Suicide bomber kills 5, injures 46 in Bauchi

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61716

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Suicide bomber kills 5, injures 46 in Bauchi •1,000 troops deployed in Damaturu

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, UMAR YUSUF, BALA AJIYA & SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI— A SUI CIDE bomber, yesterday, attacked the Saint John’s Catholic Church in Bauchi, opposite Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, killing four people and injuring Continues on Page 5

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Suicide bomber kills 5, injures 46 in Bauchi Continues from Page 1 46 others.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Hassan Mohammed Auyo, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard, said: “When a suicide bomber attempted to gain entrance into the premises of the church, he could not because of the barricade of the church. The suicide bomber then decided to detonate the bomb in the parking lot, killing himself and three others, while several others sustained injuries. The injured victims were taken to the hospital for treatment. A boy between the ages of six and eight died while receiving treatment” ASP Hassan added that two other policemen deployed to protect the church sustained injuries.

The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, Rev. Lawi Pokti, who narrated how the incident occurred said, “the incident occurred around 8.55a.m. when the first set of worshipers were coming out of the church and the second session was about to start. The suicide bomber came in an Opel saloon car but could not get through to

the church premises; so he hit the barricade at the gate and detonated his explosive device.

“He and three worshipers died while over 40 others were injured. Some of those injured are battling between life and death,” he said.

A worshipper, Mr Osondu Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that but for the barricade, the casualties would have been more. The sound was massive and you can imagine if he had succeeded in getting to the hall where service was taking place,” he said.

Mr Adamu Abubakar, the Secretary of the Nigeria Red Cross in Bauchi State, also confirmed to NAN on telephone that three persons died with the bomber.

“Three persons died and 48 others were injured. Those injured are now being treated at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi,” he said.

Tambuwal condemns bomb attack Reacting to the bomb attack, the Speaker of the House of Repre-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

"LITTLE did I realize when I started with a desire to add significance to others, that it would add significance to me! Now I understand. We should not receive anything without giving, and we cannot give anything without receiving." The truth is, your dream isn’t worthy of your life if it doesn’t bless others.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us — Albert Schweitzer

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CCORDING to a renowned philosopher Osho, life is divine. But the way to see it is first to enquire within. Unless you start feeling the source of light within yourself, you will not be able to see that light anywhere else. First it has to be experienced within one’s own being, and then it is found everywhere. Then the whole existence becomes so full of light, so full of joy, so full of meaning and poetry, that each moment one feels grateful for all that life has given, for all that he goes on giving.

Therefore, the most primary thing is to find your own centre. Once it is found, once you are centred, once you are bathed in your own light you have a different vision, a different perspective, and the whole of life becomes golden. Then life is so rich, so abundantly rich that one can only feel a tremendous gratitude towards existence. That gratitude becomes prayer.

sentatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, condemned the suicide attack, describing it as ignoble, wicked and horrendous.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker urged security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the violent act were brought to justice.

He said the gains recorded by the security agencies in their battle against terror in the country in recent weeks should be built upon in order to protect the citizens at all times.

While condoling with the victims of the blast, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be more prayerful and to provide useful information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and their sponsors, if any.

1,000 troops deployed to Damaturu Meanwhile, following confirmation that scores of Boko Haram adherents relocated to Damaturu to continue their bombing activities and use the anti-Islamic protests as pretext for violence, military authorities have deployed about 1, 000 soldiers and other security agents in Yobe State.

The deployment of the soldiers, according to JTF sources, came just as over 1, 000 persons were arrested by JTF along Maiduguri Road following intelligence reports of plans to unleash gun and bomb attacks on prominent citizens, communication facilities and churches in the state.

Vanguard was, however, told by some indigenes of Damaturu that 45 civil servants were among the over 1, 000 persons arrested by the troops alleging that efforts to identify themselves were brushed aside by the troops.

The action of the soldiers to go all out for suspects over the alert was said to have caused pandemonium along Maiduguri Road, which is the only area where commercial activities are said to be picking up following the onslaught of the insurgents in the

POCKET CARTOON

state.

Speaking on the arrests, spokesman for JTF in Damaturu, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, noted that the deployment of the troops comprising soldiers, antiterrorist squad and regular policemen, as well as others being expected, was to enable them subdue the insecurity and other challenges in the state. Vanguard learnt that the 1, 000 troops deployed to Damaturu were camped in Kukareti.

Senator accuses FG of fresh plot arms of government. to devalue Naira Enang, who described

BY SONI DANIEL, ASSISTANT EDITOR

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BUJA—BARELY four days after the Federal Government retreated on the introduction of N5,000 note, a lawmaker has accused the government of planning to further devalue the Naira, thereby causing more hardship for Nigerians.

Senator Ita Enang, who is the Chairman of Business and Rules Committee of the upper legislative chamber, told Vanguard in an exclusive interview, yesterday, that the Federal Government’s decision to raise the exchange rate of the Naira from the present N155 to N160 amounted to a direct devaluation of the Nigerian currency.

Enang, who last Wednesday moved the motion, asking the Federal Government to do away with the idea of the controversial N5,000 note, asked Nigerians to rise up against any further attempt to toy with the Naira, which, he said, has not been accepted as a legal tender by any other country of the world.

While describing the suspension of the plan to introduce the new note as a victory for the people, Enang warned Nigerians to be more circumspect so that the issue was not implemented when they might have relaxed thinking that it was over.

The lawmaker, who represents Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom on the platform of the PDP, said: “It does appear as if the Federal Government intends to

devalue the Naira directly by raising the exchange rate from N155 to N160 to a Dollar.

“I want to urge Nigerians to be more circumspect and urge Mr. President to think about it because no country trades with its own currency.

“If we allow it to go the way it is going now by effecting a N5 increase every year, the Naira would be going for N200 to a dollar in the next few years and that would be very disastrous to the economy and the citizenry".

The lawmaker warned the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to desist from embarking on measures that do not add value to the Naira and the Nigerian people in the name of restructuring.

He said: “The CBN should be more interested in maintaining the value of the Naira not the volume or shape of the note, because Nigerian currency is not being accepted in any other country of the world.

“What we should be more concerned with is how to shore up the value of the Naira and not the convenience of carrying it. They should retreat to work on strengthening the Naira".

On claims by Information Minister, Labaran Maku, that resolutions of the National Assembly were merely advisory and not binding on the Presidency, the Senator asked the minister to apologise to Nigerians for deliberately trying to cause a division between the two

Maku’s statement as unbecoming, unpatriotic and disappointing, asked the minister to realise that he is not a spokesman of an opposition party and that the legislature is not an opposition party but an arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria where he serves.

Enang said: “No minister should work as if he is a minister of the executive or minister of one arm of the government. And it is the legislature that screened and cleared him. He should know that the legislature is a part of the government he is working for and not an opposition party.

“It does appear that Maku is tired of working by attacking his employers, which is the Federal Republic of Nigeria that comprises the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.

"Maku’s statement is like attacking the judiciary and saying that its judgments are not binding and of no effect whatsoever. He should learn from those who failed and quickly learn how not to fall".

Mr & Mrs

6—Vanguard , MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Illegal detention: Court begins contempt charge against AGF, IGP

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI BUJA—FOLLOWING their alleged refusal to obey the order of an Abuja High Court directing that one Anthony Ekemini, said to have been illegally arrested, detained and tortured by the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, be taken to an orthopedic hospital for treatment over gunshot wounds, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation have been charged with contempt.

In the Form-48, which was the notice of the consequence of disobedience of court order, filed through his counsel, Mr Pius Ofolue, the applicant urged the court to go ahead and invoke its powers against the defendants.

Accusing the AGF and IGP of engaging in “executive lawlessness,” the applicant noted that the 1st respondent, being the Chief Law officer of the Federation and the 3rd respondent, charged with the responsibility of enforcing laws and regulations including orders of court, decided to ignore the instant court order dated July 21, 2012.

Ofolue lamented that despite the standing orders of the court, the respondents blatantly refused to take the applicant to hospital for treatment.

Ekemini, who is still in police net, had in the substantive application he filed with a view to enforcing his fundamental human rights, sought an order compelling the

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COMMISSIONING—From right: Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and his wife, Ekaete Unoma during the commissioning of the second underground pipe jacing drainage system at Abak, Akwa Ibom State, weekend.

2012 budget: Okonjo-Iweala brokers deal with lawmakers ...secures December deadline for full implementation

BY SONI DANIEL, ASSISTANT EDITOR BUJA—THERE were indications last night that the National Assembly might be favourably disposed to extending the deadline for the full implementation of the 2012 budget to the end of the year.

By implication, the lawmakers were no longer in the mood to impeach the President over the poor implementation of the budget at the end of this month.

The swing in the attitude of the lawmakers, it was learnt, stemmed from what some of the lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives described as 'an encouraging implementation report’ presented by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to a close session of the two chambers’ committees on Finance and Appropriation last Thursday.

The Minister, who is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, had met for over four hours with the Ahmed Muhammad Maccido-led Senate Committee on Appropriation, as well as Chairmen of other strategic committees in the National Assembly to brief them on the progress on the 2012 budget and consider the 2013-2015 Medium Term Fiscal Framework.

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A source at the meeting told Vanguard that they were satisfied with the progress so far made since the impeachment threat was issued against the President two months ago.

The lawmaker pointed out that based on what the minister presented to them; they were tempted to give the Federal Government up to the end of the year to fully implement the budget.

He said: “I can say that from the mood of our members they were convinced that at least some milestones have been made by the Executive since we gave them the ultimatum over the budget.

“In reality, we have decided to give them up to the end of the year to implement the budget as passed because in the first place we reasoned that it would not be possible to implement the budget in full at the end of September.

“What we did was like a wake-up call on the government to do something about the budget and it has really moved them into action in the interest of the Nigerian people". a lawmaker at the meeting said, “during the meeting, the Minister of Finance pleaded with us to remember that the budget was passed in April and that it would be improper to give a September deadline to the government and we think that she made a point there.

“It is necessary to give them the benefit of the doubt to do something before the end of the year."

It was learnt that the sum of N700 billion had so far been released by the ministry to the MDAs and that over N300 billion had been used.

The lawmakers, however, insisted that they had to undertake an urgent inspection of the said projects for which money had been released to ascertain the level of progress made before giving the Presidency a clean bill of health.

“We want to ascertain if

indeed the said amount of money has been released to the MDAs and to find how far the money has been utilised", he said.

In July, the lawmakers had given the President up to September ending to fully implement the budget or face its wrath before proceeding on a two-month vacation.

The unprecedented threat, coming from a legislature dominated by the President’s partymen rattled the government and triggered series of interventions, which analysts believe have finally paid off.

respondents to pay him N190million as compensation for breaching his fundamental rights, with an apology.

Besides, he also sought an order compelling the respondents to pay N60million as damages for personal injury, loss of amenities of life, permanent disability and incapacity of his leg as he was shot on the foot while in the custody of the respondents.

He also sought an order compelling the respondents to pay N50million as aggravated and exemplary damages for torture and inhuman treatment in the respondents’ custody.

In a 19 paragraph affidavit deposed to by his lawyer, Ofolue, he averred that “the applicant is in detention awaiting trial at Kuje Prison and as such he is unable to depose to this application, that I have the consent and authority of the applicant to depose herein as below.

“That he came to Abuja on the invitation of his friend, one Godwin Edet and Mr. Edward to join them in a political rally in support of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the 2011Presidential election on the promise that he would be monetarily compensated for his support.

“That unknown to him it turned out to be a trumped up charge of kidnapping by agents of the respondents, who arrested him along with his friend Edet. That on being arrested he informed the police officer of his mission that he is a fish farmer on the AkwaIbom Youth Empowerment Programme.

FCTA, land owners on war path over ground rents

BY SONI DANIEL, ASSISTANT EDITOR

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BUJA—ALLOTTEES of unserviced plots of land in the Federal Capital Territory are angry with the Federal Capital D e v e l o p m e n t Administration, FCTA, over the imposition of annual ground rents.

The grouse of the allottees is that it is illegal for the administration to collect ground rents in districts not yet developed. They have vowed to take actions to seek redress without delay.

Findings by Vanguard

revealed that the imposition of ground rents on unserviced plots of land is a new revenue generating measure introduced by the current Minister of the FCDA, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Before his appointment

by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, FCDA only collected ground rents on completed buildings in developed districts such as Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, Garki, Jabi and Utako.

According to our investigation, the FCDA has already given notices to allottees of plots in Katampe, Orozo, Karishi, Gaduwa, Kabusa and Kuje

districts, which are yet to be provided with roads and other infrastructure, to pay ground rents or face penalty.

By implication, none of them will have access to the plots for which they are being taxed until the FCT is able to open up those places and provide roads, water, electricity, road network, drainage and sewage.

Similarly, approvals required by any of the allottees to build and move into their property in the unserviced districts cannot be given by Development Control, an agency of the FCT, until infrastructure are

provided by the ministry.

In text messages sent to allottees through the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS, the administration warned the affected allottees to pay ground rents on or before the end of September this year or risk being penalised.

One of the messages dispatched to a plot owner in Katampe District, which is yet to be provided with access road and other amenities, read, “Dear FCT land owner, your outstanding ground rent bill is ready. “You are advised to settle same on or before 30/09/12 to avoid penalties".

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 — 7

PILGRIMS: Pilgrims boarding for Saudi Arabia for the 2012 hajj at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, weekend. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

IDC condemns dissolution of DESOPADEC board

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TSEKIRI Development Congress, IDC, has faulted the dissolution of the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. IDC said the last board had “hit the ground running,” adding that frequent dissolution calls to question the selection process.

In a statement by Mr. Emma Okotie-Eboh and Mr. Iwetan Solomon, IDC Chairman and Secretary, respectively, the group said they were at a loss as to the meaning of “lack of performance” for which the board was dissolved.

It said: “We believe that the capability of each of the board members was ascertained before they were picked. If, therefore, the boards are continually dissolved because of lack performance, then it is an

indictment on the selection process.”

IDC listed the achievements of the recently-dissolved board to include addressing the issue of over-staffing, localising the finance of each ethnic group according to quantity of oil produced and streamlining of payment of staff salaries, which had lightened the commission’s budget and optimised human resources.

It added that the board had also raised the confidence of financial institutions on the commission.

IDC contended that “the law setting up the Commission does not grant the power to dissolve the board to the state House of Assembly.

They can only call on the governor to do so.”

Killings: Clerics urge FG to hold govs responsible

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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ATIONAL President of Christian Association of Nigeria Youth Wing, YOWICAN, Pastor Simon Dolly, and the Bauchi State chairman, Pastor Simon Samuel, have challenged the Federal Government to hold state governors responsible for religious violence in their domains.

Reacting to the news of the killing of four persons at the St. John Catholic Church, Bauchi, yesterday morning, by a suicide bomber, they argued that since the governors are the chief security officers of their respective states, they should be held accountable for any security breach.

A suicide bomber attacked St. John Catholic Church at about 9.00am C M Y K

with an explosives-laden car while the second Mass was about to start in the North Eastern city of Bauchi, yesterday. Two people were killed with 46 injured.

In his reaction, Pastor Dolly condemned the latest in a series of attack on the church, noting that the Federal Government, Bauchi State government and indeed all the state governors must be more proactive in tackling the current menace.

Also reacting, Rev. Samuel, who put the number of casualty at four with 46 injured, called on all Christians in the country to rally round the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, leadership which had declared a three-day fasting and prayers for peace in the nation.

DEVT CONFAB: From left— Dr. Wiebe Boer, CEO, The Tony Elumelu Foundation; Ms. Nneka Okekeani, Deputy Director, Entrepreneur Development Centre, EDC; Mr. Tony Elumelu, Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Guest Speaker at the occasion; and Mr. Peter Bankole, Director, EDC, at the EDC Annual SME Convention in Lagos, last Friday.

PIB's lopsided, unattractive — Shell

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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HE Shell Group has declared that the draft Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, before the National Assembly, is not only lopsided, but will also frustrate current investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and impede on the ability to meet set targets on power generation.

Shell’s declaration contradicts widely held belief that the PIB is tilted very much in favour of the international oil companies, IOCs, who, for decades have dictated the tone of the industry operations.

The Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, made the declaration at the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, PIB Stakeholders Forum, which ended in Lagos on Friday.

Sunmonu, breaking his silence on the bill for the first time, said: “As it stands right now, the PIB will render all deepwater projects and all dry gas projects— whether for domestic or export markets— non-viable.

“The opportunities I have just outlined will be lost. And the opportunity to monetise some of the world’s best gas reserves will be lost. The opportunities to kick-start the power sector— the key to economic growth— using easily accessible gas will also be lost.”

In the area of gas for instance, he said the gas should be used to regenerate the power sector to provide reliable electricity for industrial growth.

“If the PIB does not encourage the development of the domestic gas market, none of this will happen and the consequences are almost unthinkable,” he added.

Speaking specifically on the fiscal provisions of the petroleum legislation, the Shell boss argued that “the PIB needs to address long term industry issues; for example, funding issues for Joint Ventures, JVs, where funding requirements have constrained production growth.”

Sunmonu, who spoke on Investors Perspective on the PIB, noted that as desirable as having a strong national oil company is, it has to be one that can compete favourably.

He said: “Any national oil company has to partner positively and, again, has to compete with those elsewhere that are also seeking external investment. NNPC

has got to be able to fund its share of JV costs if it is going to attract such external investment and partnership.”

He recalled that the industry for many years had suffered huge losses on account of militancy and restiveness in the Niger Delta, which operators have not recovered from and should be taken into consideration.

Seeks balanced legislation

The Shell boss further maintained that in spite of the issues generated by the PIB, what is required by the industry players is a bill that will “create a level playing field— one that is fair to all investors— big, small, new or old.”

He said the bill should also provide “sufficient incentives for new investment to fuel growth,” adding that “it is impor-

tant to take local business challenges in Nigeria into consideration as well as the impact on existing investments made in good faith at current legal and fiscal terms.”

Against this background, Sunmonu insisted, “ what we have seen of the draft PIB to date does not indicate a bill that fits these criteria. And this is the opinion not only of the major players in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, but, as I mentioned earlier, industry analysts as well.

“What we have seen and what we know of the current draft PIB requires significant improvement to secure Nigeria’s competitiveness, and attract the required level of investment to enable exploration to increase Nigeria’s reserves and then foster development of the projects to monetise them.”

NUT begins strike over TSS

BY DAYO ADESULU

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S students in public schools resume from their long vacation today, pupils of 18 states are expected to meet their school gates under lock and key even as Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, embark on indefinite strike today over payment of 27.5 percent Teachers Salary Structure, TSS. Speaking with Vanguard in a telephone chat, Chairman, Lagos State chapter of NUT, Mr. Samson Idowu, restated the commitment of the union to proceed on indefinite strike today adding, “since Lagos State government failed to meet the deadline, there is no going back on the strike slated for Monday.”

Some of the affected

states, that are yet to pay the 27.5 percent TSS include, Lagos, Abia, Cross River, Katsina, Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi, Enugu, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara.

However, it was learnt, yesterday, that Ondo State chapter of NUT may not participate in the strike slated for today on the ground that the political opponents of Labour Party will want to seize the opportunity of the strike to campaign against the ruling party in a move calculated to unseat the incumbent governor during October gubernatorial election.

According to a source close to the state NUT, who does not want to be named: “I doubt if the NUT in Ondo State will comply with the

national president’s directive to declare industrial action in the state as we have not been officially informed of the strike, which commences tomorrow (today) in the 18 states that defaulted in paying teachers their TSS.” The source said that the reason why the strike may not hold in the state was due to the fact that the state NUT chairman is from the same place with the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

Teachers in 18 states of the federation are proceeding on indefinite strike over non-payment of 27.5 percent TSS as agreed in 2008, during the late President Yar’Adua’s administration.

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Presidency cautions against threat to impeach Jonathan

MR & MRS EMERHOR RENEW VOWS

zStoppage of N5,000 note temporary zSays Office of the Presidency deserves respect

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE F e d e r a l Government, yesterday, warned politicians against overheating the polity, just as it stressed that the unrelenting threats of impeachment against President Goodluck Jonathan should be handled with caution and maturity.

The Presidency also said though criticisms were good for democracy, the office of the President must be respected, adding that the issue should not be who occupies the office, but the office itself.

Speaking with newsmen, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, however, called for dialogue between the executive and legislature on the controversy over the unassented bills and non-implementation of resolutions.

Okupe who admitted that the National Assembly has the power to impeach the President, but not at the slightest provocation, said if democracy must succeed in Nigeria and interest of Nigerians put at heart, there must be understanding.

It will be recalled that the Senate last Thursday raised alarm over nonimplementation of resolutions and the president not assenting to bills and threatened that it might result to impeachment.

War ns against overheating the polity The Presidential aide who explained that the directive from the presidency for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to halt further proceedings on the proposed introduction of N5,000 notes was merely temporary, stressed that the move was to enable the CBN carry out the necessary enlightenment

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campaign. He added that the period would also allow for those who disagreed with the proposal to agree.

According to him, “the President only said the action should be stopped for now.”

Appeals for moderation in criticisms Okupe, who accused the opposition political parties as the mastermind of the fuel crisis protest, said, “the conflicts between President Jonathan and the National Assembly over the unassented bills and non-implementation of resolutions are not peculiar to Nigeria. But the attempt to always threaten the President with impeachment is not in the interest of democracy. In the United States with its history of over 200 years of democracy, only President Johnson was impeached in 1868, while President Bill Clinton was only impeached by the House of Representatives. The threat of impeachment to President Jonathan is too rampant.

Dialogue, understanding “The intentions of the National Assembly and the President are the same, but in the process, there arose some conflicts. Our appeal is that there should be moderations. There is need to allow the temperature of the polity to calm down. We must ensure that it does not lead to strangulation in the polity. The legislators have the power to impeach the President, but not on every disagreement.

“If the President has not signed the bills passed by the National Assembly or implemented the resolutions, there must be some reasons lingering in his mind. It is better to err on the side of carefulness than to commit an error that

would cause great crisis in the country”.

Opposition parties not fair to Jonathan Okupe who called on the National Assembly to embrace dialogue, said there was nothing personal in the President not signing the bills and implementing the resolutions of the National Assembly, noting that “the President has not signed the bills is not an act of neglect by the President against the National Assembly, but there is need for the President to consult widely before signing such bills”.

From left: Olorogun Oghenetega Emerhor and his Wife Rita, during the 25th wedding anniversary thanksgiving and renewal of marital vows at Ikoyi Baptist Church, Ikoyi, Lagos on Saturday. Pix: Bunmi Azeez

Disgrees with Soyinka, Bakare on comments He also commented on Professor Wole Soyinka’s assertion that President Jonathan was suffering from bad conscience over the Lagos fuel subsidy riots, said, “It is wrong for Prof. Wole Soyinka to say that the President is suffering from bad conscience. If he was, he would not have stopped the printing of the N5,000 notes. It is equally wrong for Pastor Tunde Bakare to say that what the President said could be summarized as Bunkum, which means rubbish. This is not fair.

Today, Jonathan is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any other person could be President after him and therefore there is the need to accord respect to the office of the President.”

On those that sponsored the fuel crisis in January, he said President Jonathan was referring to opposition political parties that are masquerading as civil rights activists, adding, “people being referred to by the president are those that competed with him and those who want to bring the Arab Spring Revolution to Nigeria”, explaining that it was some disgruntled politicians who were behind the crisis.

From left: Onajite Emerhor, Orerhime Iwuagwu and Ufuoma Emerhor, the chidren.

From left: Brig-Gen. Dominic Oneya (rtd), Maj-Gen. Patrick Aziza (rtd), and Chief Tuesday Ologe.

Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012—9

L-R: Austin Ufomba, Marketing Director; Seeni Adetu, Managing Director; Lisa Nichols, Commercial Director; and Sola Oke, Marketing Manager, Innovation; all of Guinness Nigeria Plc, during the launching of their latest product in Lagos, last Saturday.

TSS: Parents beg Lagos teachers to shelve strike

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG with agency reports

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AGOS — Parents of pupils in public schools in Lagos State at the weekend appealed to teachers in the employment of the state government not to embark on strike today as they threatened.

They said that although the teachers had a good reason to embark on the strike, they should explore other ways of pressing home their demands for the sake of pupils and students.

Reports say that the teachers are planning to go on strike to protest the failure of the government to implement the Teachers Salary Scale (TSS) approved in 2008.

The TSS means a 27.5 per cent increase in teachers’ salaries.

Mr. Samson Idowu, Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, noted that 17 states had implemented the TSS, and expressed dissatisfaction that Lagos State is yet to effect the payment.

“We are appealing to the teachers not to embark on the strike. We have had too many strikes in the past; these strikes have caused so much damage to our public school system," Mrs. Ramotu Adeleke, urged.

Another parent, Mr. Tajudeen Sadiq, whose child attends the Community Primary School, Ipaja, was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria as saying that the strike was ill-timed.

He noted that pupils and students were expected to resume C M Y K

school today, after a long holiday.

Meantime, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, through its secretary,Chinedu Bosah,weekend in Lagos, condemned the deliberate refusal of some state governors to implement the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Scale, TSS, enhanced pay as it will not augur well for industrial peace in the educational system.

L-R: Mr. Rasheed Rotimi Tijani, Vice President, Proteocell Biotechnologies, Canada; Dan Akpovwa, CEO and Publisher, The Abuja Inquirer Newspaper; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President and Bolaji Okusaga, Managing Director of The Quadrant Company, Lagos, during the CEO Institutional Investment Summit organized by Africa Investor Magazine, at the New York Stock Exchange last week in New York, USA.

Who killed this engineer, 5 days after wedding?

BY EVELYN USMAN

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ONTROVERSY weekend, trailed the killing of a 36-yearold engineer last Thursday on Oworoshoki Expressway, following accusation by an eye witness that he was allegedly shot by a policeman.

But in a swift reaction, the Lagos State Police Command said the

deceased, Ugochukwu Ozuah, was shot by armed robbers.

The Command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, who described the eye witness’s claim as false, said the Command had begun investigation into the killing, with a clue about the vehicle used by the killers.

The late Ugochukwu as gathered, wedded the

Passengers scramble for seats as Arik Air resumes operations

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

H

UNDREDS of passengers were seen on long queues yesterday trying to buy tickets to board the available flights of Arik Air at the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, Lagos.

The resumption of Arik Air flight operations yesterday came few days after the crisis between the airline and the various aviation unions under the auspices of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, was amicably resolved by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Pius Ayim Pius on Saturday.

Vanguard gathered at the terminal that most of the passengers got to the airport very early to allow them buy tickets for flights to their various destinations for the day.

One of the passengers, Mr. David Johnson

e x p r e s s e d disappointment for not being able to secure a seat on Arik Air flight for 3:00p.m. and 5:00p.m. flights to Abuja.

According to him,”I was told that all the flights to Abuja for 3:00p.m. and 5:00p.m. were fully booked and the only available flight to Abuja for now is 7:00p.m., I really need to be in Abuja before 6:00p.m. The funny thing is that I even have an Aero Contractors ticket which I ought to have used to Abuja but I got to the counter 30 minutes before boarding

and I was told that they had closed the counter.”

Another passenger who pleaded anonymity said she had to come to the airport yesterday to ensure that she prepared properly for her flight to Yola scheduled for 11a.m. tomorrow.

She said; “I know that the flights for Monday will be fully booked and I don’t want to take that risk by coming tomorrow morning because I don’t want to be stranded. The airline normally gives preference to those passengers who missed their flights during the crisis period”

previous Saturday, precisely five days before he died. He was said to have gone to drop off a friend identified as Erikefe Omene at a nearby bus-stop about 10pm. when the unexpected happened.

Omene told policemen at Anthony Division that on arriving UPS Bus-stop in his friend’s Honda CRV, along Oworoshoki Expressway, another vehicle pulled up at the same spot.

He stated that before Ugochukwu could lock his door, a policeman approached him and asked who he was, alleging that before Ugochukwu could explain, he was shot dead.

According to Omene, "Ugochukwu was my friend. I left his OkeOlowo Estate abode at about 10p.m. that fateful day.

“On getting to the expressway, another vehicle, with an ash-blue colour also stopped to drop someone. Then, some policemen approached the parked car.

“As he was about to shut his door in order to help me flag down a taxi, one

Late Engr.Ozuah of the policemen asked him a question and "before we could respond, he shot at him.

"The occupants of the vehicle that stopped ran to where I was behind Ugochukwu’s car, and I escaped to the estate to alert members of his family,” Omene stated.

Members of his family including his wife, Joan, reportedly rushed to the scene, where Ugochukwu was found in the pool of his blood. By then, some policemen from Anthony division were there.

Ugochukwu was thereafter, rushed to the hospital where unfortunately, the only surviving son of his family, was confirmed dead.

Fayose again begs for forgiveness

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has again pleaded with those he might have offended or crossed their paths while he was in the saddle as the number one citizen of the state, to forgive him. He added that he

had forgiven those that offended him at one time or the other.

Fayose was speaking at his Afao Ekiti country home yesterday at an elaborate reception organised for his readmission to PDP, having been granted waiver by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur - led National Working

Committee.

Fayose asked that all members of the party work together as a team to wrest power from the Action Congress of Nigeria-led government.

The reception witnessed massive turnout of party leaders and admirers from the 16 council areas of the state, including two members of

Board of Trustees, Senator Clement Awoyelu and Chief Dayo Okondo, the state chairman of the party, Chief Makanju Ogundipe and the immediate past chairman of the party, Chief Bola Olu Ojo and a host of others.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) bidding farewell to top government officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on his way to New York for the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

Why NBA named hqtrs after Akeredolu—ACO

A

KEREDOLU Campaign Organisation, ACO, said, weekend, commitment, integrity, honesty and dedication to duty were listed as the reasons Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, named its national headquarters after Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the October 20 election in Ondo State.

Akeredolu was the former President of the Association.

A statement, yesterday, by

Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, ACO’s Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, quoted the immediate past President of NBA, Mr. Jacob Daudu, who inaugurated the house before he left office as saying: “It was the commitment, integrity, honesty and dedication of Akeredolu that made the entire body of NBA to name the building after him.

“Besides, he carried out a lot of reforms, fought for the common good of Nigerian lawyers and the record is there for everybody to see.”

Amosun tasks Customs on accidental killings

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—GOVER NOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has challenged men of the Nigeria Customs Service, NSC, to improve on their relationship with people of the state, especially those at the border areas.

He warned them to guide against indiscriminate killings, promising to collabo-

rate with the command to discourage smuggling.

Amosun, who received the new state Comptroller of NCS, Ade Dosunmu, in his office in Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, spoke against what he described as senseless killings of residents and traders around the border towns in the state by custom men while chasing smugglers in the area.

Osun PDP raises alarm over mining licence

O

SUN State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the state government of commencing the process of selling the state’s solid minerals mining licence to some leaders of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, based in Lagos.

PDP, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, said: “We are not surprised at the latest move

by Ogbeni Aregbesola to

sell our assets because the last time he sold several hectares of land in Osun State to Lagos State government, people said PDP was crying wolf. But we will not be deterred in exposing this government as an expansion of Tinubu’s asset.

“Osun State, under Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, applied for and was issued a mining licence by the Bureau of Public Enterprises which conducted the bidding sessions.”

WORKSHOP: From left— Senator Ben Obi, Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs; Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Chairman of the occasion, and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, and special guest of honour, at the sensitisation workshop for Ondo State political parties and stakeholders for the 2012 gubernatorial election in Akure, weekend.

Ondo guber: Jega talks tough

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—CHAIRMAN of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has warned all the candidates of political parties in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State against heating up the polity with aggressive languages, threats and other forms of intimidation before, during and after the elections.

Prof Jega spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital, at a sensitisation workshop for political parties in the governorship elections organised by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi. Speaking through a Commissioner in Charge of Political Parties, Hajia Amina Zakari, Jega said politicians should beware of the electoral law that is against violent conduct and the use of violent languages.

The Chairman said the political parties Code of Conduct 2010 commits all political parties to peaceful conduct at all times before, during and after elections.

He said the commission “is most concerned when the electoral environment is over-heated by aggressive languages, threats and other forms of intimidation before, during and after the

elections.

“These do not augur well for all the contestants, the voters as well as the political and electoral system at large. Such an atmosphere also generates and inevitably creates situations that not only leads to threats to life and property, but could also impact negatively on the credibility of the election.”

According to him, while the commission builds confidence amongst stakeholders, politicians should equally begin to deepen the culture of tolerance in the political and

electoral process in the country.

He said: “We can then look forward to situations when violence and intimidation of the electorate will be firmly put behind us and where electoral outcome are not just free, but are freely accepted by all.”

Senator Obi said President Goodluck Jonathan was committed to free and fair elections towards consolidating the nation’s democracy. He said politicians should ensure a crises-free election on October 20 in the state.

Governor Olusegun

Mimiko, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said free and fair election would strengthen the nation’s democracy and should not be compromised.

He appealed to INEC to not only be an unbiased arbiter, but should be “evidently seen as clean in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State.”

Governorship candidates of the 13 political parties, stakeholders and political party’s chieftains, who were in attendance, agreed to work together for a free and fair election.

Ajimobi betrayed me— Tokyo

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN—THE courtreinstated Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a.k.a. Tokyo, said, weekend, Governor Abiola Ajimobi reneged on his pre-election promise to reinstate him as the authentic Chairman of the union.

He said he was backstabbed by the governor, who had given him assurance that if he stood by him during the election, he would ensure that the court order that recognised him as the authentic leader of

the union would be implemented without delay.

Tokyo, who was speaking on a private radio station monitored in Ibadan, also clarified that he did not belong to any political party but that he mobilised his men to vote en masse for him because of the situation at hand then.

Reacting to a statement purportedly issued by the national leadership of the union, extending the tenure of the 14-man caretaker committee of the union, he said commercial drivers in the state should disregard the information and henceforth stop giving money to

the committee.

He said: “The false statement of the committee was allegedly issued after the national leadership of the union at Abuja refused to grant their request for extension of their illegal tenure based on the existing litigation in court.”

Akinsola showed the court order that forbade the police from arresting or harassing him. The document which had the stamp of the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and dated 19 September 2012, acknowledged the receipt of the court order.

Mimiko vows to revive Ondo ailing industries

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, LP, weekend, continued in his election campaign, promising better days ahead if re-elected in the October election.

Mimiko assured the people of the state of his determination to revive the ailing industries and establish more with a view to providing jobs for the people and boost the state’s economy.

Speaking in Ose Local Government Area of the state, he assured the people of the area of resusci-

tating the Ifon Ceramic Industry, which had become comatose.

According to him, steps had been taken to revive the moribund industry by his administration, adding that foreign technical partners had been brought in and works were on. He assured that the company would

begin production as soon as constant electricity supply to the company was provided.

Mimiko equally assured that there would be establishment of more industries in the state that would take youths off the streets in his second term in office.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012—11

Nonagenarian installed Okpako Orere of Okere-Urhobo

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ARRI—A 94-yearold former Head of Department of Nigerian Army Base Workshop, Yaba, Lagos, Pa. Dickson Eburu, has been installed the Okpako Orere (Head) of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The event attended by elders of the Kingdom, opinion leaders, among them, George Eburu, Alex Eda and political bigwigs such as Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Special Duties, Mr. Matthew Poko- Opuoru, immediate past Leader of Warri South council, Mr. Sunday Agu-

Pa Dickson Eburu, the Okpako Orere of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, during his installation, weekend.

Delta lawmaker's wife abducted

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

Bakassi monarch to Jonathan: Let W my people go

& FESTUS AHON

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

P

ARAMOUNT lead er of Bakassi, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan demanding that Bakassi should be freed from all contracts and obligations with Nigeria since the latter had failed in its primary constitutional role to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria or uphold the oath of office to protect the people of his kingdom who are being forced into perpetual slavery in Cameroon.

The paramount ruler, who is also Chairman of Cross River State Council of Chiefs, said the declaration by the Federal Government that it would not approach the International Court of Justice to revisit its judgment of October 10, 2002, was an indication that the government does not need the people of

Bakassi as component part of the Nigerian Federation and the only option left for the National Assembly was to delist Bakassi as a component unit of Nigeria to enable the people pursue their fate in the new “country” that they are being forced into.

Dr. Edet, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard in Lagos, said: “The people of Bakassi are being held

in bondage by Nigeria, which has divested its interest to listen to the wishes of Bakassi people and to force them into a situation of perpetual refugee status in their own country or to remain in Cameroon as migrants who could be tortured, killed or deported by the Cameroonian authorities that have been pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing since 2008.

He said: “With 19 days to the end of the window given to the Federal Gov-

PDP Ward Exco turns bloody in C-River

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR—ONE per son was feared dead, weekend, following controversy that trailed the just concluded inauguration of ward executive of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State.

PDP, weekend, inaugurated ward executives in the 196 electoral

wards in the state but the reception in some wards turned bloody over alleged supremacy tussle between two rival cult groups, which had been in firm grip of political structures in the state.

Investigations revealed that some members of one of the groups had alleged that they were excluded in the composition of the ward executive and had also lost

Lori-Ogbebor faults Uduaghan's apology to judges

BY INNOCENT ANABA

N

IGER Delta activ ist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has faulted the reported apology

by Delta State Government to judges in the state over the kidnap of a judge in the state.

Chief Lori-Ogbebor, in a statement, weekend, in Lagos, insisted that the

ernment to appeal for a revision of the International Court of Justice verdict of October 10, 2002, the Federal Government is telling the world that it cannot go back on our appeals to approach the International Court of Justice because according to the FG, 'Nigeria will be exposing itself to international ridicule to renege on conceding Bakassi to Cameroon for supporting the effort to keep Nigeria one.'"

apology to the kidnapped judge and his colleagues in the state judiciary was totally out of the question, as only a diligent probe of the incident would be acceptable.

She said: “An assault on a judge anywhere in the country is an assault on the judiciary of the nation and the entire administration of justice system.

Kidnapping of a judge is not a matter that could be swept under the carpet by an apology from a top government official.

“The court is the last hope of everybody and therefore, it is the very tap root of the existence of the society. Our judges should not be allowed to work under intimidation, harassment and constant threat."

one of their members in their protest over the development.

In ward nine of Calabar South Local Government Area of the state, one of the aggrieved persons, who reportedly told his colleague at the reception ground to adjust his seat was immediately shot dead, while the Woman Leader of the area known as Mrs. Ekpo left the venue with her car ’s windscreen shattered.

In Ward Six of the same Calabar South council, Chairman of Elders Forum of the ward escaped being lynched but the windscreen of his black Lexus was smashed, while a former councillorship candidate in the ward, Archibong EdemOrok’s Nissan Xterra jeep was vandalized with his iPad and N129, 000 allegedly stolen by a group of 20 boys, who struck at the venue while the reception was going on.

weye and Chairman of Okere-Urhobo Community Development Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Eminokanju.

Pa. Eburu, who is also the Igede of OkereUrhobo, in his acceptance speech, promised to always “provide advisory opinion, safeguards that will ensure justice, unity, love and peaceful coexistence,” among members of Olodi, Oki, Ighogbadu, Makro and Itifo descendants.

Chairman of the Installation Planning Committee, Mr. Patrick Eghere, thanked indigenes of the kingdom and the Elders’ Council for making the ceremony a success.

IFE of the mem ber representing Bomadi Local Government constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Kenneth Preyor, was, weekend, abducted by gunmen at Kpakiama town in Bomadi council.

Vanguard gathered that the suspected kidnappers, who were armed, stormed the legislator’s residence at 11p.m., and whisked Mrs. Campaign Preyor to

an unknown destination.

A reliable source told Vanguard that the woman was taken away in a waiting speedboat, adding that the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the family of their victim.

When contacted, state Police Public Relation Officer, Mr Charles Muka confirmed the incident. He said the police was on top the issue and expressed hope that the suspected abductors would be brought to book.

Cousins paraded nude in Edo community over alleged incest

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THERE was pandemonium in Elele community, near Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday, when two cousins, Aishetu and Ayibaba, were paraded by the villagers after they were allegedly caught in a bush path committing incest. Ayibaba, who is said to be the son of a highly placed chief in the community, was said to have been caught in the immoral act with his first

cousin, who is said to be married with three children.

However, luck ran out of them, when some community members caught them pants down, under a cashew tree. They were consequently dragged to the village square naked, while villagers thronged the square to have a glimpse of them.

Vanguard gathered that Aishetu’s three children were in the crowd while their mother was being paraded before the public.

12— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 — 13

A-Court begins hearing on suit seeking to sack Chime

BY IKECHUKWU NNO-

CHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, will today, commence hearing on a suit seeking to sack Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State from office.

The appeal which was lodged before the court by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief A l e x a n d e r C h u k w u e m e k a Obiechina, is challenging the refusal of a Federal High Court in Abuja to void the nomination process that saw the emergence of Governor Chime on April 26, 2011.

The high court presided

by Justice Adamu Bello had on May 21, 2012, declined to sack Chime from office, saying it lacked the jurisdiction to nullify his candidacy in the last general elections.

Justice Bello had maintained that the issue of nomination and sponsor-

ship of a candidate for any given election was within the realm of the domestic affairs of a political party.

Consequently, the case was dismissed even as the trial court stressed that the plaintiff, having failed to participate in any of the primary elections conducted in Enugu state by the PDP, lacked the locus-standi to seek the nullification of the said electoral processes.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a written address tendered before the court, queried the legal propriety of the January 12, 2011, primary election that produced Governor Chime as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Enugu state, insisting that it was conducted in substantial non-compliance with the provision of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, however, the Court in its judgment,

noted that “aspirant who did not participate in the primaries of a political party, does not have the right to challenge the outcome of such primaries.”

The high court further relied on the case of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, and held that PDP had the right to bar the plaintiff or any other aspirant from participating

in its primary election.

However, dissatisfied with the judgment, Obiechina has taken the matter before the appellate court, praying it to go ahead and determine whether there was a valid special congress or primary election held in Enugu State on January 12, 2011, in which Chime was nominated as the PDP candidate.

World Heart Day: Foundation targets 5,000 for free heart checks

L

AGOS—TO mark this year ’s World Heart Day, Chike Okoli Foundation, COF, has said it is targeting no fewer than 5,000 Lagosians for free heart checks as part of efforts to create awareness on the increasing incidences of heart diseases in the country.

The COF is a nonprofit organisation set up

Motorists lament poor state of roads in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE poor state of Federal and State roads in Imo State is now a source of serious concern to vehicle owners and passengers.

Gully erosion has since cut off the ever busy Orlu-Urualla-Osina road at Mbee and Umuchima, while parts of Ngor Okpala have since been cut off from the rest of Imo State.

The greatest night-

mare for motorists on the Owerri-Okigwe Federal highway is located at Akabo, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.

Commuters are now forced to spend over two hours at Akabo in an attempt to meander through the deep, swampy and water logged portion of this federal highway.

Vanguard investigations revealed that some

civil and public servants, who hitherto operated from their homes in Onuimo, Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano have either relocated to Owerri or now use commercial vehicles on all working days.

A civil servant, Mr. Peter Uwa, wondered why the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, refused to repair this spot before the rains set in.

in May 2006, in memory of Late Chike Edward Okoli, who passed away on 31st May 2005, five days after his 25th birthday from undetected coronary artery disease.

In the last five years, the Foundation has reached over 5 million people across Nigeria informing them on the growing dangers of cardiovascular diseases and how to make lifestyle interventions.

The Chike Okoli Foundation was basically set up, to fight poverty and Cardiovascular Disease, CVDs. Announcing the commencement of the 6th Annual Chike Okoli Week in collaboration with the Association of Community Pharmacists, ACPN, Lagos State Chapter, the Project Director, Ms. Beauty Alfred, said the week was aimed at providing free healthcare services as well as sensitising people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Benue flood: CMD raises alarm over looming epidemic

BY PETER DURU

M

MEETING: From right, Otunba Michael Balogun, founder, First City Monument Bank, FCMB; Mrs Olajumoke Bakare, Company Secretary; Mr Jonathan Long, Chairman and Mr Ladi Balogun, Group Managing Director, during the Court ordered meeting of Shareholders in Lagos. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

AKURDI—AS flood continues to sack more families in parts of Makurdi, Benue State, Chief Medical Director, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Prof.

Orkurga Malu, has warned of looming water and air borne diseases at the five camps open by the state government for displaced persons.

Prof. Malu, who raised the concern, weekend, while fielding questions from newsmen in Makurdi, urged the camp managers at the govern-

PDP sponsors 30 political parties, says Labour Party chair

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—NATIONAL Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, has said that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, owned and sponsored 30 political parties out of the

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existing 62 in Nigeria today.

Chief Nwanyanwu, who delivered a lecture Transformation of Nigeria Politics: The Labour Party Perspective in Abuja, weekend, said only nine out of the remaining 32 two political

parties, have functional offices in Abuja as stipulated by the electoral laws.

He noted that Nigeria's electoral system that encourages multi party system was a disservice to the nation and under such arrangement, elec-

toral fraud can never be checked.

He said: “Out of the existing 62 political parties in Nigeria, 30 of them are owned by PDP out of which just nine have functional office in Abuja while the rest of the parties have their offices in their briefcases.

“The best political system for Nigeria is a two party system. Such arrangement will make it difficult for rigging because it is just two parties, there will be no need for anybody to carry ballot boxes because there won’t be such opportunity.

“Touts will not have jobs and the electoral tribunal will be useless because a clear winner will emerge just as was the case in 1992 general elections between the Social Democratic Party, SDP and National Republican Convention, NRC. The issue of merger or alliance will not arise because it is just two of them and they have different ideologies.”

ment official camps to insist on the proper disposal of sewage from the camps to avoid an outbreak of gastro-intestine diseases, Cholera and Tuberculosis among victims.

He regretted that the flood would cause skin diseases to persons, who live in close proximity to one another, adding that it had thrown up severe cases of malnutrition and hunger in the state.

He said: “Benue is the food basket of the nation, but the flood has destroyed several farmlands and so the people are at the verge of witnessing famine and hunger. Education of chil-

dren of the affected had been adversely affected even as criminal activities are expected to be on the increase.”

He decried the devastating effect of the flood on the teaching hospital, adding that the Maintenance Unit, which was only completed last week was on the verge of collapse due to the flood, adding that the hospital spent a lot of money relocating equipment to other buildings on higher level and had taken precautions to avoid cross bridging from the transformers, which had been submerged by the flood.

Buhari, Bafarawa deliberate on Northern unity ANPP, said the meeting

BY LUKA BINNIYAT &

GBENGA OKE ADUNA—GEN ERAL Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), former military Head of State, yesterday, met in a close session with former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, in the retired general’s house in Kaduna, over what Bafarawa later said was the unity of the North.

Bafarawa in an interview with newsmen shortly after the meeting, which lasted an hour, said their discussions centred on how to unite the North for sustainable development.

Bafarawa, a chieftain of All Nigeria Peoples Party,

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was not about political parties, but to find solution to the disunity in the North.

He said: “The North is in disarray and there is need to discuss and unite the region.

“I didn’t come as a member ANPP to visit Gen. Buhari and I did not come to see him on the ground of his own party, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. I came to him to discuss in order to chart the way forward on how we can unite ourselves in the North because the North is in disarray, therefore, we need to unite since we are masters of all trade when you talk of political activities in the North."

Adedoyin wants stakeholders meeting to revive industrial sector

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

I

LORIN—AN industri alist, Chief Samuel Adedoyin, has called for an urgent meeting of all stakeholders in the ailing sector to revive the industry and save the nation’s economy.

The Octogenarian in-

dustrialist, who spoke in an interview with journalists at his home town, Agbamu, in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State during the burial of his aged mother Princess Racheal Adedoyin, 118, said the meeting of the stakeholders had become imperative because Nigeria’s economy cannot survive if the industrial sector was left to die without urgent actions taken to rescue it.

He said: “The state of the industry in Nigeria is very bad, to revive it demands that all the stakeholders should meet and proffer solution to the problem as the problem has gone beyond what a single person or group of people will just sit to find solution. It needs an all encompassing meeting of all the stakeholders."

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 — 15

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16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

S

ENATE President, Bonaventure Alechenu David Mark has pedigree in Nigeria’s political landscape. His critics are many and they are wont to treat any Mark position with the uttermost scepticism.

When he makes an important point, he is dismissed as just playing to the gallery.

Mark has been around enough that he is seen as part of the challenges Nigeria faces. His concerns about the economy are important, but they cannot replace the fact that the National Assembly over which he presides can do better than expressing worries about the state of Nigeria.

"Those who manage the national economy cannot afford to chase shadows while the economy is in the doldrums.

What Nigerians expect, and deserve, is the introduction of fiscal and monetary policies that will create jobs, fix healthcare and infrastructure, and stimulate the economy,” Mark said.

According to him: “Corruption, sloppiness and tardiness in preparations, mismanagement, degradation and lack of maintenance and vandalisation of national assets, ab-

Even Mark knows! sence of rigour and thoroughness in planning — these, and more, are the reasons for the rot.” Where are these ills found more than in governments that dot the land, overwhelmingly under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party?

Nigerians have mostly given up on governments. In 13 years of civil rule, during which Mark has been in the Senate, until his presidency that is in its sixth year, the PDP dominates the executives and legislatures throughout Nigeria.

What is the PDP’s position on the welfare of Nigerians? Has Mark taken his worries to the PDP where he is a chieftain? What will the Senate do to ensure Nigerians are freed from the shackles of oppressive government policies? Will it be enough for

Mark to join complaining Nigerians, who have no alternative than to complain?

Mark’s suggestion that “those disenchanted with the Nigerian condition should join the ongoing national discourse that will lead to the amendment of the Constitution,” is off the mark. What sections of the Constitution, that benefit the people, did the Senate implement since 1999? Do their elected officials, including Mark, represent them?

The articulacy of the speech was not in doubt, but it is no alternative to action.

More from Mark: “If the campaign of terror is the thunder by which a tiny fraction seeks to drown the voice of the nation, or to curtail the basic freedoms and civil liberties that we all have worked so hard to entrench, that attempt will fail. The Senate will work to protect all liberties except one — the liberty to do away with other liberties.”

Nigerians wonder why they remain in dire straits if the likes of Mark are concerned about them. Speeches cannot address these concerns.

OPINION Continued from Friday Page 42

“Nigeria has a lot to learn from Indonesia, one of the Asian Tigers!”

BY JOSSY NKWOCHA

I

NDEED, the August 2012 edition of Globe Asia, Indonesia’s No. 1 Business magazine, listed 100 Top Indonesia-based companies whose 2011 revenues have helped to insulate Indonesia from the global economic crisis.

The magazine stated in its intro: “Flushed with cash, Indonesian corporations are expanding on an unprecedented scale. With an economy growing at above 6% per annum despite the global economic slowdown, corporate earnings have been growing at 20% per annum over the past three years.”

On its part, the World Economic Factbook (2012) stated: “Indonesia has weathered the global financial crisis relatively smoothly because of its heavy reliance on domestic consumption as the driver of economic growth, (as well as) increasing investment by local and foreign investors”.

Indonesia’s Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, can be easily calculated but that of Nigeria is mainly political statements. Indonesians consume what are produced in Indonesia but Nigerians consume what are produced abroad (in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, etc).

Nigerians like to live big, while Indonesians like to live moderately. Despite Nigeria’s trillion-Dollar oil revenue, Nigeria likes foreign loans and aids, while Indonesia likes savings and investments!

Another contrast between Nigeria and Indonesia is C M Y K

Nigeria and Indonesia: A socio-economic analysis that Indonesia-based companies are relatively unencumbered by national politics and bureaucracy.

In Indonesia, there are laws regulating industrial operations. Governments at the national, provincial and district levels create conducive environments for businesses to strive and flourish. Fiscal policies are aimed at attracting foreign investments, protecting local industries and creating more employment. Tax incentives are part of the fiscal policy. Lending rate for strategic sectors is lowered. Our country has something to learn here. In Nigeria, state governments seem to breathe down on small and medium scale enterprises, SMEs, and make them to close down.

In Nigeria, investors complain of multiple taxations, overbearing regulatory framework, and regular political interferences. Yet, such companies are expected to provide their own infrastructure: road network, electricity, water and security. These hinder economic development and growth.

As a result of economic boom in Indonesia, crime rate is very low. Throughout our week-long stay in Indonesia, there were no reports of violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, bomb blasts, etc. Indonesians seem to be at peace with themselves — happy and contented with what they have!

Ironically, Indonesians are not as “ religious” as Nigerians. You may not see a church or mosque, but you see a people that are respectful, hard-working and honest.

Jakarta, the Indonesian capital is a beautiful city of high-rise buildings and apartments, thousands of shopping malls, international hotels, and well-paved roads and toll-gates. It perhaps boasts of the highest number of motorbike riders in the world, all well-kitted but daring. All businesses are conducted in Indonesian language, not English language as in most countries.

The mantra seems to be: “If you live in Indonesia, you must speak Indonesia!” Talk of national pride!

The Indonesian people have a culture of keeping everywhere clean: roads, buildings, offices, name it.

Government offices are sparkling clean, mostly painted in whitecolour. Indonesia has high maintenance culture, which is lacking in Nigeria. That accounts for the decay of infrastructure in Nigeria. Indonesians are not crazy about made-in-Europe and America fashion. I didn’t see the “sagging” and nudities of the Nigerian fashion revolution. What has happened to Nigeria’s traditional wears and attires?

Indonesia is a tourist destination. What beats my imagination is how they turned a volcanic eruption site into a tourist centre! You cannot visit Indonesia without vising that site – about 130 miles from Jakarta, the state capital!

Nigeria, I think, has a lot to learn from Indonesia, one of the Asian Tigers!

Concluded •Mr. Nkwocha, former General Editor of Newswatch magazine, wrote from Port Harcourt

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 — 49

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50 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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52— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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54 —

Vanguard, MOND AY , SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 MONDA

Romney targets key states L amid GOP worries M

ITT Romney ’s visit to Colorado yesterday is part of an intensified schedule focused on the most competitive states as the Republican presidential nominee tries to counter criticism from some in his own party that his campaign is veering off course with about six weeks to go in the race.

The evening speech at a Denver-area high school, his first public event of the weekend, comes with Romney facing increasing pressure to spend less time raising money and more time explaining his plans to voters. President Barack Obama had no official business or campaign activity scheduled. From Denver, Romney was to begin a three-day bus tour in Ohio today followed by a stop in Virginia — states that Obama

won in 2008 and held by Republicans four years earlier. It’s the last full week before the presidential debates shift the campaign into a new phase, which Romney advisers suggest could prove pivotal after a period marked by negative attention, missteps and Republican concerns. Already facing reports of internal fingerpointing and foreign policy questions, Romney endured a difficult week during which a secretly recorded video surfaced showing the former Massachusetts governor said that almost half of Americans are dependent upon government and see themselves as victims.

Romney’s allies worked to reframe the video as an opportunity to draw a contrast between the level of government dependency that Romney and Obama envision.

•Romney

IBYA’s army yester day ordered rogue armed groups in and around Tripoli to leave state and military premises or be ejected by force, apparently seeking to capitalize on the withdrawal of militias from Benghazi and Derna.

The two main Islamist militias in Derna, a town in eastern Libya known as an Islamist stronghold, said on Saturday that they were disbanding after one of them, Ansar alSharia, was driven out of Libya’s second city,

Libya tackles renegade groups Benghazi.

The many militias that still control the streets more than a year after rebels toppled Muammar Gaddafi are the clearest challenge to the authority of a central government forced to co-opt many of them to provide security.

However, the killing of four Americans including

the ambassador in an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11 seems to have given the nascent democratic administration a cue to rally support and channel public frustration with the militias. Some U.S. officials have accused the Islamist Ansar al-Sharia of involvement in the attack, a charge it denies.

UN, AU urge unity among Sudanese leaders

I

NTERNATIONAL bodies including the United Nations and the African Union have urged Sudan and South Sudan to reach a comprehensive agreement at a summit of its leaders being held in Ethiopia.

The two countries have taken a step towards a border security agreement that will allow oil exports to resume, officials said on Saturday, paving the way for their

leaders to sign a deal to end hostilities.

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir and his southern counterpart Salva Kiir are expected to work out the border

agreement during the summit in Addis Ababa on Sunday, in an effort to meet the deadline set by the UN Security Council.

The neighbours reached an interim deal

in August to revive southern oil exports that must transit the north to reach Red Sea ports. But Sudan has insisted on first reaching a security accord.

Clinton hosts summit for Libya, Egypt Former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s annual philanthropic summit will attract the new leaders of Egypt and Libya plus this year’s U.S. presidential candidates to a forum that

once again competes for attention with the United Nations General Assembly. Libya’s new head of state, Mohammed Magarief, and Egyptian President Mohamed

Morsi will appear at the eighth Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which Clinton hosts in New York when many world leaders are in town for the annual U.N. Meeting.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 — 55

Boxer shot dead at daughter’s party—P59

Niger’s coach salutes goal-rious Golden Eaglets J

UNIOR Menas of Ni ger’s coach Soumaila Tiemogo has given the Golden Eaglets a resounding applause following his side comprehensive 10-1 aggregate loss to the Nigerians in the 2013 African Under17 Youth Championship qualifier.

The Nigerien youngsters were handed a 4-1 defeat in Niamey with a further 6-0 defeat at the weekend in Calabar. Tiemogo, who recently led his side to win the 2012 Airtel Rising Stars Tournament in Nairobi, said his boys gave a good account of themselves against a better team.

“I think we played well over the two legs but we met a well-organised team,” Tiemogo said through an interpreter.

“The Nigerian team simply outclassed us and I think there is nothing to be ashamed of because we were beaten by a very good team.”

Continues on Page 59 TODAY'S

Don’t crucify Mikel — Coach C

HELSEA midfielder Mikel Obi deserves praise and not abuse for the dirty job he does, his manager Roberto Di Matteo has said.

“I had a good conversation with John, and he seems to handle it well (racial abuse on Twit

•Mikel

Continues on Page 59

EPL Results Liverpool 1 Man Utd 2 Newcastle 1 Norwich 0 Man City 1 Arsenal 1 Tottenham 2 QPR

1

Swansea 0 Everton 3 Chelsea 1 Stoke

0

Southampton 4 Aston Villa 1 W/Brom 1 Reading 0 W/Ham 1 Sunderland 1 Wigan 1 Fulham

2

PUZZLE

"Moneybag" NFF paid victory bonuses for draws — P.62

TUSSLE — Sarah Nnodim of Nigeria battles with Emily Pietrangelo of Canada during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on September 22 in Azerbaijan. It ended 1-1 (Photo by Getty Images)

Korean coach celebrates 11 – 0 whitewash of ing his team’s 11-0 baijan.

Cup by thrashing Gambia Korea DPR laid down Gambia 11-0 in their crushing victory over

N

ORTH Korean coach, Hwang Yong Bong is still relishFRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

Gambia at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azer-

ACROSS 1 Couple (4) 4 Pinch (3) 6 Plunder (4) 8 Cautioned (6) 9 Pillar (6) 10 Moose (3) 12 Hunt (5) 14 Liability (5) 15 Sea-duck (5) 18 Cave (6) 20 Pressed (6) 24 Called (5) 26 Enquired (5) 28 Prodded (5) 30 Fixed (3) 32 Secret (6) 33 Amatory (6) 34 Trial (4) 35 Silent (3) 36 Appear (4)

a gauntlet on the opening day of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World

Group B encounter in Baku.

Continues on Page 59

DOWN 2 Astern (5) 3 Curl (7) 4 Naked (4) 6 Ointment (5) 7 Mix (7) 11 Untruth (3) 12 Droop (3) 13 Equipment (3) 16 Fellow (3) 17 Edge (3) 19 Renovate (7) 21 Material (3) 22 Fragrant (7) 23 Defective (3) 25 Imitate (3) 27 Upright (5) 29 Chosen (5) 30 Staunch (4) 31 Side (4)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS CROSS: 2, Aroma 7, Grave 9, Great 10, Event 12, Oar 13, Scare 15, Donated 17, Mental 19, Won 20, Layered 23, Aver 25, Deep 26, Recover 30, Son 31, Demure 34, Deposit 37, Muted 38, Gel 39, Chaos 40, Suave 41, Tepid 42, Ended.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Price 2, Avert 3, Reveal 4, Mind 5, Groaned 6, Fared 9, Eat 11, Towered 13, Smear 14, Anger 16, Nor 18, Laconic 21, Debut 22, Speed 24, Resolve 27, Cos 28, Remote 29, Begun 32, Mused 33, Remit 35, Pea 36, Then.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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

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

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

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

56 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

BAKASSI PENINSULA:

opted to return to Nigeria have not been adequately addressed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Legal dimensions of self determination threat (3)

C

BY FEMI FALANA, SAN

C

AMEROON also asked the ICJ to settle the maritime boundary between the two countries. At that time, Nigeria had an opportunitytodecidewhetherornot to join issues with Cameroon in the World court but the leadership of the country took a rather fatalistic approach to the matter by not only surrendering to the jurisdiction of the Court, but also agreed to be bound by the decision of the ICJ. Hence, it was, therefore, a fait accompli when on October 10, 2002, citing a 1913 agreement between GermanyandtheUnitedKingdom, as well as the Thornson-Marchland Declaration of 1929-1930, the ICJ decided to award sovereignty rights of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. In the opinion of a learned school of thought, Old Calabar, encompassing the Bakassi Peninsula, was, in 1913, a protectorate and not a colony of Great Britain..

Direct annexation Writing on the judgment, a legal scholar, Chris Akiri, commented that a "protectorate" signifies authority assumed by a strong state over a weak or underdeveloped one, without direct annexation, in contradistinction to a "colony", or a land settled by people from another country, to whose government it is, in some degree, subject.

In view of this, according to this school of thought, Britain had no legal right to cede the Bakassi Peninsula to Germany in 1913, having regard to the time-worn legal maxim - nemo dat quod non habet (he who hath not cannot give)". The decision, which generated a lot of sharp criticisms across the country and protests from inhabitants of the peninsula who felt short changed by the Government of Nigeria's lack C M Y K

ofconsiderationtotheirpoliticaland culturaltiestoNigeria,wasfollowed by yet another agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon on the process of implementation of the judgment.

Thetreatypopularlyknownasthe Green Tree Agreemnt was signed betweenthePresidentofCameroon and the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2006 to implement the judgment of the International Court of Justice. Article 1 of the Agreement states that "Nigeria recognises the sovereignty of Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula in accordance with the judgment of the International Court of Justice of October 10, 2002 in the matter of land and maritime boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.

CameroonandNigeriarecognize thelandandmaritimeboundarybetween the two countries as delineated by the Court and commit themselves to continuing the process of implementation already begun." With the Green Tree Agreement which President Obasanjo signed with Cameroon without involving the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution of Nigeria for ratification of Treaties finally put to rest, any attempts to revampanyclaimsNigeriaoranypart thereof may have over Bakassi."

Having said that, however, it is important to note that the Green Tree agreements imposes obligations on both countries on the general welfare of the indigenes of Bakassi failing which the people of Bakassi will exercise their right to self determination in accordance with the African Charter on People and Human Rights and other international treaties and protocols for theprotectionandrecognitionofthe rights of indigenous people to self determination.

AcursoryreviewofthesalientprovisionsoftheGreenTreeAgreement

Map of Bakassi peninsula in April 1926 clearly shows that both countries have clearly defined and guaranteed responsibilities and obligations towards effectively providing for the welfare of the inhabitants. The Agreement provides that " Nigeria must ensure that those citizens who opted to resettle in Nigeria are providedwiththenecessarymeansand measures to do so" while the obligationsofCameroonareclearlystated in Article 3 which without doubt is self explanatory. Article 3 of the GTA provides: 1. Cameroon, after the transfer of authority to it by Nigeria, guarantees to Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula the exercise of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights la"w and in other relevantprovisionsofinternationallaw.

Change of nationality 2. In particular, Cameroon shall: (a) not force Nigerian nationals livingintheBakassiPeninsulatoleave the Zone or to change their nationality; (b) respect their culture, language and beliefs; (c) respect their right to continue their agricultural and fishing activities; (d) Protect their property and their customary land rights; (e) not levy in any discriminatory manner any taxes and other dues on Nigerian nationals living in the Zone; and (f) take every necessary measure to protect Nigerian nationals living in the Zone from any harassment or harm.

"Recognizing the necessity of a smooth transition of the administrationofBakassifromNigeriatoCameroon", the GTA also establishes a "Follow up Committee" in Article 6

Courtesy: Walter Ofonagoro

which provides: 1. A Follow-up Committee to monitor the implementation of this Agreement is hereby established.

It shall be composed of representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria, the United Nations and the witness States. The Committee shall monitortheimplementationoftheAgreement by the Parties with the assistance of the United Nations observers of the Mixed Commission.

2.TheFollow-upCommitteeshall settle any dispute regarding the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement.

Obviously as stated above, the Nigerian government is not interested any longer in reopening the case with Cameroon before the ICJ even though, tlhe Nigerian government has an opportunity to do so before the twilight of October 10, 2012 when the judgment will become final and irredeemable and Nigerians who opt to remain in Bakassi can only do so as foreigners.

However, if both countries fail to perform their obligations under the Green Tree Agreement by providing for the relocation and general well being and protection of the local inhabitants, the events after October 10, 2012, can open a new vista of renewed agitation for self determination and declaration of independence by the local settlers.

This is because, while the ICJ judgment may have awarded their land to Cameroon, the Court has not taken away their rights to be free from oppression and their inalienable rights for self determination in accordancewithvariousinternational Treaties. Suffice it to say that at the moment, crucial issues and questions relating to orderly transition and economic empowerment and resettlement of the people of Bakassi,particularlythosewhohave

,

Femi Falana, SAN, in this concluding segment, argues that instead of criminalizing the action of the frustrated Bakassi people the Federal Government should dialogue with the genuine representatives of the Bakassi people. The second instalment was published on Friday

onclusion: The recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of AttorneyGeneral, Cross River State v. Attorney-General,AkwaIbomState which has declared that Cross River State is no longer a littoral state has re-opened the controversy over the "ownership" of the Bakassi Peninsular.

Having been abandoned by the Federal Government of Nigeria the people of Bakassi have declared their independence.

Contrary to the pronouncement of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. J.B. Daudu (SAN) that the action is treasonableIwishtosubmit,withoutany fear of contradiction, that the Bakassi people have "the unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination" under Article 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Insteadofcriminalizingtheaction of the frustrated Bakassi people the Federal Government may wish to enter into dialogue with the genuine representatives of the Bakassi people. More so, that the Green Tree Agreement has not been domesticated as required by Section 12(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which provides that "No treaty between the Federation and other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly."

Concluded

A "protectorate" signifies authority assumed by a strong state over a weak or underdeveloped one, without direct annexation, in contradistinction to a "colony", or a land settled by people from another country, to whose government it is, in some degree, subject

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 — 57

Gen. Yakubu Gowon

BAKASSI PENINSULA:

Count down to 1949-54 UN plebiscite Nowa Omoigui in this third instalment argues thatthe Bakassi peninsula which was part of Camerun/Cameroon since 1913, as inherited in the League of Nations mandate after World War 1, was excised from co-administration with the Eastern region along with the rest of the Southern Cameroons at the time of Nigeria's independence

I

N the first installment titled “The Bakassi Story”, we reviewed a very brief summary of the history of the dispute starting from the Treaty between England and Old Calabar in 1884 all the way through to the ICJ judgment of October 10, 2002.

Those who want more information about the fall of Calabar should consult “Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria”

by KK Nair or “Old Calabar 16001891” by AJH Latham. A nice summary is available in “The Fall of Nigeria – The British Conquest” by Obaro Ikime (Heinemann, 1977). In Part 2, we shall focus more specifically on the twenty-five-year period from 1950 to 1975.

Countdown to the UN plebiscite 1949-1954: As we noted previously, following the Second World War, League of Nation mandates were replaced by UN mandates. Dr. E. M. L. Endeley became President of the Cameroon National Federation in 1949.

At that time Southern Cameroons (including Bakassi peninsula) was administered with Nigeria. Following a dispute within the Eastern House of Assembly in Enugu in May 1953, nine out of 13 delegates from the Southern Cameroons, who had originally been elected on the platform of the National Council

for Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), opted for ‘neutrality’, claiming that they were not Nigerian. Mr. S. T. Muna, the only Southern Cameroonian in the Eastern Executive Council at that time was actually dismissed. This crisis led to the name change from “National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons”, as the NCNC was then known, to “National Council of Nigerian Citizens.”

During the July 1953 London Constitutional Conference, Endeley, citing fear of “Nigerian domination”, requested the unconditional withdrawal of the Southern Cameroons from the Eastern Region of Nigeria, and its transformation into a separate region of its own in line with its trusteeship status.

Semi-autonomous quasi-region Britain agreed and implemented separation in 1954, making the Southern Cameroons (including Bakassi peninsula) a semi-autonomous quasi-region of the Nigeria Federation with its own House of Assembly and Executive Council located at Buea. Endeley was called the Leader of Government Business, not Premier, primarily because Southern Cameroons was not yet

Tafawa Balewa

a full region. Importantly, the Bakassi peninsula which was part of Camerun/Cameroon since 1913, as inherited in the League of Nations mandate after World War 1, was also excised from co-administration with the Eastern region along with the rest of the Southern Cameroons at that time. There is no evidence that anyone made an issue of the matter then (Nigeria Gazette No. 53 vol. 41, B389-408; [D440-59]).

1955 – 1960 In 1955 there was a split in Endeley’s party which was then allied with the Action Group (AG) and John Ngu Foncha emerged as his rival on the platform of the new Kamerun National Democratic Party (KNDP). This party’s goal was complete secession of southern Cameroons from Nigeria and eventual reunification with Francophone Cameroun.

Endeley was accused of abandoning his former stance of pro-unification in favour of integration with Nigeria.

pendence Gowon government.

On September 25, the Willink Commission was set up to deal with the case of Nigerian minorities. Interestingly, no submission was made to the panel regarding the case of Bakassi peninsula, considered then to be part of southern Cameroons. The Willink report was published in October 1958 - recommending against the creation of new regions in Nigeria. Shortly thereafter the Constitutional conference resumed in London - and once again the Bakassi issue was not discussed, nor was the status of Calabar as a former “protectorate” rather than “colony” as some have said, an issue.

In the January 1959 southern Cameroons election (in which Bakassi residents participated), Endeley was voted out of power and replaced by Foncha, a man with even less disguised anti-

,

Ahmadu Ahidjo, of Cameroun

Nigerian instincts. In October that year, the Enugu based First Queens Own Nigeria regiment (1QONR) was temporarily deployed to southern Cameroons for “Training”. However, Bamileke UPC sympathizers in Bamenda viewed this as a counter-insurgency deployment in support of the hated French colonial administration. In early 1960, responding to more violence in the area, the 1QONR again returned to Bamenda area in full force, followed shortly thereafter by the 4QONR from Ibadan who were deployed further south to Kumba near the coast. The 5QONR and 3QONR later replaced both battalions respectively – followed later by the 2QONR. These shows of military force did not endear Nigeria to certain opinion leaders in the local population.

To be continued

In the January 1959 southern Cameroons election (in which Bakassi residents participated), Endeley was voted out of power and replaced by Foncha, a man with even less disguised antiNigerian instincts

,

A

t about the same time the Union des Populations Camerounaises (UPC), a Bamileke based radical leftist party in Francophone Cameroun led by Felix Moumie was being banned by the French Governor. As they fought a bitter and violent guerrilla war against ruthless French troops, they would often cross over to Bamileke sections of British Cameroons (i.e.

“Nigeria”) for sanctuary.

In mid 1957, there was a Constitutional Conference in London to resolve issues preparatory to Nigeria’s independence which was initially proposed for a date in 1959, but “not later than April 2, 1960.”

In August that year, Tafawa Balewa became Premier in an All Nigeria Federal Executive Council. Among the first three Federal Ministers from the Eastern region was a gentleman called Okoi Arikpo. He would later Map of existing Nigerian and Equatorial Guinean oil concessions feature in the post-inde- in relation to Cameroun's claim line Courtesy: Walter Ofonagoro C M Y K

58 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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"Moneybag" NFF paid victory bonuses for draws

N

IGERIA’s Super Eagles were paid full win bonuses for draws in Malawi, Rwanda and Liberia, MTNFootball.com has scooped.

The Eagles will rank as one of the top national teams enjoying the best incentives as they each received $10,000 even though they ought to get half that amount when they were held to draws in Rwanda, Malawi and Liberia this year.

In February, the Eagles were held to a goalless draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kigali.

The coach Stephen Keshi-led team were to have pocketed $5,000 being half of their win bonus for draw, but instead each player got the full sum of $10,000.

It was also the case when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by hosts Malawi in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Blantyre and they again received the full payment of $10,000.

This month, each Eagles player was again $10,000 richer after they were forced to a 2-2 draw by Liberia in Mon-

Continues from BP

rovia.

One of the Europebased stars who featured against the Lone Star of Liberia confirmed to MTNFootball.com: “Yes, we received $10,000 for

Boxer shot dead at daughter’s party

S

OUTH African box ing champion, Corrie Sanders has been shot and killed in a restaurant at his daughter ’s 21st birthday.

The former world heavyweight champion was in the Pretoria restaurant on Saturday evening when three men charged in and fired randomly where the family were dining, police said.

They shot Sanders in the stomach and hand the 46-year-old died from his injuries on Sunday morning.

“They shot randomly and stole the mobile phone of his daughter who was celebrating her 21st birthday. They also stole a handbag from another guest,” police told the Sapa news agency.

Mikel

OKOTIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elohor Anthonia Okotie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elohor Anthonia Gerald Onye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SUNDAY—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Modupe Elizabeth Sunday, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Modupe Elizabeth Oguoyibo..

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

ter),” said the Chelsea boss Di Matteo.

“I have a lot of faith in him. I think he’s done extremely well for us in that position. It’s a bit of a dirty job there to try and break up the opposition’s play and it

IROROTURI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeoghene Iroroturi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okeoghene Dorothy Olodia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOTETE—I, formerly known as Miss Okotete Onokerho Paulina, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Onokerho Paulina Adebayo. All former Documents remain valid.

Nigeria Police Force and general Public please take Note.

Continues from BP “I am obviously very happy with the result and the score, but we have two more games ahead of us and we have to give our best in each of them. The first match was very important to give more experience to

doesn’t always get recognised with the right c r e d i t . ” Di Matteo has also condemned in totality the abuse rained on Mikel after the Champions League game against Juventus at Stamford Bridge last week.

North Korea the girls and this is a process that will continue in the next couple of games. Gambia is not a weak side at all and some of their players did quite well today, but the first match is always tense”, said Bong

Golden Eaglets VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OU R 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 P AV I L I O N T B S , LAGOS.

Continues from BP “We were shocked with the good handling of the ball by the Golden Eaglets,” Kabirou reportedly said after the first leg game in Niamey.” It was as if we were watching football on a playstation machine.

“Football has gone beyond individuals, though I saw some good players on the Nigerian side, what impressed me most are their collective style of play. They are a good team that simply outclassed us,” he added.

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