WEEKEND MASSACRE: 90 killed in Borno, Benue

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62106

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Confab: Delegates resume today, may raise 20 c'ttees

FG earmarks $1bn to fight oil theft, pipeline vandals

P. 8

P. 9

WEEKEND MASSACRE: 90

killed in Borno, Benue •55 dead, many missing as Tiv youths, Fulani clash in Benue •Bomb kills 35 in Borno market •Terrorists must be denied chances for mayhem—COAS

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, PETER DURU & NDAHI MARAMA

M

AKURDI— NO fewer than 90 persons were killed, weekend, in separate incidents in Benue and Borno States.

In Benue, 55 persons were killed, yesterday, afternoon in one of the bloodiest clashes between Tiv youths and suspected Fulani mercenaries at Gbajimba, the

COMPETENCY TEST:

Teachers to file contempt charge against Edo govt P. 45

Continues on Page 6

Mr & Mrs •P.17

COLUMNIST:

LES LEBA •P.40

•P.46

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STRATEGIZING: The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minima (left); his Air Force counterpart, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (middle) and General Officer Commanding 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen John Zaruwa, aboard a Nigerian Air Force plane strategizing with the aid of maps in the ongoing counter-terrorist operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, during a visit to the area, weekend.

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

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6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

POCKET CARTOON

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (3rd right); celebrant and former Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (3rd left); National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu (2nd left); Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State (2nd right); celebrant's wife, Alhaja Hamotulai Ajibola (left) and Pro-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu (right) at the 80th birthday celebration of Ajibola, in Abeokuta, yesterday.

90 killed in Benue, Borno Continues from page 1 headquarters of Guma Local Government Area of the state, while 35 persons died when Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists exploded at a market square in Ngurosoye village of Bama council area of Borno State.

The deaths were recorded on a day the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen

Kenneth Minimah, charged officers and soldiers involved in the ongoing counter terrorist operations in the North-East to ensure that the terrorists no longer have any opportunity to perpetrate atrocities In the Benue clash, heavy gun battle was still raging in the besieged town at press time while women and children were said to be fleeing to nearby villages and Makurdi, the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world—Oscar Wilde.

Always have a way to look ahead.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The more you see yourself as what you’d like to become, and act as if what you want is already there, the more you’ll activate those dormant forces that will collaborate to transform your dream into your reality —Wayne W. Dyer Let go of your need to have more. The language of the ego is more. It is never satisfied. No matter how much you achieve or acquire, your ego will insist that it isn’t enough, you find yourself in a perpetual state of striving, and eliminate the possibility of ever arriving. Yet in reality, you already have arrived and how you choose to use this present moment of your life is your choice.

Ironically, when you stop needing more, more of what you desire seems to arrive in your life. Since you are detached from the need for it, you find it easier to pass it along to others, because you realise how little you need in order to be satistified and at peace.

The universal source is content with itself, constantly expanding and creating new life, never trying to hold on to its creation for its own selfish means. It creates and let go. As you let go of ego’s need to have more, you unify with that source. You create, attract to yourself, and let it go, never demanding that more come your way.

As an appreciation for all that shows up, you learn the powerful lesson that St Francis of Assisi thought" “...It is in giving that we receive.”

By allowing abundance to flow to and through you, you’ll match up with your source and guarantee that this energy will continue to flow.

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state capital, for safety.

This latest fighting is coming on the heels of the recent sacking of Tse Ortom-Adorogo, home town of the Minister of State for Trade and Investment and Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom, after Governor Gabriel Suswam’s convoy had also been attacked on that axis by the invaders.

Vanguard reliably gathered from an eyewitness that the suspected mercenaries stormed Gbajimba, yesterday morning but were repelled by armed Tiv youths who engaged them in a bloody fight.

According to the eyewitness, “they came in their numbers very early this morning from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and made an attempt to seize the town and the local government secretariat but they were confronted by our youths who resisted them, forcing them to beat a retreat.

“Just this afternoon at about 1 o'clock, they staged a more coordinated attack on the town, this time they came in their hundreds, shooting, burning down houses, huts and killing anything in sight.

“The Police station in Gbajimba is helpless because we have less than 50 officers and men on ground at the station and this attack has completely overwhelmed them.

Serious fighting ongoing

“As I speak, serious fighting is still going on in Gbajimba. About 55 persons may have been killed on both sides because corpses of the dead litter

the invaded communities.

So many of our people are also missing at this moment.

“But from the look of things, if security personnel do not quickly mobilise into the town, the invaders may succeed in taking over the ancient town after sacking close to 100 villages in the local government area in the last few weeks.

“Our fear is that if Gbajimba is allowed to fall into the hands of these marauders, it could be used as a launching pad to attack Makurdi which is just a few minutes drive from the ancient town.”

Contacted, the Police spokesperson, Superintendent Daniel Ezeala said: "We gathered that there is serious fighting in Gbajimba right now but I’m yet to get a formal briefing on the matter."

Bomb kills 35 in Borno market

In Borno, the bomb explosion occurred when most traders had come for business and all of a sudden, there was a deafening sound at the centre of the market, killing about 35 persons. Several others were also injured and some shops were destroyed.

Ngurosoye is a farming community off the Sambisa forest and about 10 kilometres from Bama council area which had witnessed series of attacks by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in recent times.

A local trader who gave his name as Mallam Isa Umar Bama, who survived the blast, told our correspondent that the incident took place few metres from his shop, adding that it was by the grace of God that he is alive as some people around him died in the blast.

He said: “It was by the grace of Allah (God) that I am alive, as one of my neighbours who sold onions and customers died in the explosion.

"The attack on the market is purely the handiwork of Boko Haram insurgents who fled from the Sambisa forest after the military offensive on their camps."

Shuaibu Abdulahi, another trader at the market said: “I travelled to Bama to buy bags of beans. Suddenly, there was a deafening bang at the middle of the market. It was in the late afternoon and commercial activities were at their peak.” He estimated the death toll to be as high as 29.

Abba Tahir, a bus driver, who was offloading passengers at the market, said

he counted 20 bodies.

He said:“People were helping in evacuating the corpses after the confusion had died down. Some people, who were injured, were taken to the general hospital.”

Borno CP confirms blast

Borno State Police Commissioner, Mr Lawal Tanko, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on phone, insisting that “it was a bomb suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists at the centre of the market in Ngurosoye that exploded during market hour, killing several people and injuring others.”

He said, already, a team of the anti-bomb squad had been dispatched to the affected area to ascertain the cause of the blast.

Terrorists must be denied chances for mayhem —COAS

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah, weekend, charged officers and soldiers involved in the ongoing counter terrorist operations in the North-East, to ensure that the terrorists do not have any ground or opportunity again to breach security and perpetrate atrocities in any part of their areas of responsibility in the campaign again.

General Minimah gave the charge in Maiduguri while addressing officers in Giwa Barracks during his operational tour to monitor deployment and disposition of troops in the theatre of counter terrorist campaign covering Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

While commending the troops for their resilience in the ongoing offensive against the terrorists, the Army chief assured them that all necessary efforts were being made to ensure that troops did not lack any requirement that is considered vital to achieve the success of the mission.

He, however, warned the troops against any form of indiscipline or mishandling of equipment available for the operation at the moment.

The Army chief emphasized the need for officers to continue to give required leadership to the men.

He said: “All the training and experience already imparted in all military personnel were now necessary and required to ensure that the entire effort at curbing the menace of terrorism succeed as planned."

The Army chief who was in the company of his Air Force counterpart, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, also visited the Military Hospital in Maiduguri and interacted with troops who were wounded in the course of the operation.

The Commander of the hospital, Brig-Gen Ike Okeke, while briefing the service chiefs, stated that most of the wounded soldiers were now in stable condition and some of them have expressed the desire to rejoin their units and colleagues in the operation.

The army chief, however, directed that the hospital should forward to him directly, any case that required referral for further treatment anywhere in world.

Air surveillance

The service chiefs also conducted a comprehensive air surveillance of the entire mission area covering Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in addition to the direct inspection of some key locations.

Speaking to reporters separately in Maiduguri, the service chiefs disclosed that they were satisfied with the progress of the operations and performance of the deployment so far, noting that substantial expectations of the counter terrorist campaign was being achieved satisfactorily.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014—7

Four nabbed for stealing 17 goats

BY DAYO JOHNSON

T

OCCUPATION: From bottom left to top right— Suspected goat thieves at Iro-Akure; moving a cow in Shagbe, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State; and children weaving basket in Kiyawa, Jigawa State, yesterday. NAN PHOTOS.

Court registrar bags 3-yr jail term over N80,000 bribe

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA— THE Registrar of a Magistrate's Court in Enugu State has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for demanding bribe in the course of discharging his official duty.

Anikwu Ifesinachi was convicted and sentenced

by Justice A. A. Nwobodo of Enugu High Court without an option of fine.

The convict was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on a two-count charge of demanding and receiving bribe.

Ifesinachi was acused of demanding a bribe of N80,000 from the relation of a suspect before he would process the warrant of release.

The relation went to ICPC and was given marked money. As soon as the accused collected the money, he was arrested by operatives of the commission and subsequently charged.

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HE new Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, have said some persons were arrested for stealing 17 goats at Iro-Akure.

He added that an illegal arms factory was discovered at Obaile area of Akure and that one Nduka Odogwu, a native of Asaba, Delta State, had been arrested.

Speaking to journalists in his maiden address in Akure, Eke said other people arrested over goat theft are Matthew Adeyeye, Adebisi Blessing, Olaitan Adebisi and David Akata.

3 to die by hanging for kidnap, murder of infant

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE— FOR the kidnap and murder of a one and half-year-old infant an Akure High Court, weekend, sentenced three men to death by hanging.

They are Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday.

The presiding judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, said the first and second accused persons were guilty of kidnapping and

murder, while the third accused person was only guilty of murder.

The accused persons were brought under a two-count charge of kidnapping and murdering the infant, contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law 2010, and murder contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State.

The one and half year old infant was said to have been

kidnapped in the night from her parent’s residence at Ikorigho in Igbokoda on June 17, 2011.

The corpse was said to have been found near the residence of the parents with her right eye, right ear, right breast and the right part of her scalp removed.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges during the trial.

Justice Odusola submitted that the totality of the evidence before him showed that the prosecution had

proved that the three accused persons were responsible for the death of the deceased.

He said: “The offences for which the accused were charged are strict liability offences. Death penalty would be the punishment for each of the counts. Having found the 1st and 2nd accused guilty of both counts, the 3rd accused is guilty of murder.

“In sum, I hereby sentence Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday to death by hanging.”

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Confab: Delegates resume today, get previous reports ...To discuss 28-page rules of procedure, may raise 20 committees ...Nwachukwu leads South East delegates not Ndigbo – Ohanaeze

BY SONI DANIEL, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA —WITH 13 reports and documents of past constitutional amendment exercises in their kitty, the 492 delegates to the on-going National Conference are ready for business as they resume today.

Fresh from their five-day recess, they are also expected to discuss clause by clause the 28-page Rules of Procedure entitled: “National Conference Procedure Rules, 2014'’, dated March 10, 2014 and agree or effect changes through two-third majority. Discussion of the rules will pave the way for effective dialogue to take off.

According to a statement issued yesterday by Conference Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, the documents supplied the delegates by the Secretariat include: Report of the Constitutional Conference, 1995 (Containing the Draft Constitution) Vol 1; Report of the Constitutional Conference, 1995 (Containing the Resolutions and Recommendations) Vol 2; Report of the Political Bureau (March, 1987); Main Report of the National Political Reform Conference, 2005; Implementation Guide of the National Political Reform Conference, 2005; Report of the Presidential Committee on Review of Outstanding Issues from Recent Constitutional Conferences (Main Report) July 2012; and Report of the Presidential Committee on Review of Outstanding Issues from Recent Constitutional Conferences (Executive Summary) July 2012.

Others are Policy Recommendations of the Presidential Committee to Review Outstanding issues from recent Constitutional Conferences July 2012; President Goodluck Jonathan’s Speech on the occasion of Nigeria’s centenary celebrations; President Goodluck Jonathan’s Speech at the inauguration of the National Dialogue Advisory Committee (Monday 7th October, 2013); President Goodluck Jonathan’s Speech at the inauguration of the 2014 National Conference of the People of Nigeria (Monday 17th March, 2014; The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Draft Rules of Procedure for the Conference.

Said Akpandem: “Delegates to the National Conference will tomorrow (today), Monday March 24, 2014, resume plenary sitting after a short adjournment, which was to allow them study the various working documents that were supplied (to them) on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, shortly after the inaugural sitting. Two

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more documents – The draft Rules of Procedure for the Conference and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 were also supplied to the delegates on Thursday, March 20, 2014.’’

Confab commandments Vanguard gathered that highlights of the Rules of Procedure include how delegates should present issues.

• For instance, delegates who wish to address the session on issues that must be relevant to subject of discourse, must write to the Secretary, then it will be gazetted and shared to delegates at every sitting.

• Delegates must arrive at a consensus on issues but in the absence of consensus, there will voice vote.

• Every member must be present at each session, but when a case of ill-health occurs, the delegate must write to the Secretary to obtain permission to be absent.

• A delegate risks 14 days suspension if found using offensive language against another delegate or obstruct proceedings at plenary or at Committee level.

• Delegates are barred from assaulting or obstructing one another within the Conference Room or precincts of the Conference.

• Representative bodies shall speak in alphabetical order while a delegate shall not read his speech unless he is moving a motion.

• A delegate may only read short extracts from books or papers in support of his argument and may refresh his memory by reference to notes.

• A delegate must confine his contributions to the subject under discussion and may not introduce matters irrelevant thereto.

• It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Conference has come to a conclusion.

• It shall be out of order to use offensive and insulting language during sittings either at plenary or in Committees.

• No delegate shall impute improper motives to any other delegate.

• Delegates are prohibited from smoking or drinking on the floor of the Conference.

• The use of mobile phones shall not be allowed during sittings.

• A delegate desiring to speak shall submit his name to the Secretary on a paper to be provided and if called upon shall stand and address his observations to the Chairman or the Chairman of Committee.

• All committees shall for-

MEETING: President Goodluck Jonathan exchanging pleasantries with the Chief Executive Officer of Shell Petroleum International, Mr. Ben Van Beurden during a meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands yesterday. ward their report to the Secretary at the conclusion of its sitting. The secretary shall at her discretion determine determine when such reports of Committee shall be brought up at Plenary for deliberation.”

At the last sitting of the confab last Tuesday, delegates agreed that the second stanza of the National Anthem should be adopted as the opening and closing prayer for all sittings of the Conference. Faith-based prayers were ruled out.

Delegates also agreed that except for very special cases of physical incapacity and serious health concerns, sitting arrangement in the chamber of the conference should be in alphabetical order.

Although a delegate raised the issue of allowances for aides of delegates, it did not achieve popular acclamation.

Delegates set up zonal secretariats, reach out to others Meanwhile, ahead of today’s resumption of proceedings, some of the six geo-political zones have set up secretariats where their delegates congregate to compare notes, brainstorm and firm up demands to be canvassed at the National Conference.

The secretariats will also help delegates reach out to other zones for horse-trading. With the endorsement of 369 delegates (75 per cent) needed for any issue to sail through, the various zones and stakeholders will need to do a lot of consultation, horse-trading and networking to get their various demands accepted.

And for any issue to win the sympathy of three-quarter of the

delegates, it must be seriously and cerebrally canvassed, which will necessitate unity of purpose on the part of the canvassers.

One of the zones that have set up a secretariat in Abuja is the South-East geo-political zone. An Igbo leader told Vanguard that the South-East secretariat has been opened and so far the delegates are doing fine.

Nwachukwu leads S'East delegates not Ndigbo –Ohanaeze These came as apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze, picked holes in comments that General Ike Nwachukwu is leading Igbo delegates at the confab.

Ohanaeze Secretary General, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, who is also a delegate said: “General Ike Nwachukwu was not nominated to lead Igbo delegates. He was nominated to lead South-East delegates. Ndigbo are not limited to the South-East. Ndigbo cut across the five South-East states, Rivers and Anioma (in Delta State.)”

On alleged discordant tunes in the Igbo camp, the Nwaorgu assured that Igbo delegates would enter the confab as one and would not disappoint their people and the country.

Delegates may raise 20 committees Also, indications emerged, yesterday, that the confab may break into about 20 standing committees for the purpose of doing an effective job.

Conference sources said that President Jonathan’s inaugural speech partly set the tone for the number of committees to be raised

and the issues to be tackled by the delegates.

The President’s speech notwithstanding, the delegates are expected to agree on the types and number of committees to be raised for the conference.

President Jonathan had indirectly set the tone for the delegates when he declared in his epoch speech that the issues to be addressed ranged from form of government, structures of government, devolution of powers, revenue sharing and resource control.

Other issues, the President expects the conference to look at include, state and local government creation, boundary adjustment, state police and fiscal federalism, local government elections, indigeneship, gender equality and children’s rights.

Sources said that the delegates would be made to fast-track the deliberations in order to cover as many areas of national interest as possible within the 90-day period provided by the Federal Government.

“We want to see how this assignment can be concluded within the three-month time-frame so that it does not eat into the election period. That is why the delegates may soon break into no fewer than 20 committees with a view to tackling all the issues raised in the President’s inaugural speech and others that may be of interest to members. The point that must be made however is that the conference will do all that is possible to ensure that the deliberations are concluded on time and the purpose for which the confab was set up, realised,” the source said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014—9

Eight questions FG must answer over increased electricity tariff — UN T

HE United Nations has published the Joint Letter of Concern sent to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan in which they expressed concerns that “access to electricity (and regularity of supply) is a significant problem in Nigeria,” and raised eight questions for the government to answer within 60 days.

The letter by two special rapporteurs expressed concerns that “at the end of 2012, Nigeria with a population of about 160 million people only generated about 4,000 megawatts of electricity, which is ten times less than some other countries in the region with less population.”

“To date, the government has not responded to the eight crucial questions raised by the UN on the unfair and discriminatory electricity tariff,” said Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP. The UN special rapporteurs argued that “all beneficiaries of the right to adequate housing should have sustainable access to energy for cooking, heating and lighting. The failure of the States to provide basic services such as electricity is a violation of the right to health.”

The rapporteurs Ms. Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and Ms. Raquel Rolnik Special Rapporteur on adequate housing sent the letter following a petition lodged last year by a coalition of human rights activists, labour, journalists and lawyers led by SERAP. The petition alleged that the implementation of the MultiYear Tariff Order II, MYTO II, by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC is “having detrimental impact on the human rights of those living in poverty in the country.”

Consequently, the special rapporteurs wanted answers to the following questions: Are the facts alleged by SERAP and others accurate?; What kind of impact assessments were conducted to gauge the potential impact of the electricity tariff increases on the human rights of people living in extreme poverty in Nigeria? If so, provide details; Did public consultations take place, including with potentially affected persons and especially people living in extreme poverty, prior to the adoption of the new Multi-Year Tariff Order II? If yes, please give details of the dates, participants and outcomes of the consultations.

Was accessible and culturally adequate information about the measure actively disseminated through all available channels prior to consultation?; What measures have been put in place to ensure that the human rights

of people living in extreme poverty in Nigeria will not be undermined by the increase in electricity tariffs? In particular, what measures are in place to ensure that they can enjoy their right to adequate housing, including sustainable access to energy for cooking, heating and lighting, which is a component of this right?

What mechanisms exist to ensure transparency, accountability and regular monitoring over the use of tariff revenue within the government?

What mechanisms are available to address allegations of corruption, or other complaints?

What mechanisms are in place to monitor and regulate service provision by private actors, as required under the State’s duty to protect?

Please describe any existing policies or measures aimed to promote affordability of electricity provision for people living in

extreme poverty. Are any subsidies already available and implemented? What is being done to mitigate the hardship imposed by increased tariffs, especially for persons living in poverty?

According to the special rapporteurs, “We would be most grateful to receive a response within 60 days, which will be made available in the report that we will submit to the Human Rights Council for its consideration of the matter.”

They said that services “such as electricity must be provided without discrimination towards people living in poverty and that no one should be denied access to essential services because of an inability to pay”.

They also said that, “Less than 50 per cent of registered electricity customers have access to electricity meters, and ongoing inaccuracies in measuring electricity usage will continue to hinder fair electricity access and exchange.”

They wanted answers to the

alleged “mismanagement throughout the privatization process, and around $3.5 billion that has been mismanaged annually over the last ten years, and a total of $16 billion released to improve electricity supply in the country that has not been properly accounted for.

Other signatories to the petition sent to the special rapporteurs in September last year include: the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC); Women Empowerment and Legal Aid Initiative (WELA); Partnership for Justice (PJ); Education Rights Campaign (ERC); Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council; Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos; Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch; National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), and Joint Action Front (JAF).

DINNER: From left— Mr Peter Ashade, MD, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc; Mr Nnamdi Okafor, MD, May & Baker Nigeria Plc; Mr Fidelis Ayebae, CEO, Fidson Healthcare Plc; Prof. C. O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health; Mr Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange and Chief Mrs Stella Okoli, MD ,Emzor Pharmaceautical during a dinner the NSE boss held for CEOs of heathcare sector at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos over the weekend. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

Ezekwesili advocates structural change in education

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

F

ORMER Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili weekend advocated a permanent structural change that would enhance the quality of education and skill development.

Dr Ezekwesili spoke at a Youth Empowerment Summit tagged: “Empowerment for Greatness,” organised by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, at the church’s Conference Centre, on Kilometre 42, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

Attributing the decay in the education sector to antiintellectualism, Ezekwesili explained that poor governance, continuous military rule, corruption, inability to manage natural resources were responsible for the low level of education in the country, noting that education has to be the business of everybody, as it is an investment rather than just a business.

Speaking on the current state of the sector in comparison to her time as minister, she said that her investigations revealed that the results in the sector were nothing to smile about, emphasizing that the country’s investment had not produced the result commensurate with it.

She therefore stressed the need for good governance in the education sector as well as the need to intensify effort in training and re-training of teachers.

FG earmarks $1bn to fight oil theft, pipeline vandals, others

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the Federal Government has earmarked one billion U.S Dollars for the implementation of a comprehensive programme to check crude oil theft, the vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure, and the apprehension and prosecution of crude oil thieves.

He made this disclosure when he met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte and the Chief Executive Officer of Shell International, Mr. Ben van Beurden, in Netherlands where he is attending the nuclear security summit.

According to President Jonathan, a technical committee has already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of the programme, which he said, will include further action to enhance the security of pipelines and other oil industry infrastructure, resolve community-related issues, boost youth empowerment in oil-producing areas and enhance the commitment of oil companies to the discharge of their corporate social responsibilities.

President Jonathan said that the fresh onslaught against oil theft planned by his administration will require the maximum cooperation of the international community, especially countries

like the Netherlands which are major stakeholders in the global oil industry.

“Oil theft is an aspect of global terrorism, which has become a big industry on its own. It has become a major threat to the Nigerian economy and we need to work with all stakeholders to curb it. The thieves must be traced, apprehended and prosecuted”, the President said.

The Dutch Prime Minister assured the President of the commitment of the Netherlands to concerted action against crude oil theft and global terrorism.

Mr. Rutte who remarked that President Jonathan’s visit affirmed the strong ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands, also assured the President of the

willingness of The Netherlands to collaborate more with Nigeria on environmental and security issues, particularly in the Niger Delta.

He praised Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional security in West Africa, and welcomed the signing of an agreement on immigration between both countries as well as the strong trade relations between Nigeria and The Netherlands.

“The President’s visit is an open testimony of the strong ties between Nigeria and Netherlands. Nigeria is Netherlands’ main trading partner in Africa and the Netherlands is the second biggest European investor in Nigeria,” the Dutch Prime Minister said.

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Obanikoro bemoans ‘marginalisation of Lagos indigenes’ L

BY DAPO AKINREFON

AGOS—THE Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has decried what he described as alleged marginalisation of Lagos indigenes in running of the affairs of the state.

He also urged the indigenes to come together for the benefit of the younger generation irrespective of political divide.

Senator Obanikoro said this at the 6th Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture entitled 'The Place of Lagos State Indegenes', in Lagos.

In his address, the minister said that all Lagos State indigenes must stand together to resist a conscious effort to shrink the political and economic space of the indigenes.

According to him: “Today the indigenes of Lagos State stand at the praecipe.

“In the last 16 years of democracy, the true number of Lagos indigenes that have been commissioner are up to 10.

Similar trend has been seen at the National Assembly.”

He noted that it is more saddening that majority of those who have been at the helm of affairs in Lagos are from other

Yoruba states saying; “When I was a Senator, I was the only indigenous Senator representing Lagos State.”

While he alleged that nonindigenes “have cornered the resources of Lagos for themselves to the detriment of

the indigenes,” he pointed out that there was nothing wrong in the Lagos State government putting in place more efforts to empower indegines.

He said: “What we must do is to use the platform of the Association of Lagos Indigenes

to protect what belong to us. The world over, efforts are made to give indigenes their right of place irrespective of their number. The fact that we are generous should not make us a victim. We should work to ensure that our status as indigenes are restored.”

SIGNING: From left: Country Manager, West Africa, United State Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, Ms. Lisa Bonnikon, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria, Ms. Maria Brewer; and Head, Corporate Development and Investment, Honeywell Group, Dr. Teddy Ngu, during the grant signing ceremony between the US and Honeywell Group in Lagos

Lagos spends N49bn on LASU in 5 years

BY MONSURU

L

OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS—LAGOS State government said it has in the last five years spent over N49 billion on Lagos State University, LASU, to upgrade infrastructure and improve the state of the university.

The State Government had five years ago, inaugurated a six-man Visitation Panel led by Justice Olaseinde Silva to review various issues affecting the school.

This was contained in a statement made available at the weekend.

The state government explained

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that N29,624,235,453 was spent on recurrent expenditure while N19,781,525,827 was on capital expenditure.

According to the statement, LASU cannot be fully funded through the tuition fees being paid by the students.

“The students who pay the new tuition fees began payment only two sessions ago. Of the over 12,000 students in LASU, only 2,153 is expected to pay the new fees. This amounts to N459,257,960.00 paid by students in year one and two.

“The total revenue of N459 million expected from tuition

fees is a far cry from the State Government’s required expenditure on the institution.

In 2014, about N9.2 billion will be spent by Government on LASU alone, out of which N2.6

is for capital expenditure and N6.6 billion is for recurrent. Out of the N9 billion proposed to be spent on LASU, less than half a billion naira will be generated from tuition fees!”

ICCON acting registrar under probe, witness tells court

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BY INNOCENT ANABA

AGOS—A defence witness in the suit by the suspended Registrar of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, ICCON, against the Minister of Health, weekend, told National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Lagos that the acting Registrar of the institute was under investigation.

Under cross examination by the plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Albert Akpomudje, SAN, the witness, Mr. Sule Audu from the Federal Ministry of Health, explained that the Registrar, Prince Jay Oghifo, was suspended because he was under investigation, noting that it was the tradition to suspend officers accused of wrong doing while their investigation last.

He added that the acting Registrar, Ms. T. Bammodu, who also has a petition against her was also under

investigation before she was appointed to act in Oghifo’s capacity.

The witness, who was the Secretary to the panel that suspended Oghifo, admitted that most of what they investigated was never contained in the allegations leveled againt Oghifo in the petition written by one Umar Maigari.

Oghifo in the suit is challenging his purported suspension from office while he was on leave by the Minister and ministry respectively.

He is praying the court to restrain the defendants or their agents from preventing him from performing his function as ICCON registrar pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

After Audu's cross examination, the case of the first to third defendants was closed and the sixth defendant, (Bammodu) entered the witness box.

MWUN steps up fight against unfair labour practices

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG AGOS—PRESIDENTGENERAL of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Emmanuel Nted, weekend, in Lagos vowed that the union would step up the fight against unfair labour practices and improve the welfare of workers in the sector.

Nted spoke after he was honoured as the Maritime Man of the Year 2013 at the Maritime Industry Merit Award organised by the Maritime Media Limited.

The award was in recognition of Nted’s contributions towards the growth and development of the maritime industry.

Nted thanked the organisers for considering him worthy for nomination for the historic award and also expressed appreciation to the maritime workers for the opportunity given him to serve with a promise to do more to improve the condition of workers in the sector.

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LASG faults FG’s tourism projects in states

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI AGOS—THE Lagos State Government has described recent attempts by the Federal Government to continue implementation of tourism projects in states across the country as unconstitutional.

Attorney General, AG, of the state, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who made the remarks at the weekend, noted that by interfering in tourism, the Federal Government was deliberately disregarding the clear pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of the Federation vs. AttorneyGeneral of Lagos, which was decided last year.

The reaction came following last Tuesday, March 4, 2014, statement by the Minister of Culture and Tourism who informed the National Assembly that the Federal Government required the sum of N25 billion to implement the country’s Tourism Masterplan.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 — 11

Police nab 7 suspects over discovery of skulls in Ibadan

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BY OLAAJAYI

BADAN—THE Oyo State Police command has arrested seven suspects in connection with discovery of skulls in an abandoned building at Soka area of Ibadan last Saturday.

According to the police, no fewer than seven suspects have been arrested.

This was disclosed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Olabisi Ilobanafor yesterday, in Ibadan.

Decomposing bodies, skulls, human parts and some half-dead people believed to have been hypnotised by the ritualists were found in the bush.

Among the suspects arrested were two persons caught in the area and five security personnel working in a nearby company.

While vowing that the command would take all necessary steps to bring all culprits to book, Ilobanafor said the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, had swung into action that would lead to the arrest of other suspects.

Explaining further how the den was discovered, she recalled that a group of 100 area boys had invaded the Toll gate behind state urban Mass Transit Yard, located at Soka in search of two missing cyclists when they discovered an uncompleted building where two women and five women were found chained and totally unkempt.

While one Abideen Akanmu who claimed to have been employed by one Gbadamosi was arrested, the police are on the trail of the leader of the gang who is now at large.

All the suspects arrested, she added would be charged with murder and unlawful possession of fire arms. The captives rescued from the bush, she said, had been taken to hospital for treatment while corpses found were also deposited at the morgue.

Items recovered at the building were three Dane Guns, three single barrel, one bow, 16 arrows, 22 cutlasses, 40 live cartridges, seven table knives, one axe, two iron files and one handset.

Ekiti guber: Fayemi, Bamidele preach violence-free campaigns A

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI—AS the Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC, officially kicks off campaign for the June 21 governorship election, both the governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele have called for violence-free campaigns Fayemi who was speaking at Isan Ekiti yesterday, during a thanksgiving service at St. Martins Catholic Church in his hometown insisted that all stakeholders must ensure that the June 21 governorship election in the state is peaceful as no ambition is worth the spilling of anyone’s blood.

While Bamidele had in a statement by his spokesman, Ahmed Salami equally urged the people of the state to shun violence during the forth coming electioneering campaign Fayemi explained that besides thanking God for having brought him thus far, he and his family were also in church to offer prayers for peaceful campaign and the peaceful conduct of the election.

The governor said: “No ambition, including my own, is worth the spilling of blood. I urge all our people to conduct themselves peacefully. This is a contest of ideas.

“We are running on a record.

Ekiti people can see and feel what we have done. Those who feel they have better ideas should present their ideas to the people. It is the duty of our people to decide which direction they want to take in this election.

I believe the security forces will work with us. If there is any election that should serve as a model for peaceful elections, it should be this one and I pray it shall be so, in Jesus name.

“In presenting our ideas to the people, we should have nothing to fear. Our people are intelligent. They are witnesses to the progress and development that Ekiti has witnessed since we have come on board.

“They would decide if they want to return to the era of one day, one trouble or if they’d rather continue to stay on the path of peace, progress and development. I have no doubt what decision our people would

make.”

In a related development, Labour Party governorship aspirant and member of House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele cautioned those that would bring violence to the electioneering campaign in preparation for the June 21 governorship election to have a rethink Bamidele, urged the candidates of all parties participating in the forthcoming election to adhere strictly to the tenets of issue-based campaign to avoid bloodshed in the June 21 Governorship election.

SECOND TERM: From right: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, National Secretary, Nigeria Automobile Technician Association, NATA, Mr. David Ajetunmobi, South West President, NATA, Mr. Dele Odewale and others, during the governor's endorsement for second term in office and inauguration of state executives of NATA in Osogbo.

Dimeji Bankole not qualified to be Ogun gov —KASHAMU A

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—CHAIRMAN of Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu has faulted the governorship ambition of former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, saying he is not qualified to be next governor of the state.

Kashamu stated this yesterday, while receiving 660 loyalists of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who joined Bayo Dayoled executive in the state and 3,210 from All Progressives Congress as well as Labour Party at a reception held in Sagamu and Ijebu-Igbo.

At the events, which were attended by party leaders in the South West, 400 loyalists of Obasanjo from Ijebu-East local government led by Sakiru Olujoye and 260 women groups loyal to Obasanjo across the state led by Remi Ogunjobi as well as 210 members of All Progressives Congress and Labour Party defected to PDP. The party chieftain while fielding questions from newsmen accused Bankole of attempting

to break the legally constituted executive of the party in the state for his ambition.

He also claimed that the former Speaker was using the names of President Goodluck

Jonathan and national chairman of the party to cajole the people in the state.

Bankole at a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Abeokuta had been asked to run for governorship under the PDP to reposition the party in the state.

But , Bankole while reacting to the call by the leaders of the party in Ogun central, said that he was not interested in any group within the party, urging all the leaders and members to unite for the sake of the party.

Dickson, Daniel, Awujale in closed-door meeting Dickson arrived at the Awujale's reason for his visit to the Awujale

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—BAYELSA State governor, Seriake Dickson, Saturday, held a closeddoors meeting with former governor of Ogun State , Otunba Gbenga Daniel and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona at the monarch’s palace in IjebuOde.

palace in company of former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe, a member of House of Representatives, Stella Dorgu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Fred Agbedi and some members of his cabinet.

Dickson while explaining the

shortly before the closed-door meeting with Daniel and Awujale said his visit was to reconnect with his maternal root in the political headquarters of the Ijebu people.

He disclosed that his grandmother who was a princess from the town hailed from the Fidipote ruling house.

Osun PDP confused, says APC

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SOGBO—THE ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has described its main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State as confused, disorganised and disoriented band of politicians who should not be trusted with the huge responsibility of governing the state.

The APC was referring to the apparent fiasco that has bedevilled the PDP’s attempt to pick its candidate from the governorship aspirants who are practically at each other’s throat in a desperate bid to fly the opposition flag.

According to the APC in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy,

Mr. Kunle Oyatomi in Osogbo yesterday, said: “The lies, allegations and mudslinging among the aspirants have turned into ‘roforofo’ fight in which fake security report and lies about their president’s endorsement of one or the other have only showed how mean and irresponsible some of the PDP aspirants can get.”

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Lori-Ogbebor to confab delegates, Jonathan: End killings of Itsekiri by alleged Ijaw group

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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OMAN activist and leader, Chief Rita LoriOgbebor, has called on Itsekiri delegates to the on-going national conference and President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene and find an end to the killings of Itsekiri, allegedly by an Ijaw group, Egbema Radical Group, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

She appealed to the delegates to find solution to the crisis and stop same from escalating.

Mrs. Lori-Ogbebor, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, accused the Egbema Ijaw Group of allegedly killing Itsekiri in Ajameta, Gbokoda, Tabu and Udo, in Olero creek.

She said: “Today, the President of this country is an Ijaw man. In his laudable inaugural speech at the national conference, he counseled Nigerians on how to live together in peace and unity and how to eschew violence. The question we must now ask is whether these lectures are just mouthed sentiments or whether they reflect the true disposition of Nigeria and the Ijaw number one citizen few days after the blast by the Egbema Radical Group. To whom do we report the lawlessness of the Ijaw, since President Jonathan and his Ijaw kinsmen think different-

ly?

“As you go into the conference, we want you to know what is happening to the Itsekiri right now in their homeland.

On Wednesday, March 17, an Ijaw group known as Egbema Radical Group, attacked and blew up the pipeline in Idibi community, Robin Creek and threatened more attacks on Itsekiri in another 24 hours.

“The action they said was to warn the Delta State Government, incidentally governed by an Itsekiri man, that the governor should forget his ambition

to become a senator, which they are dedicated to scuttle to address the neglect and marginalisation of Egbema Ijaw, who share Warri North council with the Itsekiri in the state.”

She expressed worry over the state of “menace, threats and violence which the Itsekiri go through every day.

One hears and condemns Boko Haram every day, but what we have in Itsekiriland is nothing short of Boko Haram insurgency. This is how bad it is.”

Urging delegates to deliberate on the issue, she said: “This is how the Warri crisis started and that is why I am appealing that the attacks must be nipped in the bud.

“It is against this background that I urge the delegates to the national conference, which is a conglomerate of eminent persons from their various communities, the National Assembly, the Police and President Jonathan, to urgently intervene and find an end to the wanton killings in Itsekiriland.”

VISIT: Vice Chancellor of Niger Delta University, NDU, Prof. Humphrey Ogoni (2nd left); Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (2nd right); the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (right); Commisioner for Education, Mr. Salo Adikumo (left) and a member of the Governing Council of NDU, Prof. Steve Azaiki (3rd right), during the governor's visit to the university at Amasoma. Photo by Lucky Francis.

Youths in Delta community nab suspected sea pirate ...six others escape with injuries

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—YOUTHS of Burutu community in Delta State fought a seven-man sea pirate gang, which had allegedly terrorised riverine communities in the creeks, seized one of them, captured their speedboat and inflicted injuries on six others.

Vanguard gathered that the youths, led by one Jerry Yepade, who acted on a tip-off,

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mounted surveillance for the sea pirates, who had robbed about three commercial speed boats, along River Ramos in Agge tributaries, in the last few days.

A fierce battle ensued between the pirates and the youths, at the end of which one of them, simply identified as Oweiziotu, was arrested and six others, said to be indigenes of Aghoro and Ekogbene communities in Delta and Bayelsa

states, escaped.

A source told Vanguard that the apprehended suspect was handed over to the operatives of Joint Task Force, JTF, at Agge Flow Station for further investigation.

It was learnt that following the encounter,

soldiers launched a manhunt for the fleeing pirates and warned communities in the area to report any suspected person to security agencies.

Meanwhile, Delta Waterways and Security Committee, DWSC, War-

ri, has activated its intelligence network in the area to identify the fleeing pirates and their whereabouts. A source close to the committee told Vanguard, yesterday, that some the fleeing suspects had already been identified.

Group urges Rivers govt to set up oil communities' commission

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has been urged to set up the Rivers State Oil Producing Area Derivation Commission to cater for the developmental needs of the oil producing communities in the state.

A group, Garden City Concerned Club, which made the call in Port Harcourt, in its statement by Mr. Donald Hart, said the oil bearing communities had continued to face challenges of pollution and underdevelopment, adding that there was an urgent need for the government to set up the commission to address the peculiar challenges in the communities.

According to him, Delta State and some others in the Niger Delta realised the peculiar challenges in oil producing communities and have since set up special commissions to address the issues.

Roli Okorodudu passes on

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ADAM Roli Okorodudu, proprietress of Mispam Restaurant Warri Embassy, Ikeja, is dead. She died after a brief illness.

She was a former Vice Chairman of Eriegwa Itsekiri Ladies Society, Lagos Branch.

A statement by the family said burial arrangements will be announced later.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014—13

Don’t be afraid to visit any part of Nigeria, APC tells Jonathan T

HE ALL Progressives Con gress, APC, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan, as the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, not to be afraid to visit any part of the country for whatever reasons.

In a statement in Lagos, Sunday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohanmed, the party reminded the President that he had not yet visited Yobe State, one month after the dastardly killing of many school children in the state, to commiserate with the government and the bereaved families.

It said the first month of the killings, which was Tuesday, provided another opportunity for the President to visit the state.

APC said since the President’s planned return from his latest foray abroad, Tuesday, coincided with the first month of the killings, he should fly straight to Yobe. ‘’As we said in our earlier statement on this issue on March 10, "far from being a mere formality, such a visit will provide great succour to the families of the victims, reassure them and other residents of the state that their government has not abandoned them to their fate, and also serve as a morale booster for our gallant troops who are battling the terrorists, against all odds,’’ it said.

APC reminded the President that since the killings, he had hosted a wasteful centennial celebration, travelled across Nige-

ria to illegally kick-start his campaign for the 2015 elections and journeyed to Namibia, Italy and The Netherlands, in a needless junketing that belies the massive security problems in the country. ‘’Mr. President, charity begins at home. You cannot be engaging in photo-ops abroad when your country is burning,’’ the party said.

It said President Jonathan’s insensitive junketing and law-breaking campaign rallies across Nigeria best illustrated the old saying, ‘’Nero fiddling while Rome burns."

APC advised President Jonathan, as the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces, not to be afraid to visit any part of the

country for whatever reason. ‘’If however the President has any reason why he does not want to visit the scene of the gruesome murders to commiserate with the bereaved families, he should tell Nigerians who have continued to wonder why he has been avoiding the state,’’ the party said.

From left, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President CAN, Mrs. Chinyere Rochas Okorocha, wife of Imo State governor; Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, Rev. Ugonna Onuoha, wife of the celebrant, and His Eminence Dr. Samuel Kanu, Prelate Methodist Church, during the 50th birthday and thanksgiving of Bishop Sunday Onuoha, at the Methodist Theological Institute, Mission Hill, Umuahia.

Nyako's a disgrace for smearing Jonathan before Obama’s aides —Presidency

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor

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HE PRESIDENCY, yester day, flayed Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State as a disgrace for purportedly aiming to put President Goodluck Jonathan in bad light during a recent meeting of northern political leaders with senior aides of President Barrack Obama of the United States.

In the meetings last week with National Security Adviser, Susan Rice presiding, Governor Nyako and two other governors from the north were alleged to have blamed President Jonathan for the crisis in the northeast.

Nyako, according to reports, blamed the Federal Government for allegedly colluding with the sponsors of the insurgency and failing to name them.

But responding, yesterday, the Presidency faulted the claims, describing Nyako as a disgrace who has failed in his duties of governance in his state and also aiming to fuel sentiments against the President in the north.

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“Governor Nyako is a disgrace to his government. Governor Nyako has failed, he is a failed governor and his statement in the USA is unfortunate and unbecoming of a leader,” Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, told Vanguard yesterday.

“He (Nyako) has failed in his state and all these things happening, he knows that this insurgency is not limited to Nigeria, but is a global phenomenon and Nyako as a governor ought to have known better.”

Alleging that the assertions by the governor were aimed at ridi-

culing the President in the north, Gulak said: “It is a mischief aimed at bringing down the government of President Jonathan.

"But Nigerians are wiser, and this is just an attempt to pit the north against President Goodluck Jonathan. That has been his stock in trade and he will not succeed.”

S/E govs condemn attack on Senate President’s convoy in Imo

BY ANYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — SOUTH EAST Governors Forum has condemned the attack, last week, in Imo State on the convoy of the Senate President, Senator David Mark, describing same as a wicked act.

The governors also described the attack as “unfortunate,” adding that they received the news with shock, and it was unfortunate that it happened in their zone.

They called on the security agencies to ensure that those

behind the attack were apprehended.

Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, in his reaction to the attack, said that it was an intolerable act.

The forum dismissed links of the attack to Boko Haram, noting that it could be political, though it could not point at any particular direction, calling on security agencies to sit up and conduct thorough investigation into the incident and apprehend the culprits.

Speaking in Umuahia, weekend, Governor Orji said the attack calls for vigilance, adding that it was an eye-opener of what could happen between now and 2015 general elections.

“I received the information with shock. It is unfortunate and I want to encourage the Senate President that he should not be deterred.

"It is unfortunate that this type of thing is happening in our zone and we entirely condemn the act. It is a wicked act that cannot be tolerated.

2015: Oduah to coordinate pro-Jonathan’s groups

BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA — STRONG indications emerged weekend that the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah may have been saddled with the responsibility of coordinating all the groups presently positioning themselves to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan=s re-election in 2015.

A source told Vanguard yesterday that as a prelude to bringing her on board following her resignation recently, the presidency was creating a unit called Research and Strategy unit for which she would eventually become the DirectorGeneral. The unit will later metamorphose into a body that will spearhead the President's campaign for re-election bid in 2015.

The new assignment, the source told vanguard would be similar to what she did prior to 2011 Presidential election when she handled a major campaign and enlightenment platform, the Neighbour to Neigbhour project which was very vibrant and made great impact.

Ahead of 2015 presidential election, different groups and non-governmental Organisations, NGOs rooting for President Jonathan’s reelection bid are currently not less than 115, just as they await for the formal declaration of the President to declare for 2015 presidency.

Africa not spending enough on ICT — IBM

BY EMEKAAGINAM

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AIROBI, KENYA — THE Chief Scientist of IBM Research Africa, Dr. Uyi Stewart has said that African governments are not spending enough money in building Informationand Communication Technology infrastructure to help Africa leap-flog into the information age.

The Nigerian born scientist, with not less than 20 years in soft-ware research, said this at the just concluded IBM Cognitive Colloquium in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said that lack of investment in ICT was the reason for the wide disparity between rich and poor nations.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

VANGUARD PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD IN LAGOS

From left, Chief Solomon Ogba, Secretary, Delta State PDP; Mr. Ovuozorie Macaulay, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, and Dr. Festus Okubor, Chief of Staff.

Mr Femi Adesina, MD, The Sun Newspapers, and Chief Andrew Oru.

From left, Mr. Michael Osuoza, Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Delta State; Chief Frank Omare, and Barrister Newworld Safughs, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs.

Mr. Kunle Adekoya (General Editor, Vanguard Newspapers), his wife, Ayo, and Mr. Emma Nnadozie (Crime Editor)

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Amb. Bashiru Yuguda, Minister of National Planning (left), and Dr. Uduaghan.

From left Chief Betty Efekodha, Commissioner for Women Affairs; Mr. Tonye Timi, Commissioner for Special Duties, and Mr. Charles Emetulu, Commissioner for Energy, all of Delta State.

From left, Dr. Tony Nwaka, Commissioner for Special Duties; Richard Mofe-Damijo, Delta Tourism Commissioner, and Ebifa Ijomah, Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Delta State.

From left, Benjamin Okiemute, Victor Ochei, former Speaker, Delta State House of Asembly, and Jopseph Oshevire.

From left, Dr. Joseph Okpaku, President, Third Press Publishers, New York; Chief P.E.B. UKu Esof, Erealuyon of Warri, and Chief Yayah Pessu, JP, Ojo- From left: Ebisan Rewane, Yeye Rewane and Adaoje mo of Warri, Nirafor

Chief Innocent Chukwuma OFR, receiving Vanguard award of Most Innovative Industialist of the Year.

From left, Mr. Kunle Imoyo, his wife, Toyin; Dr. Iyabo Foresythe, and Miss Debo Ojikutu

From left, HRM. Matthiew Ediri Egbi JP Owahwa-ll Okobaro, King of Ughievwen Kingdom, Delta state; HRM. Pere Kalanama, Vlll (JP) Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom; HRM, Dr. Efeizomor ll [JP], OON, Obi of Owa, Delta State, and HRM Anthony Uogbogbo, Ibuka-1, Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, Isoko, North Local Government Delta State.

From left, Senator Stella Omu, former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Delta State PDP Chairman.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 —15

VANGUARD PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD IN LAGOS

From left: Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager, Publications, and Editor-in-Chief; Mr. Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor; Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager and Mr. Victor Omoregie, Corporate Affairs Manager, all of Vanguard Newspapers.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle) and Delta State students of Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

Mr. Victor Gotevbe, Admin Manager, Vanguard Newspapers (right) and Mr. Joe Awansu.

Mr. Tuoyo Amuka (middle), his wife, Adepele, (right) and a guest.

Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy MD, ThisDay Newspaper (left) and Christopher Ogeah, Delta State Commissioner for Information.

From left: Ms Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller; Mr. Tommy Anaduaka, Editorial Production Coordinator and Mr. Hassan Balogun, Deputy Admin Manager, all of Vanguard Newspapers.

Rev. Udo Ibuot, Chief Sub-Editor (left) and Mr. Hugo Odiogor, Foreign Affairs Editor, both of Vanguard Newspapers.

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Ace comedians, Gordons (left) and Ali Baba.

Artistes.

16 Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 SATURDAY March 22 passed away quietly.

It was the 21st United Nations World Water Day with its theme, Water and Energy, capturing most of the travails of living in Nigeria where the celebration with rehashed speeches, indicating poignantly the disregard for the combined development water and energy provide.

The connections between water and energy and their impacts on the lives of people across the world have held the attention on the resources and uses. Many countries have realised that without water and energy, prosperity and successes they target are impossible.

Among objectives the United Nations set for the World Water Day were identifying policies, approaches and solutions to waterenergy issues that are expected to achieve greater economic and social impacts.

Relevant stakeholders in the water-energy sector are to be engaged in the development of more water-energy linkages.

For Nigeria, focus on energy and water is critical to the attainment of the economic and social prosperity that Nigerians desire.

Water is very essential to human survival.

BY JOHN UDUMEBRAYE

E

DUCATION is the process of cultivating the human person and inculcating in him or her qualities that differentiate us from other animals. Whether formal or informal, education makes it possible for the individual not only to understand him or herself, but also able to interact with other people and the society in which he or she lives. It is through education that we become social, political and moral beings; that we are able to develop ourselves and contribute to the collective wellbeing of society. That is what makes education the only priceless treasure that we can bequeath to the next generation.

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the first President of Nigeria to have been educated to the level of a doctorate degree. And, he was a lecturer at the Rivers State College of Education before going into politics. It could, therefore, be said that Jonathan knows the value of education for the development of society and that he is fully aware that, without education, there can be no meaningful development in such areas as physical infrastructure, power, agriculture, intellectual skills and such other attributes, generally referred to as society’s human capitals.

Although education is on the concurrent list, meaning that the responsibility is shared between the federal, state and local governments, basic education is constitutionally within the purview of the state government and local councils. Historically, in Nigeria, education, at all levels, has always been faced by challenges rooted in our colonial heritage. The educational system itself was part of a larger colonial package, introduced into the country by our erstwhile colonial C M Y

Water – So Important, So Ignored Energy, some of which could be generated from water, is crucial for sustainable industrial, commercial and social engagements.

The lackadaisical approaches to issues of water and energy are difficult to understand against the understanding of the general improvements they can make on lives, including creating jobs across industries and various enterprises. Nigeria’s situation is worse: we do not have drinking water.

Water defines some countries. Water is so important that nations have gone to war over it. Egypt and Ethiopia cannot do without the Nile. Their agriculture, electricity, and water for other daily affairs, draw from the river they share with Burundi,

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The linkages from the uses of the Nile affect both economic and social lives of their peoples.

The 6,650-km Nile, the longest river in the world, serves over 450 million people with more than 200 million of them depending directly on it for their food and water security.

Agreements on the uses of the Nile date back to 1902.

Our local communities are at war over dwindling water resources. The larger national picture is of urban areas with drinking water from unsafe sources and epileptic energy supplies. The hazards from such living, which is worse in rural Nigeria, are too ominous to be ignored.

Lamentations about the poor state of our energy and water infrastructure should stop.

We need to act, and quickly too. Government budgets for the sectors are so low that it is obvious they are not meant to solve the problems.

Profound solutions to Nigeria’s water and energy crises lie in more robust partnerships with the private sector and users.

OPINION Transforming the education sector masters. Due to a number of factors- cultural, social and political- its development was not uniformly spread to all regions or states of the federation. Consequently, there has been an imbalance in the education development of various parts of the country.

To tackle the imbalance in favour of those regions of the country that are educationally disadvantaged, there have been policies such as the federal character/quota system of admission and special interventions aimed at developing basic and tertiary education in such areas. Even in the so-called educationally advantaged areas of the country, access to education remains limited and inadequate.

Clearly, therefore, education will, for a long time to come, remain on the priority list of any administration that is genuinely committed to serving the people of this country.

Jonathan was already an educator long before he became a politician. His commitment to the education sector could, therefore, be said to be natural. Indeed, there has never been any government as committed to the development of education as that of Jonathan. Not only does education occupy a key position in his Transformation Agenda, remarkable achievements have already been recorded in less than three years since he assumed office.

It is easy to underestimate Jonathan’s achievements in the education sector, without an idea of the magnitude of the challenges he inherited. Estimates had it that in 2011, there were as many as 10.5 million out-of-school children roaming our streets, that a large number of the children took to hawking and

such other menial jobs for economic reasons and that the existing education institutions, both basic and tertiary, lacked the necessary teaching tools and equipment.

The statistics also showed, for instance, that out of the huge number of candidates seeking admission to the nation’s universities each year, only an average of 5.2% was able to gain access. What the figures show is that there has been an acute shortage of education facilities, skills and personnel in the Nigerian education system. It is, however, important to add that these problems have been due to years of neglect of the system at all levels.

Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda has, with equal intensity, been targeted at both the basic and tertiary sub-sectors of the education system. In addition to increased budgetary allocations, there have been special programmes and interventions, the results which have taken the sector to new heights. A few cases are worth mentioning: Under the Almajiri education programme, 125 day and boarding schools are being constructed in 27 states, while their equivalents, the Back-toSchool Special Vocational Schools in the South-East and South-South are being established, mainly to cater to the boy-trader in the two zones.

More importantly, special girl schools are also under construction in 13 states of the federation, in addition to some 100 Innovative Enterprise Institutions which have been licensed to provide alternative access to higher education through the acquisition of technical and vocational skills. The main goal of these intervention programmes is to reduce the 10.5 million out-of-school children. The overall

outcome of these interventions has been an increase in the enrolment into basic schools from 23 million in 2010 to 29 million in 2012.

At the tertiary level, the Federal Government has established 12 new universities (9 in the North, 3 in the South) to enhance access for thousands of candidates who seek admission into Nigerian universities annually. Jonathan deserves commendation for other interventions such as the Book Fund, the Presidential Special Scholarships for Innovation and Development, PRESSID, in which 101 beneficiaries are now undergoing training in 25 top universities in the world, and the sponsorship of over 7,000 lecturers of federal and state tertiary institutions for postgraduate (mostly PhD) training, home and abroad.

Another aspect of Jonathan’s transformation of Nigerian universities is his success in upgrading their modes of learning, through facilities, including a video conferencing system, centralised in the NUC, which is capable of connecting all the universities. Currently, 27 federal universities have been hooked to the system and connected to the wider world. It enables lecturers and students from all over the world share information and academic resources.

It is worth mentioning that the Jonathan administration recently earmarked the injection of N1.3 trillion into the Nigerian university system in the next six years to fund the revitalisation of infrastructure and key programmes that would revolutionise the nation’s universities. *Mr. Udumebraye, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

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Competency test: Teachers to file contempt proceedings against Edo govt

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—FOR going ahead with the competency test for secondary and primary schools in the state, despite a court order stopping same, counsel to Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASSUS, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, is to file contempt proceeding against Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahagbon.

Meanwhile, Edo State Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Washington Osifo, has described the assessment test conducted in the state by the Prof. Denis Agbonlahorled Assessment Committee as a success, saying that teachers who absented themselves from the test will have themselves to blame.

Although the exercise was marred by low turnout of teachers, the assessment test for public schools teachers was held on Saturday by the Edo State Government across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Afolabi, who spoke with newsmen, weekend in Benin, exhibited a photocopy of the receipt of an Edo State Government of a courier service with which an interim order granted by National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, restraining the state government from conducting the competency test or any other test, was purportedly said to have been served on the state Attorney General.

He said: “We are going to file contempt proceedings. We are aware that former Attorney General of this state went to prison for disobeying court order. So, if he goes ahead, we know the appropriate thing to do and the Attorney General will go to prison.

“We know the Attorney General of the state. I respect him, he cannot try it because he knows the law, he is a member of the Bar. If he tries it, it is prison straight, Oko prison and Benin prisons are

Oru, Oguma, others hail Uduaghan’s Vanguard award

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A cross section of Deltans, yesterday, described the Vanguard 2013 Personality award bagged by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, as well deserved, insisting that the governor will finish strong in 2015.

Those who spoke to Vanguard at the award ceremony held in Lagos, weekend, include Dr. Steve Oru, Olorogun John Oguma, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta and Mr Newworld Safugha.

On his part, National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South, Dr Steve Oru, said: “The award will spur Uduaghan to do more for Deltans. He is a hard working governor.

The award came because of the work he is doing in the state since he assumed office. I congratulate him.

He is a good ambassador of our great party.”

Olorogun John Oguma said: “Our governor started well and he will end well. Governor Uduaghan is one man that has the interest of the state at

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heart. He has transformed the entire state, building on the foundation laid by our former governor, Chief James Ibori.”

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on NDDC, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, said: “The award, without any equivocation, is well deserved. I can say so from authority, from a vantage point because I know what is going on in Delta State. I know how my governor, has taken the state to the next level of development.”

Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, on his part, said: “The award portends good things for us as Deltans. Delta State is now an investors' delight because of the peace and the low crime rate we are enjoying here."

On his part, Delta State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr Newworld Safugha, said: “The award is a testimony of the excellent work our governor, Dr Uduaghan, has been doing in Delta State. He has delivered the dividends of democracy to Deltans in the areas of infrastructural development, healthcare services, sports and peace and security."

there.”

On his part, the state Chairman, ASUSS, Mr. Charles Ifaluyi, reiterated the position of the union on the competency test and called on members to disregard any threat by the state government aimed at coercing them to write the examination, adding that there was an existing court order restraining the government and the Agbonlahor-led committee from conducting any assessment test in the

state for the teachers.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, had denied that the state Ministry of Justice was aware of an injunction restraining the state government from going ahead with the teachers’ assessment exercise.

He said: "There was nothing like a court injunction,” adding that he was glad that those who meant well for the children of the state participated actively in the test, noting that the exercise was

not to witch hunt, but to reform the educational sector.

According to him, “We are not aware of any order stopping the test. An attempt to get an order does not in itself translate to an order stopping the conduct of the test. As we all observed, the test held successfully in the three senatorial districts of the state. May be, some teachers felt it was not necessary, but those who saw the import of what the state government was doing participated.”

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OR now, it is still a whim per, not a bang. But the octave is beginning to rise. Nigerians are gradually, so it seems, coming to the realisation that politics of ethnicity and religion has done us more harm than good, and should be put away in the cooler.

I listened to a roundtable presentation by Nigerian teenage secondary school students drawn from schools in Abuja during the recently concluded Nigerian Economic Summit. It was shown on Nigeria’s premier news television channel, Channels Television on Thursday morning last week. The young men and women selected to feature on that programme made inspirational speeches, and one of them called for a new Nigeria where religion, tribe, “connections”, corruption and violence would no longer be used to identify our great country, Nigeria. Later that day, Kano delegates to the National Confer-

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Sidelining ethnicity and religion al purpose. I am sure you have read Aribisala. If you have not, then start today and check out back issues online. You will find it very good for your intellectual metabolism and psychic equanimity.

I remember when I wrote an article last year debunking the overvalued importance of tribalism in Nigerian politics. I postulated that even though we are first of all members of our tribes be-

Tribes and religions have failed all of us as weapons of political engagement; they are things that separate us; they make us hate one another; religion is a private affair; let it stay there

ence warned that tribe and religion must not be made the focal points of the confab. In fact, on the second day of the Conference before it was adjourned to resume today, the delegates had opted to sideline Christian and Muslim prayers, opting to go with the second stanza of our National Anthem, which is now termed our “national prayer”.

Let me mention also Mr Femi Aribisala, whose articles on his column in Vanguard have become the blunt and powerful sermons of a true nationalist. He has brought unconventional insights to wake up those who have been in ignorant slumber to the fact that Nigerians who are not members of our tribes, religions and regions are not the devils we paint them as. He is letting us know that Nigeria’s future greatness can only take place with all its constituent parts working together towards a common nation-

fore being Nigerians, in the sense that we are born that way, and will remain that way even if Nigeria disintegrates, Nigeria remains the most important factor in the life of every Nigerian. I said that Nigeria is so important that after God who created all of us, the next most important thing to us is Nigeria, not our tribes.

This assertion drew a lot of reactions. Few really agreed with me. A retired senior naval officer called my number and asked me to come and explain myself in his office. Some of my fellow Igbo people pushing for the restoration of Biafra called me a “Nigerian sellout”. The name-callers did not bother to engage the issue raised; which is that Nigeria, not tribe or even religion, is the most important thing in the life of a Nigerian. The proof is everywhere you care to look. Nigeria is our country; we have no other. I am not sure we want any other. Aribisala is right when

BY GIDADO YUSHAU SHUAIB

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S a student, I still have the fear of tomorrow after graduation if one could get a job or die while searching for non-existing vacancy.

In fact, as many have lately observed, we are now sitting on a time-bomb when millions are unemployed. A 2012 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics put Nigeria’s youth unemployment figure at 54 percent. This means one out of every two young people who should be gainfully employed is unemployed. That’s frustrating and scary.

Imagine over 693,000 applicants all over the nation chasing 4,500 jobs in the Nigeria immigration service , out of which 19 died at the test and hundreds fainted from stampede and exhaustion. They came looking for jobs, in a country that has mastered the art of hoarding jobs. They found death instead of the jobs. Many horrible pictures and videos from the incidents across the federation went viral. There is therefore a lot of condemnations over

says that Nigeria’s potential as a future world power will disappear if any section of the country goes away. Even those who are asking for Biafra or Islamic republic of Arewa (Boko Haram) were driven to their agitation only because Nigeria has not done well for itself and citizens.

Igbos, like other Nigerians, fought for an early end of British rule, not for them to have a separate country outside Nigeria. They were pushed to secession by feelings of insecurity occasioned by the bloody events of 1966/1970. The moment the country is fairly run, everybody will forget separatism and begin to love Nigeria.

Tribalism and religion are seriously overvalued because on their own, they have very little to offer us politically. But as weapons for battling for plum slices of the National Cake, they are not only potent, they are actually weapons of mass destruction. They are only used by the privileged political elite to blackmail Nigeria. Then, they share its proceeds. The common people being used as cannon fodder end up getting nothing.

Nigeria was doing fine in the fight towards independence in the 1940s and 1950s. The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, NCNC, under Dr Herbert Macaulay, and later on, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, was a party for all Nigerians. Under its platform, Igbos won elections in Yorubaland; Yorubas won election in the Eastern city of Port Harcourt, while a Fulani Zikist, Alhaji Umaru Altine, who originally hailed from Sokoto, won election to become the first Mayor of Enugu in 1952. Prof

Eyo Ita, emerged as the Head of Government Business in an Eastern Region dominated by Igbos.

But the road to nationhood was blocked when Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced what is now called “true federalism”, calling for a federal system that will be parcelled out to the tribes. His success in preventing the majority party in the West, the NCNC and its allies from assuming power, led to the use of tribalism by emergent elites to create new spheres of political influence for themselves. In the North, it was religion (Islam) that the Fulani ruling class riding on the back of the Hausa majority, used as their own instrument of political access and control.

Opium of religion Ironically, millions of commonman Muslims were rendered poor and destitute even though they are always fed the opium of religion and deployed to fight, kill and die for the few at the top to walk victoriously home with their babanriga pockets full of the spoils of the war.

It is a good thing that some of us are beginning to realise the foolishness of continuing with ethnicity and religion as instruments of political engagement in our country after a century of failed experiment It is time to lay them aside because as weapons, there is no way you bring them into the interplay of group interests without people getting hurt.

That tribalism and religion

OPINION NIS tragedy: Any hope for unemployed graduates? the exercise.

There are many questions demanding answers: How will the families of the victims be compensated? what is the future of our unemployed youths?

What is government doing to address unemployment in the country?

Government needs to recognise the plight of unemployed graduates and not waste time and money on issues that are not important to the development of this country. We are not unmindful of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan has rolled out a number of programmes to tackle unemployment, like YouWin and the SURE-P Scheme among others which are yet to provide the necessary infrastructure for their tenability. There is also a Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan, NIYEAP, which was launched under President Yar’Adua in 2009 but is stillborn. The efforts have been negligible

compared to the scale of the problems on the ground. Of course the Federal Government should not take all the blame for unemployment woes. The states and local governments must also take responsibilities on job creation.

Meanwhile, government at all levels should evolve a programme or a system that could be called YouthFund where it can provide grant or soft loans as capitals to youth to start up an enterprise. With such gestures the beneficiaries would be able to fend for themselves and reduce the rate of crime and other menace caused by idleness of the unemployed youths.

There is no big deal working with government as there are innovative schemes which youths could benefit from and become independent and render services to the society at large.

The youths should also take advantage of acquisition skills provided by the

were freely used during the runup to our independence could be understood. No group wanted to enter into independent Nigeria a slave of other tribes, and no region was willing to be caught disadvantaged. No one wanted to be second- or thirdrate after the British colonialists were gone. Unfortunately, it was precisely the struggle for supremacy among the tribes and regions that resulted in some tribes finding themselves on top only to be supplanted by other contending tribes in never ending circles of conspiracies. In the end, everyone got burnt out.

Even the North that was given the mantle of dominance by the British colonialists eventually lost steam and produced the largest quota of poor and destitute Nigerians in spite of their decades of political dominance.

Tribes and religions have failed all of us as weapons of political engagement.

They are things that separate us. They make us hate one another. Religion is a private affair. Let it stay there. Tribes of Nigeria are invaluable sources of cultural and social armament.

We should use them to preserve our rapidly dying languages, dialects and positive values that make us unique as Africans. Let us keep them out of politics.

We must emphasise things that unite us; things we share in common. From today on, let us unite around our political parties. Let us assert our constitutional rights. Let us affirm our Nigerianness and refuse anyone to deny us of it. Let us go to the National Conference to decide how we can reduce the cost of governance, defeat corruption, create job opportunities for our famished youth, put suitably qualified people to work for us and demand accountability and good governance. Let us give our children good education and make Nigeria a place we all can love; a home-sweet-home for all Nigerians – irrespective of tribe and religion. *Please go to our online edition and drop your comments, send SMS to the Glo number above or reach my mailbox. Thanks. ON.

government to be self-employed and contribute meaningfully to various sectors of the economy.

The unemployed graduates shouldn’t be over ambitious in the sense of wanting to make it ‘big time’ but they could start from any small-scale business to fend for themselves. By the way what is wrong in farming or driving a cab and even street cleaning for legitimate income. For sure, such jobs which some may considered odds are far better than robbery, prostitutions and criminal activities.

Meanwhile, considering the condemnations trailing the immigration recruitment exercise which resulted in the death and injury of some of the applicants, government should provide compensation for the families of the victims as well as reschedule the repeat of the exercise that could be easily done online. *Master Yushau-Shuaib is of the Mass Communication Department, Baze University, Abuja.

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TWO former presiding officers of the National Assembly, Senator Ken Nnamani and Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na`abba are delegates to the ongoing National Conference . Senator Nnamani served as Senate President from 2005 to 2007 while Na’aba was Speaker of

the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003. In two seperate encounters, the two men share their views and expectations from the conference among other national issues.

Why we need to dialogue — Nnamani

There's nothing to dialogue — Na'aba

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XPECTATIONS: I am an optimist and I think positively about our country particularly about this National Dialogue.

The difference between this conference and the one that was organised by the administration of former President O l u s e g u n Obasanjo is like the difference •Nnamani between night and day. The Obasanjo conference was really coated with sugar, but there were bitter pills inside it which by God’s grace we helped to puncture at the National Assembly.

However, I believe President Goodluck Jonathan has no hidden agenda with this conference. But if there is, people like us would puncture it. Based on my own observation, this Government means well. Do not compare apple and orange. What transpired in the

go through it again.

Death of Immigration Service Applicants I am quite sympathetic towards the relatives of the deceased Nigeria Immigration Service applicants.

How come we have degenerated to that level where we are now asking young graduates to pay for application forms and go to stand under the scorching sun in the open field?

I am more worried about what has happened especially because of what people in other I am sure the conference would parts of the world are thinking about address the issue of high level of our country. This is insecurity in the country. Any person because the photographs of who has experienced any type of those who lost their war would not ever want to go lives in that incident are now all over the through it again social media and past that led to the issue of third internet. My friends from the United term and all that is history. I am not States, England and so many parts sure any sane person would take of the world have been phoning me Nigerians on such a ride any more. to ask about what was going on in 1963 Republican Constitution this country.

I am not too sure that going back Everyday, the rest of the world is to re-adopt the 1963 Republican getting tragic stories about this Constitution is what we need now. country. This is a very difficult time But if there is anything good in that for all of us. We should be in a Constitution, we would not shy position to think positively and look away from borrowing from that. forward to better things ahead. Yes, Nothing should be jettisoned. we may have had conferences in the If there is anything you think is past, but that does not mean we good about that Constitution, you should stop holding conferences. could present it, then it would be I think that this conference would considered. make a difference; the government It is not good to go for a means well. It would be better for us conference of this nature with a preto use words and ballot papers and determined position. That is no more not weapons. dialogue because you have made up This is the reason why we need a your mind in advance. We need to dialogue. I think that the come forward with new ideas. government has taken the right On Insecurity in the land direction. All well-meaning I am sure the conference would Nigerians at home and abroad address the issue of high level of should pray for the success of this insecurity in the country. Any dialogue. person who has experienced any type of war would not ever want to

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of Nigerians who graduated from institutions of higher learning over 10 years ago who are still searching for jobs. Every year the number of graduates of higher institutions keeps increasing. We have to find creative ways of providing succor for our youths. We have to device a means to ensure that our graduates find employment immediately they complete their National Youth Service Corps programme. The economy must also be expanded.

•Na'aba On Insecurity in the Land XPECTATIONS: I don’t think there I believe that the insurgency is a function is anything that is seriously wrong of the way governance has been handled with the present constitution. Although, in this country. This is because the people our present constitution is not perfect, but are not involved and are not being carried it is enough to guide us. What we lack is along; there is a disconnect between the leadership. If we have the right type of Government and the people. leadership, our constitution would be able Even though those in government to guide us to anywhere we want to go. would say there is no such disconnect but Whatever system is adopted, nothing will the truth is that there is. If you analyse the situation very well, you What is confusing to many delegates will realize that this here is what are we here to represent? insurgency arose from the non-chalant attitude of Are we here to represent our various political office holders. For institutions only or are we to cross over instance, if you consider the conflict in some parts and represent our various regions of the North between the Fulani cattle rearers and work unless there is equity and justice. local farmers, it is all about grazing land.

There must be equity, justice, During the first republic, our leaders consideration, tolerance and acceptance. regarded the provision of grazing land as If these variables are in place, no Nigerian a national security issue. They never joked would talk about any negative thing as with it. All the cattle routes, were marked far as governance is concerned in this out and were well looked after year in, country. year out. Today, most of these cattle or You will agree with me that some of the grazing routes have been taken over by conferences we have had in this country farmers without bothering whether there had delegates that were elected by the are routes or no routes for the herdsmen people. Others had delegates that were to take their cattle. not elected by the people. This particular Ever since this situation arose, there has conference is one of those whose been no proper support for the National delegates were not elected by the people. Veterinary Institute, Vom which used to All the delegates here were either be responsible for the welfare of the appointed by the Federal Government, or herdsmen and the health needs of the nominated by professional bodies and cattle themselves. institutions which were selected by the These are some of the things the Federal Government.

Government must look at. I believe once What is confusing to many delegates these routes are restored, you would begin here is what are we here to represent? to see that the level of violence in the North Are we here to represent our various would subside. institutions only or are we to cross over The insurgents actually began recruiting and represent our various regions when members as a result of bad governance. issues concerning them arise? Are we here They began to recruit from the swelling to represent Nigeria? This is one of the number of unemployed youths in the issues a lot of delegates are finding North-East. They are very large in difficult to address. number. If you come to the North-West, it Death of Immigration Service is the problem of cattle rustlers that is Applicants pervasive. These cattle rustlers are mostly The issue of unemployment is a national people who have been disenfranchised. security issue in this country. The sooner They are not part of governance any more the Federal Government declares it as and they want to survive. such, the better. We have heard of cases

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STORIES BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014—49

Vanguard CLASSIFIED NWEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Nweke Emmanuel Ifeanyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Chidokwe Emmanuel Nweke Ifeanyi Chinonso. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Obu Ngozi Syliva, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Okonkwo Ngozi Syliva. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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IZU—I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Izu Mercy Omenebele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aniofime I Mercy Omenebele.

All former documents remain valid. General public and whom it may concern please take note.

YUNUSE— I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Imade Joy Yunuse, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Imade Clara Odigie Oshodin. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

known and addressed as Oche Esther Lucy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lucy Edet. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OUR L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

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What President Jonathan discussed with Pope Francis

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said Pope Francis has promised to visit Nigeria.

A statement from the president's office, however, did not give any timing for the proposed visit. It says they discussed poverty alleviation and inter-faith dialogue. The country's population is divided almost equally between Muslims and Christians and Catholics make up about a quarter of Christians, an estimated 21 million Nigerians. Many Christians belong to evangelical churches that have been winning converts from traditional churches.

Pope Francis has committed to travel to the Holy Land and South Korea in 2014 and said he wants to visit The Philippines and Sri Lanka in coming years.

His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, visited Africa twice.

UNIBEN honours Jim Adun

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HE member repre senting Egor/IkpobaOkha Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Jim Adun, has been described as a worthy representative of the people.

The assertion was made

by Comrade Osasere Osifo, President of the Students’ Union Government, University of Benin while presenting an award of excellence to the Federal Legislator at the Annual Students’ Lecture Series of the school.

He noted that Adun was a true grassroot politician who has positively impacted the lives of the people by his quality representation and patriotic legislative functions in advancing the course of national development, maintaining that he was one rare-breed politician who under-promised, but over-delivered on his electoral promises.

Some of the projects facilitated by Adun include the construction of the S&T Road, Uselu; construction of motorized borehole projects in Ward 6, 8 & 10, Egor L.G.A; Solar-Powered Street Lights at Adolor College Road; amongst others severally located also at Ikpoba Okha L.G.A. The award ceremony which held at the Banquet Hall of the University, March 16, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life including representatives of the Benin monarch; the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Osayuki Oshodi and members of the University’s Governing Council.

50 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY MARCH 24, 2014 — 51

Imoke promises best Sports Festival •Unveils 19th Sports Festival logo, mascot, theme song

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

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OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has assured Nigerians of the state’s resolve to deliver the best ever, National Sports Festival in the anal of the Games. The festival holds November 23 to December 7.

Speaking at the unveiling of the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival theme song, logo and mascot held weekend at the Venetian Arena, Calabar, Governor Imoke said the unveiling of the Festival logo, mascot and theme song marked the beginning of what would be a truly remarkable journey in the history of sporting events in Nigeria “as we steadily and excitedly march towards the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival tagged “The Centenary Games

– Calabar 2014”.

“Calabar 2014 will be a true celebration of all that is great about Nigerian sports as together, we aim to make this event a passionate and vibrant exhibition of the peace, serenity, heritage and generosity of spirit of the good people of Cross

River State, not neglecting the real and long-lasting legacy of the festival in form of the sporting infrastructure and the tangible sense of pride and fulfillment amongst the citizenry after a successful hosting of the festival” said Governor Imoke.

Osaze on target as Stoke sink Villa

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S A Z E Odemwingie continued his goalscoring form on Sunday with a 22 nd minute equaliser for Stoke in the club’s 4-1 win over hosts Aston

Villa at Villa Park.

Odemwingie’s left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.beat Villa’s goalkeeper. He was assisted by Peter Crouch with a headed pass.

Mikel: Chelsea want 17m euros from Inter Chelsea are demanding a whooping 17 million euros from Inter if the Italian club want the services of their Nigeria international, John Obi Mikel.

The fee for the player is high though – Chelsea want 17 million euros for the player but there is also a loan option.

Keshi Continues from BP hold on Tuesday, March 25 in Lagos.

The African Coach of the year, in a chat with HotSports, confirmed that he would be at the event as TomTom is one of the great brands behind the country’s football.

“I will be in Lagos for the TomTom Go To Brazil media launch God willing,” Keshi hinted.

He commended TomTom for its support for

Nigerian football through different initiatives. He maintained that the brand’s support to the country’s national teams, particularly the Super Eagles, has been a source of encouragement for them.

“I commend TomTom for its enormous support for the country’s national teams, particularly my team, the Super Eagles.

It is an encouragement to us. I urge the brand

to keep this up and I hope other companies would emulate this,” Keshi said.

The Big Boss who assured that he and his team would do their utmost best to perform well and make Nigerians happy at all times, harped on putting in place proper arrangement, planning and making the players comfortable as recipe for making the Super Eagles fly in Brazil.

Eagles Continues from BP because they have a very good squad with a lot of them in the Premier League and other top leagues.”

On the Super Eagles, the former England international asked, “what are Nigerians expecting from the team? How much pressure is on the Nigerian team? At times when expectations are high people get disappointed when the team fail to go far in a tournament. You need 12 very good players to win the

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World Cup.” Either for lack of adequate knowledge on the Super Eagles or lack of faith in the team, Palour could not say in specific terms how far the Eagles could go in the tournament.

He sympathized with Victor Moses over his bench role at Liverpool.

“With the way Sturridge, Sterling and Suarez are playing now, it is difficult to change the pattern. Moses should look for another club, a lower club where he could go

and rediscover his form before returning to a big club because at Chelsea, he would have the same problem as Hazard and others will make things difficult for him.”

He said Arsene Wenger needs to go to the market during the summer transfer.

“Wenger must buy big players to add to what he has. Happily, players like Carzola, Ramsy have penned down new deals. And we expect Ozil will come out stronger next season.”

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

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Not hosting to win

,

AST Friday I was in Calabar for the Unveiling of the Mascot, Logo, Theme Song and Web site of the 19th National Sports Festival rechristened the “Centenary Games” This event was significant in many ways. For one it was the official kick off of the Games and keen watchers were quick to assume and rightly too that its delivery could be a signpost of what the actual Games will be.

It turned out to be a well programmed one hundred and thirty nine minute event of three short and well delivered speeches, music, dance and colour.

The event venue itself was something to behold, decorated with memorable and historic pictures of Nigeria’s global sports exploits and role models.

After Deputy Governor Cobham, who is also Chairman of the LOC and the NSC DG had spoken, the Governor came out to enumerate the achievements of the State especially as regards the Support given to the NFF to win the Nations Cup, win the FIFA U17 World Cup and qualify the country to the FIFA Brazil World Cup. He told us about the unique sports development of his regime that has started bearing fruit already with the state winning all that is available at national youth competitions.

He said the Centenary Games should have as priority, fairness and integrity and that CROSS RIVER WILL NOT HOST TO WIN! I should have initiated standing ovation. I clapped and clapped. This was clearly a departure from the past, cut throat schemings, cheating, fraud.....you name. Then I remember a piece I wrote in this column in 2009. Permit me to reproduce it, because it is as relevant today as it was five years ago “ In a week’s time, all sports roads in this country will lead to Kaduna where the National Sports Festival KADA 09 is billed to kick off.

The festival means different things to different people. For some, it is an opportunity to get out of the dreary routine of sedentary office work that has become synonymous with our civil service. For others it has become a holiday of sorts fully paid for by tax payer ’s money.

There are also those who use the festival to feather their nests through award of emergency contracts and swindle sheets called budgets.

I have been told that in the next three weeks, commissioners of sports all over the federation will be the most influential government officials due to the power they will wield ,borne out of the funds they will control for the prosecution of the Festival.

Already, training tours have been undertaken, list of government delegations compiled and allowances approved for state contingents that sometimes number close to three thousand. Count yourself blessed if you are one of the favoured emergency contractors contacted to supply ceremonial dresses, kit the contingent or supply sports equipment.

Regrettably none of the above listed activities qualify the original concept of the Sports Festival which was first kicked off in 1973.

Immediately after the second All Africa Games the egg heads in the National Sports Commission met

He said the Centenary Games should have as priority, fairness and integrity and that CROSS RIVER WILL NOT HOST TO WIN!

,

to consider ways and means of enhancing sports in the country and decided to send a three- man delegation to Germany to understudy their sports festival.

On its return, the committee’s recommendations were summarized as follows:1] To promote mass participation in amateur sports from village level to the national level in all the states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to discovering talents.

2] To encourage the organization of amateur sports competitions throughout the country in order to raise the standard of performance.

[3] To promote and strengthen friendship among sportsmen and sports women throughout the country.

A critical look at the above recommendations will reveal a glorification of the Olympic dictum of Glory in Participation. Nowhere is cut throat competition emphasized. Nowhere is a win at all cost mentality enshrined. Today what we have is a far cry from the concept our predecessors bequeathed to us. Today friendship has taken the back bench as thugs have hijacked the festival supported by political appointees called sports commissioners.( Not all of them though. I can honestly count some thorough bred in their midst) Carreer sports administrators, technocrats ,have disappeared from the scene.

I must confess that I cannot put a finger on when the rot actually set in. when Kaduna first hosted in 1977, things were ok. Then, we had competitions in junior, intermediate and senior categories. By 1985 in Kwara the win at all cost syndrome had crept in.

As far back as 1990 Godwin Kienka wrote in his book “Sports Administration in Nigeria” that because of the relish for and emphasis on medals there were flagrant cheating in age declaration, resulting in fights over documentation. Medical personnel with responsibility to use the x-ray wrist test method to determine athletes who were past their teens were accused of taking bribes. Technical officials were also accused of biased officiating. The

appeal juries, even when there was overwhelming evidence came up with decisions that were based more on sentiments than on prevailing facts “ Nearly twenty years after, the situation has not changed. During the last festival in Abeokuta, journalist laid siege on the committee charged with the documentation of results. As late as 11 pm on some nights “ the latest medals table” had not been released.

The arrival of sports commissioners has only aggravated the situation as the success of such political appointees are now measured by the number of medals they are able to manufacture on the table. Before, it was cheating , falsification of records and bribery. Now the in thing is poaching, that fraud that allows you to buy and use an athlete from another state for the purpose of achieving vain and ephemeral glory.

It is only at a sports festival in Nigeria that desert Northern states will amass swimming medals while their riverine counterparts cannot even field athletes for such events. Such mercenaries end up moving from state to state, resulting in the mercantile posture of the festival far from the grass root development of same. Friendliness , fraternity and camaraderie which the festival was intended to engender throughout the nation has been abandoned.

Last week, I got a plank for this column when I read that the Governor of Edo state has warned his officials against what he called arrangee athletes.

Governor Oshiomole is quoted as saying that “ what they have been doing over the years is that when the national sports festival is coming, some state governments go and buy athletes to wear the state colours. I have said I am not going to do such a thing “It bothers on self defeat. You go and pay for a particular athlete to wear your colours for the purpose of a festival. Thereafter the young man or woman returns to his or her state. Who have you fooled?”

Hear ! hear! This interview was published by the Vanguard in its Thursday February 5 edition. I recommend it to all governors. Let Comrade Oshiomole table this issue at the next governors forum( will it come before the festival?) or can he summon an extraordinary meeting of the forum to table this issue which will ultimately lead to a solid foundation for our sports ? Let state governors start to take interest in the activities of their sports commissioners. Let them try to know who they are “ honoring “for bringing laurels to the state because as Comrade Oshiomole put it, … “ we will rather use that money to actually develop sports. We want to begin it right from primary school…..we will not deceive any body.

If in truth we are down now, let us work to try to regain our position. But we do not do that by going to procure or purchase sportsmen and women to win medals for Edo State. That is what they have done in the past. I am not going to do that now”.

Bravo sir. Bravo.

See you next week.

Eagles World Cup Watch N

•Mikel C M Y K

IGERIAN players in their European clubs Godfrey Oboabona: The former Sunshine Stars captain keeps his shirt at Rizespor as he was on from start to finish in his side played goalless draw at home to Eskisehirspor.

However, he was booked in the second half.

Joseph Yobo: He was on for the entire duration as

Norwich City beat Sunderland 2-0 to ease relegation fears.

Mikel Obi: He was a 75th minute substitute in Chelsea’s 6-0 demolition of city rivals Arsenal. He replaced David Luiz.

Raheem Lawal: He was on from start to finish for Eskisehirspor in a goalless draw at Rizespor in a Turkey Super League game.

Victor Moses: He was an unused substitute for Liverpool in a 6-3 win at Cardiff City. His lack of game time must be a source of concern for Eagles coach Stephen Keshi as the World Cup countdown continues.

Michael Emeramo: The big striker saw action for the entire duration as Karabukspor drew goalless at Antalyaspor.

Sone Aluko: He was a 61st minute substitute for Hull City in a 2-0 win over West Brom.

Shola Ameobi: He saw 14 minutes of action for Newcastle United as they pipped Crysal Palace 10.

Kenneth Omeruo: He was on pitch for 90 minutes for Middlesbrough, who fell 3-1 at home to promotion-

chasing QPR. Efe Ambrose: He was a 61st minute substitute as Celtic thrashed St.Mirren 3-0.

Obinna Nsofor: He was in action for 20 minutes for Chievo Verona who lost 2-0 at home to Roma.

Sunday Mba: He saw red while in action for CA Bastia at Tours in the French division 2. He lasted on the pitch for 34 minutes before he got the marching order.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014— 53

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54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 — 55

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VANGUARD, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

RESULTS Warri Wolves Medeama (Gha) Ismaïly Etoile Sahel AS Kigali How Mine Wadi Degla Spurs

Confed Cup 0 2 0 1 1 2 2

CA Bizertin Zesco Utd Petro Atletico SuperSport Difaâ El Jadida Bayelsa Djoliba

0 0 0 0 0 1 0

EPL 3

Southampton

2

2014 Brazil World Cup: Parlour unsure of Eagles Wolves draw at home, Parma Bologna Inter Sampdoria Udinese

•Advises Victor Moses to move on

BY JACOB AJOM

F

ORMER Arsenal star, Ray Palour has written off the chances of any African team making any serious impression at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Palour who was a member of the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ spoke in Lagos yesterday in a media chat organised by Airtel Nigeria. He spoke on a wide range of issues including the 6-0 drubbing Arsenal suffered in the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Asked about the fate of African teams in the forthcoming World Cup, Palour said:

“African teams have a lot of potentials, they have got the technique and a lot of skill. But it is going to be difficult for them because I believe a South American team will win it.

“Brazil have the brightest chance,” he said, adding, “they will have the support from the home fans and they are playing well.”

He also talked about the European teams.

“There are strong contenders also from Europe. Spain are good at the moment and Germany too are very strong and highly technical.

They stand a good chance. If there is any chance for an outsider, it is going to be Belgium Continues on Page 51

Serie A 1 1 1 5 1

Genoa Caglairi Atalanta Verona Sassuolo

1 0 2 0 0

Bayelsa lose away

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ARRI Wolves’ bid to win the CAF Confederations Cup yesterday suffered a big jolt when they were held to a barren draw by visiting Tunisian side, CA Bizertin at the Warri Township stadium.

In the first leg duel, which Wolves fans had thought their side were going to win convincingly, given their strong performance in the previous round, the team sadly failed to hit the right chord on home soil, thereby making the return leg in Tunis in a week’s time a rather herculean task.

Nigeria’s other representatives in the competition, Bayelsa United, had a rather bumpy ride in their first leg match away at How Mine of Zombabwe, where they lost 2-1.

Bayelsa will however feel confident of overturning the 2-1 deficit when the Zimbabweans come visiting next weekend at the Olleh Township stadium in Sapele.

Keshi storms Lagos for Tom Tom FLIGHT: Valentina Carjaval (R) of Colombia and Chinwendu Ihezuo of Nigeria battle for the ball in Costa Rica. Nigeria won 2-1

S

UPER Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, is among top dignitaries

that will grace the TomTom Go To Brazil media launch scheduled to

Continues on Page 51

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Ridge (5) 5 Decayed (6) 8 List (5) 10 Unfastened (6) 11 Between (4) 14 Tell (6) 15 Widespread (7) 18 Entrap (3) 19 Dance-style (3) 21 Deceased (4) 24 Nee (4) 27 Lair (3) 29 Lout (3) 31 Shining (7) 32 Sitting (6) 34 Pit (4) 35 Cold (6) 38 Liberated (5) 39 Score (6) 40 Poor (5)

DOWN 2 Manage (3) 3 Pitted (6) 4 Brown (3) 5 Back (4) 6 Laboured (6) 7 Guard (6) 9 Tardy (7) 12 Males (3) 13 Fruit (4) 16 Therefore (4) 17 Subsequently (5) 20 Expiation (7) 22 Related (4) 24 Hamper (6) 25 Wander (4) 26 Race (6) 28 Part (6) 30 Marshland (3) 33 Flout (4) 36 Bird (3) 37 Youth (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Unsafe 5, Spar 8, Yokel 9, Lee 10, Amen 11, Cost 12, Start 13, Abroad 16, Seen 18, Trap 20, One 22, Sat 23, Eel 24, Sign 25, Item 28, Deduce 30, Meant 32, Poor 33, Arid 34, Ace 35, Petty 36, Deed 37, Advent.

DOWN: 1, Unload 2, Swearing 3, Fracas 4, Contented 5, Secrete 6, Plot 7, Rite 8, Yes 14, Designate 15, Pal 17, Eat 19, Regulate 20, Oil 21, Entered 26, Mended 27, Resent 29, Sped 30, Mope 31, Try.

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: 01-4544821; 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.

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