BLOODY MONDAY: Bombers hit Gombe, Bauchi, kill 30 by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62304

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

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LP disowns Alao-Akala, Tonye, Ogboru, others 8

BLOODY MONDAY:

Bombers hit Gombe, Bauchi, kill 30

By Levinus Nwabughiogu & Susan Edeh (With agency reports) blast that occurred at the O M B E — N O ever-busy Central fewer than 20 Market in Bauchi with people lost their lives scores sustaining serious with 25 others sustaining injuries. various degrees of Eyewitnesses said a injuries in yesterday’s female suicide bomber bomb blast at Dukku carried out the act as a motor park in Gombe. fully loaded bus was In like manner, 10 Continues on page 5 people were killed yesterday evening in a

•20 killed, 25 injured in Gombe motor park •10 die in Bauchi market bombing, many injured •IG orders deployment of strike units for Christmas

How to lose the presidential election four times

World Bank's $1.7bn coming to power sector

•P.17

U.S. Rapprochement with Cuba 44 •P.

Mr & Mrs

JIV: Soldiers batter villagers in Edo ee Inside S

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COLUMNISTS:

BOMBING—Scene of the bomb blast at Dukku Motor Park in Gombe where 20 people died and 25 sustained various degrees of injuries, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

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POCKET CARTOON

TRADITIONAL RULERS ASSEMBLY—Vice President Namadi Sambo (M); Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III (3rd-R); Gov. Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State (2nd-R) and NCTRN members at the 7th General Assembly of NCTRN in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Bombers hit Gombe, Bauchi, kill 30 passenger –Witness AFP.

Continues from page 1

How a lady about to depart. The detonated the bomb was planted near bomb –Witnesses the bus, filled with passengers, said Mato Yakubu of the National Orientation Agency.

We evacuated 20 dead bodies –Red Cross

Mallam Abubakar Yakubu, Secretary of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Gombe State branch, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe that members of the society evacuated 20 identified dead bodies and deposited at the Gombe Specialist Hospital mortuary. He said the 18 that sustained injuries were admitted at the specialist hospital and at the Musaba Clinic. Abubakar Yakubu said his staff sent 20 body bags to the scene and “they have all been exhausted. We are still looking for more bodies in the carnage,” he told

Mallam Ibrahim Mamuda, an eye witness and driver at the park, said the bomb exploded around 11 a.m. According to him, the bomb exploded in a Volkswagen Sharon car and before they realized what was happening, two cars were also burnt. His words: “We started seeing human parts and blood everywhere, as you can see, there is blood everywhere.” Mallam Ibrahim Labibi, a commercial bus driver at the park, said he saw a young woman who came along with a boy and dropped her bag in the Volkswagen Sharon car. “It was after she dropped the bag that the car exploded and I myself counted about 21 dead bodies,” Labibi said.

Female bomber disguised as a

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

When you learn the art of listening to your inner self, you’re more open and can receive guidance, peace, harmony and light into your world— Take Heart Quotes

EARNING to listen enables one to easily turn away from the distractions that are limiting and restore yourself in the light, wisdom, and power of love. You become a more self-assured individual as you maximize your potential and manifest your highest path. This Self always will reveal the illusions, desires, and attachments that keep you trapped on a lesser path. You gain a greater ability to recognize limiting, disharmonious, and restricting energies and forms. Not only will it reveal these limitations, you will be open to more enlightenment on how to release these energies. Your true self is always trying to reach you, so learn to listen, through the power of love.

Another eye witness told journalists that the female bomber who disguised as a passenger took advantage of a fully loaded bus which was departing for its destination. The source added that she kept a bag filled with explosives in a Volkswagen Sharon car, later left the scene and detonated the explosives from a distance, killing scores of people. Those who died included hawkers while a couple of vehicles were burnt in the fire that ensued.

19 persons died, 25 injured —Police

Police authorities in Gombe, capital of Gombe State said 19 persons died while 25 were critically injured. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the state police command, DSP Fwaji Atajiri stated that the area had been cordoned off, adding that those taken to the state specialist hospital in the town were responding to treatment. Violence in the NorthEast is escalating ahead of the February 14, 2015 general elections, with many concerned that voting might be impossible in large parts of the region. Gombe was hit by a triple bombing blamed on the Islamists on October 31. The state shares a border with Borno and Yobe, two of the states worst affected by Boko Haram’s fiveyear insurgency which has cost more than 13,000 lives. Boko Haram gunmen stormed Geidam in Yobe on Sunday, setting fire to

several buildings and forcing residents to flee to the bush, witnesses said. “They were chanting Allahu Akbar and firing shots and throwing bombs,” said a resident, Adamu Shehu. “We spent a night in the bush but from afar we could see in the darkness flames and smoke coming from the town,” he said. Geidam is the home town of Yobe’s Governor Ibrahim Geidam and his home was also razed, witnesses said. The attackers rampaged late into the night and reportedly faced no resistance from the military. While some people fled, others locked themselves in houses that were later torched and locals were going door-to-door to see if any lives were lost. “Our town is a mess,” said resident Brema Umar, who reported that scores of people had fled overnight, many towards Yobe’s capital, Damaturu, 180 kilometres (110 miles) to the north. Details of attacks in the remote region often take several days to emerge due to the poor mobile phone network.

10 die in Bauchi market blast Vanguard gathered that the Bauchi market blast occurred a few minutes before 6pm when people were preparing to close for the day in a shop where the bomb was planted. At the scene, tension was very high as security agents fired gun shots to scare away angry youths who had started pelting them with stones and other objects. An eyewitness, who identified himself as Mu’azu Musa, said that he saw charred bodies of victims as they were being evacuated from the scene. Musa, who said he was an Okada (commercial motorcycle) rider and was by the roundabout near the market when the blast occurred, said that he fell down from his motorcycle when he saw the charred bodies of the victims, adding that he lost consciousness as a result of the fall only to see himself in the hospital. Red Cross officials evacuated victims to the Trauma Centre of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH). Speaking with journalists at the hospital, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Council (CMAC) of the hospital, who is in charge of

clinical matters, Dr. Saidu Abubakar Kadas, stated that the actual figure of the casualties could not be ascertained yet as victims were being brought in. He, however, assured that the teaching hospital was in a better position to handle the situation as most of its health workers had been mobilised to attend to the victims. Also speaking, the Chairman of the ATBUTH branch of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, Idris Ado, a pharmacist, said that the incident was unfortunate and regrettable. According to him, the health workers who were currently on strike had been directed to report for work tomorrow (today) to take care of the victims.

It’s barbaric — Yuguda

Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, condemned the bomb blast, describing it as an unfortunate and barbaric incident aimed at disrupting the peace being enjoyed in the state. The governor, according to a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Deacon Ishola Michael Adeyemi, condemned the perpetrators of the heinous act, describing them as cowards who were always happy to spill innocent blood without any justification. He, however, reassured the people of the state that his administration would not relent in its efforts to ensure that lives and property of law-abiding citizens were protected at all cost, adding that the administration had always collaborated with security agents to maintain peace and peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the state.

I-G orders deployment of strike units, tasks AIGs, CPs on

visibility policing for Chirstmas

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has ordered a nationwide deployment of police strike units for a water-tight security throughout the Christmas and New Year celebrations. This was contained in a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, yesterday, in Abuja. The affected units are Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordinance Department, Dog Section and Mounted Troops. Abba also ordered the police air wing to carry out air surveillance patrols, while the Marine Police should ensure a sustained patrol of all the water ways. He directed all Zonal Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands to put in place extended “police visibility and patrols.” The IG enjoined them to do this taking into consideration the peculiar security situation to enable them protect the citizens as they celebrate. Abba advised operators of public places such as hotels, viewing and recreation centres to be vigilant and ensure that they properly screen all visitors/users of their facilities during the period. “Members of the public are also urged to report any suspicious movement in their areas to the police,” he charged.

Police begin sale of admission forms

Meanwhile, the force has announced the commencement of sales of forms for admission into its degree awarding institution in Kano, the Police Academy, Wudil. A statement signed by the force spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, yesterday, said the sales of the forms began on Nov. 12 and was expected to end on March 31, 2015.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

4 in prison custody over vandalism, theft

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos, of four men, charged with vandalism and unlawful dealing in petroleum products. The accused are: Andrew Ishola, 35, Sunkanmi Aro, 27, Utuedor Michael, 27, and Oladele Agbo, 35. They are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, vandalism and unlawful dealing in petroleum products. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Following a bail application moved and adopted on behalf of the accused by their counsel, Mr. McAnthony Akhariale, trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties each in like sum. The judge, however, ordered their remand in custody pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions granted by the court. He adjourned the case to March 31, 2015 for trial. Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr. Raymond Akhane, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in November. He said they were apprehended by a team of policemen at the Majidun area of Ikorodu in Lagos, on a tip off.

FATAL SPIRITUAL BATH: Stepmother arrested, released By Evelyn Usman

AGOS—THERE were indications, yesterday, that the stepmother of the two brothers who reportedly drowned during a spiritual bath in Ogombo area of Ajah, weekend, was arrested alongside a member of the New Cherubim and Seraphim Church. However, the stepmother, Mrs Adenike ElegushiOkokuku, was said to have been released same day, while police said they were still on the trail of Pastor Samuel Olusoji, who allegedly conducted the bath on the young men. The deceased, Abiodun and

Ayinde Oniru, and one of their stepbrothers, were reportedly taken to the New Cherubim and Seraphim Church by their father, Mr. Okokuku Oniru, and stepmother last Thursday for spiritual cleansing. They reportedly remained in the church till the next day for a vigil. However, at the close of service, Pastor Olusoji was said to have announced to the family that he was going to conduct a spiritual bath on the young men.

… their father left

But their father was said to have left, leaving his children with their stepmother, only to be called later that Abiodun

and Ayinde had drowned. Policemen from Ogombo Division stormed the church and arrested a member whose identity was not immediately ascertained, while the Pastor fled. Also arrested was Mrs Elegushi-Okokuku, the stepmother, who was said to have been at the stream with the pastor. But police sources hinted that members of her family came to secure her release.

Why stepmother was released

Sources said: “Her husband sent some people to come and effect her release because she is pregnant.

“We had to grant her bail on that condition. But that is not to say that she has been exempted from the issue. “Whenever we want any information, we would send for her. But as I said earlier, the corpses are at the morgue, where an autopsy would be carried on them to ascertain the exact cause of their death. “We are yet to arrest the Pastor, who fled on sighting police officers. “He can only run but cannot hide because the long arm of the law will definitely catch up with him. “That is not to say that we are categorically indicting him. But we need him to help us with our investigation.”

A tiring job. P H O T O : K e h i n d e Gbadamosi.

Gunmen kill OPC member, driver in Benin By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—A leader of the O’odua Peoples Congress, OPC, simply identified as Victor, and a commercial bus driver have been shot dead by gunmen at Uwelu and New Benin areas of Benin metropolis, Edo State. The two were alleged to have been shot at close range. It was gathered that Victor, the OPC member, was shot and killed at 8p.m., on Saturday night on his way home at Uwelu quarters, after attending an end of the year activity of the

organization in Benin. They were said to have appraised the anti-crime efforts of the group across the state in the outgoing year and kudos and blames were shared among participants at the meeting. The unidentified bus driver was shot in broad daylight at New Benin area of the ancient city, yesterday. The driver was said to have been trailed to the busy new Benin Motor Park, where he was repeatedly shot on the head in presence of passengers. The driver's killing caused

pandemonium in the area, as many of the passengers, traders and people around the area took to their heels. Since the killing of the duo, many people, especially those

living in the affected areas have become apprehensive, fearing that they may be in for a terrible cult clash during the yuletide. The Edo State Police Public

Relations Officer, Mr. Noble Uwoh, who confirmed the separate incidents to Vanguard yesterday in Benin, said investigations into them had commenced.

... cult clashes claim 8 victims By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—NO fewer than eight persons were killed in cult-related clashes in parts of Benin, Edo State, weekend. Among the victims of the cult killings were a popular car wash owner on Upper Mission Road

and one Jude, whose wife, it was gathered, recently put to bed. It was learned that other areas where killings took place include Erediauwa Street, Off Upper Sokponba Road, which recorded two casualties; New Benin, where four lost their

lives and Okhoro, where two people were killed when the trouble started last Friday. A source disclosed that the clashes were said to be between three rival cult groups, as one had earlier engaged another in Upper Sakponba area before some of its members in New

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—7

A LONG JOURNEY: Passengers having breakfast at Wazobia Park in Gwagwalada, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

POWER HOUSES: Powering Oshodi market, Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Child-bride confesses to killing husband with rat poison A

packed Kano State High Court, yesterday, heard testimony that a 14-year-old girl admitted to killing her 35-yearold husband with rat poison, and signed a police confession with a thumbprint because she cannot write. The girl, from a poor and conservative Muslim family, has been charged with murdering her husband, Umar Sani, days after their marriage in Kano State. Because she does not understand English, homicide investigator Abdullahi Adamu translated her statement from the Hausa language. She could not write her name, so “she had to use a thumbprint,” he told the court, during his testimony on the last day of the prosecution’s case.

crowd spilling out of the gallery door and people peering in through the open windows. The case has sparked outrage among human rights activists, who say Nigeria should be treating Tasi’u as a victim, noting the possibility that she was raped by the man she married.

Sharia

However, others in the region, including relatives of the

defendant and the deceased, have rejected the notion that Tasi’u was forced into marriage. They have said that 14 is a common age to marry and that Tasi’u chose Sani from among many suitors. A motion by defence lawyers to have the case moved to juvenile court was rejected, despite claims by human rights lawyers that she was too young to stand trial for murder in a high court. Further complicating the case is the role of Sharia, which

allows children to marry according to some interpretations. While sharia is technically in force in Kano, law enforcement officials have no guidelines concerning how it should be balanced with the secular criminal codes, creating a complex legal hybrid system. According to Human Rights Watch, Nigeria is not known to have executed a juvenile offender since 1997. The trial has been adjourned until February 16, 2015.

Co-wife's story

The state’s lawyers, who are seeking the death penalty, also called to the stand Tasi’u’s cowife, identified as Ramatu. Ramatu said she got along well with Tasi’u and that the two had prepared the food together on April 5, the day Sani died. She testified that because it was Tasi’u’s turn to share bed with Sani, Tasi’u was also entitled to serve his meal. “After putting the food in the dish, I did not see anybody put anything in it,” Ramatu said. She said later her husband was helped back to the house by a neighbour, unable to walk and foaming at the mouth. The court overflowed, with

Benin clashed with another rival group in the area and the fight spilled over to Okhoro area. Police Public Relations Officer, Edo Command, Mr. Joseph Edogiawerie, said two casualties were recorded on Erediauwa Street, while one person, who was shot in a

XMAS: Crowd of shoppers at Oshodi, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

2 killed, as party thugs clash in Lagos By Evelyn Usman

clash between supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos Island, has left two persons

separate location, was admitted at a hospital. He said that the police have made several arrest since the unfortunate incident. He also assured the residents of adequate police protection of lives and property during and after the yuletide.

dead. It was gathered that the first victim, identified as Ridwan was hacked to death in his tricycle, while the other, Qudus was shot at a hotel in Oke-Popo area, where he was celebrating his birthday, on Friday. An eyewitness said the late Ridwan was resting in his tricycle on Thursday night after the day ’s work, when 10 suspected party thugs from Partey and Oshodi Street stormed the area and hacked him to death. The source said they were still mourning Ridwan, when the assailants killed Qudus. The witness also said late

Qudus and his friends were inside the hotel celebrating his birthday when information got to them that the boys, who killed Ridwan, had invaded the street again and started vandalizing vehicles. According to the source, “I and Qudus hurriedly left the hotel to Oke-Popo Street to check the extent of the damage done on the vehicles. “We did not know that they had laid ambush for us. Immediately we came out of the hotel gate, the deceased was shot at a close range.” Qudus was said to have been rushed to a private hospital, where he later died.”

3 JTF officials missing after pirates attack By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—THREE soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, have been reported missing and presumed killed during an attack on their gunboat on the waterways of Bayelsa State by suspected pirates. JTF authorities said it was premature to conclude that the missing soldiers were killed. The tragic attack, it was learned, occurred at 4p.m., at Santa Barbara, a river in Nembe Local Government Area of the state, notorious for pirates’ activities. According to sources from the coastal mangrove, the pirates also hijacked a military gunboat after the attack. The soldiers were reportedly ambushed and killed by the pirates, who have been terrorizing the waterways in recent times. Piracy has assumed frightening dimension in the coastal enclave of the state where commuters and the fishing folks are constantly attacked and robbed of their cash and other valuables. Though it could not be confirmed, Vanguard learned that only last week some pirates were nabbed by the disturbed natives in a renewed effort to rid the area of the rampaging hoodlums. It was learned that the soldiers, victims of the latest attack, were escorting items to Brass terminal owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC when the gunmen opened fire on them. They were sailing from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Brass, Bayelsa State, when the attack occurred.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Bill Gates hails Nigeria in fight against polio By Abiodun Alade

AGOS — AMERICAN business magnate and philanthropist, Bill Gates, has lauded the President Goodluck Jonathan administration for recording significant success in its fight against the endemic polio virus disease. Meanwhile, Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, has thanked Bill Gates for acknowledging the bid of the government to end polio in the country, noting that it is one of the transformations promised by his principal. He made this known via his twitter handle, @renoomokri. The co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation took to his official twitter handle, @BillGates, to celebrate the success, noting that it is one of his favourite stories of the year. His tweet with an accompany diagram and a website link, read: “One of my favourite stories of 2014: In just one year, Nigeria went from 50 polio cases to 6…” Commenting further on his personal note of “Good news you may have missed in 2014,” Gates stressed that "Nigeria had a pretty good year," projecting that the country will be polio-free in no distant time. He said the infrastructure Nigeria had built to fight polio actually made it easier for the country to contain the dreaded Ebola virus disease (EVD). The co-founder of Microsoft said: “A lot of the media coverage about Nigeria this year focused on two things: Ebola and terrorism. Both are frightening, and they masked the fact that from a global health perspective, Nigeria actually had a pretty good year. "Although it’s one of only three countries that have never been free from polio (Pakistan and Afghanistan are the other two), I don’t think it will be on that list for long. Nigeria has reported only six cases of polio this year, compared to more than 50 last year. What’s more, the infrastructure Nigeria has built to fight polio actually made it easier for them to swiftly contain Ebola. "The fact that Nigeria is now Ebola free is a great example of how doing the work to fight things like fighting polio also leaves countries better prepared to deal with outbreaks of other diseases.”

LP disowns Alao-Akala, Tonye, Ogboru, others zSays party not fielding candidates in 2015 polls By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

BUJA — A FACTION of the Labour Party, LP, under the control of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, yesterday disowned some of the governorship candidates on the platform of the party, saying such persons were not known to the party. Specifically, the party said that the former governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Alao-Akala, who is campaigning as LP’s governorship candidate; Princewill Tonye, who also wants to govern Rivers State on the party’s ticket and Chief Great Ogboru, who was said to have picked the party’s governorship ticket for Delta State, were not known by the Labour Party. National Chairman, Caretaker Committee of LP, Comrade Salisu Mohammed, who disclosed this while addressing journalists at Labour House, Abuja, said LP was not fielding any candidate for the 2015 elections as its main concern was how to recover the party from those who had allegedly hijacked it and using it to trade. Explaining that when the trade unions in the country founded the party, it was registered as a party for social democracy, Mohammed noted that some persons were using the party as a trading instrument to extort the people.

Besides, he said efforts had been made to recover the party from Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, its former National Chairman, and reposition it as well as collecting all the necessary documents of the party in his custody but the erstwhile national chairman had allegedly refused to hand over the documents to labour unions that gave them to him. He said: “As a result of this unfortunate situation, we would like to assure him that we will take all legitimate actions to recover the certificate and other property of the party.

“We need to regretfully state that impostors have ganged up and are deceiving unsuspecting members of the public. These are politicians who for one reason or the other left their former political parties to seek other platforms for the realisation of their narrow political dreams. “Of recent, the media has been awashed with purported entry of former governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Alao-Akala, into our party to contest for governorship of Oyo State. He is said to have been given the ticket by Mr. Salam and Mr. Dan

Nwanyanwu, former National Secretary and the former National Chairman respectively. “This ugly situation also goes to Chief Princewill Tonye of Rivers State, Chief Great Ogboru of Delta State, as well as some followers of Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State. "They are now the latest victims of political buccaneers. In one word, we honestly counsel you all, don’t jump from frying pan into fire.”

zSee analysis on Page 54.

CHRISTMAS CAROL: From left: General Dipo Diya (rtd); Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Chief Ernest Sonekan, former Head of National Interim Government and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, at the Ogun State Christmas Carol and Service of 9 Lessons held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, yesterday. PHOTO: WUMI AKINOLA.

EFCC honours Ribadu, 11 years after exit zAs Lamorde rewards 306 workers By Soni Daniel

BUJA— ELEVEN years after he was removed as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday, returned to the commission’s office but this time as an awardee for a job well done declaring that he had no regrets for the work he did while he was in office. Ribadu, who is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Adamawa State, was among the 306 workers of the EFCC honoured by the Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, at an elaborate ceremony at the commission’s academy in Karu, near Abuja, yesterday. Ribadu, touted as one who instilled fear in the anticorruption commission, said he had no doubt that the commission remains the best hope-inspiring institution in Nigeria. Ribadu said: “We believe we have clean hands and, therefore, we can clean the dirty faces of Nigerians," and

admonished staff of the commission to be steadfast in their commitment to the fight against corruption, describing the EFCC as his family. According to him, “the EFCC remains my family and no matter how long, your good efforts will be rewarded. I urge you all not to worry about distractions but to continue to do your job no matter the circumstances and you will surely be rewarded.”

Ribadu lauds Obasanjo

Ribadu used the occasion to pour encomiums on Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Femi Falana, General Aliyu Gusau and late Gani Fawehinmi for believing in the vision of the EFCC as a vehicle for ridding the nation of economic and financial crimes. Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, who was the special guest at the event, asked the commission staff to be more resolute in their effort to fight graft.

Agabi tasks EFCC staff

Agabi said: “Our country is ours to build, and you are in the remarkable position, having been appointed to investigate and prosecute all those who undermine that work through corruption. “Our laws are not selfenforcing, they require good men and women to enforce them, and you of the EFCC are the good men and women that the nation has appointed to see to the enforcement of our laws.” Agabi, in whose tenure as AGF the commission was established in 2003, expressed delight that the EFCC, which though faced teething problems at its inception, had grown to become an institution of repute within and outside the country.

We' ve set high standard for staff —Lamorde

Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, described the ceremony as 11 years in the making. He said that right from inception, the commission took a conscious decision to be different,

thereby throwing a challenge to chart a totally new path in law enforcement in Nigeria. “Consequently, we have set a very high standard for our staff, not only at the point of entry, but also in the discharge of their duties and for them to continue to stay employed with the commission,” Lamorde said. He boasted that the EFCC that only a few were willing to give a fleeting chance of succeeding 11 years ago had since become an institution of reckoning in law enforcement, with operations, partnerships and influence stretching across and beyond the African continent.

306 honoured

No fewer than 306 staff members of the EFCC were honoured at the ceremony for serving the commission meritoriously in various capacities. While 87 of the awardees were pioneer staff, 161 staff members were celebrated for meritoriously serving the commission in the past 10 years.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—9

2015: PDP lampoons Buhari, APC zSays APC has again presented its perennial candidate z‘God has decreed that PDP'll continue to rule’ By Henry Umoru

BUJA—AHEAD of campaigns for the 2015 Presidential election, national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday lampooned the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), saying the opposition party has again passed through a motion and endorsed its perennial candidate. The party boasted that he had been defeated three times, and would again be floored next year. Speaking yesterday when he received Working Committee of the PDP in the Diaspora, PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, noted that the PDP prides itself of a focused Ph.D holder as a Presidential candidate for next year ’s election. He boasted that God had decreed that the PDP would continue to govern the country, adding that Nigerians and Nigeria were not prepared to go back to 1983 to begin what it termed trade by barter with Brazil. Oladipo said: “APC is not a political party that is really ready to offer an alternative to the teeming masses of this country. The only agenda they seem to have is to see our back but I know that God loves this country so much. God has decided that this country will remain indivisible and has decided that this country will continue to wax stronger. “This country will not go back to 1983 where we will start doing trade by barter with Brazil. God has decreed it that we continue to pilot the affairs of this country and continue to implement the transformation agenda. Our party does not belong to any religious organisation or ethnic group. “In preparing for the next election which will not be like previous elections because for the first time, the opposition has coupled together a contraction that is called the APC. They have passed through a motion and endorsed their perennial candidate, we have beaten him three times, we are going to beat him once again.

Our mission is perfect

While charging the representatives of various chapters, the national secretary said: "You will be called upon to enlighten Nigerians on the programmes of the PDP wherever they reside in the world. You will also be called upon to counter negative

Buhari'll wipe out Boko Haram, create jobs if... —Osinbajo By Abiodun Alade

COMMISSIONING: From left: Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, Chief of Admin, Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral Ikos Ibas, Chief of Logistics, representing Chief of Naval Staff; Mr Yomi Awobokun, CEO Marketing, Oando Plc representing Chairman, Oando Marketing Plc and Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command at the official commissioning of Oando Marketing Plc storage facilities at NNS Beecroft Naval Base, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. propaganda that the APC is making against our party and our country in different countries of this world. “Of course, we are not perfect, but our mission is perfect. We mean well for this country and we believe the country should continue to be one and that we should be a

market driven economy while at the same time, providing succour for the weak. Also, our party has set up a National Campaign Council headed by our National Chairman and the DG is Dr. Ahmadu Ali. “We have a role to play in reaching the world today. It is no longer paper posters alone,

we need virtual posters to reach people. Of course APC is there propagating rubbish about our country and advertising everything that is negative about our country, ignoring all the positive aspects of our nation. We are going to call on you to counter this."

2015: Jonathan tasks traditional rulers on peaceful polls

By Ben Agande

BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to traditional rulers across the country to enlighten their subjects on peaceful conduct during and after the elections. He made the call in an address at the 7th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, NCTRN, with the theme: "Sustaining the natural mandate of the traditional institutions in contemporary Nigeria.” Represented by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, the President acknowledged the unifying force and the tremendous contributions of the traditional institution in maintaining peace and stability in the country. He said: “As royal fathers and traditional rulers, such a time calls for your wise counsel and the enlightenment of your subjects as well as prayers to ensure hitch-free and successful elections across the

federation. "The role of the traditional institutions as the custodian of our rich cultural heritage has contributed immensely to ensuring high moral standard amongst the citizenry and must be greatly appreciated.” The President used the opportunity to also call on the royal fathers to join hands with governments at all level to ensure the end of the surmountable security challenges in the country. Jonathan further informed the royal fathers that government was doing everything necessary to uplift the socio-economic status of Nigerians, through job and wealth creation mechanisms. In his remarks, Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and also the Governor Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, while lauding the traditional rulers for their dexterity, urged them to come up with holistic traditional mechanisms to address the security and socioeconomic challenges in the country.

Royal fathers committed to peace —Sultan

Earlier the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, reaffirmed the commitment of the royal fathers to the peace, unity, justice and stability of the nation, while also urging government to positively look into their recommendations. He said the assembly was going to extensively deliberate on issues affecting the country, particularly the preparations leading to the 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the insecurity ravaging the North-Eastern part of the country, among others.

Jega assures traditional rulers

In his keynote address, Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, assured the traditional rulers of the commission’s readiness and determination to deliver a free, fair and credible election, in 2015, which would surpass that of 2011.

AGOS — VicePresidential running mate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has stated that the Presidential candidate of the party, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) will wipe out the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents and create jobs in the country if elected in 2015. Osinbajo was responding to questions from some of his followers on the social media. He claimed that the President Goodluck J o n a t h a n - l e d administration is unable to tame Boko Haram because of the corruption around the defence funds which has created a situation where soldiers are not well equipped and motivated. “The current administration has politicised Boko Haram. The corruption around defence funds has created a situation where soldiers are not well equipped/ motivated. "GMB wiped out Maitatsine, another Islamic insurgency in his administration by sincerely identifying the problem as a challenge to the authority of the state to maintain law and order. "The administration took command and funded the military transparently and that’s what we need to do now to end this insurgency." On the rate of unemployment in the country, he saidthe Buhari/ Osinbajo administration, if elected in 2015, will tackle the challenge by supporting every state to create 20,000 jobs as well as pay a stipend to every youth corps member for a year while they are looking for employment. He noted: “We expect that every state will be supported to create 20,000 jobs directly funded. Federal Government will pay a stipend to every youth corper for a year while they are looking for employment. "Federal Government will undertake a massive public works programme. This is expected to have multiplier effect of producing hundreds of thousands of jobs."

10— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

S-West better off under Jonathan — PDP zonal chair

By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—THE South West chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Makunjola Ogundipe has said that the zone remains better off under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Ogundipe said this in Lagos yesterday at the launch the Goodluck Lagos Grasroot Project, GLGP, an initiative of Forum PDP Local Government Area chairmen in Lagos state to support the re-election of President Jonathan. The South West PDP leader said the South West in the recent past produced the president of the country, but has nothing much to show for it, pointing out that not even an attempt was made to fix the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which is the most strategic road in the country. According to him, the present administration in the country has done so much to move the nation forward through its transformation agenda, hence the need to re-elect the President in next year’s general election. He said: “Jonathan has done better than any president in the contemporary history of Nigeria. He does not take irrational decisions which are inhuman. We used to have our own man (as president). I am afraid the Lagos- Ibadan and Apapa roads were not rehabilitated, not to talk of been dualized. The country is improving more than it was twelve years ago.” Ogundipe called on PDP chieftains in the region to work hard to ensure the victory of President Jonathan and all the party’s candidates in the next year’s election, noting that the people of Lagos State are waiting for the party to give them good governance.

VISIT: National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle), wife of the presidential candidate of the APC, Hajiya Aishat Muhammadu Buhari (3rd left), Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefuIire (2nd left), and others, during a visit to the APC leader's residence in Lagos, yesterday.

SYNAGOGUE: Collapse

caused by infrasonic weapon —Witness By Abdulwahab Abdulah, Bartholomew Madukwe & Ebele Okafor

AGOS—AN expert in explosives and weapons, Mr Biedomo Iguniwei, yesterday, said the collapsed building of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, was caused by a high energy infrasonic weapon. Iguniwei, former research scientist in weapons production with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna, made the remark while testifying before the coroner ’s court investigating the incident. One hundred and sixteen persons were killed in the collapse of the six-storey building on September 12.

Scientific analysis

Iguniwei said he was instructed by the church to carry out scientific analysis of the materials from the scene, to ascertain the possibility of the collapse being caused by deployment of infrasonic weapon.

The witness said an infrasonic weapon was a low sonic radiation used as a weapon to cause structural damage and destruction to objects. According to him, he interviewed two of the survivors and also analysed the CCTV footage of the incident before arriving at his conclusion.

Plane-like object

He said the “plane-like object” that flew over the church fired an infrasonic weapon that made the building crumble. “An infrasonic weapon can be fired or deployed from any flying object or from a location within a distance of between one hundred metres and 1,000 metres away from the intended target. “This infrasonic weapon employs vibration to induce high density destructive resonance in the building leading to a near perfect vertical crumbling experience. “I bring to bear my experience in arriving at this conclusion that the building collapsed as a result of uniform destruction due to the infrasonic pulse fired unto the building”, Iguniwei said.

Group lauds Clark's wife on campaign

BEOKUTA—AN Abeokuta based socio-political organization, the Egba Descendants Union, EDU, has praised the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for Ogun Central district, Dr. Abisola Sodipo-Clark for her insistence on running an issuebased campaign leading up to the general elections next year. In a statement issued in Abeokuta, yesterday, Chairman

of the group, Alhaji Moshood Dosunmu stated that the Central district which is populated mainly by the Egbas requires candidates that will stay away from mudslinging, campaign of calumny and violence. “We have met and have come to the conclusion that our people are peace loving, therefore we advice the politicians to toe the line that

Dr. Sodipo-Clark has espoused. We call on other candidates from other political parties to follow the steps of this woman. Our people are refined and even though we like politics we don’t like ‘do or die’ kind of politics. What Egba people want is someone who can tell us what he or she can do. And the only way to know that is from the utterances they make now as candidates”, disclosed Dosunmu.

He cited the destruction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington in 1940 as one of the cases where an infrasonic weapon was deployed. The witness told the court that the technology was not visible to human eyes as radiation does not generate heat or lead to burning as in the case of bombs. “The bomb expert who is looking for chemical residue will not see anything like a byproduct. “Of course, there is no charring because all that the radiation does is to cause a vibration of the atoms from their position resulting in the emission of electrons. “Engineers generally believe that a structure would fail due to bad foundation and materials, but if you go there now, the foundation pillars are still very intact. “My position is that the building weakened from the top”, Iguniwei added.

Research on incident

Following the testimony, the Coroner, Mr Oyetade Komolafe, directed him to submit his research on the incident to the court on January 5, 2015. Also testifying, Mr Sunday Okojie, the Chief Security Officer of SCOAN, said church members swung into action immediately the building collapsed. Okojie debunked the claims by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, that their officials were assaulted.

He said both agencies came to the scene without an ambulance, adding that the church provided 11 ambulances while the Nigerian Red Cross Society and Life Savers provided one each. The matter was adjourned till December 23 for further hearing. Meanwhile, Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court has adjourned the hearing of another suit filed by the founder of the church, Prophet Temitope Joshua, against the coroner till Jan. 12, 2015. The judge adjourned the matter to give respondents (the Lagos State Government) time to respond to a further affidavit filed by Joshua’s counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. In the originating summons designated ID/188MJR/2014, Joshua is asking the court for a judicial review of the proceedings before the coroner’s inquest. He asked the court to declare the coroner’s summons on him to personally appear before the inquest as unconstitutional and a breach of his right to fair hearing. The cleric also asked for an order restraining the coroner from taking evidence on the issues of approval and construction of the collapsed building. According to him, these issues are clearly outside the scope and jurisdiction of the coroner’s court. Joshua also asked for an order restraining Komolafe from continuing with the inquest “having demonstrated personal interest in the subject matter and his neutrality clearly compromised.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 —11

APC, PDP disagree over Fayose's stomach infrastructure programme zAs Ekiti speaker alleges threat by Fayose zPolice deny instruction to arrest lawmakers By Gbenga Ariyibi with agency reports

DO-EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State have disagreed over the implementation of the concept of stomach infrastructure by Governor Ayo Fayose. According to the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, yesterday, the governor has turned Ekiti people to beggars by doling out to them chicken, rice and money, while the PDP condemned the APC for blindly copying the implementation of the programme which they earlier condemned. According to a statement by PDP state secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has adopted the stomach infrastructure principle despite the vehement criticism by members of the APC. Aluko who described members of APC as deceitful people who will not see anything tangible in any programme or policy not initiated by them. But APC image maker said Fayose was implementing social infrastructure programme to deceive the people of the state that he loves them. However, the PDP said the APC implemented the programme after widely condemning it publicly. “It is hypocrisy at its peak to do what you abuse someone else of doing,” Aluko said in a statement issued yesterday, that the Fayose-led government would never shy away from the people’s welfare. He said Governor Fayose’s concept of stomach infrastructure had been further justified by its adoption by the APC National Leader and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, who personally distributed 2,000 bags of rice, vegetable oil, sugar and a little cash gift to people from various parts of Lagos State on Sunday.

Ekiti speaker alleges threat by Fayose

Meantime, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has raised an alarm over alleged plan by Governor Fayose to set thugs after the 19 APC lawmakers all over the state for humiliation. The speaker also alleged plans by the governor to hire people to send threat message to him in the name of the lawmakers to

enable him rope in the members of Ekiti House of Assembly for arrest. Omirin said in statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, that intelligence report suggested that governmentbacked hoodlums have been sent to the streets to look out for lawmakers for attacks. “Part of the game-plan is to smash the Toyota Camry cars officially allocated to the members, which they are offsetting through

deductions in their salaries. In cases where practicable, the cars are to be forcefully snatched from the lawmakers and then create a robbery scenario,” the speaker said. Omirin said the governor was trying to re-enact a recent scenario where a member of PDP who the governor robbed of primary victory, Cyril Fasuyi, was framed up for sending threat message to the governor to create condition for his arrest.

Police on Assembly crisis

In another development, the Ekiti State Police Command has allayed fears of the All Progressive Congress, APC, lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, saying it will not dabble into the crisis rocking the House The embattled speaker, Hon. Adewale Omirin on behalf of other APC lawmakers has raised an alarm that Governor Ayo Fayose has instructed the Police to arrest them, following the holding of a separate parliamentary session in an undisclosed location last week.

Losers in Ondo APC primaries agree to support winners By Dayo Johnson

KURE—ALL the aspir ants of the All Progressives Congress APC who lost out in the primaries conducted to pick candidates for the House of Assembly and National Assembly seats in Ondo State have agreed to work for the candidates of the party during the elections. At an interactive session by the state Chairman of the Party in Akure, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, the aspirants said the interest of the party is supreme. Raising the motion, a member of the House of Representatives who contested for the Senatorial seat of Akure North/South federal constituency, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde said they are ready to work for the party despite their loss.

BURSARY: Ogun students give Amosun ultimatum By Daud Olatunji

WAKE KEEP: From left: Daughter-in-law of the deceased, Mrs. Sarah Jane-Ashiru, sons of the deceased, Seye Ashiru, Tayo Ashiru, daughter-in-law, Tanwa, other sons, Femi Ashiru, Gbenga Ashiru, jnr., and widow, Dr. Kehinde Ashiru, during the Christian wake keep for late former Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb.Gbenga Ashiru in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Aggrieved aspirants close ranks with Folarin OYO 2015:

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—SOME aggrieved chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party who initially opposed the emergence of former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin as the party’s governorship candidate have agreed to work for the success of the party in the 2015 election. This indication emerged yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the state party’s secretariat as notable chieftains of the party attended the party. This came just as the PDP governorship candidate said the letter sent by Independent National Electoral Commission to the National Chairman of the party would not threaten his status as the party’s candidate in the state. The letter dated December 9, 2014 and signed by secretary to the commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, made reference to a suit instituted by Adelowo Aremu against the PDP. The letter said that the court had restrained the commission from accepting, recognising or treating as

nominated candidates of the party any candidate who did not emerge in accordance with the order of the court. Folarin said: “There is nothing wrong with INEC letter to PDP chairman. It is like an electric company sending a bill to a customer and adding under the bill that if you have paid, you can disregard the letter. That is my interpretation to the letter. Nobody has told you what corrective measure the party has taken to neutralise that action. INEC will be coming up with the revised list of the states that are okay and the ones with K-leg in the next couple of days. We shall wait and see if Oyo State will be part of it. It is not just about me but about all other candidates of the party in Oyo State.’’ To him, the defection of Otunba Alao-Akala and others would not affect the fortune of the party in the election.

You're bad news, Oyo APC tells Folarin The All Progressives Congress, APC, Oyo State chapter, has described the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 general elections as depicting a bad news in the politics of the state which the peo-

ple would always loathe to hear, regardless of the manner of its presentation. In its reactions to an interview which Folarin granted yesterday, Oyo APC’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, said that the former Senate Leader had further compounded his credibility problem in the polity by exposing himself as an unrepentant desperado and master of double speak.

B E O K U TA — National Association of Ogun State Students has slammed a-14 day ultimatum asking the state government to pay their bursaries and scholarships for 2012/2013 and 2013/ 2014 sessions, threatening to embark on protest. The National President of the association, Comrade Balogun Abdulgaffar stated this yesterday at a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat, Abeokuta. Abdulgaffar said that the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has been promising to pay the bursaries and scholarships without fulfilling it.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Ogbe-Ijoh caution Itsekiri against renewed war over location of council hqtrs By Egufe Yafugborhi

ARRI—IJAWS of OgbeIjoh, headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have cautioned their Itsekiri neighbours against renewed quarrel over the location of the council headquarters, warning that the disagreement was capable of igniting fresh hostilities between both ethnic groups as witnessed in the late '90s. Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council called for caution in response to a media report in which an Itsekiri group alleged that Ogidigben, an Ugborodo community, was the gazetted headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area. The Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Lucky Oromoni, noted that Warri South-West council, carved out of Warri South Local Government Area in 1996, was never unconstitutionally moved from Ogidigben as headquarters. He said: “Late General Sani Abacha created it with headquarters at Ogbe-Ijoh town. The council functioned

there for three months with an elected Chairman and 10 councillors, but Itsekiris used their influence in government to relocate the headquarters from Ogbe-Ijoh to Ogidigben. “This led to the unfortunate Warri crisis from 1997 to 1999 when then Governor James

Ibori, through the Delta State House of Assembly, relocated the headquarters from Ogidigben to Ogbe-Ijoh the original headquarters, in line with the 1999 Constitution.” Oromoni cautioned that Itsekiri, “having failed in court to reverse the intervention by

Ibori thereafter, should let sleeping dogs lie over the long forgotten debate over which location is rightful headquarters as it would not be in the interest of any party for matters deteriorate into another war in the area.”

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE: Chief Great Ogboru giving his blessing to seal the marriage of his daughter, Ufuoma, to her groom, Boma, during their traditional marriage in Abraka, Delta State. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Delta 2015: Okowa group faults allegations against Tompolo By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN—THE Okowa Mandate 2015 has described as cheap blackmail and misleading, allegations of dictatorship in the politics of Delta State levelled against Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), insisting that the former militant leader is a new breed democrat, who believes in equity and justice. Chairman, Okowa Mandate 2015 and Special Adviser to the ex-militant leader, Mr Paul Bebenimibo, stressed that Ekpemupolo decided to support the aspiration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa because “he believes that Okowa will work for the larger interest of Delta State and Nigeria in general and not his personal interest.” According to Bebenimibo who spoke to Vanguard in Benin City, Edo State “The lies being told about Tompolo are unfair because he is a man who is sincere about the welfare of Niger Deltans and Nigeria as a whole. He never discusses his personal problem with any one, rather

when he is with political leaders, all he talks about is how to better the lot of people. “I recall when President Yar ’Adua was alive, he met with Tompolo to discuss the issues of the Niger Delta. After the meeting, the late President

was shocked and told our boss that the meeting was very different from others he had held before. The late President said it was the first time a person would come and discuss issues that will better the lives of the people of the

Niger Delta and not his personal interest. “So, I want to appeal to our people to support the developmental ideas of Ekpemupolo and not to castigate him for something that is not true."

Peterside calls for issue-based campaigns By Gbenga Oke

HE governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, has called on candidates of other political parties contesting the 2015 general elections to stick to issue-based campaigns rather than resorting to mud slinging and derogatory comments. He also asked Nigerians and APC supporters to unite and ensure that they reject candidates who have no programme for Rivers State at the forthcoming polls. Peterside, at the grand finale of Rivers State Annual Cultural Festival, known as CARNIRIV, in Port Harcourt, also asked APC supporters to unite and work together ahead of the 2015 polls. He represented Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the event.

He said: “If we don’t work together, some other persons who are interested in pursuing their selfish interests other than service, those who are interested in the state’s purse,

those who intend to come and destroy our heritage and endanger our future, will want to take over. So, we must not allow them to mortgage our children's future."

2015: SDP, best alternative in Delta By Ikenna Asomba

WO months to the 2015 governorship election in Delta State, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has affirmed that it remains the best alternative to bring about the needed transformation that will benefit all Deltans. State Chairman of the party, Mr Oke Idawene, who urged people of the state to support the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to finish strong, stressed that SDP remains committed to bringing about intensified

growth and the development of the state, when it wins the polls in 2015. Idawene said: “Nigerians have now seen that the SDP is the best alternative in Delta State. This is obvious with the army of personalities leaving the so-called two major political parties in the country to join our party, in a bid to move Nigeria forward. “With this development, we assure Deltans that we remain committed to the democratic growth of our dear state and Nigeria at large, even as we are prepared to sweep the 2015 polls in Delta State."

Delta tasks teachers on strengthening Maths, science education By Festus Ahon

S A B A — D E LT A S t a t e Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Tony Nwaka, has called for positive attitude of teachers towards the strengthening of Mathematics and science education in the country. Nwaka, during the opening ceremony of the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education, SMASE, Nigeria Project training programme for teachers from Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu, Bomadi and Patani Local Government Areas of the state, said that the programme would go a long way in improving the teaching skills of teachers. Nwaka, represented by the Director of Science Vocational and Technical Education, Ministry of Education, Mr. Goodnews Agbogidi, commended State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, for organising the programme. In his remarks, Chairman of SUBEB, Mr Elijah Ologe, maintained that the state government was committed to the implementation of SMASE Nigeria Project in the state.

TAN appoints Nwoko Delta State coordinator

FORMER member of House of Representatives, Prince Ned Nwoko, has been appointed the Delta State Coordinator of Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Ambassador of Nigeria, TAN, the mass mobilisation arm of President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign. A statement in Abuja yesterday by TAN Chief of Staff , Mr. Ben Etiaba, said Nwoko was selected for the assignment based on his political clout, pedigree and vision to drive grassroots mobilisation in Delta State and beyond.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—13

Rivers not funding APC —AMAECHI By Davies Iheamnachor

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has denied rumours that he sponsored the All Progressives Congress, APC, with N17 billion, saying that Rivers State cannot fund the party. He also said that the accusation lacks basis and should be disregarded by the public. Governor Amaechi, who spoke, yesterday, at the flag off campaign for Dakuku Peterside, the governorship candidate of the APC in the 2015 elections at the Liberation Stadium in the state, said: “APC is a big party that is also fast growing. As a big party, it is capable of sponsoring itself to any height.” He said that the money that Rivers State has was for the state and has never been used to sponsor APC as a party, adding that Prince Tonye Princewill, the governorship aspirant of Labour Party, who is accusing him should prove the private account that was used to pay the money to APC. The governor, who expressed disappointed with

A-Ibom PDP youths threaten defection over Udom

OUTH groups in Akwa Ibom State have threatened mass defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, if the election of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as candidate of the PDP in 2015 governorship race was upturned. At a meeting of over 100,000 youths in Uyo, they called on the leadership of PDP not to temper with the mandate freely given to Mr. Emmanuel in a contest widely acknowledged and adjudged as credible, free and fair. Speaking through their leader, Mr. Moses Armstrong, the youths threatened to defect to, and campaign for opposition political parties in the state if the mandate given to Mr. Emmanuel by over 90 percent of the delegates was annulled. The youth reminded the party that it was only Emmanuel whose aspiration received statewide endorsement and acceptability.

C M Y K

the accusation credited to Mr Princewill, said that graduates of the University of Port Harcourt do not make baseless accusations that cannot be proved. Amaechi said: “I am saying it clearly that Rivers State cannot fund APC. APC is a big party that can sponsor itself. Tonye Princewill should tell

the people the private account that I opened and paid the money into. “I said they should call all UNIPORT graduates for a meeting because Tonye is also a graduate of the institution. He should reason like a graduate of that great institution, because a UNIPORT graduate cannot

make a false accusation without bringing any evidence. “He is my friend and brother, I will not deny him. He has a right to his ambition, so today he is in another party and the election is between us and them and we believe we will win.”

INDUCTION: From left; Prof. Gab Agu, Chancellor, Diocese of Udi, Anglican Communion, Enugu State; his wife Edna, Bishop, Diocese of Udi, Rt. Rev. Chijioke Aneke, and President, Women Group, Mrs. Comfort Aneke, during the induction service at Emmanuel Church, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Udi, Enugu State.

No legacy of performance at the end of Amaechi's administration —WIKE

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that the outgoing governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has no legacy of performance at the end of his terms in office, hence the people of the state have collectively resolved to vote against his All Progressives Congress, APC, anointed candidate in 2015. Wike, who spoke, yesterday, during his thank you visit to Rumueme Kingdom, said that the empty 16,000 capacity Liberation Stadium where the APC state governorship campaign flag off was held, was an indication that the blessing of the people of Rivers State had left Amaechi and the APC. He said: “What happened today (yesterday) at the 16,000 capacity Liberation Stadium, after all the money expended by Amaechi for the APC campaign flag off is an eye opener. Even when they attempted to do damage control, they gave away themselves by asking Eleme and other local government areas to raise their hands.

“The people of Rivers State have rejected Amaechi and his government of deceit. His anointed candidate claimed that he will continue with the legacies of Amaechi. That is why he has been primed for defeat on February 28, 2015. Amaechi has a legacy of failed infrastructure, impunity,

truncated judiciary, corrupt practices and poor contract governance, a legacy of destroyed legislative arm of government, a legacy of non payment of workers’ salaries and wastage of scarce Rivers State resources in the sponsorship of APC presidential campaign."

I’ll set up industrial estates in Delta —OKOWA By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

B U J A — T H E governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 general elections in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has promised to establish industrial estates in the three senatorial districts of the state, in his bid to ensure industrialization of the state. Senator Okowa, who is presently Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, also said that if elected governor of the state, he will

commence the process of engaging people of the state in having health insurance policy. Describing his emergence in the PDP governorship primaries as an act of God, he said that God has a purpose for Delta State and as a politician that has been consistent with the people, he will do his best to give the state the best. He said that the industrialization of Delta State would be key to his administration to reduce unemployment and also cushion the effect of economic challenges the nation was facing.

21 Edo PDP stalwarts lead supporters to APC By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN—FORMER Majority Leader of the Edo state House of Assembly, Mr Frank Okiye and 20 other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP alongside thousands of their supporters, yesterday, dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing the leaders of the APC, including Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Okiye said he was delighted to reunite with his ideological friend. He said: “We have walked into the centre from various directions and I have found out that in life, the only thing that is permanent is change and I have found that the wind of change has taken off. This wind of change has been epitomized and demonstrated in the aggressive approach to liberate our people. “It is my pleasure to come out straight to identify with those things that have come from the administration of the governor of Edo State, that today, we are now freer than we were."

Delta community threatens to disrupt NPDC/ ELCREST over alleged neglect By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE people of Tsekelewu Community, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, have threatened to disrupt the operations of N P D C / E L C R E S T, operators of Oil Mining Lease, OML 40 over the alleged neglect and divide and rule tactics of the companies. The people, in a statement by the President General of the community, Mr. Alfred Gbalubi, also called on President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state to prevail on the operators to adhere to the Local Content Act, or risk the shutting down the flow station until their demands were met.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

NTI provides owner-occupier houses for staff

HE NATIONAL Teachers Institute, NTI, has taken bold steps towards solving the accommodation problem facing its staff as it has commenced an owner-occupier housing programme for them. Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, the Director-General of the institute, who performed the ground-breaking ceremony said that his vision was to ensure that each staff retired into his or her own homes. According to him: “Very soon through convenient monthly deductions from salaries, they are going to have decent accommodation of their own.” The Housing Estate located at Issa Community in Jere area on Kaduna-Abuja expressway is being constructed by an Estate Development Company, Nurul-Suraj Nigeria Limited, through a Public-Private Partnership, PPP.

World Bank's $1.8bn coming for power sector A

BUJA — THE Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Monday, said that the World Bank will support the Nigerian Power Sector with $1.75 (about N294 billion) over the next four years. This is contained in a statement by the BPE's Head, Public Communications, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, in Abuja. According to the statement, the World Bank's Country Energy Task Team Leader for Nigeria, Mr. Eric Fernstrom, disclosed this at a Capacity

Building Programme on Post Privatisation Monitoring for Power Sector. It said the programme was jointly organised by the bank and the enterprise to ensure that the reform objectives were realised. This, it stated, was due to the transparency exhibited in the transaction process and the robust post reform measures put in place by the National Council on Privatisation, NCP. It reported Fernstrom as saying that the $1.75 billion was

25 per cent of a total $7 billion earmarked for Nigeria in the next four years. It said the workshop, which was held in Uyo, was to expose participants to the techniques, methods and information sources for effective Post Privatisation Monitoring and Evaluation of PHCN successor companies. “It was also meant to enable participants to analyse performance targets, using relevant tools as well as expose them to strategies for effective

PDP accuses APC of backing Boko Haram By Henry Umoru

2015: Group seeks rejection of PDP

pressure group, the APC Volunteers, APC-V, has called on Nigerians to vote against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 general elections. In a statement in Abuja by the group’s National Coordinator, Olusegun Bamgbose, and its South West Zonal Leader, Debo Ojelade, the group urged Nigerians to vote for the APC because ït was the only party with solutions to the nation’s serious challenges.” The statement read in part: “It is becoming increasingly obvious from political developments that the possibility of the PDP surviving the 2015 general elections is very slim. The party has fallen from grace to grass. The party has been battered by many internal crises." “Considering also the political mood of the nation and the people eagerly yearning for a change, the PDP’s chances of retaining power at the centre may be elusive.

engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. “It attracted participants from critical sector stakeholders, including the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Presidential Task force on Power, Transmission Company of Nigeria,” it stated. The statement also reported the Director-General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, as saying that the workshop had greatly increased the capacity of the participants to effectively monitor power companies. Dikki also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its continued support to the enterprise over the years and for sponsoring the programme.

VISIT: From left, Minister of State for Agriculture & Rural Development, Hajia Asabe Ahmed; National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Alhaji Sanusi Maijama'a, and the Acting Director General, Janet Omisore, during the Association's courtesy visit to the Minister, in Abuja.

....FG fixes Jan 1, 2015 for take-off of TEM By Chris Ochayi

BUJA — THE Federal Government has fixed January 1, 2015 as take-off of the Transition Electricity Market, TEM, where market participants would be sanctioned for failing to meet their contractual obligations to other stakeholders. The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, who nnounced the development at a stakeholder forum in Abuja, said that the main focus of TEM will be the consummation of all contractual obligations as stipulated in the rules. He added that TEM declaration is not the start of the transition, but an attempt to make the market more mature and robust. The Minister, who promised a level playing field for all participants, insisted that government will not accept any excuse for the inability of all actors to provide Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply. The Minister disclosed that the Central Bank is ready,

hence all market participants should perfect their papers in order to access cheap fund under the Government’s Intervention Initiative. Professor Nebo also disclosed that government is determined to radically address the lingering metering-gap existing in the power sector, which he said will help block leakages, thereby making more resources available for investment. The Minister also spoke about the negative impact of vandalism on power generation, saying that he and his counterpart in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources have perfected plans to stem this tide. He spoke about plans to increase power generation through access to gas by plants built under the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, and enhanced transmission capacity, adding that government will also pursue with vigour energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. The Permanent Secretary, Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, tasked the Distribution

Companies DISCOs, to be more innovative in their load shedding arrangement, saying companies should manage scarce resources by shutting out electricity supply in offices at night while homes will have their turn in day time. Speaking on behalf of Discos, Ernest Mupaya of Abuja Disco, said that his company has invested heavily in infrastructure aimed at improving service delivery; specially the "company now has an integrated payment platform for settlement of bills for improved customers’ interactions." He said the paltry allocation of 285MW is being consumed at the ratio of 80 per cent for the metropolis and 20 per cent to adjoining states and satellite settlements, he promised that with more energy available to the company, more will be made available to customers. Abuja Disco, he said, had the capacity to use 700MW if available on the national grid, adding that the company is already working with Independent Power Producers, IPPs, that will harness vast solarpowered energy source and other power embedded projects, so that less emphasis will be on the grid.

BUJA — NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again alleged that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was behind the continued cases of insurgency where members of the Boko Haram sect have engaged in massive killings and wanton destruction of property. The PDP, however, boasted that no amount of blackmail and wild allegations against President Goodluck Jonathan can exonerate the APC of blame for insurgency and wave of violence ravaging some northern states of the country. In a statement, yesterday, by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP noted that the memory of Nigerians was not short on the body language and inciting utterances of APC leaders, including their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, which had served as fuel to the raging flame of terrorism. According to the PDP: “By going to the international media recently to distance themselves from complicity and in turning round to blame the PDP, the APC is asking Nigerians to suddenly grow forgetful of the barrage of statements by their leaders that promoted insurgency in the country.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—15

Crisis over Ahiara Bishop deepens as clergy, laity disobey Vatican By Chidi Nkwopara

HE LINGERING crisis over the appointment of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke, as the new Catholic Bishop of Ahiara, Mbaise Diocese, deepened yesterday, as some priests and laity refused to obey the Papacy. The Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, had in a letter addressed to the laity and clergy of Ahiara Catholic Diocese, urged the people to respect the Papal appointment. The letter, which was delivered and read by the Papal Envoy, who doubled as the President, Pontifi-

cal Council for Justice and Peace, Peter Cardinal K. Appiah Turkson, explained that he was at Mbaise “as a personal delegate of the Pope.” Addressing the clergy and laity, Cardinal Turkson said: “Sincerely speaking, this drama in Ahiara Diocese would have been taken care of long before now. If the Pope appointed your Bishop, the first thing to do was to first accept him and complain later. “You can’t despise a leader and still expect him to exercise his leadership potentials over your needs. You must learn to allow the Holy Father to exercise his office.”

While calling on the people to respond to the letter from the Secretary, the visiting Cardinal also opined that “the present situation, to me, is a sad situation”. After taking some time to explain how bishops of the Catholic Church were appointed, the papal envoy also promised that he would investigate if due process was not followed in Bishop Okpalaeke's case. “If the Pope calls for another appointment, what is the guarantee that the new appointment would be accepted? Give due respect to the Pope and then complain later,” the

envoy said. But the drama followed when the priest, who acted as the master of ceremony, called specific people to speak and shut out the pro-Bishop Okpalaeke group. Addressing the congregation, Eze Julius Amaefule said what the people wanted was justice, claiming there was injustice in Okpalaeke's appointment. “Due process was not taken in the appointment of the Bishop. His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan came and instead of solving the problem, he scattered the priests. We have seminarians

who are due for ordination but he didn’t do it. Those who were due for confirmation were abandoned. Under no condition shall we receive Okpalaeke in Ahiara.” While Dr. Festus Nguma said the people had in the past two years, rejected Okpalaeke, the Chairman, Laity Council, Sir Gerald Anyanwu, said there were 74 parishes and more than 80 per cent were against Okpalaeke's appointment. “Something can happen tomorrow and people will turn round and say that Mbaise people have killed him. We do not want him,” Nguma said.

PDP gov ticket: Ararume, Ihediora close ranks in Imo

FTER WEEKS of feuding, gladiators in the recently concluded Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries are to sheathe their swords and work for the victory of the party in the state in the 2015 polls. The concluded PDP primaries saw the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha emerging as the winner and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume coming closely second has thrown up a somewhat bitter aftermath as Ihedioha and Ararume squared up against each other. Yesterday, however, feelers from both camps and the National and Imo state PDP indicated a truce and a decision to

work for the greater good of Imo PDP. “We have moved on. Ararume and Ihedioha are close to burying their differences for the common good of the PDP”, a top chieftain of the PDP in Imo State explained. A member of the Ararume campaign team refused to openly confirm or deny the development but asked for time for "everything to unfold.” Ararume, a traditional PDP loyalist though embittered by what his supporters see as a hard one on him, may have yielded to the arguments canvassed by fellow party members and The Presidency to team up with Ihedioha and ensure the victory of the PDP in Imo State in February, 2015.

WALK: From left, President, Anambra State Association, ASA, Women USA, Dr. Uche Umeh; Special Assistant, Primary Health, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu, and Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, during the 'Walk for Hope to End Cancer Now,' in Awka, weekend.

2015: Okorocha urges politicians to shun violence, thuggery By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI — GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, yesterday, urged politicians and political office seekers to shun violence and thuggery in their quest for positions ahead of 2015 general elections, insisting that ‘no leader is worth anybody’s life.’ The governor equally called on the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government in Nigeria to redefine separation of powers by discharging their functions separately with the spirit of oneness rather than isolation and discrimination that have ravaged the system. Okorocha spoke while swearing in the new Chief Judge, CJ, of Imo State, Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi at the Government House, Owerri. He urged the Judiciary to advocate a national

conference of the three arms to discuss the challenges of 2015 elections and work out modalities that would save the nation from any unconstitutionality or going to ‘a point of no return’. The governor reiterated his call for unity and love among Nigerians. Congratulating the new

CJ on his appointment, Governor Okorocha reminded him of “the need to maintain his relationship with God who does not only hold the destiny of all but will also judge everyone accordingly. I urge you to discharge your duties without fear or favour. To who much is given, much is expected.”

...provides free buses for Imo indigenes in Lagos, Oyo at Xmas By Clifford Ndujihe

O ENCOURAGE Imo State indigenes in Lagos and Oyo states to return home for the Christmas celebration, Governor Rochas Okorocha, has provided buses that will convey them free of charge to Owerri, the state capital on Wednesday, December 24, 2014. The Imo State Liaison Officer, Lagos State, Mr.

Alfred Ononugbo, who disclosed this in a statement, urged Imo indigenes residing in Lagos who intended travelling home for Christmas celebration to assemble at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos tomorrow by 8am for the trip. Ononugbo urged Imo indigenes in Oyo State, to assemble at Saint Gabriel Catholic Church, Mokola, in Ibadan at 8am tomorrow for the journey.

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 17

F one were to decode the guiding principle of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambitions, it would be this: “If at first you don’t succeed, don’t give up until you have failed three more times on the trot.” Nigerians don’t want Muhammadu Buhari to be our president. We have said this repeatedly since 1999. But Buhari simply refuses to take “No” for an answer. When is he finally going to get the message that an overwhelming majority of Nigerians don’t want him? Buhari is the last of yesterday’s men who insist that a country of 170 million people must continue to rely on the leadership of the same old and failed generation. Nigerians have already put paid to the presumptions of Olusegun Obasanjo; who wanted a fourth term; Ibrahim Babangida; who stepped aside and wanted to step back in; and Atiku Abubakar, who runs a marathon for the presidency. Buhari is the last of these recalcitrant dinosaurs. The one good thing about the coming presidential election is that it is likely to provide Nigerians with a final definitive opportunity to send him permanently into retirement. Buhari’s repeated failure to secure a national mandate provides a textbook case of how not to run for the presidency in a plural country like Nigeria. This is a compendium of some of the reasons why the Nigerian presidency will forever elude men like Buhari, inspite of all the song and dance that attends their candidacies. If anybody would like to be a serial loser of the presidential election in Nigeria, here is a list of what he needs to do; according to the blueprint of Muhammadu Buhari.

Be an enemy of democracy Claim you are anti-corruption but steal the presidency of the entire country through an illegal and fraudulent military coup. Claim you are a democrat after you overthrew a democratically elected government in 1983 and made yourself Head of State without the consent of the people of Nigeria. As military Head of State, refuse to entertain any plan for a return to civilian rule. Tell Nigerians that anyone who discusses a return to civil rule would be arrested. Overthrow a government, but be more against the opposition than the government in power. Establish manhunts for key politicians in the length and breadth of the country. Nevertheless, allow key elements of the ruling NPN to escape out of the country, including party chairman, Richard Akinloye; legal counsel, Richard Akinjide; and Minister of Transport, Umaru Dikko. Allow the SecretaryGeneral of the party, Uba Ahmed, to escape abroad, even after he had mistakenly returned to the country and was arrested and jailed. Violate human rights:

How to lose the presidential election four times Promulgate the infamous Decree 2 that makes even the reporting of the truth a punishable offence. Use it to imprison Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabo, two journalists from the South, for reporting stories that were factually true. Then tell Nigerian journalists: “It does not matter whether the story reported was true or not, if my regime does not like it, the writer would go to jail.” Try Nigerian civilians in military tribunals as opposed to regular courts of law in violation of internationally acceptable legal norms. Create a secret police, the National Security Organization (NSO) for the first time in Nigeria’s history under infamous Lawal Rafindadi to harass and imprison without trial Nigerian citizens in clear violation of their human rights. Publicly murder three Nigerians; Lawal Ojuolape (30), Bernard Ogedengbe (29) and Bartholomew Owoh (26): two from the South-West and one from the South East, under the dubious Decree 20 for drug-related offences. Ignore the fact that, at the time they committed their crimes, their offences were not punishable by the death sentences. Nevertheless, maliciously backdate the death-sentence with illegal retroactive decrees that violate every international norm of due process and human rights just in order to kill these three hapless young men. In spite of widespread international condemnation for this, refuse to show any remorse or contrition or to apologise for this judicial murder till date. When asked to appear before the Justice Oputa “Truth and Reconciliation Panel” in order to answer for a litany of abuses of power and violation of human rights while in power as Nigeria’s military Head of State, refuse to appear showing your contempt for Nigerians. Discriminate against the South: Balance a Northern Fulani Head of State with another Northern Fulani deputy. Conduct a coup d’état, ostensibly to overthrow a corrupt Nigerian government. However, be so ethnically chauvinistic that you put Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the vicepresident who took none of the decisions under lock-and-key in

jail in Kirikiri because he is Igbo and Christian. At the same time, put Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the president who was the person in charge under house arrest in a palatial mansion in Ikoyi, Lagos because he happens to be the same as you: Fulani and Muslim. Make Northern politicians sacred cows and untouchable. Fail to arrest and prosecute none of the prominent Hausa/Fulani politicians who were the principal actors in the government you overthrew; including Adamu Ciroma, Suleiman Takuma, Aliu Gusau, Lawal Kaita, Barkin Zuwo, Shehu Kangiwa and Awwal Ibrahim.

Southern politicians At the same time, jail Southern politicians, including Bisi Onabanjo, Ambrose Alli, Lateef Jakande, Jim Nwobodo, and others on trumped up charges that could not be substantiated in any court of law. Try octogenarian Michael Ajasin of the South-West before a tribunal. When he is discharged and acquitted; try him again. When he is discharged and acquitted again, try him a third time. When he is discharged and acquitted yet again, keep him in indefinite detention without just cause. Maltreat Southern leaders: Send a team of soldiers to ransack the Park Lane, Apapa residence

If anybody would like to be a serial loser of the presidential election in Nigeria, here is a list of what he needs to do; according to the blueprint of Muhammadu Buhari

of elder Southern statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Give no reason whatsoever for this blatant violation of the old man’s privacy. Seize his international passport for no just cause. Later, try to pull the wool over the eyes of the Yorubas by choosing a man married to Awolowo’s granddaughter as your vicepresidential running-mate. Lock Emeka Ojukwu, an Igbo man from the South, in prison in Kirikiri with the politicians of the Second Republic, in spite of the fact that he committed no crime and held no public office in the Second Republic. Moreover, after Ojukwu returned to Nigeria after 13 years of exile, he received a full pardon from the president of Nigeria for his activities as leader of the secessionist government of Biafra. Provide Nigerians with no explanation whatsoever for the exact offence that led to Ojukwu’s arrest and incarceration. Get booted out of office by your own clique in the army. Have your colleague, Ibrahim Babangida, give this testimony about you: “regrettably it turned out that (he) was too rigid and uncompromising in his attitudes to issues of national significance. Efforts to make him understand that a diverse polity like Nigeria required recognition and appreciation of differences in both cultural and individual perceptions only served to aggravate the attitudes.” Corrupt practices: Prohibit the importation of naira into the country during a much ballyhooed currency exchange programme. Then contravene your own policy by having your ADC, Colonel Mustapha Jokolo, allow his father, the Emir of Gwandu from the North, to smuggle into the country through Muritala Muhammed International Airport 53 suitcases which the then Area Administrator of the Lagos Airport Customs Command, Atiku Abubakar, was not allowed to search. At the same time, sentence Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a Yoruba man from the South-West, to 20 months in jail for being in possession of foreignexchange he had legitimately procured for the upkeep of his band on a foreign trip. Because

Fela mocked you in his songs for being unable to address the problems of Nigeria, declare to Nigerians that: “I decided to deal with this Fela problem once and for all.” Face public embarrassment because the judge who pronounced the sentence on Fela later confessed that he was ordered to jail him. Disregard for Nigeria’s secularity:As military Head of State, contravene the country’s secularity by having Nigeria apply to join the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC). The application finally came through in 1986 and divided the country acrimoniously along Muslim/ Christian lines. Tell Muslims not to vote for Christians. Reveal to Nigerians that you are a religious bigot by declaring in Kaduna in 2001 that: “I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria. God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country.” Say this, in spite of the fact that declaring some states as sharia states is in clear violation of the secularity of Nigeria’s federalism, as contained in section 10 of the Constitution of Nigeria

Anti-corruption contradictions Claim to be an anti-corruption crusader; nevertheless, agree to serve under Sani Abacha, one of the most corrupt Heads-of-State ever in the history of Nigeria. On the 10th anniversary of General Abacha’s demise, tell incredulous Nigerians that Abacha did not steal anything while he was Nigeria’s Head of State. Describe all the allegations of looting the treasury leveled against Abacha as “baseless.” Maintain that: “ten years after Abacha, those allegations remain unproven because of lack of facts.” Hold this position in spite of the millions of dollars of Abacha’s loot recovered from banks around the world, and in spite of the fact that the Abacha’s family signed a formal agreement to return over $1 billion to the Nigerian government. As chairman of the juiciest portfolio of all under Sani Abacha’s government; the Petroleum Trust Fund with a budget of 181 billion naira between 1994 and 1999, fail woefully to curb the rampant corruption in the organisation. When in 2000, President Obasanjo set up an Interim Management Committee to look into the affairs of the PTF under the chairmanship of Haroun Adamu, it was discovered that over 25 billion naira was stolen under your watch. Claim to be an anti-corruption crusader, but Group Captain Usman Jibrin, a board member of PTF, resigned from the organization in protest over the blatant irregularities in your appointment of consultants. (TO BE CONTINUED).

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 ELECTIONS have been confirmed for February 2015, less than two months away since the first series would hold on February 14. We expected politicians would have deemed it important to start engaging the people in discussions about their future, about the competence they are providing as leaders and their expectations from those they lead. After the mixed experience of 15 years of civil rule, the importance of the 2015 elections rests on opportunities they provide for people to reject politicians who have failed to improve the country. Disappointments are numerous. Politicians have prospered, the people have been pulverised by policies that resulted in more poverty, more illnesses, less education and a dying belief that politicians have any interest in the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. Politicians by committing resources to their well-being and intrigues to retain power have confirmed that the Nigeria of their dreams is one where they dispense privileges and pillage resources without a tinge of conscience about the implications of their actions for the common good. Do they realise they hold power for the

Time TTo o TTell ell Us people and should use it for the common good? How would they know what the people expect when they talk only to themselves? Some groups want candidates in the 2015 elections to commit to a social contract. It would be a contract between candidates and voters. Since the needs of electorates vary in their constituencies, the social contract should reflect the needs of constituencies the politicians want to represent. Why are aspirants not committing themselves to campaigns on free, fair, violence-free elections and good governance when elected? Is this an indication that they are planning differently from the general expectation

of free and fair elections? How would the public be able to hold politicians accountable after the elections? Stakes are lower each year. Politicians know the poverty they have created make the people vulnerable to the pittance they offer. They want their money to speak for them. More discussions about performances of politicians would expose their failures. Elections are too important to politicians, but not in the way voters think. Politicians see elections as vehicles for retaining power and ultimately the access to national resources. With just months to the elections, candidates should be made to speak in more specific terms about their intentions when elected. The common practice is to speak in general terms. Those who promise electricity make no efforts to understand the issue. Such candidates see their manifestoes as campaign speeches without any inclinations to fulfil them once they get into office. Pressure groups should focus on extracting performance agenda from all candidates in the elections, and finding ways of holding them accountable, if they win.

OPINION Lagos 2015: How PDP got it wrong

By Demola Olarewaju

HAT the PDP has one or two things to learn from the APC, especially in the conduct of intra-party primaries and elections, is becoming clearer daily. In fact, one thing the APC has proven adept at doing is listening to the voice of the public and adapting to it. The APC in my opinion has demonstrated high political strategy by picking a presidential candidate from the north who is also a Muslim. Divisive? Surely, but a deft move nonetheless. In politics, one picks a candidate who is clearly different from the candidate of the opposition; therefore since the incumbent President is a Christian from the South, APC would have been foolish to pick an Amaechi or an Oshiomhole (except to make a political statement, not to win outright.) In picking a candidate that is very different from the incumbent, APC is forcing the electorate to make a hard choice; it is a radical political move that the PDP in Lagos must learn from. In Lagos State, APC picked its gubernatorial candidate in the person of Akinwunmi Ambode and here are four areas I want to see him from: Christian, from the Ikorodu/Epe divisions, never held political office, backed by godfather Tinubu. High political strategy would suggest PDP seizing such an opportunity to present a candidate with entirely different antecedents such as Obanikoro: Muslim, from Lagos Island, held several political offices, has no godfather. But some PDP elders bereft of political strategy prefer Agbaje: Christian, from the Ikorodu/Epe divisions, never held political office, backed by godfathers Bode George and Seye Ogunlewe.

Voters think in a particular way: all politicians are the same – this is the case of an Agbaje and an Ambode. More importantly, voters must be made aware of the opportunity cost of the electoral vote: if I vote this person, what am I losing in the other person? With an Obanikoro, the opportunity cost of voting an Ambode may be experience and a leader who is not teleguided but with an Agbaje – what really is the opportunity cost of voting Ambode? See why APC’s choice of Buhari to confront President Goodluck Jonathan should be learnt from? Okay Demola, we get your point – but why not Atiku who is also a northerner and a Muslim, a clear difference from the incumbent President in line with your strategy? This is where the APC political thinking blew my mind: a politician with a an image problem but a loyal group of supporters and a political machinery must always be chosen above one with a good image who lacks loyal supporters and a political machinery because a bad image can be fixed in a short period but a loyal group of supporters and an effective political machinery cannot be built in the same period. Read the above paragraph again, slowly this time to get the point and then let’s do the following comparative analysis: The only area where Atiku trumps Buhari is that more people love Atiku in the South than they like Buhari. The only area where it may be argued that Agbaje can come close to Obanikoro is that people loved Agbaje’s 2007 mien more than they loved Obanikoro whose image was consistently bashed by the ACN

media of the time. But men like Buhari and Obanikoro have something that men like Atiku and Agbaje do not have: they have loyal troops and they have political machineries that can deliver steady numbers consistently. The drawback with men like Buhari and Obanikoro is that their image has in the past suffered some media bashing: Buhari is a religious fundamentalist, Obanikoro is a thug. What does one do? Fly a kite – test the waters. Those snazzy pictures of Buhari high-fiving his kid, of his beautiful wife and so on – those were kites being flown, an image being changed. Seeing that Buhari’s image could be worked on, APC stuck with him as candidate. Have you also seen the snazzy Obanikoro pictures and the excellent packaging of his declaration event? Those were kites and in the past months a lot has been done on his image to combat the general perception. But Buhari and a man like Obanikoro have something that stands them out in any political strategic thinking: a group of loyalists willing to stand by their principal through thick and thin and political machinery that delivers the voting numbers. APC knew it could work on Buhari’s image but could not rely on Atiku’s loyalists. PDP choosing an Agbaje who has never won any election from councillor to State House of Assembly will be a disaster in Lagos and the facts are obvious: Senator Obanikoro’s camp successfully produced as much as 70% of the PDP House of Assembly candidates in Lagos, 60% of the House of Representatives candidates and 100% of the senatorial candidates – to reject him will be to leave these support campaigns without a leader, without passion for the party and without direction: one does not need to be a

Sun Tzu to see that the result will be a rout for the ruling APC. Elections boil down to one crucial factor on election day: the ability of your polling agents to resist the other party and also to canvass voters on the line or get them out of their houses to vote. Obanikoro has an election day political machinery that can do this; Agbaje’s political machinery is owned by Bode George who has never won his own polling unit since 1999. Even with the gang-up of Ogunlewe and Bode George, Agbaje struggled to get 432 delegates votes while in the face of all sorts of tactics from Bode George telling the delegates not to vote a Muslim as the party’s candidate to Ogunlewe saying the party leadership had resolved to go with Agbaje to the violence unleashed on delegates which reduced the numbers from 874 to 806 accredited voting delegates and finally the magical appearance of votes from 806 to a final tally of 865, Obanikoro pulled a whooping 343 delegate votes. Fortunately, Section 19, subsections (d) and (m) of the Election Guidelines of PDP was breached in the area of time of accreditation of the delegates and in the instance of overvoting. The party guidelines are clear: a rerun must be held. If the only thing against Obanikoro is his image but he comes with the asset of loyalists and a well-oiled political machinery, the PDP must borrow a leaf from the APC and choose him as its Lagos gubernatorial candidate because a false image can be corrected but loyalists cannot be replaced in two months.

*Mr. Olarewaju, a political analyst, wrote

from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014— —19

Is Muhammadu Buhari the right choice? By Sunny Ikhioya

HY is it difficult for us to raise fresh blood, with fresh and dynamic ideas to steer the affairs of this country? I do not know. We have the Fasholas, Oshiomholes, Amaechis, Ribadus before he switched over to the PDP and so many other vibrant fellows in the APC party, yet, they have again, chosen to go the recycled route by bringing in Mohammadu Buhari as their presidential candidate. Is Mohammadu Buhari the real deal? Going through the book “ MKO ABIOL A-TO MAKE WHOLE AGAIN” by Abimbola Awofeso, published by Update Communications Limited 1990, from pages 15 to 24, you will find an assessment of Mohammadu Buhari’s administration. By the way, Awofeso is also a nephew to the great sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The chapter is titled; “All-Round Misery: Retrenchment, Roll-Back....” I quote from page 18 “....since the Buhari administration came to power, its policy on public sector spending has resulted in

all round misery: retrenchment of public sector workers, roll back in social services, particularly in the area of health care, the re-introduction of school fees, the closure of educational institutions, the reimposition of certain obnoxious taxes and levies and the suspension of new capital projects. All these have negative implications for the country’s long range development....with such deflationary policies as has been put in place by the Buhari regime, shows that we are headed for unmitigated disaster. As for the planned privatization, this is no more than a camouflage for concentrating the nation’s wealth in ever fewer hands......still, it cannot be said that its attempt at streamlining import licensing and foreign exchange disbursement procedure has been a roaring success. Racketeering persists and those who have no business having import licenses still do so. The government’s performance in the area of debt management is even poorer. Apart from the questionable wisdom of using over 40 per cent of the country’s export earnings

By Ekanpou Enewaridideke

IGERIA is a complex society with diversities. Delta State is an heir to the complexities that typify Nigeria. To unravel and to interpret these complexities and have them built into a meaningful tapestry for this generation and generations yet unborn, many years have been sunk into the search without a clear navigable course charted. Just yesterday some persons emerged from hitherto unknown corners, gaudily dressed: they are the interpreters of Delta State . Their genius lie in interpreting Delta State anchored on principles which are incontrovertibly at variance with Aristotle’s syllogism. Yet, we must clap for them because they are the geniuses of our time, singularly blessed from birth with the genes of flawless interpretation of Delta State. For them, Delta State would be broken to smithereens, shrapnels dangerously thrust upon people, if their interpretative prescriptions are derided and trodden like heavy feet on dead grasses. This is why the Tompolos and the J.E. Managers should be wary so as not to walk on paths that could harm Delta State, particularly now that God in his infinite mercy has let loose interpreters philosophically armed with flawless knowledge of yesterday, today and tomorrow. What luck rests on the state ! In the daily vocabulary of Nigeria, Tompolo first featured as a freedom activist committed to the liberation of the marginalised Niger Delta. With the Federal Government Amnesty of 2009 extended to him, he was subsequently engaged on contractual basis as a force against maritime criminality ravaging the country. This contractual engagement which he claimed as part of his dream for a greater, united, developed Nigeria, came from NIMASA. Higher output in daily Oil production and the maritime-criminality reduction are the dividends of this contractual engagement involving NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited. Though, to some interpreters, this is equivalent to an assault on the Nigerian Navy as the waterways surveillance was now placed in the hands of an individual. This is a very good argument but sadly blind to the reality that there is a Joint Task Force in Delta State; yet Governor Uduaghan created Delta Waterways Security Committee to exist side by side with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies.

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to service debts, it is open to question whether the government has fully investigated and verified all the outstanding debt obligations it is now attempting to settle......In the area of inflation and distribution, the government successes, if any, have been limited. Officially estimated at about 40 percent the rate of inflation is still debilitating to the generality of Nigerians whose incomes, under the income policy guidelines, are not expected to increase substantially (especially for those in paid employment). As

Our leaders are always leading us on the path of perdition, for their own selfish purpose(s), not for the general interest of the people. That is the choice the APC has made with Buhari as their presidential candidate

for distributive trade, the major actors of old appear to have been back in business; the Lebanese and Levantine merchandisers still control that business with the result that prices are still high and scarcities persist.......If there is any area of public policy in which the present government has been most inactive, that area has to do with the problem of unemployment.....It is a sad commentary on government’s commitment to tackling unemployment that although it set up a committee sometime last year to study the matter, as at this moment, the report of that committee is yet to be made public, let alone implemented..” The above was the assessment of Buhari’s administration as highlighted in the above quoted book. There is more but due to space constraintone cannot highlight more which accounts the very little sympathies and resistance when he was overthrown from government. That is the man our present day progressives are trumpeting as the messiah that will bring the much needed change for this country. Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo once stated publicly that: "You cannot change a man in old age", in reference to the late Adedibu’s excesses. The big challenge for this country is producing the right leadership, not, a has been, with

Interpreters of Delta State Maybe this could be equally interpreted as a surrender of security to individuals since the Delta Waterways Security Committee is made up of individuals like Tompolo, or are they spirits and angels? Premised on available data, the performance index of NIMASA is commendable, indicating that Tompolo’s confidence in the Patrick Akpobolokami’s led-NIMASA is not misplaced. Tompolo believed in him and had worked with him over the years to tackle the hitherto indomitable maritime challenges. What can be clearly distilled from Tompolo’s romance with NIMASA is the reality that NIMASA is being progressively reformed and transformed in line with the transformation vision of President Goodluck Jonathan in revenue-generation for the Nigerian Federal government. This means that the Tompolos are reformers. In other climes , the likes of Tompolo are celebrated as heroes and reformers who should be invariably granted access to the corridors of power as a solid bridge for the ceaseless flow of transformation waters down to the grass roots. But this has not been the case. Tompolo, the interpreters say is a terrorist because he has stubbornly aligned himself with reformist goals which are against their wishes.

Does a benevolent terrorist exist in the globe? The interpreters of Delta, who are indeed progressives, are more progressive than the APC progressives. It is doubltful if the APC can provide an answer to this

Exploitation, oppression, manipulation, enslavement and criminality daily strike Tompolo as abnormalities which must not be allowed where only positive forces of reform are licensed to tread on. Tears always terrorize Tompolo and jolt him into justifiable action whenever injustice terrorizes the secular space in any guise. Having liberated the Niger Delta from the dark forces, he is constantly in search of existing spaces of abnormalities where he can free the incarcerated. This is the propelling force behind Tompolo’s gravitation towards politics – the extension of his liberation struggle to politics. As a reformer and saviour, these are normal expectancies from the man now interpretatively termed the political generalissimo. Moving away from the Old Testament of Niger Delta liberation to the New Testament of political involvement and liberation, Tompolo has already demonstrated landmarks – landmarks that have given birth to the emergence of a new crop of interpreters of Delta State whose judgment and genius cannot be faulted by any mortal no matter how intellectually endowed, not even by the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka whose views are revered by intellectuals. Because Tompolo’s strategies for goal-pursuit and goal-realization enjoy the benediction of the cosmic, his DUGOUT always outwits whirlpool, hurricane and whirlwind, leading to the constant irrational ululations of losers who, ordinarily, should applaud his reformist credentials and pragmatic progression. The Ogulagha axis of Burutu Local Government had long been chained politically and had long clamoured for political emanicipation. Towards political involvement and manumission, Hon. Julius Pondi contested the space of the House of Representative alongside other candidates and won the PDP primary, possibly with the support of Tompolo, whom, they say has struck up political alliance with the political navigator of Delta politics, Senator J.E Manager. The people of Burutu are excited that their desire for reform has come through Tompolo’s healthy political involvement. It is incomprehensible that Tompolo, termed a terrorist by interpreters, recorded this

very obvious and questionable credentials. What this country needs now, is a radical departure from the normal. We need a youthful, focused, detribalised, enlightened, idea filled and gogetter leader who is able to ‘walk his talk.’ Recycling is bad. It is even worse when the individual we are promoting has passed his prime. That was how Obasanjo was brought in, the result of his actions and inactions are still reverberating till date. Incidentally, people are still running to him for directions. Every fault of Jonathan is rooted in Obasanjo; he planned, masterminded and executed the ascension of Jonathan to power. He also trained him in government, the PDP way, the platform Obasanjo instituted, which is the one the PDP is religiously using till date. We are very forgetful in this country and lazy at recollecting the past. Our leaders are always leading us on the path of perdition, for their own selfish purpose(s), not for the general interest of the people. That is the choice the APC has made with Buhari as their presidential candidate. One can only wish them good luck. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

political magic without a recourse to bomb and guns as it is the vogue in the terrorismthreatened North-East of Nigeria. Yet, we must concede to the interpreters the thesis that Tompolo is a terrorist – whether or not in deification or minimization, only God knows. Because Tompolo is a reformer, liberator, who has known no misstep in any task of his involvement, counting from the liberation days to the NIMASA days, he has been licensed to produce the next DeputyGovernor of Delta State as authoritatively proclaimed with some measure of envy by the interpreters of Delta State. Drawing nourishment from his track record, his liberation struggle and philosophy of reform and pragmatism, Delta State would be blessed with a great Deputy-Governor dedicated to the dream of a developed and united Delta State. George Ekpemuplo’s rise to chairmanship in Warri South-West Council was on the canoe of Tompolo and he transformed the Council in his first tenure; today, Ekpemupolo George has democratically become the Chairman of Warri South-West Council through the involvement of Tompolo who merely strives to strike a balance between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris in the political equation of Warri South-West Council. Because George performed creditably to the accolade of Deltans , it is likely that the next deputy- Governor of Delta State, if anointed by the mystic Tompolo, indelible marks of transformation would be registered for generations born and unborn. However, for Tompolo to merit the political alliance and companionship of Senator J.E Manager the political strategist, Tompolo is unarguably a terrorist of benevolent pigmentation. Does a benevolent terrorist exist in the globe? The interpreters of Delta, who are indeed progressives, are more progressive than the APC progressives. It is doubltful if the APC can provide an answer to this. Let us concede as proclaimed by the progressives, that Tompolo is a terrorist; but let us also add foolishly that he should be consistently constant in his political terrorism so that Delta State can be broken into smithereens for a new Delta State to emerge – by so doing, the 'interpreters' of Delta State politics would have out done Soyinka’s The Interpreters .

•Mr. Enewaridideke, a political analyst, wrote from Akparemogbene, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 21

Substandard products, economic loss to Nigeria —SON By Franklin Alli

OPENING - From right: Founder and CEO, Field of Skills and Dreams Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship Academy, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde; First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola and Mrs. Yinka Yussuf during the formal opening of Field of Skills and Dream Vocational and Entrepreneurship Academy new office complex in Ikeja, Lagos.

Ghana’s Kasapreko suspends N8.2bn investment in Nigeria manufacturing plant in Nigeria but put the investment on hold because of threats from adulteration hana’s Kasapreko which has reduced the brand Company has equity of Alomo Bitters. suspended its planned $50 “We wanted to make a strong million (about N8.2 billion) foot print in Nigeria and we investment in Nigeria due to have not cancelled the adulteration of its product, ambition but once we are able Alomo bitters. to get rid of those destroying The company ’s Group the market and harming the Managing Director, Kwabena lives of the people through Adjei, disclosed this during faking of our product then we the familiarization tour in its can decide to put the factory factory in Accra, Ghana, where in place”, Adjei told he said that the company was Vanguard in Accra, Ghana. on the verge of etsbalishing its The Group Managing Director who started the production of the bitters brand in his garage 25 $174.1 -$3.55 years ago regretted that the faking of the product $2,914.00$41.00 because of its success and health benefits has $14.76 -$0.2 reduced the equity of the brand. “If we don’t fight the fake, we are hurting the government because $60.01-$1.05 fakers don’t pay tax. We are harming the $56.28 +$0.37 consumers because fakers don’t use good CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL product. Some of these DOLLAR 167 167.5 168 fake products have been STERLING 261.4552 262.238 263.0208 tested in our laboratory EURO 207.5142 208.1355 208.7568 FRANC 172.7348 173.252 173.7691 and I tell you that the YEN 1.4049 1.4091 1.4133 result is shocking and CFA 0.2979 0.3079 0.3179 unhealthy to WAUA 243.7038 244.4334 245.1631 consumers”, he said. YUAN 26.9737 27.055 27.1362 RIYAL 44.4918 44.625 44.7582 Adjei who recognized KRONA 27.8938 27.9773 28.0608 Nigeria as a big market SDR 244.4379 245.1698 245.9016 in Africa said the brand’s dominance of the market CBN Exchange Rate as 22/12/2014 has been greatly diluted

By Princewill Ekwujuru

not by genuine competition but by fake market. He however said that the company which is now exporting to European and Western countries and other African countries is presently collaborating with Nigeria’s regulatory agencies and distributors to tackle the fake market. Adjei welcomed genuine competition in bitters market as it will create healthy market for consumers and employment for Africans but frowned against importation of herbal products when Africa is rich in herbs. The Alomo founder is also considering partnering with a Nigerian firm to produce the product in Nigeria. Nigeria is a big market for products and as analysts say “If you look at Africa, anyone who does not see the Nigerian market is really blind. You can’t miss Nigeria; it is a powerhouse in Africa. From the GDP stand point and population, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa” In order to still offer the quality product to Nigerians who have accepted the product and checkmate faking which is affecting the brand and has the potential of creating health consequence on consumers, Adjei and his team are introducing security seal on the Alomo brand. “Two years ago we embarked on a journey to protect our brand and consumers. That journey took us to Germany where we partnered with a hologram company”. According to him, the security will involve four levels all in an attempt to ensure that the consumer gets the right quality product. “We know that fakers will try to confuse the consumers with fake holographic seal but ours is so sophisticated and consumers will be able to identify the original from the fake” he said.

tandards Organisation of Nigeria has de scribed its destruction of fake Century brand of stabilizers and other items valued at N5.5 billion in 2014 as economic loss to the country. The sub-standard products that penetrated into the country and were destroyed by the agency include electric armored cables, tyres, expired breakfast cereals, extension sockets, mini led flashlights, rechargeable lamps, shaving sticks, mobile phones, engine oil, ball pens, among others. In a review of its destruction exercise for the year at the Sagamu dumpsite in Ogun state, the agency disclosed that it destroyed over N5.5 billion worth of substandard goods from January till-date. “These goods were destroyed to save the lives of Nigerians who are not aware of the harmful effect of these products. So many people have lost their loved ones by consuming these substandard products,” said Engr. Bede Obayi, Head of Inspectorate / Compliance. According to him, in spite of the hazards associated with the distribution, purchase and use of substandard products, including loss of lives and properties as well as economic sabotage among others, importers still engage in the illicit trade. He explained that the products were burnt in accordance with SON’s procedure which started with market survey, surveillance, inventory, seizure, sampling, laboratory tests and analyses to ascertain conformity to specifications and requirements of Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS). “The stabilizers and electric cables failed critical parameters in the Nigeria Industrial Standard like conductor resistance; elongation, tensile strength and diameter of insulation as well as not having country of origin embossed on them for traceability. “The tyres are all used and mostly expired while; the supermarket items have expired well before the dates of our market survey between January and February 2014 and were still kept on the shelves for sale to unsuspecting consumers. “Some of them are wrongly labeled; some have no country of origin while some like vegetable oil were already leaking on the supermarket shelves. The LPG cylinders were not carrying embossment of brand name, address of manufacturer and country of origin for traceability. “Most of the products were seized from various ports and border and some were smuggled items seized in some states. We have told importers times without number that, importers should approach the SON to get the right standards for the products they are bringing into this country so that when they come in, we will not in any way tamper with their goods but ensure easy access into their warehouses,” he said. On SON’s outlook for 2015, he said “We want to work to surpass our target of reducing the penetration of the substandard products into our country. We have declared 2015 as a year of war against substandard goods.”

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Before you invest in TBs, you must be certain that you would not need that money during the period of investment. In other words before buying TBs of 91 days maturity, you have to be sure you would not need the money within those 90 days. This is because it is costly liquidating investment in TBs before maturity

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS By NKIRUKA NNOROM

INVESTORS

n the top 10 performing stocks last week were shares of etransact International Plc, Omoluabi savings and Loans Plc, Wapic Insurance Plc, Beta Glass Plc Honeywell Flourmills Plc and Mansard Insurance Plc. The rest were Fidson Healthcare Plc, Custodian and Allied Plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) and Smart Products Nigeria Plc. etransact, an online real time payment company, for the second week running led transaction on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, with the share price rising by 15.29 percent or N0.39 to close at N2.99 from N2.55. It had risen by15.38 percent or N0.34 the previous week to emerge investors toast within that week. The company has been at the forefront of facilitating epayment option in Nigeria, in a bid to drive the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, cashless policy. Recently, it announced the investment of about N58.8 million ($350,000) into a mobile money activation project in collaboration with EFInA, a financial sector development organization. The project is being piloted in Northern and South Western Nigeria and is called “The PocketMoni 500” project. eTranzact International Plc, which facilitates mobile banking services of 11 banks through its mobile switching platform, processes over N1 trillion every year and has more than 11 years’ experience processing financial transactions in Africa, got a Central Bank Mobile Money license for PocketMoni, its mobile money wallet in 2012. According to Mr. Valentine Obi, the company’s CEO, the collaboration with EFInA is the first of a series of strategic partnerships the company planned, and it will be launching other similar projects in other parts of Nigeria. In recognition of this, the company ’s PocketMoni, bagged two awards at the AfricaCom and Lead Africa Awards 2014 in the Best Mobile Money Service category. The various investments have been feeding positively into the finances as its revenue grew to N4.71 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013, from N3.06 billion posted a year earlier. Also, its profit after tax rose to

How to invest in Treasury Bills (2) By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

N192.7 million as against N127.8 million in 2012. This represented 10 percent and 50.7 percent growth in revenue and post tax profit respectively. Of the two companies listed on Processing System of the NSE, etransact is the most favoured by investors in terms of pricing and it has delivered 33 percent return in 52 weeks. Omoluabi Savings and Loans followed with 14.29 per cent or N0.10 price appreciation to close at N0.80 from N0.70. Of the 11 companies presently quoted on the Alternative Securities Market, ASeM, segment of the NSE, Omoluabi Savings has been the one enjoying more patronage than the rest. The ASeM is a window created by the NSE to give mid-sized and other upstart companies opportunity to access the market. Though patronage for shares of companies in this segment has been quite minimal, Omuluabi Saving has been quite active since its listing last month. The company had listed five billion ordinary shares at 55 kobo, amounting to N2.75 billion. T h e shareholding structure of the bank showed that Mortgage Capital owns 39 percent, local government areas 21.80 percent, Unicorn 21 percent, Osun State government 18.18 percent while others are 0.01 percent. The company’s total asset stood at N3.08 billion with deposit accounting for N3.4 billion at the point of listing. Its profit after-tax stood at N41.8 billion. Already, it has delivered 60 percent return to investors. Wapic Insurance shares rose by 10.53 percent or N0.06 to close at N0.63 from N0.57 per share. Three days ago, A.M. Best Rating assigned the financial strength rating of B- (Fair) and the issuer credit rating of “bb-” to Wapic. The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable. According to A.M. Best, the ratings of Wapic reflect its developing business profile in the Nigerian market, tempered (near-term) earnings prospects due to its high expense base and solid risk-adjusted capitalization. The company grew its total assets by 76 per cent to N22.30 billion in 2013 from N12.68 billion in 2012. Its shareholders’ funds increased significantly, rising from N7.62 billion in 2012 to N14.18 billion in 2013.

n the last edition, it was stated that anybody that wants to buy treasury bills (TBs) must go through the banks. To buy or invest in TBs, you have to visit your bank and inquire about the process. In most cases, you will be asked to bid, by writing a letter instructing your bank to bid for TBs on your behalf. In the letter, you have to specify the amount you want to invest, and the interest rate you want

quote (your bid rate). Bearing in mind that your bid may not be successful if your bid rate is too high, it is advisable to instruct your bank to bid for you at the prevailing interest rate. While you are bidding, you may also wish to instruct your bank to roll over the investment until you instruct them to liquidate it. In other words, when the TBs mature, the bank should use the money to buy TBs again. Now if you don’t give this instruction, the bank would

simply credit your account with your money once the TBs mature, and you would have to write afresh for the bank to roll over the investment. Before you invest in TBs, you must be certain that you would not need that money during the period of investment. In other words before buying TBs of 91 days maturity, you have to be sure you would not need the money within those 90 days. This is because it is costly liquidating investment in TBs before maturity. Why The interest on TBs is

MARKET NEWS

NB, Forte Oil gains propel transactions on NSE Stories By Nkiruka Nnorom

he shares of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Forte Oil recorded heavy transactions in the month of November to emerge the leading stocks in terms of price appreciation in the stock exchange. Specifically, Nigerian Breweries, that just secured all the necessary approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and shareholders to merge its operation with Consolidated Breweries, CB, led the gainers list with N10.12 price increase to close the month at N172.12 from N 162.00 in the previous month. Both companies – NB and CB - are subsidiaries of Heineken NV in which the later holds equity stakes of 54.1 percent and 53.85 percent, respectively. “The essential proposal before our shareholders is to

combine the operations of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Consolidated Breweries Plc into one legal entity effected through a Scheme of Merger with NB being the surviving entity,” said Mr. Nico Vervelde, Managing Director/CEO, NB in a statement.

Under the terms of the Scheme of Merger, it is proposed that each Consolidated Breweries shareholder will receive four NB shares for every five shares held in CB or elect for a cash alternative. According to the Nigerian Breweries, the proposed merger is expected to deliver increased value to its shareholders, employees,

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; beneficiaries of Etisalat Merit Awards, Onohaebi Samuel (400 level Elect/Elect student of University of Benin); Eigbe Eghonghon (300 level Elect/Elect student of University of Lagos) and Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Ogun State, John Olusegun Odubela, at the Etisalat Merit Awards, in Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 23

FORUM

However, if you roll over the money for one year, you have something around N10, 000. And it is risk free. You are sure that you will get your money back. It is also still better that leaving your money in a Savings Account, which presently attracts about four percent interest rate

INVESTORS SPEAK

On FG removal of VAT from stock market transactions By Providence

Obuh

From left: Mrs Ibiye Hong, Executive Director, Skye Bank; Mr Tony Okpanachi, Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank; Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, Bank of Industry and Mr Uche Ike, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, UBA during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Bank of Industry and some SME friendly banks at the Bank of Industry head office, Lagos. usually paid up-front. If you invest N100, 000 in TBs of 91 days at 10 percent, The CBN would pay you the interest immediately you make the investment. Hence at maturity, the CBN would return the principal to you i.e. N100, 000. But if you decide to liquidate the investment before the end of the 91 days, you will have to pay back the interest you have being paid and with additional money, which is like penalty of terminating the investment

before maturity. Hence, it is advisable to be sure you would not need the money within the 91 days before you invest it. Another aspect critical to investing in TBs, which is common to fixing money in bank deposit is the calculation of the interest to be paid on the investment. In the example given above, the interest rate (10 percent per annum of N100, 000) is N10, 000. But the N10, 000 is per annum i.e. for one year. To get the interest for 91 days, the N10, 000 is

divided into 365 days, resulting to N27.40 for each day. This is then multiplied by 91 days to get the interest for 91 days i.e. N2, 493. It definitely looks small. However, if you roll over the money for one year, you have something around N10, 000. And it is risk free. You are sure that you will get your money back. It is also still better that leaving your money in a Savings Account, which presently attracts about four percent interest rate.

customers, distributors, suppliers of the combined businesses, and the Nigerian economy as a whole. Forte Oil Plc trailed behind with N10.05 gains, closing at N222.00 from N211.95 per share. Forte Oil had in the last one year won some accolades, enjoying recognition from the NSE for early submission of its 2013 full year financials well ahead of the stipulated date. This was followed by its inclusion in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Frontier Market Index, one of the world’s leading equity index providers. Then the recent addition to NSE high priced stocks, which indicates that a certain security has traded an average of N100 or more per share in four out of the last six months period the Exchange opened for business. To cap it all, the company also emerged winner of ‘the overall highest award’ at the 2014 edition of the PEARL awards. PZ Cusson came far behind with N4.66 to close at N28.50 from N23.84 at the beginning of the month, followed by Stanbic IBTC Holdings with N1.40 increase. It opened the month at N29.60 and closed at

N31.00 per share. Beta Glass was the next with N1.05 gains, closing at N22.05 from N21.00. Others were UPDC REIT which added N1.00 to its share price to close at N10.00

from N9.00 per unit; Ikeja Hotels (N0.93); Cadbury Plc (N0.72); Berger Paints Nig. Plc (N0.70) and Union Bank of Nigeria that added N0.63 to close at N8.43 from N8.00 per share.

Access Bank empowers slain police officers’ wives By Ediri Ejoh

s part of its corporate so cial responsibility, Access Bank Plc, has embarked on programmes aimed at empowering wives of Police Officers who died in active service to the bank. The programmes include: financial support, award of educational grants to the families, refurbishing of the conference hall in the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, empowerment/skill acquisition programme for wives of deceased police officers and female officers at Bar Beach police station and empowerment lecture series on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education/literacy and health.

Speaking at the Corporate Head Office, Lagos, Chief Compliance Officer of the bank, Mr. Pattison Boleigh said. “As a bank, we believe in delivering world class service embedded in speed, service and security but there is no way we can achieve security which is a very important part of the banks’ values without partnering with the Nigerian Police. “We are collaborating with the Police Force that has provided security for us, and we have decided to empower wives of those who lost their lives while working with Access Bank. We will be donating the sum of fifty thousand naira to them amongst other empowerment programmes.

he Federal Government has approved the removal of Value Added Tax on all commissions on capital transactions two years after the announcement, shareholders in this interview speaks on the removal. Excerpts: Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, Secretary Independent shareholders Association of Nigeria: It is a welcome development because the more lucrative and attractive we are able to make the stock market, the more we are likely to reap the benefit in the long run, in terms of getting more people to use that medium of economic advancement and long term capital creation. Where you have too many impositions and taxes and levies it discourages investors but when government is able to give some wavers and incentives, you find out that investors will take advantage of it and they will want to put their money in that economy for a longer period. We hope that government will go ahead and extend the exemption on dividends because am not sure this exemption will apply to dividend, there is 10 percent withholding tax on dividend, we also wish there will be a review either downward or complete elimination so that investors can be encouraged to put

•Adebayo Adeleke

more money in the economy and thereby create more jobs for the people and they will be helping the government to do what it has not been able to do. If you want people to help you do what you cannot do, you create an enabling environment for them and you make the market very attractive. However, it will impact on the capital market because it will attract more people to invest in that market. You are likely to see more people participate in our market both locally and internationally even as result of this. Mr. Oderinde Taiwo Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria: To me, it will bring down transaction cost, to me it will encourage investors and a lot of people will now patronize the market, National Association for Proactive Shareholders of Nigeria, our vision is to delight and promote an easy culture, there are lot of bottle neck, hindrances where a lot of people are not really able to come in or fully participate in the capital market. One of the issues we have raised for a long time has been this issue of cost of transaction, the capital market is one of the highest in the world, how this has been looked into and addressed, I believe will really encourage both the investors and even the stock broking firms. For me is a good development that will impact positively on the capital market.

•Taiwo Oderinde

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Global coal demand to reach 9bn tonnes by 2019 ...Nigeria yet to fully utilise deposits By Sebastine Obasi

LOBAL demand for coal over the next five years will continue marching higher, breaking the 9-billiontonne level by 2019, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its annual Medium-Term Coal Market Report just released. This is just as Nigeria, with abundant coal reserves spread across Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa and Gombe states, is yet to fully utilize its deposits. The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo recently said that the federal government is working out a sustainable framework to ensure profitability on future investments in the coal-to-power aspect of Nigeria’s electricity mix. “We do not have infinite coal deposit, so we have to plan well for utilisation of the deposit that we have, that is why we have to initiate processes to develop a bankable framework for coal-to-power initiative. We want to ensure that we do not start projects that we cannot finish in the coal-to-power aspect of our energy mix,” Nebo said, while addressing a gathering of energy economists at the 7th Annual Nigerian Association for Energy Economists (NAEE)/International Association for Energy Economists (IAEE) conference in Abuja. The IEA report notes that despite China’s efforts to moderate its coal consumption, it will still account for threefifths of demand growth during the outlook period. Moreover, China will be joined by India, ASEAN countries and other countries in Asia as the main engines of growth in coal consumption, offsetting declines in Europe and the United States. “We have heard many pledges and policies aimed at mitigating climate change, but over the next five years they will mostly fail to arrest the growth in coal demand,” IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said. “Although the contribution that coal makes to energy security and access to energy is undeniable, I must emphasise once again that coal use in its current form is simply unsustainable. For this to change, we need to radically accelerate deployment of carbon capture and sequestration.” The Executive Director also called for more investment in high-efficiency coalfired power plants, especially in emerging economies. “New plants are being built, in an arc running from South Africa to Southeast Asia, but too many of these are based on decadesold technology,” she said. “Regrettably, they will be burning coal inefficiently for many years to come.” The report noted that global coal demand growth has been slowing in recent years, and sees that trend continuing. It explained that coal demand will grow at an average rate of 2.1 percent per year through 2019. This compares to the 2013 report’s forecast

of 2.3 percent for the five years through 2018 and the actual growth rate of 3.3 percent per year between 2010 and 2013. As has been the case for more than a decade, the fate of the global coal market will be determined by China. The world’s biggest coal user, producer and importer has embarked on a campaign to diversify

its energy supply and reduce its energy intensity, and the resulting increase in gas, nuclear and renewables will be staggering. However, the IEA report shows that despite these efforts, and under normal macroeconomic circumstances, Chinese coal consumption will not peak during the five-year outlook period.

The report’s forecasts come with considerable uncertainties, especially regarding the prospect of new policies affecting coal. Authorities in China as well as in key markets like Indonesia, Korea, Germany and India, have announced policy changes that could sharply affect coal market fundamentals. The possibility of these policy changes becoming reality is compounding uncertainty resulting from the current economic climate. The issue of low prices remains a hot topic among coal market participants. Last year’s report emphasised that many coal producers were running at losses, largely driven by take-or-pay infrastructure contracts or financial liabilities. Coal prices have declined even more since last CONVOCATION: From left: Wife of the awardee and General Manager, Zenith Bank, Mrs. year, but several Adobi Nwapa; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. factors have Ernest Chu Nwapa and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Prof Chighelped producers ozie Asiabaka after receiving an honorary doctorate degree of Management Technology at the withstand further 2014 convocation ceremony in Imo State. economic pain.

NALPGAM warns against indiscriminate siting of gas facilities By Sebastine Obasi

HE Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, NALPGAM, has warned that the growing indiscriminate siting of gas facilities in different parts of the country poses a great danger to the citizenry. The warning came against the backdrop of the recent gas explosion in the premises of Babson Gas Nigeria Limited, Akure, Ondo State, which left eight persons critically injured and destroyed 42 houses and shops worth millions of Naira. Expressing NALPGAM’s concern, the Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Olufunke Eleyinmi said that both the federal and state governments should monitor the various gas facilities scattered all over the country with a view to identifying the unlicensed ones. She also said that NALPGAM has disassociated itself from the owner of the illegal facility. “NALPGAM dissociates itself from the owner of the gas facility. He is not a member of NALPGAM and has no license to operate. “We need to know who approved the

siting of the skid gas facility in that area. Who gave the license and when was it given? DPR is the government agency responsible to give out such licenses. It would not have issued license to that facility. We use this opportunity to condole with the government and people of Ondo State. One explosion can send the entire country into chaos,” she said. Vanguard learnt that the owner of Babson Gas Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ololade applied to undertake such venture in May this year, but the state government rejected his application ostensibly due to the fact that the environment is not conducive for such business outfit. However, he snubbed government’s directive and went ahead to build the facility in the area. Also, government officials it was gathered have been collecting revenue from the owner of the gas outlet despite the non approval of such business venture in that location. A gas plant has a minimum space to occupy. According to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) interim guidelines for LPG Add-On in Retail

Outlet obtained by Vanguard, LPG-ADDON operation is the introduction of LP gas refilling activities in licensed retail outlet. The expected allowable LPG storage capacity is supposed to be one tonne to five tonnes. For applications on LPG storage capacity greater than five metric tonnes, the applicant must apply for a standalone, fully autonomous gas plant. “The possibility of a major fire outbreak, leading to direct flame impingement on a storage vessel, can be minimized by sound engineering, plant design and layout. Of similar importance are good operating practices and the proper instruction and training of personnel on both routine operation and on action to be taken in emergency,” DPR guideline stated. According to the DPR, it will frequently monitor LPG operations based on the level of risks, amount of product, familiarity with company operation, procedure and track records. It explained that it may stop any LPG operation or prohibit planned operations due to safety concerns or unacceptable risk.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 25

Poor financial reporting undermining oil sector growth — NNRC By Michael Eboh

ROWTH in the Nigerian oil and gas industry will remain elusive over the next couple of years, unless issues of poor financial reporting, insufficient audits and inadequate information are addressed. The 2014 Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) Benchmarking Report, which disclosed this, further stated that, “Scarce or inadequate information, insufficient audits, and poor financial reporting standards for public entities like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, have helped in no small measure in undermining processes in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.” The report noted that the level of confusion generated by the allegations of financial misappropriation against the NNPC has brought about the need for the adoption of bestpractices in financial reporting standards, such as the International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS. The report further called for increased information sharing both across government and with the public, adding that complexity and opacity in public revenue procedures also continue to undermine the oversight efforts of civil society actors. Continuing, the report, presented by the Nigerian Resource Governance Institute, NRGI, the Centre for Public Policy and Alternatives, CPPA among others, said, “Oil account payments including remittances to the federation account are not publicly available. Nor is there accurate measurement of the total volume of oil produced. “The commencement of oil metering by an adequate flow control system has yet to occur. While the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has produced valuable reports that have expanded transparency in the sector, the initiative has struggled to deliver accountability as government agencies have not addressed many of the problems and recommendations revealed in the reports.” The NNRC is led by a 14member independent, multidisciplinary expert advisory panel, comprising Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, former Minister of Petroleum and Foreign Affairs; Mr. Adeola Adenikinju, a Professor of Economics from the University of Ibadan; Mr. Bode Agusto, former Director General of the Budget Office and Professor

Akpan Ekpo, Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, among others. Furthermore, the report lamented that weak cost regulation is causing huge revenue losses to the country and undermining the development efforts of stakeholders. It said, “For instance, at the time of signing the 1993 Production Sharing Contracts, PSCs, industry costs were much lower than they have been in the past decade. Investment tax credits (ITC) were given at a 50 per cent rate in 1993, and

transmitted the wrong signal to petroleum sector investors. “To date, the country is yet to overhaul these fundamental components to reflect contemporary market conditions, resulting in revenue losses to the state. “Other elements of the prevailing fiscal system for assessing and collecting oil revenues, such as the K-factor computations contained in MOUs between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and its partners, also remain either outdated or too complicated for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS,

to effectively administer.” In general, the report disclosed that situation in the Nigerian oil sector did not record any significant change from when the last report was presented, noting that all the indicators used in measuring Nigeria’s performance remained the same. “Since 2012, there has been no progress made with respect to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. The Bill’s provisions are not in the most ideal form, and it is stalling for a number of reasons including disagreements over its fiscal provisions.

AWARD: From left: Managing Director, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Engr. Paul Obelley; General Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation, NCDMB, Engr. Chijioke Okorie and Chief Executive Officer, Wellmann Group, Mr. Chris Iyovwaye at Wellmann's long term service award in Warri.

Buyers shun Nigeria’s January crude cargo

IGERIAN crude cargoes for January loading are struggling to sell with almost half of the program still available due to very weak demand with an oversupply of sweet crudes, market sources said. Asian and European demand for Nigeria and other West African cargoes has been slow so far, exacerbated by high freight rates and the availability of cheaper sweet crudes in both regions. Activity on Nigeria was slow especially for key grades such as Qua Iboe, Bonny Light, Bonga and Forcados. Some niche grades like Akpo, Usan and Agbami have sold decently but the whole Nigerian sweet crude complex was being dragged down by the weak demand. “The market is in disaster mode,” said a trader. “There

is just no demand for these Nigerian grades at the moment. There is too much oil to choose from. Even the Azeri Light values are coming crashing down.” Nigeria’s flagship grade Qua Iboe was assessed at Dated Brent plus $0.72/b on Monday, the weakest since April 24, 2009, Platts data showed. Traders said there were still more than 30 Nigerian January loading cargoes unsold, and with the Nigerian February program expected later in the day, differentials were expected to fall steadily if demand did not materialize. “The arbitrage east is almost closed and the OSPs in Middle East are very cheap. The Brent/Dubai spread is wide. There are plenty of alternatives for [Asian] refiners instead of WAF. And, the European refiners are

spoilt for choice,” the trader added. Sources said some offer levels for Qua Iboe, Bonga and Erha had been quite high and as a result a standoff was observed with no buying interest heard at these levels. Despite weak demand some of these offer levels had not yet come off. Qua Iboe was still heard offered at Dated Brent plus $1.20/b and sources said with the provisional February program due later in the week, values could fall sharply if these cargoes did not trade. A second trader said: “The Angolan January program is sold out thanks to the Chinese but on Nigeria, we still have almost 40 million barrels left [including] some December barrels on storage. The market is very long, in WAF and in the Med.”

NLNG tops rankings of Nigerian companies

IGERIA LNG (NLNG), the country’s liquefied natural gas exporter, has come out as the top Nigerian establishment in the latest ranking of companies in Nigeria. According to a statement by the company, the league table of the country’s foremost 100 companies was recently undertaken by business development and marketing consultants, Jake Riley, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI). “We recognise that this achievement of being the foremost Nigerian establishment in the latest ranking also places on us the responsibility to continue to remain the model company that shows how Nigeria can generate value from its abundant human and natural resources,” said Babs Omotowa, NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive. While international oil companies, ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron took the top three spots, NLNG came fourth, leading other Nigerian companies in the blue chip listing. Other local and international establishments that made up the top ten of the league table were Total Nigeria, MTN, Dangote Group, OandO, EniAgip and First Bank Nigeria Plc. As the arrowhead of the Federal Government’s effort to end gas flaring, the company said it has successfully converted gas that would have been routinely burned off, into lucrative cargoes of liquefied natural gas, exported safely and reliably to customers in different parts of the world. According to the the company, earlier this year, NLNG paid corporate income tax (CIT) of two hundred and twenty billion naira (N220bn) to the Federal Government of Nigeria, becoming the largest corporate tax payer in the country. The amount accounts for some five per cent of the government’s revenue. Between 1999 when the Nigeria LNG exported its first cargo and today, the company has converted about four trillion cubic feet (4Tcf) of associated gas and five trillion cubic feet (5Tcf) of non-associated gas to over 3,250cargoes of liquefied natural gasand natural gas liquids. It has during this span of time, paid some $30 billion as dividend to its shareholders.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Accessibility, affordability, hindrances to LPG market devt By Michael Eboh

IGERIAN Liquefied Natural Gas, (LNG) Limited has highlighted accessibility, affordability and acceptability as the major barriers to the development of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) market in Nigeria. Speaking at the fourth annual conference of the Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, NLPGA, in Abuja, Mr. Babs Omotowa, Managing Director, Nigeria LNG, emphasised the need for the deepening and development of the country’s LPG market to reflect the improvement recorded in the sector over the years. Omotowa, who was represented by Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed, Marketing and Development Manager, Nigeria LNG, disclosed that in response to supply shortages in the domestic LPG market, NLNG intervened in 2007 and commenced with an annual volume commitment of 150,000 metric tonnes (MT) which was subsequently increased in 2013 to 250,000mt. He further stated that the NLNG supplies 80 per cent of total domestic consumption, adding that since 2007, total supply to the domestic market is 615,000mt. He explained that the NLNG is advocating a five-point agenda to grow the industry, which includes: creating awareness, granting incentives

Seven Energy reaffirms commitment to community development

AWARD: From left: Mr. Alexis Vovk, Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc, presenting a 25 years long servive award to Mr Jeff Nnamani, General Manager, Strategy, Total Nigeria Plc, at the just concluded Total Nigeria Plc award night/end of year party. to LPG stakeholders, empowering consumers, improving infrastructure and promoting favourable government regulation. Also speaking, Prince Haruna Momoh, Managing Director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, and Chairman, Gas to Health Initiative, emphasised the need for access to LPG for the generality of the people. Momoh, who was represented by Mrs. Betty Ugona, Manager, LPG, PPMC, said the Gas to Health Initiative

has been promoting access to LPG by distributing free cylinders to the rural communities, promoting the safe use of LPG and general outreach programmes. Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Dayo Adeshina, President of the NLPGA, lamented the inadequate gas infrastructure in the country, lack of access to funding, safety and regulatory challenges. He called for a joint initiative by both the private sector and the government, to identify ways in which investment in

the LPG sector can be easily promoted. Mr. Ian Brown, Managing Director, Navgas Limited, lamented the issue of substandard trucks not fitted with adequate safety equipment, stating that there is a dire need for the issue of safety to be recognised and addressed. Speaking further, Miss Damilola Ani, Executive Secretary, NLPGA, said the launch of the Women in LPG Council is scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2015.

Electric power companies must deliver value-added services — Huawei By Peter Egwuatu

UAWEI a global informa tion communication technology solutions provider, has emphasized that electric power companies in Africa and other part of the world must be able to deliver various value-added services to respond to the diverse needs of their customers. The company, in a statement, noted that in 2002, the U.S.-based Electric Power Research Institute proposed a research project titled IntelliGrid to focus on the integration of electricity and communications systems and eighteen months later, the project was officially named IntelliGrid Architecture and the world first smart grid architecture was established. It added that over the last decade, smart grid pioneers

She explained that the council would provide positive opportunities for all members in the LPG industry to support the advancement and success of women in every scope of business operation and professional development.

have highlighted the importance of innovative smart grid architecture and the electric power industry has experienced dramatic changes in the transmission, distribution, marketing, and consumption of electricity. Only twelve years after the concept was first introduced to the world, the smart grid is now shaping the technical and management transformation of the global electric power industry with endorsement from utility companies of almost every country in the world. According to Huawei “In the last couple of years, the power industry has witnessed developments in the smart grid concept, with a shift in focus from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to four major aspects: Home area network (HAN) (possibly the next hot spot for innovation

and investment); Networkside applications (such as reactive power control and automation); Future-oriented functions of utilities (such as distributed electricity generation, solar photovoltaic power generation, and electric vehicles); and integration of Demand Response (DR) with AMI, which is now a trend as DR is expected to foster significant changes in consumer behavior.” Meanwhile, the use of smart temperature controllers, smart switches, and smart electrical appliances, according to the company will attract the attention of related product manufacturers. “This means that electric power companies must be able to deliver various value-added services to respond to the diverse

needs of their customers. This shift shows that the industry is evolving towards a better connected smart grid with powerful functions such as the ability to identify electricity infrastructure equipment, employees, and micro-environments through various sensing devices” the company noted. Meanwhile, at the 11 t h A P E C Energy Ministerial Meeting held recently, the State Grid Corporation of China(SGCC)’s Chairman, Liu Zhenya, called for global efforts to build the Internet of Energy (IoE). The goal of IoE is to fully connect smart grids to provide electricity everywhere,everysecond,andeffectively utilize every watt. IoE helps to ensur safe, clean, efficient, and sustainable power supply by coordinatingthegeneration,configuration,and utilizationofelectricpower.

EVEN Energy International Limited, the indigenous Nigerian oil and gas development, production and gas distribution company continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the developmental aspirations of its host communities in order to foster mutually beneficial relationships. As a demonstration of this commitment, Seven Energy has renovated and handed over six classroom blocks and exercise books to Ubodung Community Secondary School in Urue-Offong/Oruko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Speaking during the handover, Dr. Glenn Bestall, Vice President for Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environment& Corporate Social Responsibility, said that education is one of the best legacies any society can bequeath to its children. In view of this Seven Energy decided to renovate the school to provide a conducive learning environment for the local community. He praised the community for maintaining good relations with Seven Energy and pledged the Company’s continued support for their development initiatives. ‘We thank this community for providing us with the necessary cooperation to continue to do our business here’. Commenting on the project, Nkoyo Etuk, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Seven Energy, said that education is a very important part of Seven Energy ’s corporate social responsibility investment. We will continue to work together with our host communities, contractors and other stakeholders to ensure the improvement of the living conditions of the communities located near our operations. The paramount ruler of Urue-Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, Offong E.R Amazi commended Seven Energy for its support to the community. He said, ‘This school was built over thirty years ago and has been in a dilapidated state for many years.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 27

Kaduna DISCO to roll out 80,000 meters yearly, says management Stories by Chris Ochayi

HE management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KEDC, has said that it will roll out 80,000 pre-paid meters annually within the next five years. The Managing Director of the company, Haruna Garuba made the disclosure last week during the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, public consultation on electricity metering in Kaduna. According to him, “We have a plan to roll out about 80,000 meters every year. In Kaduna, the customer base is about 480,000 which we believe could be more than that. So in our plan, we know more houses are being built and more customers are coming up. That is why we have the plan to bridge the gap.” He said that under the CAPMI it is expected that customers should willingly make advance payment for prepaid meter which the electricity distribution company is obliged to install for them within 45 days of provision of notice of payment by the customer. Recall that a private investor took over the management of the company about two weeks ago. But Garuba explained that the company will rehabilitate most

of the equipment and invest in infrastructure in its electricity market that cuts across over a distance of 1,000Km in Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto State. The NERC Commissioner of Government and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Abbah Ibrahim had earlier urged the distribution company to bridge the 60 per cent metering gap in the market.

He stressed that: “More than 50 per cent in some cases 60 percent of consumers are not metered and this led to a situation where customers are estimated.” He also revealed that the commission has directed the DISCOs to publish their electricity load shedding plan as from next year. Ibrahim said that “By next year all the DISCOs will

publish and they will also announce on the television in their coverage area the time they are going to do their load shedding.” In his presentation, the KEDC Head, Customer Service Market Mr. Sunday Yahaya said that the company which has commenced verification of customers has installed 8,601 meters under the CAPMI scheme.

DONATION: Regional Health Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCo, Dr. Femi Oduneye (right), and National Director, SOS Children’s Villages, Mr. Eghosa Erhumwunse, at the donation of two buses to the SOS Children’s Village, Isolo, Lagos, by NNPC-SNEPCo; and the handing over of the upgraded and equipped clinic to the village.

Electricity consumers lament ‘crazy’ bill in Kano

L E C T R I C I T Y consumers in Kano State have said that less than 3,000 consumers have received pre-paid meters since the distribution company, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, took over in November, 2013. The customers who made this known at the consumers’ consultation on Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI, in Kano State, however lamented that they are still exposed to crazy billing as a result of none metering. Chairman of Kano Electricity Consumer Forum, Mallam Suleiman Bello said at the forum that although electricity supply has improved, consumers are still exposed to crazy billing and non metering. Bello said ý “KEDC metering is very low. It has estimated 3ý00,000 customers, I assure you that they have not metered up to 50,000. Since they took over, they have not disbursed up to 3,000 units.”

He also echoed consumers’ voices on the high cost of meter for N20,000 noting that multiple shop owners may not raise the cost in bulk to pay for metering. “There should be a means for instalment payment where willing consumers could pay half and after installation, pay the rest,” he added. The consultation which was organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, was to probe metering progress of DISCOs especially under the CAPMI following outrages of “crazy” billings by electricity consumers nationwide. NERC Commissioner for Market Competitions and Rates, Dr. Eyo Ekpo said those who paid for meters will enjoy an 11percent interest rate while they will have a rebate from the Fixed Charge till the money is cleared. MD of Kano DISCO, Jamil Gwamna said it is planning to meter its customers within two years while it is working on embedded power generation to improve supply in its service area.

A customer, Engr. Maude Ado who decried the DISCO’s negligence of CAPMI said “It has not even started the CAPMI when sister DISCOs like Kaduna has 8,000 installed meters already. ” Meanwhile, the DISCO staff, Ismail Aliyu accused NERC of not allowing DISCOs to select meter vendors ýsaying it does not

guarantee competition for reduced meter pricing. NERC Commissioner for Government & Consumer Affairs, Dr Abba Ibrahim said the Commission does not restrict DISCOs on picking metering contractors, but said meters supplied must meet with the metering code standard as endorsed by NERC.

Landmark University develops alternative energy product

By Ediri Ejoh

ANDMARK University, in Omu-Aran, Kwara State said it has successfully converted waste materials from its environs to an alternative fuel product that is currently used to power a generating set in the school. This was stated by the Dean College of Agricultureal Science of the University, Professor Gideon Agbaje, while receiving an award from The Center for Democratic Governance in Africa, CDGA, as the second best private university in Nigeria. He explained that the new type of fuel developed by the institution, is the waste product generated from the agricultural produce and leftovers from the school cafeteria. According to him, “ The chemical engineering department developed this new alternative type of fuel which is gotten from agricultural produce such as; corn cobs and waste food. “After these development, the management had to approve a generator for a test run, which is still used to power the faculty building when doing practicals.” Although, he noted that the experimental fuel, has not been tested on vehicles as its still in the refining state.He also explained that the institution is working towards becoming an independent alternative power generator. “We want to solely depend on our own power generation, and for that, we are working to develop the use of solar energy as an alternative power generation. In due course, the college of science and technology will be solarpowered as mechanism to achieving this is already in place,” he said.

Shell donates buses to orphanage, renovates clinic By Ediri Ejoh & Hope Ofobike

HELL Nigeria Exploration Production Company, SNEPco, has donated two school buses and renovated a clinic at the Save our Soul (SOS) Children’s Village in Isolo, Lagos. Managing Director, SNEPCO, Tony Attah, stated this at the commissioning of the SOS Children Village clinic and the end of the year children”s party in Lagos. Represented by the Regional Health Manager, Sub- Saharan Africa, Dr Femi Oduneye,

Attah explained that the projects will provide both immediate and long term value to the orphanage home. He said: “We conducted a need- based assessment and identified this clinic, at the time the project was uncompleted, but we recognize it potentials to have a significant impact on the lives of children. It will give children within the environs and neighbouring communities the opportunity to access quality health care. “We have gone further to honour the Children”s Village request for two new school buses. This is another

demonstration of the extensive reach of this initiative. However, we are not oblivious to the fact that many children walk long distances to attend school every day, and this is not only physically tasking for them, but this reality also exposes them to attendant dangers” , he said. He noted that the provision of these school buses will provide a safe and comfortable alternative to get kids to and from their respective schools, adding that the company is keen to ensure that local communities benefit from its presence.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Toyota Avensis: Japanese car with European attributes T

HE Toyota Avensis is one of the most powerful cars in its segment and winner of the 2013 Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards, NAJA, Car of the Year. Designed in Europe with Japanese DNA, the Avensis has a bold styling that stands it out among its peers. According to Toyota Motor Company, the styling of the Avensis gives it a dynamic and unique presence, while the outstanding basic performance delivers agile driving with reasoning feeling. Occupants' pleasure is enhanced by the spacious cabin with its premium-quality interior finishing and satisfying equipment. The styling, combined with the solid surfaces, radiates robustness and creates an innovative originality and bold presence. Under the bonnet of the Toyota Avenis is 16 valve 2.0 litre 3ZR-FE dual VVT1 engine that delivers maximum output of 102kw/5600 tr.mn and maximum torque of 189 Nm/4400 rpm. The other engine of the Avensis is also a 2.0 litre 1AZ-FE powerful with maximum output of 100kw/5600 rpm and torque of 190Nm/ 4000 rpm. The Avensis’ dual VVTi compact, lighweight engine integrates various advanced technologies to deliver both excellent performance and low fuel consumption.

•Toyota Avensis

The technology optimally controls the open/close timing of both the intake and exhaust valve based on driving conditions, further contributing to fuel economy and reduced exhaust emission. The second engine, 1AZFE engine is a compact lightweight engine that meets the demands of

driving in practical range with high torque through the whole power range, while also considering excellent fuel efficiency and low emission. Avensis’ electronic throttle body provides superb response, contributing to sporty driving. The Avensis engine are mated to a superb intelli-

gent four-speed automatic transmission which provides excellent response and smooth shift feeling. The uphill/downhill shift control automatically select the optimum gear on uphill and downhill roads. There is also a sixspeed manual transmission version of the Avensis for manual gear crazy customers.

Why Yaya Toure is Nissan Ambassador— SINGH N

ISSAN has named Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure as its newest global brand ambassador for the 2015 African Nations Cup, AFCON, holding in Equatorial

Guinea early next year. The three-time African Footballer of the Year and UEFA Champions League winner has agreed to the deal which will see him work alongside Nissan’s global UEFA Champions

League and Orange Cup of Nations 2015 partnerships. Mr. Parvir Singh, Group Managing Director (automobile division), Stallion Motors Limited and Nissan custodian in

Ford plans world’s most advanced automotive climatic wind tunnel test centre

ERMANY will soon be home to some of the hottest and coldest temperatures, most arid and humid conditions, hurricane force wind speeds, and highest altitudes to be found anywhere on the planet, courtesy of a new climatic wind tunnel test centre being built by Ford at its engineering centre in Merkenich, Cologne. The all-new, multi-million US$ facility, which is planned to be the most advanced wind tunnel test centre in the global auto industry when it is

The Toyota Avensis owes its excellent road handling partly to its suspension, which includes Macpherson Strut in front and double wishbone with stabilizer bar at the rear. Built to rule its class, the Avensis features a luxurious cabin in refined simplicity and ease of use of the abundant appointments. The cabin is filled

with a premium-quality feeling. It is simple, yet careful attention was paid to details such as the choice of colours and materials. Together with the spacious dimensions, the Avensis offers a truly comfortable space. Luxury torch in he Avensis include the CD player, audio mini-jack, leather interior, auto air conditioning system, bluetooth, smart entry and start system, eight-way power front seats, keyless entry system to mention just a few. And when it comes to safety, the Avensis is a typical Toyota built with high level of active and passive safety features which integrates the use of advanced technologies. These safety features are countless starting from headlamps, ABS with EBD, EPS VSC integrated control system, disc brake on all four wheels, ventilated on the front for excellent heat-dissipation efficiency, airbags, crash safety body, active headrest etc.

opened in the next few years, will feature two climatic wind tunnels capable of operating at wind speeds of up to 250 kph, almost at the Category 5 rating for hurricane wind speeds. The test centre will also house an altitude laboratory capable of emulating heights from sea level to 5,200 metres high, higher than the average height of the Tibetan Plateau, often described as The Roof of the World. “Around 50 percent of the vehicles we sell around the world are sold

in areas that are more than 1,000 metres above sea level, including regions like the Alps and Pyrenees here in Europe,” said Barb Samardzich, Chief Operating Officer, Ford of Europe, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This new, world-leading climatic wind tunnel test centre underlines Ford’s continuing commitment to investing in the most advanced vehicle testing technologies to provide our customers with the highest quality, world-class vehicles.”

The climatic wind tunnel test centre will also feature four separate cells where cars can be cooled to temperatures of minus 40 Celsius Arctic conditions, to plus 55 Celsius, just 2.8 Celsius below the highest-ever air temperature globally recorded in the Sahara Desert. In addition, humidity in the centre will be capable of being adjusted from the driest desert conditions of just 10 percent humidity, to the most humid of rainforests at 95 percent.

Nigeria, announced this deal at a briefing in Lagos, remarking that Toure will as part of the contract be the face of Nissan’s advertising campaign in Africa and play key role at Nissan’s Orange Cup of Nations 2015 sponsorship. He said: “Toure will also help connect football fans with the Nissan brand and increase excitement around Nissan’s innovative range of products and slogan: Innovation that excites.” Mr. Singh described Toure as African Footballer of the Year and a symbol of Africa pride, which according to him was one of the reasons the renowned automaker chose him as its ambassador for the 2015 AFCON tournament. “Toure will interface with the people to project Nissan’s brand image with the aim of wooing sporting fans and ingraining the values of Nissan across the generality of the society,” he added.

He is also expected to star in a series of new television and print advertisements for the UEFA Champions League slated to premiere in February 2015, the Stallion boss added. Toure has acknowledged the appointment and was quoted as saying: “I am proud to be partnering with Nissan across its UEFA Champions League and Orange Cup of Nations 2015 sponsorships. “I have been fortunate enough to win lots of trophies in my career, but the Orange African Cup of Nations has always been my target as an African. “So I am really looking forward to it and working with Nissan to help bring the excitement around both of these fantastic tournaments to fans around Africa and the rest of the world.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 29 By Theodore Opara

BATN keys into NAIDP, changes fleet to Peugeot A

N indication that the new auto policy of the Federal Government will lead to a drastic reduction in the patronage of imported vehicles has emerged with British American Tobacco (BAT) of Nigeria taking delivery of different models of Peugeot vehicles from PAN Nigeria Limited in a move described by both organisations as a sign of new things to come between the duo. BATN bought four units of the Peugeot 301 saloon, 4 units of 4008 SUV, 2 units of the 3008 hatchback and a unit of the 508 luxury saloon, all totaling 11. The stylish cars, described as new definition of the lion brand come in automatic transmission. Ademola Omitayo, Head, Trade and Marketing BATN said their decision to shift to Peugeot cars is to support the new National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) as approved by the federal government which emphasized on local patronage of vehicles .

Freddy Messanvi, corporate affairs director of BATN said the choice of Peugeot cars was predicated on the company’s inventory of Peugeot cars by BAT’s operational offices outside Nigeria in terms of after sales and service maintenance, as Abubakar Jimeta, National Sales Manager, PAN highlighted some of the features and other offerings that stands the Peugeot models in the midst of competition, and assured that the company will be up to the task in maintaining all brands of Peugeot cars as it has service outlets all over Lagos and others parts of the country. According to Musa Usman Bashir, Head, Corporate Communications of PAN Nigeria Limited, BAT

purposely bought these cars in obedience to the federal government’s call on Public/private organizations to buy Made -inNigeria cars as a support for the automotive policy. Contrary to NAIDP critics, there is a drop in the prices of locally assembled cars in comparism to imported ones. The drop in prices, however, is contrary to the initial fear that the new auto policy will lead to a sharp rise in the cost of imported new and used vehicles. Many car dealers had projected about 60 per cent increase in the prices of such vehicles following the introduction of the new auto policy in September last year.

From left: Olumide Odeyemi, head of procurement, BATN; Ademola Omitayo, head of sales BATN; Freddy Messanyi, corporate affairs director, BATN ; Jimeta Abubakar,Nationall sales executive, PAN; Onifade Adeniyi regional sales executive, PAN ,and Seyi Ashade, sustainability manager, BATN, at the presentation of Peugeot range of models by PAN Limited to top management of BATN in Lagos.

Most improved brand award, confirmation of Fords quality — Briscoeford B

RISCOEFORD, one of the distributors of Ford brand in Nigeria has described the crowning of Ford as the “Most Im-

proved Auto brand by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Award” as a confirmation of Fords quality as one of the leading auto brand across the globe.

The Ford brand was voted the most ‘improved auto brand’ at the just concluded Nigeria’s Auto Journalists Awards held at

the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites Lagos. In a unanimous and overwhelming decision by one of the veritable stakeholders of the Nigerian automobile industry, the Motoring Journalists have not overlooked the enormous transformations on the brand which has made it a household name in Nigeria. As such, BriscoeFord on behalf of Ford Motor Corporation, which to appreciate the organizers for recognizing the effort of our manufacturer at improving the quality of their vehicles in terms of safety, comfort, new technologies and environmental friendliness. The award, which was jointly received on behalf of Ford by BriscoeFord and Coscharis Ford laid credence to the acceptability and adaptation of the brand by different segments of the Nigerian market. Nigerian road users now enjoy the friendliness of the Ford brand through consistent performance, reliability to deliver on usage, interior comfort, easy-to-use connectivity gadgets on the dashboard, unprecedented fuel economy and many other benefits offered by the vehicle. BriscoeFord is offering wide range of Ford vehicles to auto lovers including the F150 truck, Ranger T6 pick up series, SUVs which include Explorer, Edge, Escape, Ecosport and Sedans

such as Taurus, Fusion, Focus and the entry level Figo. Similarly, the efficiency and improvement in Ford vehicles has not gone unnoticed in other markets across the globe. For instance, Ford’s ultrafuel efficient and spirited 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, designed and engineered in the UK, was named 2013 International Engine of the Year, marking the second consecutive year Ford’s acclaimed three-cylinder engine would be capturing the award. The 1.0litre EcoBoost engine – which combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to lower fuel consumption without sacrificing power – received the highest score in the history of the awards. The engine also won the “Best Engine Under 1.0litre” category at the annual awards presented by Engine Technology International magazine. Ford America is expanding the industry-leading range of powerful and efficient powertrains with the addition of an all-new 2.7liter EcoBoost® with standard Auto Start-Stop engineered specifically for the next-generation Ford F-150. The highoutput twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine features an entirely new design that delivers power and performance in a stronger, smarter package.

30 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

By Theodore Opara

GAC Motors finally settles in Nigeria G

AC Motors, one of the leading Chinese automobile manufacturers has demonstrated its strong resolve to compete in the Nigerian automobile market by opening an ultra-modern three S facility in Victoria Island, Lagos. The Chinese auto maker, represented in Nigeria by CIG Motors, before the completion of its new facility was operating from the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island and has taken part in the annual Abuja and Lagos Motor shows, as well as private exhibitions at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Speaking at the unveiling the chairman of CIG Motors, Mrs Diana Chen explained that GAC brand of automobiles are produced to the highest industry standard to compete with leading Japanese and European models. “We are very confident with the standard and quality of automobiles the CIG Motors intend to deliver to Nigerians having seen that Nigerians love quality things including automobiles,” she said. According to Diana, CIG promises to deliver unique services to Nigerians. Already the company has kickstarted a holiday promotion by offering 20 per cent discount on any GS5 SUV or GA3 1.6

litre engine saloon model bought during the period. The GAC flagship, GS5 SUV is powered by a 2.0 litre engine and loaded with array of features that are only seen in luxury brands. The near luxury sport

utility vehicle is competitive priced despite it array of feature. This the chairman of the company said is part of their selling point and value added. Also speaking at the

OSCHARIS Motors, one of the leading automobile marketing companies in the country and an accredited dealer of the Ford in Nigeria is offering Ford customers free diagnosis on major parts of their vehicle that bothers on basic safety and comfort in her ongoing ‘Real Deals Around The Wheel’ promo. According to Coscharis Ford,.’Real Deals Around the Wheel promo’ offers free checkup on all the vehicle parts around the wheel including, brake pads, shoes, calipers, shocks, struts, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc. If the result of the diagnosis discloses any defect, and the customer opts to repair the vehicle, he gets an automatic 20% discount on the cost of repairs, which includes the cost of replacement parts and labour.

leading vehicles in passive safety with the most advanced technology applied.” A high level of comfort is experienced in the GAC with generous legroom, head room and luggage space, while the double fork independent

Kia Rio award, recognition of commitment to quality, affordable cars — Malhotra T HE emergence of Kia Rio as Budget Car of the Year by the Nigeria Auto Journalists did not come as a surprise to many. Though the contest was between the Rio and the new Hyundai i10 Grand, the Rio carried

the day for offering more at budget price. The Rio has in the last four edition of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Award been nominated for car of the year, but denied by the Toyota Siblings, Corolla ad Avensis.

CoscharisFord offers Real Deal promo

occasion, Mr. Kayode Adejumo, Sales and Marketing Director CIG Motors added further highlighted some of the unique selling points of the GAC vehicles. “Apart from having the highest safety rating of 5 NCAP stars, it is one of the

suspensions ensure smoother ride on uneven surfaces. According to him, CIG Motors, has opened sales and aftersales facility as part of the steps towards achieving its plans to launch itself fully into the Nigerian auto market as a way of getting Nigerians. The Marketing Director also noted that GAC brand of vehicles coming into the country is to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest standard applied in vehicle manufacturing, giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed. The first set of models unveiled into the market are GS5 2.0L engine, the mid luxury SUV, currently the flagship and the GA3 1, 6L saloon vehicle. CIG is set to offer the highest standards and quality of service with genuine spare parts available for all the vehicles, Mr. Adejumo concluded.

Explaining the rationale behind the promo, Mr. Josiah Samuel, Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group said “we are encouraged by the level of patronage of our Ford brand of vehicles by our esteemed customers and therefore feel obliged to add value to the services we are rendering to them, as a way of saying thank you.” Mr. Samuel noted that “Real Deals Around The Wheel is an aftersales safety check campaign, which provides an opportunity for our existing Ford customers to ensure that their brakes, calipers, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc are in top condition as they prepare to embark on business or leisure trips this season. We had ran this campaign earlier this year, but some of our customers re-

quested that we re-run it this season as it will be very helpful for them, hence the promo.

Kia Motors Nigeria has been recognised for its zest to make new cars in Nigeria affordable to all and in recognition of this effort, its Kia Rio won the ‘Budget Car of the Year’ in the 2014 Nigeria Auto Journalist Award (NAJA). The company received the prestigious award at the 2014 NAJA Night held at Eko Hotel, Lagos. The award is in appreciation and recognition of Kia’s efforts

to make its model pocket friendly to her customers by offering an affordable cutting edge automotive technology to customers in the country. The company has through its cars, built trust with customers and the award is a testament to its exemplary achievement. According to the Chief Commercial Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr. Sandeep Malhotra, “We are truly honoured to receive this award. It’s indeed a recognition of our

commitment to continually provide quality and affordable cars to the Nigerian market. We pride ourselves in the delivery of the best automobile technology and will not rest on our oars in exceeding the expectations of our customers. The NAJA Awards instituted by the Guild of Motoring Journalists in Nigeria is the most credible auto award in Nigeria and is in its fourth edition. It is held to honour players in the automobile industry. Speaking at the event, a member of the organizing committee, Mr. Theodore Opara said the award is a recognition of hard work, resilience and determination of the auto companies in the industry. He further explained that the awards are as a result of objective analysis of the auto market trend and the evaluation by the stake holders on the performance of auto companies in the country. Hence, the awards are borne out of the desire for auto journalists to encourage the auto companies.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—31

32 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

C M Y K

Leaves speak on ailments, medication; I hear their voices PAGE 5

Governorship tears Oro communities, PDP apart in Akwa-Ibom PAGE 6

VOL. 1: NO. 29

TUESD AY, DECEMBER 23, 20 14 TUESDA 201

â&#x20AC;˘Diamond Bolowe

JIV: Soldiers batter villagers in Edo *Ikara community protests to Gov Oshiomhole

EDO... HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION By Godwin Oghre

KARA- TWO community leaders at Ikara oil-producing community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, have been hospitalized after being assaulted by soldiers on the instructions of some overzealous Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, officials for opposing an alleged one-sided Joint Investigation Visit, JIV. C M Y K

Community livid

The community, maddened by the treatment meted to the two representatives, Diamond Bolowe and Gift Oritseju, who were drafted to monitor the undertakings of the team on the day of visit without obligatory information to the community, have petitioned the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, asking for justice. The people also urged the police to fish out the soldiers, NPDC and NOSDRA officials, who supposedly gave the directives for the law to take its due course. They said the injured victims were first rushed to the Ologbo Health Centre from where they were referred to the Central Hospital Benin-city for further treatment.

Bolowe ended up at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, while Oritseju, who sustained severe burns before the latest incident when he and other â&#x20AC;˘Gift Oritseju villagers went to quench the raging fire at the spillage site also underwent treatment at the General Hospital, Sapele after the beating by soldiers. NPDC is a full subsidiary of the Federal Government-owned Nigeria

National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, while NOSDRA is a regulatory agency between oil and gas communities and exploration companies, particularly as it concerns Continues on Page 7

2—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

ENAGOA- SANDWICHED by rivers, creeks and rivulets, residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State are paradoxically groaning under the high cost of potable water and the distress caused the citizens is not amusing. Yenagoa, dubbed as one of the fastest growing capital cities in the federation, but its burgeoning population do not have safe water to drink . The hapless people depend on water vendors and this is in spite of the several billions of naira allocated yearly for public utilities in the state. Niger Delta Voice could not, however, ascertain if the N7.7b allocated for public utilities in the state’s 2014 budget was appropriated by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Dickson water tankers can’t deliver The impact of the water tankers procured by the Seraike Dicksonled administration to deliver potable water to residents under its neighbourhood water supply scheme is not being felt due to the haphazard nature of the capital city and the deplorable condition of the internal roads. Past efforts stalled Attempts in the past by previous administrations to address the lack of potable water by embarking on a Water Reticulation scheme were stalled due to what many analysts considered as lack of political will on the part of the leaders.

Illusion

Sadly, the Yenagoa Reticulation System, phase II and the planned upgrading of the Yenagoa Main Water Works at Ovom, Swali, Etegwe, Kpansia and Igbogene, which could have solved the potable water need of residents had remained a mirage.

Poor management

The situation is not different at Biseni in the outskirts of Yenagoa, where the people still struggle for potable water supply due to the poor management of the multimillion naira Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC -built water plant, a turnkey water pilot project with a production capacity of 27,000 gallons per hour and facility for treatment of surface water from a brackish source. The failure of the government to get the facilities functional had compelled most residents to make do with water from private sources, which are not subjected to quality testing to ensure it met accepted standards. Overhead tanks everywhere As a result, most landlords are forced to sink boreholes in their premises with the result that overhead water tanks litter the skyline of the capital city. For those residing in homes not having boreholes, they rely on water vendors for their daily supply. Some government offices patronize water vendors, who smile to the banks daily due to the high patronage. Exorbitant A 20- litre container of water cost between N50 and N60 depending on the location of the consumers. A cyber cafe operator at the Amarata suburb of Yenagoa, told Niger Delta Voice, “We contracted a water vendor to be coming every morning to fill up C M Y K

•Water vendors on queue at a private borehole in Yenagoa

Residents groan as water scarcity hits Yenagoa BA YELS A ... BAYELS YELSA

THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

the two drums by the toilet and other containers because we can no longer use our borehole due to the high iron content. On

the average, we spend N2000 daily on water alone.”

Shame

Another resident, Morris Jones, said, “It is a shame that we are surrounded by water, yet we do not have potable water to drink. I spend about N1000

•Water supply to state secretariat complex

daily just to have water for my household use. It was a bit okay during the rainy season when we could easily fetch rain water for toilet flushing and washing, but now with the dry season we are at the mercies of the water vendors.”

W a t e r v e n d o r s pleased

A vendor, who simply identified himself as Mohammed said, “This is our season, most residents depend solely on our supply, now that the rain has stopped, whatever amount I make in a day depends on how much my body could take. It is a strenuous venture and you need all the will power to carry on. On a good day, I make an

Alleged N225.6 million DESOPADEC debt:

Oil communities sue Delta govt DELTA... FINGER OF GOD By Festus Ahon & Theresa Ugbobu

GBOR- PEEVED by the seeming shortfall of oil derivation share to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, indigenes of oil- producing communities in the state, have dragged the State Government to the High Court sitting in OwaOyibo, Ika North East Local Government Area, over an outstanding N225,616,712.00, being owed the commission from 2007 to 2013. The plaintiffs, Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, Prince Okareme Maikpobi and two others in the suit, number AKY/16/14, with the state Attorney General, Governor, Speaker of the State House of Assembly

and Accountant General as defendants, among other issues, are seeking “a declaration that the 2015appropriation bill of Delta State should make provision of 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation funds to DESOPADEC for the benefit of the oil- producing communities.” They prayed the court to declare: “Whether or not the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) was set up by an act of Delta State government in 2007 to execute a clear mandate as stated in Section 13(1) of the enabling law.” The plaintiffs also want “an order compelling the 2nd defendant (The Executive Governor of Delta State) to comply strictly with the express provisions of Section 13(1) of the DESOPADEC laws in Delta State 2007.” The case was adjourned to 19th of January 2015 for hearing.

average of N10, 000 as I always try to meet the demands of my clients.”

Power outage exacerbates problem

“What can I do? I spend between N600 and N800 daily to purchase water from the vendors. It is even more difficult when there is long power outage as often experienced here at Ekeki,” a resident, Mrs. Akpoere Ebikemekeme, lamented. Another dweller, Ebi Thomas said: “Getting a jerry can of drinking water is a struggle for many of us who are poor petty traders. The cost of buying water daily in Yenagoa is much. I part with an average of N500 daily to get a water vendor to fill my drum. Sadly, the dry season has again set in and we have to ration the use of water as a result of the toll on our income.

Plan in the pipeline – Govt official

Efforts to get the comment of the Commissioner for Water Resources, Dein Benadoumene, proved abortive, but an official of the ministry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the government was aware of the water situation, emphasizing that surveys were being carried out with a view to fixing the problem.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—3

Chukwurah dissolves NdokwaEast revenue committees DELTA... FINGER OF GOD

BOH- CHAIR-PERSON, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, has disbanded revenue committees in the area with immediate effect. Chukwurah, who announced the dissolution at a meeting with former committee members, said it was consequent upon the desire of the new leadership to re-invigorate the revenue machinery of the council to meet the development needs of the local government. She said her administration would introduce new measures to increase the revenue base of the council and plug areas of wastage, adding that the gains would be injected into the development of the rural communities based on the needs of the people.

Omoku cult crisis:

Ogba monarch intervenes RIVERS… THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT- THE Oba of Ogba land in Rivers State, Sir Dr. Chukumela Nnam Obi II, has waded into the cult crisis at Omoku area of the state, which led to the butchering of 15 persons. Niger Delta Voice gathered that the monarch convened a meeting of stakeholders, including the political class where the aggrieved parties agreed to lay down their arms. The monarch, who was reportedly out of his domain when the killings occurred, decried the wanton killings incident, saying every step should be taken to promote values of peace in the area.

5 water projects pack up in Mkpani community •Women, children fetch water from contaminated pond •Villagers fall sick after drinking unclean water CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE By Emmanuel Unah

Irony of life

KPANI- LOCATED some 120 kilometres away from Calabar, along the Ugep – Ikom highway is Mkpani, a community of Ekoi tribe, whose people are honoured of their origin and antecedents and flaunt it. The average Mkpani person is quick to tell the story of their war exploits against neighbouring communities and the fact that it was their community that produced the first indigenous governor of the state, Mr. Clement Ebri. Ebri was governor in 1993 during the short lived General Ibrahim Babangida transition programme. However, in spite of their pride, the community has a litany of complaints; chief among them is the failure of water projects in the community. We rely on stream, pond Youth leader in the community, Alex Igbong, told

Niger Delta Voice that several water projects in the community have failed to function, leaving the people with no choice but to depend on the streams and ponds in the community for their water needs. Weeds, cobwebs takeover water projects He counted about five broken-down water projects located at various parts of the community, saying that cobwebs, weeds and campaign posters have taken over the one in Ajere section of the town. The 500-litre water project inaugurated by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in the community, April 2014, had also stopped flowing. Also, the water tank and solar energy facilities installed by the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, RUSWASAN, have not functioned since completion, three years ago. Kids go late to school Igbong lamented, “Our case is pathetic because our wives and children have to trek half a kilometre to streams and ponds located outside the town to get water and

sometimes, the kids go to school late because they have to queue and wait for their turn to get water.” Political water projects According to him, “Most of water projects are political projects and those who come to work on the projects are always in a hurry to complete the projects and then get back to those who awarded them the contracts to get their money and go away without proper supervision.” “Normally, those who get the contracts are not knowledgeable in water supply installations and because of political reasons, they get the job and soon they get out after doing a few things and we continue to suffer water need, while the contractor has collected his money and gone,” he asserted.

Polluted

Niger Delta Voice was at one of the ponds that serve as a source of drinking water for the people, it was observed the pond with greenish substance, covered with palm frond leaves, is inhabited by toads and frogs. Those who go there to fetch water have to step into the

pond to a point that is ankle deep and then dip their buckets and basins to fetch. To maintain order in the pond, some youths have erected a barricade with bamboos and palm fronds round to stop people from scrambling to fetch water from all points at the same time. A villager said, “The bad state of the water has often caused people to fall sick after drinking it, but since they have no choice, many people still drink from there because they cannot afford to buy sachet water for the entire family, so this is the only source which they depend

on.” We’re tackling the problem- Etowa Commissioner for Water Resources, Engineer Elemi Etowa, told Niger Delta Voice, “We have commenced the construction of a major borehole which will supply water 24 hours to the people of Mkpani, so in the next few weeks, water scarcity in the area will be a thing of the past.” He disclosed that the ministry was working on the dysfunctional water tank in the heart of the town for water to be pumped into it from Itigidi. C M Y K

4—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

KU – WHEN the Delta State Government under the administration of Chief James Ibori established the Tuberculosis and Leprosarium Centre, Eku in Ethiope-East Local Government Area, it was principally to reinstate ex-lepers, who usually stood along major roads begging to the society, but a recent visit to the centre revealed the contrary. Niger Delta Voice learned that though the state government still releases money for their feeding, things are so challenging that they survive by the grace of Non – Governmental Organizations and well-meaning individuals, who sometimes come to their rescue.

Ex-lepers’ skills centre in battered condition

•Residents cry for assistance; seek micro-credit from govt •We pay stipends to them- Efekoda, Commissioner for Women Affairs ourselves from begging,” he asserted. A resident of the camp, Mr. Sunday Ossai whose two children aged 10 and 14 years respectively are due for hernia operation, stated, “The hospital here told me to go and raise money for the operation, but my income can only cater for feeding, so I wonder where they expect me to raise such money for the operation from?” Joshua Iye, who has resided in the camp for 13 years, is also facing a similar fate over hernia operation. He does not have the fund to pay and no help yet.

Tattered condition Findings showed that basic amenities such as toilets, boreholes and a school for children of the occupants, located in the centre were in battered shape. The borehole provided by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Asaba, had broken-down. The major sources of water for the residents are dug-wells and rain. Chairman, Tuberculosis and Leprosarium Centre, Eku, Mr. Lucky Egbo, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, lamented the poor state of facilities and inadequate attention given them by the state government. Cry for more attention He explained that though the state government had been benevolent to dwellers of the centre in terms of feeding and accommodation, more still need to be done in terms of employment, loans and medical attention. “When the government brought us here, things were pretty okay for us as there was no reason for us to go out begging. But the reverse is the case as we are literally left to the fate of NGOs and well- meaning individuals, who make donations in cash and kind. Societal discrimination Bemoaning societal discrimination against them, Mr. Egbo whose wife died during childbirth, said his family treated him like the ‘Biblical lepers’ prior to his admission into the centre. “Some of us are lucky to get menial jobs in town, but as soon our employees know that we are ex-lepers, they automatically sack us from such jobs. Though the government has been of immense assistance to us, it would be appropriate if they engage us in menial jobs like cleaners, labourers and messengers for those of us who are not totally deformed just as they do with persons with other disabilities in the society,” he said. Eking out a living On how the residents take care of their families, he said, “Some of us embark on farming as a major source of income for ourselves and our families. When we harvest our farm produce, which include cassava, garri, vegetable, and plantain, we give it to our children, who take them to the various markets around here to sell. We cannot take it there ourselves because people would not patronize us when they realize that we are ex-lepers.” A garri seller at Eku market, Madam Patricia Owotuoma, told C M Y K

An inmate of the center, Joshua Iye who is due for an hernia operation while Sunday Ossai, father of two children for same operation looks on

DELTA... FINGER OF GOD By Perez Brisibe

our reporter, “I do not know how they do it or the extra attention they use in the preparation, but their garri is usually the finest.” We want micro-credit

Spokesman of the centre, Mr. Eruekeya Russia, said, “We keep hearing of how Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is doing wonders with the state’s microcredit programme and ask why the government has not extended same scheme to us. “ “We are not handicapped, we are only here because the society treats us with disdain and do not want us being around them, else, we are Nigerians like other Nigerians and have embraced farming as a tool for liberating

Mr. Lucky Egbo, Chairman Eku Tuberculosis and Leprosarium Centre

Govt pays ex-lepers stipend –Efekoda Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief Betty Efekoda, who oversees the centre, said government was aware of the challenges facing the ex-lepers and was doing everything possible to assist them. She said: “Residents of the centre are currently receiving a monthly stipend from the state government. But that aside, the government cannot do everything as it is also faced with the paucity of funds. This is why we are appealing to public spirited individuals to be their brother’s keeper by making goodwill donations to the centre rather than castigating the government.”

Arrest of three chiefs sparks fresh tension in Rivers RIVERS… THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION By Davies Iheamnachor

BAA: THE delicate peace at Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, where eight cultists willingly laid down their weapons, recently, was ruptured, penultimate week, when an All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain and two prominent chiefs of the town were arrested and whisked away by policemen from Abuja for supposedly sponsoring cultists in the area. Change of mind Reports from the area said some villagers, who fled the community since the crisis started in September, but decided to return home subsequent upon the surrender by the Ibaa-8 ahead of the Yuletide, had a change of mind

when the three chiefs were taken into custody. About 12 persons were killed, several maimed, houses destroyed and many families destroyed in the four-month upheaval that led to the deployment of soldiers in the community. A runaway Ibaa native at the Refugee Camp, Rumuji, who is among those that had vowed freshly not to return to Ibaa because of the latest arrest, told Niger Delta Voice that security officials seized the three chiefs six days after the Ibaa-8 denounced cultism. He said, “I will not return until I am sure that there is peace in the community. In fact, when news came that the chiefs have been arrested; those that had already returned took to their heels again because of fear.”

were arrested in connection to the crisis that rocked Ibaa in which 12 people were killed. They were arrested as the suspected sponsors of the boys that invaded the community. The boys were being backed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the community.” “The Commissioner of Police Rivers state invited the three of them for interrogation, in the course of their chat with the commissioner at the Police Headquarters, security agents from Abuja came and told the commissioner to hands off the case as they were to continue with the investigation based on the petition against them in Abuja that they were the sponsors of the boys that came to shoot in Ibaa.” The arrested chiefs were, however, released, last Saturday.

Ohaka fingers APC A villager, Mr. Fymman Ohaka, who witnessed the arrest of the chiefs, said, “On Tuesday, last week, three suspects from Ibaa

It’s a PDP gimmick- Nbata But, an APC leader in Ibaa and unionist, Comrade Chris Nbata, JP, told Niger Delta Voice, “The

crisis in Ibaa community does not have any political undertone.” Nbata asserted, “From the best of my knowledge on the crisis in Ibaa, politics cannot be said to be the cause. The crisis is as a result of the chieftaincy tussle that has been on since 2008. Although the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) members may be feeling threatened because of the large number of followers the APC control in the community. They may be using this as an antic to rubbish the image of the party in the community.” “I do not have the knowledge of what they are saying because I have not been invited by the police for anything. I am even surprised to hear that I am a suspect when the police have not notified me. The Rivers State police know the truth of the matter in Ibaa because even the commissioner has called the warring factions in the community and I think he has been duly given useful information,” he said.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—5 What was your experience in the seven days you slept in the bush, were you not afraid, what really happened? When I started the first day, they deceived me that they will come back later in the day, you would be thinking they will come, they will come, but after a time, nightfall comes without you seeing anybody. So the first day, I was hoping to see them, but I did not see them. The second day, I was also hoping to see them, but I still did not see them. The third day, the thing entered me, I did not have any of their feelings again. They only came in the afternoon to ask how are you feeling and I would say fine. They would apply their medicine and go, it is the last day that they will give medicine that will make you see, maybe somebody wants to come to your house, you will see the person in the astral world.

Leaves speak on ailments, medication; I hear their voices — Chief (Dr) Ogbogodor Ogumu, traditional healer •Reveals how he slept in forest 7 nights to acquire power By Emma Amaize

NIGER DELTA VOICE had a chance meeting that turned out to be an eye-opener with a traditional healer, Chief (Dr.) Ogbogodor Ogumu, JP, at Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, over the weekend. Chief Ogumu, who is the Ocho-Udo (Peace Maker) hails from Owa Aleiro in Ika North East Local Government of the state. The unorthodox medicine practitioner, who seems to be popular in the area, told Niger Delta Voice, “I heal sick people and work with the Delta State Government in the treatment of lunatic patients under the supervision of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Asaba. I do not charge money to treat anybody, whatever you have you give me when you are healed.” •Ogbogodor Ogumu, JP

ow do you handle lunatics because some of them are known to be possessed and very hostile? This reporter inquired. He responded: “Yes, some of them are really hostile, some because they take Indian hemp and drugs like cocaine. These drugs empower them and make people to fear them, but in my own case, when I want to go and get any of them, I prepare myself traditionally with herbs created by God. I prepare myself because in some cases, a mentally- ill can pull down a whole building because he does not know what he is doing; they have additional power when the thing comes to them. However, I do my work with the fear of God and I do it with herbs. Actually, after preparing myself, when I point to the person holding a machete and tell him to drop it, he will drop it, if he is hostile, I will ask him to calm down, his temper will cool, then I will enter the vehicle with the person and bring him to the Government Rehabilitation Centre for rehabilitation.” His words, “I have traditional medicine that I use to cure them; I do not use orthodox medicine. There are many types of mental illnesses, there are some when you see them, they will not even greet you, they will be looking at you, you see them destroying, some running up and down, you see some, they are not talking, some even see you and start laughing, there are many categories of mental illnesses. We treat them according to how they behave. There is medicine for those that are hostile, for those who sit without talking to people and those that see you and start laughing.” We hear that herbs speak on their functions to knowledgeable traditional healers, is this true? It is true that herbs talk, they

You talked about doing your work with the fear of God, but sleeping in the bush for seven nights with people applying medicine in your eyes and ears have nothing to do with Christianity? Yes, like I told you, I am a Christian, in the early 70s; I served mass as a mass server in the Catholic Church, Ogwashi-Uku. The way you will know that really what I am doing that I am doing it with the fear of God is that when somebody comes to my house, I do not ask for money before I start giving treatment, I think that is godly enough. I treat the person, if he has money to give me, okay, if he comes back when he is well, fine, if he does not have money to give, all well and good. I am a Christian.

•Coconut speak and they speak to those who can hear them. Traditionally, if you are a healer and you come from a village, before you begin to hear the voices of leaves in the bush, your traditional people must have taken you for purification in the bush. You will sleep in the bush for seven days. There, they will put certain herbs in your ears and eyes after the purification and you begin to hear (Cuts in…Did you pass through this process yourself?) Yes, I passed through it at Owa Aleiro, this was in 1972. So when you spend seven days in the bush and the elders perform their assignment, that is putting their medicine in your ears and eyes, you will now start hearing the voices of the leaves. How coconut speaks Take coconut for instance, it speaks. It starts revealing things at a particular period in the night, it the coconut will tell you that from 12.00 am that somebody is going to die, it will be able to tell you that this person they bring for you to treat is a witch or wizard, the coconut will tell you that the person will die tomorrow, do not treat. Coconut speaks very clearly to those who understand the language.

•Plantain

Take coconut for instance, it speaks. It starts revealing things at a particular period in the night, it, the coconut will tell you that from 12.00 am that somebody is going to die Pear speaks protection You talk of pear, the pear leaf also speaks, it tells you when there is danger, but the pear leaf is always for protection. It speaks the language of protection; it does not speak anything outside protection. Plantain leaf warns about evil The plantain leaf tells us how to keep away from evil, how to keep away from certain things that are not good, it tells you many things, both the bad and good, particularly if you want to deviate from good to evil, that is your business. But it is better you follow the righteous way, which is the good side of

it. Lime tells you how to cure HIV Lime orange also speaks, you know this lime that you see, we are talking about HIV, HIV, the leaf of lime, the seed and the root is among the medicine used in treating HIV. You treat HIV with lime when you hear the voice. It will tell you how it works and where, you take it. Leaves communicate with each other Like you are walking on the farm road in the night, only you, you will be hearing the voices, but everywhere is silent, the leaves are talking to each other. So the one you want, if you hear what they are saying about the problem you want to solve, you go to that one, if you do not hear it and just go and pick whatever leaf you fancy, the person will give up. That is about hearing the voice of the leaves. They speak; they talk; only those who hear and understand the language know what to do with it. You mean the voices are audible and you hear it? You will hear it as long as you are prepared to hear it. But ordinary person cannot hear it because he is not a traditional healer and is not prepared to hear it.

My question is that the application of medicine in your eyes and ears while you are sleeping in the bush is not a Biblical way of acquiring power? That one is traditional aspect of it, you cannot just wake up from your house and say you want to hear the voice of the leaves. It is not possible. In those days, our people used to do some rituals, like slaughtering an animal and using the blood, but nowadays, it is not like that, they use some kind of leaves, squeeze it and the water will come out, put it in your ears, they will not tell you the kind of leaves, but later after you have graduated from that bush, you will now begin to see and know the leaves too. Has the Spirit of God ever appeared to warn that what you are doing was not godly because you seem to have a heart that God can work with? Contrary to what you are saying, I see Jesus Christ every day. Is Jesus Christ not a Spirit? He speaks with me in the night to do this and do that. I wake up and tell people that I saw Jesus Christ and tell them what He asked me to do, but they always ask me what I have got to do with Jesus Christ. Well, I tell them that even if they do not believe me, I will still see Him tomorrow. Indeed, I have continued to see Christ, I do not see anybody more than Christ. I hope you know there is fake and real Jesus Christ? Let me tell you, some people have even advised me to go and open a church since I can see what will happen tomorrow. But I say this is my church, giving people herbs, curing people, when I wake up, I tell you what will happen tomorrow, I am an oracle designed by God. C M Y K

6—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

PODIUM… By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

ORON- THE fragile relationship between Oro ethnic nationality in Akwa-Ibom State and the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, has finally collapsed following the failure of the party to pick an Oro native as its gubernatorial standard bearer for the 2015 election. Since their hope was dashed at the primary, Oro communities, comprising Mbo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong/Oruko, Oron and Okobo, said to be the third largest ethnic group in the state, the people had carried out three demonstrations and threatened to make the state ungovernable. Threaten oil companies In one of the protests in Oron local government, led by Mr Victor Uweh, under the auspices of the Save Oro Youth Group, the protesters, including men, women and youths, warned the multinational oil companies operating in their areas to prepare to move out. Marshal against PDP Uweh said the essence of the protest across the communities in Oron was to mobilize eligible voters not to vote any PDP candidate that is not an Oro son in the forthcoming governorship election. “We are here to tell all the entire Oro people that we must resist any other position whether Senate or deputy governor because all we want is the governorship seat. And we are warning Oro sons that have decided out of greed to accept such positions that they are on their own because Oro will join APC if PDP failed to listen to give us what we want,” he said. Ready for battle “They are now saying Oro do not have voting strength, Oro has only five local government areas, but they always forget that when we talk about who brings what to the table for sharing, we bring the largest chunk of what Akwa Ibom is sharing and what will they say about that? “Akwa Ibom cannot boast of being the number one oil producing state in this country

•Cross section of protesters yesterday in Oron

Governorship tears Oro communities, PDP apart in Akwa-Ibom AKWA IBOM... LAND OF PROMISE

•Protesters displaying placards yesterday in Oron

today without Oro, so we want them to know that we also have the capacity to bring down this state from that status. So we will not give up on our agitation. We are ready to fight this fight to the end,” he asserted. At Eyo Abasi Street, an elder and indigene of Mbo local

government area resident in Oron, Mr. Effiong Ekpimah, expressed disappointment with leadership of the PDP in the state and the National Working Committee, NWC, for ignoring the series of petitions and outcry over injustice by the people. His words, “I want you to tell

Police, Navy tighten security in Rivers RIVERS… THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION By Davies Iheamnachor

ORT HARCOURT- THE Police and Navy have beefed-up security in Rivers State to checkmate the activities of hoodlums in the course of the Yuletide. Rivers State Police Command, speaking through the PPRO, Ahmad Muhammad, said policemen would be located at all strategic locations in the state, including villages from 7.00 pm. “We want to ensure that our people sleep with their two eyes closed this time. The state C M Y K

will not be safe for hoodlums so it will be better they stop their activities and turn a new leaf or go out of the state because the police have taken over all the communities in the state,” he said. Muhammad added, “The police are ready to provide adequate security to the people of the state in this season of celebration and beyond. We are ready to combat crime in the state. The force is set to ensure that people can travel to their homes safely.” Commander, NNS, Sampson Bura, also said there would be no hiding place for pirates on the waterways of the state and urged them to disengage from their nefarious activities.

them that trouble has not started yet. I was a pioneer councillor of Mbo and I am telling you that what I am seeing now is not democracy. Democracy is government of the people, for the people and by the people. You go and tell the PDP that Oro people are joining Umana Okon Umana in APC.” “This government has done nothing for our people and by depriving us of our turn, they have started a war and go and tell them that we are also preparing for war. We know government will send in 10,000 soldiers and some people will die, some will also live. Akwa Ibom has three major ethnic nationalities the Ibibio’s, Annangs and Oro and if they are sharing anything, it should be based on that formula,” he stated. Rage of the people Similarly, a youth resident in Oron, Mr. Daniel Ebek, said, “We are very, very angry and our position is that what belongs to us must be given to us. And we are giving them just a little time to do the right thing before trouble starts. Tell the government to ask all Oyibo in our creeks to leave because we will close down the creeks. We are going to make sure that we stop all oil activities in this place. That is our message.” Oro monarchs may shun Akpabio Also, a member of Council of Traditional Rulers, Oro, who spoke on the ground of anonymity, disclosed that all

traditional leaders from the extraction, would, henceforth, boycott invitation of all traditional rulers in the state by Governor Akpabio to Abuja, “as expression of our anger over the plot to deny our people what is due to them.” Zoning, but not on ethnic basis- ex-MILAD Reacting to Oro agitation for governorship, former Military Administrator Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, said, “Well when it comes to this issue I speak as a statesman, I do not speak as a politician. It is the right of everybody to look for these positions but we must be fair and we must be honest.” “To start with, that argument stems from the issue of zoning and rotation, which PDP as a party has in its constitution. When we went for the national confab it was actually in the committee that I belonged that said there should be zoning and rotation put in the Electoral law. When it went to the plenary, they said, no not only in the electoral law, but it should be in the constitution itself. “They said at the federal level that it should be on geopolitical zones and they are six and we are looking that if they are six zones for example, they take eight years each, by the time they would have gone round the six geopolitical zones, at least in this generation most of the people would have died. And to show a sense of belonging, that the governorship should be done on senatorial basis, nobody at any point said that zoning and rotation should be done at ethnic basis,” he asserted.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—7

JIV: Soldiers batter villagers in Edo Continues from Page 1 protection of the environment.

Humiliated at gunpoint

The community in the October 2 petition to Governor Oshiomhole, signed by a representative of the Elders-inCouncil, Chief John Eyajamure, said, “Permit us to bring to your notice the wicked and nonchalance of NPDC and NOSDRA in handling an oil spillage in our community.” “For attempting to challenge the entry of NPDC/NOSDRA JIV Team into Ikara community forest on Monday, 29th September, 2014, without the mandatory information to our community leadership, some of our executive members were beaten by two armed soldiers on the orders of the leaders of the NOSDRA team, who are yet to be identified as at press time. “Sir, we seek your good office to compel these agencies to follow due process in the JIV expected to be done to bring the whole problem to rest,” the community said. A community leader told Niger Delta Voice, “The gentlemen (community leaders) were on community assignment to the spillage site when they were embarrassed, humiliated, traumatized, dehumanized and assaulted resulting in bodily harm, which was treated first at the Ologbo Health Centre and later referred to Central Hospital Benin-City for further treatment. They were humiliated further under gunpoint by these soldiers, the NPDC officials and their NOSDRA collaborators.”

Grouse with NPDC

He asserted, “The disagreement between them and the NPDC/NOSDRA officials was that they wanted the JIV to be carried out with the full involvement of the community, the officials tried to influence them, they rejected their offer, and in the ensuing disagreement, they (security men) began hitting and beating them up.”

Prosecute offenders

Rising from a recent meeting in Ikara, the people declared: “We wish to state very clearly that we demand that all those who contributed to our torture, humiliation and dehumanization must be handed over to the police for prosecution as the matter had been reported to the police in Ologbo, Edo state, where we are still expecting the arrest of the culprits. “ “It is getting too long now without any result from the police. We demand total justice in this case,” they said. Our findings, however, showed they might wait a longer time for result from the police at Ologbo for none had been arrested in respect of the

Divide and rule tactics

“It has become clearer that you are at it again, this time in Ikara community, pitching brothers against brothers with the sinister motive of undercutting the authority of the current leadership of the community that has refused to yield to the threats and blackmails to compel them to support the parastatals in their quest to shortchange the community,” Eyajamure said. His words, “We want to state that your agencies – that is NPDC and NOSDRA, are masters of the antics of divide and rule in the crude oil producing and bearing communities in Niger Delta.” “Please, prove your worth through arranging for a JIV to settle problems,” the community added.

beating since then.

Our crime - Victims

The assaulted victims, Gift Oritseju and Diamond Bolowe, told Niger Delta Voice that their only offence was that they wanted the people of their community to be represented in the JIV and shunned the bribe allegedly offered to them to cover up the spillage saga. Bolowe vowed, “We will not take bribe, our people must be represented in the JIV. If they like they can kill us, we will not be afraid of them.”

Pollution

His words, “Our creeks have been devastated by oil pollution. We do not have good water to drink again as our only source of drinking water, which is the creek has been polluted.” “Our domestic animals are dying by the day after drinking from the polluted water. We are mainly fishermen and women. Now we have nowhere to fish. The fishes are dying from the polluted water. We have been injured and incapacitated and no one is looking at our plight,” he said.

Noxious activities

The community in a letter, dated September 27, 2014, to NPDC, entitled, “How your company destroyed our land,” signed by its spokesman and representative of Elders-inCouncil, Chief John Eyajamure, said, “We wish to officially use this medium to bring to your notice the unwholesome activities of your company to completely destroy our community through a recent oil pipeline spillage rupture

Buknor accused the elders of the community of shielding the vandals from arrest and prosecution and crude oil spillage.” “Since our verbal report to you sometime in July, 2014, you never took action. We feel that the nonchalance of your company towards addressing the pains inflicted on Ikara community people by NPDC should stop forthwith. “Please, arrange for a Joint Investigation Visit to bring an end to this problem,” the community stated. It was two days after the community’s scathing letter to the company that the controversial JIV was ordered.

Duplicity

In a separate letter, same date, to NOSDRA, titled, “The nonchalance of your agency towards addressing the pains inflicted on Ikara community people by NPDC,” the community said, “Despite our repeated verbal demand requesting your agency for a joint investigation visit to the site of the crude oil spillage from the facility of NPDC, in Ikara community, you have refused to act.”

Fifth columnist Ikara elders also alleged that the agencies apparently resorted to the use of a fifth columnist in the community, who now signs Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, forms exclusively reserved for the community ’s accredited representatives. They said that the letters written by the community to NPDC and NOSDRA on the way forward were ignored.

Impersonator

According to the elders, “This scenario was what played out on the 29th day of September, 2014 when someone, who did not have the mandate of the community, signed a JIV form in respect of an oil spill, which occurred in the community between 24th and 29th of September, 2014. The fellow is not an executive member of Ikara community and was not authorized to represent the community,”

Rejects imposition, coercion

They said, “Ikara people in accordance with their fundamental human rights have rejected NOSDRA and NPDC from exercising the right to determine who represents Ikara community’s interest or who becomes a member of the community’s Trust, but rather than allow the will of the people to prevail, the officials preferred a situation where if there is any conflict in the community or if any indigene is aggrieved on matters of the

running of its affairs, the person should not employ internal mechanism, but go to court.” A source, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, warned that the use of NOSDRA and NPDC officials to achieve selfish goals by some persons in the community could result in fratricidal war. The community further accused NPDC for being behind a game plan to blackmail the community leadership to accept whatever was offered to them as compensation for the massive crude oil spills and the environmental degradation without a valuation report by a qualified estate surveyor and valuer, which is the basis for negotiation for payment of compensation. NPDC didn’t manhandle community reps- Buknor At the NPDC office in Benin City, Edo State, senior public affairs manager, Mr. Juelson Buknor, denied that the company manhandled the community executive members with the aid of soldiers attached to its team. He, however, said there was an oil spillage in the community, which caused a fire incident. Buknor, who disagreed that the spillage was caused by pipeline rupture and equipment failure, said NPDC reported the incident to NOSDRA, pointing out that it was triggered by vandals, either living in the community or came from the neighbouring towns. Buknor accused the elders of the community of shielding the vandals from arrest and prosecution.

Police unaware of attack - DPO

The Divisional Police Officer, Ologbo Police Station, DSP Bayo Osagie, denied that the community reported the attack on two of its leaders to the police He only confirmed that some NPDC/NOSDRA officials and their security men brought over five suspected pipeline vandals from Ikara community to the police station during the spillage, which preceded the purported attack. DSP Osagie said the suspects were released after interrogation, adding that the situation had been brought under control. The community, however, insisted that it reported the beating up of the two leaders to the police.

C M Y K

8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

POWER CUT: Delta communities face drab Yuletide, blast BEDC By Egufe Yafugborhi

TU-JEREMI – COMMUNITIES in Ughelli South, Udu and Warri South Local Government Areas of Delta State have expressed apprehension over the spate of power failure by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC. They are worried that the lingering blackout could mare the Yuletide in their areas. In blackout for over 2 months Investigations by Niger Delta Voice showed that OtuJeremi, the headquarters of Ughelli South Local Government had been cut off from Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, supply for over two months. Chairman of the community, Chief Erik Sajini, said, “It is not just Jeremi that is affected. Almost every community in Ughievwen Kingdom has been in darkness and several in neighbouring Udu local government, including OtorUdu, headquarters of the council are in darkness. His words, “BEDC is hinging its justification on accumulated bills, but we have said this

DELTA... FINGER OF GOD excuse cannot be substantiated. These are communities where individuals now have their own meters. You cannot cut off everybody where certain individuals owe.” President General of Urhiephron community, Mr. Julius Ubiri, said that the community and neighbouring Ehrokpe, Egbo and Aragba have also been in darkness for similar reasons as Jeremi and other Ughievwen communities. “There has been no light for over a month. Right about now, the company is however making efforts to restore supply following some understanding reached between the communities and the company,”’ Ubiri added Overblown charges At Ubeji, Warri South Local Government area, visibly furious Edward Ekpoko, Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, slammed the power company. “The purpose of privatization of PHCN, we were told, was to improve power supply. These people just came, inflated

•Long established ECN, now privatized Transcorp, Ughelli Power Station, Delta State which fields the Ughievwen communities now in darkness

•Ekrokpe community, one of the affected communities in Ughelli South charges arbitrarily and you do not get the light. Ubeji has been in darkness for over two months. Few days back we saw light, but it was gone the next minute. “The other day I called one Engr. Mujid, who is said to be in charge of Ubeji area and neighbouring communities, I was so disappointed he said he could not make intervention

because it was a Sunday and he needed to be in church. Can you imagine? He asserted. While we shut down Ughievwen communitiesBEDC When contacted, Public Relations Officer at BEDC, Warri district, Edmund Gbiwe, said, “The area (affected

Ughievwen communities) has not been responding to regular payment of electricity bills, especially outstanding bills.

“There is continuous molestation of our disconnection crew. Even after much discussion, there has been no favorable response, so we shut down from that area not to incur more debts while being opened to discussion on a payment plan.

Ex-militants demand employment in contrasting Yenagoa protest By Emem Idio

ENAGOA- WHILE some headstrong ex-militants troubled the nation, last week, over the delay in the payment of their November stipends, some cool-headed beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, carried out a contradictory protest in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, requesting for employment. Some former agitators had notwithstanding the passionate appeal by the Presidential Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chair, PAP, Hon Kingsley Kuku, hijacked the protest, last Friday, by not only barricading the East-West Road at Evwreni, Ughelli South Local Government Area, but extorting money and stealing phones from motorists and passengers. However, another group of exmilitants, who had undergone training and acquired relevant skills under the Presidential Amnesty Programe, besieged the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in Yenagoa, C M Y K

BA YELS A ... BAYELS YELSA

THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

Bayelsa State, requesting for employment. Peaceful protest for job The protest by the job-seeking ex-militants was peaceful, but a detachment of policemen was drafted to the NCDMB headquarters, along the Isaac Boro Expressway, Opolo, in the state capital to ensure that

trouble makers did not commandeer the protest. Speaking on the grievances, the leader of the aggrieved exmilitants, Ibena Rufus, said their action was borne out of the fact that the board had refused to engage the ex-militants, who had been trained in various skills through the Amnesty programme. He said they had written several letters to the management of NCDMB begging for employment.

•Ex-militants at the NCDMB protest

“The NCDMB was set up to promote local content by engaging indigenous skilled labour. Fortunately, our boys have undergone training in various skills needed in the oil industries with the expectations and high hopes that they will be absorbed in the industry by NCBMB, but it’s unfortunate that these boys have not been engaged despite the fact that we have written several letters to the board on how to get out youths jobs without positive results,” he said.

Anxiety “Our fear is that these boys might be tempted to go back to the creeks because we all know the implications of idleness,” the leader said. Discussions postponed to January Speaking to Niger Delta Voice,the Head Public Affairs, NCDMB, Mr. Ejiro Dortie confirmed that the aggrieved ex-militants who stormed the office over some grievances have agreed to come back in January to meet with the management of the board with the view to resolving the issues raised by them. Head, Media and Communications, PAP, Daniel Alabrah, told Niger Delta Voice, “The Special Adviser has been in constant communication with the relevant ministry and agency of government in order to expedite the release and disbursement of our monthly allocation. He has firm assurances that the process will be completed in the next few days and all the beneficiaries will be promptly paid.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 33

C M Y

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—35

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

National Health Bill:

NMA, PSN, others harp on effective implementation MONTHS after agitation for the assent of the Revised National Health Bill trailed it’s passage by the Senate, healthcare professionals have commended President Goodluck Jonathan for signing the much awaited Bill into law. However, they urged the Federal government to ensure quick implementation of the Act. The Bill, which is now an Act of Parliament, is designed to provide a framework for the regulation, development and management of a National Health system and set standards for rendering health service in the country. A statement from Nigeria Health Watch, quoting Mr. Reuben Abati, Presidential spokesman on Twitter described the development as “a fantastic end of year present to Nigeria, given that the bill was running the risk of expiry for the second time, having made its way through both Houses of Assembly twice. This development comes as stakeholders in the health sector describe the National Health Bill as an important crossroads in the country. The Senate passed the controversial Health Bill 2014 into law following its third reading in the House. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide a Framework for the Regulation, Development and Management of a National Health System” , the revised National Health Bill is expected to set standards and establish a framework for the regulation, management and development of the nation’s health system. Prior to its passage by the Senate, the Bill suffered several setbacks since it was submitted before the house by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who said it would enable the nation achieve Universal Health Coverage and meet the Millennium Development Goals. MDGs, target. Among others, the Bill is highly touted to provide basic health funds to jump start remarkable improvement, regulate medical practice and eliminate quackery in the health sector. Through the Bill, Federal government is expected to contribute 1 percent of the consolidated revenue fund for the development of Primary Health Care, PHC, in the country. Excerpts from reactions of health professionals below: By Chioma Obinna, Favour Nnabugwu & Victoria Ojeme

OW access to universal Healthcare is guaranteed — NMA Former NMA President, Dr Osahon Enabulele, described the assent by the President as a welcome development. “I recall vividly that when I (as then President of the Nigerian Medical Association) led a delegation to see Mr President on Tuesday, 8th October, 2013, over issues of national importance, including the need for his quick assent to the National Health Bill whenever it was passed by the National Assembly, Mr President had firmly pledged to assent to the National Health Bill (NHB) after it has been passed by the National Assembly. “This was to ensure that the constitutional time limit of 30 days was met unlike what happened to the earlier National Health Bill passed by Nigeria’s 6th National Assembly.” Enabulele said despite the alleged insertions of certain provisions that were not in either versions passed by the respective legislative houses of the 7th National Assembly, all Nigerians had patiently agitated for its

assent. “Indeed, the National Health Act captures the legitimate aspirations of Nigerians for greatly improved access to quality healthcare services; Aside from engendering an equitable healthcare system, the National Health Act will hopefully ensure that deaths amongst Nigerians, particularly the rural poor, as a result of inability to pay for healthcare services (including medical care for emergencies) are drastically reduced. “Finally, as Nigeria now moves towards the important task of implementing the National Health Act, I sincerely urge that efforts be made to involve all stakeholders in its transparent implementation. Enabulele urged that efforts be made to address outstanding agitations of individuals and groups that objected to certain provisions introduced in the harmonized version of the Bill jointly passed by both houses of Nigeria’s National Assembly. “I am convinced that now that Nigeria has a National Health Act, the journey towards putting a stop to the several avoidable deaths of children, women, the elderly and other Nigerians as a result of poor and inequitable access to a minimum package of

healthcare services, has begun,” he asserted Expedite action on implementation — PSN President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Olumide Akintayo while commending the presidential assent to the much expected National Health Bill however, urged government to expedite action on its implementation of the Act. He remarked; “The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria thanks the Federal Government for following the dictates of the equalization principle entrenched in the 1999 constitution which normally should guarantee equal rights and privileges for all citizens of Nigeria.” “Historically, the harmonised version of the National Health Bill signifies the first time the borders of restriction in healthcare were opened as major Health Professional Associations and Trade Unions are represented in key structures of the new Health Act. “It is our hope that this seeming progressive document was not doctored after the harmonised version was passed at the National Assembly. Further, he urged that the process of appointing drivers of salient aspects of the Health Act should therefore follow the conduct of a competitive selection process from a pool of professionals who have competent skill and cognate experience.” We will go to court if grey areas remain — JOHESU In his reaction, Felix Faniran, Vice President, Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, stated: “Mr President should be strongly commended for signing

The National Health Act captures the legitimate aspirations of Nigerians for greatly improved access to quality healthcare services

Mr. Felix Faniran, Vice President, JOHESU

Mr. Olumide Akintayo, PSN President that bill into law. We have led series of protests against signing the bill into law in 2011 because it contains several grey areas which were anti people which were discriminatory, which were monopolistic of the NMA to the detriment of the other professions. “We fought against those areas. I want to believe that all those grey areas have been included and have not been doctored at all. If it is exactly what we have made input and was harmonized by both houses of the National Assembly, I must commend the president for that. Faniran, who stressed that if the Act is given the necessary attention it deserves will go a long way in improving status of this country. “We want to believe that the President has signed the authentic and original copy. If that is the case, there will be no problem. But if we found out that what we told have been corrected or not corrected, that is deceit of the highest order. Bill will reduce health challenges — Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre We hope the implementation of the bill will help reduce the many health challenges we have in the country. Definitely the impact of the health act on the

Mr-Auwal-Musa-Rafsanjan, Executive Director CISLAC, i

Dr. Osahon Enabulele, Former NMA President, health sector is that there will be proper coordination and networking in terms of health services,” said Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani). Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, “This will also help Nigeria to be more responsible on the allocation of resources to the sector. It will also help to serve as a good example to other countries in Africa which they will emulate it to have a sound health sector,” he stated. “We are going to work with the legislature to ensure effective oversight in the implementation of the law. We also encourage development partners and civil society organizations to be prepared for the monitoring of the implementation of the act. Set up implementing committee — White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood In his reaction, Tonte Ibraye, National Coordinator, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood stated: “This is a document that we have been fighting for its approval over the years. I am happy that we are one step ahead. But then, it does not stop there.There is still a lot of work ahead to be done. There should be a clear implementation committee.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—37

Bank of Industry nurtures local pharmaceutical growth By Sola Ogundipe

N contributing its quota towards ensuring that Nigerian drug makers do not just make drugs considered safe enough for Nigeria, but produce medication that will put Nigeria in a respectable position on the world map, the Bank of Industry, BOI, Nigeria’s oldest and most successful development finance institution, is injecting life into the nation’s ailing local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. Disclosing this last week during a facility tour of Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited, and May & Baker Nigeria Plc., the Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, said through its line of credit and other sector-defined interventions, the Bank of Industry has enabled the two local drug makers attain the World Health Organisation, WHO, prequalification for Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMPs), while positioning them for WHO pre-qualification of their products. Olaoluwa, who led a high-powered entourage of the Bank’s management on the facility visits, said by setting up indigenous pharmaceutical companies to compete favourably in international

•L-R: Mr. Joseph Babatunde; General Manager, Large Scale Enterprises, Bank of Industry, MR RASHEED OLAOLUWA, Managing Director/CEO, Bank Of Industry; Mr Cummings Chairman/CEO, Swiss Phama Nig Ltd, and Mr Bame Pule, Executive Director Swipha, during the official visit of the MD, bank of industry, to Swipha in Lagos last week

Free HBP diagnosis, treatment from Neimeth

O fewer than 100 hypertensive patients have received free diagnosis and hypertension treatment under the Neimeth International Pharmaceutical “Fight the Good Fight Against Hypertension, FITGAH, national initiative. Launched in 2013 as a direct intervention programme which applies a 4-A principles of Awareness, Availability, Affordability and Action, it is designed to reduce death and debilitation of hypertension in Nigeria through partnership with private and public hospitals. Speaking during a free diagnosis event held in partnership with Shefi Hospitals Limited, Egbeda Lagos, Managing Director, Neimeth, Emmanuel Ekunno said, the partnership was aimed at “bringing relief to persons unable to afford the high cost of antihypertension medicines. Ekunno who was represented by Mr. Nwaka Okoro Eni, Head, Corporate Affairs and General Services, affirmed that the free diagnosis and treatment programme will run every Thursday at Shefi Hospitals for two months offering routine medical checkups. The FITGAH adopts a multiphase approach as, mass screening and free provision of starter drugs, 50 percent voluntary reduction of prices of Neimeth anti-hypertensives for registered recipients in any hospital or pharmacy in partnership with the pharmaceutical company, amongst others. “The reduction in price we know will certainly erode profit but as a patriotic Nigerian company, we are committed to complementing efforts of the government through FITGAH, an endearing legacy for caring,” Ekunnor explained. A recipient, Mrs. Folashade Oyebade, a septuagenarian praised the initiative which she described as “a life saver.”

A cross section of participants during a fertility walk organised by Nordica Fertility Centre, Asaba, Delta State, to mark its fifth anniversary.

bidding processes for medicines supplies in relevant global health programmes, products from the BOI-assisted companies can now pass WHO pre-qualification, which will then make them export-worthy, and position Nigeria to begin to enjoy the huge international pharmaceutical market, where countries like the US, Germany, China, and India currently hold sway. His words: “Two years ago, the Bank of Industry granted a facility to indigenous pharmaceutical companies including Swiss Pharmaceutical company and May & Baker Nigeria Plc, to upgrade with a view to becoming certified by the World Health Organisation, WHO, with respect to the current Good Manufacturing Practice GFMP which is an international code. “This visit is to see how much impact the companies have made utilising the facility. We are pleased the companies have become fully certified and concluded the upgrading processes. We took a tour of the premises, and I was amazed at the amount of efforts and investments that have gone in to assuring the highest quality in terms of the air quality, quality of products from raw materials coming in, the handling, the processing, the packaging, the entire process is international standard. “Swipha is the first country in W Africa to obtain the WHO prequalification. When we supported it, we actually supported six pharmaceutical companies. Others are at various stages of being certified internationally. By the time they attain that international standard, the consumers as well as medical doctors can have assurance that the drugs they are using from this company are of international quality. “The second thing is that, by the time we begin to reduce our imports, the pressure on our foreign reserves will be less and we can actually begin to grow our foreign reserves by exporting some of these products. I expect all pharmaceutical companies to sustain the current effort to attain international quality so we can become exporters of drugs,” he concluded Further, Olaoluwa said the next stage is to go into product specific certification. He explained that the Bank of Industry was already in discussion with the companies to ensure that also and whatever support that can be rendered will be offered.

LASUTH doctors raise concern on blood donation By Chioma Obinna

EDICAL Doctors under the auspices of Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (ARDLASUTH) branch have raised alarm over shortage of blood in hospitals across the country, urging Nigerians to embrace voluntary blood donation. Speaking during a blood donation exercise organised by the association in Lagos, the President, ARDLASUTH, Dr. Moruf Abdulsalam stressed the need to increase the number of voluntary blood donors in the country with a view to make up for the shortages being recorded in the nation’s blood banks. He dismissed fears that blood donation could cause death of the donor, adding that, blood donation serves as a complete health screening. “If you come forth to donate blood, you get screened so that if you have

hypertension, hepatitis and forms of diseases, you get screened, you can easily be screened and those health conditions identified. “The third reason to donate blood is that “there is a reduction risk of over 40 percent of cardiovascular disease in people who donate blood. A number of people have excess of iron in their body and iron contributes to atherosclerosis which is what causes cardiovascular diseases. “So, when you donate blood, all the time, you remove the excess iron from the body. That explains why women are less prone to cardiovascular diseases. They lose blood from menstruation on monthly basis.” According to Abdulsalam, the association had organised the voluntary blood donation exercise to boost blood banks as well as educate the public on the importance and benefits of voluntary blood donation.

He said anyone within the ages of 18 and 55, can donate blood. Besides, the male or female donor whose pax cell volume (PCV) is 40 percent is fit to donate blood. He noted that averagely most people have PCV that is between 30 to 45. However, the PCV of an intending donor is low, he will be encouraged to go and see a doctor so that blood medication to boost the PCV can be administered on him.(PCV explains the oxygen carrying capacity on one’s blood.) “The total amount of blood in a human body is about five litres and those donating give about 500 mills, which is about one tenth of the blood in their body. Thereafter, within two months the donor’s body regenerates that blood. Whether or not the woman is menstruating, “she can donate so as long as she is not breastfeeding and not pregnant,” he said.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

LASUTH bags International BID 2014 Quality Crown Award

HE Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, has won for the first time the International Business Initiative Directions, BID, Quality Crown Award for its outstanding healthcare services and clean environment. The BID award is designed to recognise the prestige of outstanding organisations, companies and entrepreneurs on the basis of commitment in terms of improvement of process and systems. The award is also given to enable business people to consolidate and strengthen their position as a world company. The award won by LASUTH is the first BID award in Health. BID group has been in existence for over 10 years in 178 countries. Speaking on the award which he received in London during the 2014 BID group’s Award ceremony, elated Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke said he was not surprised that the hospital got the award as they have invented on ground a quality assurance personnel who ensured that over 19 member staff of the hospital were trained on quality assurance. “Our free health programme which was established by the State government was part of the reasons why we won the award. Another reason is the cleanliness of the hospital. We deserve to win and we won,” Oke explained that the BID group had earlier sent a panel that visited the hospital to understand how the hospital is run and also took a tour of the facility. “The panel who visited informed us that their main focus was on service delivery and that is why they called it the Crown Quality Award. Six weeks after, we got

an email that we have been selected; it was when we got there that we discovered we were the only hospital selected from Nigeria. This is the first time they were considering an award in health. They have assessed 178 countries and 90 companies were awarded the crown quality award which LASUTH happens to be one.” We Promised the BID group that we will improve on our services. We have active service charter on ground. “I feel elated that it happened in my time. It is a joint effort but for the fact it happened when I am here, I am happy. I must thank the state government for contracting the management of the facility to a private facility. I also thank the company, Deux.”

Nordica Asaba marks 5 with quadruplets

HE birth of a set of quadruplets was a befitting anniversary gift for the Nordica Fertility Centre, Asaba, in Delta state, as it clocked five on November 3, 2014 as a frontline fertility treatment centre in Nigeria. As part of activities to mark the 5th anniversary, the Centre is offering generous packages on treatment procedures only. The offer which runs December 1, 2014 till February 28, 2015, is open to all patrons. The pioneering quadruplets were conceived through In vitro Fertilization (IVF), a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology, ART, and born through Caesarean Section at a private hospital in Bayelsa State. The lucky parents had tried

• Second right; Chief medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Prof. Adewale David Oke receiving International Quality Crown Award from the Founder of Business Initiative Directions, Mr. Jose E. Prieto recently in London at the 2014 BID group award ceremony.

for years to get pregnant before the groundbreaking treatment at the Asaba Nordica Clinic worked for them. Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Group Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Abuja & Asaba, described the conception and birth of the quadruplets and the Centre's 5th anniversary as a milestone. He said the Asaba clinic has been at the forefront of tackling infertility as a sociomedical problem that places a lot of strain on emotions as well as relationships. "The Asaba fertility Centre was designed to provide a 'comfort centre' where the pain of childless couples could be soothed emotionally and medically. It was opened in November 2009, with the primary aim of providing fertility treatment services to couples within the South East and South South regions of the country. "In league with sister branches in Lagos and Abuja, Nordica Asaba, is enhancing fertility treatment initiatives and options in the country,utitising cutting edge procedures." A fertility awareness walk took place in Asaba and extended to Benin City, Onitsha, Owerri and Awka during which the Nordica group visited prominent places within Asaba and environs. Nordica Lagos, Abuja & Asaba are part of the world famous Scandinavian Nordica Fertility institutions renowned for their exploits and advancements in fertility research. The Centres provide requisite all year round training through its IntraUterine-Insemination, IUI, as well as Endoscopy and Ultrasound Scan programme for gynaecologists, general practitioners, nurses and other medical workers in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

ELLO everybody. Zee Virtual Media wishes you all a Merry Christmas. We will be closed for th the holidays from the 24 of December 2014 to reopen th on the 5 of January 2015. Do continue to write us with your questions and enquiries and we will attend to them as soon as we resume. We will use this week to have a quick recap of novelty solutions discussed over the course of the year for common sexual challenges adult men and women face regularly. For men suffering from erectile dysfunction such as the inability to sustain a firm erection, total lack of erection or performance energy, we brought you a variety of solutions over the course of the year. Supplements such as Hard Times and Stiffy in a Jiffy are great for restoring hard erections and performance stamina. For men seeking supplements that will not just restore hard erections and stamina but also stop premature ejaculation and enlarge the penis, we brought you Rhino 5 supplement and X Again. These two supplements do everything and give perfect erections. If you are hypertensive and unable to take any of these supplements, adult toys such as the Machismo Penis Pump can still help you with organ enlargement and the restoration of firm erections. For women who struggle with low genital arousal, vaginal dryness and the inability to enjoy intercourse, we brought you arousal gels such as 50 Shades Come Alive Pleasure Gel and the Cherry Bomb Arousal Gel. These two arousal gels are the newest of them all and are very effective as well. In the cases of lack of sexual desire we brought you the supplement Kangaroo for Her and Pink Elevate Libido Enhancer for women. These have really helped a lot of women with low libido and dryness issues. Women who complained of loose/ slack vaginal muscles especially after child birth were also advised to use tightening creams and kits such as the Reverse Vagina Tightening Gel, Like a Virgin Tightening Gel and the Leopard Duo Tone Orgasm Balls to solve the problem. And there are many others too. And of course, premature ejaculation is one of the most

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—39

•Ugwuanyi: Supported by the party

•Eze: Claiming victory

ENUGU PDP GOV PRIMARIES:

Dancing on the cliffs THE legal fireworks attending the outcome of the December 8 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State may be an ominous sign threatening the party’s success ahead of the 2015 general elections. By Francis Igata

HERE were seven a s p i r a n t s for the ticket. Although, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu and Mr. Chinedu Onu had to step down for Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on the prompting of Deputy Senate President,Ike Ekweremadu, five other candidates squared up for the contest. They are Samuel Maduka Onyishi, owner Peace Mass Transit; Senator Ayogu Eze representing Enugu-North senatorial district; Speaker,Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo; Prof. Onyeke Onyeke and Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Five of the aspirants had a preprimary meeting with the Chairman of the five-man Electoral Panel sent from the party secretariat, King Asarah Asarah, at the Allen Hotel, Independence layout, Enugu. At the meeting, Ayogu, Onyishi and Onyeke disagreed with the electoral panel chairman over the delegates lists to be used for the conduct of the primaries. Asarah agreed with the trio that the delegates list with which he came to conduct the exercise was not the truly certified copy from NWC and Abuja High Court. Aggrieved aspirants: The aggrieved aspirants contended that the three-man delegates list of November 1, approved by the Abuja High Court presided over by Justice A. Ademola and National Working Committee,

NWC, of the party was at variance with that of the electoral panel chairman. They therefore held parallel primaries while Onyishi boycotted the exercise citing irregularities discovered in the delegates list. He however petitioned the party’s elections appeal panel twice but did not receive any response after eight days contrary to the party’s constitution that stipulates that appeal petitions emanating from primaries shall be determined within 24 hours upon receipt of such submission. Consequently, Onyishi approached the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on December 16 and the PDP was given 24 hours to appear before it to adduce reasons the governorship primaries it conducted in Enugu State on December 8, 2014 should not be cancelled. In a ruling, Justice Evoh Chukwu summoned both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to appear before him to show why the outcome of the said primaries should not be voided. The court order was sequel to an ex-parte application filed before it by Onyishi. Dr. Onyishi had through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, prayed the court to declare that the primaries conducted by the PDP in Enugu state was in clear violation of the Electoral Act, saying it was in contempt of a subsisting suit challenging the

election of delegates for that primaries. Prior to the primaries, Justice Chukwu had in another suit instituted by Orji Godwin and two others, against the PDP and 4 others, with reference number FHC/Abj/CS/830/2014, approved and sanctioned a list of delegates for the said primaries.

Breach of court's decision The list okayed by the court consisted of all the delegates duly elected at the party’s ward congresses for Enugu State. However, Dr. Onyishi alleged that the Enugu State Electoral Panel, in breach of the court’s decision, discarded that list of duly elected delegates approved by the court, and brought a different list of delegates which they claimed was handed over to them by the leadership of the party. He further told the court that no valid governorship primaries of the PDP took place in Enugu State on December 8, as no votes or results could have been recorded from the flawed delegates list. Ayogu had also prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja against accepting any other name as governorship candidate of the PDP aside himself. However, an Enugu State High Court equally granted an exparte order restraining Senator Ayogu Eze from parading himself as the governorship candidate of

the party pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by the plaintiff and the PDP governorship candidate for Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. It also restrained the PDP from recognising or submitting the name of any other person other than Ugwuanyi as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State for the February 2015 general elections. Justice R. O. Odogwu issued the order in Suit No E/499/2014 with Senator Ayogu Eze and the PDP as the first and second defendants respectively. The order, which was granted upon hearing the submissions of Ogochukwu Onyekwuluje with Tochukwu Maduka counsel for the plaintiff, read in part: “The 1stdefendant/respondent (Senator Ayogu Eze) by himself, his principals, agents, supporters or any other person, howsoever, called is hereby restrained from holding himself out and/or

It also restrained the PDP from recognising or submitting the name of any other person other than Ugwuanyi as the party’s gubernatorial candidate

parading himself and/or allowing himself to be held out and/ paraded as the gubernatorial candidate of the 2nd defendant for the February 2015 general election in Enugu State pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.” Meanwhile, the party has said that there was no court order restraining it from submitting the name of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as its candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the State. Reacting to media reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on December 18 ordered PDP not to submit Hon. Ugwuanyi’s name to the INEC, the party, in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, described the reports as “mischief by inordinate power seekers who would stop at nothing to undo the will of the people as duly and freely expressed during the December 8, 2014 governorship primary election in the State”.

Validly elected candidate The PDP said: “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no injunction whatsoever restraining the PDP from submitting the name of its validly elected candidate, Hon. I feanyi Ugwuanyi, to the INEC. “For the avoidance of doubts, there are two cases on the Enugu governorship primary pending before Justice S.E Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja and both cases were heard on Thursday, December 18, 2014. The first is Sen. Ayogu Eze vs. PDP in which Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuany was joined following an application by his counsel, P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN). The second case is Dr. Samuel Onyishi vs. the PDP. “The fact is that Sen. Ayogu Eze’s initial application for an exparte order to restrain the PDP from submitting Hon. Ugwuanyi’ name to INEC was refused by the Court as he was asked to put the PDP and INEC on Notice. “At the resumption of the case on Thursday, December 18, 2014, the PDP, through its counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), filed a preliminary objection to the effect that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the suit, relying on the case of Senator Lado vs. the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where the Supreme Court held that where there are parallel primaries, the party, and not the court, is to decide which primary to accept. “The preliminary objection also raises the issue that Sen. Ayogu Eze had no locus standi to contest the outcome of the primary election since he did not participate in it.”

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

My mission to House of Reps — Obiora Obi MR. Obiora Onyeabo Obi, a businessman and the last son of Senator Onyeabo Obi, is the Labour Party candidate for the Nnewi North/South & Ekwusigo Federal Constituency. In this interview, Obi talks about his plans for the people of his constituency and Nigeria, if elected into office next year. Excerpts: By Soni Daniel

HY do you want to leave your business and venture into the murky water of politics? In my professional experience, I have worked in business, construction, finance and in the ports. I have a degree in Industrial Relations and I am a member of the Governing Council Federal College of Education, Kontagora. I believe that I am of age, experience and maturity. With the extensive experience that I have, it is correct that I offer myself for service to advance the interests of the people of my constituency and of Nigeria. I think that those who have some experiences to bring to the table, experiences which will help create a better Nigeria, we should all come to the table. Let us work together to make things less murky, more structured and create a mature democracy. Let’s make a difference to the nation. But you are going to make laws in the National Assembly. How do you hope to empower the people? Being a lawmaker is a position of great responsibility. The laws we make shape and govern our nation and so they have a direct impact on society both in the short term and in the long term. They shape and govern the nation.

Legislative interests My legislative interests are focused on key needs of my constituency: education, infrastructure – especially the ports, finance and micro-finance, and industrial relations. Given my background and experience both in public service, in ports, in education and in commerce, I have seen and experienced first hand the issues and challenges that we face. My experience means that I am able to contribute in creating laws that would create an enabling environment for our people to make succeed in business and make money. Laws which will lead to creation of jobs by strengthening our infrastructure and which invest in the education of the young. In a democracy, laws are the ultimate tools of empowerment. Let me give you an example, the Onitsha Inland Port. My Federal Constituency is

one of commerce and industry. If the Onitsha Inland Port is opened, then traders and business people in the South East no longer need to have to go to Lagos (at least 7 hours by road) to clear their containers. Other than the benefits of road decongestion, this would make business for my constituency significantly faster and a lot cheaper, allowing them to reinvest profits for further benefit. So what difference do you hope to make if elected? Every person has his or her own experiences and character. For me, I am going into the National Assembly to make a difference from day one. It is my style to have well researched projects. So in all that we will do, I will study and research the areas in order to be sure to make value added contributions. We cannot work based on emotions but rather on facts and analysis. Anambra is in the hand of another party. Why do you choose to run on the platform of Labour Party? In the Labour Party our motto is “Forward Ever, Backward Never ” and I share in this philosophy. That Anambra is in the hand of another party is of interest but is not my concern. We are in a democracy and democracy by its very point is about choice. Look, in the Second Republic, my father won a landslide on the platform of Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP,

DELTA 2015:

Are you worried about the influence of money in the current political dispensation and do you have enough to run? Yes, money is needed to do politics here in Nigeria as in every other democracy. In some instances we see that significant amounts of money are used in trying to influence votes but I believe the people will still decide. As I mentioned above, Nigeria is a young democracy, we don’t yet have the sophisticated tools to move away from the money driven elections but by God’s grace we will get there. The reality is that even in today, you can spend a lot of money and still lose. I have approached my decision to run with a great sense financial responsibility. In a democracy, elections mean that there can be only one winner from the choice of candidates and

•Obi: Being a lawmaker is a position of great responsibility

others must lose. Those who lose must be able to go back home without financial ruin. Where has the strength of Labour come from? From hard work done in terms of grassroot campaigning. I will continue these efforts during my election campaign. My campaign is not about money but introducing myself and explaining my vision and strategy to the people who are looking for long term improvements which will benefit them and their children. Do you have political godfather in this election? Yes. Who is he? I have a God-father, who has a son and a Holy Ghost. That is my godfather. With three of them by my side, I am confident that I can win! What message do you have for your constituency?

First, I am grateful for having been given the ticket to contest the seat for the House of Representatives to represent Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency. Second, I will campaign vigorously so that everyone knows what I stand for and what I am offering in terms of representation. In this way, I promise to give my constituency the information that they need to be able to choose between the candidates. Thirdly, if I am elected, I will keep my campaign promises and my door will always be open – I am here to serve them and I will do my utmost not to disappoint them. My message to them is to trust that I am here for them. I am from a family with a name to protect and I will not disappoint them. My promise to them is a bond.

Isoko fight back

By Emman Ovuakporie

when another party was in power. What I can say is that I believe that the Labour Party platform in Anambra (and in other states) is a valid choice. In Nigeria, we are not the ruling party nor are we the key opposition party. However, our people are clamoring for choices and we are part of that choice. In fact I am very confident that with the support of God combined with a strong grass roots campaign, I will win the seat under the Labour Party banner.

ENATOR Ifeanyi Okowa’s acclaimed victory in the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may now look like the easier part of his long script to emerge the number one citizen of Delta State. The senator is now faced with the difficult option of choosing a running mate from at least two major ethnic groups in the state. And the choice must be made before the December 26 deadline as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Before his emergence as the candidate, the senator was understood to have cut deals

with stakeholders in Isoko that would have seen a running mate coming from the area. The choice was said to have been strategic given the estimated 250,000 votes the people of the area could churn out in the election. Despite their relatively significant population, the Isoko are yet to produce a governor, deputy or minister in the present dispensation. Given their position, the Isokos have argued that the only way that they can be placated is by ensuring that the zoning of the office of deputy governor is left within the ethnic group. However, few would have contended with the

force with which the Ijaws moved to help Senator Okowa, a move that have now put the Ijaws into play in the consideration of the deputy governor. Former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo was said to have helped tilt the advantage towards Okowa in the recent governorship election and hence the insinuation that either him or Senator Manager who also helped in achieving Okowa’s victory could be made to produce the deputy governorship candidate. The Isoko population is, however, not taking the issue lightly and hence the strident

campaign from the region for the office. Isoko leaders led by the president of the Isoko Development Union, IDU Gen. Paul Omu (rtd.) have warned that any effort to remove the office from Isoko land would incur the wrath of Isoko people. “The Isoko have not been fairly treated in the distribution of political offices in Delta,” he said in a statement. Given that Gen. Omu’s wife, Senator Stella Omu is one of the prominent Isoko persons earlier reportedly pencilled down for the office, it was perhaps a little difficult for the

Continues on page 41

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—41

The footsteps of SAS

BORNO:

Influential Borno State power broker, Senator Ali Sheriff has been anointed as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the Borno Central Senatorial District setting the stage for a rematch with Senator Ahmed Zanna who defeated him in 2011 as the candidate of the PDP. By Emmanuel Aziken Politial Editor & Ndahi Marama

HE political equation in the troubled Borno State is set to be energised after the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was confirmed as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Borno Central senatorial district in the forthcoming general elections. Sheriff is set to face the incumbent senator, Senator Ahmed Zanna who would be flying the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC. It is a remarkable switch. Zanna had been elected to the Senate on the platform of the PDP in 2011 after he defeated Sheriff who as the outgoing governor of the state had flown the ticket of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, a party which merged into the APC. Zanna and a large section of the mainstream PDP as it was had left the party for the APC after Sheriff who could not find accommodation led his supporters into the PDP.

Continues on page 40 general to push the case. Another name that has been mentioned is the secretary to the state government, Mr. Ovuozorie Macaulay. Mr. Macaulay while addressing PDP faithful at the weekend in his Owhelogbo country home, had said that the Isokos with over 250,000 votes could not be toyed with. According to him with the Ijaws having the senatorial position and the Itsekiris holding the governorship now, it was logical for the Isokos to be given the deputy governorship position in 2015. He was, however, careful to call on party stalwarts to be methodical in their advocacy as he called on them not to resort to violence. The deputy president of Isoko Development Union, IDU, Felix Ogbaudu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police

Sheriff ’s emergence as the consensus candidate of the PDP was confirmed to Vanguard yesterday by Umar Sanda, the acting Secretary of PDP Youth Wing in Borno State. Sheriff is the only governor of the state to have served for two terms. His attempt to return to the Senate on the platform of his former party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP at

•Sheriff: PDP Senate ticket in his kitty

the end of his governorship stint in 2011 ended in failure as he was defeated by the candidate of the PDP Before now, Sheriff had been understood to be favouring a close associate, Mohammed Imam for the senatorial position. His support for Imam followed the failure of Imam to get the governorship ticket of the PDP during the consensual talks in Abuja. Instead of Imam, PDP loyalists went for party veteran, Gambo Lawan a development that was said to have left Sheriff and many of his supporters in the cold. Many of them who sought other elective positions in the PDP lost to the old members of the PDP.

DELTA 2015:

•Shettima: Refused to play along with SAS

With Sheriff’s anointment as the PDP Senate candidate, Imam who Sheriff was wanting to console with that position it was learnt could be positioned for a ministerial or ambassadorial position if the PDP returns to power at the federal level. Sheriff’s capacity to pull such strings is not in doubt. As governor he is believed to have successfully positioned his acolytes in the Federal Government. His sister in law, Hajiya Yabawa Wabi was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in September 2010 as Minister of State for Finance and the appointment was largely believed to have been

Isoko fight back

speaking in the same vein said that the people of the area have decided to hold the bull by the horns and insist that an Isoko indigene must deputise Senator Ifeanyi Okowa the flag bearer of the ruling party in the state. Ogbaudu however noted that Isoko people had watched the whole issue as it unfolds and decided to read the riot Act to all stakeholders that except an Isoko man emerges as Senator Okowa’s deputy, the Isoko people will not play ball this time around He said “as regards to the governorship. issue, I was privy to the I.D.U press release and that’s my position”. “Isoko margilisation in Delta politics must stop. What comes round must go round”. Another Isoko grassroots political strategist, Mr Blessing

Ugoh threw his weight behind Ogbaudu’s position declaring that “how long will Isoko people continue to remain behind other ethnic nationalities when we have more than 240,000 registered voters in Isoko alone”. “One thing is certain, the Isoko nation will speak with one voice via the ballot box this time around as we’ve been pushed to the wall by other tribes in the state”. “We’ve consistently supported our Ijaw brothers in the past three senatorial contests after our sister Senator Stella Omu lost to Senator James Manager in 2003". “This time around we may decide to support our Itsekiri brother to rubbish Manager’s fourth bid to represent us in the Senate if the Ijaws insist on producing the deputy governor of the state”.

“We are a very peaceful people in Isoko land but that does not mean that we do not know our rights as we are prepared to further support the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU to produce an Urhobo governor come 2015”. “The PDP should be careful because what will happen in 2015 may pave way for the opposition to hold sway if this issue is not properly handled”. “ We know that Senator Okowa is a good and a marketable product but PDP may ruin his chance of occupying Asaba Government House because of the underground forces propelling him to further reduce the Isoko race to perpetual slavery”. “Enough of this margilisation as we are not ready to remain onlookers as our children will ask us questions why we remained where we are today”.

influenced by Sheriff who was an ANPP governor. The appointment was said to have caused serious revulsion within the ranks of the PDP in the state at that time as they saw it as demoralising for the president to patronise someone they believed was tormenting them at home. The road to Sheriff ’s anointment as PDP senatorial candidate was paved last week when the security agencies removed the cloud of suspicion around him on the spate of insecurity in the state. Sheriff who had been accused by international peace negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis of being one of the sponsors of the Boko Haram insurgent campaign had been cleared of the allegation by the Department of State Services, DSS last Tuesday.

Suspicion in some quarters The clearance came as the DSS paraded seven suspects including Junaidu Idrissa Khadi who served as special adviser to Governor Sheriff and was subsequently retained in the administration of Governor Kassim Shetimma. In parading Khadi, the DSS had addressed him as an aide to the governor which was despite the fact that Khadi and most of the other aides inherited from Sheriff were sacked from office by Shetimma about four months ago. The suspicion in some quarters is that Sheriff is being given a smooth ride back to public office by his new allies in the PDP. However, whatever leverage he enjoys would be put to official approval by the electorate in Borno Central Senatorial District.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Lagos city during the hustle and bustle of Christmas

Yuletide: Govt, again, puts Lagosians on red alert over Ebola •Says they should be mindful of what they do, eat and drink By Chioma Obinna & Olasunkanmi Akoni

HE state government has advised Lagosians to be at alert and be mindful of what they do, eat and drink during the yuletide celebrations even as it urged residents to call the Ebola Help line or the Local Government nearest to them in case of any suspected case during the season. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who gave the advice weekend urged residents to observe good personal and environmental hygiene as well as follow advice given by the State Government on the prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease. According to Idris, “Presently, there is no active case of Ebola in the country but Ebola is still a threat in neigbouring West Africa countries and this puts the nation at risk. This is why we need to be on the alert and observe a high degree of personal and environmental hygiene especially during this season of celebrations to prevent the disease from resurfacing in the country again”. He further advised citizens to take basic precautionary measures against the disease by washing their hands with soap and water frequently, particular-

ly after touching sick people; avoid direct contact with body fluids like saliva, vomit, stool, semen, vaginal fluids and urine of suspected persons and avoid eating fruits half eaten by animals. The Commissioner also urged citizens to cook all foods particularly meat thoroughly before eating, clean all surfaces that have been contaminated with body secretions with bleach or detergents

Presently, there is no active case of Ebola in the country but Ebola is still a threat in neigbouring West Africa countries and this puts the nation at risk

and desist from sharing sharp objects such as needles and razor blade. “Please, do not defecate or urinate indiscriminately and notify the health authority of anyone coming from any West African Country into your community. Be assured that the Lagos State Government is still carrying out active search for cases while followup on rumoured cases are ongoing and we will keep providing you with update and disease prevention messages”, Idris stated. The Commissioner added that signs and symptoms of Ebola include unexplained fever that does not respond to usual treatment, intense weakness, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea which may be accompanied by bleeding from body openings like the ear, nose, mouth and anus. Idris posited that Ebola Virus Disease is not a death sentence stressing that a sizeable number of those who contracted the disease are still alive adding that herbal remedies have not been proven to be efficacious. While urging health workers to keep observing the universal safety precautions when dealing with patients, the Commissioner noted that early detection of the disease and care can save lives. When laboratory confirmation

of the country’s first Ebola case, in Lagos, was announced on 23 July, the news rocked public health communities across the country. There were panics amongst Nigerians. Not only because of the virus but because of the country’s population, for a disease outbreak, it is also a powder keg. The number of people living in Lagos is around 18 million and Lagos is one of Africa’s largest city, also characterised by a large population living in crowded and unsanitary conditions in many slums.

Second outbreak site The question before the State Government according to the State Commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris was “How can contact tracing be done under such conditions?” This was the main concern raised at the beginning, shortly after the first confirmed case was announced. However, with the assistance from WHO, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and others, government health officials reached 100 percent of known contacts in Lagos and 99.8 percent at the second outbreak site, in Port Harcourt. Federal and State govern-

ments in Nigeria provided ample financial and material resources, as well as well-trained and experienced national staff. Isolation wards were immediately constructed, as were designated Ebola treatment facilities, though more slowly. Vehicles and mobile phones, with specially adapted programmes, were made available to aid real-time reporting as the investigations moved forward.

How Ebola outbreak started in Nigeria The Ebola virus was imported by Late Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian – American on 20 July via an infected Liberian air traveller, who died 5 days later. At the departure airport, he was visibly very ill, lying on the floor of the waiting room while awaiting the flight. He vomited during the flight, on arrival and, yet again, in the private car that drove him to a private hospital. The protocol officer who escorted him later died of Ebola. At the hospital, he told staff that he had malaria and denied any contact with an Ebola patient. As was learned later, his sister was a confirmed case who had died from the disease in Liberia. The traveller visited his sister while in hospital and attended her traditional funeral and burial ceremony. As malaria is not transmitted from person to person, no staff at the hospital took protective precautions. Over the coming days, nine doctors and nurses became infected and four of them died.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

—43

The Lagos street carnivals are here again By Dotun Ibiwoye

NE of the most salient things to notice in most streets in Lagos is the banner advertising the street carnivals coming up during this Yuletide season. Most of the carnival are held between the last week of December and first week of January. Though the street carnivals have become an annual occurrence in the last two decades it has never been so popular and ubiquitous as it is now. Major streets that have made the carnival an annual ritual include among others: Broad street, Allen Avenue, Ogunlana Drive, Adeniran Ogunsanya. Suburbs such like Mushin, Ajegunle, Isolo, Ojo, Ikorodu to mention a few have begun to toe the same path in organising street carnivals. Aside the usual fun experienced during the carnivals which usually comes up during the yuletide season, the event affords traders and printers (who print T shirts) the opportunity to make brisk money. The carnival attracts spectators from far and near asb they come to watch dancers, performers, and extravagant costumes at these street carnivals. Also, it also gives room for upcoming musical artistes to

Street carnival in session showcase their talents and advertise themselves for music promoters. Vehicular movement become restricted within the areas where the carnival holds as revellers displayed varied creative designs and colourful costumes with a large number of beautiful people.

Besides, there is always an unprecedented influx of Nigeria from the diaspora who come for this ceremonial occasion. For a state like Lagos that has over 21 million residents, it is usual to see people and the event gives participants the opportunity to unwind and have

House demolition

Demolition: 20,000 residents denied access over Police blockage By Ikenna Asomba

XACTLY one year after the demolition of over 1,000 houses belonging to residents of Atinporomeh Central, Aiyedotun and Ajagbe Community Development Areas, CDAs, in Badagry area of Lagos, allegedly by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF and their assigned contractors, the people have continued to lament the untold hardship they have been subjected to by the activities of the law enforcement agents. According to them, after the

demolition which took place between December 16 and 17 last year, the construction work by the Police has led to a blockage of the only access road into their communities from the Badagry Expressway. Bemoaning that over 20, 000 residents of the three communities have been denied access into their homes , they also lamented that the construction work by the contractors of the Police make the access road waterlogged and also exposes them to high security risk, owing

to the daily inflow of strangers into the construction site. In very strong words, leaders of the CDAs, Agiri I.A (Atinporomeh Central CDA), Bonu S.S. (Ajagbe Progressive CDA) and Patricia C.O of (Aiyedotun CDA), have called on the police authorities to provide the residents with an alternative access road, if they (Police) insist that the ongoing construction on the 65 hectares of land will continue to cause blockage to the only access road into their communities.

fun in a secured environment. There is no need for costume in street carnival because it is not as lively as the larger carnivals. The attendees always witness a stunning street parade that attracts people from different parts of the country and

diaspora , from a wide variety of communities and cultural groups. It also provides a great opportunity to pick up local handicrafts and souvenirs as vendors will have set up stalls to showcase their wares and definitely be smiling home to the bank the next day.

However, this call came just barely a week after some angry protesters from the communities besieged the office of the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, protesting that the demolition have forced most of them to be sleeping under trees, churches, mosques and motor parks. The irate protesters who chanted anti-government songs to call the attention of the governor, decried that their houses in Atinporomeh, Araromi and Muwo Phase II areas of Badagry , were illegally demolished by the NPF. Pointing that government had reneged on its promise of protecting their lives and properties, leader of the protesters Mr. Charles Adu had said: “The Police intentionally demolished our houses last year. The Nigerian Police left the land allocated to them by the State government with Certificate of Ownership, C of O, no: 33/33/2009, at Agemowo/ Agelado village to demolish our land at Atinporomeh. The distance between both lands is over two kilometres.” Meanwhile, leaders of the Atinporomeh C entral CDA, Ajagbe Progressives CDA and Aiyedotun CDA had in a petition dated December 1, 2014, to the State Commissioner for Rural Development and copied to the Governor Babatunde Fashola, as

well as the Commissioner for Environment, prayed for their intervention. In the petition made available to Vanguard, they urgently requested for “a synergy among relevant ministries that could help in resolving the problem of how to gain access to our community; liaise with the Nigerian police on how to resolve the drainage system that has been blocked.

Blockage of existing road “The need for the Nigerian Police Force to get us alternative road to our community if they believe that their construction work will necessitate the blockage of the existing road; stakeholders’ meeting between the Nigerian Police Force and representatives of our CDAs. “The education of the Nigerian police on the need to see us as their neighbour in order to stop their continuous hostility against us,” read the petition. However, as at the time of filing this report, efforts to speak to the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police command, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu was futile, as his phone was not connecting.

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

U.S. Rapprochement with Cuba

O some of his supporters and certainly most of his ideological opponents, President Barack Obama’s rapprochement with Cuba is nothing short of political and diplomatic anathema. The unwritten doctrine is that Cuba is the United States’ eternal enemy. No one, not even the president of the U.S. could publicly utter the word “Cuba” unless in very unflattering terms. Yet, President Obama had the effrontery to address his compatriots last week and unequivocally let them know that he was restoring ties with the pariah state of Cuba. Then, to show the extent of his resolve, he announced that embassies will be opened in both Washington D.C. and Havana to cement the new diplomatic reality. President Obama’s rationale for his bold move is rooted in his observation that over half a century of diplomatic tit-for-tat between the U.S. and Cuba has not yielded anything positive for both countries. Therefore, he solemnly declared, “It’s time for a new approach.” That approach was developed amidst such secrecy unknown to most observers of the White House. But, it has since emerged that it involved Pope Francis and the Vatican, Canada, a seemingly innocent handshake between Obama and Cuba’s Raul Castro at the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South African almost a year ago, and the release and exchange of convicted U.S. and Cuban spies. In a simultaneous telecast in Havana, President Raul Castro hailed the new twist in relations between the U.S. and his country. He noted that “we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of mutual interest for both nations….President Obama’s decision deserves the respect and acknowledgment of our people.” Thereafter, the younger of the aged Castro brothers threw in a note of caution by reminding the world that the opening diplomatic ties “in no way means that the heart of the matter has been resolved. The e c o n o m i c , commercial and financial blockade, which causes enormous human The and economic damages to our conservative country, must cease.” response did It is reasonable to imagine that the not address White House did not the core of expect a chorus of s u p p o r t i v e Obama’s Kumbayah across the stand on the United States in reaching out to the issue of Cubans. But, it is restoring doubtful that Obama’s operatives ties with anticipated the Cuba massive riposte to his initiative. Of course, most of the attacks have come from the conservative group in U.S. politics, as well as from the population of fairly elderly Cuban Americans who experienced life under Fidel Castro first hand, or those who still recall how the Cuban system used iron gloves to deal harshly with their parents.

Among the latter group is a young and rising star in the conservative Republican camp known as Marco Rubio, a senator from the state of Florida. Here is how Senator Rubio responded to Obama’s bold move on Cuba: “This entire policy shift announced today is based on an illusion, on a lie, the lie and the illusion that more commerce and access to money and goods will translate to political freedom for the Cuban people. All this is going to do is give the Castro regime, which controls every aspect of Cuban life, the opportunity to manipulate these changes to perpetuate itself in power.” As usual, the conservative response did not address the core of Obama’s stand on the issue of restoring ties with Cuba, which is to say, as he put it, “I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result.” The Republican approach seems to be to keep sustaining the enmity between the U.S. and Cuba in the hope that someday, somehow, Cuba will capitulate to the U.S. But, after fifty-four years of such antagonistic policy, there is no evidence that Cuba is about to wobble on its knees and surrender to its neighbor of only ninety nautical miles away.

Potential flag bearer There is little doubt that reaching out to Cuba will form part of the issues in the 2016 presidential election in the U.S. It is already known that Hillary Clinton, the potential flag-bearer for the Democrats, supports the move on Cuba, and in fact participated in initiating the move while serving as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. On the other hand, Jeb Bush and other hopefuls for the Republican Party presidential ticket, have drawn their political daggers in readiness for battle on this issue. Hopefully, both sides would pay attention to polls to know what the political barometer reads on the issue. For now, more Cuban-Americans are in favor of Obama’s reaching out to their motherland, than those who oppose it. As one can imagine, the young CubanAmericans are more in favor of the new friendship with Cuba. What I find intriguing is why President Obama reserved his appetite for bold actions such as the one he has taken on Cuba, till the dusk of his administration. But for his audacious authorization of the mission that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden and the passing of the Affordable Care law, Obama has largely given the impression that he is a man who has little interest in really rocking the boat. I give him an A grade for the Cuban decision. At the height of the cold war in the 1970s, U.S. President Nixon boldly visited China and resumed diplomatic ties with that country at a time when the word “communism” was like a mortal sin to most Americans. Now, Obama has taken his own bold step and plans to visit Cuba before he steps out of the White House. This is the sterner stuff presidents are made of. I only wish Obama had had the audacity to take a number of similar actions long before now.

Maltreated Nigerians in the diaspora..but who will bell the cat?

Frustrations of Diaspora Nigerians •Who shall bell the cat? By Vera Samuel Anyagafu & Prisca Sam-Duru S issues concerning the maltreatment of Nigerians in various countries of abode abroad continue as subject of utmost concern, many Nigerians are of the view that the Federal Government, including the responsible authorities are not living up to their responsibilities, especially as it concerns providing an enabling environment for Nigerian in diasporas to thrive. Vanguard Consular Advisory (VCA) observations show that a large number of Nigerians abroad left the shores of the country, following several failed adventures and in many cases have blamed their unfortunate conditions in various countries of abode to the failure of the Nigerian government to provide them favourable policies upon which they could thrive. A few Diaspora citizens who spoke to VCA, expressed concern over the horrible experiences most Nigerians encounter in foreign countries. They said that most Nigerians are wallowing in abject poverty, and thatin most cases, their conditions drive them into untold criminal activities which eventually lead to arrest, detention, torture and occasional deaths. Mr. Joseph Ugboulo told the story of how he left his lucrative business to migrate to South Korea. According to him, the inhuman conditions prevalent in Nigeria pushed him into the decision to migrate to South Korea. He said that he is working as a casual in one of the notable production companies (names with held) in South Korea, yet finds it very difficult to save and send money to the family he left behind in Nigeria. His words, “It is so pathetic how Nigerians are being lumped together by foreign hosts as people without a future, and or direction. Here in South Korea, my fate is hanging and I have no future. We are about seven Africans sharing an apartment that could barely accommodate three persons comfortably, and if you feel so disturbed, someone waiting would gladly take your position and you will be thrown out on the streets, “The conditions of many of us in South Korea aptly capture the pathetic condition back

home in Nigeria as a good number of us would rather die than come back to Nigeria as a nobody.” Joseph, who stressed the need for proper understanding of the country one is intending migrating to, added that, “I would rather advise prospective migrant on the dangers of not updating one self with the cultural, geographical and foremost, behavioral attitude of citizens of a host country prior to concluding plans to leave the shores of Nigeria. Although, it is a fact that Nigerians are frequently being incarcerated in their various host countries of abode abroad, it also serves as a demonstration of how insensitive intending migrants are in matters that have to do with their well being.” Noting also with concern to living up to essential needs in Nigeria economic projects, which includes, creation of a comfortable political, economic, cultural, legal and spiritual environment, for youth to thrive upon, Nigerian medical practitioner who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said it is time for all responsible authorities to put aside their selfish sentiments to addressing issues of national interest. He said, “It is important for the government and all responsible authorities in Nigeria to rise above self and tackle the realities and challenges of citizens living in various countries abroad.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—45

Threat to Nor thern pro-Jonathan govs, invitation to anarchy —IYC By Samuel Oyadongha

ENAGOA—THE Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has condemned the reported open threat by some radical elements in the Northern part of the country to pro-Jonathan governors and other supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in the North, saying that it was an invitation to anarchy. IYC, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said all Nigerians irrespective of place of origin have a right to contest for the Presidency of Nigeria and also have the right to support any candidate of their choice without molestation. He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the publications in several national newspapers on December 21, 2014, to the effect that some radical elements in the Northern part of the country were sending open threat messages to proJonathan governors and other supporters of President Jonathan’s re-election bid in the North, threatening to ruthlessly deal with them if they continue with their support for President Jonathan against General Buhari, in the 2015 presidential election.

Edo Majority Leader bags NUJ award

ENIN—EDO State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has confered an award of excellence on the Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Philip Shaibu. Shaibu is an All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Etsako federal constituency seat in the forthcoming general elections. Presenting the award yesterday before the House sitting at the old Assembly Complex, GRA, Benin City, the Edo State Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Desmond Agbama, said the award was in recognition of Shaibu's outstanding performance as a member of the state House of Assembly and his contribution to the practice of journalism in the state. Responding, Shaibu said: “I appreciate this award and I will not relent in my struggle to enthrone change in Nigeria which the APC represents.”

“We condemn the threats and the desperation of supporters of General Buhari in the North to take over the leadership of Nigeria at all cost in 2015. We state that such open threats, especially coming from a ranking member of the National Assembly, are undemocratic and

an invitation to anarchy. “All Nigerians irrespective of their places of origin have the right to contest for the Presidency of Nigeria and Nigerians have the right to support any candidate of their choice without molestation. “We recall that hundreds of

Nigerians especially National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed in the aftermath of the 2011 elections as a result of similar undemocratic disposition of some elements in the North.”

CAMPAIGN: From right: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Senator Magnus Abe; Rivers State APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and Chairman of Dakuku Peterside Campaign Organisation/ Commissioner for works, Victor Giadom, at the flagg off campaign for Dakuku Peterside at the Liberation Stadium Elekahia Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Group urges Clark, Tompolo, Manager to pick consensus running mate for Okowa By Emma Amaize

ARRI—A GROUP, Delta Ijaw Political Forum, DIPF, in Delta State, yesterday, urged the Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Senator James Manager and former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to harmonise their differences on the choice of running mate to People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. “We want the Ijaw leaders to synchronize their differences and jointly present a credible and generally acceptable Ijaw person as Okowa’s running mate to avoid dancing naked in the public,” the group’s Chairman, Mr Austin Ozobo, said yesterday, in Warri. Vanguard has learned that former chairman, Committee of Petroleum Resources Upstream, House of Representatives, Tam Brisibe, was also jostling for the deputy governorship position. Ozobo, who urged the three leaders to harmonize their position, enjoined Senator Manager and Tompolo to drop their separate aspirations and support Dr. Bruce Angozi,

believed to be Chief Clark's candidate. Whereas Senator Manager was said to be pushing J.T. Government, Tompolo was

reportedly behind the emergence of Mr Kingsley Otuaro, a DESOPADEC commissioner, as Okowa’s running mate.

DECLINING CRUDE OIL PRICE: It’s time for sacrifice —Warri South LG chair

ARRI—FOLLOWING the downward slide in the price of crude oil at the international market which has resulted in a drop in the monthly federal allocation, the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Mofe Edema, has called on staff of the council and other stakeholders to brace up for the challenges ahead, stressing that it was time to make sacrifices. Warri South Chairman, who made the call during a meeting with staff of the council, said that his administration has devised means to manage the poor allocation so as to be able to pay staff salaries and carry out statutory development programmes. Edema also enjoined staff of Warri South council to take advantage of the World Aids Day to check their blood

pressure, malaria and HIV status, insisting that his administration will be more transparent in its day to day pursuit of people oriented programmes. War ri South council Community Mobilisation Officer, HIV/AIDS, Mrs. Beatrice Onwo, admonished staff of the council to regularly check their blood pressure. Meanwhile, four new supervisors were yesterday, sworn in by the Warri South council boss, with a charge on them to gear-up for the task ahead. The four newly sworn in supervisors include Mr. Emma Amiwero, who retains his former position as Supervisor for Health, Mr. Kenneth George, Supervisor for Environment and Sanitation, Linda Ikpuri, Supervisor for Education and Tosan Ebiyemi, Supervisor for Agriculture.

Over two million Itsekiri in higher institutions world-wide —NAIS

ARRI—THE N a t i o n a l President of National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, Mr. Austin Leleji, has said that there are over two million Itsekiri studying in higher institutions across the world. NAIS President, during the association’s annual national convention in Warri, Delta State, listed his achievements to include embarking on operation speak the Itsekiri language by all Itsekiri students, purchase and distribution of Itsekiri text books to Itsekiri students, facilitation of tertiary scholarships to indigent Itsekiri students and the back to school campaign. The Itsekiri students’ umbrella body also presented award to some distinguished Itsekiri, who have supported them immensely. Some of the awardees include Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, the Igba of Warri Kingdom, Dr. Joseph Otumara, Delta State Commissioner for Health, former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochie and Itsekiri leader, Pa. J.O. Ayomike.

Edo group lauds Oshodin on retirement

N Edo-based g r o u p , Oseghivbedo, has hailed the outgoing Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, UNIBEN, Prof. O. Oshodin, on his successful stewardship as Vice Chancellor of the university. Mr. Efehi Ogboghodo, on behalf the group, during its executive meeting in Benin City, yesterday, commended the contributions of Prof. Oshodin, who he said, lived up to the expectations being a true son of Benin Kingdom. He described the former Vice Chancellor as a worthy son both in words and in action, by promoting the Edo interest even as he rendered his service selflessly to Nigeria as a nation.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Firm trains Aba carpenters, builders

Imo APC youths burn cards, flags, brooms By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—SCORES of All Progressives Congress, APC, youths have burnt their membership cards, flags and brooms, the party's insignia, in front of Government House, Owerri. The angry youths, who also announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, joined members of Imo Grassroots for Goodluck Jonathan Organization, IGJO, and trooped to the streets of Owerri, chanting solidarity songs in support of the reelection of the President. Traffic was held up for hours as the youths marched from Egbu Road, through Wethedral Road, Government House and ended at the PDP State Secretariat along Okigwe Road. Speaking, National Coordinator of IGJO, Mr. Samuel Otuibe, explained that they were on the road to sensitize the citizenry on the need to continue supporting President Jonathan. “President Jonathan has done a lot for the state, especially in the areas of education, youth empowerment, agricultural transformation, public power supply and infrastructural development,” Otuibe said.

S part of its management philosophy to ensure that carpenters and builders are knowledgeable in the latest building and construction industry technology, Eternit Limited recently organized a training workshop for carpenters and builders in Aba. The training, which attracted over 40 participants, was conducted by experts drawn locally and internationally to fill in the knowledge gaps. Mr. Godwin Ejobona, Eternit‘s Field Sales Manager, said the exercise was most timely and crucial, especially for carpenters and builders based in Aba. According to him, Aba is known for great business ingenuity and creativity and as such will require well-trained and tested carpenters, who can also prove their mettle in the building and construction sector.

He welcomed those who dumped the APC for the PDP, adding that youths would continue to expose the insincerity of the opposition parties in the state.

OVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State will, Thursday, commission developmental projects executed by Sir Engr. Emeka Okwuosa Foundation at Irefi Oraifite in Anambra State. Spokesman of the foundation, Mr. Innocent Osita Nwokolo,

said the projects included the 1.5 kilometre Dame-IreneNneka-Okwuosa Road, a completely tarred road with modern drainage and erosion control system; the Umunzalu Town Hall and Community Civic Centre, and the 0.5km Eze Okpuzo Road. Others are a gari processing factory, expected to be a source

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has assured that the ongoing construction of the 7.6 kilometres Eke-Ezeala-AbbaOwerri Nkworji road by his government will be completed to open the area for development, saying “the bad road you saw today, you shall see no more.” The governor who spoke while inspecting the level of works done on the road, noted that about 3km out of the 7.6km

road had been tarred stressing that the remaining 4.6km would be completed within the first quarter of next year. He thanked people of the area for their support to the Rescue mission government. The governor made a brief stop at the Central School, Abba, where he interacted with pupils and teachers as they trooped out of their classrooms to catch a glimpse of the governor, and prayed

N Isawo, Agric area of Ikorodu, my name was on the board only to be told by the INEC official that I have to reregister. According to them, my voter's card, which I used in the last election, is invalid. Is that not a miracle? — Mr John Anyaele, Businessman.

for the sustenance of good leadership in the state. Meanwhile, governor Okorocha has condoled with the family of Anyiam Osigwe in Nkwere Local Government Area over the death of their son, Ambassador Mike Anyiam Osigwe. Governor Okorocha described the late Ambassador as a close friend to his family and pointed out that late Ambassador had contributed to the development of democracy in Nigeria.

Embark on relevant research, Jonathan urges varsities; lauds FUTA

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerian universities to be committed to, and embark on, relevant research that will solve the immediate technological, economic, social, educational and health needs of the country.

of employment for youths, foundation laying ceremony of Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa Medical Centre, a modern medical centre that will be equipped with the necessary medical facilities for dialysis to address kidney-related problems, and also the foundation laying ceremony of the foundation's secretariat

President Jonathan, who is the Visitor to the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, made this call at the institution’s combined 25th and 26th convocation. The President, who was represented by Professor Peter Onwualu of the National Universities Commission, NUC, said: “Universities play critical roles in the attainment of societal growth and national transformation. “I wish to state unequivocally that the expectation of government and the Nigerian public is for FUTA to continue to be a model for other universities. “Let me commend the leadership of the university

PEOPLE SPEAK

“Nigerians, especially Ndigbo, should support the President to continue his transformation agenda. PDP will continue to work with positive minded groups,” Chikwe said.

... as Okorocha assures on road project

Obiano commissions Okwuosa Foundation's projects By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Responding, the state PDP Deputy Chairman, General Sunday Chikwe (retd), commended the youths for conducting themselves in a very peaceful manner.

under Professor Adebiyi Daramola. “I have carefully monitored the university ’s rate of development and transformation in the last three and half years of his assumption of office as Vice-Chancellor. “I have noted with keen interest the massive investment in facility, infrastructure upgrade, and a tremendous improvement on teaching and learning environment. “I am aware of the current collaborations with some American, German and South African universities involving staff and students’ exchange. “I am also not unaware of FUTA’s rise in global ranking, now coming among best 100 universities in Africa and among the top 10 in Nigeria.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

On 2015 general elections? NEC has started the H AT E V E R ELL, to the best of EBRUARY 14 is very NEC is hoarding rigging procedure W happens, Iahead as I people’s electronic Fclose. Or do they Wmy knowledge, this of 2015 general regards 2015 elections, government is more elections. The commission should please live up to expectations and not fail Nigerian voters again. God help us this time around to get it right. Because if we don't...—Mr. Adetomiwa Olushola, Worker.

Jega should humbly take a bow and resign. This is because the last election was massively rigged. Many Nigerians were disenfranchized. It is like we are headed down that road again.—Mr Chinaza Onuigbo, Businessman.

cards and it is not in the favour of free and fair elections in Nigeria. Only if INEC can buckle-up now, then we can be rest assured that whoever they declare winner truly won.— Mr. Uchenna Azuka, Communicator.

want to postpone the elections date? INEC has lost every credibility to conduct fair and free elections. The officials should either resign or be forced to do so.— Mr Eyinnaya Okpani, Graduate.

serious with free and fair elections than any other. However, my fear still remains on the question: will the persons manning the poll allow it to be free?— Mr Ben Onyekachi, Worker.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014— 47

Court stops EFCC from arresting Turaki, ex-Jigawa gov

ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING:

By Aliyu Dangida

UTSE—A Federal High Court sitting in Dutse has stopped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting the former state governor, Senator Saminu Turaki over alleged money laundering during his eight years administration in the state. The commission had earlier, declared Turaki wanted just as the warrant for his arrest was pasted in his houses at Kazaure, Kano and Abuja respectively. Turaki was first arraigned by the EFCC before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 2007 on a 32-count charge of misappropriating N36 billion while in office. The case was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Dutse after he challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT Court. He was subsequently re-arraigned on a 32-count charge at the Federal High Court in the state. Defence counsel, Mr Saidu

Tudunwada recalled that the court in the past has squashed the case due to lack of evidence to prove that his client was involved in any shady deal,

saying the revisiting of the case was aimed at tarnishing Turaki’s hard earned image. However, the presiding judge, Justice Sabiu Yahuza has

advised EFCC to stop arresting Turaki, and adjourned the case till February 4, 2015 for further hearing.

CONCERT: From left: Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN-Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director, MTNF, and Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki, Director, MTNF, during the MTNF-MUSON scholars, donors appreciation concert in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

NUGU—THE Senator Ayogu Eze governorship campaign organisation has alerted the public about a plot by some powerful forces to intimidate and harass its candidate, Sen. Ayogu Eze out of the 2015 governorship race. Citing a rash of cooked up allegations and choreographed press statements aimed at discouraging and embarrassing its candidate, the organisation in a statement, by its Director of Legal Services, Mr. Kingsley Onyeke, said that no amount of blackmail or intimidation will deter Sen. Eze from exercising his mandate. The Organisation said that Sen. Eze’s campaign organisation has been posing very serious questions as to where the delegates used for the so called governorship primaries in Enugu were fabricated from, yet nobody in Enugu or elsewhere has been able to provide answers to those questions. It asked those attacking Sen. Eze

to first answer the troubling question of where the delegates who voted on December 8, 2014 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, venue of the kangaroo primary came from when the party in the state had claimed in well celebrated court cases that it did not participate in the ward congresses that produced the ad hoc delegates. “There are 1,008 delegates for the governorship primary election, 780 of whom are ad hoc

faced one of the fiercest persecutions in the history of politics in Nigeria since he rejected the idea of hand picking a preferred candidate for the 2015 election, noting that apart from phoney petitions and a blistering propaganda warfare, any one associated with Sen. Eze who is in government has either been removed or threatened into submission.

Al-Makura, Agabi pick running mates for 2015 gov race NASARAWA:

By Abel Daniel

AFIA—GOVERNOR of Nasarawa State and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tanko Al-Makura, has named Mr Silas Agara as his running mate for the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Arewa group lauds APC on hitch-free primaries BUJA—THE Matasaan Arewa Empowerment Right Advancement Association has hailed the major opposition party in the coutry, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for successfully conducting what it callded a free, fair, transparent and credible presidential primaries. The group in a statement by its coordinator, Alhaji Goni Nguru, said: "The emergence of General Mohammad Buhari, is not a mere coincidence in a keenly contested primaries that have five worthy aspirants as contestants. This is

delegates. These lawful delegates were denied access to the venue of the primary election as explained by the chairman of the Governorship Electoral Panel, His Highness, King Asara Asara when he briefed aspirants for the election. “Where then did one person get 937 delegates that purportedly voted for him from?,” the organisation asked. It noted that its principal has

a clear indication of the sterling leadership qualities that he possesses. “A primary election that had former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, among others showed that the APC has men of intellectual ability, who are all qualified to lead this great nation to the promise land. "The successful conduct of the primaries by the party is a pointer that the party is poised to lead Nigeria out of the woods."

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s, governorship candidate in state, Alhaji Yusuf Agabi has also picked Mr. John Matthew, an Abuja-based legal practitioner as his running mate in the same election. These were contained in two separate statements in Lafia, the state capital, weekend. A statement signed by AlMakura’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yukubu Lamia said that the choice of Agara was made after a meeting of party leaders and other governorship aspirants in the just concluded primary elections, as a way of

By Boluwaji Obahopo

ENUGU 2015: Ayogu Eze alleges intimidation By Francis Igata

NLC warns against retrencment of 6,000 workers in Kogi

reconciling all interest groups ahead of the general elections. Agara, who is the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development in the state, hails from Akwanga Local Government. He would replace the present Deputy Governor, Mr Dameshi Luka, who defected to the opposition, PDP, early this year if both of them win the forthcoming election. Meanwhile, the PDP, also, said that Mathew was picked as running mate to Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, after a state-wide consultations with PDP stakeholders in the state.

with agency report

OKOJA—THE Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has cautioned Governor Wada Idris against authorising the retrenchment of over 6,000 workers from the state civil service. This was even as workers in the state have rejected their December salaries, complaining of various deductions from their pay packet. In a communiqué jointly signed by the state Chairman of the NLC, Mr James Odaudu, and Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr J.O. Kolawole, at the end of a meeting of the organised labour in Lokoja weekend, said that its State Executive Council, SEC, had resolved that rather than embarking on mass retrenchment, government should allow the Implementation Committee of 2014 Ogunmola Screening report to do its job.

NSCDC handles 2,039 cases in Jigawa, says Commandant

By Tina Akannam

UTSE—THE Jigawa State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has handled 2,039 different types of criminal cases out of which 14 per cent were transferred to other security agencies including the police and the NDLEA. The state commandant, Dr. Muhammad Gidado who spoke in Dutse, said that most of the cases which they investigated were completed between January 2014 and now and were charged to the various courts of competent jurisdictions in the state. Gidado further explained that about 36 per cent of the suspects charged to court were convicted with only about 11 per cent still being tried.

....As councillor lauds Okowa, Pondi on victory

HE MAJORITY Leader, legislative arm of the Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Joseph AlubezeFuludu has hailed Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Julius Pondi over their victory at the recent governorship and House of Representatives primary

elections in the state. Alubeze-Fuludu, who gave this commendation in Asaba over Okowa’s victory, said his choice as the governorship candidate of the party cuts across the three senatorial districts, saying that victory is sure come 2015 general

election. While describing the election as one of the most peaceful and freest party primaries ever conducted by the party, Alubeze-Fuludu said he was optimistic that Okowa and Pondi will floor their opponents during next year's general elections.

48â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Folajinmi Mohammed, Candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly, Ikeja Constituency, Kenny St. Brown, and Mr. Kehinde Shabi, during the presentation of agenda and fund-raising to Ikeja people, in Ikeja. Lagos, weekend. Photo: Joe Akintola, photo editor COCKTAIL: Managing Director, Polo Luxury Group, Mr. John Obayuwana; Executive Director, Polo Luxury Group, Ms. Jennifer Obayuwana, and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko, at the recently concluded Polo/Cartier cocktail, in Lagos.

DECORATION: Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, as designed HOSTING: Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Philip Shaibu (left), being entertained by Benin women when he hosted Edo State journalists, and decorated by Zenith Bank Plc for Chrismas. Photo: Akeem Salau at the Assembly quarters GRA, Benin City.

ORDINATION: From left, newly ordinated Revd & Mrs. Mobolade Omonijo, Rt. Revd. & Mrs. James Odedeji, Bishop of Lagos West; Justice Babasola Ogunade, Chancellor, Lagos West and newly ordinated Revd & Mrs. Gboyega Oluwatusin, during the 2014 Advent Ordination by Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Revd James Odedeji, at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Idimu, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

LAUNCH: From left, Efe Obiomah, Public Releations Manager, GOtv; MultiChoice Mega Dealer, Jacob Awona; Elizabeth Amkpa, General Manager, GOtv, and Oludare Kafar, Marketing Manager, GOtv, during the media launch of GOtv, in Warri, Delta State.

VISIT: From left, Mr..Usen Udoh, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Dangote Industries Limited; Engr. Mansur Ahmed, Group Executive Director, Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communication, Dangote Group; Dr. Nelson Uwaga, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute Of Management, NIM; Obong Bassey Inuayen, Chairman, Fund Raising Committee, NIM, and Engr. Mohammed Sulaiman, Registrar and Chief Executive, NIM, during NIM's courtesy visit to Dangote Industries Limited, in Lagos. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu

PARTY: From left, Mr. Yemi Akintobi, former internal auditor, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos council; Mr. Deji Elumoye, Chairman, NUJ Lagos council; Mr. Waheed Odusile, ex-officer, and Stella Sawyer, Associate Editor, Tell Magazine, Lagos, during NUJ Lagos Council, Old School End of Years Party, in Ikeja, Lagos, weekend. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 49

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Tunisia election: Essebsi wins presidential run-off

Pope deplores Vatican ‘ills’ in speech to Curia P

OPE Francis has sharply criticised the Vatican bureaucracy in a pre-Christmas address to cardinals, complaining of “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and “the terrorism of gossip”. He said the Curia - the administrative pinnacle of the Roman Catholic Church - was suffering from 15 “ailments”, which he wanted cured in the New Year. Pope Francis - the first Latin American pontiff also criticised “those who look obsessively at their own image”.This even as as he demanded reform of the Curia. Pope Francis said some power-hungry clerics were guilty of “coldbloodedly killing the reputation of their own colleagues and brothers”. He compared the performance of the

church’s civil servants to that of an orchestra playing out of tune because they fail to collaborate and have no team spirit, the BBC’s David Willey reports from Rome. Before his election in March 2013, the pontiff

had never worked in Rome, and he is clearly upset at the internal opposition he has encountered to some of the reforms he wants to carry out, our correspondent adds. Since his election last year, Pope Francis has launched a clean-up of the

The Pope delivered his tough message in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall

HE Syrian government has approved the delivery of medicine and surgical supplies to three areas of the country aid workers were previously unable to reach regularly, including opposition-held Aleppo, the World Health Organization said yesterday. All sides in Syria’s threeyear civil war have prevented medicine from crossing front lines fearing it could be used to help wounded enemy fighters. This has deprived trapped

civilians from life-saving medical assistance. Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO’s Syria representative, told Reuters the government has now promised access to Aleppo, the besieged Damascus district of Mouadamiya, and Eastern Ghouta, outside the capital. “It is something that we have been negotiating, after the constraints we’ve had, we have had top level meetings. There has been a willingness from the Ministry of Health and the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We see a positive outlook,” Hoff said. “We have had some constraints in the past with delivering surgical supplies, syringes, but the situation is much better at the moment,” she said. The United Nations says 4.7 million Syrians live in areas that are hard to reach, including at least 241,000 people who remain besieged by either government or opposition forces.

Flight MH370 was ‘hacked and shot down by US Air Force’ claims former airline boss

ISSING Flight MH370 was ‘hacked and then shot down over the Indian Ocean by the US Air Force,’ it has been claimed. The Malaysia Airlines plane was remotely hijacked by unknown persons before being blasted out of the sky by the American military, fearing a terrorist attack similar to 9/11, according to Mark Dugain. The Frenchman, an author and the ex-head of C M Y K

the now-defunct Proteus Airlines, believes the Boeing 777 was downed by US Air Force assets from the British-controlled Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Mr Dugain said he had travelled to the Maldives and spoken to locals who claimed to have seen a “huge plane” flying overhead at low altitude in the direction of Diego Garcia. According to an article penned by Dugan in French weekly magazine

Paris Match, one fisherman told him: “I saw a huge plane fly over us at low altitude. “I saw red and blue stripes (the livery of Malaysia Airlines) on a white background.” Dugain said the man’s account was supported by several other locals. He also wrote how he had met the mayor of Baarah Island, who showed him photos of a device seized by the Maldives military after it was found on a beach two weeks after the tragedy.

establishment. They point out that he served under President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali, who was ousted in 2011 after the Arab Spring revolution triggered uprisings across the region. Mr Essebsi was also in the cabinet of Tunisia’s first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. Earlier yesterday , police fired tear gas in the southern city of Hamma to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who burned tyres in protest at Mr Essebsi’s victory.

N. Korea threatens strikes on US amid hacking claims

WHO says Syria approves medicine deliveries to Aleppo, other areas

Vatican Bank, officially known as the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR). The IOR has long had a poor reputation, after a succession of scandals. He has appointed a team of advisers to tackle corruption and poor administration in the Vatican.

ETERAN politician Beji Caid Essebsi has been confirmed as winner of Tunisia’s first free presidential poll. He secured 55.68% of the vote in Sunday’s run-off, defeating caretaker president Moncef Marzouki (44.32%), the head of the electoral commission said. Mr Marzouki, a 67-yearold former exile, earlier refused to admit defeat. Mr Essebsi, 88, has urged all Tunisians to “ work together” for stability but critics say his win marks the return of a discredited

RESIDENT Barack Obama is “recklessly” spreading rumors of a Pyongyangorchestrated cyberattack of Sony Pictures, North Korea says, as it warns of strikes against the White House, Pentagon and “the whole U.S. mainland, that cesspool of terrorism.” Such rhetoric is routine from North Korea’s massive propaganda machine during times of

high tension with Washington. But a long statement from the powerful National Defense Commission late Sunday also u n d e r s c o r e s Pyongyang’s sensitivity at a movie whose plot focuses on the assassination of its leader Kim Jong Un, who is the beneficiary of a decades-long cult of personality built around his family dynasty.

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Group lauds PDP, APC over choice of Enugu gov candidates By Lucky Nwanekwu

S U K K A Professionals Group, NPG, has lauded the people of Enugu State, the leaderships of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, for ensuring that their governorship candidates came from the zone. The group said it was a demonstration of fairness, equity and a sure pathway towards the building of a new Enugu State. The group in a release signed by its President Dr. Basil A. Onugu and Secretary, Otobeze, said it was quite rare especially, in the current political clime to find leaders so committed and concerned about equity, fairness and justice as demonstrated in course of the just concluded party primaries in the state.

CIRSM holds induction, workshop

HE Corporate Institute of Risk and Safety Management has inducted new Fellows, Associates and members at the institute’s Mandatory Workshop and fourth Induction ceremony in Lagos. The event, which had Senator Levi Nwokeafor, FIRSM, President/ Chairman of the Council as chairman, also had Assistant Corps Marshal, FRSC, ACM Godwin Ogageghene and other notable dignitaries being conferred with distinguished fellowship of the institute. Other fellows were Rev. Dr. Okon Essien, Dr. Moyo Kasim, Silas Ekeng Silas, Dr. Mrs. Treasure Okon, Mr. Iwueze Chinedu and Mohammed Yahaya. The Investiture/Induction lecture was delivered by Engr. Umoumoh Okon, a private security consultant, with the theme: “Industrial Safety In the 21st Century, Challenges and Prospects.” Okon, who spoke on security, risk and safety management in offices, homes and societies in general, advised Nigerians to imbibe the art of safety and protection.

Labour Party: The special purpose vehicle for discontents NEWS AN AL YSIS ANAL ALY By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

S minister of information until few weeks ago, Mr. Labaran Maku did everything while in office to situate the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan within the framework of the agenda of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was in that context that Mr. Maku left office last October to seek the governorship ticket of the PDP in his native Nasarawa State. His bid for the job, however, ended on a sour note as Mr. Maku’s soon discovered that the oratory of the minister was of no use in the rough and rumble political jostling in his state. Rejected by the PDP, Mr. Maku is now reportedly negotiating behind the scene to obtain the ticket of the Labour Party. Mr. Maku’s frustrating move to Labour Party is not a new development for a party that has over the past few years become an alternative political platform for stakeholders frustrated in the PDP. Mr. Maku is not the only one engaged in such political gyration. Among others that have recently taken such steps are Mr. Tonye Princewill in Rivers State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel in Ogun State, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and followers of Governor Martins Elechi in Ebonyi State. Before now, Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State, Senator

Ex Gov. Alao Akala Joshua Dariye in Plateau and Senator Andy Uba in Anambra State had also at different times used the Labour Party as a special purpose vehicle to address shortterm political needs before retracing their steps to the PDP. In the case of Senator Uba, his association with Labour Party even preceded his abortive use of the platform to contest the governorship election in 2010.

Distant observers As the political leader of the PDP in Anambra State in 2007, some distant observers were confused when some trusted associates of Uba used the platform of the Labour Party to contest the 2007 general elections. In some cases, the Labour Party candidates won over PDP anointed candidates. However, those who were nearby alleged that those close to Uba who lost the PDP ticket were simply handed the Labour Party

Chief Great Ogboru ticket with which they machine won the election for them that year. Mimiko, Uba and Dariye after successfully using the platform of Labour Party to seek elective office returned to the PDP apparently due to the discomfort of isolation on the national scene. They were apparently big fishes trapped in the shallow waters of the Labour Party. The seeming willingness of the leadership of Labour Party to trade the party ticket for apparent tokenism has not helped the image of the party that was originally founded by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC to give political fillip to workers in the political arena. Even after the exit of the Dan Nwanyanwu led leadership under which most of the political infidelities were carried out, the succeeding leadership led by Abdulkadri Salam seemed to have trudged along the same pathway of political indiscretions.

Labaran Maku It is remarkable that organised labour seems to have now woken up from the slumber it has long been drenched in as it last month constituted a caretaker committee to take over the affairs of the party. The legality of that action, however, remains an issue. National chairman of the caretaker committee, Comrade Salisu Mohammed at an interaction with newsmen at the weekend at the NLC headquarters repudiated the recent political alignments supposedly reached with recent defectors to the party. The red card issued to the likes of Alao-Akala, Princewill, Great Ogboru in Delta State and followers of Governor Elechi is “don’t jump from frying pan to fire.” Comrade Mohammed said the party had decided to withdraw itself from the sponsorship of candidates for elections for the time being, a development that in the true sense would mean jumping from frying pan to fire for the political jumpers.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership crisis deepens By Francis Igata

NUGU—THE leadership crisis rocking the apex Igbo Socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, deepened yesterday as members of the Elders Council, EC, and other leaders drawn from the South East, Anioma and Rivers State set up a 19-member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the organization. Although there was claims of a subsisting court order obtained by the Chief Gary Igariwey-led executive of prohibiting the meeting and creation of any third party interests in the national executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Chief Mbazulike Amechi led EC and others unanimously resolved that the caretaker committee would become operative from January 7, 2015. Justice R.O Odugu of the Enugu High Court had on Friday granted an interim order restraining Chief Amaechi, his agents and others from “making further public statements, media publications or announcements and from further parading themselves either as chairman or executive of Ohanaeze

...19-member caretaker c'ttee to run organization's affairs Committee pending the determination of the case. He fixed for December 29, further hearing on the matter. But the EC and leaders of thought which met at a hotel in Enugu, mandated the 19 member caretaker committee “to conduct election into the executive position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo strictly adopting the constitutional guidelines established for the spread of those positions among the five states of the southeast,

Anioma and River State”. The committee was also mandated to appoint among others, a professional accounting body to audit the account of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Although the meeting could not appoint any headship for the 19 member committee, it resolved that the five states of the southeast, Anioma and River state would contribute to its membership and urged the state chapters to recommend

names to it within the next one week. At the meeting were Chief Ralph Obioha, Presidential Candidate of the United Peoples Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, former Anambra State governor, Dr Chris Ngige, Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN), Prof Ukwu I Ukwu, His Royal Highness Laz Ekwueme, Senator Offia Nwali, Dr Jumbo Offor, Dr Zed Chukwujama, Chief Nduka Eya, and Prof Elo Amuchezi, among others.

Workers give Enugu govt 21-day ultimatum By Francis Igata

NUGU—WORKERS in Enugu State yesterday issued a 21-day notice to the state government threatening to embark on industrial action if the state government continued unfair industrial relations practice in the state. In a statement issued by the Enugu state Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JPSNC, Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe, the workers

demanded for the implementation of their demands to avoid unrest. Igbokwe said the notice was in line with the principles of collective bargaining and industrial laws , saying that workers in the state need total implementation of the new salary chart, outstanding Salary arrears owned to the absorbed staff of ENADEP and Sport Council”. Other issues include, “Reengagement of illegally dismissed staff of ESHDC, implementation of CONHESS for Health Workers,

implementation of the report of the committee on contributory pension Scheme, release of fund for immediate take off of the NHIS and correct implementation of the circular on study leave without pay”, he stated. Igbokwe said JPSNC had in various times communicated to government through correspondences on the need to resolve the outstanding workers demands but the governor, Sullivan Chime administration had remained insensitive.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 55

Kaduna PDP senator, Zagi defects to APC By Luka Binniyat

ADUNA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaduna State yesterday announced that Senator Caleb Zagi, who represented Southern Kaduna Senatorial District from 2007 to 2011 on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has formally defected to the party. This was the second time that Zagi had left the PDP for the APC. The publicity secretary of APC in the state, Dr. Bege Katuka, who spoke newsmen on the issue said that the leadership of his party had accepted Senator Zagi into the APC. Katuka said “We have formally received Senator Zagi back to our party and it is a good development, we are pleased with his return back to where things are working. “Zagi explained that it was a second chance he gave the PDP, but on getting back to the party, the internal democracy mechanism he thought would be addressed was a mirage. The imposition of candidates and outright bending of party rules is still the order of the day. “There is nothing empirical that shows it is development and welfare of Nigerians that is their focus; instead they just want to acquire power for selfish interests and for all these reasons, we are in the same direction and page.” He further explained that the APC would soon receive prominent members of the ruling party into its fold. “I can tell you that very soon, other prominent members of the ruling party will join us, it is matter of time and you will see it soon. It is a testimony that we are unstoppable in this state,” he added.

Traditional rulers parley on Boko Haram, 2015 elections ...Polls'll be free, fair —JEGA By Emeka Mamah

BUJA—TRADITIONAL rulers in the country yesterday met in Abuja to discuss the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, as well as the 2015 general elections. The meeting was the 7th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, NCTRN, with the theme: ‘’sustaining the natural mandate of the traditional institutions in contemporary Nigeria.” The NCTRN has the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111 and Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade as co-chairmen. According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Vice President, Alhaji Umar Sani, the Chairman of the Northern Nigerian Governors Forum, NNGF, and Governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who spoke on the occasion, urged the traditional rulers to come up with holistic traditional mechanisms that would ‘’address the security and other socio-economic challenges facing the country.’’ Aliyu spoke even as President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to the traditional rulers to enlighten their subjects on peaceful conduct during and after the elections, saying that the Federal Government was doing everything necessary to uplift the socio-economic status of Nigerians, through job and wealth creation mechanisms. Jonathan spoke through the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, pointing out that the royal fathers had made tremendous contributions in maintaining peace and stability in the country. “As royal fathers and traditional rulers, such a time calls for your wise counsel and the enlightenment of your subjects as well as prayers to ensure hitchfree and successful elections across the federation. ‘’The role of the traditional institutions as the custodian of our rich cultural heritage has contributed immensely to ensuring high moral standard among the citizenry and must be

UNVEILING: From left; Head, Bus. Devt, IT and Mobile, Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Head, Product Marketing, IT and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu; Samsung Electronics Brand Ambassador, Banky W and Biz Devt Director, IT and Mobile, Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Mr. Daesong Ra, at the unveiling of the new Samsung Galaxy A Smartphone Series and premiere of Banky W’s “A Music Film Experience” movie at Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lekki, Lagos. greatly appreciated,” He urged them to join hands with governments at all levels to ensure the end of the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges in the country. Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, had reaffirmed the commitment of the traditional rulers to ensure peace, unity, justice and stability of the nation and asked the government to look into their

recommendations positively with a view to implementing them. He said the assembly would deliberate extensively on issues affecting the country, particularly the preparations leading to the 2015 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the insecurity ravaging the NorthEastern part of the country, among others. In his keynote address, the

2015: Kaduna Muslims, Christians vow to resist violence By Luka Binniyat & Mayen Etim

ADUNA–CHRISTIANS and Muslims in Kaduna State yesterday vowed to resist any attempt to introduce violence in the 2015 general elections. The Muslims, under the aegis of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, and the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the state also pledged that anybody or group of persons planning to engage in violence or harbouring anyone or persons with violent intent during the general elections would be fished out and handed

over to security agents. The groups, which came together under the auspices of the Global Peace Foundation in the country, agreed that the 2011 political violence, which led to the death of scores of persons and destruction of property worth billions of Naira was the last such hostilities in the state. In her address on the occasion, the wife of Kaduna State governor, Hajiya Fatima Yero said, “All mothers must ensure that they teach their children the virtues of love, tolerance and respect for the dignity of the other person. “With the vows you have all

Niger: Court refuses to stop submission of PDP gov candidate’s name By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, refused to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from submitting the name of Alhaji Umar Nasko as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Niger State. In a ruling yesterday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed equally

declined request for an interim injunction compelling PDP to rather submit the name of the plaintiff, Engr Mu’azu Hanafi Sarkin, to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the validly elected gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state. The court however slated January 8, 2015,to hear the substantive suit which is challenging the outcome of the

Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, assured the traditional rulers of INEC’s readiness and determination to conduct a free, fair and credible election in 2015. According to Jega, INEC would do better than 2011 and appealed the NCTRN to partner with the commission to ensure attitudinal change by both the electorate and the political class to ensure success of the forthcoming polls.

primary election PDP held in Niger State on December 8. It noted that granting the interim order as the plaintiff applied through an ex-parte application, would amount to delving into the merits of the substantive suit pending before the court. “I am unable to grant the two prayers sought in the motion paper; plaintiff’s motion for an interlocutory injunction is

refused”, the Justice held. According the judge, “Court should refrain from touching issues meant for trial at an interlocutory stage. “The court cannot grant the prayers at interlocutory stage without hearing the substantive matter”. The court said it was not unmindful of the need to determine the matter expeditiously and thus ordered an accelerated hearing of the suit.

taken today to resist violence in the coming elections, I believe that we shall have a peaceful Christmas. We shall build on it for an enduring peace in Kaduna State.” The Special Adviser to Governor Yero on Christian matters, Rev. Joseph Hayab on his part, said both the rich and poor suffer during conflicts. Said Hayab: “The rich and powerful and the poor are denied sleep during crisis, all for reasons that can be avoided, because in the end, no one benefits”. Also Speaking, the Special Adviser to Yero on Islamic Affairs, Sheik Haliru Maraya said: “Anytime their was violence, and government property was destroyed, the money that would have been used for other developmental projects would be used in repairing them. And we keep wondering why we are not progressing. Islam teaches peace and tolerance to all religions as shown in the exemplary life of the Holy Prophet of Islam. “We must stand together during this election and say, no to violence.” The Secretary of CAN, Kaduna State, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, also said all Christains were out for peace.

56—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

FG, Dubai developer sign $80 million MoU to deliver affordable housing By Jude Njoku

HE nation’s housing sector which is grappling with an estimated deficit of 17 million housing units, received a major boost last week, following the signing of an $80 million (US Dollar) agreement between the Federal Government and a Dubai, United Arab Emirates company to develop affordable housing in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja. The Dubai- based company, Messrs Signature Value Homes, is expected to flag off the construction of the first 300 units (first phase) in January 2015. Led by Anand Ramani, the Dubai-based developers said they would deliver the first phase within six months of commencement. Speaking at the ceremony to formally endorse the project, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi said Messrs Signature Value Homes submitted an unsolicited proposal of intent to develop affordable mass housing under the Public Private Partnership,PPP Contractors Finance Initiative of the Ministry. “Consequently, the Company made a technical presentation to the management of the Ministry on November 10, 2014 and the due diligence carried out by the PPP Unit showed that the

company is technically capable and has the financial capacity to undertake the project if given the opportunity,” she explained. Messrs Signature Value Homes Limited, according to Mrs Eyakenyi, is a mass housing project developer that “specialises in providing holistic solutions for integrated community development”. She

disclosed that the company is currently involved in mass housing delivery in Niger Republic, presented a profile of successful execution of projects in India and other Sub- Sahara African countries to convince the Ministry of its competence. The Minister further disclosed that “the development which is proposed on a 20 HA land situated at Gwagwalada FCT,

is a mixed development that will comprise of one- bedroom, two-bedroom and threebedroom flats on ground plus three upper level floors comprising approximately 1,672 dwelling on the Ministry’s land at Gwagwalada FCT”. “The Field Headquarters, FCT Abuja was contacted and has confirmed that the said

land on which the Company proposes to develop the houses, infrastructure and facilities is free and unencumbered .Based on the forgoing , the PPP Unit considered the proposal as a viable project and highly recommended it for implementation,” she explained. Also speaking at the ceremony, the FCT Minister of State, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide lauded Mrs Eyakenyi for what she termed uncommon transformation of Nigeria’s housing sector. She said that FCT have confidence in the quality of houses provided by the Ministry.

Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister exchanges greetings with Mr Anand Ramani of Signature Value Homes, while FCT Minister of State, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide and others look on.

FG targets 100,000 units under workers' housing scheme By Jude Njoku

HE Federal Government plans to deliver a minimum of 100,000 housing units under the Nationwide Workers’ Housing Scheme which was flagged off last week by President Goodluck Jonathan at Apo Tafiya in the Asokoro area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. The President explained that the launch of 10,000 units comprising different house types was part of his administration’s programme to provide affordable housing to Nigerian workers. The 36 states of the federation are expected to benefit from the scheme. The President commended the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and its sister body, the Trade Union Congress, TUC for partnering with his

government in the provision of shelter for Nigerian workers. He enjoined workers to buy into the scheme to alleviate their housing challenges. President Jonathan also lauded the developer, Messrs Good Homes Development Company Limited for partnering with the government and pledged to collaborate with private developers in the country to provide affordable housing and bring down the cost of housing in the country.

Improvements in housing sector

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi explained that through various interventions, her Ministry in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN and

the Federal Housing Authority,FHA, has between July 2010 to date, added a total of 43, 125 houses to the national housing stock. “ A significant number of the beneficiaries of these new housing units are workers across the country given the focus of the housing scheme of the Ministry on affordability and quality delivery, with particular attention to lowincome and middle income earners in both the formal and informal sectors of the national economy,” she said. “Other improvements we have witnessed in the housing sector under the present administration include creating an enabling environment for private sector-led participation in mass housing delivery, implementation of innovative people-centred policies and

programmes aimed at reducing the housing deficit, promoting access to home ownership, reducing the affordability gap, reducing housing construction costs and ensuring better living conditions with improved access to social amenities,” Mrs Eyakenyi said. The Minister described the nationwide workers scheme as a testimony of the President’s sustained, painstaking and incremental actions to improve the welfare of Nigerians. “We will not rest on our oars until we significantly reduce the housing deficit in the country, and ensure that all Nigerians are properly housed in properly functioning communities, with access to essential infrastructure and services. It is in this regard that in early January 2015, Mr. President will be performing

another official ground breaking ceremony of the first batch of 10,000 affordable homes to be provided under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) housing delivery scheme of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Finance and other key stakeholders,” she said.

Strengthen FMBN

The Minister who noted that the funding for the project was provided by the FMBN, called for more funding of the apex mortgage bank. “This underscores the effectiveness of the National Housing Fund, NHF scheme as a veritable source of long-term financing mechanism for affordable home ownership.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014—57

Festival Mall, Residences reshape Amuwo-Odofin skyline By Jude Njoku

HEN UACN Property Development Company, UPDC PLC acquired the former Durbar hotel in 2002 under the privatisation programme of the Federal Government, the company’s goal according to the Group Managing Director of UAC Plc, Mr Larry Ettah, was to turn the run-down hotel into a tourist destination that will reshape the entire landscape of AmuwoOdofin. This desire, he said, was partly achieved in July 2011, when Golden Tulip Hotel consisting of 349 rooms and conference centre was commissioned. Today, that dream of making

Firm opens two ultra-modern showrooms in Lagos

MPACTO Nigeria, a trading company that specialises in high end finishing building materials has opened two new ultra-modern show rooms in the Ikeja and Surulere areas of Lagos, thus bringing to five, the number of such outlets in Lagos. The company said the move is to bring its range of products closer to its clients. The company plans to fete building professionals in order to introduce its range of products to them. Marketing Manager of the company, Mr. Okey Okpara-Kameje who conducted newsmen round the Ikeja showroom last week, said the outlet has in stock a range of high end products and accessories. They include titles, plaster, glue cement, sanitary wares, bathroom accessories and taps. Okpara-Kameje who said that Impacto has outlets in Abuja, Abeokuta, Kano, Onitsha, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, said customers enjoy numerous benefits by using his company ’s products and services. He pointed out that a team of expatriate professional tillers are on hand to handle customers’ finishing projects to ensure a perfect finish. The marketing manager further disclosed Impacto factory in Agbara, Ogun State will commence production of glue cement known as Nigerbaf used for laying tiles in January,2015.

the location a tourist destination has almost being actualised with the construction of the N5 billion Festival Mall and 192-unit Festac Residences nearing completion. In fact June 2015 has been set for the delivery of Festival Mall while the first phase of the Residences is almost completed. Conducting newsmen round the projects sites last week, UPDC’s Technical Operations Director, Mr Brian Greenway, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Ms Titilayo Gbadamosi and the Project Managers of the two schemes, Messrs Frank Formah Kehinde Fabiyi gave detailed accounts of the two developments. Specifically, Festival Mall which construction started in May, 2013, sits on a 3.3 hectares parcel of land within the premises of Golden Tulip Hotels.

Central eating place Two anchor tenants -Messrs Shoprite and Silver Bird Cinema have taken up the two major wings of the imposing mall. There are two main entrances into the mall. The Shoprite box is about 3,200 sq metres including the storage area. There is a backup house where the offices are located. The Silver Bird Box measures about 1,200 Square metres with four screens (halls) and a common area. There are a total of 46 shops of different sizes.

•Festival Mall in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos All the shops have been sold. There is also provision for a food court with a central eating place. “ We want to create a node where there will be entertainment and other facilities. The node is the hotel, the Residences and the Shopping Mall. It is quite an important node in this area of Amuwo Odofin. We don’t know of any other mall in the vicinity,” Mr Greenway said. The Residences is an eightstorey block of flats consisting of 192 apartments. A further

breakdown shows that the block which was part of the former Durbar Hotel, is being renovated into 144 units of twobedroom luxury apartments and 48 units of one-bedroom apartments. The project which will be fully completed at the end of 2015, at an estimated cost of N2.74 billion. Prominent facilities being provided include borehole and treatment plant, independent power plant, gas infrastructure, HVC cooling system, sewage treatment plant and fire-

fighting sprinklers. Closecircuit television cameras CCTV will be installed in each floor of the building and at the security point on the ground floor to ensure that unwanted persons do not gain access into the building. The Residences and Festival Mall will be managed by UPDC. The Residences will be serviced by five elevators. Being a mixed node, occupants of the building will have easy access to both the hotels and shopping mall.

Eko Atlantic lights up Victoria Island landscape By Kingsley Adegboye

HE new Eko Atlantic cityscape off the coast of Lagos, has begun to take shape. The first residential and commercial tower blocks under construction can now be seen clearly in the light of day from Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island and the Marina on Lagos Island. Beside this development, there is something new. A section of new roads in the emerging city has been illuminated with street lights which are very visible at night. The Managing Director of South Energyx Nigeria Limited, the developers and planners of the emerging city disclosed these facts to newmen last week. “Eko Atlantic’s road system is rolling

out more and more each day but it is the first time any of the internal city routes has been lit. We are very satisfied that the street lighting has come on as this represents another important step in the successful development of Eko Atlantic,” Frame said. The first row of lights along Eko Boulevard, a paved eight-lane thoroughfare that is over a mile long and is the spine of the Business District, will be extended in the New Year as the developers forge ahead with infrastructure development. Concrete block paved roads, spacious side walks and kerbs are also being built in the first and second phases of

developing Eko Atlantic. ‘The project development area is now so large and progressing so quickly that it won’t be long before we need internal road signs to drive around,” Frame said. “To date, 10 per cent of Eko Atlantic’s roads in Phase 1 and 2 are paved while 32 per cent have stone-base in place providing access to motor vehicles. Furthermore 25 per cent of the roads are defined with kerb lines. 56 per cent of storm water drainage has been installed along with 34 per cent of state-of-the-art communications, 50 per cent of the sewage distribution network and 36 per cent of the water supply network have also been completed,” he said.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 — 59

Amokachi replaces injured Zango with Idris S

UPER Eagles Assistant coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi has swung into action as preparation for the FIFA free window games against Cote D Ivoire and Mali in Abu Dhabi, United Araba Emirates gathers steam. The Tunisia ’94 Nations Cup and Atlanta ’96 Olympics winner has moved quickly to stabilize the team for the friendlies by dropping injured Kano Pillars central defence ace, Zango Umar for emerging Mighty Jets of Jos star defender Ahmed Idris. He reiterated that despite the absence of Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the team will gather in Abuja on Sunday, December 28, to commence preparations for the games. The two games are scheduled for January 9 and 13 in the UAE. In a similar development, members of the national team, the Super Eagles and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, headed by Melvin Amaju Pinnick have been celebrating the successful wedding of national team striker, Fuad Gbolahan Salami at the wedding in Lagos. The talented striker got hooked finally to his heartthrob Opoloyeru Surat Ololade, in an impressive event held at the Glover Memorial Hall, Tinubu Square, Marina, with Eagles Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, representing the national team and the NFF.

BY JACOB AJOM

•Golden Eaglets in training.

No Christmas break for Eaglets G OLDEN Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke has confirmed that his wards will not be observing the Christmas break, as they continue preparations for the 2015 CAF U17 championship in Niger Republic. The Eaglets have been drawn in Group A with hosts Niger, Guinea and Zambia in what Amuneke has also described as a tough group. And the former Super Eagles winger says his team must remain in camp to finetune preparations for the competition which Nigeria narrowly failed to win the last time in Morocco. “We are not going on Christmas break because we have to keep preparing for the tournament in Niger. We are in a tough group and we must prepare well for the competition if we are to

Enyimba Continues from B/P Champions League 2015 and the 12th Orange Confederation’s Cup were held at the Caf headquarters in Cairo on Monday. Pillars’ preliminary round foes, Malaika are back-to-back winners of the South Sudan National Cup and are debutants at 2015 Caf Champions League while the Peoples Elephants foes, Buffles du Borgou are the reigning champions of the Benin First Division, the Championnat

Taekwondo deserves more in 2015 — Ashiru

National. The two Nigerian sides made the list of 58 clubs with title holders ES Setif and six others exempted from the preliminary round of the elite continental club championship which gets underway on February 13. Kano Pillars will visit Maliaka, while Enyimba entertain Buffles in the first leg of the ties will take place between February 13-15, with the second leg set for the weekend of February 27, 2015.

win,” said Amuneke. “I know some of the players might want to celebrate the Christmas now, but I will say this is not the time for celebrations because there will be enough of that if we win the competition so we have to stay focused now.

“Drawing the hosts, Niger is tough on its own because they will be playing on home soil and will have the support of their home fans.” The 2015 CAF U17 tournament starts from February and runs through March 1.

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, George Ashiru has declared that 2014 was a watershed in the annals of the sport in Nigeria, saying that Taekwondo deserved more than it gets from Nigeria presently. Speaking at a media parley at his Ogba office yesterday, Ashiru said his board has, within a short spell, lifted standards, overcome some of the challenges that inhibited previous efforts and achieved meaningful milestones in the international arena. “After our inauguration in May, 2013, first we won a lot of goodwill, organised 6 tournaments in six months and participated in five international tournaments where our athletes achieved a lot,” he recalled. Ashiru, himself a former athlete, said, “I want to say that 2014 has been a rewarding year for Taekwondo because we were able to achieve

some of our objectives in the year. We tagged 2014 a developmental year and truly it was a year that we were able to discover athletes that will take over from the likes of Chika Chukwumerije. At the maiden National Youth Games, we were able to identify some and today, these athletes are doing well even at international levels, as two of the discovered athletes gave a good account of themselves at the World Junior Championships They were able to win gold medals at the Commonwealth Championships in Edinburg, Scotland and they ended the year with gold medals at the Lagos Opens. For us, we have been able to monitor these athletes and they are doing well in their various categories.” The Vice President, Commonwealth Taekwondo Union (CTU) added that with more support taekwondo has the potential to win more medals for Nigeria at i n t e r n a t i o n a l competitions.

Ejide Continues from B/P

The Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo receives the NTF Distinguished Service to Taekwondo Award from NTF President George Ashiru.

Lagos agog for Sandie Beach Rugby It promises to be a weekend of fun for lovers of Rugby, as the second edition of Sandie Beach Rugby Season 2 comes up, December 27th, 2014, at the Vertigo Lounge, Elegushi Beach, Lagos. According to the CEO of Turbo Sports, organisers of the event, Olatunbosun Ayo Johnson, Sandie beach rugby is an annual event designed for the rugby community, to showcase the game to the public, as well as celebrate the

festive season as a family. “We are inviting all rugby enthusiasts and curious Nigerians both male and female to come join in celebrating the festive season”, Olatunbosun stated. He however, lamented that the sport is suffering from prejudice and lack of understanding and awareness, as a lot of Nigerians tend to judge the sport as barbaric, without trying to understand it.

January, pockets 25,000 euros every month excluding performance related incentives. Bringing the statistics to life, Austin Ejide earns 821 euros every day or 34 euros per hour. The Nigeria international earns €5,000 more than Israel national teamer Maor Melikson and Maor

Buzaglo, who take home 18,700 euros every month. Brazilian defender William Soares is compensated with the sum of €15,600 for agreeing to wear the red stripes of Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu is the seventh best paid player, with monthly wages of 8,300 euros.

Amun Continues from B/P of the crew retained and Daniel Amokachi made the head coach. He gave his reasons: “Amokachi is a respected personality in the team as well having played diligently during his days and he has been around the team for a while as an assistant Coach. The Edo State born

football coach and administrator also noted that weeding off completely the makeup of the technical crew of the national team is not always needed. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a golden opportunity for him to prove himself as the leader of the team and I wish him all the best” he said.

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Iheanacho injured again M ANCHESTER City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho has been sidelined by an ankle injury raising concerns over his availability for both the Nigeria U20 and U23 teams. The FIFA U17 World Cup MVP is currently back in Manchester nursing the injury after a stint training with MLS side Colombus Crew. In August, Iheanacho suffered a hamstring

•Soccer City Stadium.

South Africa gearing to host another mega sporting event F

OUR years after hosting the FIFA World Cup, South Africa is readying a bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. The country’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee member SamRamsamy this week said: “I think Africa is ready to host an Olympics.” Certainly, the continent’s chances of hosting the quadrennial showpiece of international athletics have been given a boost after the International Olympic Committee this month announced new reforms. These include making bidding easier and cheaper and allowing possible joint bids which aim to take the Games to ‘new regions’. Olympic chief Thomas Bach was quoted in a media interview as saying it was up to Africa to make a ‘feasible’ case. “I can only say that I think a feasible bid from Africa would enjoy many sympathies from among the IOC members but the first step has to be done by Africa,” the IOC president said. The IOC has said that the host for the 2024 Games will be decided at a meeting in the Peru capital Lima in 2017. South Africa’s port city of Durban, which is already bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, is viewed as the hot favourite to host the Olympics. Other cities in the running are Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco,

Washington DC, Paris, Rome and Doha Baku. Cities must make applications by Sept. 15 next year and then have until Jan. 8, 2016 to place guarantees. Although an African city has never hosted the modern Olympic Games, South Africa previously filed a bid for it in 1997 when Cape Town lost out to Athens. Nevertheless, South Africa confounded critics around the globe by successfully hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the governing body ’s President Sepp Blatter famously giving it ‘nine out of 10’ and describing it as ‘magnificent’. Leading football administrator Danny Jordaan who campaigned tirelessly to bring that event to Africa, once compared the struggle to convince the world of South Africa’s credibility as host nation with the struggle against Apartheid. The jury is still out on the benefits that South Africa achieved by hosting this mega sporting event, but FIFA’s pledge to ensure that South Africans would be long-term recipients of the financial rewards of the tournament has become a reality. So far, US$8 million has been disbursed for a variety of projects from the US$65 million that has been invested in the 2010 Legacy Trust following the event, with many new projects in the pipeline. South Africa has always

injury, which kept him out for several weeks. The left-footed forward is now expected to be granted a work permit to ply his trade in the UK after Manchester City applied for it from the British Home office. Iheanacho has been called up by both Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, and the country’s Olympic team for crucial qualifying matches in the New Year. The Flying Eagles, for one, have a tough group draw for the African Youth Championship in March after they were pitched against hosts Senegal, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.

Oboabona undergoes knee surgery

•Moses Mabhida Stadium

•Oboabona

•HOT SHOTS - 100m men's final at London 2012 Olympics. been a country that has punched well above its weight in the international arena. And there is a growing school of thought that, like the World Cup, the Olympic Games can never

be regarded as a truly global event until it is hosted in Africa. It’s a sentiment shared by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone who this week revealed that he was working to return South Africa to the schedule.

There has not been a Grand Prix race in Africa since 1993, when it was held in Johannesburg. Besides South Africa, the only other African nation to host the series was Morocco in 1958.

ODFREY Oboabona has undergone a successful knee surgery at Acibadem Fulya Hospital in Turkey. The Rizespor defender had a right knee meniscus tear and cartilage injury and was operated on at the weekend. The former Sunshine Stars captain, who is versatile in the defence, has played eight games with a goal this season for Rizespor. Last season, the 24year-old Oboabona scored three goals in 19 games. He won AFCON 2013 with Nigeria and featured at Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Enyimba, Pillars get easy Champions League opponents HAND OVER MEETING — Keshi (l) and Amokachi

I G E R I A Professional Football League champions Kano Pillars will face Malaika of South Sudan in the 2015 Caf Champions League preliminary round with

the country ’s second representative Enyimba paired against Buffles du Borgou FC of Benin Republic. The draws for the 19th edition of the Orange

Continues on page 59

Amun wants Keshi to hand over to Amokachi T

HE rumour that Equatorial Guinea Football Federation might offer out-ofcontract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi a lifeline by giving him an appointment as their national team coach is very strong but the debate on whether he should remain as Super Eagles coach is gaining more momentum. Like we reported yesterday, the debate is being orchestrated by prominent former

Ejide highest paid player in his club G OALKEEPER Austin Ejide, 30, is the highest paid footballer at Israeli vice - champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Authoritative football website Sports Walla has reported that the gloveman , who is expected to put pen to paper on a new deal in Continues on page 59

•Ejide

•Amun

national team handlers who, it seems, have lost patience with Keshi who has refused to declare openly whether he is staying put as Super Eagles coach or leaving. A former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation and one time coach of the national team, Fanny Amun has joined the Kehsi-must-go debate. Amun who guided Nigeria to the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup triumph in Japan would prefer a

major shake up in the Eagles technical crew. Amun will like to see Keshi out of the picture but the other members Continues on page 59

•Amodu

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Range (5) 7 Same (5) 8 Finished (5) 10 Mistake (5) 12 Fellow (3) 13 Unsoiled (5) 15 Mirror (7) 17 Stuffed (6) 19 Golf-peg (3) 20 Subdue(7) 23 Appear (4) 25 Cease (4) 26 Fundamental (7) 30 Nothing (3) 31 Dread (6) 34 Devastated (7) 37 Class (5) 38 Droop (3) 39 Material (5) 40 Collier (5) 41 Lubricated (5) 42 Feat (5)

DOWN 1 House (5) 2 Vapour (5) 3 Angle (6) 4 Needy (4) 5 Eternal (7) 6 Seat (5) 9 Rabbit (3) 11 Withdraw (7) 13 Brittle (5) 14 Cinder (5) 16 Charge (3) 18 Polluted (7) 21 Strict (5) 22 Scanty (5) 24 Controller (7) 27 Delve (3) 28 Multitude (6) 29 Bowl (5) 32 Send (5) 33 Command (5) 35 Vehicle (3) 36 Adroit (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Heart 7, Fame 8, Rankle 9, Merry 11, Pod 13, Rap 15, Room 16, Bad 18, Hero 19, Deleted 20, Side 22, Rust 23, Elation 25, Norm 27, Hot 28, Zero 30, Toy 31, Din 33, Party 36, Refuse 37, Exit 38, Pleat.

DOWN: 1, Taboo 2, Hem 3, Air 4, Try 5, One 6, Clear 10, Real 11, Present 12, Doddery 13, Reduced 14, Portion 16, Berth 17, Depot 18, Her 21, Elm 24, Iota 26, Oozed 29, Rigid 32, Bug 33, Pep 34, Rue 35, Yet.

How to Play Sudoku

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.