Sanusi Explodes: Jonathan aides fraudulent, unfit

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62086

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Leadership crisis, rocks NLC P.7

SANUSI EXPLODES:

From left: MD, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Alhaji Oluropo Owolabi ; MD, Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole; MD, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mazi Nnamdi Udoh; Chairman, Bi-Courtney Group, Dr. Olawale Babalakin (SAN); and MD, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. (NAHCO,) Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo at a dinner organised by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) for airline executives at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend.

Jonathan's aides fraudulent, unfit •If I lose my life, it's worth it, he says •Sanusi's suspension, ploy to bury oil funds saga —APC •It's a bad signal — Tambuwal; Don't politicise it —PDP

BY HENRY UMORU & OLASUNKANMI AKONI, WITH AGENCY REPORT

A

BUJA—EMBAT TLED Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was suspended from office last Thursday

by President Goodluck Jonathan, said yesterday, that the president’s greatest failing was that he is “surrounded by people who are extremely incompetent, who are extremely fraudulent and whom he trusts”.

Mallam Sanusi, who spoke to Agence FrancePresse (AFP), on a day the ruling Peoples

Continues on page 5

•P.17

COLUMNIST:

LES LEBA•P.40 OCHEREOME NNANNA•P.48

Mr & Mrs

THANKSGIVING—From left: The in-coming MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; past MD/CEO, Mr. Nebolisa Ara; outgoing MD/CEO, Mr Reginald Ihejiahi, and the Chairman, Dr. Christopher Ezeh, at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi who has meritoriously served the bank for 10 years as the MD/CEO. The Thanksgiving Service was held at The Church of The Assumption Catholic Church, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday.

Shoprite's lower prices: C M Y K

See Pages 27-30

C M Y K

2— Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

JONATHAN IN IMO—From left: Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senate President, Sen. David Mark; Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan ,on arrival for the PDP sensitization rally at the Imo State Airport on Saturday.

Photo: State House.

Jonathan's aides fraudulent, unfit — Sanusi Continues from page 1 Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress traded tackles on the propriety of suspending him, appeared resolute in his allegations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, declaring that, “if I am sacrificed in whatever way, my freedom or my life... if it does lead to better accountability it will be well worth it”.

In an interview with

AFP in Lagos, Sanusi said many of the people advising Jonathan are sycophants who do not speak frankly about the extent of corruption in government.

He said: “When you sit with President Jonathan himself, he appears a nice, simple person, who is trying his best to do his best. However, his greatest failing obviously is that he is surrounded by people who are extremely incompetent, who are extremely fraudulent and whom he

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Passion is the starting point for all achievement and the energy that fuel your DREAM

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others — Jackson Brown

T

HIS story told by French writer, Jean de La Fontaine shows that often the fault we see in others are largely mirrored in us. A man had given up and found that there was nothing more he could do than to send home again his quarrelsome, avaricious, and jealous spouse. She was one whom nothing pleased; for her, nothing was right. First it was this, then it was that, and then again it was something else. The husband was at his wit’s end.

So he decided to send her to her parents in the country. After a while, she came back.

“Well, my dear, how have you been getting on?

How did you spend your time? Did you like the simple life of the country?” “Oh, pretty well!” she said, “but what annoyed me was to see the laziness of those people. They are worse there than here. I didn’t forget to let them know what I thought of them. Of course, they didn’t like it, and they all hated me in the end.”

The husband at this point gave up, if you would complain about people whom you see just briefly in a day. How do you expect the workers here at home to be at peace when you are constantly railing at them the whole day long? And what will your poor husband do whom you expected to have near you all day and night too.

trusts.”

The former CBN governor, who learnt of his removal while he was attending a regional meeting of CBN governors in Niger Republic, immediately returned to the country and had his passport seized by the Directorate of State Services, DSS. Last Friday, he secured a temporary order from the Federal High Court, Lagos barring the DSS or the police from arresting him.

Speaking on the seizure of his passport, Sanusi said: “I thought taking away my passport was the beginning of infringement on my fundamental human rights,”explaining that he had already sought court protection over it.

Regarding the allegations against him, Sanusi said he had earlier this year heard of a report condemning his performance and wrote to President Jonathan in “June or July” asking if an explanation was needed, but that he received no reply. According to him, the “first time I was formally notified about the allegations was the day I was suspended”, arguing that it would be too simple to describe his removal as payback for his attacks on the NNPC. He further said: “Since 2009, I have been annoying the government.

You’ve got people who think I have the wrong friends, people who think maybe I have not distanced myself enough from people who are seen to be opposition figures”.

On his face-off with the NNPC, Sanusi told

the AFP that the extent of the graft may have reached a historic height, saying, “I think everybody has known that NNPC is rotten. I don’t think it has ever been as bad as this”.

According to Sanusi, the so-called kerosene subsidy money in fact pays for “private jets...yachts... and expensive property in Beverly Hills and Switzerland.”

Sanusi ruled out running for elected office, but said he may still have a future in public service.

In the short term, he expressed his readiness to face any attacks that may be coming from those he said are committed to preserving the status quo in a nation where, despite massive oil wealth, most people live in abject poverty.

Few hours after Sanusi was suspended, the president appointed Mrs Sarah Alade as Acting governor, while forwarding the name of Mr Godwin Emefiele to the Senate for approval as the new CBN governor.

Jonathan has no power to remove Sanusi — Amaechi

Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has also condemned Sanusi’s suspension. Speaking, yesterday, at Christ Church, Port Harcourt during a service organized for the Induction of the Resident Minister, Governor Amaechi said, “ you can imagine how President Jonathan announced the sudden removal of the CBN Governor. He does not have such powers. He knows that nothing will happen that was why he took that action. So, I think the preachers should begin to preach what we call the liberation theology. You (church leaders) are supposed to have more responsibilities to hold government accountable,” Amaechi said.

Sanusi’s removal a bad signal— Tambuwal

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, in his reaction to Sanusi’s removal described the development as a bad signal. Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta after holding a private discussion with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Tambuwal said, “ whether it is lawful, legal or illegal, the personality involved has told everybody that he is going to court and I believe he is already in

court on that suspension.

“On the implications for the economy, I am not an economist, but I personally feel that, it will definitely send wrong signals to investors because we need to have confidence in the financial institutions particularly the independence of financial institutions of a country before foreign investors may consider such a country worthy of their investments, I have my concern about that”.

It's a ploy to sweep missing oil funds under the carpet – APC All Progressives Congress, APC, on its part accused the presidency of seeking to use it to divert attention from the claim of missing $20 billion oil funds.

APC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement, yesterday, said the way the presidency had been campaigning to malign Sanusi, using the report of the obscure Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, showed that it was working hard to sweep the issue of the missing funds under the carpet and punish Sanusi for daring to expose the fraud.

On the allegations against Sanusi, it said the Federal Government should charge him to court, if indeed it was convinced of the veracity of the allegations, instead of "convicting him on the pages of newspapers and moblynching him through paid hatchet men."

The party maintained that if the Federal Government had used half the energy it had been deploying to discredit Sanusi toward the investigation of the missing oil funds, the monumental corruption case would have been solved by now.

"Irrespective of the tepid and unconvincing denial by the presidency, it is clear that the main reason the presidency moved against

Sanusi was because he blew the lid on the 20 billion dollars funds which the NNPC allegedly failed to remit to the Federation Account.

"Fortunately, discerning Nigerians are not hoodwinked by the Presidency ’s choreographed mudslinging against a whistle blower, and the sponsored campaign that amounts to shooting the messenger just because his message is not palatable."

Don’t politicize Sanusi’s sack, PDP warns

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, however warned that the suspension of Sanusi must not be politicized by the political class, especially the opposition.

The party said the suspended Sanusi has nothing to fear if his hands are clean and has no skeleton in his cupboard.

In a statement, yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party while hailing the action of President Jonathan in sacking the apex bank governor, stressed that the issues leading to Sanusi’s suspension strictly bordered on the management of the nation’s economy.

Metuh who urged Nigerians to disregard those attempting to politicise or introduce sentiments into the matter, said, the PDP has “implicit confidence in President Jonathan and his efforts to ensure the stability and growth of the economy ” adding that the decision was in the best interest of the nation.

The party also dismissed insinuations that the suspension was aimed at silencing a whistle blower and promoting corruption, adding that, “ after thorough analysis,it was clear that the decision was in tandem with the commitment of the Federal Government to safeguard the CBN and the entire financial sector from abuses.”

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

2 students arrested over murder of US-based bizman

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI— TWO stu dents of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, AIFCEO, Owerri, have been nabbed by Imo State Police Command for their alleged involvement in the murder of one Prince Noel Toochukwu Uhuegbu.

The suspects are Eze Charles Nnamdi, a 22-year old 400-level student from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and Maduabuchi Augustine, a 300-level 20-year old student from Ekwulobia, Anambra State.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Owerri, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, recalled that the late Uhuegbu, who was a show business promoter based in the United States of America, was murdered in his hotel room at Amakohia, Owerri North local council area of the state on February 4, 2014.

Okerenkoko: Tension as police arrest key player

W

ARRI — THERE is fresh tension in Okerenkoko community and Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State over yesterday's arrest of Chief Michael Johnny, one of the community leaders, by policemen from the Area Command, Warri. He was picked from his Ekpan residence His elder brother, Chief Mosco Johnny, who confirmed the arrest, said some policemen from Area Command, Warri, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. invaded his residence without Police warrant and did not state any reason for his arrest.

According to him, the arrest was allegedly masterminded by Mr. Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, because Tompolo and Johnny were in dispute over recent development in the community.

He said: "What the police did yesterday by arresting an innocent and law-abiding citizen is unlawful and violation of his fundamental human rights because even the Police know that Chief Michael Johnny has not committed any crime to warrant his arrest."

From left: Comrade Gbajumo Afolabi, President, Africans for Human Rights International; Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise; Dr Olufemi Kayode, ED, Media Concern; Mrs Josephine Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert & others during a rally against pedophile organised by Project Alert in collaboration with Women Arise & Freedom for Abused Children, in Akute, Ogun State, weekend.

65-yr-old man, 3 sons nabbed for robbery

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA — A 65-year-old man has been arrested in Asaba, Delta State along with his three sons for robbery.

Also arrested were three other robbery suspects, who were dislodged from an uncompleted building allegedly provided by the father of three.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Celestina Kalu,

who paraded the suspects at the Police 'B' Division, Asaba, weekend, said: "We are taking the fight to their (criminal) hideouts, so there is no hiding place for criminal elements. Wherever they are we will smoke them out."

She said the suspects (names withheld) were arrested following a distress call by a resident at Oduke, outskirts of Asaba, who was attacked at night and N72,000 cash stolen from him.

"Following the distress call, a police team was drafted to the area from B Division Asaba and on sighting the police, the robbers fired at them and there was a gun battle in which two of the robbers were brought down while some of them escaped," the PPRO said.

She added that the father of the suspected three robbers was habouring the criminal gang in

his uncompleted building .

Meantime, a boy has been arrested at Ogwashi-Uku, in Delta State for allegedly stabbing another boy to death following a minor quarrel over a lover.

Report said the incident took place at Ogbe-Ofu area of Ogwashi-Uku where the suspect was said to have met the victim in the woman's house and a fight ensued.

Woman kills lover over N50,000 deal in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI — EBONYI State Police Command, weekend, arrested a middle aged woman, Uzoamaka Dorathy Nworie, an indigene of Nzashi Echara in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly killing her lover, Mr. Duniya Philemon Tabat, over unresolved business transaction involving the purchase of Sienna bus.

Briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, disclosed that the deceased, who hailed from Dutsen Makaranta in Nasarawa State, was discovered in a refuse dump in December 25, 2013, in Onuebonyi junction, the outskirts of Abakaliki metropolis.

He said the command swung into action after the traditional ruler and his cabinet members reported the case of an abandoned corpse to the police. The corpse was later deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA. He said: “According to the suspect, the victim was her lover who arrived her house on December 23, 2013 with a Sienna bus with number plate DV 815 AAA which she had

earlier ordered in July 2012 with a part payment of N350,000.

After showing her the vehicle, the deceased reportedly told her that the price of the car was N700,000 and demanded a balance of N350,000 from her to seal the transaction.

“Uzoamaka, whose business, according to her, had been bad and could not afford such amount, agreed that the vehicle should be sold so that the proceeds would be used to offset the cost.

Accordingly, on December 24, 2013, she took him to one Ituma Omokwu, a native doctor residing at Azuebonyi Echara, Ikwo Local Government Area who later bought the car at the cost of N750,000 with an instant payment of N700,000 cash, promising to pay the balance of N50,000 on December 30, 2013.

“On their return home, Uzoamaka demanded her initial deposit of N350,000 but was given N300,000. The deceased promised to pay the balance when he visits again on December 30, 2013. This development was not acceptable to the woman; hence, a fight ensued.

"In the process, Uzoamaka hit him at the back of his neck and he fell face down and died."

The spokesman who stated that the suspect, in a bid to avoid being linked with the death, decided to dump the corpse in a nearby refuse dump.

He said following the frantic

effort by the Homicide Detectives of the command, the vehicle in question was later recovered at the native doctor’s shrine in Ikwo.

He noted that efforts were in top gear to contact the relatives of the deceased in Nasarawa State while the suspect will be arraigned soon.”

Ituma Omokwu, a native doctor (left) and Uzoamaka Dorathy Nworie with the Sienna bus.

Be our eyes Are you an eye-witness to an accident, robbery, fire outbreak, kidnap, building collapse, etc? Share it with Vanguard readers. Send pix, text or e-mail to The News Editor on 08023145558, or kayodematthew@yahoo.com

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 7

Leadership crisis, fraud rock NLC

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

T

HE Nigeria Labour Congress; the nation’s oldest central labour centre, is being bogged down by fraud and failure of leadership.

For the first time in the history of the 36-year-old NLC, the Congress was shut down throughout last week. Reason, both elected and appointed officials were in Dubai for a retreat. For one week, the NLC was without a President and a general secretary.

A total of 22 officials who are all members of the National Administrative Council (NAC) led by NLC president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar were in Dubai. The NLC officials left Lagos on Sunday, February 16 on a United Emirate flight from Lagos and were due to return on Saturday, February 22nd.

NLC is not known to have any alliance with trade unions in the United Arab Emirate.

While in Dubai, some officials posted on their facebook, their social outings and shopping for exotic cars.

A source familiar with the NLC said the theme of the retreat was not known, nor is the source of the money used to fund the Dubai trip. "This is a pattern that has become so worrisome,” the source said.

Vanguard learnt that last year, the NLC paid into the account of its officials N3,000,000 (Three million Naira) each.

“The money was nothing short of a bribe. That cannot be their salaries and we don’t pay part time officials salaries,” said our source.

Our source said, only one member of NAC queried the source and dissatisfied with the explanation of the hierarchy of the NLC, he returned the money. All others accepted the money which was paid into their bank accounts.

Another source close to the leadership of the NLC said,

“Your guess is as good as mine.

Election is around the corner and this could be a away of taking labour in. There is also the issue of NASU which the president without consultation, barred NASU from returning to the Congress. So, this trip could also be about buying these union leaders to support the decision”.

NASU, an affiliate of the NLC withdrew from the activities of the Congress about three years ago following a dispute over the process that led to re-election of Abdulwaheed Omar as NLC president.

Efforts made to reach the NLC president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and the Acting general secretary, Chris Uyot at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful.

Contacted for comments on the retreat and the allegation of NLC officials spending money from unnamed sources, the pioneer president of the NLC and former executive secretary of the Organisation of Trade Union

Unity (OATUU), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, who spoke to Vanguard on phone from Oshogbo, Osun State, said of the retreat “It does not appear to me opportune for them to have left the country at this critical moment”. He said, there were important issues, such as the National Conference, the alleged missing 10 billion, the crisis between the presidency and the Central Bank which culminated in the sack of the then Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to which the NLC’s voice should have been heard.

The former NLC president said, “I will like to have a more convincing reason for the retreat from them”.

Another former officer of the NLC who prefers anonymity said, “When Oshiomhole led the NLC, we were at the NLC to protest against N5m furniture allowance for legislators. Now, billions of Naira is reportedly missing and the NLC’s voice is not heard. What does that tell you?'' he asked.

Comrade Sunmonu said “ I don’t know why they went to Dubai. There are places within Nigeria where they can have such retreat. There are facilities owned by government and the private sector that could have been used.

He however, insisted “I don’t have their side of the story”.

On the allegation that the source of the funds is shrouded in secrecy, the former NLC president said “If it is not from NLC purse, where is it from and for what purpose is it being provided for the leadership of NLC. There is no free lunch anywhere”.

Those who were in Dubai for the retreat include; Deputy presidents, Kiri Mohammed, Promise Adewusi and Joe Ajaero.

Also on the trip were Vice presidents, Issa Aremu, Emmanuel Ajoku, Lucy Offiong and Anthony Nted.

Other elected officials were Trustee, Comrade Igwe Achese, Financial Secretary, Boniface Isok, Ex- office , Sarah Gana and Papa Kunini , Ex-Officio.

VISIT: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (centre), Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (2nd left), Hon. Sumaila Kawu, Deputy APC minority leader (left), Hon. Ajibola Muraina (right) and Hon. Aminu Shagari, during the visit by the Speaker to Obasanjo at his Hill top residence, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo by WUMI AKINOLA.

We never received $6bn from NNPC, NPDC insists

BY JOHNBOSCO

AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA—AS controversy continues to trail the alleged unremitted $20 billion by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to the federation account, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NDPC, has denied receiving $6 billion from NNPC. It was alleged that $6 billion which was part of the unremitted fund was given to NPDC, a subsidiary company of NNPC, but the management of NPDC at the Senate panel sharply contradicted the NNPC claim as it denied receiving any such money from the corporation.

The Managing Director, NPDC, Victor Briggs told the

committee that what the company received was only funds to cover its capital and operational expenditure from NNPC but he did not mention the amount that was paid to NPDC. Testifying before the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Committee on Finance investigating the alleged missing money from the federation account, Mr. Briggs said, “NPDC will like to confirm that it received funds from NNPC to cover its capital and operating expenditures as approved by NNPC for the NNPC funded assets during the period under review.

“We did not in the NPDC account receive $6 billion. We did not rely on NNPC for the funding of our activities. Like we

stated in the letter, “From the account managed from the NNPC, royalties and taxes, we received only what is required to fund the budget. The exact amount will be forwarded in writing to the committee.”

He assured the committee that before February 28, the company would provide the committee with the exact amount paid by the NNPC for its capital and operational expenditures.

The NPDC boss said that the NNPC was only mandated to contribute funds to cover its asset and nothing more, adding that though the NPDC is an auxiliary corporation set up by the NNPC for upstream business, it had other sponsors and was legally required to work within the service and strategic contract

terms.

He further said that he barely received enough to cater for assets contributed by the NNPC. “There is a funding relationship. The NPDC has service and strategic contract with the NNPC which pays specific amount to cater for its asset in the company. We did not receive $ 6billion from the NNPC. We, however, received specific amount to cover the asset as statutorily required,” he submitted.

The amount in contention was part of the money the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had said the NNPC ought to have remitted to the federation account but was not.

LCCI calls for scrapping of kerosene subsidy

BY FRANKLINALLI

L

AGOS—THE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to scrap the Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) subsidy regime while the NNPC should be directed to disengage from the business of importation, distribution and retailing of Kerosene.

Remi Bello, LCCI President, said the Chamber has watched with keen interest recent developments following investigations into alleged unremitted funds into the Federation Account, and demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan should direct the immediate scrapping of the Kerosene subsidy regime to save the economy from further fiscal leakages and inherent mismanagement.

“From all indications, the continuation of the Kerosene subsidy regime has profound consequences both for the health of the Nigerian economy and the integrity of fiscal operations of government. In the light of this, the LCCI submits as follows: “The NNPC should be directed to disengage from the business of importation, distribution and retailing of Kerosene.

The private sector is well placed to take on this responsibility.

“The current model of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, importation and distribution should be adopted for kerosene while the statutory regulatory agencies in the oil and gas sector should exercise the desired oversight functions to ensure quality assurance of products imported or produced locally,” said LCCI. According to the Chamber, the National Assembly should expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill to provide the legal platform for the much needed reform in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

“We urge President Jonathan to act without further delay on the recommendations of various committees and audits reports of the petroleum industry.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

MMA2 is a success — NAMA boss

Confab: S/East govs, leaders to receive 168-page agenda tomorrow

L

A G O S — MANAGING Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, has described the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), operated by Bi Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), as a big success.

Udoh said this at a dinner party organised for major stakeholders in the country ’s aviation industry by Bi Courtney at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, at the weekend.

According to him, “any architect worth his salt looking at MMA2 will agree with me that the design is something else; it is something every Nigerian should be proud of. No wonder, the design of six or seven newly renovated airport terminals in the country looks like a replica of MMA2.”

Udoh, who recalled that he was the Master of Ceremony (MC) at the foundation laying ceremony and the inauguration of MMA2 during the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration praised the resilience of Bi Courtney to keep the terminal clean at all times, saying “that is why it is a big success.”

He said since then, he had been emotionally attached to MMA2 as a terminal and as an engineer of over three decades standing and have been to different parts of the world, he was sure that the terminal is one of the best.

Other speakers on the occasion, including the Managing Director of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun Ojo and his counterpart at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), Alhaji Oluropo Owolabi, said MMA2 was a kind of terminal every Nigerian should be proud of.

They praised the resilience of BASL for keeping the terminal running almost seven years after, despite the harsh environment in which it operated, appealing to the operator to sustain the improvement of MMA2’s facilities.

BY CLIFFORD NJUDIHE

T

VISIT: The Managing Director, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, PAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Aboyi (left) with the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga and the General Manager, Industrial Section, PAN, Engr. Augustine Okolo during the Minister''s visit to PAN, Kaduna, weekend. Photo by OLU AJAYI.

Centenary: FG honours Queen, Lord Lugard, Macaulay, MKO, 95 others A

S part of activities for Nigeria’s centenary celebrations, the Presidential Committee on the centenary, yesterday released the names of 100 recipients for the Centenary Honours Award in 14 categories.

The categories are listed as: Contributors to the making of Nigeria; Heroes of the struggle for Nigeria’s independence/ pioneer political leaders; pioneers in professional callings/ careers; pioneers in commerce and industry; promoters of democratic transition in nigeria; heroes in global sports competitions; heroes in global sports competitions; Accomplished contemporary entrepreneurs; distinguished academics; internationally acclaimed artists, literary icons and journalists; outstanding contemporary public servants; outstanding bravery and public spiritedness, outstanding promoters of unity, patriotism and national development; exemplary service in the promotion of peace and moral excellence.

In the first category, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Frederick John Dealtry Lugard and Dame Flora Louise Shaw, Lady Lugard were honoured as contributors to the making of Nigeria while Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay, Rt. Hon. Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Ahmadu Bello, were named as heroes of the struggle for Nigeria’s independence and pioneer political leaders.

Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola General Shehu Musa Yar’adua, and General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, are being honoured

as promoters of democratic transition in Nigeria.

Late Chief Gani Fahehinmi was honoured for his outstanding bravery and public spiritedness while General Yakubu Gowon, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, General Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Sani Abacha, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar ’adua, and General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, will be honoured as outstanding promoters of unity, patriotism and national development.

In the category of Internationally acclaimed artists, literary icons and journalists

Michael Taiwo Akinkumi, the recipients are Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Chinua Achebe, Prof John Pepper Clark, Cyprian Ekwensi, Alhaji Abubakar Imam, Daniel O. Fagunwa, Ernest Sesei Ikoli, Alhaji Ismail Babatunde Jose, Kenneth Nnebue, Patience Ozokwor, Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata Katsina, Hubert Adedeji Ogunde, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Stephen Osita Osadebe, Ben Enwonwu, and Oludotun Jacobs.

In the category of accomplished pioneer public servants, the recipients are; Chief Stanley Olabode Wey, Justice Egbert Udo Udoma, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Sir Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola.

O ensure that the Igbo were not short-changed at the forthcoming National Conference, the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) have produced a 168-page document encompassing the demands of the Igbo in all areas.

Led by legal luminary and Chairman of the Patriots, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), the ILT abridged the document to 56 pages titled the “Executive Summary” of the Igbo position. The document will be presented to the SouthEast governors and other leaders on Tuesday Speaking on the issue, Elliot Uko, founder, Igbo Youth Movement, IYM and deputy secretary, Igbo Leaders of Thought, said: “The beauty of the two historic documents is that Ndigbo now have a road map document that explains our dreams of a united Nigeria to the whole world.

“The painstaking work that took the planning committee of the Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of thought four months to complete will guide Ndigbo delegates and guide Igbo people from now on, as the struggle to save Nigeria continues.

The Igbo Leaders of thought believe that an authentic Igbo Agenda that will truthfully capture the genuine aspirations of the 45 million Ndigbo is more important than anything else, considering their pathetic plight within this present Nigeria.

Industrial unrest looms in oil industry over new payroll system BYVICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

L

AGOS—INDUSTRIAL unrest is looming in the nation’s Petroleum industry over the plan by the Federal Government to introduce the controversial Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, into the Petroleum industry, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, threatening to shut down the sector should government go ahead to implement the system in the oil industry.

IPPIS is presently causing industrial disharmony in the education sector.

Advising the government against the policy, leaders of

PENGASSAN, weekend in Lagos, described IPPIS as not conforming to the peculiar nature of the industry.

Speaking against the backdrop of a deadline handed down by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to some agencies in the oil and gas industry, leaders of body warned if the government insisted on forcing IPPIS and its perceived negative effects on the personnel records and payroll system in the oil and gas industry, the sector would witness unimaginable industrial crisis.

They threatened that any deadline given by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to force the implementation or to cut the funding of the agencies would

be vehemently resisted.

Giving the warning, President, National Public Relations Officer, NPRO, and General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Babatunde Ogun, Seyi Gambo and Bayo Olowoshile, argued that the government agencies in the oil and gas were currently operating a very efficient, transparent and International Financial Reporting System, IFRS, system and there was no need to introduce a new system that would drag the industry payroll system back.

Ogun noted that the current system operating in agencies in the industry adequately supports easy extraction of data for national budget processes and it equally makes auditing of personnel records to be undoubtedly accomplished.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 9

Lagos moves against environmental challenges

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI AGOS—LAGOS State Government has started tackling environmental challenges frontally, towards eliminating such challenges as noise, air pollution, as well as indiscriminate discharge of waste water in drains, through harmonisation of environment agencies in the state.

Speaking on the development, Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami explained that the administration was charting harmonised ways of ensuring healthier and cleaner environment in the state.

Participants at the threeday retreat on the issue were management staff of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and Lagos State Waste Water Management office.

L

Edo Finance Commissioner's mum for burial Friday

B

ENIN—ALL roads lead to Ipekho Ehielu town, Igueben Local Government, Edo State on Friday as the late community leader, Mrs. Akharia Inegbedion, is laid to rest.

The deceased, mother of Edo State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. John Inegbedion, died last month after a brief illness.

According to a statement issued by the family, the service of song will take place on Thursday at Inegbedion family compound, Idumogo, Igueben.

This will be followed by burial/church service at the Assembly of God Church, Afuda, Igueben. Guests will be entertained on Saturday, March 1, at Idumogo Primary School, Igueben.

Aged 64, the late Mrs. Inegbedion is survived by husband, aged mother, children andgrandchildren.

Late Akharia Inegbedion

We’ll shock PDP in 2015 —APC LEADERS L

BY DOTUNIBIWOYE

AGOS—NOTABLE leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC have said the ruling party at the federal level, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will be shocked by its mass rejection

by Nigerians in the 2015 elections.

The party leaders who spoke in Lagos weekend vowed that the imminent defeat of the PDP in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in June and August respectively would serve as a foretaste of what awaited PDP in the 2015 general elections.

The optimism

The APC boast followed series of strategy and assessment meetings on Saturday by some of the party chiefs under the banner of the Mandate Movement, TMM, founded by a frontline leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking at a reception organised by the Mandate Movement now led by a former Commissioner for Environment in Lagos and APC’s National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire in his honour, the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola who was weekend given Daily Independent newspapers’ Man of the Year 2013 award, stated that “with the abysmal performance of PDP governments across the country and the result of our party’s, APC, recent membership registration exercise, it is certain that we will shock PDP and uproot it totally from all tiers of government in the country in 2015.”

The Osun governor who is

also a founding leader of the Mandate Movement thanked the crowd from all the 57 local council areas of Lagos that gathered at the Skypower playground, GRA Ikeja for keeping faith with the APC through its various transformational stages since 1999.

,PDP, a bitter taste of the peoples level of resentment for them”, he added.

He thanked the organisers of the reception for remaining faithful to the ideals of the founder of the TMM which began as just a political group in Lagos.

Aregbesola

In their welcome speeches at the occasion, Banire and another leader of the TMM, Cardinal James Odumaki who is the Deputy Chairman of APC in Lagos State, stated that the mass attendance of the programme by party faithful across the state is a strong warning to the PDP not only in Lagos or South West but all over the country.

“This is just a small reception put together within days for a few people to attend in honour

“I must thank you for standing by us all the way. You have seen that more Nigerians including serving and past governors, members of the National Assembly have been trooping to the APC because PDP has failed and disappointed the nation.

What this tells us is that we put in more effort to flush out this party that has brought so much pain and anguish to our people.

Our coming elections in Ekiti and Osun will surely give them

Banire, Odumaki speak

of one of us, Ogbeni Aregbesola but the crowd that is gathered here is not only intimidating, overwhelming but encouraging. We assure you that our party is forming the next government at the federal level and we will never fail you as the PDP has done”, Banire stated.

In attendance

Other chieftains of the APC at the reception were Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary; Dr. Leke Pitan, former Lagos Commissioner for Health; Deputy Governor, Osun State, Mrs. Grace Olaoye-Tomori; wife of the state governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola; members of the National Assembly from Lagos as well as their counterparts at the State House of Assembly among several others.

MEETING: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Capt. Shehu Iyal(right) and Minister of Egyptian Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, during a bilateral meeting on aviation safety, operations in Cairo, Egypt.

SERAP frowns at AGF advice on NNPC’s missing $20bn

BY ABDULWAHABABDULAH

L

AGOS—SOCIOECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has chided the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke over his alleged advice to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that the corporation has legal obligation to remit only its net earnings after deducting cost of its operations to the government’s covers.

The AGF was quoted to have advised the NNPC based on its Act to remit only to the federation account, its net earnings.

The NGO called on the AGF to order the corporation to submit itself for probe by the anticorruption agencies over the alleged missing $20 billion oil money.

“We, therefore, ask Mr. Adoke to urgently refer the NNPC to appropriate anti-corruption agencies so that the confusion

around the missing $20 billion oil money can be resolved once and for all, and suspected perpetrators brought to justice.”

In the statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said; “The advice by Mr Adoke is patently inconsistent with the letter and spirit of Section 162 of the Constitution, which is to

establish a dedicated account into which all public revenue by the Federal Government shall be paid, as well as to remove any arbitrary and non-transparent and non-accountable spending of public revenue.

“In the first place, the use of the words ‘all public revenue’ in

Section 162(1) suggests that the constitution allows no distinction between net revenue and gross revenue. Secondly, the NNPC Act relied upon by Mr. Adoke cannot override the clear provisions of Section 162, and the sacred principle that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.”

Sanusi was a mistake —UTOMI

A

BUJA—AS controversy rages over the suspension of Mallam Sanusi Lamido, a renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi has berated the tenure of Lamido as a Central Bank governor, describing his original appointment as “a huge mistake” Reacting to the suspension of the controversial apex bank chief in a chat in Abuja, the Director of Lagos Business School, said Sanusi should never have been appointed as

a Central Bank governor in the first place, declaring “it should not have happened” Utomi joined two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana and Chief Mike Ozhekome who had issued legal positions on the suspension of the apex bank chief. While Falana blamed Sanusi for not resigning when so directed by President Goodluck Jonathan, Ozhekome cited alleged infringements of extant rules

to justify Sanusi’s suspension.

Utomi, however, faulted the nomination and appointment of Sanusi five years ago on the ground that the suspended bank chief lacked certain qualities of a Central Bank Governor Utomi said: “It should not have happened.

Sanusi’s appointments was wrong in the first place. He was not suitable for the job. CBN governors all over the World are men of great discretion in actions, pronouncements and deeds.”

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Bamidele accuses Fayemi of violating INEC directive on billboards zIt's not true —Gov Feyemi

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

A

QUR’ANIC RECITATION COMPETITION: From left: Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, Governor Muritala Nyako of Adamawa State, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, and Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, during the closing ceremony of the 28th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition organised, by the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and hosted by the Jigawa State Government, at the Mallam Aminu Kano Triangle, Dutse.

Tambuwal holds closed door meeting with Obasanjo in Abeokuta

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—SPEAKER of the House of

Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal yesterday, held a closed door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo

in his private residence in Abeokuta.

Tambuwal who arrived at 10: 35 am along with three members of the House including deputy minority leader, Kawu Sumaila, Aminu Sagari and Ajibola Muraina from Oyo State went straight to the private room of Obasanjo and held a meeting with him.

Va n g u a r d gathered that the closed door meeting which ended 11: 42 am was not unconnected with the political situation in the country.

Tambuwal, who addressed newsmen after the meeting described his visit to Obasanjo as consultation on national interest.

Justifying his visit W h i l e justifying his visit to the f o r m e r President, Tambuwal said: “ B a b a Obasanjo is a leader not only in Nigeria but in Africa and it is only

appropriate for us in positions of authority and leadership to occasionally come and consult Baba on matters of national interest and that is what we are here for today.

“There are lots of issues in Nigeria today, of course there is issue on Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that we are considering in the house, we are doing constitution amendment in the House and host of other very key and important legislations that are before the parliament. So, we needed to consult our leaders on such very important and vital legislation that are before us, before we conclude what we are doing on them.”

Reacting to the speculation on whether he was contemplating leaving the People’s Democratic Party, the Speaker said: “I am just visiting our national leader of PDP, myself and Baba are in PDP.”

On Sanusi's suspension

While fielding questions on the suspension of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Tambuwal described the development as a bad signal.

His words: “Weather it is lawful, legal or illegal, the personality involved has told everybody that he is going to court and I believe he is already in court on that suspension.

“On the implications on the economy, I am not an economist, but I personal feel that, it will definitely send wrong signals to investors because we need to have confidence in the financial institutions particularly the independence of financial institutions of a country before foreign investors may consider such a country worthy of their investments, I have my concern about that.”

DO EKITI—A member of the House of Representatives and a Labour Party gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State, Hon. Michael Bamidele, weekend carpeted the All Progressive Congress, APC, and Governor Kayode Fayemi of the state for allegedly violating the directive of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on erection of billboards and pasting of posters.

But Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, denied the allegation, saying neither Governor Fayemi nor APC flouted any directive from the INEC The gubernatorial election of the state is bill for this June 21.

INEC had earlier directed politicians and political parties to remove their posters and billboards, because they violated the electoral laws.

Speaking during the LP state congress where 23 officers were elected to pilot the affairs of the party, Bamidele said LP and he had since adhered to the directive of the electoral body by removing the posters and billboards.

He wondered why Governor Fayemi and APC were being treated as sacred cows while others in different political parties were treated like second class citizens.

Reacting to the allegation, Mr. Dimeji Daniel, the Director of Publicity, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, insisted neither Governor Fayemi nor APC flouted any directive from the INEC. He said: “Let it be on record that Dr. Kayode Fayemi or his campaign organisation has not pasted any campaign poster because the governor is law-abiding and understands the provisions of the Electoral Act clearly."

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014—11

Murder of tricycle operator in Delta: union denies culpability

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—DELTA State Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Union of Nigeria, DSCMTUN, has denied any involvement in the killing of a 24-year-old commercial tricycle operator, Friday Igwe, allegedly by 15 taskforce members on February 10, in Effurun, Delta State.

DSCMTUN’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Thompson Ochuko, told newsmen in Warri, weekend, that the deceased, from Amofia Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, was never registered with the union.

“We were shocked to read that our taskforce members killed one of our operators.

That is not true, as none of our members was killed, neither did our taskforce members kill anyone,” he said.

Ochuko said that there were dissident groups, which also parade themselves as tricycle and motorcycle unions, adding: “It is a shame that some people are resorting to falsehood to soil the name of our union. We were also shocked by the date of the occurrence, which coincided with the day the other group protested at Ebrumede. So it could not have been done by our taskforce members.

“There were several unions until May 21, 2012, when the

state government ordered that all unions be harmonised. After the harmonisation, some people came up with factional groups like KRA and NATOMORA. “This led to an ongoing legal battle. The Police and the Ministry of Transport also called for a unification in order to curb criminality. This led to the coding of tricycles and taxis. The

dissident groups also came up with their code and they have their taskforces also.

All our members have identifications,” he added.

However, a rights group, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Delta State, reacting, said: “The union’s defence is an afterthought and we challenge and call on the state

executive of the union to courageously surrender the members of the union’s Uvwie chapter executive and task force to the Police with a view to availing the Police of their defence in writing rather than resorting to hide and seek tactics under the pretext that their union was the only tricycle and motorcycle union recognised by the Delta State Government.”

MEETING: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) and Dr Andrew Pocock, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, at the end of a high-level meeting on building Delta Beyond Oil in Abuja, weekend.

Oshiomhole appeals to FG for ecological funds

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appealed to the Federal Government to release funds to the state to tackle ecological problems.

Oshiomhole, yesterday, when the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster paid him a visit at the Government House, over the ravaging flood in Oredo federal constituency, said: “We thank you for commiserating with us on this disaster. I appreciate the response of the House of Representatives and your determination to identify with the people in times of disaster, whether man made or natural. Our challenge is to find ways to manage it.

“We have tried over the period to recognise that rather than deal with the consequences, particularly when we know from history that we need to make some investment in flood control, that was why we carried out a comprehensive study of Benin City and we came out with a very comprehensive Benin City Water Storm Master

Plan and we are now tackling the problem of flood in Benin at a huge cost.”

According to him, the first phase which has started will cost about N30 billion covering a large part of the city.

“We have made some progress on it and we have concluded over 60 percent of the project.

The key challenge is fund, because there has been a sharp

drop in revenue as a result of oil theft and this has put a lot of pressure on our capacity to continue to fund this project.

“We have not received federal help, but we have made application to the World Bank to see how we can get support. The Federal Government should look at the whole country the same way and give support to all those who

need it regardless of political sentiments.”

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Emergency and Disaster, Ifedayo Abegunde, said they were in the state following a motion moved by Mr Rasaq Bello Osagie, informing the House of the ravaging flood in Oredo federal constituency.

Industrial Court declares splinter teachers’ whether by virtue of section 40 union in Bayelsa illegal of the 1999 Constitution, (as

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—THE National Industrial Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has declared as illegal and a non- trade union, the emergence of a splinter body of teachers known as the Basic Education Staff Association of Nigeria, BESAN in Bayelsa State.

BESAN, which was formed in 2007 by some aggrieved members of Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, in the state, had been locked in legal battle with the leadership of the NUT for recognition.

The leadership of BESAN in the

suit had prayed the court to declare that all primary school teachers in the state were at liberty to join any association or union of their choice.

It also asked the court to hold that BESAN has the right to exist, having been incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, and also declare that NUT was not entitled to any check off dues from salaries of members of BESAN from April 2010, having formally withdrawn from the union.

But the NUT, in its defence asked the court to determine

amended) the claimant and all who subscribe to the membership of BESAN have the fundamental right to form themselves into and or belong to any association of their choice.

In his ruling , trial judge, Justice Kola Olalere, held: “BESAN as registered under CAMA is not a trade union under the Trade Union Act, TUA. It is therefore, not entitled to collect check off dues from its members.

NUT is hereby, restrained from deducting check off dues from the 10 members, who have properly withdrawn their membership from the Union."

Delta 2015: Anioma Congress insists on screening of guber aspirants

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—THE leadership of Anioma Congress has indicated its willingness to go ahead with its planned screening of governorship aspirants of Anioma extraction, despite stern warning from the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, on the implication of such an exercise.

However, the state Chairman of Democratic Peoples’ Party, DPP, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, told our reporter that “we are not going to be part of that exercise, call it screening or any name. For us as a party, we are yet to decide on which zone the governorship will emerge from.

So this hue and cry over zoning in PDP should not be our headache. Count us out of it.”

Group assures on co-operation with oil firm

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—PRESIDENT of Ugborhen Elite Forum, UEF, a socio-political and cultural group in Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, Bishop Diamond Emuobor, has said that the forum was ready to partner SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company and all organisations in the council for the development of the community.

Emuobor, shortly after the inauguration of the group in Ughelli, said the objective of the group was to promote the educational, cultural and political development of Ugborhen community.

He advised members to be united in their task of promoting political orientation and be involved in matters of the forum.

Also sworn in were Deacon E. Tamshi, Vice President; Mr. Joseph Egheujovwo, Secretary; Mr. Micheal Umukoro, Assistant Secretary; S. Ukoko, Publicity Secretary and Mr. Godday Akporotu, Internal Auditor, among others.

U

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Nigeria’s unity must be re-negotiated —Akinrinade

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA Yenagoa—Former Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of Agriculture, Industries and Transport, Lt-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), yesterday, said that the socio-political and economic woes befalling the country can only be resolved when the nation’s unity was re-negotiated through the proposed national conference.

Akinrinade's position was reechoed by a Bini leader, Chief Solomon Edebiri.

Gen. Akinrinade, a former NADECO chieftain, in a lecture titled Ijaw Quest for True Federalism in Nigeria:A bridge Building Approach through Ethnic Nationalities, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the 2014 Ijaw Day celebration organised by the Ijaw

FG debunks plan to sack Borno gov

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government yesterday debunked reports that it plans to dissolve the democratic structure in Borno State and appoint a military administrator to oversee the affairs of the state.

There were media reports that due to the heightened insurgency in Borno State, the federal government plans to hand over the administration of the state to the military in order to have a full grasp of the situation.

But in an interview with Vanguard, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said those promoting this theory were mischief makers.

“There is no truth in that.

There is a state of emergency in Borno State already which was approved by the National Assembly.

The state of emergency is recording success. Is it the National Assembly that will appoint a military administrator? How will that be captured in the constitution? This government believes in the rule of law and will not do anything that will undermine the rule of law,” he said.

He added: “It (the said report) is preposterous; it does not make any sense.

This is one of the states that government had declared a state of emergency twice, and in the two occasions, it did not remove the governors of the affected states.

“Nowhere does the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recommend military rule over civilian rule in a democratic setting like Nigeria. And this is a government that has consistently placed emphasis on strict adherence to the rule of law.

“If there is need to extend the state of emergency in the states that are currently observing it, government would do so and not to remove a democratically elected governor."

National Congress, INC, said: “The nation’s unity is negotiable and should be negotiated due to the structural deficiency in the current political and structural configuration.”

According to him, the proposed conference by President Goodluck Jonathan has presented the country with a platform at which the various ethnic nationalities can discuss and iron out how they are to live with one another or disagree and divide to their different ways.

Akinrinade said: “Although it would seem that initially, President Jonathan did not see anything wrong with the status quo, fate has miraculously intervened again."

HANDING OVER: The newly appointed Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Obiora Medani receiving the Eastern Naval Command flag from the outgone FOC East, Rear Adm. H. Ngonadi, at the Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, when Rear Adm. Medani resumed duties.

Hundreds of APC members defect to PDP in Edo

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—HUNDREDS of All Progressives Congress, APC, members in Owan West and Owan East Local Government Areas of Edo State, have defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with a promise by the leadership of the party to ensure that dividends of democracy were circulated among all members.

The APC defectors, who were received in Sabongida Ora, headquarters of Owan West council, by former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie, former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Zakawanu Garuba, and state deputy chairman, Mr Christopher Adesotu, who represented the state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, said: “You are making history today because the North and South of Nigeria were amalgamated 100 years ago.”

He charged the people of South - South geo-political zone to pray that President Goodluck Jonathan contests next year’s presidential election. He also called on the North to exercise patience and wait for their turn to produce the president.

Senator Owie said the PDP had been vindicated by last week’s verdict of the judges of the Edo State Local Government Election Tribunal that ordered fresh poll in Esan

North-East council, calling on the members of Edo State Independent Electoral Commission to resign and face trial.

Among the APC leaders who joined PDP along with their supporters were Chief Sunday Ekehinde and Tunde Ehindero, who said they had to leave APC because the party was corrupt, promising to expose the corruption in

the party soon.

Zakawanu Garuba, who represented the former Chief of Staff to President Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, said the days of the ruling APC administration in the state were numbered, given what the party members described as misrule and destruction of the fabrics of governance in the state.

Mbu obstructed effective policing in Rivers —Commissioner

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Ezemoye Ezekiel-Amadi, has asked the former Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to submit himself for psychiatric examination.

He said that the former Police boss almost ruined effective policing in the state because he was allegedly busy carrying out the orders of political opponents of the state governor.

The commissioner, who said he was shocked that the former Police boss ordered his arrest for visiting an ongoing state government project in Trans Amadi area of Port Harcourt, wondered why a Police boss would order his men to fire canisters of teargas in Government House, Port

Harcourt.

He said: “I challenge Mbu to submit himself to a psychiatric evaluation and let us see if he will not fail. Let me tell you what happened recently.

I had visited the site of Lister Housing Development in Trans-Amadi and I went on air to draw attention to the giant strides the Rotimi Amaechi administration was making in the housing sector. Two days later, Mbu sent policemen there to arrest everyone on site. Not only that, he withdrew the security men who were there and ordered that I should be picked up and locked up.

“Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t in town. Maybe, that would have been the last time he would have made any arrest in his lifetime. I travelled and my crime was that I visited a site where a government project was going on."

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 13

Nigeria'll overcome her challenges — Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA — DESPITE increasing onslaught by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in northern part of the country and other security challenges in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, assured that Nigeria will triumph and become the great nation it was destined to be.

He spoke at the third service of Dunamis International Gospel Church, Area one, Abuja, where he had gone to worship.

According to the President, though the challenge of insecurity has gradually assumed a global phenomenon, Nigeria is having its "unfair" share of the menace. ”If you watch television, both local and foreign, we always have negative news as breaking news.

The whole world is almost in trouble and as a nation, we are bound to have our own fair share," he said.

With your prayers, surely we will overcome our challenges,” the President said.

He thanked Christians and other religious groups

for their prayers for the country, noting that but for these prayers, the situation in the country would have been worse.

He specifically thanked the senior pastor of the Church, Dr Paul Enenche, and his team for their consistent support and prayers for the country. ”Let me sincerely appreciate Dr. Paul Enenche and Mrs. Enenche for what they have been doing for us. Being young man and lady well trained in the scientific way of healing people but they know that sci-

Missing $20bn: Arewa Youths decry plot to force resignation of NNPC GMD

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKURU

A

BUJA — NORTHEN youths, under the aegis of Arewa Youths Forum, AYF, have decried alleged plot to force the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr.

Nigeria, Egypt parley on aviation services ...as Egyptair plans to increase frequencies to 21

T

HE NATION’S aviation sector is set to receive another boost in the area of air safety and operations following a meeting between representatives of the Nigerian government and that of Egypt in Cairo.

The meeting, which was convened based on an invitation extended to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Capt. Shehu Usman Iyal, by the Minister of Egyptian Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, made far-reaching decisions on the drive to deliver quality aviation services that would be mutually beneficial to both countries.

Also at the meeting were top government officials from the two countries including the Nigerian Ambassador to Egypt, Senator Lawan Guba.

The talks, it was learnt, examined how the two countries can cooperate in the areas of training of

entific way of healing does not give you total healing.

“If you go for a major treatment in any hospital, they may tell you to come every three months or six months for check-ups, that means it is not total. It is only spiritual healing that is total. We thank you for what you have been doing,” the President said.

President Jonathan promised he would worship outside the State House on every last Sunday of the month from now on in order to appreciate the good work of other men of God.

aviation personnel, Hajj operations, quality services by Egypt Air on Nigerian routes.

Egypt Air expressed preparedness to increase the current weekly 16 frequencies in Lagos, Kano and Abuja to 21 with a review of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries.

Andrew Yakubu, to resign as a result of alleged unremitted $20 billion by the corporation.

AYF alleged that already, a group, Nigerian Youth Leaders, claiming to be protecting the interest of youths, had planned to stage a demonstration at the National Assembly to press for the resignation of the NNPC boss.

National Director, Public Affairs of the group, Bello Abdulhamid, who described those behind the Yakubu-must-go campaign as faceless, in a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday, said the architects behind the plot should have waited for the outcome of the forensic audit of the NNPC account which the Senate Committee on Finance investigating the whereabouts of the alleged unremitted funds, had directed the Ministry of Finance to carry out.

Polio vaccination mandatory before travelling for Nigerians

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — THE Fed-eral Government has directed that Nigerians should add polio vaccination in their travelling plans.

Consequently, the government said any Nigeria visiting India should take Oral Polio Vaccine six weeks prior to his arrival in India and that any Indian national travelling to polio endemic countries would be vaccinated against polio

virus six weeks before leaving India.

Minister of Health Prof.

Oyinbuchi Chukwu, gave this directive in a statement by Chief Press Secretary of the ministry in Abuja, weekend.

The Minister said the order was at the instance of the World Health Organization, WHO, directed at polio endemic countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Israel, Ethiopia, Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 —15

THE SUN NEWSPAPERS MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD!

Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano State Governor (right), receiving The Sun Man of the Year Award from Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State governor (left); Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman/Publisher, The Sun Publishing Ltd (2nd left), Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman/Publisher, Thisday Newspapers (3rd left), and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State (2nd right).

Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya (left), receiving Lifetime Achievement Award from His Royal Majesty, Major Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), Orodje of Okpe Kingdom.

Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, (right) and Hon. Victor Ochei, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, (left), presenting lifetime achievement award to Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, on behalf of Mr. Sam Amuka, Chairman/Publisher of Vanguard, during the Sun Newspapers Man of the Year Award, at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Biola Ade-Ojo (left), receiving Lifetime Achievement Award from Dr. Newton Jibunoh, Founder of NGO, Fight Against Desert Encroachment, FADE, Africa, on behalf of Chief Michael AdeOjo, Founder, Elizade Group

From left, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, former Managing Director Fidelity Bank, receiving Banker of the Year Award from Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the occasion

Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General/CEO of Standard OrganiFrom left, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Chairman, MRS Holdings Ltd, receiving Business Person zation of Nigeria,SON, (middle), receiving Public Service Award of the Year Award from Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, DG, Nigerian Tourism Develop- from Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (left), and Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, former Minister of Health. ment Corporation, NTDC, and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, (middle), receiving Most Supportive First Lady Award from Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, first lady of Delta state (right) and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left)

From left, Mrs. Ethel Nmezi, Deputy Managing Director; Neta Nwosu, GM, Corporate Services, and Mr. Femi Adesina, Managing Director/Editor-inChief, all of The Sun Newspapers

From left, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr. Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State, and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former governor of Oyo State C M Y K

16 Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 GOVERNMENTS rarely fire their Central Bank governors. No matter the reasons, controversies would trail the decision, more so if it involves Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a man who hugs the headlines.

Few governments too would have tolerated the defiance Mallam Sanusi applied to his brief. The CBN governor wrote the President accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of not remitting $49.8 billion (about three times the nation’s annual budget) to the Federation Account. He later blamed CBN’s Reserve Department for misleading him and told a Senate committee investigating the allegations that he had apologised privately to those his letter indicted, but there are indications that NNPC’s accounts are untidy.

Sanusi’s garrulousness was legendary. In 2010, he told the media at the World Bank meeting in Washington that all arrested bank managing directors would be jailed.

He asked the media to quote him. The cases were in court and it was improbable he knew the verdict.

Those who fear Sanusi’s sack could rock the economy do not consider the conse-

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi —Sacked CBN Governor quences of his utterances that were out of character with a holder of his office.

Suggestions that Sanusi was sacked for fighting corruption, however, taint whatever the Presidency intends to achieve, though records show Sanusi ran CBN like his fiefdom.

Why did the Presidency take this long to fire Sanusi? The Financial Council audit report of CBN that questioned his conduct was submitted last June. Its findings included these questionable expenditures. · Did CBN pay Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, NSPM, Plc N38.233 billion in 2011 for "printing of banknotes" - N8.836 billion more than NSPM's 2011 turnover of N29.370 billion? · Who approved N3.855 billion staff loan

write off in 2012? · On what promotional activities did CBN spend N3.086 billion in 2012, almost triple the N1.084 billion spent on the same item in 2011? · How did CBN's "legal and professional fees" in 2011 amount to N20.202 billion but only N460 million in 2012. · What are "sundries" unexplainable expenses that cost N1.197 billion in 2011 and N690 million in 2012? How does a regulator of CBN?s standing have "unexplainable expenses" in its books?

Assuming Sanusi is guilty, does that wave aside his allegations that public funds were still missing at NNPC? Why is the ferocity of his sack not applied to clouds over petrol, kerosene subsidies, and unexplained uses the NNPC makes with 450,000 barrels daily crude oil allocation? NNPC refined only 80,000 barrels daily in the past five years.

Sanusi might have had the aptitude for the CBN job, but he lacked the attitude, yet with or without Sanusi, government should provide transparent accounts of NNPC’s finances. There could be funds missing, in other places.

OPINION RIGHT OF REPLY

BY ADEKUNLE OWOLABI

T

HE Vanguard newspaper editorial of Tuesday, 11 February 2014, page 18 Of Choristers, Hijab, Masquerades was an apparent attempt to put in perspective the disturbances that played up at the Baptist High School, Iwo in the State of Osun.

The newspaper directed its searchlight on the causes of the disturbances, the role of stakeholders, including the government and what the true situation is beyond the sensationalism of the whole issue in certain media quarters.

Vanguard should be commended for its role of informing the people on the activities of government. But while putting the matters in perspective, the editorial became fraught with wrong assumptions and fallacies.

This became more evident in the insinuation that religion is at the centre of every policy of the government; concluding that the reported disagreement in Iwo amounts to reaping the fruits of the percieved heavy investment of government in religion.

One should be interested in a dispasssionate x-raying of the programmes of the Rauf Aregbesola administration to determine where religious bias is evident.

A look at the flagship programmes of the administration such as youth empowerment, infrastructure provisions, school reform projects, environment,

Re: Ogbeni and his traducers: Facts and fallacies urban renewal, industrialisation efforts, security, health, social security schemes do not in any way reflect anything close to that insinuation.

It would have been an issue had the recruitment of 40,000 youths under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) been carried out on the basis of religion. It would have been an issue had schools being built now throughout the state been selected on the basis of religion.

Have the over 750 kilometres of roads already completed selected on the basis of religion? Were the 1,602 vunerale elderly persons selected for monthly social security scheme that entitles them to N10,000 monthly chosen on the basis of their faith? Were the 3,100 women trained and employed to provide nutritious meal to about 350,000 pupils of elementary schools under the O’MEAL scheme chosen on the basis of their faith?

If no one can locate religion at the centre of any of these policies that have driven the state in the last three years from its very parlous state to what is now the 7th largest economy in Nigeria, how then can anyone accuse the Aregbesola administration of promoting religion as claimed in the editorial?

The impression must be corrected that there is no tension whatsoever in the state as reported by some newspapers. The drama that is presented to the world in the most sensational form as manifest in Osun is limited to a particular school where the Baptist Mission wrongly

assumed ownership of the institution and from that incorrect premise and notion, squares up to the government in some aspects of the state-wide education reform.

Two, there was no time government converted any legacy missionary schools.

Federal Government took them over nationwide almost 40 years ago through a law. Hence, these schools are public schools solely controlled and run by government.

The example cited in the editorial that government turned Baptist Boys High school, Ejigbo, a boys-only school t, to a mixed school, is also untrue.

More than 30 years ago, the said Baptist Boys High School had been converted to a mixed school. Anything to the contrary is untrue. That was more than three decades before the government came to power.

On the use of hijab, the disagreement between the Christians and their Muslim counterparts predates the present government. Its peak was when the matter was taken to the court which automatically makes it impossible for the government to make any categorical policy for now until the matter is dispensed with at the court.

What the High Court in the state said was that the status quo ante should be maintained pending the determination (judgment) on the matter. And as a product of the rule of law, the government of Aregbesola couldn’t do less but obey and

abide by the pronouncement of this court of record.

In other words, at no time did the government direct the use of hijab in public schools and it must be stated that hijab wearing is not a thing that started with the newly introduced public schools’ uniform by the Aregbesola government.

What happened at the Baptist High School, Iwo, was not in any way a fall out of the school reform. Rather, the reform has even unearthed what has been a time bomb of indiscipline, cultism and various other disastrous undercurrents that had militated against brilliant performances of children in schools. But while those rots were unveiled, those who want to score cheap political points have moved in in order to discredit a reform whose result alone is enough to knock them out of contest with Aregbesola in the coming governorship election in August let alone all other people-focused policies.

W must put it on record that at no time was security threatened in the state. The incident at the Baptist, Iwo, last two weeks, where 92 students protested either the use or otherwise of hijab is not strange.

The government has demonstrated the highest form of responsiveness and responsbility by tackling the matter decisively and halting the drift.

*Mr. Owolabi is Media Assistant in the Office of the Governor of Osun State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 41

C M Y K

42— Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Anti-homosexual bill: Museveni replies Obama I

HAVE seen the statement President Obama of the USA made in reaction to my statement that I was going to sign the antihomosexual Bill, which I made at Kyankwanzi. Before I react to Obama’s statement, let me, again, put on record my views on the issue of homosexuals (ebitiingwa, bisiyaga in some of our dialects). Right from the beginning of this debate, my views were as follows: • I agreed with the MPs and almost all Ugandans that promotion of homosexuality in Uganda

Countries and societies should relate with each other on the basis of mutual respect and independence in decision making

,

must be criminalized or rather should continue to be criminalized because the British had already done that; • those who agreed to become homosexuals for mercenary reasons (prostitutes) should be harshly punished as should those who paid them to be homosexual prostitutes; and • exhibitionism of homosexual behavior must be punished because, in this part of the world, it is forbidden to publicly exhibit any sexu-

C M Y K

al conduct (kissing, etc) even for heterosexuals; if I kissed my wife of 41 years in public, I would lose elections in Uganda.

The only point I disagreed on with some of the Members of Parliament (MPs)and other Ugandans was on the persons I thought were born homosexual. According to the casual observations, there are rare deviations in nature from the normal. You witness cases like albinos (nyamagoye), barren women or men (enguumba), epa (breastless women) etc.

I, therefore, thought that similar-

,

ly there were people that were born with the disorientation of being attracted to the same sex. That is why I thought that it was wrong to punish somebody on account of being born abnormal.

That is why I refused to sign the Bill and, instead, referred it to our Party (the NRM) to debate it again.

In the meantime, I sought for scientific opinions on this matter.

I am grateful to Ms. Kerry Kennedy of the USA who sent me

opinions by scientists from the USA saying that there could be some indications that homosexuality could be congenital. In our conference, I put these opinions to our scientists from the Department of Genetics, the School of Medicine and the Ministry of Health.

Their unanimous conclusion Prresident Yoweri Museveni of Uganda was that homosexuality, contrary to my earlier thinking, was fect which was quoted widely behavioural and not genetic. It around the world, I got reactions was learnt and could be unlearnt. from some friends from outside I told them to put their signatures Africa. Statements like: “it is a to that conclusion which they did. matter of choice” or “whom they That is why I declared my inten- love” which President Obama retion to sign the Bill, which I will peated in his statement would be do. most furiously rejected by almost I have now received their the entirety of our people. signed document, which says It cannot be a matter of choice there is no single gene that has for a man to behave like a wombeen traced to cause homosexu- an or vice-versa. The argument I ality. What I want them to clarify had pushed was that there could is whether a combination of be people who are born like that genes can cause anybody to be or “who they are”, according to homosexual. Then my task will President Obama’s statement. I, be finished and I will sign the therefore, encourage the US govBill. ernment to help us by working After my statement to that ef- with our scientists to study wheth-

er, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual. When that is proved, we can review this legislation.

I would be among those who will spearhead that effort. That is why I had refused to sign the Bill until my premise was knocked down by the position of our Scientists. I would like to discourage the USA government from taking the line that passing this law will “complicate our valued relationship” with the USA as President Obama said. Countries and societies should relate with each other on the basis of mutual respect and independence in decision making.

“Valued relationship” cannot be sustainably maintained by one Society being subservient to another society. There are myriad acts the societies in the West do that we frown on or even detest.

We, however, never comment on those acts or make them preconditions for working with the West.

Africans do not seek to impose their views on anybody. We do not want anybody to impose their views on us. This very debate was provoked by Western groups who come to our schools and try to recruit children into homosexuality. It is better to limit the damage rather than exacerbate it.

I thank everybody.

Yoweri K. Museveni Gen. (Rtd) is president of Uganda

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014—45

Anenih warns PDP loyalists against divisiveness

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Anthony Anenih, has warned that unless party loyalists worked as members of one family, they might make the same mistakes that almost ruined the party.

Anenih gave the warning, weekend, in Owerri while addressing party loyalists and decampees from other political parties.

He said: “We have severally talked about the mistakes we made in the past. It is better to remind ourselves that unless we agree to work together as members of one united family, we may end up making the same mistakes again.”

Speaking also, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, promised that the party would provide a level playing ground to all persons seeking elective positions.

He said:“We will go to the polls with only the best candidates. We all are free to aspire to any office but we must also remember that power comes from God.” One of the decampees, Chief Mike Ahamba, said he was happy with being tagged returnees, adding that when the battle for Imo State was fought in 1998/99, he was in the battle front.

He said: “Today, I return to my ranks because we found ourselves in a situation where the opposition of the day has nothing to offer except disruption and destruction and those of us who do not believe in it will not participate in that.”

He said the battle to recover Government House from All Progressives Congress, APC, government in the state had

begun in earnest.

For Senator Chris Anyanwu, who defected from All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to PDP, “the grand masters of Imo politics are back to PDP." Her words: “All the senators of the three senatorial zones are here. The intellectual powerhouse and the business movers and shakers of Imo

A

WKA — ANAMBRA State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka will tomorrow rule on an application by Dr. Chike Obidigbo, a governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the November 16 governorship election to be joined in the ongoing petition.

Obidigbo was disqualified by the party’s screening panel before the primaries that produced Chief Willie Obiano as the candidate of the party.

However, a factional chairman of APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, later nominated Obidigbo as his faction’s candidate, though INEC did not recognise him.

His counsel, Mr. Oba

“We are positioned now to recover power to the real people of Imo. We are ready to join our brothers and sisters under the large umbrella of PDP, to wrestle power from the confused, deceptive and misguided adventurers, who have aborted the people’s dream for a more promising and assured future,” Anyanwu said.

From left: Senate Deputy Leader, Sen. Abdul Ningi; Minority Leader, Sen. George Akume; Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba; Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu; widows of the late Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Senator Isaiah Balat, Paulina and Mary (seated below) during a condolence visit by a delegation of the Senate to the deceased’s family in Abuja

Boko Haram: Kalu urges FG to engage in intelligence gathering

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

L

AGOS — FORMER gover nor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday urged the Federal Government to improve on its intelligence gathering process as one of the sure ways of resolving the challenges of insurgency by the terrorist group, Boko

Anambra tribunal: Obidigbo to know fate tomorrow

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

State are here. If all these people are all here, is there any other person left elsewhere?”

While noting that it was good to be back home, Anyanwu said she was fully back to PDP with thousands of APGA members, including the 27 local government chairmen and state executive council members.

Maduabuchi, had during the tribunal’s sitting, last week, urged the three-member tribunal to allow his client to be joined in the petition, arguing that shutting him out at the pre-hearing stage would deny him justice and fair hearing..

Maduabuchi said: “If Obidigbo is not joined in the petition, whatever decision reached at the tribunal will be binding on him and that is why it is necessary that he is made to be part of it.

However, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, counsel to Chief Willie Obiano, argued that the Court of Appeal, which set aside the judgment of Enugu High Court, on which basis Okwu emerged national chairman of the party, made the Awka national convention of the party a non-issue.

Haram, in the Northern part of the country.

Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on arrival from the United Arab Emirates, Kalu said the deployment of soldiers was not sufficient to resolve the crisis.

He said government should invest immensely in intelligence gathering, stressing that with more intelligence about the group, government could infiltrate the sect to check their activities.

Kalu said: “I have always said that we don’t need military people with guns; rather, we need to do intelligence gathering.

“Government should invest more in intelligence gathering because when you infiltrate Boko Haram, then, you can operate successfully because before any operation takes place, you would have been aware of it and you will know what to do.

“So, I ask the Federal Government to re-plan their strategy and I know people might be ashamed to say they are talking with Boko Haram. You don’t have any opportunity not to talk to them. ”I support the Federal Government to sit down and discuss with these people for the benefit of Nigerians. Those who are being killed are Nigerians and the blood being

spilled is Nigeria. We should stop this joke which we are seeing today.

“As far as I am concerned, if they say they will do it with military power, I have not seen anywhere where guns have solved the problem. After war, you will still come back to the table to design how you will move forward."

Abia traders endorse Orji for Senate

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — TRAD ERS in Abia State have endorsed Governor Theodore Orji for the state's Central Senatorial District in 2015.

They also called on other interested aspirants for the seat to wait for another time.

The traders went to the gate of Government House, Umuahia, where they were received by the governor, saying their action was based on the governor ’s performance.

According to the traders, having done well in the governance of Abia State, Orji deserves to go to the Senate to represent the interest of the people of his area.

At the visit, President of Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Christian Nwaubani, said the handiwork of the governor spoke volumes and, therefore, deserved all the supports he could get to get to the Senate.

He enumerated the achievements of the governor for the traders in the state to include the development of markets and rehabilitation of the existing ones.

According to him, no one can forget the wonderful way the governor tackled the issue of security challenges in the state some time ago.

Coalition raises alarm over artificial scarcity of cement

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

L

AGOS — A COALITION of civil society and professional bodies, yesterday, raised alarm that some cement manufacturers and their dealers were tactically withdrawing the products from the market to cause artificial scarcity and drive up the price nationwide.

It would be recalled that the coalition recently raised alarm over the prevalence of low grade 32.5 cement in the country. This led the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to inaugurate a technical committee to review the standard of cement used in the country, with a view to standardising the products.

The coalition spokesperson, Mr. Tunde Ojo, told journal-

ists in Lagos that the current market disruptive move by the unpatriotic cement manufacturers was aimed at slowing down SON’s resolve to standardise the product.

According to him, the Federal Government should move in very fast and checkmate the activities of stakeholders in the industry who are hoarding the commodity.

He said: “They do not really care about the lives of ordinary Nigerians but their profits. It is very unfortunate that this is happening in this part of the world. The activities of these unpatriotic groups have now resulted in the hike of price of the product in various parts of the country and if not quickly cautioned or checked, this will lead to an abnormal price increase for cement."

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

•Adeyemi: In years to come, Jonathan will be praised for succeeding where others failed

Goodluck is a political philosopher—Sen Adeyemi •Only deep people can value his leadership style SENATOR Smart Adeyemi is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, and was before his election to the Senate in 2007, a journalist and president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ. Senator Adeyemi who represents Kogi West Senatorial District and had carved a niche for populist agitation in the Senate is nevertheless an arrowhead in the campaign to return President Goodluck Jonathan to office next year. In this telephone interview following the removal of four ministers from the cabinet, Senator Adeyemi addresses issues on the style and strategies of the president and affirms that Dr. Jonathan is an emerging political philosopher that would only be appreciated by fecund minds. He also addresses recent agitations by some senators to decamp in the Senate. Excerpts:

F

ROM your vantage position why do you think the president made the recent changes to his cabinet?

Goodluck is a man who Nigerians would soon get to understand is not like any other politician. Goodluck is a very focused person and he tries as much as he can to avoid mistakes in the course of governance.

These are things that some people misinterpret.

I don’t see him as a politician, I see Goodluck as a political philosopher that in the years to come, people will sit down and ask how he was able to not only keep Nigeria one at a very difficult time, but also how he was able to succeed in many areas

where others have failed.

Goodluck is a man with a large heart for everybody and he is keeping no bitterness with anybody or any group of people including his opponents and critics.

He is a man who believes in achieving his goals with utmost humility, with the fear of God and with all the necessary checks that are needed. For such people, it takes people who can look deeper beyond narrow interests and sentiments to be able to appreciate his own style of leadership.

Today there have been a lot of changes and if we have not gotten there, we can see that light at the end of the tunnel. If people still feel that nothing has been done, then it depends on the

perspective from which you are looking at it. It is either you say that the cup is half filled or it is half empty.

But one thing I can tell you is

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

against some of the ministers?

Well, I wouldn’t know the allegations you are talking about...

The former minister of aviation was indicted by the House Committee on Aviation The president needed to put all his acts together and those changes might not necessarily have been because of this indictment. Don’t forget that until somebody is proven guilty by a competent court of law, that person is not guilty. As members of the National Assembly we have the responsibility to e x p o s e inadequacies, deficiencies and corruption. We do not have the power to prosecute. We do not have the power to pronounce guilt.

So, I do not want to believe that the changes came as a result of the indictment of a single minister, rather, the president took his time to be able to navigate to the end of this administration by making sure that he is satisfied in all that he needs to effect changes.

That is why I said that a political philosopher will not work on what a section of the society is saying.

He came into government with his own approach and a very unique ideology of getting things done without necessarily heating up the system, getting things done without necessarily putting chains on the necks of the people.

Getting things done without necessarily being draconian more so as democracy is just emerging, democracy is just

Goodluck is a man who Nigerians would soon get to understand, he is not like any other politician. Goodluck is a very focused person and he tries as much as he can to avoid mistakes in the course of governance

that this president is determined to take Nigeria out of the economic depression, out of the high level of unemployment and to improve the power sector.

You spoke on the changes he made in his cabinet, why did it take him time to make the changes given the allegations

,

getting imbibed as a way of life

by Nigerians, so if a leader will move forward the ideals of democracy, he must be able to come with a different ideology so that we can marry his own ideology with the tenets and ideals of democracy.

That is why I say that he is just

a new political philosopher emerging in our own generation.

You will not tell me that things are not getting better, but I am not saying that we have gotten there, but I hold the strong view that this administration is on track and I hold this strong view based on the information available to me as a sitting senator that this government and Goodluck Jonathan means well for our country.

Goodluck Jonathan from what I know of him and my interaction with him, he is passionate about the wellbeing of Nigerians. Yes, we have overwhelming problems, but these overwhelming problems have not been able to derail the government to the point of helplessness, rather they have energised the government the more, they have repositioned the government and that explains the changes he is making now.

Facilities for security Like I do say, there is no president in the history of Nigeria that has been challenged like President Jonathan. Last year alone, almost a trillion naira went into providing facilities for security.

Do you know what N1 trillion could have done for our nation?

So, for me, I know the challenges and obstacles the president is confronted with and we are just thanking God that with the prayers of our people, both Christians and Muslims, things are getting better for this nation...

What is getting better? Can you cite examples?

I am sure that you are aware first and foremost that we have had tremendous increase in Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria. You will not dispute that.

The greatest challenge is the power sector and I am sure that you will equally not dispute the fact that we have moved away from the terrible situation of power supply. I am not saying that we have gotten there, but we have moved away from we were.

Are you speaking from the situation in Abuja or what because people in other areas are lamenting?

I do know that in some areas that there have been improvements and not only in Abuja, and I am equally aware that recently, there was a drop in power generation due to some problems beyond them. And don’t forget that some of these things are caused by sabotage.

Would you say that the anticorruption battle is firmer?

Especially in the prosecution of Politically Exposed Persons, Continues on page 47

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014—47

The story of a truly self-made man Balat:

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

T

HERE is no doubt that Kaduna State's most exotic, charismatic and last binder of Southern and Northern parts of the state is gone.

It is also difficult to think of anyone now who would succeed the man, who had personal and most times, intimate contact with major key players in the sociopolitical and economic sphere of Kaduna State, northern Nigeria and most parts of Nigeria. And that would include members of the military, the business class, academics, clerics, traditional rulers and even journalists.

In effect, the story of the late Senator Isaiah Balat is the stuff that makes bestsellers, a thrilling tale of a village lad, who came to town during the boom days of Nigeria and rode through its treacherous urban jungles to become an icon before suddenly snapped by death around 3 pm last Tuesday at the age of 62.

His demise at the National Hospital, Abuja according to family sources, was from complications arising from the removal of a brace lodged in his right thigh after an accident in 1979.

Before his death, however, he had attended among others, many executive courses in ivy league universities, especially in the United States, and was a board member of many

prestigious public and private owned companies. He had also won scores of awards and accolades both home and abroad.

“He was worked with the then British Petroleum, as a junior worker in early 1975 or so, and he a was very neat, smart and confident young man”, recalled Alhaji Tajudeen Jijani Ajibade, a 65-year old Journalist, who reported Balat between the ‘70s to 2000, while writing for four National Newspapers at different times.

“He rose to management level through honesty, hard work and the innovations he brought to the company”, said Ajibade, “he liked good clothes and at times would sew some fanciful trousers for his friends with his sewing machines. And we would look hip on high-heels shoes and Afro hair style”, he told Vanguard.

Fashion and tailoring That should be after Balat attended the College of Commerce in Jos between 1966 to 1970, and worked with a fashion and tailoring outfit under the Leadway Insurance, Jos in 1970, before coming to Kaduna in 1974.

“But he was a fiery fighter for justice and fair play, and never hid his indignation at the way he saw his native people of

•Balat Southern Kaduna being treated by the majority Hausa/Fulani people of the then old Kaduna state”, he said.

“Yet, it was with the Hausa axis of Kaduna - Unguwan Sarki that he chose as his home, and they formed some of his very close confidants”, recounted Ajibade, who was the News Editor of New Nigeria in 1978.

“To him, the struggle was not a personal thing, but institutional, so as a young reporter, I was drawn to him”, he said.

“When Politics came, he became an active participant, joining the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) as its Kaduna State Chairman, with Ali Madaki (late Minister of Works) his kinsman, was its Secretary”, he said

Armed with not even a secondary school certificate, no regular diploma or a degree, the village lad who left Gora Bafai, a woody community in heart of Zangon Kataf Area of Kaduna state, his self-confidence, sharp mind and adroit pursuit of his political agenda endeared him to the heart of the late Owelle of Onitstha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik).

“Each time Zik was in town or anywhere in the North, he made sure that Balat was beside him”, recalled a friend of Balat, who said his name should not be put in the newspapers as a mark of respect for the man.

It is said that the merger between the then Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the NPP was made possible because of Balat and a few who conceptualised and made it happen. It was that merger that made it possible for Balarabe Musa to be elected governor of Kaduna State in 1979.

After the NPN won the Presidential elections of 1979 it did not secure a majority in the National Assembly. An accord, in which Balat played an active role, was formed.

The gains were that Prof.

Ishaya Audu of the NPP, a minority Christian from Wusasa Zaria, became Nigeria’s Minister of External Affairs.

Goodluck is a political philosopher — Adeyemi Continues from page 46 PEPs? You know I am not in judiciary and when a case is in the courts it is for the judiciary to interpret, don’t push that to the executive.

You have separation of powers.

So it is the judiciary that you should ask the questions. It would be unfair to now criticse the executive on that because as a judge you are at liberty to interpret the law the way you know it...

So, what can you firmly say is getting better for the common man now?

Well, I will tell you this that. If you take a look at Nigeria today, you wouldn’t tell me that there have not been more openings for employment even though we still have a large army of the unemployed. But I do know that there are a lot of programmes in the pipeline that will address unemployment within the shortest possible time that this government is working on. I also do know that because of the

investments that are coming in into Nigeria, people are being absorbed but we still have millions unemployed, but again we hope that when some of the projects of government come into reality, some of these people will be absorbed. But don’t forget too that some of the problems we are coping with are the same problems in every part of the world. Unemployment is not a problem limited to Nigeria.

Power sector It is everywhere in the world, people are coping with unemployment. We, once we get the power sector right which this government is more than able to achieve...because this is the first time that we have successfully carried out power reforms.

Let me equally tell you that the greatest asset of any nation is the people. When you manufacture, you can consume, but it is terrible when you cannot manufacture because you don’t have power.

Now, it took a lot of courage on the part of Mr. President to drive home the power sector reforms.

With the power sector reforms done now, give another few months, power will increase.

Don’t forget that as at the last few weeks that government was still signing agreements with investors in the power sector. Ok. So let us be optimistic, let us pray for our leaders, let us know that there is no leader that would want the people to suffer. Not Goodluck Jonathan that I know.

This man is a man who feels for the people. I have sat down with him and I have heard him talk but these are not problems that you can resolve overnight. But the fact is that we are on track and the major problem confronting socio-economic development of our country is the power sector and despite all the obstacles and institutionalised corruption, he has been able to carry out a total reform of the power sector. Yes, we still have power shortages, but I don’t think that it is worse as it was before. If

•Adeyemi it is so, they would get it right because the reforms is to yield results.

So, I would really like you to know that this government is working, this government is focused, this government feels for the Nigerian people. We cannot be part of government and keep quiet and allow people to be dying.

We are equally getting the rail

Edwin Ume Ezeoke of the NPP became Speaker, Federal House of Reps, and John Wash Pam of the NPP from Plateau State, became Deputy Senate President. Isaiah Balat on his part was appointed the pioneer Chairman of Katsina Rolling Mills.

His political links with the NPP drew him close to the then Governor of Plateau State, late Dr. Solomon Lar, and the Governor of Anambra State, ChiefJim Nwobodo among other wider circles of politicians and statesmen.

It would seem that he was centre leftist, pushing for the right of his oppressed people but still keeping his friendship with the same people he fought.

However, in 1981, not happy with his role as a rising opposition figure, his house was torched in Unguwan Sarki by Hausa political thugs. This forced him to move into a safer place in town at a great psychological and financial cost. But he soon got over it when assistance came from various quarters, including being one of the contractors to build the then new Enugu Airport under Jim Nwobodo.

When the Military struck on December 31, 1983, Balat went back into full time business, bringing in new ideas, partners and funds. He became the President, Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), once thought to be solely occupied by the Hausa/Fulani stock. The most important programme of KADCCIMA, it would seem, is its Kaduna International Trade Fair.

system back on track and once the rails are working, there would be less traffic on the highways and the roads will last longer.

Why is that PDP senators don’t want the 11 senators among them to defect to the APC? Look it is a misconception to think that the Senate doesn’t want people to decamp. No, we are only saying that the convention of the Senate is that anybody that would come before the Senate on any issue must not have gone to seek judicial remedy. It is in our standing order and they know it. So, because this case is before a competent court of law, let us hear the judgment. If the case were not in court, nobody would have stopped anybody from decamping. It is a very simple thing.

Let me also tell you that in the Senate that partisan politics has no root. In the Senate it is the superior argument that carries the day on any issue. You must articulate your argument in such a manner that is superior to others that are presented for us to go with you.

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

M

ANY Nigerians were shocked when embattled Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, invited former President Olusegun Obasanjo to commission some projects in his state recently. They were even more shocked when Obasanjo honoured the invitation amidst great fanfare.

When two bitter enemies come together, some adages are often brought out to explain it away. One is: “There is no permanent enemy or friend but permanent interests”. The other is: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” (or conversely: “the friend of my enemy is my enemy”, and so on). Neither of these scenarios seemed to apply in the relationship between Amaechi and Obasanjo.

There is nothing to suggest that they have become friends. Obasanjo does not regret pushing Amaechi out of the governorship race after the latter had won transparent primaries. And the Ota chicken farmer did not apologise for doing so. Instead, he told us how he laughed at the Supreme Court verdict that restored Amaechi’s mandate even after his cousin, Sir Celestine Omehia, used the ticket to win the governorship election in 2007.

commissioning of projects is his true friend.

At least, it was a good way of showing that not all money of the people of Rivers State is being poured into anti-Jonathan politics and propaganda. Behind the scenes, some quality work is still going on, even if at snail’s pace.

Amaechi and OBJ’s circus show Abandoned Property policy. It was also during his regime that an ill-motivated boundary adjustment was carried out to cede many oil-producing communities in old Imo State into Rivers in 1976. Rivers State became the beneficiary of such insidious deprivations of the oil resources of Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states. The disputes are still raging on every front till date.

And for this show of unpatriotic favouritism, Obasanjo feels entitled to help himself

I think Amaechi took Obasanjo for a ride on this matter; he invited Obasanjo to come and see what his “K-Leg” mandate was able to produce; spurred by the need to bathe in anti-Jonathan spotlights, Obasanjo took the bait

,

,

By “circus show”, I am not referring to Amaechi inviting Obasanjo to commission the Airport Link Road. This was a road which former Governor Peter Odili had constructed and invited the same Obasanjo to commission as President of Nigeria. During that event, Odili named the road “Olusegun Obasanjo Link Road”. But when Amaechi assumed power he changed the name to “Airport Link Road”. Amaechi might have been driven by the quest for vengeance, but he had taken the right decision, nonetheless.

It would be ridiculous to have two major roads named after one man in the same metropolis. It is only in Lagos that I have seen something like that: Awolowo Road in Ikoyi and Awolowo Way in Ikeja. There is another Oko Awo Street somewhere. It does not matter if streets are named after every part of Chief Awolowo’s anatomy.

It is somewhat understandable because of the role Chief Obafemi Awolowo played in uplifting the lives of the people of the West, leaving the people effusive with their eternal gratitude. Well, you can say Obasanjo has been a major proponent of the Rivers State we know today. After the civil war, Obasanjo was one of the prime movers behind the

to the bounties of the Treasure Base of the Nation. According to him, while snatching away Amaechi’s ticket at a rally in Port Harcourt in December 2006, he has what he calls a “special relationship” with Rivers State and that is why he takes everything about the state “personally”. Obasanjo is one of those post-war military leaders who see Port Harcourt in particular and the Niger Delta as a whole as their booty of the Biafra – Nigeria war which they “liberated” from the Igbos. Odili did not see anything wrong in two major highways in Port Harcourt being named after Obasanjo. He was blinded by sycophancy and the deluded hope that Obasanjo would hand over the presidency to him.

T

he circus show that I refer to has nothing to do with the alleged commissioning of a road done by Amaechi’s predecessor, Dr Odili. I am reliably informed that Amaechi actually discarded the narrow road done by Odili, widened and raised it beyond the perennial flood level. It is akin to what President Jonathan is doing on Apapa – Oworonshoki Express: a total reconstruction and upgrade that will last for another 30

years. Such massive amount of work deserves to be commissioned on completion because we are living in a highly politicised atmosphere. Politicians need to blow their own trumpet or people will ignorantly accuse them of non-performance. I fully support that.

What I do not support is the negative motivation that led to the coming together of the duo. Amaechi’s quarrels with President Jonathan had driven him out of the PDP. Ordinarily, that the two of them belong to different political parties should not prevent the governor from inviting the President to commission the projects. But their quarrel is now at the level of personal enmity. There is no guarantee that the President will come if invited. What stopped Amaechi from inviting the leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, instead? After all, Major General Muhammadu Buhari is also a former head of state. He, in the company of Chief Bola Tinubu and other party chiefs, could have made a more rousing political capital out of those commissioning exercises.

Quite obviously, Amaechi resorted to Obasanjo to spite Jonathan, and Obasanjo accepted the invitation also to belittle the President. It had nothing to do with reconciliation. Rather, it was merely a public dramatisation of their mutually-shared malice towards President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

P

erhaps, the joke was lost on Obasanjo that Amaechi might have invited him to commission some of the projects as a way of mocking him to his face. I don’t know how Obasanjo felt after commissioning the narrow lane that was named after him and being brought back to commission it again, this time as a wider expressway with walkways and drainage; the way a modern road in an oil city should be done. I think Amaechi took Obasanjo for a ride on this matter. He invited Obasanjo to come and see what his “K-Leg” mandate was able to produce. Spurred by the need to protect his “investments” in Rivers and bathe in antiJonathan spotlights, Obasanjo took the bait.

Whoever advised Amaechi to carry out the

Ministerial nominee, Adesiyan speaks poor English!

I

watched with horror, members of the Senate brushing aside the vehement protestations of Prof Olusola Adeyeye, the Senator representing Osun Central, who pleaded with his colleagues not to confirm the nomination of Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan as a Minister of the Federal Republic.

Adesiyan also hails from Osun State.

All three senators from Osun State had opposed Adesiyan’s confirmation primarily on the ground that he was a principal figure alleged to be behind the unsolved murder of former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige. Adesiyan was a close confidant of Ige when he was killed in December 2001. He was subsequently arrested, detained and tried but not found guilty. But many people, including the Osun senators, are not satisfied that Adesiyan could shake off the stigma and emerge as a member of our federal cabinet.

Senate President, David Mark, pointed out that since the courts have not convicted Adesiyan, he is not guilty. Be that as it may, in the eyes of most Nigerians he has a lingering stigma, and such a person is best left out in the search for ministerial materials.

But beyond that, my main concern is that Alhaji Adesiyan has a very poor command of the English language. I find that surprising for someone who was a teacher and a selfacclaimed educationist. Of all the 11 nominees who were screened a fortnight ago by the Senate, he was the only one who fell far short in the use of English language to communicate. He garbled the tenses with reckless abandon. Adeyeye, one of the most charming speakers in the Red Chamber, said he faulted Adesiyan six times. I faulted him EIGHT times while monitoring the live screening. Based on that alone he should have been dropped rather than confirmed.

It is not yet too late to do so. I hope he will not be sent to man the education portfolio, where he will be an object of ridicule, much like our beloved the late Senator Sabo Bakin Zuwo. That would be a great disservice to Osun State, which houses the Obafemi Awolowo University, currently rated as the best in Nigeria! This is what troubles Adeyeye and his colleagues. I am also terribly concerned!

OPINION

BY JESUTEGA ONOKPASA

T

HE 2015 elections may still be more than a year away, but in Delta State, some of the gubernatorial hopefuls are already at one another ’s throats in what is fast deteriorating into a rat race to Government House. My projection is that the desperation with which various hopefuls for the governorship are trying to actualize their ambitions may end up framing the elections in crisis, bad blood and most unfortunately, in ethnic hatred.

I am, however, more interested here in interrogating what is now a clear attempt, on the part of some of his competitors, at ganging up against Victor Ochei, incumbent Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly. Instructively, while Ochei has already emerged as the frontrunner on account of his stunning achievements as Speaker, the storm of unfair attacks from a multiplicity of directions over a race he has not even officially declared for, can only serve to make Deltans more sympathetic to his person. The latest of such attacks is a laughable attempt to dress him in the toga of a neophyte and an inordinately ambitious youngster.

In the first place, Ochei is a middle-aged man. He is in his forties and by no means a youngster. Indeed, it cannot possibly be said that the best performing Speaker in the history of Delta State, its number three citizen and head of the first arm of government, is by any means unqualified to become the state’s governor. More disgusting is the infantile preoccupation with interpreting Ochei as an outsider on account of his Delta North origin. The people of Delta North are bona fide Deltans, equal stakeholders in the state, and our brothers and sisters by the grace of Almighty God. They are just as entitled as anyone from Delta Central and Delta

Dynamics of Delta 2015 guber elections South to aspire to the governorship of our dear state. Anyone holding a contrary opinion may justifiably be written off as an apostle of ethnic hatred. Interestingly, the stakeholders currently pressing Ochei to run, have admirably been engaged in building a broad based coalition across the state by unveiling his enviable credentials as a detribalised Deltan and a unifying factor with much to offer rather than a gubernatorial hopeful merely banking on power shift. Ochei does not need to run on the excuse of power shift. He has performed to the delight and admiration of all Deltans and it is his performance that has catapulted him to the status of the frontrunner for the governorship of the state. Unfortunately for those who have ganged up against Ochei, they frittered away all the years they have been in positions of authority, leaving nothing behind for which Deltans would be proud to remember them by. Ochei, amongst other achievements, has delivered what is now the best House of Assembly chambers in Nigeria, with public affairs commentators setting his accomplishments as the minimum standard for someone aspiring to the governorship of Delta. It is certainly not his fault that his rabble-rousing rivals have little or nothing to show for their stewardship in governance. Had they been more forthright persons, they would have been minded to recommend themselves to Deltans on the basis of genuine achievements to the benefit of the citizens of the state. Having failed to make any positive impact in government, they are now prepared to resort even to the most dastardly expedients as a shortcut to power. Ironically, the unfair concentration on Ochei will only induce the good people of Delta to be even more favourably disposed to his emergence

as their governor.

In light of the already crystallized understanding that it is only fair that the governorship of Delta be zoned this time around to Delta North, it is expected that the indigenes of the zone would make hay while the sun shines by pruning down the unwieldy number of aspirants from their zone while distancing themselves from desperadoes who seem quite prepared to do anything for power. They will ultimately be better served by rallying around a credible candidate they can present with confidence to the rest of the state. As for the more fractious aspirants amongst them, their unhelpful behaviour can only lead to increased disunity which aspirants from other zones are already warming up to capitalize on for the purpose of denying them the governorship in 2015.

It would appear that some of our politicians, having become arrogant and ignorant upon the intoxication of power and the euphoria of high office now see their becoming the Governor of Delta as a do-or-die affair. Unfortunately for them, Deltans will choose their Governor from the ranks of performing leaders with verifiable achievements they can actually see as a testament to sterling stewardship in government. Needless to say, the last sort of politicians they will allow into Government House, come 2015, are those whose only claim to distinction is that they have been this or that in the politics of Delta. As for Victor Akpomedaye Ochei, I make bold to say that he came, he saw and he delivered. *Mr Onokpasa, lawyer, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014—49

I

WAS at a funeral ceremony, that of Mrs Helen Ogbobine, wife of the late Justice Rufus Ogbobine and biological mother to Peter and Paul Ogbobine, on Thursday and Friday, 13th and 14th instant.

A woman of class, she was a pioneer in her chosen profession of catering management and rose to become the General Manager of the then Bendel Hotels Limited.

I sat and listened to speaker after speaker. One thing that struck me was the fact that mention was not made of her relatively affluent background, professional success and worldly accomplishments.

What everyone was talking about, was her care and concern for others. As at the time of her death, she had over 20 people feeding off her, not one of these is her biological child.

Such was her life style. May her gentle soul rest peacefully in the bossom of the Lord.

Marcus Aurelius wrote: "The only wealth you keep forever is the wealth you have given away". If this is true, why do we labour and so much run after vanities?

Man, it is said, tend to gravitate towards areas that he will derive maximum pleasure and least pain.

But the activities of the world have become increasingly competitive, such that those who must forge ahead must enjoy pain, albeit

temporarily.

While other countries are working hard to forge ahead in this direction, Nigerians are plunging more into delirium, looking only for pleasure and avoiding the pain that comes with foundation building.

Look at our leaders: they come into office lean and trim, but by the time they are leaving office they look bloated like an inmate of the celebrated Calabar fattening room. Not one amongst our leaders is looking ruffled, even those in the trouble-prone Boko Haram states.

What is it that makes the Nigerian love fun and enjoyment so much? The Bible says those who love pleasure so much will not be rich; that is, they cannot enjoy luxury because they are wasters.

Wasters do not build or create, they destroy. Even those who profess progressivism and socialism amongst our governors do not have any qualms gallivanting over the whole place in chartered aircraft when there are other competing and pressing needs for funds in their various states. It is a sad state indeed. What is it that makes Nigerians love pleasure so much?

The other day I was watching our Nigerian Super Eagles during the concluded CHAN competition, a team awash with talents capable of ruling the world; so much skill, so much energy, so much agility, but what did we see - complacency.

Nigerians are plunging more into delirium, looking only for pleasure and avoiding the pain that comes with foundation building

,

Yes – complacency that is ingrained in the Nigerian psyche.

Every one of the players wanted to display his skills and play at the highest level but the discipline to see to its fruition was not there. And so even when they had the opportunities ( numerical advantage) to bury the Ghanaians in their semi-final match, they resorted to wastefulness.

Opportunities squandered were 100% and that sent us crashing out of the competition.

W

hat is it that makes a Nigerian love pleasure so much? We have in the National Assembly people who only report for duty when allocations are to be given. These are people representing whole constituencies, some running into millions. They give out allowances that are extraordinary to themselves without caring a hoot about the masses. Some ministers and heads of governmental agencies have up to eight cars allocated to them.

Some of these cars are packed in

Fundamental role of INEC in democracy

BY AMEN OYAKHIRE

N

IGERIA is a large country in West Africa with a growing population of 160 million people. She occupies an area of 923,766 square kilometres in the tropics.

She is extremely rich in multicultural diversities, traditions and has many languages. Nigeria is beautiful, peaceful with a very warm and friendly climate and has the largest concentration of Black people in the world. She is immensely endowed with vast human and natural resources, including oil and gas. It is difficult to find another country as complex as Nigeria elsewhere in the world. A great country that will become a prosperous nation is a duty for all Nigerians to build through collective and individual efforts. As a federation of people with diverse sociocultural backgrounds and origins, the basis of continued unity and peaceful co-existence presupposes that political power and authority should rotate among the various ethnic groups without prejudice to competence, merit and national interests.

Nigeria is the engine of Africa and should diligently create Africa’s leading economy.

The advent of democracy in 1999 threw up an inept and irascible political leadership that has consistently put Nigeria on a steady decline in all parameters of governance.

Government has, time and again, unconsciously left the generality of Nigerians in a constant state of denial that neglects the basic needs of many citizens.

Leadership and governance in the world are serious matters that are consistently handed over to and handled by the most patriotic, best informed minds and brightest brains for accountability, responsibility and prosperity to be accomplished. Our perverted presidential system is preposterously wasteful. It is more costly here than in America from where it was

borrowed. A parasitic political class which constitutes an outpost of Nigeria’s political decay majorly peculates her wealth. It is a class of charlatans, reprobates, unrepentant rabble-rousers and political liquidators.

Misrule by the elite has greatly consigned a vast majority of Nigerians to a life of despondency with the attendant misery and abject poverty. Our democracy has not failed but many of our politicians have actually not fared well. The tenure of many of them is an anathema being vastly unsuitable and grossly incompetent.

Democracy is participatory governance, often traditionally established through partisanship and the instrumentality of the people. Democracy, widely embraced as a form of popular governance in most parts of the world, is not the best form of governance but it involves large scale participation of citizens. Democracy is for all citizens where majority determines the winner but majority is not always right.

There are numerous iniquities in partisanship which produces democracy.

Nigeria’s democracy would have fared better had many credible, competent and knowledgeable electees occupied strategic positions in governance.

Politics has been hijacked by wealthy but mainly people of unrefined minds and untamed passions. Doing for the citizens what they cannot do ordinarily on their own for themselves is the very essence and justification of governments at all levels.

Nigeria has gone on a tangent far from the blissful future once envisaged for her economically, educationally, ethically, morally and politically. Nigeria has seemingly lost political direction. She is unconsciously but rapidly descending into anarchy, despondency, financial and moral infamy. She is currently in a state of anomie. Government is entrusted in Nigeria mainly to undeserving people; as a result, integrity is lost and citizens suffer

,

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

,

Time to gravitate from pleasure

their villages.

Public officers will buy their official quarters at heavily discounted rates, the same quarter is rented to government at prevailing values, and so on and so forth.

Why is this so? Some have traced the cause to our colonial background, that we did not really struggle much for our independence and so when the freedom came, we were unable to manage it It has also been traced to our first set of politicians and managers who took over from our colonial masters. Our leaders were trying to become more white than the White man in their thirst for luxury cars, living quarters, salaries, allowances, etc.

They refused to factor in the fact that these White officers were expatriate staff in this country, a lot of them without their families.

These “white” officers in black man’s skin were trying to outdo the White man in his own culture, and with it came corruption.

We note also that, simultaneously, our society was undergoing re-structuring in terms of our culture, values and mores.

The stronghold of the traditional authorities has been whittled down, so they have limited control over their subjects. The governors, civil servants and politicians became the real owners of power.

And so values of the family, community, kinship and others were dropped; people resorted to doing strange things without fear of consequences. This was something new, the moral basis of our culture was destroyed in the process.

Our clime is one of blurred vision, blackmail, culture of frivolity, impunity and failure of a system; our current system feeds directly into a culture of corruption, frivolity, ineptitude and impunity

,

untold hardships. The failure of a country begins when her policy continuously fails to guarantee security and create jobs for educated, patriotic, strong and productive citizens. Our clime is one of blurred vision, blackmail, culture of frivolity, impunity and failure of a system. Our current system feeds directly into a culture of corruption, frivolity, ineptitude and impunity.

I

t majorly and rapaciously drains resources. When representatives become government with interests opposed to the represented, the government is separated from its citizenry and thus effectively disenfranchised. Nigeria’s democracy exists for those in government and the business class excluding the vast majority of Nigerians who see themselves in pernicious inter-generational-poverty. Nigeria does not need a bi-camera legislature. Parliamentary system is better, simpler, less costly and more accountable. Ours is the world’s most preposterously wasteful and most recklessly expensive democracy. Some politicians officially earn more than N50 million individually quarterly (in three months) in Nigeria where poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment have greatly decimated our despondent masses. We have expensive leaders regardless of our poor economy and weak currency. This sad practice of callous

We must not forget the role of the military in all of these; people who were trained to be out of the public glare suddenly found themselves in position of power. They destroyed whatever was left of the Nigerian culture; we began to witness open brigandage and looting the effects of which are here with us today.

Finally, in the midst of the above, the discovery of crude oil brought in unwholesome practices; traditional businesses like farming, craftsmanship and the likes totally gave way to the rush for oil money. People abandoned their businesses for the city to engage in white collar jobs and contracts; everybody wanted a part of the oil money.

And so our values died. People do not want to work because those who work very hard get nothing, while the lazy ones get rewarded for their scheming. This was prevalent during the military era as godfathers, ethnicism and other extraneous circumstances became a factor for promotion. It left everybody in situation of “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

This is why the country is in perpetual motion without movement.

What should be done to remedy this situation? Our leadership should gauge events happening around the world now. If they cannot provide good and focused leadership, they should not bother to come out as what happened in Egypt will be a child’s play. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

financial indifference is largely at variance with the general demands of most citizens.

In nine years, Federal Government, states and local councils consumed N80 trillion.

However, N56 trillion out of the amount was for salaries and allowances of public office holders, mainly politicians. Currently, government seemingly ignores primacy of merit principle, abhors constructive ideas, jettisons knowledge and abandons experience. Nigeria wants suitable Nigerian men and women who are healthy in integrity, creative, competent, disciplined, patriotic, productive, resourceful and strong in intellect in positions of authority in whom the future of the country will be entrusted.

One major problem in Nigeria’s democracy is the existence of an unhealthy electoral body called the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC. The commission is largely NOT independent.

Every successive election conducted by INEC after 1999 suffered loss of credibility.

Two major national elections conducted in 2003 and 2007 produced the most controversial, highly discredited, notoriously unreliable and widely cancelled results in Nigeria’s political history.

Governors, senators, House of Representatives members and state assemblies lost their victories at the various tribunals. The 2011 national election did not witness a major radical departure from the floppy parody of the past. Sadly, each election was most often seriously marred by INEC’s poor organisation, widespread procedural irregularities, lack of essential transparency, significant evidence of fraud during the collation of results, disenfranchisement of voters at different stages, lack of equal conditions for contestants and numerous incidents of violence. Violence affects the integrity of an election because it undermines constituted authority and its legitimacy.

Elections did not live up to the hopes and expectations of most Nigerians because the process was largely not credible. *Dr. Oyakhire, former military administrator of Taraba and Oyo states, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

50 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 51

VANGUARD'S CLASSIFIED

public please take note.

M U S TA P H A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Mustapha Hassanat Kehinde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayebo Hassanat Kehinde. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AFFIONG—I, formerly known and addressed as Affiong James Sunday, now wish to be known and addressed as Glory James Sunday. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWODO—I, formerly known and addressed as Nwodo Emmanuel Ikenna, now wish to be known and addressed as Bertrand Emmanuel Ikenna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JIMOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jimoh Rafatu Ajike, now wish to be known and addressed as Alhaja Bello Rafatu Ajike. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMODI—I, formerly known and addressed as Cynthia Amaka Emodi, now wish to be known and addressed as Cynthia Amaka Onyeayana. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OYEYEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyeyemi Yetunde Opeyemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abbey Yetunde Opeyemi. Former documents remain valid. Kogi State H o s p i t a l s Management Board and general public please take note.

ANINJOKU— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aninjoku Onyinyechi Maria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbodo Onyinyechi Maria. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NKENCHOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Chibuzor Alex Nkenchor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Chibuzor Alex Okocha.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

E F F I O N G ONUNE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Effiong Onune, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aaron Esther Enero.

All former documents remain valid.

Methodist Cathedral Wuse Zone 3, Abuja and general public please take note.

B E N S O N — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluchi Benson, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluchi Arinze. All former documents remain valid. FCMB and general public please take note.

FRANCIS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Francis Agnes Elam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okache Agnes Elam.

All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and general public please take note.

E M E G B O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Grace Emegbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Onavwogba. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABDULLAHI—I, formerly known and addressed as Abdullahi O. Rufai, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdullahi Onimisi Peter. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JACOB—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Ufuoma Jacob, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliet Ufuoma Erihri.

All former documents remain valid. Delta State University Abraka, NYSC and general public please take note.

ONWUZULIKE—At a meeting held by the family of Late Onwuzulike Basil Onyekachi of Ihe Achi in Oji River L.G.A. of Enugu State, we, the children agreed to change the name from ONWUZULIKE to ONYEKACHI. Our family will henceforth be known and addressed as ONYEKACHI family.

Mr. Boniface Onyemaechi Onyekachi Mrs. Loveth Chinonyelum Onyekachi Master Chimaobi Kingsley Onyekachi Master Chidera Victor Onyekachi Master Chiemerie Modestus Onyekachi Master Chigozie Stephen Onyekachi Master Chikamso Timothy Onyekachi All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

WILSON—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Wilson Okpenkume Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elijah Okpenkume Victoria. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKOLONYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Samuel Emeka Akolonye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Samuel Emeka Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANIMBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluoma Mercy Animba now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluoma Mercy Nwankwo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DARIOSE—I, formerly known as Miss Okiemute Vivian Dariose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oritsemuogho Vivian Okiemute. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O J U G H O — I , formerly known as Miss Akpevwe Stella Ojugho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Apevwe Stella Benikurukuru. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

E Z E I L O AT U — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeiloatu Rosemary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okonkwo Rosemary.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and general public please take note.

ORANUGO—I, formerly known as Miss Anastacia Chidinma Oranugo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anastacia Chidinma Akinnawonu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKASIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okasia Chisom Beatrice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chisom Beatrice Odiah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LUKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Edirin Luka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Edirin Sukuru. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANABA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anaba Ihuoma .F., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iheakaram Ihuoma .F. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EPHRAIM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ephraim Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace E. Ojuya. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olachi Queeneth Okeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olachi Queeneth Mokwunye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EGBORDI—I, formerly known as Miss Egbordi Ifunanya Meyiwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nonekuone Ifunanya Meyiwa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BOLEIGHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Boleigha Ware-Ebi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fresh Ware-Ebi (Nee Boleigha). All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

S A L A K O — I , formerly known and addressed as Salako Remi Sherry, now wish to be known and addressed as Oba Esther Salako. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Judith Iruoghene Ekere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Judith Iruoghene Ighoroje. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MARK—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Edward Mark, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Pere Bereprebofa.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BELO-OSAGIE—I,

NWOKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwokeke Ozioma Glory, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Egwalusor Ozioma Glory. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

formerly known and addressed as Miss BeloOsagie Ame, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ikutegbe Ame. All former documents remain valid. General

Vanguard

Muhammad Ali’s gloves fetch $860,500 at auction

T

HE gloves Muhammad Ali wore when he beat Sonny Liston to win his first heavyweight world title fetched $836,500 at auction on Saturday, almost 50 years to the day after the fight.

The gloves were part of Heritage Auctions’ Sports Platinum Night Auction, and the price was posted on their website. The buyer was not identified.

The gloves were used by the young fighter from Louisville, Kentucky, then named Cassius Clay, to launch a legendary boxing career that made him a global sport icon.

Clay won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and four years later faced a heavily favored Liston at Miami Beach. Liston was coming off back-to-back firstround knockouts of Floyd Patterson, the first to end Patterson’s sixyear reign in the heavyweight division and the second to defend the crown. But along came Clay, a brash and outspoken 22-year-old who taunted Liston.

On February 25, 1964, Clay stopped Liston in the seventh round to claim the crown, screaming as he jumped around the ring with his arms raised.

“I shook up the world,” said Clay, who the next day announced that he was changing his name to Muhammad Ali and embracing the Islamic faith.

Ali would knock out Liston the following year in the first round at Lewiston, Maine, and defend the title eight more times before his 1967 refusal to be inducted into the US Army caused him to be stripped of his titles and banned from boxing for 3.5 years.

In 1971, the US Supreme Court overturned his conviction, and Ali would go on to win the title twice more.

•Ali's gloove

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

B

Al Ahly as metaphor for success

,

EFORE jumping into this week’s column I will take space to write about last week, a week in which readers reacted in their hundreds, to “ Much Ado About A Foreign Technical Assistant”further proving that when the topic is football, Super Eagles, Keshi, Nigerians can be passionate to a fault.

Last week was a further manifestation that most of us do not know the difference in function between the Technical Committee ( Of which I am a member ) and the Technical Department of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Last week, reactions were as varied as they were interesting. I wish I could find space to publish all of them. I do remember however that of Benedict Egbuchunam who reminded me that contrary to my assertion, Keshi had indeed gone to the World Cup….as a player.

I remember the text of 08030650159 who said the Technical Committee must guarantee that I.K.Uche is in the list to the world cup while 08033018284 disagrees saying saying Keshi “ cannot sacrifice team discipline and cohesion on the altar of sentiments, experience or form….”

Victor Ohiosuma wrote in from Benin saying Kalika had no effect on Siasia, just as Chukwuma Dioka in Owerri took out a lengthy text to say that the issue of an assistant is too late in the dayand all that Keshi needs are friendly matches. Timothy Osadolor in Obudu Cross River State wants Keshi to “descend from his high horse and listen to the voice of reason. This NFF has been more than supportive. There is no coach that succeeds who fights more than four of his players at the same time. The problem may therefore not be with the players…..”

I can go on and on………

I ended last week”s piece by recounting an ordeal I encountered in the hands of some of our airlines and asked for reactions……I got a lot, from Nigerians who had gone through the same experience and regrettably too. Angela Ajuntomobi wrote “…Sir, most annoying is the Airlines feeling that its okay once they have texted you, regardless how they must have messed up your itinerary” Can you put this side by side with the reaction of 08037189494 who told me “…..Buy an helicopter and stop complaining. Ask Neymar for the price”

When you think Al Ahly, you think Rangers International, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Stationery Stores of Lagos, Raccah Rovers of Kano, Bendel Insurance of Benin……you think tradition!

,

Don’t laugh, because that will mean trivializing an important issue! …….i wish I had Neymar’s number.

Last Monday was also the day I departed for Egypt for the CAF Super Cup between legendary club Al Ahly and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia. I got to Egypt to discover that Ahly was in a terrible shape.

After the retirement of Aboutreika, Mohammed Barakat and a few others with a new coach in tow Ahly uncharacteristically had suffered three defeats in a row in the ten week domestic league, the last in the hands of Gouna, and were lying third on the log.

It was this poor form that CS Sfaxien winners of the CAF Confederation Cup hoped to capitalize on in hammering the CAF Champions league winners even at home in the legendary 70,000 seater Cairo Stadium.

When you think Al Ahly, you think Rangers International, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Stationery Stores of Lagos, Raccah Rovers of Kano, Bendel Insurance of Benin……you think tradition!

While the former, 36 league titles, 35 FA Cups, 7 Egyptian Super Cups, 8 CAF Champion League

NTTF pilot league to debut next month

A

S part of efforts to test run its facilities ahead of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)sanctioned Lagos World Tour, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organizing a one-week pilot league for players across the country.

The federation sponsors the tournament and wellmeaning individuals with players coming under the umbrella of clubs and it will serves off on March 7 at the renovated knock-up hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.

According to the

Liverpool

Continued from BP win, thanks to two goals apiece from Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson, means Liverpool have now scored 70 goals in just 27 league games this season – one more than Manuel Pellegrini’s City, who have a game in hand.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have outscored tabletoppers Chelsea by 21 goals, second-placed Arsenal by 18 and, ahead of Spurs’ visit to

Norwich, had scored almost double the amount of the team immediately below them – Spurs had 36 from 26 games.

The issue for Rodgers is the Reds’ rearguard, who twice let a lead slip against Swansea and who have now conceded 35 times in the league – more than anyone else above eightplaced Newcastle and only two less than Aston Villa in 13th.

prospectus released by the federation, eligibility of players will be possible after the clubs must have registered or affiliated to the state association of the federation. It states, “Clubs wishing to participate shall be registered with and affiliated to their state

association and or to NTTF directly.

Only players registered by clubs, which are affiliated to their state associations and or NTTF, are eligible to participate. Also, all players shall hold the current NTTF Player’s License, which must be produced on demand. Clubs shall ensure that their players are properly registered for the League.

Yobo Continued from BP tenham Hotspurs 10.at Carrow Road.

Needing a win to keep alive their Champions League hopes, Tottenham Hotspur, parading Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor, instead played awfully and lost to an inspired Norwich side, who played with grit and determination to pick all three points.

With a recent invite by Coach Stephen Keshi to

play against Mexico on March 5 in Atalanta, Yobo put up a decent performance to help Norwich’s bid to beat the drop, with Robert Snodgrass goal in the 47th minute being the icing on the cake for the homers.

The win moves Norwich to the 14th position with 28 points, seven points more than basement side, Fulham, who have 21 points.

trophies and 4 CAF Cup winners Cups is still holding on, Nigerians clubs have struggled to be forgotten.

It is that same tradition that ruled Supreme, Thursday when out of form Ahly fired two goals in succession through Gedo 23rd ( Will retire at the end of this season ) and Amr Gamal 53rd.

The Tunisians rallied back to reduce the tally in the 63rd through Ali MAlooul, only for the Egyptians to add the third as Gamal struck again in the 63rd minute. Sfax’s Fakhredin made it 3-2 in the 68th and we sat through a nervy but exciting final minutes that saw Ahly lift their 6th Super Cup in the history of the famous club.

The sad and annoying exit of Kano Pillars has made me write this today. Of Nigerians clubs who do not prepare adequately for continental assignments. Who do not bother about the opposition, about the climate, food and nature of the playing surface they are going to face.

Pray is it today that Pillars qualified to represent us in Africa? Did we have to wait this long to hire players, coaches and whatever, opening up avenues for baseless excuses? Have we forgotten that when Ahly won the competition last year there was no league going on in the crisis torn Egypt? I am particularly disappointed because this was a club I believed was going to go far in the competition given its pedigree and quality of personnel.

Now it is past tense and like everything Nigerian we have moved on. If Kano State, owners of the club don’t bother, can the NFF not want to know why Pillars crashed that early? Are we going to wait until the other clubs fall like it happened last year? Will that investigation not help other clubs and the country as a whole?

A THOUGHT FOR AISHA I join thousands of Nigerians today in sparing a thought for my friend and colleague Aisha Falode who lost her only son Toba last week. I pray the good Lord consoles this distraught mother. Remember her in your prayers.

See you next wek

Mourinho Continued from BP his return from a muscle strain with an injury-time winner.

With January midfield recruit Nemanja Matic ineligible for the UEFA Champions League, Mourinho is keen for his options not to be further depleted when Chelsea travel to Turkey for the first leg of Wednesday’s last16 tie.

“We have three days so let’s see,” said Mourinho after the Everton game.

“With Mikel and David Luiz, I don’t know if they can recover. It’s important we have at least one of them because we don’t have Matic for the Champions League.”

Mourinho also offered an update on minor injuries to Oscar and Ramires.

The latter was introduced as a half-time substitute against Everton, after Oscar failed to shake off a pre-game complaint.

Maradona Continued from BP that Maradona was put in touch with the club by one of his advisors who owns shares there, and is said to make his debut on March 23.

A source from Riestra club has confirmed that the paperwork has been filed with the authorities

and in a few weeks the legendary footballer would be playing for the club.

The 1986 World Cup winner who was allegedly struggling with his weight in recent years is now in good enough shape to start a match on March 23.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 53

MTN/GTBank Lagos Polo: Lagos Unity, Fifth Chukker clinch titles

L

AGOS Unity Polo defeated Kano Tripple KKK 6-3 to emerge champions of the Dansa Cup while Lagos Fifth Chukker beat Lagos Shorelines 9-6 to clinch the Open Cup as the first week of the2014 Lagos International Polo Tournament ended yesterday.

Neither of the sides could hit target in the first three minutes of the opening part of the four-chukka Dansa Cup match as Glory Ebano’s weak shot was scrambled to safety but Abdulmumuni Musa broke the deadlock through a 12-yard backhand after picking up a loose ball.

Tata Ali Kura responded immediately for the visitors to level the score.

Hitman Kura and Farouk Ibrahim went close but Ebano made a frantic goal-mouth clearance to keep the sides at par heading to the second chukka which Musa again score to give the Lagos side a 21lead. +1 handicap, Musa, who is also the captain

of Unity, puts his side in firm control when he finished of an individual move by tapping in a low shot.

Hakeem shagaya then stamped his authority on the explosive match making good use of his revered backhand which

he used to break a move at the center and in about thirty seconds later, he was on hand to hit a low drive to finish off a move initiated by Ebano to regain a twogoal advantage for Unity soon after Nura Mansur ’s had scored for KKK.

Sports, culture meet at NOGIG 2014 opening ceremony

T

HE Chevron Recre ation Centre in Gbagada was filled to capacity. The stage was electrifying as the spectacular performances by dancers of Afrique Cultural troupe kept athletes and officials on the edges of their seats It was indeed a meeting point between Nigeria’s rich culture and sports as the occasion was the opening ceremony of the 15th Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games which kicked off yesterday.

Declaring the Games open, Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Louis Ogbeifun told the athletes to compete fairly and never take competition “as a do or die affair,” adding, “it is an honour to rep-

resent your organisation at the games and I wish you all to be good ambassadors of your various organisations.”

In his speech, Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron, Andrew Fanthrop siad his company’s continuous support for the games was an indication of the huge premium they placed on the event. Said he, “over the years, the industry games event has become a tool for our organisations to contribute to sports development and especially magnify the importance of sports and the key role it plays in unifying people of different cultures, genders and religions. We hope to keep to this ideal of unity for the future.”

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — 55

C M Y K

V anguard anguard,, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Liverpool usurp City as EPL topshots RESULTS L

Thriller at Anfield!

IVERPOOL be came the Premier League’s top scorers when beating Swansea by the odd goal in seven at Anfield yesterday Much has been made of Manchester City ’s free-scoring exploits this term but the 4-3 Continues on Page 52

EPL L/pool 4 Swansea 3 N/castle 1 A/Villa 0 Norwich 1 Tottenham 0 SERIE A Livorno 2 Verona 3 Chievo 2 Catania 0 Inter 1 Cagliari 1 Sampdoria 0 AC Milan 2 Udinese 1 Atalanta 1 LA LIGA Vallecano 0 Sevilla 1 BUNDESLIGA Eintracht Frankfurt 0 Werder Bremen 0

Maradona to return to football at 53

A

Liverpool kept up their Premier League title challenge with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Swansea at Anfield. Jordan Henderson’s second goal of the game sealed it for the hosts after the Welsh side had twice equalised through Wilfried Bony.

Mourinho sweats over Mikel C

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho is hoping at least one of David Luiz or John Obi Mikel is fit to face

Galatasaray on Wednesday.

Luiz and Mikel were both absent through injury for Saturday ’s

dramatic 1-0 Premier League victory over Everton, which saw captain John Terry mark Continues on Page 52

Nowrich vs Spurs: Yobo shocks Adebayor

S

UPER Eagles captain Joseph Jobo yesterday continued his dream return to the English Premier League as his Norwich City side defeated Tot Continues on Page 52

RGENTINE soc cer legend Diego Maradona is reportedly keen on making a sensational return to football.

According to Metro.co.uk, known simply as ‘God’ and considered to be the best player of all times , the 53-year-old legend is said to be in touch with the Argentine club Deportivo Riestra, over a deal to join them till the season’s end.

The report mentioned Continues on Page 52

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Spotted (5) 9 Column (6) 10 Flaw (6) 11 Donated (5) 12 Bird (4) 15 Sapient (4) 17 Concise (7) 20 Cover (3) 21 Mistake (5) 23 Tender (4) 25 Thump (4) 26 Handle (5) 28 Wager (3) 30 Erased (7) 33 Region (4) 35 Fruit (4) 36 Cheese (5) 38 Offhand (6) 39 Vent (6) 40 Board (5)

DOWN 1 Of vision (5) 2 Demand (5) 3 Droop (3) 4 Sovereign (6) 5 Paradise (4) 6 Lair (3) 7 Satan (5) 8 War-horse (5) 13 Braggart (7) 14 Fun (5) 16 Undervest (7) 18 Trample (5) 19 Task (3) 22 Assessed (5) 24 Epoch (3) 27 Sinew (6) 28 Collection (5) 29 Taut (5) 31 Agree (5) 32 God (5) 34 Puppet (4) 36 Breach (3) 37 Sea-bird (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Resist 5, Studio 9, Taste 10, Cancel 11, Elicit 12, Model 14, Over 17, Nap 18, Mode 20, Rider 22, Beret 23, Fainted 24, Alley 26, Dared 29, Fair 30, Eel 32, Lure 33, Pedal 35, Impair 36, Tongue 37, Liver 38, Mettle 39, Redden.

DOWN: 1, Rector 2, Sinned 3, Stem 4, Talon 5, Steep 6, Tell 7, Doctor 8, Outset 13, Daunted 15, Viola 16, Refer 18, Medal 19, Deter 21, Ray 22, Bed 24, Affirm 25, Limpet 27, Rugged 28, Demean 30, Eerie 31, Later 33, Pill 34, Lore.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; 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.

C M Y K