should be directed at the state government.” Tochukwu said “Driving here is a difficult task due to the effect on our vehicles. Until road is completed, nothing will change on the transportation cost.

Addressing the residents in Yoruba, Fashola appealed for patience to enable government deliver a road that will not endanger their safety by causing flood. “Our contractor is here. They have been paid, they have been mobilized, but there are safety issues. Please bear with us, we will solve this problem but these are the problems we have been facing,” the governor said.. According to him, “What the contractor wanted to do earlier was to complete the stretch of the road before handing over the project. But I have told them that we cannot allow that anymore because the residents need the road for their business activities.” “The contractor has completed the drainage works on the Ayobo portion of the road project. He will commence the laying of asphalt on that portion. And before December, the contractor will complete it,” Fashola added.

gest economy in the world. “They seem to have the resources such that as against their Nigerian counterparts who would collect 60 percent cost of the contract and do 60 percent of the work, the Chinese firms can collect 60 percent and deliver the project and wait for the 40 percent, he said In terms of quality of work done, he added: “We have consultants who monitor the work that these contractors do,” stressing that those firms do good and quality roadwork.

Quality roadwork When Vanguard visited the new office of the contractor handling the Lot II, China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) located at Moshalashi area of Maza Maza, who were 90 percent Chinese were very unfriendly to the press. Lagos is one of the 27 mega cities in the world and also has most of the challenges associated with mega cities like traffic congestion, gentrification (rural-urban migration), slums, and environmental pollution among others. The state government had said the vision of that project is to boost the state’s economy through inter-regional trade and commerce, hoping that the completion of the project would impact on the state positively when the project commenced three years ago. This simply means funds is also a factor for the slow pace of work

42— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

OCTOBER 23 23,, 2013

Infertility: Surrogacy to the rescue? BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

FTER almost a lifetime of battling endometriosis, former Miss Nigeria, Chief Adenike Oshinowo, 47, had a set of twins last month through gestational surrogacy. At 45, Baroness Oona King of Bow, as she's known in the House of Lords, also had to rely on a surrogate to deliver her son after years of spending more than £70,000 on six failed attempts at IVF and adoption of three children. A number of other celebrities who turned to surrogacy include Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick; Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, as well as Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance. Indeed more couples with the challenge of infertility, and not just celebrities, are turning to surrogacy to start or grow their families. In particular, gestational surrogacy is far more popular. In gestational surrogacy, eggs from the intended mother are fertilised by sperms from the intended father, and the resulting embryos are implanted into the uterus of a gestational surrogate also known as the “birth mother”. A gestational surrogate has no genetic ties to the child because it wasn’t her egg that was used. A traditional surrogate is the baby’s biological mother because it’s her egg that is fertilised. A woman might use a surrogate for reasons ranging from medical problems with her uterus to conditions that make pregnancy impossible or medically risky. Other women choose surrogacy after trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant with a variety of assisted-reproduction techniques, ART, such as IVF.

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

• Angela Basset and husband Courtney B.Vance with their twins born with the help of a surrogate mother in 2006. Statistics from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine show that births via gestational surrogacy have been steadily increasing since 2004. About 750 babies are born each year through gestational surrogacy. In 2011, there were 1,593 babies born via gestational surrogacy – up from 1,448 in 2010 and 738 in 2004. Last year (2012) there were at least 2,000 gestational surrogacy births. But while the high-profile announcements of use of a surrogate, is becoming much more accepted, and less stigmatised in places such as the US, not as much could be said for several countries in Europe, Asia or Africa. Although the birth of a child is typi-

Chronic pain treatment in Nigeria P AIN is the leading clinical complaint all over the world. In the USA, it has become the “5th vital sign” in addition to blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate. In Nigeria, like many African countries, there are shortcomings in the management of pain, especially chronic pain. What is “Pain”? There is a standard WHO definition of pain but, between doctor and patient. “Pain is whatever hurts!” It can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is sudden, lasts less than three months, causes anxiety and often ends with tissue healing. Examples include the pain of fractures, burns, cuts, dental work, childbirth or postoperative pain. Poor treatment of acute pain may lead to chronic pain. Chronic pain has lingered longer than 6 months, is persistent, interferes with a person’s ability to work and/or play. It may be severe, disturbing sleep and causing depression; or it may be mild and just....irritating. Chronic pain has greater physical and emotional effects. Physically there can be muscle tension, lack of appetite and energy, and loss of mobility. Emotionally, there may be depression, anxiety, withdrawal, guilt and anger. What causes chronic pain? In most cases, we suffer pain because of “ wear and tear ” (degeneration), C M Y K

NHF holds nutrition seminar/bazaar

especially of moving parts. The spine in the neck and lower back are very susceptible as they are constantly in motion. The lower spine also bears the weight of the trunk. Chronic pain may originate from bones (arthritis), muscles (fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome) tendons (tendinitis), and nerves themselves (neuralgias). Some foods can trigger chronic pain (yes!), as can some medications. All these causes can occur together in some cancers. Chronic pain may also be psychogenic or psychosomatic. The role of pain specialists To be a “Pain Specialist” in the USA, doctors complete residencies in their various specialties, and then undergo an extra one year Pain Fellowship Training,. A similar programme has now been introduced in the UK. Most pain doctors are anesthesiologists.They focus on function and quality of life and develop a care plan that helps the patient return to everyday activities quickly. From the patient's history and examination, pain doctors use tools like X-rays, MRI and CT Scans to evaluate pain complaints, and then determine a course of treatment which may include medications, injections and nerve blocks, physiotherapy and other therapies

cally considered a very happy time for parents, surrogacy is quite often very stressful for those involved. Part of the stress stems from the fact that there are varying laws and regulations overseeing surrogacy. There are cross cutting professional, societal, cultural and ethical issues surrounding the subject of surrogacy all over the world. And surrogacy isn’t at all cheap, costing anything from $50,000 to $150,000 depending on the type of arrangement and where it is done. The high cost can be daunting. The bottom line is that surrogacy is still a controversial form of infertility treatment, never mind that the attraction for the method has soared in recent times. (occupational, behavioural). P a i n specialists coordinate care between all the disciplines. F o r example, in the UK and USA, approximately 80 percent of the population will suffer at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime, while 20 percent would have back pain at any time. It is a major cause of work absenteeism in the USA and UK. The same probably applies to Nigeria. Chronic low back pain is treated with physiotherapy, medications, and various types of spinal injections. More intensive treatment may require radio-frequency ablation, intrathecal pumps or dorsal column stimulation. Pain control improves lives Unfortunately, many people feel pain is an unavoidable part of life or ageing. This is not so. Today, advances in pain management offer patients and physicians choices to help control pain.Chronic pain can be treated. Nigeria has a large proportion of people over the age of 35 yrs., an age when degenerative changes usually start to manifest. Pain management services helps sufferers through conditions like herniated discs, myalgia, spondylosis, radiculopathy,

HE Nigerian Heart Foundation, NHF, is organising a Healthy Heart Nutrition Bazaar to further underscore the importance of healthy diets as a catalyst to reduce heart diseases and stroke among Nigerians. The bazaar, which comes up November 12, 2013, at the Muri Okunola Park Lagos, will feature exhibition of heart healthy brands to encourage consumersmake healthy food choices. Speaking in Lagos on the theme; “‘Take the Road to a Healthy Heart”, Vice Chairman, NHF, Dr. Femi Mobolaji Lawal said:“The main aim is to educate people and alert them that the threat of heart disease can begin at an early age, and that most heart diseases and stroke can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle changes: eating healthily, being active and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke.” Quoting Dr Kathryn Taubert, Chief Science Officer, WHF, Lawal said, “Awareness is the first step to a healthy heart. Paying attention to how much we walk should be as simple as watching what we eat. We are urging people to take action to protect their hearts. By reaching the recommended guideline of minimum 30 minutes of moderate exercise, which includes brisk walking at least five days a week, many premature deaths can be prevented.”

diabetic neuropathy, spinal stenosis, chronic headaches, cancer pain...and many more. Pain should not limit the contributions that Nigerians can make to their community, nor should it restrict their enjoyment of the country’s lifestyle. The shortage of pain doctors across the world, with about 5000 serving a population of over 300 million in the USA, and a similar low ratio in the UK, has prompted investment by governments, corporations and individuals. Their goal is to ensure that, not just the current able and active workforce, but the older and retired, all have access to Pain Management Services. It is time for Nigeria to do the same. •Dr. Femi Ogunyemi, FRCA, FWACS, is a member of the British Pain Society, American Pain Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society and the Aerospace Medical Association. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management and a Fellow in Pain Medicine from Emory University.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—43

UDUAKABASI UMONDAK:

Shame to Fame By SAM EYOBOKA

GLASS of water on her right hand and 36 tablets of Valium 10 in the palm of an upraised left hand, when the unexpected ring of a 090 (you remember them?) shattered the peace of the house and the resultant shock sent the glass of water to the floor as the tablets scattered across the tastefully furnished sitting room. The God factor, you call it! But for that call from a close acquaintance, the vivacious star of now rested Mirror in the Sun, UduakAbasi Umondak—unable to cope with the avalanche of foreign and selfimposed wilderness period— would have joined her ancestors several years ago. UduakAbasi Umondak, a former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, a former fashion designer whose multi-million naira outfit, COLOURS was gutted by fire, a socialite and a party freak until life dealt an unkind blow which left her devastated and alone at the very bottom of Depression Valley. That was the motivation for UduakAbasi to attempt suicide as a means of ending the loneliness. She almost swallowed 360 milli-grams of tranquilizers. After that divine intervention, it dawned on Udy that God had a special assignment for her and in a recent interview, she talked about how HIS WORD MADE FLESH, a purpose-driven television programme aimed at encouraging and motivating hurting persons was midwifed.

Appeal fund The programme began six years ago and on the sixth anniversary she now plans to host the crème de la crème of society to a six-course meal at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island for an appeal fund as well as a time to unveil a-106 DVD collection and launch a charity foundation. Asked how she came about the motivational project, she said: “I had to walk the walk after fire gutted my fashion house which was one of the best at that time. Before then, in a dream I heard a voice saying ‘stop what you are doing, I have work for you to do.’ After a year, I didn’t hear that voice again. Then I had a dream in 1999 that fire burnt down my place and three days after, fire actually gutted COLOURS and I lost everything. “Three times, I tried to revive the fashion business but they all failed. Instead I got involved in all kinds of controversies and scandals. I was so embarrassed

UDY: We intend to put up a world class event “Then God said it’s your sweat He’ll bless and I said I’ve sweated so much I don’t think I have any sweat left in my body. Anyway, that was how I sold the last of my properties and I built the first studio to start this talk show. After I built it, six months down the line, I was trying to show off the studio, the Lord said to me, 'that’s not the pattern, pull it down'. I just found that there was nothing left in me anymore so I just locked the place,” she stated. Continuing, Udy narrated how God divinely arranged a loan with which she built a fresh studio in accordance with divine design. "I told the designer friend, it’s going to be “Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving”.

Royal priesthood

UDY...I was a people’s person, always throwing parties so I was never somebody who sits still, caged that I attempted suicide and it took a phone call from my friend to save me. Two days after fire consumed the fashion house, I actually had a dream about this programme but I didn’t understand it. He took me through that wilder-ness journey, from laugh to shame, because at a time, I locked myself inside my house and a lot of people thought I had relocated to the US. It was in that my solitude that God spoke to me about the programme. “One day God said to me, the places that brought you shame will bring you fame. I didn’t know what fame could come out of this shame. I was accused of

things I knew nothing about. I remember in all the accusa-tions, somebody said to me, if you live to tell the story, you will not walk the streets of Lagos. But in all of that, that was the only word I held on to. I was a people’s person, always throwing parties so I was never somebody who sits still, caged. God gave me that word that in the places they brought you shame, I’ll bring you praise and fame, and I didn’t know how. In all of that, God said to me, start this programme, but I didn’t have anything. I didn’t have money to eat let alone to build a studio and God said to me; build a studio.

And I said the logo is an Open Bible, that after God has refined you with His word, He surrounds you with His Spirit. And that’s why you have a dove all around my logo. And then he put on it the garment of a royal priesthood. When he got it together, then I said you’ll have oil dripping from the house because He gave you oil of gladness. And the guy looked at me and said that is not possible, so I said if you are the guy to build it, it’ll be possible. “So we held hands and prayed and he left. The following morning by 5.00 a.m., he sent me a text, saying 'madam, I’ve finished; when can we see?' I am not an early riser, but that day I woke up early. The guy said to me, I don’t know what happened, but about 3.00 a.m., a hand woke me up and dragged me to my computer. When I went to my computer, this was what I woke up to do and I didn’t even realize it. That was how I built

the studio. And then I started recording! By now I had a better understanding. It was in 2004 that the last distraction disappeared completely in my life. That was when the revelation God had given to me in 1999 about this programme actually came to pass,” she narrated. His Word Made Flesh is a reality talk show that presents individuals whose heart-rending, albeit inspiring turn-around elicits different reactions from the public. Very often, Udy is swarmed with requests for monetary intervention from people who are in need. Her His Word Made Flesh Foundation is an organisation that will take care of such demands. The event is billed for the ultra-modern African Hall of the new Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Branded as an “Evening of hope,” it is a strictly by invitation event that has a dress code of black tie and evening gown billed for Saturday, October 26. Excited about the event, Udy said: “We intend to put up a world class event, painstaking preparation is already on to enable us put up a show worthy of your presen-ce.” The 106 DVDs, which are already on sale at selected locations across the country, consist of compilation of some of the best stories of men and women who triumphed over adversity to discover purpose. It is inspirational, motivational and entertaining as it gives hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, faith to the faithless and courage to the timid. According to her, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, has graciously accepted to attend as the guest of honour who will formally unveil and present the DVDs to the public, while Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is expected to give a short exhortation.

MGPNI to hold 12-hour marathon prayer for Nigeria

N interdenominational intercessory organization, the Ministers of God Prayer Network International (MGPNI), says it is planning to gather thousands of Christ-ians to intercede for Nigeria to avoid imminent danger and disintegration, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Speaking recently in Lagos during a press conference, national president, Rev. Bola Oyegbami expressed the need for a national peace prayer conference with a theme: “Oh God Arise”, saying that the aim is to intercede for peace in Nigeria. He maintained that God would soon dismantle forces of darkness working against peace, unity and development of Nigeria, noting that the best solution to overcome the country’s

present challenges is for Nigerians to embrace one another in love and work for peace of the nation. The all night programme, according to the organisers is scheduled to hold on Friday at the Trinity House Church auditorium in Victoria Island from 9.00 p.m. Expected guest ministers for the programme include Rev. Mercy Ezekiel, Bishop Bankole Jefferson, Pastor Emmanuel Oshoffa, Rev. Kalejaiye, Rev. Olu Aboderin and other anointed ministers of God. Rev. Oyegbami used the occasion to caution politicians to refrain from overheating the nation’s polity, saying the ongoing political situation in the country portend danger to the peace and unity of Nigeria.

44—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Oshiomhole, PDP leaders battle over NDDC board nominees

Activists vow to rebuild Nigeria

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

OVEMENT for Fundamental Change, MFC, a pressure group, has pledged to usher in genuine social rebirth of Nigeria. MFC’s members include Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Mr. Achike Chude, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Mr. Femi Aborishade, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, amongst others. At its inaugural meeting in Lagos, the group said that 53 years of nationbuilding was an exercise in collapse of institutions, failed leadership and systemic disorderliness. A statement by the Chairman, Steering Committee of MFC, Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji and Chief Martin Onovo, Chairman Communiqué Committee, said MFC shall be constructed as a broad-based alternative platform for people’s power to build a grassroots massbased movement for fundamental change in Nigeria.

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and other political leaders from the state have taken their battle to position the next representative of the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to Abuja. Oshiomhole is locked in battle with leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Edo State, who are also divided among themselves, over the three nominees that have been forwarded to the presidency for consideration. PDP officials, it was learnt, are arguing that the position that had in the last two cases been conceded by the presidency to Governor Oshiomhole should this time be reverted to the party for the purpose of empowerment ahead of the 2016 gubernatorial election. However, the PDP chieftains have not agreed among themselves on who should be nominated, leading to a brewing war of intrigues among senior officials of the party. President Goodluck Jonathan had, until now, followed the tradition set by late President Umaru Yar‘Adua in conceding the nomination of NDDC representatives to state governors.

Seminar

AMBRIDGE Weight Plan Nigeria is set to help people lose weight healthily through a seminar— Cambridge Events Day Wellbeing Seminar. Mrs Eniola Karunwi, franchise owner of the Cambridge Weight Plan, said that the one-day seminar will hold on Saturday, October 26, at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. She added that it will feature health talks, fun workout session, weight loss testimonial, spa/beauty talk, awards, comedy and musical performances.

Precedent

In 2009, when Governor Oshiomhole nominated Mr. Jude Ide-Isehen, at that time a member of Edo State House of Assembly, he was stopped by Senator Ehigie Uzamare, PDP Edo South, despite the support that came the way of the nominee from the two other senators from the state, Senators Odion Ugbesia and Yisa Braimah. Oshiomhole was, however, to have his way with the support of the same Senator Uzamere to put

O N G R AT U L A TIONS to Mr. President. I know that enemies of progress can never be happy that Nigeria is made part of the UN Security Council during his tenure. So anybody fighting his government is wasting time.— Miss Ezenwa Udoka, Businesswoman.

Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambitions, there are suggestions that the president is inclining towards rebuffing Oshiomohole’s plea for a second term for Okharobo.

Likely candidate

Sources disclosed that PDP had forwarded three names for consideration. They are Levis Aigbogun, a former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly; Mr. Osahon Ahunwa, popularly known as Osahon Ugbesia, due to his close affinity to Senator Ugbesia. The third is Mr. Chris Enekhirare, a close loyalist of Chief Dan Orbih, Chairman of the state chapter of PDP. Ugbesia, it was learnt, is factoring the nomination of his man, Ahunwa, as the basis of his

IGERIA’S membership of the Security Council makes no difference. It can only cast ideological votes in support of the views taken by the Western democracies on contentious disputes and other world issues. It is all window-dressing and politics.— Prof. Bankole Okuwa, Lecturer.

support for the alleged 2016 gubernatorial ambitions of the present Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen. Mr. Aigbogun is on his part reportedly being pushed by the general sentiments of some party stakeholders, who are praising him for his loyalty to the party. While the three contenders from PDP are jostling among themselves for consideration, the present representative, Okhuarobo is banking on the support from Governor Oshiomhole. However, Oshiomhole’s latitude in the Senate, which had been through Senator Uzamere, it was learnt, has been curtailed due to what sources claim as the increasing gulf between Uzamere and the Edo State governor.

AOCOED lecturers, mgt clash over ‘missing' N188m BY IKENNA ASOMBA

AGOS— THE lecturers of Adeniran Ogusanya College of Education, AOCOED, Ijanikin, Lagos, are trading words with the management of the institution over alleged disappearance of staff pension and cooperative funds totally N188 million. The lecturers, under the aegis of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, have issued a two-week ultimatum to the institution's authorities to explain the whereabouts of the funds or academic activities in the school will be shut indefinitely. Chairman COEASU in AOCOED, Mr. Avosetinyen Sonayon, said: “AOCOED is under siege. That is why there is need for us to liberate ourselves.

“The government gives N125 million to the school as annual subventions and has directed the school management to augment staff salaries, other emoluments and miscellaneous expenditures with its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. “We wrote to the Special Adviser on Education that the school generates over N1 billion as IGR and that there is no reason that it can’t pay the over N188 million owed the cooperative. “Government then directed management to pay us before three months. But the management argued that it is using the IGR to augment our salaries. “Is that possible? Even if it is, why must you owe the cooperative?

T will go a long way in ensuring peace in the world as the developing countries could serve as a gauge and check on the excessive use of force by powerful Western countries. I think Nigeria becoming part of the UN Security Council is not a bad development.— Mr. Martins Ifeanyi, Student.

ONESTLY, I see it as a welcomed development. But what will a common Nigerian like me, who has not benefited anything from the country, get from being a member of UN Security Council? All the same, it is a good record for Nigeria and for Nigerians.— Mr. Ado Ufuoma, Worker.

“Our retirees are dying because they can’t access their pension funds from the Pension Funds Administrators, neither can they access loan from the cooperative, because management have hijacked our funds.” However, the school’s Registrar, Mr. Bola Disu, said: “All the issues raised are currently being addressed by government and the school management. “The union has been in talks with the management over some of these issues, but the figures quoted are outrageous. “I am not saying nothing is being owed, but what I do know is that what was inherited by this current administration went down because of our efforts. I don’t know where the union got their figures.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

another nominee, Mr. Dan Omoriodon in that board. Following President Jonathan’s dissolution of that board because of bickering among board members, Governor Oshiomhole also successfully pushed the appointment of Mr. Henry Okhuarobo to the present board. In recompense, Oshiomhole helped Uzamere to return to the Senate, making Senator Uzamere the first Benin senator to win re-election. However, PDP stakeholders from Edo State, it was learnt, have now impressed it on the President not to again concede the position to Oshiomhole, saying that the President has been empowering their political enemy. With Oshiomhole allegedly yet to declare his support to President

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

NLY the five permanent countries take decision and the 10 nonpermanent members just support them. Getting a non-permanent membership of the UN is nothing to celebrate. What some Nigerians could be celebrating, Saudia Arabia rejected.— Mr. Collins Nnakwe, Worker.

HAT kind of society have I found myself in? Are we so bereft of worthwhile achievements to be celebrating this inconsequential appointment? It came possibly because Gambia became ineligible? I can understand if Chad or Lithuania is celebrating.— Mr. Ajiboye Sunday, Music Director.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—45

Lagosians embrace govt campaign on energy conservation

PDP chieftain hails Uduaghan on power

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Chief Anthony Onoharigho, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State for keeping to his promise of boosting electricity supply in Abraka Onoharigho gave this commendation after the state government donated four transformers to the people of Abraka at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Mayoroh Ojeta I, Ovie of OruaruvieAbraka Kingdom. The four transformers were handed over to Abraka community by the government through Comrade Ovuzuorie Macaulay, Secretary to the State Government, SSG. Chief Onoharigho praised Governor Uduaghan for keeping to the promise he made when he emerged victorious at the court between his party, PDP, and the opposition. He also urged the people of Abraka and the entire Urhobos to continue to support Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s government for more dividends of democracy.

Group faults Tinubu's comments on amnesty

Niger Delta Rights Group, Ijaw Integrity Forum, IIF, has faulted comments by former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu that the Federal Government's amnesty programme is a drain pipe, saying his comments indicates that he is anti-Niger Delta progress and development. IIF in a statement by its National chairman, Mr. Gbaboyo Wurus and secretary Ken Oyakemeghegha, said the amnesty programme had recorded over 99 percent success and restored peace in the region, as well as increased crude oil production. It said: "the Special adviser to the President on Niger Delta and chairman amnesty committee, Kingsley Kuku, had handled rehabilitation of ex-militants with commitment and sincerity of purpose", adding that "Tinubu spoke from an angle of somebody without any information on the programme, advising him to visit the amnesty office for details."

BY LAJA THOMAS

HE ongoing drive by the Lagos State Government to increase public awareness on energy conservation has received further boost as more Lagosians trooped to the awareness activation centres to receive enlightenment on ways they can conserve energy and save money on consumption. The recent awareness campaign was held Ecentre Yaba Lagos, where residents, took advantage of the activation of the Conserve Energy, Save Money, CESM, campaign to participate in the experiential do-it-yourself energy consumption calculation. During the exercise, they were able to, on their own, calculate the amount of energy they used with the energy calculator facilitated by the Lagos State Electricity Board, LSEB. In addition, they received knowledge on the benefits of energy-saving bulbs over the traditional yellow bulbs, as well as the need to switch off appliances when not in use. CESM is a behavioural change campaign, and an initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources through its implementing agency, LSEB, aimed at cultivating energy conservation behaviour among residents in the state. As a prelude to the campaign, the Lagos State Government had declared the month of October 2013 as the Energy Conservation Month to sensitize residents on benefits of efficient use of available electric power through simple energy conservation practices.

SCHOLARSHIP— From left: Professor A. A. Adeyemi; Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN; Emeritus Professor Ayo Ajomo and Professor Osariemen Osunbor at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, annual festival of legal scholarship at the University of Lagos.

NAFDAC to medicine dealers: Buy drugs from genuine sources BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—THE Director General, DG, of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, has called on patent medicine dealers to buy drugs only from genuine and authenticated sources to make the business of fake drugs unattractive. NAFDAC Coordinator in Delta State, Ms Esther Aburime who represented the Director General in a seminar organised for members of the Delta State chapter of the National Association of Patent Proprietary Medicine

Dealers, NAPPMED, tagged ‘Fight against fake and substandard regulated products – A fight for all’, organised by Christabel International in conjunction with NAFDAC in Asaba and Ughelli lamented the consequences of fake drugs. The NAFDAC DG attributed the menace of fake and counterfeit drugs to one of the factors militating against the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, 4, 5 and 6 which advocates for reduction in maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS,

malaria and other diseases. According to the DG, “you can contribute by reporting the ones you see; avoiding fake products so that the perpetrators will not flourish in the business and buying products from authenticated sources and obtaining letter headed receipts of purchase. Fake and counterfeit medicines pose a great threat to the attainment of these goals as well as the overall public health. They cause several health problems, including treatment failure organs and system failure, economic loss, sickness and death.”

Delta communities at war over oil deposit

BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI—ARADHE and EmuObodoeti communities in Isoko North and Ndokwa West Local Government areas respectively in Delta State are at loggerheads over a land where crude oil deposit was allegedly discovered by Midwestern Oil and Gas Company. Vanguard learnt that both communities were claiming ownership of the same piece of land and except the state government quickly intervenes; the situation may degenerate to bloody crisis. A source who claimed the contentious land specifically belongs to Erutefu family of Aradhe said, “Aradhe people, who went to farm were dispossessed of their cutlasses at gunpoint and chased away by Emu-Obodoeti people from the bush. They also destroyed their canoes.” A prominent Emu-Obodoeti leader had told his subjects, who are fighting Aradhe people that the land in dispute does not belong to

them, but they refused to listen to their leader. They also declined to attend a peace meeting summoned by the traditional ruler of Ewu community to look into the matter on October 14.” A native of Emu-Obodoeti community, who spoke to Vanguard asserted, however, “It is not true, they claim that our monarch said that our land does not extend to the place, it is a lie, the land belongs to

Emu-Obodoeti people but Aradhe community is claiming ownership because oil was found there.” Spokesman of Aradhe community in Warri, Mr. Christopher Okoro, told Vanguard, “The problem started, this year, when pipeline was constructed across the area, the Emu-Obodoeti came to claim that they are the owners of the land, the Erutefu family in Aradhe said it is their own.”

NUPENG returns Achese as President BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has returned un-opposed its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, for another four years. In its 3 rd Quadrennial Delegates Conference, QDC, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

members also returned unopposed Eddy Ossai and Asuquo Okon as Deputy President 1 and Deputy President 2, respectively. Similarly, Aliu Balogun, Tijani Zubairu, Bello Aneru and Timothy Ogbu, were reelected un-opposed as Vice President Lagos, Vice President Kaduna, Vice President Warri and Vice President Port-Harcourt.

Also, Williams Akporeha, who is also the Delta State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was re-turned un-opposed as Treasure. While Mr. A.K Fakunmoju stepped down for Monday Osunde as Trustee, Paulinus Onyeodi, was re-elected unopposed as Financial Secretary. In the same vain other members of the National Executive Council, NAC, were returned-un-opposed.

46—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Imo gets elders’ advisory c’ttee

WERRI—GOVER NOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo has inaugurated the state’s Elders’ Advisory Committee for the smooth running of the state. This is contained in a statement by a media aide to the governor, Mr William Unadike, issued on Monday in Owerri. It said that members of the committee were drawn from the 27 local government areas of the state. It also said that the over 50 committee members were saddled with the responsibility of advising the government on some of its policies and programmes. Inaugurating the committee at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Exco, Government House, Okorocha urged the members to interact with the royal fathers, House of Assembly members and to review the free education programme of his administration.

Pa Reuben Idoko for burial

HE FINAL burial ceremony for Pa Reuben Idoko, 90, of Ugbaike, Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North L.G.A., Enugu State, will commence on Thursday, November 7, with a christain wake-keep at his residence in Ugbaike. Lying in state will take place the next day, followed by a mass service at the same venue. Interment will take place thereafter with a thanksgiving on Sunday, Novemberr 13, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Ugbaike. He is survived by many children and other relations, including Chief Remigius Idoko (Ochinanwata 1) the managing director of Remson Chuks Industries Ltd, Lagos,

Late Reuben Idoko

PDP stalwart alleges campaign of calumny against Ngige E

BY TONYEDIKE

NUGU—A chieftian of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Chief Ben Ezeibe has frowned at what he described as the campaign of calumny being mounted against the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Chris Ngige by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State. Ezeibe, a founding member of PDP and a former Vice Chairman of the party condemned in strong terms the high level of politics with bitterness being practiced with the machinery of Anambra State. Ezeibe, who spoke with reporters at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu shortly on arrival from China said: “I am still a chieftain of PDP. I am not a member of APC but I have my sympathy, like every other patriotic Anambrarian for Dr. Chris Ngige who is being humiliated with state machinery and resources.” He said what was worrisome to him was that “the state governor is campaigning and squandering state treasury to ensure that Dr. Chris Ngige does not emerge as the next governor.” He described the action of the governor as “man’s inhumanity to man” querying “what has he done to deserve being humiliated the way the governor is going about it.” Ezeibe said that Anambra grassroots voters are much wiser and not as timid as before to be deceived with executive recklessness. He insisted that if the APGA candidate, Willie Obiano is contesting to govern Anambra people, he

SURE-P not a scam —Anyim

BY PETEROKUTU

BAKALIKI—THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Ayim, yesterday, said that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P introduced by the Federal government was not a scam but a fulfilment of the promises made by President Goodluck Jonathan towards making healthcare delivery affordable and accessible to all Nigerians. Anyim also said that SURE-P Maternal and Child Health, MCH, was aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality rates, especially in rural and underserved communities, adding that the programme would accelerate the country’s progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs four and five in no distant time. He spoke at the SURE-P- MCH Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, pilot programme launch in Amaeze Primary Healthcare Centre in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

should go to the field alone and face the electorate and prove his popularity and not straddling on the back of incumbency advantage. The politician cum businessman said: “We have finished with Peter Obi, he has served for 8 years and should quit the scene honourably. By going to the field openly campaigning for Willie Obiano is hurt-

ing the feelings of Anambrarians, we are not fools.” Ezeibe observed that Obi’s eight as governor has reduced Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state, to a bankrupt city since his introduction of Stock Exchange in 2006/2007. ”Since then traders were faced with high level consumer poverty

and obvious perpetual bankruptcy. What was needed at that time was not Stock Exchange House but Commodity Exchange House for Onitsha. You can see that the venture was counter productive and a disaster. What we lack are customers and patronage for goods and services, stock exchange was alien to the traders,” Ezeibe said.

MEETING: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N'Uselu, at the stakeholders' meeting on security in Benin City.

Jonathan re-appoints Prof Onu as Oko in the college since assuming ofPoly rector versity of Science and Technol- fice. BY ENYIM ENYIM WITH

AGENCY REPORT NITSHA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Professor Godwin Onu for another four-year term. This was even as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, yesterday, called for the upgrading of the polytechnic, to a Federal Uni-

ogy. This call was contained in Chukuwmerije’s congratulatory message to Prof. Onu, on his reappointment.Chukwumerije described the polytechnic as one of the fastest growing tertiary institutions in the country. Speaking with journalists at the conference hall of the institution, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu Obini the public relations officer, said the reappointment of the rector followed his landmark achievement

He said Onu’s administration had since inception embarked on aggressive developmental projects in the institution as well as manpower development for both students and staff. In a similar message, former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme said that the reappointment of Onu was a step in the right direction and asked the rector to justify the trust by putting more efforts in his vision of transforming the polytechnic.

Court restrains community regent from conducting election

BY EMMAARUBI

ARRI—A WARRI High Court has restrained the regent of Ogbe-Ijoh clan in Warri South-West council area of Delta State from conducting any other election in the community for the purpose of filling/occupying the various offices of the clan’s governing council. Justice Marshall Mukoro gave the interim restraining order to the regent, Chief Samson Y. Mamamu, for himself and on behalf of the Ogbe-Ijoh Traditional Council, Anthony Jolomi and 11 others as defendants in a motion exparte filed by Joseph Hitler, Claimant/ Applicant before the court in suit no. W/432/2013. The trial judge gave the interim restraining order according to him because of suit no. W/297/2011 pending before his court, ordering that the “defendants-Chief

S.Y.Mamamu the regent of OgbeIjoh clan and the 2nd-12 defendants for themselves and on behalf of the purported Ogbe-Ijoh electoral committee are hereby restrained from conducting any other election/selection or initiating any other process to filling/ occupying the various offices in

the Ogbe-Ijoh clan governing councilpending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”. While stating that the order would last for seven days effective last Friday, Justice Mukuro then adjourn the matter to October 28, 2013.

Royco marks 25th anniversary

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

BUJA—LEADING consumer goods company, Unilever Nigeria Plc, yesterday, unveiled new Royco seasoning variants in Abuja. The re-launched Royco seasoning brand comes in three variants of chicken flavour, reformulation of the existing Beef and goat flavours, all of which deliver on a cooking

promise of taste that is now meatier than ever. Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Thabo Mabe, said the extension and value addition to the existing Royco brand is a demonstration of Unilever ’s commitment to customers’ satisfaction and pleasure with high quality and tasty products.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;47 ,

MEETING: Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Osun State; Rev. Elijah Ogundiya (2nd right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right), and others, after a peace and agreement meeting, over the education reform in the state, at the Governor's office, Osogbo.

VISIT: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left), presenting state souvenir to former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Walter Carrington and his wife, Dr. Arese Carrington, after a courtesy visit to the Governor, at Government House, Ilorin.

VISIT: Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (2nd right); Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Nike Ademujimi (right); Team Leader of the Participants of Course 22 of the National Defence College, NDC, Abuja, Air Commodore Yusuf Isah (middle); Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Rotimi Adelola (2nd left); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Kola Ademujimi (left), and other members of the NDC team, who visited Ondo State on Geo-strategic Study Tour, during a visit to the Governor, in Akure.

DONATION: Mr. Ovuzuorie Macaulay, Secretary to Delta State Government, and Chief Anthony Onoharigho, during the donation of four electricity transformers to Abraka community by Delta State Government.

VISIT: Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, flanked by Professor Tolulope Akinbogun, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development, FUTA (left), and Professor Huseyin Sert, Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Turkish-Nile University, Abuja, during Sertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working visit to FUTA. C M Y K

IJEBU ODE: The founder of First City Monument Bank Limited, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun (CON), speaking at the 2013 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival, at Ijebu Ode in Ogun State. Opposite him, from left are: the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona (CFR).

L-r: Mr Emmanouil Revmatas, Director,Hand Held Products, SEWA; Mr Brovo Kim, Managing Director, SEWA, with Mrs Folasade Oyelayo, Head, IT Business SEWA, and Mr Sunil Kumar, Director, Consumer Electronics B2B and IT, SEWA at a press briefing on Samsungs Smart Africa Tour In Ikeja Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola,Photo Editor.

LAUNCH: The Managing Director Unilever Nigeria Plc., Mr. Thabo Mabe, flanked by the Regulatory Affairs Manager, Mrs. Bridget Mayor (3rd left); Brand Building Director, David Okeme (2nd right); Brand Category Manager, Bolanle Kehinde-Lawal (right); Relations Manager, Adeyemi Adeboye (left), and Regional Sales Manager, George Bankole (2nd left), during the Royco Cube media launch, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Central Business District, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Schools Principals to be held responsible for students’ absenteeism in Bauchi

Gana heads Lar burial committee

OS—THE Plateau State Government, yesterday, constituted a committee for the burial of its first civilian governor, Chief Solomon Lar. Lar died at a U.S. hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013. A statement signed by Mr James Mannok, the Director of Press Affairs, named former information minister, Jerry Gana, as the Chairman of the committee, while Mr I. D. Gyang is the secretary. Membership of the committee is drawn from Plateau and Nasarawa states, Lar ’s family, the Presidency, as well as the office of the Senate President. Also to be represented on the committee is the office of the Speaker, House of Representatives, the national headquarters of the PDP, as well as associates of the late elder statesman. The statement said that the committee had been mandated to immediately commence preparations toward the event.

NIS decorates 53 newly promoted officers BY PETER DURU

AKURDI— FIFTY three newly promoted officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Benue State Command were, yesterday, in Makurdi decorated with their new ranks by the outgoing State Comptroller, Mr. Ibrahim Auta and his successor, Mr. Thomas Gagobiri. Among those decorated were, an Assistant Comptroller, Assistant Superintendents, Seniour Inspectors, Inspectors and Immigration Assistants among others. Addressing them, the outgoing state Comptroller of Immigration Services, CIS, Mr. Ibrahim Auta urged the beneficiaries to “ rededicate themselves to the service of the country." C M Y

By Suzan Edeh

SERVICE—From left: The Provost of the Cathedral of St.Michael,Very Rev. Samuel Nwaeze with the Bishop of the Diocese of Kaduna, Most Revd. Josiah Idowu-Fearon and the preacher, Prof. Emmanuel Adekeye at the Service of the Feast of St.Luke: Apostle And Physician at the Cathedral of St.Michael, Kaduna last Sunday. Photo:Olu Ajayi.

PLATEAU VIOLENCE: Senator calls

for trauma management centres J

OS—SENATOR Gyang Pwajok, yesterday, in Jos called for trauma management centres to assist victims of the protracted violence in Plateau North. Pwajok, who represents Plateau North, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the war-weary victims needed more attention and should not just be abandoned to their fates. “It is a huge regret that the victims of the violence are usually left alone to suffer; there has to be a very systematic way of addressing the concerns of these traumatised families and communities. “There is the need for trauma and counselling centres, especially since many survivors witnessed the gruesome killing of their loved ones; we also need to strengthen the compensation processes. “It is not enough to just throw some funds once in a while, or drop wrappers or mattresses to the victims of the conflicts. “On most routes in Plateau North, you see destroyed villages, collapsed religious structures, as well as abandoned farms and villages. There are also displaced persons that keep wandering. We must seek ways to cater for them and reintegrate them into the society. “Governments at all levels spend billions on roads. We should spend some of these billions on the reconstruction of destroyed communities so as to minimise the sad visible reminders of the ugly past. “In doing that, Nigeria will

only be emulating what was done at the larger world level when deliberate massive constructions marked the postworld war era,” he said. Pwajok said that security had been of utmost concern to him as a representative of a crisis-ridden senatorial district, and expressed happiness that his parleys with the warring parties had ensured the gradual return of peace. The senator said that he would continue to carry out sustained advocacy toward stability, and disclosed that he was partnering with security agencies “in a solution-driven manner rather than hurling accusations and blames”. He cautioned stakeholders in the Plateau peace process against losing momentum, pointing out that the gains

could be lost if they took things for granted and lose concentration. Pwajok called on his constituents to jealously guard the peace they currently enjoy, noting that “crisis entrepreneurs” were always at work to create confusion so as to gain from it. He called for more avenues for interactions that would minimize areas of distrust, mutual fears and suspicion, stressing that communing together would re-establish and strengthen the bonds that held the people together. The senator said that he would soon commission three comprehensive health centres and several blocks of classrooms as part of activities to mark his first year in the senate.

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Government has said that Secondary Schools Principals would henceforth be held responsible for students’ absenteeism as well as untidy school environment. Governor Isa Yuguda made this known, yesterday, when he paid an unscheduled visit to Government Secondary School, Toro in Toro Local Government Area of the state. He said that government had committed huge resources into the education sector and frowned against the attitude of some school administrators who exhibit care free attitude in the running of these institutions. “From now on, I will be visiting schools in the state to monitor the strict adherence to my directives and any school principal who defaults will have his or her appointment terminated. It is so disheartening that up till now, some school administrators still exhibit nonchalant attitude towards their responsibilities, despite the state government efforts in improving their welfare packages. "Henceforth, the government will no longer condole such laxity and will carry out sanctions on offenders,” he said.

Kwara LG elections not postponed — PDP

LORIN—THE PDP in Kwara has dismissed speculations that the state local government election scheduled for Saturday has been postponed. Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Omu-Aran, yesterday, that the party had put in place effective strategies to achieve victory. Adebimpe, who described those behind the rumour as “ enemies of progress” urged the party’s supporters to disregard such insinuations.

“To put the record straight, the party has not cancelled the election as all arrangement as provided for by our party’s constitution and the Electoral Act have been concluded,” he said. He said the suit filed by the All Progressive Congress, APC, seeking restraint of the electoral body from conducting the polls on the fixed date had been scheduled for fresh hearing on Nov. 7. Adebimpe said the adjournment of the suit did not in any way stop the Kwara State Independent Electoral Com-

mission, KWASIEC, from conducting the election. “More so, it is specifically stated in the Electoral Act that no court can stop any election or any primary of any political party. “The adjournment of the suit filed by the APC therefore does not in any way put a stop to the conduct of the election as scheduled. “In the same vein, the national headquarters of our party has not only been informed, but has also endorsed both the primary and the candidates that would contest in the election."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—49

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BY OKEY IBEKE This is the concluding part of this discourse. The first part was published yesterday.

HE simple question the socalled Tinapa investors should answer is: Was there a time Nigeria closed two of its borders - Seme and Idiroko - in order to get at a few criminals operating within the borders? Have they heard other nations do that? It is indeed sad that some unscrupulous Nigerians will continue to sabotage every government incentive to boost trade and commerce and especially the manufacturing sector. To encourage industrialization and boost local production, each administration in the past had rolled out fiscal policies and numerous incentives to kick-start the nation’s manufacturing sector in pursuit of economic growth, employment generation, increase industrial capacity and self sufficiency. Some of these policies are: •Constant Review of Import Prohibition List, •Import Duty Waivers and Concessions, •Establishment of Free Trade Zones, •Export Expansion Grant, •Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate Scheme, •Establishment of Nigeria Export Promotion Council and Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission. These measures were introduced by the previous administrations with great expectations to protect local industries, stimulate new ones and attract foreign investments; all geared toward economic

•Tinapa in Calabar...a first class business resort

sparked by the weighty allegation that Customs leadership is deliberately strangulating the economy of South-South region and that huge number of containers as high as 826 are released to enter Tinapa annually. The interest also is predicated on the fact, that if the leadership of Customs is actually constituting undue obstacle to smooth running of Tinapa, it would not only spell doom for investors, but also lead to loss of employment. Investigation has revealed, however, that like other numerous industrial incentives and policies introduced to promote industrialization, economic growth and generation of employment, the laws contained in the Act setting up Nigeria Export Processing Zones and Free Trade Zones are serially manipulated and are complied with only in the breach, especially at Tinapa. It was discovered that about 90 per cent of imports into Tinapa and the processes of disposing them are not only against all known government fiscal policies and

Investigations revealed that contrary to claims by the so-called investors, 95 per cent of goods imported into Tinapa find their way back to Nigerian market without compliance with the laws of the land

growth and employment generation. However, assessment of all these measures show that they have all failed to achieve desired objectives, as most of the targeted beneficiaries (both local and foreign) are in the habit of exploiting policy incentives to perpetrate import duty fraud, evade payment of levies and other related taxes. Some of these schemes are also being used by many unscrupulous, unpatriotic and criminal elements to smuggle prohibited items and high duty goods into the country, thereby defrauding government and increasing the county’s economic woes. As a maritime watcher, my interest and decision to investigate the activities of the various Free Trade Zones, with special emphasis on Tinapa was

extant laws, but also constitute a conduit pipe for import duty evasion, smuggling and other criminal acts, which might include smuggling of dangerous weapon, considering the nation’s current security challenges. The analysis of cargoes that were released to Tinapa in the last 32 months and study of Nigeria Export Processing Zone Act (CAP N 107 2004), Tinapa Free Zone And Resort Regulations, 2009 as articulated below, will no doubt lead one to the inescapable conclusion that the socalled investors at Tinapa are the real enemies of the nation. A study of the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Act (CAP N, 107 2004) TINAPA Free Zone and Resort Regulation 2009, shows that the essence of establishing free trade zones is

to create a place devoid of bureaucratic, infrastructural, legal and tax hindrances where investors will engage freely and seamlessly in manufacture and export of finished products without payment of local taxes and levies. The objective is to boost local production, increase industrial capacity, generate employment and boost non-oil export. In anticipation of the need to re-export some of the manufactured goods in the Free Zone back into Nigeria Customs Zones, the Act clearly states the procedures which are in Part 4 (General Regulations, Chapter 40 (incentives and concessions) of the Act. Mr. Nyong’s assertion that Tinapa was actually established to boost export to countries within sub-region because of Calabar’s proximity to West and Central African countries is valid indeed. But what well-meaning Nigerians should demand from him and his group is documentary proof of the quantity of goods exported from Tinapa to these neighbouring African countries. Investigations revealed that contrary to claims by the so-called investors, 95 per cent of goods imported into Tinapa find their way back to Nigerian market without compliance with the laws of the land. Mr. Nyong and his group should be asked to avail Nigerians all relevant export and shipping documents with which these goods were exported to the neighbouring countries. Elsewhere, these funny investors have claimed in one breath that Tinapa is a hub for export to countries in West and Central Africa sub-region, in another they stated that “now the goods which are meant to service the South-South people in terms of providing them at cheap and affordable rates have been subjected to political acrimony, using a personal office to cause economic sabotage by killing economic activities in the Free Trade Zone and South-South region of the country.” Is this claim not enough evidence that virtually all the goods released to Tinapa are smuggled into Customs territory without due process? Concluded

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

S more tales of agony and disappointments continue to pour in from some Nigerians who migrated abroad for greener pastures but unfortunately, turned slaves in their various countries of abode, intending travellers are advised to get vital information about a particular country before embarking on their trips. A recent documentary film titled ‘life’s ignorance’ which basically explains the various levels of abuse meted on most African migrants who exchanged their freedom with the hope of acquiring ungodly affluence and unreal greener pastures, is a typical expose on how deadly it is to embark on illegal trip abroad. The documentary displays considerable emphasis on how African migrants to foreign countries were being denied their rights, and made to work for several hours washing toilets and corpses in different places. Some of them were even abused, victimized and unjustly imprisoned, with no help in sight from the respective missions in their various countries of abode. In such situations, the idea behind migrating for better

Unmasking economic saboteurs at Tinapa Calabar (2)

Sharing the grief of unfortunate migrants white man.” He said that a black man could go to any length, engage in unspeakable manner of diabolic activities to gain entry to foreign countries, assumed to be flowing with the proverbial milk and honey, with no consideration of the consequences. Brendan noted, “We have bluntly refused to engage in the worst weathers to achieve a progressive Africa, rather, we have become so overwhelmed upon the successes of the white man. Africans role in global economic and political productivity should not be overruled and this brings me to the fact that in many situations majority of Nigerians have had reason to sell their souls to the Devil for fame, wealth, and power. “More than 70 per cent of these money respecters are usually indebted to the contract they signed with the devil, as they go even dangerously deeper in the unscrupulous acts that give the devil a reason to harm them and or take their lives. This is a clear distinct between the whites and blacks.”

The quest for quick money has captivated the minds of Nigerian youths, particularly the guys, making them slaves in foreign lands, and all these are caused by our thieving politicians opportunities dwindles, as immigrants find themselves at the mercy of authorities of countries they reside. It is even worse when a good number of them are subjected to high hurdle laws for as long as they reside within those countries. Brendan, who presently resides in one of the European countries, spoke to Vanguard Consular Advisory. While giving reasons African migrants should be held responsible for the ordeals they go through in foreign countries, he said, “a good number of us are so eager to leave our countries without pausing for a second to think about what our adventure could cost us. “Although, we are unlucky to be born into a country where bad leadership has subjected us to the understanding that we should manage the little we are provided with in the midst of abundance, enjoy structural adjustment programmes, accept the devaluation of our currency, and survive with no infrastructure, in addition to being dependent on foreign food, goods and money, they are still not enough excuses for us to tarnish the image of our existence in the land of the

In a similar development, a practicing medical personnel, who spoke to Vanguard Consular Advisory on grounds of anonymity is of the view that the regulating authority should increase efforts in ensuring that the unbecoming attitude of these unscrupulous Nigerians, who tarnish the image of the country are fished out and deported to the country and subsequently, rehabilitated. He said, “What is so painful here is that unemployment is the prime driver of Nigerians becoming notorious abroad. The quest for quick money has captivated the minds of Nigerian youths, particularly the guys, making them slaves in foreign lands, and all these are caused by our thieving politicians.” He, therefore, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take positive steps towards addressing the issue of unemployment in addition to designing a rehabilitation programme for youths who are willing to give up their involvement in nefarious activities in foreign lands and return to Nigeria for a better future.

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2013

Ubah stakes N5 million for anyone to debate him on Anambra BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & KELECHI AZUBIKE

ABOUR Party candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah has staked N5 million for any man or woman in Anambra State with the knowledge of a more qualified person to govern the state to come and debate him on it. Ubah in an interview said that his gubernatorial bid is an act of sacrifice as according to him he left a flourishing business to come and serve his people. He

dismissed as unnecessary innuendo assertions that he lacks a paper qualification saying none of his rivals has a Havard qualification as he has. “I am winning because I am the best candidate, I am winning because I have the solution to (the problems of) Anambra people,” he said. “Whoever in Anambra politics that feels that he is better than me I challenge him with five million naira to come for a debate. If anybody in Anambra be it Ngige, be it whoever thinks

•Ubah he is better than me he should come. It’s a challenge, if

anybody is better than me in any line, he should come and challenge me for a public debate,” the former boss of Capital Oil and Gas said. “I want to tell you about other politicians that are contesting. Some don’t have any business with the masses, some have never been in the state, some were forced, some will run to debate in America and don’t even know the name of their deputy governor. You know it’s a big crime for somebody to be in a debate and he will not remember the

name of his deputy governor it happened in America,” Ubah said of the public outing between him and the APGA candidate, Willi Obiano. “He was confused that is the truth. It took him two minutes to remember the deputy governor’s name. Is that the kind of person we want in Anambra State? Somebody who doesn’t understand how to fix Anambra, that is why I said anybody that feels he’s better than me should come for a debate,” he said.

Anambra State. “We therefore urge our brothers and sisters from Anambra Central and South senatorial zones to support his candidacy and vote massively for him in the election, just as

we had done in the past for candidates from other zones so that altogether, we can enthrone equity and fairness through Willy Obiano’s assumption of office as the next governor of the state in March, 2014.”

Anambra North begs for Obiano BY VINCENT UJUMADU

NAMBRA North, the only senatorial zone yet to produce a governor, it seems would not mind going down on all fours to achieve that goal. That is exactly what members of the Anambra North chapter of the Willy Obiano Campaign Organisation are doing with their desperate plea to citizens from other senatorial zones to support their brother, Willy Obiano, the APGA candidate. Addressing newsmen in Awka acting chairman of the campaign organization, Mr. Peter Madubueze said that for the purpose of this particular election that politicians across party lines have come together to ensure the victory of Obiano. “Over the years, we have been clamouring for Anambra

North to be given the opportunity to produce governor and this is the time we have been waiting for.” “Given Obiano’s background, he is the best candidate among

the contestants who can take Anambra State to great height of development. It is our considered view that the choice of Obiano will engender peace and stability in the politics of

Nwoye hangs on! COMRADE Tony Nwoye who was replaced by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as the PDP candidate upon a court order, was yesterday inching towards recovering the ticket after the Supreme Court ordered the Court of Appeal to give a ruling on the dispute between both contenders. Ukachukwu had foiled an attempt by the Court of Appeal to give a ruling when he urged the appellate court to

•Nwoye disband itself and reconstitute another panel to hear the

case. Following the refusal by the court, he appealed to the Supreme Court which yesterday dismissed the case and asked the Court of Appeal to proceed with its judgment saying the appeal was a move to arrest the judgment. Nwoye’s supporters were yesterday hopeful that the development could in the next few days lead to the restoration of the mandate of their man.

I will make Anambra people happier — Ngige

PC candidate Dr. Chris Ngige has said that he would make the people of the state happier if returned to power. He spoke when he made a visit to the burnt Polythene bags market located at Nwizu Estate in Awada, Onitsha, a statement by his campaign team said. Ngige who was taken round the debris of the burnt market by the Vice-Chairman of the burnt market, Donatus Okwudili was told that the traders lost goods valued at N2.5 billion to the inferno. The APC candidate made a donation of N1 million to the traders as a succor to the traders. The APC candidate who is also vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, promised to approach the Enugu zone of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria

C M Y K

(PHCN) to replace the combustible electrical materials like wooden poles with concrete poles. Promising to rebuild the market if elected, he said: “If I come back to power, Anambra people will be happier like they were when I was here before and I will introduce

new ideas for the development of the state, adding, the issue of insecurity in the state, lack of viable industries and high school fees would become a thing of the past,” he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by Clementina Olomu

•Ngige: APC flagbearer

PDP: Ukachukwu makes it royal team BY VINCENT UJUMADU

RINCE Nicholas Ukachukwu, the PDP candidate has named a fellow royal, Prince Harold Ekwerekwu, as his running mate. Ekwerekwu, a legal practitioner is from the Onitsha royal family. Introducing Ekwerekwu to party supporters in Awka, Ukachukwu said his running mate was carefully chosen, being a man he claimed to be on ground in Onitsha and across the state. Ukachukwu who said that President Goodluck Jonathan would lead other PDP leaders to the flag off of the campaign listed free education, job creation, agriculture, security, conducive business environment, among others as his priority areas.

Anambra traders in Lagos want APGA as political identity of Igbos BY CHARLES KUMOLU

PGA leaders on Monday took their campaign to critical stakeholders in Lagos with a plea to them to ensure that the party remains viable as the political identity of Ndigbo. The campaign team led by party chairman, Chief Victor

Umeh visited some markets, urging them to support the APGA candidate Chief Willie Obiano to become the next governor of Anambra State. They noted that the continuity of APGA government was a responsibility of every true Igbo man. The markets visited include Electrical Market, Alaba;

Electronics Market, Alaba; Trade Fair Market, Mile Two, ASPANDA, Mile Two and Ladipo Market. Leader of Electronics Dealers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Chijioke Okenwa, responding to the plea commended Governor Peter Obi for protecting the interest of Ndigbo in Lagos.

•Obi

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—57

PDP peace moves: Panting THE much touted peace plans to unify the different tendencies and factions in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have faltered. The factional leaders against the Bamanga Tukur-led mainstream are expected to make a major decision in the next few days BY HENRY UMORU

HE search for enduring peace in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may wait till next year given unfolding events in the party and in the polity, Vanguard checks have revealed. After several meetings interspersed with public spats, the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur mainstream of the party and the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction had a month or so ago scheduled a parley for October 7. Before the October 7 meeting, the Baraje faction through its National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, issued a statement calling for its postponement because it’s members went for Hajj. However, some hours later, the same Eze came up with another statement that Baraje instructed that some of its governors would still hold the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and Tukur among others. The October 7 meeting eventually took place with Governors Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Idris Wada of Kogi; Liyel Imoke of Cross River and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara in attendance and at the end of which it was resolved that it should be postponed till after the Muslim and Christian

•Tukur:Enjoys INEC and Courts backing

governor in the state in the 11 man caretaker committee led by Alhaji Hassan Kafayos and Andrew Musa as chairman and secretary respectively. Among those empowered is Mohammed Abacha who has formally re-joined the party.

Despite the recent setbacks from the courts and INEC, the Baraje-led nPDP has not given up, as it has vowed to press on with its case to strip the Tukur- led group of legitimacy

C M Y K

pilgrimages. If the issues must be resolved after the Christian pilgrimage, it thus means that the meeting must wait till next year because the pilgrimages are not expected to end before the second quarter of 2014. Dr. Jonathan it is learnt is also expected to participate in the pilgrimage. Besides, the court decision in favour of the Tukur mainstream faction and the recognition given it by INEC may have further strengthened the Tukur group. It was not surprising that the Tukur group is pressing its advantages through weakening the Baraje group wherever possible. Penultimate week, Tukur dissolved the Kano state executive of the party that was loyal to Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso and in its place empowered adversaries of the

Another dimension to the pressures came with the notice from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT administration sealing the Adamawa State Governor ’s Guest House in Maitama, Abuja, which the authorities claimed was being used as a secretariat of the nPDP. That decision penultimate weekend came just after the Tukur leadership held out an olive branch to the G7 when it resolved not to reply to those it described as its aggrieved brothers in the Baraje led faction. Addressing journalists at the end of 360th NWC meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said, “in line with what the governors said at the meeting with the President about the reconciliatory meeting, the party has decided not to make

further comments.” The Baraje group was, however, suspicious of the moves with factional publicity scribe, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze alleged that the Tukur faction was only following the hands of friendship extended to the Baraje group by Tukur, Vanguard sought to know how the Baraje group received the “good news.” But Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said that Tukur and his national NWC were only speaking grammar against the backdrop that they were only looking for something to hold on to. “It is grammar Bamanga Tukur and his men are speaking, they are looking for anything to hold on to; how can an illegal occupant of your house now come and say you should take part of the house?

Olive branch “They are just speaking grammar, when they are ready for the Olive Branch, we will know. They know us and we know them, they cannot go to the pages of newspapers and ask that they want us, we are not ready for that, we have gone beyond this level. “They are so desperate, we are not children in this game of politics, if we can fight the military to get the present democracy we are enjoying today, this fight is as childish one.”

•Baraje:Vows to fight on

Despite the recent setbacks from the courts and INEC, the Baraje led nPDP has not given up, as it has vowed to press on with its case to strip the Tukur led group of legitimacy. INEC in a letter by its Acting Secretary, U.F Usman to the Baraje led group, had said that it would not withdraw the recognition it accorded the Bamanga Tukur led NWC because as an electoral umpire, it witnessed the processes that led to his emergence as National Chairman as well as other members of NWC. The INEC letter to the Baraje faction with the title “ Notification of Change in the change of leadership of PDP and request for formal recognition” read, “Commission acknowledges the receipt of your letters dated September 1, and 23, 2013 respectively wherein you requested the commission’s recognition of the Abubakar Baraje faction of the newly elected National Working Committee. “You will recall the commission monitored the national convention and the special national convention of the PDP held on March 12, 2012 and August 31, 2013 respectively, which took place at the Eagle Square Abuja, after notices to the commission. A National Working Committee was elected at the two conventions wherein Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was elected as

the national chairman. “The commission will not withdraw recognition from the leadership of the PDP elected at the election duly monitored by the commission. Please be guided:”, INEC said in the letter addressed to Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Oyi River Crescent , Off IBB Boulevard, Maitama Abuja.”

Embracing peace Following these developments, Tukur held out an olive branch to the seven aggrieved governors and members of the Baraje led new PDP and pleaded with them to put behind them all burning issues and embrace peace. Tukur who spoke through the PDP national Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, urged all aggrieved members who broke away to form the new PDP during the last Special Convention to, as matter of urgency, drop personal interest and join Tukur to achieve the set goals of having a virile and strong PDP. With the return of the G7 governors that went for the Islamic pilgrimage, the nPDP it is believed would take a crucial decision on its direction in the coming days. No one expects it to be salutary for the party that once prided itself as the largest political party in Africa.

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2013

BRIEFS Abyei vote: Sudanese leaders meet

•William Hague, British Foreign Secretary

•John Kerry, US Secretary of State

Talks on Syria opens in UK amid opposition A

RAB and Western powers begins their meeting in London today to push Syrian opposition leaders to attend talks in Geneva next month. A key group in Syria’s main opposition alliance is threatening to boycott the talks, which are expected next month in Geneva. But the opposition chief Ahmad Jarba said the group will not attend peace talks unless the goal is to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power. Jarba will say the opposition risks losing credibility if it yields to international pressure to attend talks that do not aim at Assad’s removal, according to a text of the speech he will make to a “Friends of Syria” meeting in

London, seen by Reuters, “The people will not believe us and will regard us as traitors to the revolution and to the blood of the rebels,” Jarba will say, according to the text. The United States and

Russia said in May they would convene a “Geneva 2” conference to try to end a conflict that has killed well over 100,000 people and forced millions from their homes, but it faces huge obstacles and no firm date has been set.

Poll: US shutdown hurts Republicans’ image

HE recent shutdown of the US government has taken a stinging toll on the image of the Republican Party, according to a poll published yesterday. The Washington PostABC News survey showed the public’s opinion of the party has sunk to an all-time low, with nearly two-thirds (63 percent) saying they held an unfavorable view, compared to 32 percent who

•Boehner view it favorably. The government shutdown was sparked after

UK’s Go home’ vans scrapped

K minister There sa May has admitted that her Home Office’s controversial “go home” vans had been “too much of a blunt instrument”, as she confirmed they would not be extended nationwide. The Home Office came under fire for using the ads, displayed on billboards carried by vans in six London boroughs, reading, “In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest.” In comments to MPs, May said she had studied an evaluation of the campaign and concluded it should not be taken further. “Politicians should be willing to step up to the plate and say when they think something actually hasn’t

US Secretary of State John Kerry is at the talks along with Hague and counterparts from Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, together with opposition leaders.

been as good an idea, and I think they were too blunt an instrument.” The full evaluation will be published shortly but it is believed that only one illegal immigrant agreed to go home – and that was a result of reading about the vans in the Guardian. She said the experiment trialled in parts of London in July was not going to be extended

during the second reading of the immigration bill. Theresa May said the vans were “too blunt an instrument” But she defended government attempts to tighten up immigration enforcement when people overstay their visas, which she said had resulted in “something around 4,000 people leaving the UK”.

Republicans driven by the ultra-conservative Tea Party faction tried to make a bill to keep funding the government contingent on gutting President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. The messy 16-day shutdown ended only when Congress was staring at an imminent deadline to raise the government’s borrowing authority — or face the prospect of a debt default — and ultimately passed a bill to fund the government and raise that debt limit, albeit in both cases just for a few more months. According to the poll, only one quarter of the American public hold a positive view of the Tea Party faction in the wake of the shutdown. However, Obama’s Democrats did not emerge unscathed from the Washington gridlock. More than six in 10 people polled disapproved of how the party handled budget negotiations.

NATO to send security team to Libya

ACED with possi ble resurgence of civil war in Libya, NATO has said it is sending advisers to Tripoli to strengthen the country’s security set-up. This coming amid chaos that

has engulfed the country two years after the armed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. The alliance “agreed to respond positively to the request made by the Libyan prime minister

for NATO to provide advice on defence institution building in Libya”, Secretary General A n d e r s Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday.

HE presidents of Sudan and South Sudan said talks Tuesday were “fruitful”, but made no hoped-for announcement of a breakthrough on the disputed flashpoint region of Abyei. “We are ready to go the extra mile to make peace with Sudan,” South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir told his northern counterpart and former civil war foe Omar alBashir, who visited South Sudan’s capital Juba in the latest push to tackle a raft of issues left unresolved when the formerly unified nation

split two years ago. Tensions have been mounting over disputed Abyei, a war-ravaged region wedged between the two countries and claimed by both sides, with the African Union urging leaders to “seize the opportunity” to find a deal. But while Kiir said Abyei was the “most critical” issue discussed, little concrete progress was announced. “The meeting with my brother Salva Kiir was fruitful.... We will make sure all the outstanding issues are implemented,” Bashir said.

Renamo resumes fighting in Mozambique

OZAMBICAN ex-rebel group Renamo staged a predawn attack on a police station yesterday after declaring the end of a two-decade-old peace deal that ended one of Africa’s worst civil wars, officials and locals said. Police fled their post in the central town of Maringue when Renamo fighters opened fire in an escalation of hostilities between the ex-rebels and Frelimo, the ruling party against which Renamo fought a bloody

16-year war that ended in 1992. “Gunmen attacked the police station but fortunately there were no casualties because the policemen fled the post,” Maringue’s administrator Antonio Absalao told AFP by phone. The town is located about 35 kilometres from Renamo’s military base, which government troops seized on Monday in an operation the ex-rebels claimed was aimed at killing their leader, Afonso Dhlakama.

Foes using Islam to weaken Russia —Putin

RESIDENT Vladimir Putin accused foreign rivals on Tuesday of using radical Islam to weaken Russia and appealed to Muslim clerics to help reduce tensions after a deadly suicide bombing and nationalist riots. The comments, his first on this month’s riots in Moscow, were delivered in the mainly Muslim region of Bashkortostan

and underlined Kremlin concerns that ethnic or religious tensions could threaten the unity of the Russian state. Monday ’s suicide bombing, blamed on a Muslim woman from the North Caucasus, killed six people on a bus in Volgograd and raised fears about attacks as Russia prepares for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Vatican says no communion for remarried divorcees

HE Vatican con firmed on Tuesday that Catholics who have remarried after divorce are barred from receiving communion, dashing hopes that the ruling could change soon. Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Holy See’s doctrinal office, said in a long article in the Vatican newspaper that such couples could receive communion only if they had a

Church annulment. But he said “even if there is no possibility of admitting remarried divorcees to the sacraments,” priests must show particular pastoral concern for people in difficult circumstances. The question of married divorcees is a major issue in Catholic Churches in a number of developed countries, particularly in Germany, where bishops say it is a growing problem.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2013 — 59

Sweden draw a great setback— Garba C

OACH Manu Garba has described yesterday’s 3-3 draw with Sweden at the FIFA U-17 World Cup as a great setback to the Golden E a g l e t s . Eaglets came back from a two-goal deficit to force the Scandinavians to a thrilling draw at the Kalifa Bin Zayed Stadium to stay top of the group, with four points, same with the Swedes but they have a superior goal advantage heading into Friday’s final group game against Iraq in Dubai. Speaking to reporters after the game, the former Flying Eagles star said that loss of concentration by his defenders was responsible for the goals scored by the Swedes, adding further that the outcome could have been different had his choice and top striker Success Isaac played full time. “It was a great setback to us because we came to win but in football, funny things happen at times. Compared to our last match against Mexico, where they boys scored 100 percent, in this match, I give them 60 percent. All the three goals were as a result of loss of concentration, which was the least that I expected. “We knew that the Scandinavians played direct football but our players were slow in their timing to defend, which was our major problem. Sweden were technically balanced, they sat back and allowed us to create all the chances but we could not take them. If Success were around, the story could have been different but on the whole, the boys still fought back and gave a good account of themselves by ensuring that we did not lose”, added Garba

Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Dele Alampasu sprawls on the turf as a Swedish player heads the ball into the net.

Flamingos qualify for Costa Rica 2014, as South Sudan withdraws

HE U-17 Women National Team, known as Flamingos, has been confirmed as one of Africa’s representatives at next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Costa Rica following the withdrawal of South Sudan from the qualifying race. The Sudanese were to host the first leg of the qualifying fixture on the weekend of 1st – 3rd November, but threw in the towel, making 2012 quarter finalists Nigeria the first African team to reach the finals that will be staged in four Costa

Rican cities. “It’s good that our team has qualified early. The Nigeria Football Federation will ensure the team starts preparation early enough and very ready to do Nigeria proud,” stated NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu. The 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in San Jose, Alajuela, Liberia and Tibas.

NNL: Abuja to host Super Four

We were close to beating Eaglets—Swede coach T …Rues draw

OACH Roland Larsson has rued his side’s 3-3 draw with the Golden Eaglets, whom he said should have been beaten in yesterday ’s Group F match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup here. Speaking at the conference centre, Larsson said that his superior tactical play almost paid off against their more illustrious west African foes, who have won the competition three times. S o u n d i n g disappointed with the result, which puts them on four points heading into their final group

match with Mexico on Friday, Larsson said that his players deserved all the credit for putting up a strong showing against Nigeria, who he described as one of the superpowers of world junior football. “It sounds so funny that one can feel disappointed when you play a good draw against Nigeria. We were so close to victory but I am very proud of my boys and they deserve all the credit because they followed all the plan. I am impressed with the individual skills, speed

of the Nigerians but we also deserve some points for this massive show. “We had studied the way Nigeria played at the Africa tournament and sent some scouts to watch them in the opening match and we had a plan to work very

close to them. Our plan was to mark them closely and work on the wings and it almost worked out. Nigeria is superpower of world football at the junior level but the wing was the key to stopping them.

Egypt is not safe to host Black Stars — GFA boss

HANA Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi insists Egypt is unsafe to host next month’s Brazil 2014 World Cup playoff return leg.

Manu Garba— Golden Eaglets Coach

The Black Stars are expected to travel to Cairo to face the Pharaohs on 19 November after a comprehensive 6-1 win in the corresponding fixture. The Ghana FA wrote to FIFA requesting the match be moved to a neutral ground and the world’s football governing has set an 28 October deadline to take a decision. Last Sunday, Egyptian police clashed with hundreds of students staging an anti-military protest at Cairo’s AlAzhar University. Reports say the

students had blocked the main road leading to the campus and threw rocks as security forces also fired tear gas to disperse them. ”My strongest conviction is that the match should be moved away from Cairo because I think security is seriously compromised in Cairo and the situation keeps escalating day in day out,” Nyantakyi told an Accra-based Joy FM. ”We cannot risk the lives of our players, officials and supporters by going to Cairo, I do not think that any life lost is replaceable and so in the interest of fairness and

security it is better for FIFA to look outside Egypt for a venue for the match.”

HE FIFA Goal Project Pitch in Abuja will play host for this year ’s Nigeria National League Super Four tourney. Teams involved in the 2012/2013 Super Four tournament which has been fixed for November 12 through 14 are Crown FC of Ogbomoso, Giwa FC of Jos, Taraba FC of Taraba and Abia Warriors. The quartets who have already secured their places in the elite division next season will be all out to outwit themselves as they battle to know who truly the NNL champion is. Already the likes of Crown FC are already preparing for the task ahead as the management the Ogbomoso based club only recently ratified a list of 21 players out of the former 36 that prosecuted the National League preparatory to the 2013/2014 Glo Nigeria Premier League.

Eaglets Continues from B/P not working. As Eaglets pushed for the winner, Mirza Halvadzic edged Sweden 3-2 up in the 65th minute, a goal that silenced the Nigerian fans, who before that goal believed that victory was on their way. But Eaglets kept on prodding for the

equalizer and deservedly got it nine minutes from regulation time through Taiwo Awoniyi. Both teams looked for the winner but at the end of regulation time, the scores were 3-3, leaving Eaglets staying at the top of the table ahead of Friday’s final group games.

60 —

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2013

Mexico vent spleen on Iraq •Mexico 3 Iraq 1

We’ve recovered from Eaglets nightmare — Mexico

011 champions Mexico yesterday bounced back to reckoning in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates with a 3-1 win over Iraq at the Kalifa Ben Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. After their scandalous 6-1 defeat against threetime winners Golden Eaglets on Saturday, the junior Ticos knew that anything short of a victory against the Iraqis would leave them facing the exit door in the first round of the tournament. Hurting from the brushing loss to the Nigerians, the Mexicans came into yesterday ’s match with extra determination to not only win but pump in goals to do themselves a world of good should the progress to the second round come down to goals difference. After some spirited play by the Iraqis, the junior Ticos finally got the break they so much craved for in the 31st minute when Alejandro Daz beat his marker to net the opener to set the tiny but v o c i f e r o u s Mexican fans contingent into wild jubilations. And they later doubled their lead one minute from half time off an expertly taken shot by Jose Almanza. But Iray pegged back the lead to a single digit through Sherko Karim in the 61st , only for Ulises Rivas to restore Mexico’s two-goal advantage, with a superb strike sixth muntes from regulation t i m e . Mexico now have three points from two matches and go into their final game against Sweden with a determination to bag another three points

to help them progress to the second round.

CHEERS - Mexican players celebrate yesterday after beating Iraq 3-1

Draw specialists Canada hold Iran C

ANADA’S 1-1 draw against Iran in Group E of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Dubai is their fourth on the trot in U-17 world finals play. Amazingly, they have not won in 17 straight contests at this tournament and there was an air of the fortunate about the point they picked up yesterday against the talented Persians at the Sheikh Rashid Stadium. Iran came out stronger in the first half, with the Canadians unable to get much going in attack. Hanson Boakai’s blocked shot after five minutes was the best chance the North Americans would have in the opening period.

Four minutes later, the Iranians took the lead. Amir Mazloum collected a throw-in from the left and laid the ball back for Amirhossein Karimi, who fired a perfect shot into the corner, sparking off wild celebrations in the Iran technical area. Canada did their all to haul themselves back into the game, but they lacked precision in the final third. Jordan Hamilton’s shot after 11 minutes fooled some in the crowd, but it only rippled the outside of the net. From the 20th minute on, it was all Iran and they were unlucky not to increase their lead. Amirhossein Karimias was

DIFFICULT — Iranian player checkmates Canadian player in their 1-1 draw yesterday. denied by the sliding Elias Carducci before Saeid EzaRoubos. Reza Jafari then tolahi went close with a saw his good shot batted free-kick. away by goalkeeper Marco

FTER beating Iraq 31 yesterday at the FIFA U-17 World Cup holding here, Mexico’s coach Raul Gutterrez said that his team had recovered from their depressing opening 6-1 rout in the hands of the Golden Eaglets. Speaking to reporters, Gotterrez said that the defeat to the Nigerians came as a huge blow to the Junior Ticos, who won the 2011 edition, adding that it made them to run a deep assessment on what caused their flop against the threetime champions from West Africa. Gutterrez said that based on his team’s performance against Iraq that it was heart-warming that they had learnt lessons from their past, adding that the plan was to go on and record another win in their last group F match against Sweden on Friday. “I am happy with this win because we have recovered our confidence after the loss to the Nigerians. For us to recover from the setback against Nigeria, we had to analyse our performance and today(yesterday) we showed that champions can truly bounce back after a bad start.

It’s impossible for me to watch a match sitting on the bench, emotionless — Uzbekistan coach

ILSHOD Nuraliyev is one of football’s characters. The Uzbekistan U-17 national team coach is in perpetual motion whenever his charges play, continually gesticulating and barking out orders from the touchline. He lives and breathes the game with a passion not often seen at this age level, so much passion in fact that there are times when you fear for his well being. Yet Nuraliyev does not believe in doing things by half measures . “It doesn’t feel the same if you don’t suffer.” Fortunately for the Uzbekistan players, their progress at the FIFA U17 World Cup United Arab Emirates 2013 in no

way reflects the suffering their coach endures from the sidelines. The White Wolves started the tournament with a fine 20 defeat of Panama and then held Group C revelations Morocco to a goalless draw on Monday. Yet anyone watching Nuraliyev’s reactions to the game would have thought his side were falling to a heavy defeat rather than picking up what could well turn out to be a crucial point. “It’s impossible for me to watch a match sitting on the bench, emotionless, as if I were at the theatre. That’s my problem. I’m very emotional and I just don’t seem to be able to

hide what I feel during games.” He added: “That’s what you get for working in football. You don’t realise how involved you become. You don’t worry about your health during matches. All you think about is how the game’s going and how your players are doing. That’s the way I work, and I don’t think I can do things any other way.” Forever on the move during matches, Nuraliyev also catches the eye after the final whistle, at which point he calls his players round him in the centre of the pitch, squats down on his haunches and chats to them.

ROARING — Dilshod Discussing his postmatch team talk, which has become something of a ritual, he said: “I like to do it where they’ve been playing. This time I told them that they’d done really well against Morocco and that they

can do even better against Croatia. I thanked them for the effort they’ve been putting in. It’s just a way for me to show my gratitude and motivate them for what lies ahead, which will be very tough indeed.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—61

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013—63

V anguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013

Today's fixtures GROUP A Slovakia Honduras

vs vs

United Arab Emirates 5:00 pm Brazil 5:00 pm

GROUP B New Zealand vs Côte d’Ivoire Italy vs Uruguay

2.00 pm 2.00 pm

Eaglets hold Sweden in a thriller

HREE-TIME champions, the Golden Eaglets yesterday came from the brink of defeat to earn a 3-3 draw with debutants Sweden in a thrilling Group F match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup here. In what could go down as one of the exciting matches (Going by the goals), Sweden raced to a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes, courtesy of two strikes by Varmin Bersha, in the 11th and 19th minutes,

respectively. Not wanting to go down without a fight, the Eaglets, reduced the deficit to a single digit, courtesy of a superb volley by African Nations Championship top scorer Success Isaac, who would later exit the match due to an injury. With the Swedes exposing the poor defending by Eaglets’ short and lethargic defenders, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Dele Ajampasu was also left

at the mercy of the Europeans, who made use of their height and strong power play to muscle the Eaglets in the midfield. With Kelechi Iheanacho failing to find his range and doing more work in the midfield, it was left for Musa Yahaya to draw Nigeria level three minutes into the second half. The goal, a wonderful shot from the 18 yard box, beat goalkeeper Sisten Mohlin in goal for the Swede. In retrospect, he should have done better with the ball but great credit to Yahaya for having the courage to strike in the shot at a time that Nigeria’s attempt to play possession football was

Continues on Page 59

Sweden draw a great setback— Garba —Page 59

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

Kelechi Iheanacho on the move against Sweden yesterday.

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 2 Appended (5) 7 Just (4) 8 Heeded (6) 9 Coronet (5) 11 Coach (5) 13 Signal (3) 15 Depend (4) 16 Sicken (3) 18 Bend (4) 19 Slanting (7) 20 Tents (4) 22 Hub (4) 23 Rustic (7) 25 Profound (4) 27 Decay (3) 28 Aid (4) 30 Stray (3) 31 Furrow (3) 33 Nose (5) 36 Join (6) 37 Fury (4) 38 Tired (5)

Down: 1 Obscure (5) 2 Curve (3) 3 Pair (3) 4 Fellow (3) 5 Marsh (3) 6 Rendezvous (5) 10 Lament (4) 11 Fabric (7) 12 Sleep (7) 13 Chopper (7) 14 Passage (7) 16 Detest (5) 17 Boundary (5) 18 Merriment (3) 21 Whelp (3) 24 Lend (4) 26 Break out (5) 29 Thrust (5) 32 Gain (3) 33 Stitch (3) 34 Eggs (3) 35 Attempt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Reach 5, Wasted 8, Recur 10, Bolero 11, Arid 14, Polite 15, Presume 18, Ten 19, Ant 21, Deed 23, Until 24, Dear 27, Den 29, Peg 31, Risible 32, Teemed 34, Dome 35, Smudge 38, Altar 39, Reveal 40, Tempt

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Ego 3, Crease 4, Her 5, Wrap 6, Soiled 7, Defend 9, Command 12, Rot 13, Dine 16, Role 17, Enter 20, Timest 22, Earl 24, Dither 25, Aped 26, Remote 28, Figure 30, Gem 33, Deal 36, Met 37, Gap

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

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

C M Y K

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