Reps split over seized $9.3m cash by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62238

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Reps split over seized $9.3m cash

By Emman Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Levinus Nwabughiogu

•Senate begins probe as APC lawmakers stage walk-out •Nigeria's integrity at stake — REPS •Walk-out normal in legislative activities, says Sam-Tsokwa

BUJA—THE House of Representatives was sharply divided, yesterday, with All Progressives Congress, APC, members staging a walk-out over failure of the House to commence debate on the $9.3 million cash that was allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli for the purpose of purchasing arms for the Ni Continues on Page 4

COLUMNISTS:

Time and Place •P.17

Does Jonathan know Nigeria is now at war? •P.19

How can you recognise a serious man? RIVERS —The Police forcefully opening the Rivers State High Court yesterday to pave way for Justice Okocha's meeting with judges. See story on Page 13.

Senate probes Synagogue building collapse >>2 Again, army withdraws claim on release of Chibok girls >>9

US leads Arab allies to strike ISIS in Syria >>16

Anxiety mounts over delayed rail pull-out rehabilitation in Seeinside South-East

•P.40

Gov Fashola's social engineering in Lagos State •P.24

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Adekunle Aliyu & Joseph Erunke

BUJA—THE senate yesterday commenced a probe of the September 12 collapse of the building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, in Lagos State. This is just as the youth wing of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, ANC, party has declared that the founder of the church, Prophet T B Joshua should be barred from travelling until the investigation was complete. The Lagos State Government on its part explained why it is yet to come out with its position on the building collapse. A total of 115 persons allegedly lost their lives in the collapse while 131 people were rescued alive. 85 of the dead were said to be South Africans.

ANC wants TB Joshua barred from travelling Meanwhile, South Africa, has expressed displeasure over claims that lives could have been saved had church officials not blocked access to rescue workers for three days. A day after President Jacob Zuma of South Africa announced that scores of South Africans died in the incident and declared a day of mourning, Joshua announced he would travel to South Africa to meet survivors and their families. Following TB Joshua’s plans to travel to South Africa, the youth wing of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, ANC, party has declared that Joshua should be barred from travelling until the investigation was complete. “TB Joshua should not be allowed to come to South Africa until we know what happened to our fellow countrymen at his church,” said a statement signed by Rebone Tau, chairman of the youth league’s international relations committee. Also, Lagos lawyer, and human rights activist Femi Falana has raised an alarm that since this is an election year, the case may be swept under the carpet as some bigwigs in the society may be involved. He said, “the probe of the collapse might indict some people, don’t forget too, that it is an election year and they don’t want to offend some bigwigs in the church and society through a probe.'' Joshua’s emmanuel.tv network took a full-page advertisement on Monday, asking the Federal Government to probe the building collapse, which he has linked to a low-flying plane apparently seen circling over the building before it

Senate probes Synagogue’s building collapse zSays Nigeria’s losing image before int'l community zBlames churches, mosques for flouting building policies

zWhy we are yet to take action —LASG zANC wants TB Joshua barred from travelling collapsed. The probe should “bring to book all those involved in the obvious terror attack of the Church aimed at not only embarrassing and discrediting Prophet T.B. Joshua... but the entire nation of Nigeria,” the advert said.

Why we are yet to take action — LASG However, Lagos State Government, yesterday, said it was waiting for a comprehensive report on the ongoing investigation into the cause of the collapse before coming out with the appropriate position on the matter. The government, promised that its agencies are already working to get a comprehensive report that would clearly tell Nigerians what truly happened. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, appealed to the media for understanding, stressing that the state government was working closely with the committee set up by the Federal Government to unravel the true cause(s) of the collapse. According to them, “We are all aware that the Federal Government has set up a committee, what we are saying is that in order for us not to pre-empt that committee and hold anyone responsible the best thing is for us to put this conference on hold. “Agencies of government are working together so that at the end of the day we will have a comprehensive report. Before that is out, it will not be right for us to tell you the situation.” He assured that as soon as investigation is concluded, the state government would come out with a position. The commissioner said, “We know that time is of essence here and I believe the committee will work within the shortest time possible. For all your questions and concerns, I believe the comprehensive report will be exhaustive”.

FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH: South African Lindiwe Ndwandwe, points at the direction where she was rescued on September 20, after five days in the rubble of the collapsed guesthouse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Ikotun, Lagos. Photo by AFP.

‘The alarming rate of Building Collapse in Nigeria’ which was sponsored by Senator Abdulmumin Hassan representing Jigawa South West, was worried at the rate of building collapse in the country. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary said, “One of the reasons why buildings collapse is because some professionals delve into areas they are not very conversant with. There are instances of Surveyors doing the work of architects, doing the work of engineers or builders. When we have that kind of scenario, it is expected that the building may not have the required quality and prone to collapse. “Secondly, a situation where those who supervise these buildings accept money and approve different stages without even visiting the sites, gives room for some kind of lapses that could lead to collapse of buildings. “So I believe that those who are supposed to supervise buildings, regulate the industry and ensure compliance are not doing their work and where we have building collapse, those involved need to be punished and of course the professionals involved either lose their Why buildings collapse licenses or suspended from practice for a particular period —SENATE to ensure that others will do The Senate, in a motion of their work the way it is public urgent interest, titled supposed to be done.”

The senate in the resolution after observing one minute silence in honour of the victims of the Synagogue Church collapse in Lagos and other victims of building collapse across the country, urged all rescue operations in the country including the National Emergency management Agency, NEMA, Fire Service, Red Cross, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to always be at alert and facilitate rescue of lives and property in similar incidents. It also urged the Federal and States ministries of Land and Housing, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Council for Registration of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN and other regulatory agencies to wake up and ensure compliance with building rules and regulations. Senator Hassan had in the motion lamented that the rate of building collapse in Nigeria in the recent past was not only alarming but horrifying, unfortunate and quite worrisome, adding that the menace had so far claimed several lives and property worth billions of naira.

Nigeria losing international relationship In his contribution, Senator Ben Ayade representing Cross River North said that the rate of building collapse in the

country was capable of making the country lose its relationship with the international community as well as lose business opportunities. Senator Ayade also complained that religious leaders had become a problem as they always allege that one was attacking God whenever they were corrected or told on how to do things aright. He said, “There is a relationship between this incident and the African concept of a Church and a worship place. Religious organisations over times have assumed celestial height in a way and manner that most times, it is also difficult for those who are responsible for enforcing regulations to be able to enforce these regulations on Churches. “I say this from the background of experience where it is almost a sacrilege from any arm of government to go to a Church building project to stop their construction work for any reason. This is not to provide an escapist explanation for what has happened, but what is very clear also is that if you look at those who are the regulators, they lack the basic tools in engineering. “I also want to emphasize very clearly that even when we provide all the legal and complete steps on how the way and manner to regulate a structure, the time line the periodicity is never obeyed.''

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POCKET CARTOON chase of arms and amunition to fight insurgency. "The questions that we have for the Federal Government are as follows:

Questions for FG

CLINTON—Jack Ma, Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group (C) speaks as Chelsea Clinton (L) and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister, listen during the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York, yesterday. Photo: AFP.

Reps split over seized $9.3m cash Continues from Page 1 gerian Intelligence Service. The Senate on its part said it has commenced investigations into the arms deal which the Federal Government said was a legitimate transaction. The House of Representatives motion which was stepped down last week Thursday, entitled: "The Need to Investigate the attempt to smuggle $9.3m cash into South Africa” and sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu Sumaila was rejected without a debate. This development did not go down well with APC lawmakers who immediately staged a walkout from the chamber and addressed the press to register their anger. Trouble started when Kawu moved that his motion which was stepped down last week be taken under matters of national importance as he was unavoidably absent at last Thursday’s plenary. The presiding officer, Emeka Ihedioha, who had earlier in his presentation referred to Chairman, House Committee on Rules, Albert Sam-Tsokwa on the issue, summoned him to guide the House. Sam-Tsokwa told the House that the motion was stepped down last week because Kawu was absent, without explanation. "So, there was nothing we could do about that and I advised we step it down. He did not inform the Rules & Business (com-

mittee) that he was travelling with the Speaker and we were not given enough notice for the motion to be taken.” Apparently believing that the motion may not be taken, yesterday, Kawu rose up saying: “Mr Speaker, I hope you are giving me the assurance that my motion will be taken tomorrow if it is stepped down today.” Ihedioha at this point declared that he had consulted with the House leadership and the motion would be taken immediately.

The motion

Kawu rose and reeled out the content of his motion. He said that “the report in the City Press Newspaper of South Africa on September 5, stated that two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen flew into Lanseria International Airport, northwest of Johannesburg, in a Challenger 600 Jet piloted by one Captain Tunde Ojongbede while carrying the sum of $9.3m cash." The motion sought a “thorough investigation of the matter ” by the House committees on Defence and Aviation, to be reported back within two weeks. Kawu explained that if legislative action was not taken on the “national embarrassment, the situation may further degenerate and overheat the polity.” He said the development, if allowed to go un-investigated, the image of the country would

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The trees may wish for quiet, but the wind will not subside. Each is doing what it has been ordained to do. Stormy winds fulfilling His purpose.

be at stake before the international community. After reading his motion, the presiding officer said: "This motion does not need to be debated, rather we will vote on it." Ihedioha put the motion to a voice vote and the nays nullified the ays of the APC. Apparently peeved by the pattern the voice voting followed, Kawu beckoned on his party members and they all left the chamber to register their anger.

Press briefing

Samson Osagie, APC, Edo at the briefing said: "We are here this afternoon to bare our minds on a very scandalous, very disgraceful and very appalling event that took place a week ago that borders on the image of our country, Nigeria. Let me state clearly that we are not just here as the members of the APC caucus of the House. “We are also here as concerned Nigerians who hold the mandate of the Nigerian people to defend their interest, to ensure that corruption is reduced to the barest minimum if not totally eliminated, to ensure that our country’s integrity remains intact in the eyes of the international community. “We are all aware that a week ago or so, the South African government impounded an aircraft purportedly belonging to a top religious leader in this country that was used to carry $9.3 million. They were said to be in mint (never been used). "As if that was not enough, the Federal Government has come to own up that such money was carried for the pur-

zIs it faster or safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or simply through wire transfer that can go through in matter of seconds or matter of few hours.? zIf indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African government not brought into the picture before hand and how could the South African government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by the insurgents when there were no officials of the NSA (National Security Adviser) office or the Director, Department of State Service, DSS, that accompanied such money? zIf indeed the manufacturers of such equipment were expecting large sums of money by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the authorities in South Africa to declare the cash on arrival since it was the law in South Africa that you must declare any amount in excess of 2,500 dollars? zWhy was the money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for the purchase of equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet when we have over five to six airplanes in the Presidential air fleet? zWhy would the government that is at the peak of promoting cashless policy in our country be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such amount of cash if indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government? zWhy were the officials of our embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the entry easier and smoother? Since the South African government has said the amount was above the limit of cash allowed into the country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not know the simple immigration law of a sister country and why would they have to take it out of the Oliver Tambo International Airport and land in a village where you have a local airport? zWhy would the Federal Government seek to carry 9.3 million dollars? A country that is regarded as a giant of Africa smug-

gling an amount worth 1.5 billion Naira, in a country where citizens are wallowing in poverty for unexplained reasons? zIs it just a wicked coincidence that the aircraft belonging to the President of CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) was used to carry cash to South Africa? If contrary to the above posers, the transactions were contracted out to a private company in Nigeria, does it amount to the offence of money laundering under our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing through financial institutions? “For us as a people and for us lawmakers, we find this unacceptable, unethical, illegitimate and in our view, it is an illegal transaction. The Nigerian government owes the Nigerian people an explanation as to what source that money came from."

Walk-out normal —Sam-Tsokwa

When contacted, Chairman House committee on Rules and Business, Albert SamTsokwa said: "What transpired today on the floor of the House was nothing new because in advanced legislatures of the world, lawmakers walk-out of the assembly. “It will not start here and it will not end here but my advice to Kawu and other lawmakers is that next time, they should lobby their colleagues because the nays carried the day. “We had advised Kawu to step down his motion for another legislative day but he refused and the majority had their way and, like you know, the minority will always have a say but the majority must always have their way. “They would have studied the mood of the House before going ahead with the motion; they had the option of stepping down the motion till the time they

would have more members on their side. “Hon. Kawu made the House move a motion of urgent public importance and Mr Speaker directed that the motion should be taken the next legislative day. “We put the motion on notice and even on the order paper to be taken on the next legislative day. But he came back with something different from what was initially given and it was late to change the order paper. Mr Speaker appealed to him to kindly move the motion in the next legislative day, but he refused”.

Senate begins probe

Meanwhile, the Senate said, yesterday, that it had started investigation on the $9.3 million which was seized in South Africa. Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Thompson Sekibo disclosed this shortly after a closeddoor meeting between the Senate committee and the Service Chiefs represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah. Speaking with newsmen after the meeting on the position of the Senate over the seized money, Senator Sekibo briefly said: “We are still investigating (the seized $9.3m); we have started the investigation, when we get through the investigation we will brief you. The money belongs to the Nigerian Government.” He said there were several questions that were asked which the Senate was digging to find out details and facts of what happened, adding that the committee was satisfied that it was on top of the matter. He also disclosed that the meeting with the CDS and the COAS went well as other issues of national importance were discussed, but he refused to mention some of the issues discussed.

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Man murders wife over infidelity, reports self to police By Egufe Yafugborhi

ARRI— POLICE in Delta State have arrested a man, Michael Akpore of Urhiephron, Ughelli South Local Government Area for reportedly killing his wife, Julie Akpore, 32, over claims of promiscuity. A statement by Mrs Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, indicated that the suspect reported himself to the Jeremi Police Division last Thursday, a couple of days after luring Julie to the bush along Iwhrekan/Ekakpamren Road, where he allegedly butchered her. Kalu stated that the suspect claimed he “killed the wife because she confessed that she was having extra marital affairs. He was promptly arrested, the crime scene visited and corpse of the woman recovered and deposited at the Jeremi Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.”

Bauchi Police arrest 4 robbers, recover arms, ammunition By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Police Command has said its men arrested four robbery suspects in different parts of the state, recovered arms, ammunition and N5,000 from the suspects. A statement released in Bauchi by the command’s image maker, Haruna Mohammed, stated that police detectives attached to Alkaleri Division, in collaboration with members of a vigilante group last Sunday, September 21, arrested four suspects following a distress call at about 1:30a.m. He said the suspects, Ali Adamu, 20, of Angayau; Gambo Manu, 25, Wawa Bajoga; Abubakar Kawuwa, 28 of Garin Alhaji Tukur and Ibrahim Hussaini, 20, of Lugga in Futuk, Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state conspired and robbed one Mohammed Adamu of Angayau in Gwana District in his house and made away with N42,000.

PILGRIMS: A cross section of Muslims, including Lagos State Tawaf, at the Holy Ka'abah at Makkah, during the 2014 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

I left prison 4 months ago, says arrested car thief By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

HIRTY eight years old Faruk kept shaking his head intermittently, saying “I never wanted to go with them. If I had listened to my instinct, I would not have been involved. “It means I am returning to prison where I spent seven years. I was released just four months ago, with a promise to turn a new leaf.” He is one of the two suspected members of a robbery gang arrested in Mushin area of Lagos, with a stolen Honda Salon car. While being paraded yesterday, the suspects told newsmen that they snatched the car in Morroco Street, in Alade area of Yaba, while its owner was making love with a woman inside. The Command also revealed that it had foiled 34 robbery incidents with 44 robbery suspects arrested between August 1 and September 15. Eight robbery suspects, according to the Command’s boss, Kayode Aderanti, were killed during cross fire with the Police, while 20 arms and 282 live ammunition were recovered within the period under review. Speaking on the command’s recent achievement since he assumed office, Aderanti stated that he received information on the suspicious movement of a Honda saloon car with number plate NH 293 AAA within Mushin area of Lagos,

Monday. Acting on his directive, Officer in-Charge of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Abba Kyari, reportedly deployed three decoy teams, which accosted the car at Daleko roundabout, Mushin. He said: “Two armed robbers, named Babatunde Makinde and Faruk Lawal, were arrested. A search conducted on the vehicle led to the recovery of

one double barrel pistol, two single barrel pistols and 28 live cartridges. “The suspects confessed to have snatched the vehicle from its owner at gunpoint in Alade area of Yaba few hours before they were arrested and that the third gun belongs to one Dayo, a member of their gang who narrowly escaped arrest. “Investigation is still ongoing with a view to arresting the

fleeing gang members.” Aderanti also revealed that 34 suspected kidnappers were arrested, while 44 stolen vehicles were recovered. Most of the recovered vehicles, according to him, were discovered to have been stolen from other states of the federation, even as he expressed happiness that none of his men died during the encounters.

ARRESTED: The suspects, Babatunde Makinde and Faruk Lawal.

Man docked for alleged breach of trust

BUJA—THE police, yesterday, arraigned one Philmon Aunmenge in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Police prosecutor Babangida Joseph, told the court that one Emeka Nebedum of Durumi 3 reported the matter to the police on September 19. Joseph said the accused deceived Nebedum and

collected N130,000 from the complainant to secure a Malaysia visa and flight ticket for him. According to him, the accused converted the money to his personal use and absconded.

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‘I built 2 houses from robbery proceeds’ By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

55-year-old man alleged to be the leader of a robbery gang that specialises in attacking vehicles conveying goods to other states of the federation, yesterday, told a crowd at the Lagos State Police Command that he has used proceeds from robbery to build two houses. The white bearded suspect, a father of two, identified as Jude Dike, who was paraded alongside six other suspected members of the gang, disclosed that he started robbery three years ago. However, himself and other suspected members of his gang were arrested last Saturday, by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, around Ebutte Metta area of Lagos. Recovered from the suspects were a stolen Toyota Hiace bus, loaded with Volkswagen engines, female bags, female shoes and transmission oil for vehicles. The gang’s mode of operation, as gathered, included laying woods with nails and other dangerous instruments close to bad spots at designated points along expressways across the South-West region of the country. Expectedly, vehicles will slow down on reaching the point, only for the robbers to emerge from hiding and attack. Briefing journalists on the arrest, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, disclosed that a Beretta pistol with serial number P175131, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, three locally-made pistols and 33 live cartridges were recovered from the gang. He said: “The suspects confessed to several robberies within Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states. One Leonard Afaoku, was also arrested. Efforts to arrest other members of the gang are still on.”

‘How we operate’

At first the Imo State-born Dike denied having anything to do with other members of the gang, even when two of them claimed he was their boss and were introduced into the gang by him. At a point, he opened up and said: “I do not go for robbery with them. What they do is to bring to me the goods they stole and in return I sell to ready buyers. “I cannot count the number of trucks loaded with goods they have brought to me. But I remember them bringing a truck load of maggi (seasoning) which we sold for over N3 million, out of which I got N300,000. “Another was a truck loaded

with Milo (beverage) which was also sold for over N3 million and I got N800,000 from it. Again, they brought a vehicle loaded with cosmetics, which was sold for over 10 million out of which I collected N900,000. I used the money to build a house in my village. Another building is almost finished. “I was arrested when I wanted to sell an AK-47 riffle to one of them. I am not the owner of the gun, but was only acting as an intermediary. I told the supposed buyer to bring N150,000 for the gun. We were discussing on the amount on the phone, not knowing he has been arrested. “I am not their leader. They only said it to rope me in. I feel very bad now that I have been arrested. I knew that one day I will be arrested, but I never knew it will be this soon. I had the desire to stop but was afraid they might end up killing me.”

We use wooden guns— SUSPECT

On his part, another suspected member of the gang, Ejike Emewo, 29, said: “We usually blocked the road with sticks that have nails. Our

targets are usually vehicles loaded with goods that are on their way out of Lagos. “We usually drop these sticks close to bad spots, knowing that vehicles will stop on reaching there. Immediately they stop, we will come out of hiding and point sticks which look like guns at the driver. “We do not use guns to operate. Immediately the driver alights, we will tell his to hand the key over to us and we will zoom off. Our first port of call is Baba (Dike's) place. “This is my second time of going on operation with the gang. The first time I went, we did not see any vehicle. We stayed in the bush from 12.30am to 6am without luck. It was on my second attempt that I was arrested.” ‘Why I joined the gang’ He added: “I joined the gang last month (August) out of frustration. I have been living in China for three years before I had problem and was repatriated. I started sending money to China to buy goods. “I was managing with that when the doctor informed me that my pregnant wife would

give birth through Caesarian Section. At the end of the operation, I spent N270,000, yet the baby died. “I could not send money to China for goods anymore. In my bid to raise money to restart my business, I approached Baba (Dike) who owed me. “Rather than pay me, he said I should join his boys to rob. My intention was to raise N470,000 to start business, not knowing that it will never be.”

I joined because of poverty —ANOTHER SUSPECT

Another suspected member, who gave his name as Emmanuel Ifeanyi, said: “Out of frustration, I approached Baba (Dike) for help. He promised I would get back on my feet again, if I join his boys. “I joined because I am from a poor family. My parents and siblings look up to me for survival. “The first time I went with them, we operated along Ibadan/Ilesha expressway. We snatched a Toyota Camry car and took it to Baba, who sold it and gave me N7,000. He told us he sold the car for N40,000.”

NABBED: Mr. Jude Dike (left) and the other suspects.

Flood ravages Ozoro, 3000 displaced By Festus Ahon

GHELLI—OVER 3,000 residents of Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, have been displaced by flood, following a downpour that lasted for three days. The road leading to the House of the Deputy Majority leader of the House of Representatives, Chief Leo Ogor, was among areas submerged by the flood. Also submerged is Winners Church, D-Raj Eatery, Opute Hall, including residential houses/hostels around the state polytechnic, Ozoro, Etevie quarters, Agbaza lane, Alaka Street, Ogboka Street, Lagos Park, Oramudu Quarters and Kwale/Asaba road, with residents describing the flood as unprecedented and ravaging. One of the victims, a student of the Polytechnic, Mr. Chuks Enoma, said: “As I speak with you, I do not have a place of my own to rest my head. We vacated our hostel since the early hours of Sunday. Some of my hostel mates travelled home because of the ravaging flood.” Another resident, Mr. Fidelis Akeghure, said over 3,000 persons have been rendered homeless, adding that “more persons will be displaced if the rains continue.” Akeghure, a former counsellor, appealed to the state government to come to the rescue of the victims, noting that property worth millions of naira were being destroyed by the ravaging flood.

28-yr-old church crisis deepens By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—THERE seems to be no end in sight to the 24year-old crisis within the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide as one of the feuding factions refused to recognise the reconciliation committee set up to broker peace. This came as the Supreme Council, one of the factions in the crisis-ridden church, extended an olive branch to its opponent, saying it would sacrifice ‘everything’ for peace to return to the church.

The faction, led by Pastor Gabriel Lagunju, said this yesterday at its annual pastors’ conference held at the CAC, Alasepe, Ikire. This faction and the General Executive Council have been at loggerheads over the control of the church. Lagunju said: “We are ready to sacrifice everything and every position. But let us stress that we want seamless unification that would give equal recognition to all.” However, he noted that given the magnitude of the crisis in the church, it would

be complete falsehood for the other side to claim that there is no crisis, saying “it is what everybody can see.” As part of efforts it had made to achieve this, the council had inaugurated a 20-member peace committee about three years ago to prepare the ground towards the reunification of the church. He said: “The 20-member peace committee eventually teamed up in May 2013 with a neutral group, the CAC Peace and Reunification Group, composed of pastors, elders and youths from the

various factions of the mission, who have the same vision.” While giving report of a peace and unity committee jointly set up by both sides, Pastor Jacob Akinola explained that in the past, the Supreme Council had made several attempts that could bring lasting peace to the mission, but the GEC seemed not prepared for any reconciliation. He said the other faction had shunned the unity prayer conference twice in July and said they would not recognise the reconciliation team.

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Again, army withdraws claim on release of Chibok girls By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

BUJA—FOR the second time, the Nigerian Army yesterday retracted claims on the release of the abducted Chibok girls minutes after declaring some of the girls released. The development continued the despair of Nigerians arising from the abduction of 219 secondary school students in Chibok, Borno State which stretched to the 162nd day, today. Defence spokesman, Gen. Chris Olukolade had told the online newspaper, Premium Times that an undeclared number of the captured girls had been released and driven in two Hiace buses to Maimalari Barracks, the headquarters of the 7 th Division of the Nigerian Army. The news was quickly followed by excitement around the country and especially in the camp of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) advocacy group championed by former minister of education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs. Mariam Uwais and civil rights activist, Hadiza Bala Usman. Mrs. Ezekwesili who was all tensed up by the news told Vanguard yesterday that she was very excited with the news but expressed some caution as she said she was waiting for evidence before a formal reaction. “We are also in a waiting mood but there is no evidence

yet, so we must wait for the evidence.'' Told of the information from Defence Headquarters that some of the girls may have been driven to Maimalari barracks, she said: “We have heard that, but we want the evidence. We welcome the news that this has happened but the next thing is to move forward with the evidence that these are indeed the Chibok girls for whom we have been waiting for nearly six months.” However, the news was dashed barely two hours later when the Ministry of Defence

in a tweet in its official handle, refuted the story saying: “The Story circulating in respect of release of the #Chibok girls is untrue. Buses drove into the barracks but conveyed other individuals.” Ezekwesili in a response also tweeted: “Once again, our HOPE is dashed. The @DefenceInfoNG says rumor not true that OUR #ChibokGirls were rescued. It is HEART BREAKING. Speechless.” It was learnt yesterday that the girls who were driven into the barracks were some of the girls who earlier escaped from the

captivity of the Islamic sect last April who were being escorted to new secondary schools outside Borno State to continue their education. Yesterday would be the second time that a false report on the release of the Chibok girls would be made with some seeming official sanction. Days after the girls were abducted by the Islamic sect last April, the Ministry of Defence had claimed that most of the more than 280 girls abducted had been released. The ministry was to subsequently retract the assertion.

CONDOLENCE VISIT: President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor condoling with the widow of Mr Dimgba Igwe, The Sun Newspape'rs Vice Chairman, Madam Obioma and daughter, Victory during a condolence visit to the Igwe family in Lagos yesterday. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

MUTINY: We won't plead for convicted soldiers — SENATE

BUJA—THE Senate said yesterday it would not intervene in the case of 12 soldiers, who were convicted of mutiny and sentenced to death by a military tribunal, saying the penalty prescribed in the Military Act must be carried out. Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Thompson Sekibo disclosed this shortly after a close-door meeting between the senate committee and the Service Chiefs represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah. Senator Sekibo, who represents Rivers East in the senate said the Senate was not under pressure to intervene in the case. He said, “No we are not, because the Armed Forces are established by an Act of the National Assembly. The Act spelt out categorically the conduct of the soldiers and the way they are to behave wherever they are. “If you join the military, that Act is to guide you and your

...Labour urges clemency conduct. If you go contrary to any of the prescribed sections of the Act the punishment prescribed for the Act you violated will come on you. “So the military did not just wake up one day and say that they are going to kill Mr. A or Mr. B. They went through the necessary processes and they found them guilty. “But I think that those found guilty also have a way out. They can go on appeal and if the appeal finds them not guilty that will be it. But for what the military has done, they have done the best thing; because you must instil discipline in the Armed Forces. “If you don’t do so, one day all of us here will be sacked and you will not hear of this place,” he stated. Mr. Sekibo called on Nigerians to encourage the military to ensure that it discharged its duties effectively. The 12 Nigerian soldiers were on September 16, sentenced to death for mutiny after firing

shots at their commanding officer, Abubakar Mohammed, in Maiduguri on May 14. A nine-member military tribunal, sitting in Abuja, convicted the soldiers. Court president, Chukwuemeka Okonkwo said the sentences were subject to confirmation by Nigeria’s military authorities but added there was no doubt about the gravity of the offence. But while the Senate believes the soldiers deserve to die, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, is pleading with the Nigerian Army to lighten the death sentence. The Acting President of the Union, Promise Adewusi, made the appeal at a news conference to express the view of the union on the verdicts passed on the soldiers. The union said that in view of the numerous challenges confronting the military hierarchy, the execution of the convicts would not in any way restore discipline in the army. Mr. Adewusi said although the

convictions could not be faulted legally, the death sentence was harsh and unacceptable. “We expect that the Military Council or the appropriate authority, whose responsibility it is to review sentences of this nature, should commute this sentence to a more tolerable or acceptable one.” Mr. Adewusi said the appeal was hinged on the fact that the execution of the soldiers, rather than restore discipline, “could sow the seed of a major security problem in the armed forces”. He said that in confronting the nation’s lingering security challenges, it was important that commanders earned the confidence of their troops. Mr. Adewusi said: “Nowhere is cohesion needed more than in the armed forces, especially in conflict period.” He urged the military hierarchy to ensure that the ongoing war on terror was waged in a more transparent and coordinated manner. “We are urging the military authorities to commute the death sentence on the 12 to a lighter sentence.''

Nigeria generated 1.09m jobs in 6 months – NBS

BUJA—THE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria recorded 85 per cent employment in the first half of 2014. This is contained in a statement issued by the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, in Abuja. The statistician-general said the managerial, professional and technical cadre recorded 1,085,071 employees, representing 34.25 per cent of the total number in the first quarter. He said the figure increased to 1,091,096 employees, representing 34.62 per cent of the total in the second quarter. Kale said those employed as operatives were 943,652, representing 29.78 per cent of the total employed in first quarter and 930,507, representing 29.53 per cent in second quarter. He added that operative, clerical and related office workers made up of 679,173, representing 21.43 per cent in first quarter, a slightly lesser than 672,714 or 21.35 per cent recorded in second quarter. “By economic activity, education was the greatest employer in the formal sector, with1, 573,082 employees; it made up 49.64 per cent of the total employed in the first quarter. It increased by 0.43 per cent or 6,771 employees in the second quarter to reach 1,579,854 or 50.13 per cent of the total.” He said the manufacturing sector recorded 503,023 or 15.87 per cent of total formal employment. According to him, the sector declined by 2.64 per cent to employ 489,273 or 15.54 per cent of the total employed in the formal sector in second quarter. “The main driver of the overall decline in formal employment in the second quarter came from the professional, scientific and technical services. “In these sectors, the 107,986 workers or 3.41per cent of the total were employed in the first quarter. But they declined by 49.35 per cent to 54,697 or 1.74 per cent of the total employed in the second quarter. The greatest was Administrative and Support Services, which increased by 34.85 per cent from the 16,592 employees recorded in the first quarter to 73,145 in the second.”

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Lagos executes N1.175tn capital projects in 5 years

BRT: I can identify female soldier who burnt first bus —WITNESS

—GBELEYI

zFive BRT buses burnt, 10 vandalised —NURTW

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—IN funding the huge capital expenditure of the state, Lagos State Government said it disburses an average of N235 billion annually, over the period of five years, with approximate total of N1.175 trillion. The Debt Management Office, Abuja, puts Lagos State’s debt profile at N160 billion. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, while justifying the decisions of the state government in taking a bond worth over N160 billion from the World Bank, assured that strategies were in place to ensure repayment of the loan as at when due. Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi, who disclosed the N235 billion annual capital expenditure at the 2014 Accountants' retreat under the employment of the state government, held in Lagos, maintained that the state has continued to demonstrate a high level of fiscal prudence in its drive for infrastructure renewal and development across the state.

6 ships arrive Lagos ports with petroleum products

AGOS—SIX vessels laden with petroleum products have arrived at the Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, said yesterday. The NPA in its daily publication, “Shipping Position’’, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos said another six vessels bearing food items and general cargo were also waiting to berth at the ports. The NPA also disclosed that it was expecting 39 vessels to sail into the ports from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20. The publication said that “39 vessels are expected to sail into the ports in Lagos and they will arrive with different cargoes.”

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By Monsuru Olowoopejo

AGOS—A witness, at the ongoing tribunal of inquiry into the July 4 road accident and subsequent destruction of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, looting and rioting, yesterday, said he could identify the female soldier who set the first BRT bus ablaze. This came barely a week after another witness, said it was a female soldier that set the first bus ablaze, an act which led to the burning of other BRT and LAGBUS buses at Palm Grove area. Speaking at the sixth day of the public hearing in Ikeja, Mr. Oluwole Nejo, a driver with National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, owners of the BRT bus that was the first casualty said: “I know the soldiers who burnt our buses. If I see her (the female soldier) today, I will recognize her.” Nejo, the driver of burnt bus 254, said: “On that fateful day, I saw several soldiers on the Ikorodu road. Of these large number, three walked towards my bus and attacked us (the passengers and the driver). Of the three soldiers, two were male while the third was a female. “Immediately they attacked the bus I was driving, the passengers and I ran out of it for safety. ‘’The female soldier was responsible for setting the bus ablaze with a plastic bottle filled with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS (Petrol).

Five BRT buses burnt, 10 vandalised — NURTW

Another witness, Mr. Egharevba Emoron, the Human Resource Manager for the NURTW owned BRT buses, said: “Five of our buses were burnt while 10 were vandalized by the soldiers.” Emoron who claimed he arrived at the scene some minutes past 8:00 am, explained that three of the buses- numbers 252, 299 and 254, were completely burnt while two- 256 and 257, were partially burnt by the soldiers. “When I arrived the scene, I

met the buses burning. And I was surprised Policemen at the scene could not do anything to halt the act being perpetrated by the soldiers. Rather than caution the soldiers, they watched as the event unfolded,” he said. Emoron also said that prior to the July 4 incident and after, they were often assaulted by soldiers whenever there was a road crash involving BRT buses and vehicles owned by soldiers, saying “even if the soldiers were wrong, we were often compelled by the soldiers to repair their vehicles. “Even last Wednesday, one of our drivers was beaten by

some soldiers who alleged that he damaged their vehicle,” Emoron said.

'I saw soldiers collecting mobile phones from citizens'

Aside burning of the buses, Emoron said that the military officers took mobile phones from passers-by and owners of private vehicles who tried to capture the development with their mobile phones. He said: “I saw soldiers taking mobile phones from commuters and smashing them on the ground until they were satisfied that the phones could no longer function.”

CELEBRATION: From left: Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, Etisalat Distribution Partner (North 1), Alhaji Sa’ad Sharubutu, Director, Channel Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Ken Ogujiofor, and another Distribution Partner (South-East), Anthony Nebeolisa, at a dinner organised by Etisalat to celebrate its top distribution partners in Lagos.

We're finding it difficult to fish out Igwe's killer —Lagos CP zGives illegal arms owners 2-week ultimatum By Evelyn Usman & Esther

Onyegbula

AGOS—THE Lagos State Police Command yesterday said it is having challenges with the investigation into the death of late Vice-Chairman of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Dimgba Igwe who was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver three weeks ago in Ago-Okota area of the state. The late Igwe, 58, was reportedly jogging when he was hit by a vehicle. He was moved to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, for surgical emergency, unfortunately, he did not survive. Speaking with newsmen yesterday, the CP, Kayode

Aderanti, disclosed that the killer driver was yet to be apprehended despite intensified efforts. Part of the difficulty faced by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department ,SCID, Yaba, according to the CP, was inability to get information from eye-witnesses. According to him: “My presence at the Sun Publishing Limited shows the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police over the death of the veteran journalist. ‘’I have transferred the case to SCID for a thorough and comprehensive investigation because I want to take it beyond mere hit-and-run. I have even involved operatives of SARS. ‘’I am using this medium to appeal to members of the public

to avail us with information because we tried to identify the kind of vehicle that knocked him down . So far, the information we have is scanty. “That brings to mind the culture of having Closed-Circuit Television, CCTV, in our houses. This should not be left to government alone. Individual houses should also learn to install them in their premises. If we had CCTV around, somebody, somewhere would have captured the incident and within 24 hours, we would have been able to solve this issue.” He also appealed to the driver of the vehicle that knocked down the late Igwe to come forward and give himself to the police, recalling that; “ A similar incident happened in Area ‘A’ sometime ago, where the driver showed up

by himself in my office then, saying he was the one that hit the person in question. He said he had not been able to sleep since the incident occurred. Meantime, the CP has warned llegal arms owners in Lagos State to surrender their weapons within two weeks or face the wrath of the law. He gave the order while speaking with journalists at the command headquarters in Lagos. Aderanti, however, assured Lagos residents that there would be no mercy for anyone found with illegal arms in the state. “Every illegal weapon should be taken to any area command in the state within two weeks as anybody caught after this date will be treated as an armed robber,” he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—11

ATTACK ON EKITI JUDGE: Police arraign 6

suspects, summon PDP, APC By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—THE police in Ekiti State have charged six persons suspected to have disrupted the court on Monday in Ado Ekiti before a magistrate's court in the state capital. The accused persons, according to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Oriyomi Akinwale are Raji Wasiu, 23; Ayo Ogunlana, 28; Fasusi George, 38; Arogbuwa Diya, 35; Adewumi Gbenga, 30 and Adewumi Kehinde, 44. He said the accused committed the offence on September 22 at about noon, at High Court 6, in Ado-Ekiti. Oriyomi said the accused obstructed the course of justice and caused disturbance in the course of judicial proceedings. He added that they intentionally disrespected Justice Isaac Ogunyemi during his judicial proceedings, saying that they also damaged the entrance to the courtroom. The prosecutor claimed that the offence contravened Section 133,451,126(1) of the Criminal Code,Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge,while their counsel, Mr. Kola Kolade prayed the court to grant bail to his clients, promising they would not jump bail.

The prosecutor opposed the bail application, saying the offence was a grievous one. Magistrate Modupe Afeniforo consequently granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties in like sum. She added that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 12 or must be a property owner with evidence of tax clearance. She later adjourned the case till October 22 for further hearing.

Police summon APC,

PDP chairmen

Also, it was reliably gathered yesterday that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu has summoned the chairmen of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, Makanjuola Ogundipe and Jide Awe respectively to his office over Monday’s incident.

PDP absolves Fayose

Meantime, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State has absolved Ekiti

State's Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose from Monday’s invasion of the courtroom by some hoodlums, saying Fayose had no hand in the incident, just as it has raised an alarm that members the APC has perfected plans to attack some of its members in the state. Speaking at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, said people should stop linking the governor-elect, Mr Fayose with the incident.

PILGRIMAGE: Alhaji Shakirudeen Abdulgafar, Chairman, Sub Committee on Muna/Arafah, addressing some pilgrims on conduct at Muna/Arafah, Saudi Arabia .Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

INEC replies Owolade's 98 page petition O

By Gbenga Olarinoye

SOGBO—THE Independent National Electoral Commision INEC has filed a 128-page reply to the petition filed by Mr Niyi Owolade, a candidate of Accord Party, who polled 377 votes at the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State. In the reply dated September 19, 2014 and signed by Chief Adegboyega Awomoolo, SAN; A.B Mahmoud, SAN, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Hassan M. Liman, SAN; Ahmed Raji SAN and 17 other lawyers, they ask the court to strike out paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42(i) 42(ii) 42(vii), (2) (3), (4), (5), 42(ix), 43, 44 and 46 of the petition on the ground that they are generic, vague and imprecise. The paragraphs sought to be struck out by INEC is 28 paragraphs out of the 46 paragraphs’ petition. If the INEC prayer is granted, the implication is that there will be nothing left for the petitioner

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to prove at the hearing of the petition. Apart from the preliminary issue raised in its reply, INEC contended that Governor Rauf Aregbesola sued as the First Respondent who was validly elected and returned in the August 9, 2014 in Osun State gubernatorial election. They further contended that the election substantially complied

with the Electoral Act as well as the INEC Manual for Election Officials 2014. According to INEC, there were no irregularities or acts of noncompliance which substantially affected the election in the 30 Local Government Areas that comprise Osun State. On the allegation that O’YES cadets were used as INEC adhoc staff, INEC in its reply stated

that in line with its regular practice and policy, Third Respondent used members of the NYSC as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers at the election. The commission added that Supervisory Presiding Officers and other sensitive positions were filled with staff of Federal tertiary institutions and other federal establishments.

We're vulnerable to Ebola, border community tells Amosun

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—RESIDENTS of Ipokia, a border town in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, yesterday, told the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun that lack of protective materials against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, has made them vulnerable to the deadly disease. The residents, however, called on the governor to

equip their hospitals with protective gadgets and consumables against the EVD because of their closeness to the Republic of Benin. Ipokia is a town by the Nigeria and Republic of Benin border. Chairman of the border council area, Isiaka Aderounmu, appealed to the governor, who was in Ipokia in continuation of his project assessment and monitoring

tour, to provide necessary medical materials for them because they are vulnerable. “We urgently need the state government’s quick and decisive intervention in respect of Ebola Virus Disease in view of our peculiar proximity to neighbouring Benin Republic which make our people quite vulnerable to the killer disease which has no cure yet," he said.

Daniel's lone defection plot deceitful —OGUN PDP

BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the purported lone defection of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, from the Labour Party, LP, to the PDP as deceit in the polity. In a statement issued in Abeokuta, yesterday, by the state Publicity Secretar y, Waliu Oladipupo, the party said: “Much as our hands are widely opened to receive defectors into our party, including Gbenga Daniel, we find his purported solo return as a less than clever attempt to hoodwink our people and deceive the national leaders of our party. “We have reliable information that the kite being flown that most of his followers have vowed not to return with him to the PDP is part of a grand plot to deceive our leaders and use the resources of the PDP and its government to fund his followers in LP. “This is a repeat of what happened in 2011 when his body remained in the PDP but his heart and soul were with the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN. He used the resources of the PDP-led government to fund the PPN."

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

2015 Presidency: Oshiomhole submits letter of intent to APC leadership ...may face Jonathan By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—AHEAD the 2015 presidential election, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has submitted a letter of intent to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, just as he intensified consultations with stakeholders across the country, including former Presidents, Vanguard has gathered. It was gathered that time table for his nationwide consultation meeting with APC governors, meetings with former presidents, opening of his campaign headquarters in Abuja and Edo State and setting up of committees would soon be made public. His former governorship campaign office will serve as his presidential campaign office in Edo State, it was gathered. Vanguard gathered that majority of the APC governors may soon endorse him as their candidate due to the belief that his popularity cuts across the country, which is one of the attributes they intend to explore to stop President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who, incidentally, is expected to visit Edo State this weekend. Vanguard learnt that the intention of the governor was

to take a long rest after his tenure as governor must have expired in 2016, but persistent pressure on him to join the presidential race from APC governors and influential Nigerians may have made him change his mind. If the governor picks the APC ticket, he may be squaring up with President Jonathan, who also is from the South-South. However, the Special Adviser to the governor, Mr Kaseem Afegbua, who reacted

to the governor ’s alleged presidential ambition, said that the governor has the pedigree to run for the highest position in the country, therefore, people should not be surprised if he decides to join the race. “I don’t know why it appears strange that Adams Oshiomhole is running for president? Does he not have the pedigree to do so or some people are just trying to be cynical about his ambition? Or the PDP is jittery, knowing

fully well that Oshiomhole enjoys national support and a greater appeal than some of those presently eyeing the plum position. “Since the news broke, we have been inundated with several telephone calls which also suggests that a lot of Nigerians across sociopolitical divides welcome the idea. Some of those highly placed Nigerians that spoke to us concede to the fact that he is eminently qualified to run for the nation’s highest office."

EDO 2015 BUDGET PRESENTATION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State presenting a copy of the state's 2015 Budget to Rt. Hon Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, at the presentation of the state's 2015 budget, yesterday.

Give us two weeks to register, Delta community begs INEC By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE people of Ayokoromo Federated Community, comprising of Ayakoromo mainland with over 35 towns and villages, Newtown, Bubougbene, Akparemogbene, Ekoro, ward 7 in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, have cried out over what they described as disenfranchisement in the last voters registration exercise, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to give them two weeks to enable them register. The people, in a letter to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said: “We, on behalf of ourselves and the good people of Ayakoromo Federated Community, which is politically known as Ngbilebiri 1, ward 7, in Burutu Local Government Area, comprising Ayakoromo mainland with over 35 towns/ villages, including Newtown,

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Bubougbene , Akparemogbene, Ekoro, Egologbene, Esiemogbene, Oyangbene, Ebeingbene, as you are aware, on December 1, 2010 about 2p.m., came under attack by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, who claim to have done so under a purported order to arrest a

former militant, John Togo and his group, who were suspected to be hiding in the Ayakoromo area. “The military action made many people lose their dear ones and others fled the community for the safety of their lives and became refuges in neighboring communities

within and outside Delta State, thereby making the 2011 voter’s registration exercise in ward 7 a fiasco. Over 80 percent of the qualified people were afraid to come out for the voter registration exercise because of the military presence in the community then."

Ebola:Bayelsa schools to resume Sept 29

By Samuel Oyadongha

E N AG OA — B AY E L S A State Government has said that schools in the state will resume academic activities on September 29. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mr. Salo Adikumo, who disclosed this in Yenagoa, said that the government had taken proactive measures to prevent an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the state. “We are forward looking in Bayelsa. While the schools were on holiday, we took time to put things in order to

prevent Ebola spread. We have trained staff in all the local government areas, so the state is ready and as we speak, everything is ready. “We used officials of the Ministry of Health to conduct training in all schools. The extra one week is just to ensure that we take adequate precautions. The governor is satisfied with what we have put in place and that is why he has approved that we should reopen the schools on September 29.” He described as regrettable, the action of some private

schools which resumed on Monday. He said the one week extension was given for private schools to be ready and wondered why they were in a hurry to resume. Meanwhile, some private schools in Yenagoa, which resumed classes on Monday, were yesterday shut for fear of being sanctioned. But some of their staff, who reported for duty, it was learnt, are undergoing training on how to handle their pupils when they resume classes next Monday.

Agric Minister flags off GES in Bayelsa By Emem Idio

E N A G O A — MINISTER of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has flagged of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, GES, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the distribution of improved cocoa seedlings, day old chicks, poultry feeds, insecticides and other farming inputs to farmers in the state. Presenting the inputs to the farmers, the minister, represented by Bayelsa State Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Francis Umokoro, described the GES of the ministry as an initiative geared towards improving agricultural practice in the country and urged the farmers to key into the programme. Under the first phase of the Poultry Value Chain, he said, 100 farmers were to receive 100 day old chicks each in addition to poultry feeds, drugs and vaccines, noting that the initiative was aimed at enriching Nigerian farmers and create jobs.

2015: Ibusa Union backs Esewezie for DTHA By Tommy Anaduaka

HE leadership of Ibusa Community Development Union, ICDU, an umbrella body of indigenes of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, has commended the numerous infrastructural d e v e l o p m e n t programmes of the Transition Committee Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Innocent Esewezie. ICDU, in a statement by its National President, Prof. Tony Arinze, said that the reward for excellent performance was higher opportunity for greater performance. ICDU said it endorsed Ezewezie for the state House of Assembly seat because of his level headedness and courage coupled with his commitment to duty as well as his exemplary leadership in administration.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—13

Police storm Rivers Judiciary complex ...pave way for Justice Okocha's meeting with judges By Jimitota Onoyume

ORT HARCOURT— ABOUT 30 policemen, yesterday, forced their way into the Rivers State judiciary complex in Port Harcourt, leading Justice Daisy Okocha into the place for a meeting with judges in the state. Vanguard gathered that Justice Okocha had notified judges in the state last week of her intention to meet with them yesterday. There was, however, a slight drama at the gate of the judiciary complex when the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Mr. Nnamdi Nweche, made attempt to go into the court premises, shouting that he is a lawyer. Fierce looking anti-riot policemen ordered him and his loyalists to stay away from the premises. Nweche, who later spoke to newsmen some distance away from the gate to the complex, said it was shocking that anyone could break into the place while judicial workers in the state were on strike. He said: “I am shocked to learn that some unknown persons are holding a meeting inside the court building. This is unacceptable because judiciary workers are on strike and the gates have been locked to prevent illegal entry into the court premises. Nobody has a right to go into the court premises when the judiciary

workers are on strike.” The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature, who breezed into the court premises in company of some top officers of his command, warned media men and others who were milling around to leave the area. As if waiting for the Police boss to voice the words, his men started firing canisters of tear gas, an action that sent everybody running for safety.

Meantime, the Rivers State Government has condemned the action of the state Police command, saying it was shocking that a state Police Commissioner could supervise the illegal action of his men. The state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who spoke to newsmen, described the forceful entry into the judicial premises as illegal.

She said that the action of the Police yesterday was part of an alleged move to open the state House of Assembly complex for anti-Amaechi lawmakers to impeach the governor. “We woke up to the shocking news of an illegality supervised by the Commissioner of Police. Rivers State Government is worried about the series of unprovoked attack on Rivers people. Rivers people were tear-gassed. We are scared that we are returning to a Police state in Rivers State."

PRESENTATION: From left: The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh (left); Chief Olusegun Osunkeye and Senator Tunde Ogbeha, during the presentation of the Primate Primatial Proclamation Award of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion to Senator Ogbeha, at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Enugu State.

Delta communities shut NPDC operations, allege neglect By Festus Ahon

GHELLI—NINE oil producing communities, under the aegis of Forum of Communities Executives of Flow Stations in OML 30, Delta State, have shut down operations of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, over what they described as gross neglect and inability of the company to meet their demands. The leaders of the nine communities, which include Afiesere, Kokori, Evwreni, OtorOwhe, Oroni-Igbide, Owevwe, Oleh, Olomoro and Uzere at a meeting in Ughelli, said the action became imperative following the continuous flouting and deliberate refusal by the company to respond to their requests. The community leaders had earlier given two weeks ultimatum to NPDC, which expired on September, 15. The communities, in a communique by the Forum’s

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Chairman, Mr. Augustine Onovayewhor, said: “The journey to this showdown started over 18 months ago. “Thus, when we heard of the exit of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, we heaved a sigh of relief, thinking all will be well with the coming of NPDC. Little did we know that it was a case of a new

wine in an old bottle. “We have watched with utter bewilderment the unfolding scenario in which NPDC is using intrigues and manipulations to heat up the existing peace prevailing in our oil fields. “The Forum therefore resolved that NPDC, as a matter of urgency, should address the identified issues before the reopening of the closed flow stations.

“The issues include the signing of the long awaited GMoU not later than now; payment of all Quick Win Projects in OML 30; renewal of all existing running contracts; no extension in OML 30; upward review/payment of all land lease/ rental in OML 30; commencement of well head jobs and employment preferences to indigenes so as to avoid unnecessary and constant friction.”

Fresh leadership crisis hits A'Ibom APC By Chioma Onuegbu

YO—FRESH crisis is rocking All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State, following the suspension of 22 local government chapter chairmen, and 10 state officers of the party. The state Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Emms Ekongson; the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Samuel Udobong; state Organising Secretary, Mr. Bassey Essiet, were among the officers affected. It was gathered that the party had in a letter dated September 12, by its state Secretary, Mr. Effiong Etok, accused the

party officers of holding parallel meetings intended to undermine the state party directives and decisions, and issuing threat text messages and phone calls to party officials, which contravene Article 21(ii), (iii) and (v) of the party’s constitution. It was further gathered that the crisis had resulted in the emergence of two factions of the party in the state as the aggrieved members of the party no longer participate in party activities, insisting on the immediate

withdrawal of the suspension letter.

Ughelli people laud Jonathan over Oru's appointment

HE Natives of Ughelli Kingdom, a socio-political pressure group in Ughelli, Delta State, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan on the appointment of Dr. Steve Oru as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. President of the group, Mr. Daniel Awisa, in a statement, commended President Jonathan for the lives of the people of Ughelli Kingdom and pledged their support to him and his administration. The group also passed a vote of confidence on President Jonathan and urged him to accept the call of the people to run for a second term. It assured Jonathan of members' support to ensure the realisation of his 2015 political ambition. The body also commended Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for his developmental strides in Ughelli Kingdom.

Conference

HE Foundation of Truth Assembly, FOTA, will today commence its Giant Killer’s Conference, GKC. The Senior Pastor, Rev. Yomi Kasali said the conference, tagged Jehoshaphat’s Army, ends on Sunday, and is aimed at tackling challenges confronting the nation with an uncommon approach.

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Oshiomhole presents N156.6bn 2015 budget By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has presented the state’s 2015 budget estimates of N156.551 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval. Christened “Budget of Developmental Consolidation,” it is aimed at taking the state to the next level. Made up of N87.5 billion as capital expenditure, representing 55.77 per cent and N68.99 billion, representing 44.23 per cent, the budget is N4 billion lower than the 2014 budget which stood at N160.1 billion. He said that the budget was designed towards the completion of all ongoing projects, injection of new investments in key priority sectors of the administration which are roads construction and rehabilitation, education, health, water, rural electrification and environmental protection including drainage towards erosion control and beautification. The governor said that the budget will also address projects for job creation particularly through economic empowerment with emphasis on microcredit to small and medium scale enterprises; project for mass housing, expanding

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the revenue base, creation of the enabling environment for domestic and direct foreign investment and deepening of governance reforms. “The budget is designed to achieve the consolidation of this administration’s developmental agenda and focus on key priority sector of government namely; infrastructure, education and health."

The budget is classified into four sectors: Administration which takes N17.873 billion recurrent and N4.031 billion capital; Economic with N5.342 billion recurrent and N26.029 billion Capital; Law and Justice with N2.955 billion recurrent and N0.837 billion capital and Social with N20.173 billion recurrent and N46.665 billion capital.

Akpabio warns monarchs against habouring criminals By Chioma Onuegbu

YO—GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, warned royal fathers not to be afraid of exposing and reporting suspected criminals within their domains to security and government authorities in order to sustain the improved security in the state. Akpabio gave the warning at Government House, Uyo during the swearing in of Edidem Silas Akpan, Paramount Ruler of Uyo Local Government Area as the Chairman Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs as part of activities marking the state anniversary. He said “A situation where the royal fathers hide or harbour kidnappers,

child traffickers and criminals within their domains will contravene the sanctity of the traditional institution. “I urge the royal fathers to join hands with the state government and security agencies to curb the menace of child trafficking and child kidnapping. These crimes are alien to our culture and I hope that this practice is brought to an end.” Akpabio, who emphasised that it would be embarrassing having a traditional ruler arrested by security operatives for habouring criminals, said that there was no hiding place for criminals in the state as his administration will stop at nothing to ensure that perpetrators were caught and punished.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—15

APC'll take over Aso Rock in 2015, boasts Okorocha By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to start preparing his handover notes, saying the All Progressives Congress, APC, was putting finishing touches to take over Aso Rock in 2015. The governor spoke in Owerri while hosting APC local government chairmen from the 36 states of the federation who gathered in the city to celebrate his 52nd birthday. “Come 2015, APC will be in Aso Rock but we must be aggressive to drag PDP and its members out of the Presidency and indeed, Nigeria,” Governor Okorocha said. While reassuring APC loyalists that the party would win the Presidential election in 2015, Okorocha also said the time of Peoples Democratic Party’s time was over in the history of Nigerian politics. “I have the capacity to govern the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “I must also make it abundantly clear that the PDP and, indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan, cannot defeat me in the forthcoming general election,”

Okorocha boasted. He, however, pointed out that he would not run unless the masses asked him to run, stressing that his mission in Nigeria had not been actualised. He said: “My mission in Nigeria is yet to be fully

actualised. This is largely as a result of the activities of the elites, who have denied me several opportunities to serve my people.” Continuing, the governor promised that if given the opportunity to rule Nigeria, he

would fight Boko Haram insurgents to a halt through decentralisation of power. He said he was inspired to join politics in order to render humanitarian service to the less privileged in the society, pointing out that this made him introduce

free education from primary to the tertiary level in the state. Okorocha urged APC members to participate in the revalidation of voters cards, adding that this would enable them cast their votes during the 2015 general election. “You all must understand that Nigeria can be better if the masses elect a credible leader to rule the country,” Okorocha said.

2015: Plot to scuttle Chime’s rally for Jonathan thickens

NUGU—GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, has declared a work-free day for the grand rally organised by Enugu State Movement for the re-election of President Goodluck, Jonathan scheduled to hold tomorrow at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. To this end, Chime enjoins civil servants, schools, banks and other corporate institutions to observe the public holiday and take part in the rally, which is intended to drum support for President Jonathan and also mount further pressures on him to formally declare for the 2015 presidential election. This is also as another grand intra-party plot by some persons loyal to a federal lawmaker to scuttle the rally thickens. To realise their aim, the people have slated a meeting of

Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, Enugu State chapter for today in all the wards. This is a follow-up from the meeting TAN had at the three senatorial districts last Saturday. The plot is to invite all the ward coordinators to come to the state capital to collect money from an aide of the federal lawmaker for onward distribution to members tomorrow. This paper learnt that the event is so carefully designed to coincide with the rally for Jonathan so that most members of TAN who are also members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in anticipation of the money from their ward coordinators, will be forced to stay back in their wards and not travel to Enugu for the rally for the President. It was, however, learnt that Governor Chime is leaving no

stone unturned in his determination to make the rally a huge success. “In 2011, Mr. President had a landslide victory in Enugu State. We will surpass that feat in the 2015 presidential elections. That’s why we’re organizing this rally to ask Mr. President to declare his interest without wasting further time,” Chime was reported to have declared. To ensure the success of the rally, the government involved all prominent citizens of the state as either patrons or promoters. Chief Ken Nnamani, former President of the Senate is the grand patron, while Chime and other ex-governors of both old Anambra and old Enugu states who are indigenes of the state are patrons. They include Senator Jim Nwobodo, Admiral Allison

Madueke (rtd) and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo. The promoters comprise Prof. Chinedu Nebo, the Minister of Power, the three senators from the state as well as Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, the special adviser on NEPAD to Jonathan, Senators Ben-Collins Ndu and Dubem Onyia. The Vice-President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, will represent the President at the rally which will be preceded by the commissioning of the Heliport built by Enugu State government for the Nigeria Police Force. It was also gathered that plans are underway by some interests within the PDP fold to challenge the validity of the position of Engr. Vita Abba as the authentic chairman of the party in the state. “We have it on good authority that some of our brothers in Abu-

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

BRIEFS

Israel downs Syrian warplane

•Syrian refugees flee as the United States and several Arab nations rained bombs on ISIS targets in Syria yesterday

US, Arab allies launch strikes on ISIS HE United States and several Arab nations carried out air strikes against ISIS in Syria early yesterday, intensifying the campaign against the Islamic militant group. Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea began the strikes against the Sunni Muslim extremists, followed by bombers and fighters. Here are answers to key questions about the new phase in the conflict with ISIS. Which areas were hit? The bombing has focused on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a city in northern Syria. ISIS has had control of Raqqa for more than a year, imposing its brutal interpretation of Islamic law on the city ’s residents. The extremists have made the city, which sits on the banks of the Euphrates River, the de facto capital of their selfdeclared “Islamic State” that stretches across large areas of Syria and Iraq. ISIS targets around other Syrian cities, Deir Ezzor, Al Hasakah and Abu Kamal were also hit in the strikes. What was struck? The attacks damaged multiple ISIS targets, the US military said, including training c o m p o u n d s , headquarters, storage facilities, supply trucks and armed vehicles. “Usually the first part of any air campaign are strategic targets — fixed locations, big buildings — things that you don’t need a guy on the ground to laserdesignate,” said retired Lt. Col. Rick Francona, an Air Force veteran intelligence officer and CNN military analyst.

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The Pentagon also said ISIS fighters were hit in the strikes, but didn’t specify how many. In Raqqa, a building in the governor ’s compound, a post office and a recruitment centre were among the sites struck, activists reported. Why is Raqqa a focus of the initial strikes? The city is known as a place where ISIS houses training centres, weapons depots and accommodations for fighters. During the Syrian conflict, the group has also seized military bases from the Syrian regime near the city and in the wider Raqqa province. The targets hit by the airstrikes are intended to hurt ISIS’ ability to command and control, resupply and train, a senior US military official told CNN’s Jim Sciutto. ISIS has made Raqqa the flagship for its model of governance, providing food, fuel and security to people struggling to survive after years of civil war. But it also imposed hardline Islamist law there and metes out harsh punishment to those who don’t follow orders. Locals started calling the city Tora Bora last year, saying it felt as if the Taliban of Afghanistan had taken over. Who is taking part in the air strikes? All the foreign partners participating in the strikes with the United States are Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar. “It’s a remarkable diplomatic achievement,” said CNN political commentator Peter Beinhart. “I don’t think it was

expected that there would be this much Arab support.” How long will the attacks go on? For a while.The first wave of strikes was expected to last into the early hours of Tuesday morning in Syria, CNN’s Sciutto reported. It is aimed at striking a strong initial blow, a senior U.S. official told CNN. The aerial campaign on ISIS targets in Syria is expected to continue beyond Tuesday. Counterterrorism expert, Philip Mudd said Tuesday’s attacks were “just the start.” “This is not a definitive blow,” said Mudd, who previously worked for the

first night of bombing. Some analysts have suggested that ISIS had already started dispersing its assets and fighters following President Barack Obama’s warning of action in Syria earlier this month. The response of ISIS fighters to the initial strikes may give military officials clues on what to target next. “The follow-up to some of these strikes is — what are their actions now?” said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst. “There is intelligence that flows from the initial strike,” he said. The Arab governments involved in the strikes

The bombing has focused on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a city in northern Syria. ISIS has had control of Raqqa for more than a year, imposing its brutal interpretation of Islamic law on the city’s residents

CIA. “When this gets interesting to me as a former practitioner is six months down the road, when a second-tier ISIS commander starts to create some sort of cell to recruit foreigners from Europe or the United States or Canada into Syria, do we still have the will and capability, and the intelligence, to locate that person, or that group of people, and put lead on the target?” What happens next? U.S. military officials will be trying to assess the effectiveness of the

could also face discontent among their own people. “Parts of the population do not agree with Sunni going against Sunni,” Hertling said. The United States is also pushing for a binding resolution at the U.N. General Assembly this week that aims to prevent and track the travel of foreign fighters to Syria. How has ISIS reacted? There was no immediate confirmed comment from the militant group on the strikes.

SRAEL, yesterday shot down a Syrian warplane , saying the aircraft crossed the battle lines of Syria’s civil war and flew over the Israeli held Golan Heights, perhaps by accident. This is even as Syria described the downing of the aircraft as an act of aggression. The incident coincided with but did not appear to be directly related to air strikes the United States and Gulf Arab allies mounted on Islamic State strongholds in Syria. But it presented another challenge to Israel’s oftstated desire to stay on the sidelines of a conflict on its northern doorstep, in which al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front rebels took over a border crossing on the Golan last month. The Israeli military said its U.S made Patriot missile air defense system shot down a Syrian Russian-built Sukhoi fighter plane that had “infiltrated Israeli airspace” over the territory, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Meanwhile, it was the first time in three decades that Israel had downed a Syrian warplane. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence in the civil war, said the warplane had been bombing areas outside Quneitra, a Syrian town near the Israeli-held side of the frontier, at the time it was shot down. It said the pilot had bailed out. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, commenting on the incident, said Israel “will not allow any element - neither a state nor a terrorist group - to threaten our security and violate our sovereignty”. Israeli military sources said the plane apparently crossed by accident into Israeli-controlled airspace. In his statement, Yaalon also seemed to raise that possibility, saying Israel would respond strongly to perceived threats “whether they stemmed from a mistake or were deliberate”. Israel has fired into Syrian territory on numerous occasions in response to shelling on the Golan that the military has said was largely spillover from fighting between rebels and the Syrian Army. An Israeli Patriot missile destroyed a Syrian drone over the Golan on Aug. 31. Israel last downed a manned Syrian aircraft in 1985, when Israeli fighters on a surveillance mission over Lebanon destroyed two Syrian MiG-23s that approached them.

UN urges action against climate change

HE annual United Nations climate summit has urged world leaders to change their course towards climate change with emphasis on global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday’s summit in New York was the first high level gathering since the 2009 Copenhagen conference on climate change which ended in disarray. “Today, we must set the world on a new course,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told leaders from 120 countries. “I am asking you to lead.”, he added. “Climate change threatens hard-won peace, prosperity, and opportunity for billions of people,” Ban said. “We are not here to talk. We are here to make history.” In his address, Ban called for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and declared that by the end of the century the world must be carbon neutral. More than 100 world leaders attended the summit, with no-shows from the leaders of China, the world’s biggest polluter, and India, the world’s third largest carbon-emitter.

Egypt delays trial of 240-day hunger striker

N Egyptian court has once again extended the detention of Mohamed Soltan, who has been on hunger strike for nearly 240 days, and whose protracted pre-trial detention reflects the plight of hundreds of detainees. Cairo’s Criminal Court on Tuesday postponed the trial of Soltan, a dual Egyptian-American citizen, to October 11, overlooking a request by his lawyers to end his detention due to his critical health conditions. “Unfortunately there is no telling how much longer Soltan’s body will keep going, but he’s determined not to break the strike,” Soltan’s sister Hanaa said, following the court session. “It’s the only means he has to protest the injustice he has been facing for the past thirteen months.” Soltan was arrested on August 25 last year after participating in a media panel that reported violations committed by Egypt’s security forces during the bloody dispersal of vigils staged by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 —17 ‘When you are on the periphery its not the periphery; it is the center.’ Mary Robinson

sole candidature of Jonathan, and let everyone know it is less about the PDP than it is for their son. If Jonathan attempts to postpone the 2015 elections, he is likely to have a long queue of ethnic and religious supporters for it.

Time and Place 30,000 additional polling units, the first such review since 1996. Ordinarily this should have been a cause for celebrating a major step intended to address a major bottleneck in the electoral process. Most parts of the country desperately need additional or decongested polling units, given the massive increase in voting population and democratic changes. INEC thought it had applied all the appropriate indices in allocating the additional polling units across the federation, including the criterion of equity. It was wrong. The allocation of over 70% of the units to states in the north was rejected by ethnic and regional leaders from the south, quite possibly with prompting from politicians holding offices in the present administration. Jega who was a hero to many in the south only for conducting an election in 2011 that produced a southern President, was stripped to his bare bones as a hard core northern chauvinist who should resign immediately. The distinguished assembly of the outraged, long accustomed to bullying a weakened north into giving ground, failed to note that Jega admitted that many states in the south did not even deserve the number of units they got, but for the inclusion of the principle of fairness and equity. In other words, if INEC had been strict in sharing out the units in accordance with voting population and geography, the north would have received even more. This means units that should have been allocated to ease voting for northern voters have been given to southern voters, presumably on the assumption that their leaders shout louder than northern leaders. The painstaking and detailed response of INEC to the criticism from ethnic champions from the south merely opened up a new front for Jega: northern regional leaders were outraged over the concessions INEC says it made at

By Hamisu Abubakar

HAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief (Dr) Tony Anenih, has been called a political tactician-in-chief. He has been called the Oracle of Uromi. He also has been called Nigeria’s political Nostradamus. What is self-evident is that, in the firmament of the country’s politics for more than three decades now, Anenih is a man of exceptional importance and reputation. More to the point of this article, the recent adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP candidate for the February 14, 2015 presidential election by the party’s National Executive Committee proves once again that Anenih possesses unmatched capacity for political prognosis and strategy. Anenih it was who, in early 2013, first suggested that the party should grant Jonathan automatic ticket to seek reelection in 2015. At a PDP family dinner held in Abuja on the night of Thursday, May 30, 2013, he reiterated the idea and the suggestion garnered national attention. During the event, the BoT Chairman explained how experience had shown that squabbling for tickets at primaries invariably led to internal crises in the party before the main elections. Consequently, he advocated the automatic ticket option in order to avoid unnecessary and prolonged crises within the party. At the time, a number of party members supported Anenih’s proposal. However, there were also a few who did not agree with the BoT Chairman’s idea. Fast-forward two years and four months to September 2015 and Anenih’s suggestion took on a life of its own. First, PDP members of the House of Representatives endorsed Jonathan to fly the party’s flag in 2015. Second, the PDP governors followed

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northern voters’ expense. They insisted that the entire exercise be revisited, and justice done to the northern voters by giving them back units that were unfairly allocated to southern voters. Their language suggested a pronounced exasperation of people who had watched the grounds shift away from the north or many fronts, and whose pleas for justice or redress are not even the irritants they were a few years ago.

he quarrel over allocation of polling units is a symptom of much deeper crisis afflicting the Nigerian elite. In a way, INEC read the terrain much better than most observers are willing to give it credit for. It attempted to balance political exigencies against the demand

ITH just a few months before Nigerians go to the general elections, the outlook on a nation ready to confront and successfully deal with a major turning point is poor. Vital requirements for the success of the transitional processes between this administration and the next are missing, and there is little evidence that capacities exist which will re invent or develop them. Of these, the most important is the limited space for formal political structures and processes to canvass for support and organize to contest in the election. Political parties and politicians have lost much ground to powerful ethnic, religious and political interests. The 2015 elections, if they hold at all, will not be about choices involving candidates and parties. They are likely to be a contest between ethnic and religious groups. Ironically, the National Conference which could have improved elite consensus around key issues is principally responsible for the increased disarray among the elites. For this you have to blame President Goodluck Jonathan. Predicating the conference on the assumption that ethnicity is the building block of the Nigerian state, Jonathan designed it in such a manner that he basically re-invented ethnic and regional leaders who had no capacity to address the foundations of national security, reform a threatened electoral process or mitigate the damage of widespread corruption. They quarreled their ways into deeping the chasms his presidency had created, and each fraction of the elite went away with an injured agenda and its own idea of priorities for good governance. People who exercise constitutional authority, or operate basic political structures stood by as un-elected Nigerians briefly basked in the sun and told themselves that they held the aces regarding the future of the nation. It is no surprise that the postconference atmosphere is characterized by higher levels of hostility between ethnic and regional elites. Political developments are being substantially influenced by fallouts from the national conference. Nigerian elites have rarely been as polarized along ethnic and regional lines, and politicking towards the 2015 elections will bear all the hallmarks of a nation labouring under the overbearing influence of forces which the democratic process is intended to accommodate and overcome. Every development these days is ground for ethnic battles. INEC rolls out proposals on allocation of

ith all this space taken up by ethnic and regional leaders, the two leading parties now have to struggle for room to be heard. In this respect, the PDP has a slight advantage; it has ethnic leaders who will defend and support the PDP position in the south east and south south as a matter with deep significance for their ethnic constituencies. Northern leaders suffer deep divisions around partisan, religious and ethnic lines, and it is most unlikely that they will endorse APC or PDP in the same manner ethnic leaders in many parts of the south openly do. In spite of its massive support in the south west, APC knows that it has very serious problems with a large segment of Yoruba elite, and these will be difficult to stop from walking on both sides of the street when it matters most. As the 2015 elections approach, influence of ethnic, regional and religious sentiments will be channeled more actively into the contest. It is unlikely that the nation will witness radical departures from patterns of electioneering of the past, but the combined effects of the insurgency which has made every northerner an equal victim may reduce the gulf which exists between its many ethno-religious

As the 2015 elections approach, influence of ethnic, regional and religious sentiments will be channeled more actively into the contest. It is unlikely that the nation will witness radical departures from patterns of electioneering of the past

for fairness in an exercise that cannot be stretched beyond a certain threshold. It is also quite possibly aware that this quarrel is less about the manner it distributed 30,000 additional polling units than a symptom of the deeply soiled relations being actively promoted within and between many parts of the nation by ethnic and regional leaders. Evidence of this is all over the terrain. Igbo ethnic leaders will go to war over allegations that Ihejirika has been supporting Boko Haram. Northern elders accuse Jonathan of turning his back on the north as an insurgency he can fight destroys it, and for fraternizing with its sponsors. South south leaders provide the muscle for the

groups, while a new determination by northern regional leaders to cobble together a firmer political unity could reduce the region’s vulnerability. A north/south west alliance is one of the possibilities in 2015, but there are many permutations in the pipeline for this to become real. If elites who believe they represent ethnic, regional or religious interests can speak to each other, they could find that they have a stronger influence than politicians in the manner the 2015 elections affect the fortunes of the people that they think they have responsibility for. If they do not, they may push a fragile nation nearer to a point even they cannot salvage.

OPINION Anenih as oracle in chief suit. The party’s BoT also toed the same line and then the National Executive Committee crowned it all, thereby indicating that the entire party had seen and accepted the wisdom in Anenih’s proposal. To further buttress his unrivalled grasp of the intricacies of the nation’s politics, while others were dilly-dallying and unable to take a stand on whether Jonathan will run for reelection in 2015, Anenih was also the first to take a categorical stand. Speaking at a gathering of party members during a tour of the South-South zone by the PDP chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Anenih said, “I want the national chairman to go home with a word from the father that come 2015, Jonathan will run for presidency for the second term.” Clearly, Anenih’s confidence in Jonathan’s intention to run goes beyond what may be regarded as a political filial relationship, being that he referred to himself as Jonathan’s political father. It is anchored in the reality that, as the sitting BoT Chairman and a founding member of the PDP, he is very conversant with the inner workings, challenges, and the many successes of the party. It is worth recalling here that, to mark the 2015 Democracy Day, Anenih issued a statement in which he not only laid out some of Jonathan’s achievements; he also listed the major accomplishments of the PDP since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999. In that statement, Anenih was quoted as saying: “Let me express how grateful we, in the Peoples Democratic Party, are to our fellow compatriots that they have entrusted our great party with steering the ship of state since our nation’s return to democracy in 1999. It has been a great privilege and a momentous undertaking. And though—as with all

human endeavours—we have had differences with our fellow citizens on the other side of the political divide, our ongoing democratic journey is proof that the PDP continues to faithfully discharge its foremost duty to our country, which is sustaining a stable, functional State.” Anenih also said: “Indeed, in its 15 years at the helm of affairs of our great nation, the PDP has created an atmosphere that allows total freedom of expression, dissent and the greatest level of inclusive political participation ever recorded in our country. A case in point is that never before has Nigeria seen the high number of women in senior elective and appointive positions as obtains today under the PDP’s leadership.” Additionally, Anenih further remarked: “Moreover, it is to the credit of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led PDP government that this ambience of democratic freedom has encouraged the most combative opposition rhetoric ever experienced in Nigeria’s history. President Jonathan has also demonstrated respect for the rule of law by his noninterference in judicial, legislative and electoral matters.” In view of the fact that as Chairman of PDP’s BoT, Anenih has firsthand knowledge of these achievements and many others; he can say with full conviction that Jonathan will seek re-election in 2015. And just as it has been proved that he had incomparable political foresight when way back in 2013 he began canvassing for Jonathan to be granted automatic ticket in 2015, it is safe to say that in the coming months, his certainty in Jonathan’s re-election bid and ultimate success will be proved right. *Mr. Abubakar, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Kaduna, Kaduna State.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 THE collapse of the six-storey building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, is a symptom of a disturbing trend in Nigeria where religious bodies carry on as if they are above the law. This propensity, which is much more pronounced among some of the Pentecostal denominations, mainly involves the indiscriminate and unlawful abuse of building regulations, thus pitching these groups against state authorities. Just as the dust was yet to clear in Lagos, another unapproved church building belonging to the Christ Chosen Church in Benin came tumbling down, with two people killed. There have been media reports of altercations between the Enugu State Government and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries and also between the Ogun State Government and the Living Faith Church, owners of the Covenant University, Ota. The SCOAN disaster would have been avoided if the Church authorities had cooperated with the relevant agency of the Lagos State Government in charge of

Synagogue: Let The Law Prevail building regulation. Several buildings within the complex had been declared as unapproved structures and orders made for work to stop. The church continued to build until this tragedy struck, claiming the lives of between 86 and 115 people, most of them visiting foreigners. It was clearly a mark of failure on the part of both the church and the government to do the right thing. Why should government officials fold their hands when the church continued to develop buildings even after several warnings to stop? If the government had been truly up to its duties, it would have

applied the necessary sanctions to make sure that the death trap was discontinued. The laws are very explicit on steps that must be taken when buildings that are put up without adherence to proper regulations collapse. The ongoing investigation into this tragic incident should be thorough and conclusive, and anyone found culpable should be dealt with according to the law. The property should also be confiscated and the church moved to a safer area. This will serve notice to the religious groups that government will not give up its duties of maintaining the law and ensuring the safety of citizens and foreign visitors alike. Unless investigations reveal evidence supporting terror attacks after series of aircraft over-flights, we must not fall for any attempt to divert attention and transfer culpability to non-existent aggressors. After all, aviation activities have been part of Lagos and other big cities and no building has gone down anywhere as a result. We must use this incident to reiterate that no one is above the law, and that adherence to the rule of law is the bounden duty of all.

OPINION BY JOE IGBOKWE

EPTEMBER 18, 2014 the leader of APC, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Lagos after a deserved holiday abroad where he has gone to rest after the August 9, 2014 State of Osun guber elections. Few weeks into his vacation his enemies and those who wished him dead went to town again to peddle the wicked rumour that the man is ill and could not even recognise his relatives. Before anybody could say Jack Robinson the bad and wicked news went to town. It went viral in the internet, it became the hottest news, and it sold like hot potatoes. Lagos PDP and those Asiwaju BAT has tormented politically in Nigeria since 1999 went to town. They wished that the sage will not return. They wished that he goes forever to the land of no return. They went to night vigils to ask God to help them take away Asiwaju BAT so that they can grow politically in Lagos and Nigeria. In the innermost part of their bedrooms they cried and blamed God for creating Asiwaju BAT to continue to torment in Lagos and Nigeria. Like Leo Tolstoy they said Asiwaju BAT has been on their back, choking them politically, and making them to carry him and yet assures them that he is very sorry and wish to ease their problem by all possible means except to get off their backs. While others who believe in God go to Churches to pray for physical decimation and elimination of Asiwaju BAT, others who believe in traditional religion visit

Asiwaju BAT and the PDP goof Babalawos to help them solve this life threatening problems by getting the man out of the way. They roll on ground, pour ashes on their heads, rent their garments, offer incantations and try to invoke the spirits of their forefathers to intervene to remove Asiwaju for them. But they have not succeeded. This is not the first time this kind of wickedness is being celebrated. When Asiwaju BAT had a problem with one of his legs sometime ago, he told the world that he is going abroad for a minor surgery. However, the surgery took quite sometime and the rumor mongers went to town that the man is paralysed. They danced, clapped, sang, blew their trumpets, drank themselves to stupor believing and dreaming that their enemy will never return to Nigeria to pour sands in their garri. Asiwaju returned and they held their peace. They went underground, sulked, cursed and blamed God and their oracles for their predicaments in the hands of Asiwaju BAT. September 18, 2014 Asiwaju BAT returned to stop all the lies. As our own BAT was alighting from the aircraft in Lagos, looking smart, confident, fit as fiddle, gracious, happy, strong, in shape, glorious, agile and peaceful, the moribund PDP in Lagos was busy in its press statements telling the world and Lagosians to pray for quick recovery. Now all the arguments, all the lies, all the inuendoes,

all the celebrations by his enemies, all the death wishes have been put to rest at least for now. The peddlers of falsehood, false news, lies, and propaganda can now go to sleep. The pliant and pliable Lagos PDP which acts on impulses will now find a place to hide its head. Listen to Lagos PDP: “Lagosians are interested in knowing the true state of the health of the former Governor whose medical bill is being paid with their taxes. e also feel that the family and the government should have the obligation to let Lagosians know the actual state of his health”. As this release was being read in the papers, Asiwaju BAT was receiving friends, associates, well wishers and even hangers on who came in their hundreds to welcome the leader. PDP goofed. Shocked by this bad behavior the man said: “ It is very shocking and saddening that people are peddling all sorts of lies about my health. When I had a knee problem I disclosed to Nigerians. Some people are deliberately fabricating information that I have a medical or health problem. This is evidence of distrust of people in this country” This is a lesson to all and sundry that unhappy is the land that has no heroes. Men do not really decide their future, they decide their habits then their habits decide their future. Asiwaju BAT’s future is secure because he has lived for the people. He is a hero of democracy and therefore should

be celebrated. This is why I sympathise with those who wish him dead. When the rumors became too much his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, told the Press that if it is indeed true that her husband is sick, she would not have been in Nigeria. Did it stop Lagos PDP from still going public? No! Even when Asiwaju BAT twitted that he is hale and hearty, the scavengers and harbingers of falsehood were not swayed. On arrival Asiwaju BAT told the press that he went to London for a “deserved rest to study and strategise on how to turn around APC to take over government from the ruling Party which has lost focus”. The leader of APC has served humanity with his intellect, wealth, time, energy, strength, power and he deserves a better treatment even from his adversaries and foes. He loves the people of Nigeria and he serves them very well. You see, you cannot lead the people if you do not love the people. You cannot save the people if you do not serve the people. Once I was with Asiwaju in his compound in Lagos and behold I noticed this tall building springing up in front of his house. I whispered to him that the building might create a security problem for him, his family. He looked at me and whispered also that his life is in God’s hands. Yes, the destinies of nations and individuals are in the hands of God. *Mr Igbokwe is the publicity secretary of the APC in Lagos State

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x201D;19

, T

HE upper arm of the National Assembly, the Senate, reconvened from vacation last week to a new realisation, to wit, that Nigeria is at war. Principal officers of the Senate, led by its president, David Mark, made seemingly strong statements that made clear their belief that the escalation of insurgent activities in the North East of Nigeria is a clear indication that the country is indeed at war. For many Nigerians the new realisation by the Senate is no news at all. If anything, what the Senate position is telling everyone is that this body of ranking law makers can no longer deny the very obvious. Having lived in denial for so long the Senate now sees it can no longer run away from the truth. Perhaps soon, President Goodluck Jonathan would come to the same realisation. He is, it is obvious, more interested in covert campaign activities, the kind of backhand politicking that Sani Abacha engaged in while on his wild goose chase of changing his khaki for civilian clothing. Then the soldier, Nigerians were told, was being earnestly asked for by a

group of misguided youth. In a curious playback of history, it is some transformation ambassadors, so-called, that are today beating the roads for Jonathan. Our dear president is so uncreative that all he has to kickstart his campaign for another four years in office is the discarded script of a military adventurer. But I digress. My point was that the President is yet to share the truth that has dawned on the Senate rather belatedly, that Nigeria is at war. He goes about his activities as if all is alright. He seems content to be president of a country that is being riven apart by religious outcasts bent on foisting their control on the rest of the people. We have said it times without number that Jonathan's glaring lack of leadership initiative when it really counted was a factor in the growth of insurgency. His hand-wringing helplessness when he should have been more decisive emboldened the insurgents that have since become grand masters of anarchic politicking. So helplessly frightened did he appear that he claimed his very administration had been infiltrated by members of the

sect that has so far given his administration a bad name. But what many Nigerians never reckoned with was the possibility that the President could be undermining himself by the company he keeps.

ince every issue becomes political for President Jonathan and his supporters, he sees nothing wrong with the fact that one of his principal supporters and associates today is somebody that has been variously fingered for his active patronage of the same insurgents that have made Nigeria ungovernable for him. Modu Sheriff has for long lived under an ominous cloud of suspicion over his relationship with insurgents in that part of the country where he was once governor, specifically in Borno State. Stephen Davis, an international negotiator with long relationship with the Nigerian state, has mentioned Mr. Sheriff as a sponsor or sympathiser of the terrorists whose killer machines

An African's memo to Arabia and the West By Yushau

Shuaib

AM in a state of total confusion by the way and manner global affairs are being shaped largely by the activities of the Arab World and the Western Powers. You may appreciate my bewilderment only if you tune in to any broadcast channel from these two axis. What we see on daily basis are cold blooded shedding of human blood for spurious reasons, ranging from attempts to enthrone democracy, propagation of religion and enforcement of rigid ideologies. We are living witnesses to how notoriety and barbarity are now becoming the feature of normal modern lives: the use of swords and knives to behead human beings; massexecution of citizens, aerial bombardments of innocent souls, among various other atrocities that only depict scenes from horror movies. A careful analysis of these developments will clearly reveal that they have their genesis in certain activities emanating from Arabia and the West. Probably realising the gravity of the danger that these recent developments are posing to our world, especially considering situations in Syria, Iraq and other parts of the Arab world, President Barack Obama of the United States of America, USA, recently sought an alliance with some Arab leaders towards eliminating the emerging challenges from the Islamic State, ISIS, in Iraq and Syria. ISIS is a group that has already occupied some large territories of those beleaguered countries. The Arab World and Western Powers should realise that the world was saner until the unfortunate incident of

September 11, 2001, infamously referred to as 9/11 in the United States where over 3000 citizens from different countries around the world perished in a terror attack masterminded by Al Qaida. Almost all the suspects and those that admitted complicity in the attacks were Arabs. In a desperate attempt to redeem its image against intelligence in the build up to that event and reassert itself as superpower, the American government led an alliance that invaded Afghanistan, the haven of Al-Qaida and its leaders. Thousands of lives were lost in that expedition. While many would support the attacks on Afghanistan because it is the home of the Taliban, subsequent incursions into other countries by the West were quite inimical to world peace and global survival. At that period, Iraq was relatively peaceful and there has been no evidence that it was involved in state terrorism since the defeat of Sadam Hussein at the end of the First Gulf War. Just like a tide from the blues, America and Britain brought allegations that Iraq under Saddam had stockpiled Weapons of Mass Destruction, WMD. The allegations were engineered and triggered by some leaders in the Arab world who despised Saddam so passionately, not minding that they were those arming him decades earlier to fight the Iranians who are non-Arab. Within a short period, Iraqi leadership were destroyed, their military bastardised, their people mercilessly embarrassed and killed in various activities, which were also supported by some Arab countries who provided Western powers the base for the attacks on Iraq. Not done, Libya, a peaceful African-Arab country, with better welfare for its people under Muammar Ghaddafi later became another

have ravaged many parts of the North and the north East in the last five years. Even before Dr. Davis's disclosure, Sheriff had been indirectly implicated in the past on account of his links with persons suspected of working with the insurgents. Jonathan did nothing with him or others suspected of similar connections even while holding high offices in the country. Modu Sheriff has since changed membership of political parties, switching allegiance from the APC to the PDP. And now that Nigerians are again asking questions about the suspicious activities of this former governor and the company he keeps, it has become convenient for supporters of the President to claim that Sheriff is being accused by opposition elements because he is no longer a member of the opposition APC. President Jonathan obviously shares this view. His detached attitude to the question of prosecuting Sheriff, to say nothing of his open association with the man to the extent that he was part of a party that welcomed the President to Chad, proclaims Jonathan's total lack of concern for the matter at hand. The President does not seem bothered, to borrow his own memorable words in another context of inept mouthingPresident Jonathan does not 'give a damn' about what Nigerians think of his association with Sheriff. Every issue, as I said, is for him political. So if the APC could condone Sheriff, so could he. It does not matter a bit that his is the administration currently under the onslaught of Sheriff's purported terror merchants. The foolish irony of a president making fast friends with an alleged sponsor of terrorists making life unbearable for Nigerians and Nigeria ungovernable for him is entirely lost on a President Jonathan

Does Jonathan know Nigeria is now at war?

With large swathes of the North East falling under the control of insurgents, the President can be assured that his presidency, should he win the next election, would be more crisis-prone and insecure than it presently is

As the world faces challenges of insecurity, we must call on Western powers and their allies in the Arab World to give the rest of the world the peace we desire for the survival of the universe

country that was attacked through the influence, collaboration and conspiracy between the Arabs and the West by instigating the revolts by citizens who became rebels against their government. We recall the noise from Western powers, especially the Britain and France, before the aerial bombardment of Libya by allied forces. Ghaddafi was brutally murdered in cold blood and the Libyan military and police, like the case of Iraq, were also bastardised and humiliated.

ot done with experimentalism of military adventures, Syria became another target where the Arab World and Western Powers again sponsored rebellions against the state in desperate efforts to remove Assad. Before the early protests in Damascus, Syria was one of the most peaceful governments under democratic rule in the Arab world. It is an open secret that Arab leaders are publicly supporting illegal oppression of Syria through the sponsorship and promotion of rebels against the Syrian government and its military. While Western powers claim that their intervention is to enthrone democracy, most of their Arab allies who are supporting the

whose kinsmen claim is being hounded by opponents, especially Northerners, opposed to his victory at the last presidential election and uncomfortable with his continued stay in office post 2015. Blinded by a desire to continue in office, Jonathan cannot distinguish between his true friends and enemies of both his person and all he stands for as the president of this country. To be thus, Macbeth says, is nothing but to be thus safely. Jonathan fails to see that to be president is nothing but to be president safely. His presidency, indeed his very life, is only safe to the extent that he has control over the territory over which he rules. With large swathes of the North East falling under the control of insurgents, the President can be assured that his presidency, should he win the next election, would be more crisis-prone and insecure than it presently is. Nigeria once fought a bitter civil war whose wounds are not yet healed. It was a war, we are told, meant to keep the country one undivided whole. With the increase in insecurity in the North East and his own lack of perception or appreciation of the situation before him, President Jonathan might yet go into the records as the president under whom Nigeria went to pieces. The disintegration that will follow the final victory of outcast islam as we see in the North East of Nigeria will be far from orderly. It would be a long tale of human misery and disaster. Nigeria would be in complete shreds. That would be the only legacy of a presidency that is presently floundering like a lost ship. Goodluck Jonathan's lack of perception is threatening the safety of Nigeria and Nigerians.

rebels in Iraq, Syria and Libya and other places are not democratic. I am bemused when some of the crises are linked to religious propagation and enthronement of democracy. The fallacy of the islamisation theory or conspiracy is easily exposed in realisation that the affected Arab countries that are predominantly Muslims witness the killing of Muslims by Muslims. Arguments about democratisation in the Arab World is easily defeated as most Western allies in that region are monarchical rather than democratic as they are ruled by kings and their families. As the world faces challenges of insecurity, we must call on Western powers and their allies in the Arab World to give the rest of the world the peace we desire for the survival of the universe as events in Africa are pointing to similar clandestine interruptions through insurgency and terrorism with clear support from global players. May I appeal to Western powers and the Arab world to kindly spare the continent of Africa the kind of barbaric atrocities being perpetrated daily and over the years in the Middle-East in the name of Islamisation and enthronement of Western democracy. As an African from Nigeria, I tend to smell rotten fish that if Africans refuse to face and squarely address the current insecurity in the continent, our land may become the next arena for deadly experimentation through bloodshed in the name of religion and democracy. As an African Muslim with many Christian friends and even non-believers in faiths, I am fully convinced and aware that no religion, creed and culture promote animosity, hatred and criminal violence. My prayers is, therefore, for our leaders and people to learn from this history in motion while we appeal to the Arab world and Western power to give us breathing space. *Mr. Shuaib, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Lagos and bus stops!

Travails of an octogenarian

Lagos and bus stops!” laughed Ade, “a HA! commuter in the Boundary, Ajenjunle-bound

commuter vehicle as the bus conductor began to reel out names of bus-stops along the route. Shouted the bus conductor: “Dustbin!” “Dustbin ke?” querried Peter, perplexed, apparently new on the route. Said Ade: “Oh, you haven’t heard anything yet. We have Monkey Village Bus-stop, Iyana Cemetery Bus-stop...” Interrupted Peter: “Monkey Village for this Ebola period? Abeg oo. “Dat one na small now. In Abeokuta, you hear names like Onigbe, Ago Ika (Point of wickedness); Ago Malu (Cow area),” said Tunde. “But are there no human beings in the Monkey village? Why on earth would a residential area be named after monkeys?” asked Peter. Replied Ade: “I think it has more to do with history. It is possible that at a point in time, monkeys lived there in large numbers.” “Have you noticed that these funny-sounding bus-stops are seen only in poor parts of the cities?” asked Ify. Replied Tunde: “Exactly! Which rich man would allow his bus-stop to be called Cemetery or Dustbin? You won’t hear such names in highbrow areas like Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki. Look at the Ikoyi Cemetery, why didn’t they name the place Cemetery Bus-stop? They sabi beta thing.” Narrated Ify: “Trust Naija youths; they will always exploit every opportunity to the fullest. I heard how certain students of some institutions of higher learning around Akoka area where the famous Atan Cemetary is located, were defrauding cab drivers using the bus-stop.

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, OWERRI

LDER Bernard A. Onyegbu la of Umuoyima village, Owerri Municipal, is definitely not a happy man. He is completely heartbroken and he readily tells it to whoever cares to listen. He equally tells people that he came to this point not by choice. The 73-year-old man is worried that his family’s major source of income has been destroyed, thus reducing them to abject poverty and want. Bernard, who is today the head of Onyegbula dynasty, was born into a family, whose forebears were largely peasant farmers. To make ends meet, Elder Onyegbula’s forebears established a palm plantation. That was how Elder Onyegbula started narrating his current ordeal. Our correspondent gathered that the travails of the old man started when the Rochas Okorocha administration decided to construct a road from the Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, along Wetheral Road, Owerri, to join the ever- busy Owerri-Aba federal highway. When he got wind of the imminent destruction of the family ’s palm plantation, Onyegbula made frantic moves to reach Governor Okorocha, through a letter dated February 24, 2012. When this failed, he equally tried the former deputy governor, Sir Jude Ejiogu. His last resort was the State House of Assembly. His petition was never raised on the floor of the House till today. “I sent a petition to the Speaker

BY EBELE ORAKPO

Defrauding cab drivers *Elder Onyegbula in his palm plantation

diverted from the position of the palm plantation”. The embittered old man have not ceased to wonder why the state government and the contracting firm chose to destroy the family plantation before deciding where the road project should traverse. “What this What this means is that the means is that the Onyegbula family has completely Onyegbula family has comlost its life savings and source of pletely lost its life savings and income at a time government is source of income urging people to plant palms at a time government is urgof the State Hoise of Assembly, ing people to plant palms. This through the member representing ugly situation has truly dashed our Owerri Municipal, Dr. Victor hope of training our children, as Mere. I was never invited by well as frustrated our ability to pay either the Committee on Public Pe- family bills as they come,” the tition or any other committee of heartbroken man lamented. the Assembly. I am equally not Part of the letter sent to Governor aware that my petition was ever Okorocha and titled: “A passionmentioned on the floor of the ate appeal for help”, read: “This Assembly,” Onyegbula lamented. plantation has over 150 stands of The sad octogenarian told full grown and fruiting palm trees. Vanguard Metro, VM, that the The family also has fruiting orange plantation was destroyed trees, Udara trees and some other February 23, 2012 by the contract- Igbo cash crops that are almost going firm charged with the respon- ing extinct”. sibility of connecting Aba-Owerri Apart from the foregoing, federal highway from the Owerri Onyegbula made a very passionArchdiocesan Pastoral Centre. ate plea to Okorocha. Hear him: The octogenarian was also said: “We must state in clear terms that “The most worrying aspect of the we are not interested in stopping entire episode is that the any government project, especially proposed road was eventually when it is well thought out and

ultimately in public interest”. Continuing, Onyegbula lamented that the Onyegbula dynasty is down and out but “we can bounce back to life” with the Governor’s assistance. “We appeal that government allocates another piece of land to us, as well as assist us with the procurement of palm seedlings to start the palm plantation again. Government has this capability, especially as it is desirous to help Imo farmers to produce enough food to feed the teeming populace. Nobody has so far promised or paid any compensation to us to mitigate our huge loss,” Elder Onyegbula lamented. The aged man further explained that they decided to approach Okorocha because they saw him as their last resort in the matter. “Your ability to help us is not in doubt. Your administration would have rescued and restored our lives and hopes if this is done for us. The truth is that this mail was never replied and members of the entire family has continued to suffer. Another thing to think about is: If and when the Governor decides to replace the palm seedlings and give the family another piece of land, will I enjoy the palm fruits before I answer the ultimate call? This is my worry,” Elder Onyegbula said.

“You know many of our students want to live big, beyond their means, especially female students who will charter taxis instead of going by bus which is cheaper. So what these girls do is to charter a taxi individually and usually in the night between 10 and 11 pm. They will agree on a fee and then when they get to Atan Cemetery, they will tell the driver to stop. The frightened driver will put two and two together and run for his dear life, leaving his money behind.” “If na you nko? The guy go think say e don carry spirit,” said Ade. “Sure. But one day, one of them met her match. Cunny man die, cunny man bury am. “This girl hailed a taxi as usual, agreed on a price and the journey started. This was around 10.00 pm. “As they got close to the cemetery, the girl shouted ‘O wa o.’ The driver asked where and she replied Atan Cemetery gate. The driver got to the gate of the cemetery and stopped. He then asked for his money as the girl made to disembark instead of fleeing like the others before him. “The girl was waiting for him to leave so that she could flag down a bus and go to her school, unfortunately, the driver was not ready to budge. Instead, he began to taunt her: ‘Shebi you be ghost, enter the burial ground now, what are you waiting for?’ “Meanwhile, the poor girl was terrified because she was afraid of walking into the cemetery at that unholy hour. Perhaps, if it were in the afternoon, she would have braved it but not by 10 in the night. “She knew her game was up but unfortunately, she did not have the agreed fare to pay the driver.” “Big girl, refusing to cut her coat according to her cloth,” said Ade. By the time Ify ended her narration, everyone was laughing so hard that passersby were wondering what was going on.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 — 21

BY PETER EGWUATU

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and operator in the e-payment system have decried low patronage of electronic, e payment channels in the country, stating that cash continues to be the predominant method used for transactions. They also said that cheque system remains the second most important payment medium in the national payment system. The Director, Banking and Payments System, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun who disclosed this said “The success recorded so far on e-payments has been encouraging considering where the country started. “Electronic payments channels have been broadened with several options such as online web payments, electronic funds transfer, various forms of cards, Point of Sale, POS, ATM non-cash transactions etc. The channels are recording enormous growth. As an instance, the NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) used for online transfers has grown at an annual growth rate of 199 % and 190% in volume and value respectively with total transfers on the platform in 2013 grossing N10.85 trillion. The development goes beyond electronic payments growth; even jobs have been created with over 21 MMOs licensed with each employing not less than 20 staff along with about 66,930 agents.” Wole Ogunsola, an Executive of NEXTZON Business Services Limited, who represented the Guest Lecturer, MD/CEO NEXTZON Business Services Limited, Mr. Mac Atasi at the conference for finance correspondents held in Lagos stated that globally, governments are the biggest generators of payments, estimated at over $40 trillion in 2010. He said “Though since the introduction of cashless policy in Lagos in January 2012, the use of e-payment channels has improved. According to him “In 2012, the volume and value of cheques cleared nationwide decreased by 1.3 and 11.2 per cent to 37.24 million and N19.80 trillion, from 37.72 million and N22.30 trillion, respectively, in 2011. The development was attributed to the increase in the use of e-payment channels. The volume and value of electronic card (ecard) transactions increased from 355,252,401 and N1,671.4 billion in 2011 to 382,616,953 and N2,095.7

CBN, operator decr y low patronage of e-payment channels billion in 2012, reflecting an increase of 7.7 and 25.4 per c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y. T h e

increase was attributed to enhanced public confidence in electronic card

payments.” Commenting on the data

From left : Dr Joseph Odumodu, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Kunle Awobodu, National President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild; Dr Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Trade and Investment; Eng Chris Egbuna representing Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Rasheed Adebowale, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria Zonal Stakeholders’ Forum on Sancrete Blocks and Allied Cement Products organised by SON in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

on various e-payment channels, he said “ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) remained the most patronised, accounting for 98.1 per cent; Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminals at 0.7 per cent and Web and mobile payments accounted for 0.6 per cent each.” He explained that the epayment is a financial exchange that takes place online between buyers and sellers. According to him “Consumers generally use electronic payments in one of the following ways: Purchase of Goods and Services. In this case payment is made at the time the goods or services are purchased. A variety of payment instruments may be used, including cash, cheques, debit cards, credit cards or prepaid cards. Secondly is the Bill Payments. This is a payment for previously acquired or contracted goods and services. Payment may be recurring or nonrecurring. Recurring bill payments include items such as utility, telephone and mortgage/rent bills. Nonrecurring bills include items such as medical bills.

Lafarge asks cour o st op SON fr om sealing up fact or courtt tto stop from factor oryy By INNOCENT ANABA

afarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to restrain the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, its agents, from closing its business premises, following a recent directive on product labeling and traceability requirements, pending the hearing and determination of the suit pending in the court. Lafarge, a cement manufacturer, which is challenging the power of SON to preapprove all advertisement/commercials of the plaintiff ’s as well as certify block makers in Nigeria, is contending that the directive by SON confer unfair advantage to its competitors and enthroning monopoly in the cement industry. The company, which is also contending that it had no complains about the product labeling, also noted that deadline for same was too short, as it required more time to calibrate its machines to achieve same. The company in an affidavit in support of the suit, averred that SON convened a meeting of stakeholders of the Cement manufacturing sector and at the said meeting, the defendant came up with an action plan termed “The Standards of

Organisation of Nigeria’s Directives on Product Labeling and Traceability Requirements, a set of new policies to be observed by cement manufacturers. “After the July 21, 2014 meeting of stakeholders of Cement industry with officials of the defendants, the defendant’s Director-General addressed the media, where he issued a 60 day ultimatum to Cement manufacturers to comply with its said directives on product labeling and traceability requirements and has reiterated its readiness to sanction cement manufacturers for failure to comply with the directives/policies. “This is further corroborated by the defendant’s letter dated August 5, 2014 which is addressed to the plaintiffs Managing Director. The defendant’s published directives/policies are designed to de-market the plaintiff ’s 32.5 grade cement, and confer unfair advantage to the plaintiff ’s competitors and enthrone monopoly in the cement industry. “The defendant in an attempt to confer unfair advantage to the plaintiff ’s competitors and enthroning monopoly in the cement industry has arrogated itself to the powers to pre-approve all advertisement/commercials of the plaintiffs as well as certify block makers in Nigeria. “The plaintiff has reasons to believe that

the published policies and directives by the defendants are not within the ambit of their enabling law/statute, hence the substantive suit instituted by the plaintiff against the defendant.

USC 178.35 USD3,262.00 USC 13.50

USC -2.85 USD 70.00

USC -0.29

USD 98.38 USD -0.68 USD 92.45

USD -0.66

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.75 155.25 STERLING 252.9698 253.7872 EURO 198.9776 199.6205 FRANC 164.8557 165.3883 YEN 1.4227 1.4273 CFA 0.2847 0.2947 WAUA 230.9711 231.7173 RENMINBI 25.1953 25.2772 RIYAL 41.2601 41.3934 KRONA 26.7239 26.8102 SDR 231.6762 232.4248

155.75 254.6045 200.2634 165.921 1.4319 0.3047 232.4636 25.359 41.5267 26.8966 233.1733

CBN Exchange Rate as 23 /09 / 2014

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Only 0.07 percent of the vehicles are genuinely insured in Abuja

Verve tasks agency bankers to take on insurance By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

gents that have been licensed to operate agency banking in the country have been urged to consider insurance for their operations since they won’t be covered by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC. According to Chief Executive Officer of Verve International, Mr. Charles Ifedi, agent bankers are free to insure their operations with traditional insurance companies so as to safeguard their businesses as well as the money of their customers. Agent banking is the provision of financial services to customers by a third party (agent) on behalf of a licensed deposit taking financial institution and/or mobile money operator (principal) and recall that 21 agents have been licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to carry out agency banking in the country. Ifedi, who spoke at a seminar organised by Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria, FICAN, in Lagos over the weekend, said that having insurance to cover their operation will give these agents the peace of mind to run their businesses without worrying about unforeseen risks Meanwhile, as e-payment system and other forms of cashless transactions continue to gain momentum in the country, the CBN has assured to tackle challenges militating against the business. The apex bank equally assured that it is making efforts at getting necessary legislative approval for the establishment of a financial ombudsman even as it is speeding up actions to deploy appropriate technology to address consumer challenges associated with the use of the electronic payments system across the country. Director, Banking and Super vision, CBN, Mr. Dipole Fatokun who made the assertion noted that the CBN was not unmindful of the challenges associated with strengthening the electronic payments system culture. He enumerated the challenges to include infrastructural issues, lack of understanding of cash

C M Y K

less policy, illiteracy, consumer protection which, he said is also a key challenge for financial sector, especially with the low level of sophistry of the people on financial services. In addition to ensuring that appropriate technology such as the chip+PIN for card transactions, are deployed, he assured that the apex bank is mandating all banks to comply with requirements for highly secured online payments platform by implementing cutting edge electronic banking security solutions including but not limited to the implementation of hardware tokens, behavioural monitoring, SMS/Email transaction alert, and anti-phishing solutions. Furthermore, Fatokun assured that CBN in collaboration with the Bankers Committee is implementing an industry-wide anti-fraud system to manage risks, minimize fraud and respond promptly and adequately to emerging fraud trends even as he stated that the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum had continued to explore options at improving strategies for tackling fraud in the Nigerian payments landscape. “Similarly, we are encouraged by the progress the country is making on infrastructural issues especially with the Power reform which has led to the privatisation of the distribution and generations companies. We are hoping that as electricity improves, our drive for electronic payments will benefit especially as telecom infrastructure will be positively impacted thereby resolving connectivity issues We are however exploring other options such as our project with NIGCOMSAT to leverage the satellite technology for improvement of connectivity for our various payments channels”, he stated.

INSURAN C Abuja killer drivers parade fake motor insurance By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

n estimated 600,000 vehicles from Abuja suburbs and neighbouring states enter the Federal Capital City through major entry points every working day of the week excluding the number of vehicles resident in Abuja, without genuine motor insurance. Of these vehicles, between 200,000 and 300,000 come in through the Murtala Mohammed Expressway, Kubwa Road; between 250,000 and 300,000 come in through Nyanya/Karu road while between 150,000 to 200,000 come in through the Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua Expressway (Airport Road) . Hardly does a day pass in Abuja without pieces of vehicle glasses littering the streets. They are evidence of auto crashes at major roads notorious for deadly accidents including Asokoro, Wuse, Karmo, Central Area. Maitama, Kado, Gwarimpa, Garki, Airport Road, Kubwa and Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, yet only 0.07 percent of these vehicles are genuinely insured. The Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA which has been in the vanguard of propagating the culture of genuine insurance is apparently bemused by the carefree attitude of some Nigerians who can, at the punch of a key board get full details about the licensed insurance companies and their nearest branch offices and pick original comprehensive or third party insurance as the case may be. Director-General of the NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas in an interview with Vanguard at a two-day maiden joint media retreat organised by the association, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN; Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB and the Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria, ILAN, in Abeokuta, said only 26 percent of over 12 million vehicles in the entire country are genuinely insured in spite of the collaborative efforts of the industry to educate motorists on the danger of fake insurance. Concerned that many motorists in the country including educated ones are still ignorant of the benefit

Sunday Thomas, Director General, Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA attached to genuine motor insurance mandated by the law establishing it, many motorists, he expressed worry as to how many Nigerians have come to the erroneous conclusion that insurance firms do not pay claims on third party motor insurance. The reality, the umbrella body of insurance companies’ boss reiterated, is that the third party motor insurance has as much as N1 million benefits attached to it. Indeed by its nature, the third party motor insurance is a cover for protection against third party damage or death as a result of accident in the course of using the vehicle” Though, commendable is the fact that Abuja road network is one of the best in Africa but instead of providing unhindered flow of traffic, the reverse is the case. Road crashes of different types are commonplace in the FCT. Worst still, Abuja city roads is more dangerous at weekends, as that is the period drunken crawlers cruise at high speed from one night club to another in search of fun and ladies between 1am and 3am only to wake up to see the aftermath on the streets and highways. Abuja drivers have grown with the perception that, where the road is good, they are at liberty to speed as dangerously as they deem

necessary. Little wonder that over speeding is killing people on the roads. Over-speeding and reckless driving have literally become a way of life for Abuja motorists even with the daily loss of lives, there seems not to be any lessons learnt.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 —

Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 3 of the Motor Vehicle, Third Party, Insurance Act requires that no person shall use, or cause or permit any other person to use, a motor vehicle unless such a motor vehicle is insured against damage to the property of third parties. The NIA DG marveled at the high level of compliance in Imo State where most of the law enforcement agents are well equipped and upto-date with genuine insurance papers just with a click on their computers to verify whether the insurance papers paraded by motorists are indeed original or fake right at the check point. Thomas wondered why such commendable practice cannot be replicated in Abuja in particular where accidents rate is high rather the estimation of enforcement agents in Abuja is that an insurance certificate whether genuine of fake, has nothing to do with accidents or making claims after an accident. But for the few that know that the policy has some benefits attached to it, they hardly believe that insurance companies can pay any claim for just N5,000 they paid for a whole year. Their unbelief in this regard is being boosted by the fact that many who purchased the policy from fraudsters and who were involved in one form of accident or the other failed to get the necessary intervention of any insurance firm because the certificate they have was issued by fake insurance firms. Whereas all drivers in Nigeria must by law have at least third-party insurance. This means that you are insured against any claims made by drivers and other road users whose vehicles are damaged in an accident that was your fault but you cannot make claims for damage to your own car or injuries you or your passengers sustain unless the accident was the fault of another

person. Contrary to the mandatory third party insurance, Comprehensive motor vehicle insurance is not required by law, but it is a good idea to take one depending on the value of the car you are driving. It allows the policyholder to claim from his insurer for accidents that occur as a result of his faults and also when fault cannot be established against him or another person including if you return to your parked car and find it has been damaged by an unknown vehicle. Technically, human errors, vehicle breakdowns, non-road worthy vehicles, good road conditions and environmental factors like poor weather can be said to be the major causes of accidents everywhere in the world but the good news however is that, all those errors can be prevented if Nigerians help insurance industry to help motorists through ensuring that the don’t just flank papers for the sake of it but patronise genuine insurance companies. Investigations revealed that global cost of road accidents waste and injuries accounted for $518billion while developing countries accounted for $65billion of that amount. However, compliance to motor insurance law in British Columbia is 99 percent; Sweden, 98 percent; UK, 95 percent; Costa Rica, 84 percent; Ghana 84 percent; Zambia, 15 percent and Nigeria which is the largest insurance market in Africa, still struggles with unappreciable percentage of third party insurance in the country with only over 2.5 million genuine motor insurance certificates captured on the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID.

CE & YOU

Only 26 percent of over 12 million vehicles in the entire country are genuinely insured in spite of the collaborative efforts of the industry to educate motorists on the danger of fake insurance

Air disasters harden aviation underwriting I

nsurance premiums are set to rise by about 20-25 percent after a general hardening in aviation underwriting rates following a spate of aviation disasters this year. An article in Mint quoted insurance experts as saying the twin disasters with Malaysian aircraft this year, apart from attacks at airports in Tripoli (Libya) and Karachi (Pakistan) will result in premiums going up for the aviation sector, which has a total cover of about $30 billion (Rs 1.8 lakh crore) collectively on its fleet. Aviation companies typically pay about 0.51 percent of the total insurance cover as premium. Assuming a conservative 0.5 percent figure, the industry pays out Rs

900 crore a year towards premium, a figure that could rise stressing the financial condition of aviation firms further. Indian aviation companies posted a collective loss of about $1.77 billion (about Rs 10,600 crore) in fiscal year 2013-14, a figure that is set to narrow to about $1.4 billion (Rs 8400 crore) this year, according to consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa). Last year’s loss was

led mainly by three carriers, Jet Airways (Rs 4,000 crore), Air India (Rs 2,200 crore) and SpiceJet (Rs 1,000 crore), while others such as IndiGo and GoAir managed to eke out profits. A jump in insurance premium rates follows aviation tragedies as insurers and reinsurers look to make up for losses incurred recently and as general risk perception increases. A similar hardening in rates took place in 2010 following an

NCRIB appoints PR manager

anagement of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, has approved the appointment of Mr. Oladele Ayeleso as the Council’s Public Relations and Communication Manager. Ayeleso is expected to use his wealth of knowledge of the industry to further boost the image of the council and that of the entire insurance

industry. He is a graduate of Statistics from the Polytechnic, Ibadan. He has attended several trainings and seminars both within and beyond the shores of Nigeria on reportage of insurance and pension industry with over thirteen years of working experience spanning diverse functions of reporting and teaching.

From left: Head, Corporate Communications and Brand Management Department Sovereign Trust Insurance, STI, Segun Bankole; Managing Director, TEEOF Media Limited, Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie; Managing Director/CEO, STI, Wale Onaolapo; Managing Director, Golden Effects Productions Limited, Kunle Afolayan and ED/COO, Samuel Ogbodu during a courtesy/ thank you visit to STI for supporting the production of the movie October 1

Coumantaros takes over as FMN's chairman

HE Board of Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC (FMN) has announced the retirement of Mr. George Stavros Coumantaros, as Chairman of the Board of the company, taking effect immediately after the conclusion of the Company’s 54th Annual General Meeting.

According to a statement by the company, Coumantaros was consequently endowed with the title of Founder/ Chairman Emeritus and remains on the Board as a Non-Executive Director for Life. The Board of Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC (FMN) has also announced with great delight, the appointment of Mr. John

George Coumantaros as the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc taking effect immediately after the conclusion of the Company’s 54th Annual General Meeting. John Coumantaros, an experienced and successful entrepreneur, sitting on the Board of several international companies, was born in 1961. He graduated from Yale University with a B.A. Degree in History in 1984. C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Berger Paints repositions for growth Stories By PETER EGWUTU

ew chairman of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Dr. Oladimeji Alo, has emphasized that there would be major changes in the company in a bid to reposition it for growth and leadership position in the paints and allied industry. The chairman stated this at a special dinner organised by the company in honour of the retiring Chairman and Directors of the company in Lagos recently. As part of measures to reposition the company for the future, four directors who have attained the age of 70 years since the last AGM retired from the board at the 54thAnnual General Meeting held in July. They are Mr. Clement Olowokande (immediate past Chairman), Dr. Raymond Obieri, Engineer Olawale Akinpelu and Mr.

Balram Datwani (retired nonExecutive Directors). The immediate past chairman, Mr. Olowokande had described the development as a step designed to refresh the board of directors to continue the great task of making Berger Paints a company built to last. The new chairman, Dr. Alo, former Director-General of Financial Institution Training Centre (FITC) said the changes in Berger Paints were meant to reposition the company in terms of boosting turnover, reducing cost, firming up processes and systems, all targeted at regaining leadership position in the industry, adding that some of the changes have begun. He said the board would continue to need the support of the retired

Directors because the wisdom they would bring to the table would continue to be valuable to the company. In a goodwill message, Sir Sunny Nwosu, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association observed that although the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) did not stipulate retirement age for directors, the retiring directors decided to retire so that fresh blood could be injected into the company. He enjoined the new chairman to ensure that more value was added to the assets being left by the retiring Directors and also commended the Board for the choice of the new chairman who has distinguished himself in the financial sector and other sectors of the economy.

Governor Fashola’s social engineering in Lagos State r. Babatunde Raji also provides express services M Fashola, SAN, is on various routes with origin/ currently the Executive destinations at Lagos Island, Governor of Lagos State. He was first elected into this position in May 2007, reelected in May 2011 and his term ends in May 2015. One notable thing he said at his inauguration in 2011 was to the effect that anyone in his administration should not sit back in the belief there was a lot of time ahead but should look at inauguration day as one day less in which to act. In his first term, Governor Fashola built an independent power plant, IPP, at Iju that has given 24 hour powersupply to the operations at Iju and Adiyan Waterworks as well as the Akute raw water pumping station on the River Ogun. The result is that treated water can be pumped for 24 hours each day to areas on the existing pipeline system from Iju and Adiyan

, From left :The Managing Director, NDIC, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim, represented by the Director, Internal Audit, NDIC, Mr. Ibrahim Tafida receiving an award of “Africa’s Meritorious Service” from the President of International Advocacy for Peace and Development Initiative (APDI), Mr Femi Mike in Abuja.

Oando to pay dividend, posts N8.9bn profit

ANDO Plc has concluded arrangement to pay interim dividend of 70 kobo per share for 2014, in addition to the 30 kobo dividend declared for the financial year 2013. The company also recorded a Profit After Tax, PAT of N8.9 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2014. Other results for the half year show that the company posted an impressive N24 billion operating profit. These impressive results indicate that the company is beginning to reap the rewards of its landmark $1.5 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips entire Nigerian business, which has transformed its status into Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil and gas producer. With the acquisition now complete and immediately C M Y K

cash generative the company’s upstream subsidiary Oando Energy Resources has a total hydrocarbon production capacity of approximately 45,000 boe/d, 2P Reserves of 230.6MMboe and 2C Resources of 547MMboe, and expects annual revenue of over $600 million, and annual free cash flows of $150 million. Commenting on the release of the results, Oando Group Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu said, “Our strategic refocus on the higher margin Upstream foresees immense value add for our stakeholders in the near term. We have succeeded in repositioning ourselves within the sector, and through future acquisitions and innovative efficacy we will seek to up our market share in sub-Sahara’s Upstream sector within the

next five years to 100,000 boe/d in net production.” Oando has also made significant progress in extracting value from its legacy assets. OML 125 production increased by 17 per cent to 651,000 bbls, while OML 56 production increased by 30 per cent to 171,000bbls compared to last year, significantly impacting revenue and profit streams. The company’s midstream business Oando Gas and Power is currently undergoing an extension of its natural gas distribution network by 8km from Ijora to the Marina business district in Lagos state, positioning the company to benefit from the growing demand for gas and power infrastructure in the country.

Obalende, Yaba, Ikorodu Town, Iyana Ipaja, Oshodi, Ojodu-Berger, Sango Tollgate, Ijede, Ijora, Alausa Secretariat, Unilag, Festac and Mile 2 Badagry Expressway. Governor Fashola’s defining achievement may prove to be the reconstruction of the Lagos to Badagry Expressway. The government took the bold decision to negotiate a construction contract whilst the engineering designs for the project were still in progress. This move has made it possible for the project to commence 2 years earlier than would have been the case if the engineering designs were completed before construction contracts were concluded. Important components of the Lagos to Badagry Expressway reconstruction include

I am partial to anyone who builds bridges as they get us over and across barriers to our movement. The Lekki Phase I to Ikoyi link bridge provides a much needed second access out of the Lekki peninsula.

Waterworks. Another IPP has been built at the Marina, Lagos to serve the Lagos General Hospital, Island Maternity Hospital and the Lagos State High Courts at Igbosere Road while a third IPP serves the Lagos State Secretariat complex at Alausa. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA was in existence before Governor Fashola’s time in office. However, the first major project implemented by LAMATA, the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, service between Mile 12 Ikorodu Road and Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island started its operations during the Fahsola Administration. Dedicated bus lanes were provided in both travel directions with designated stops along the route resulting in substantial reductions in travel times, greater convenience and improved travel comfort for users of the BRT service. The reconstruction of Ikorodu Road from Mile 12 to Ikorodu Town Roundabout is at an advanced stage of completion. The reconstructed road would provide BRT lanes between Mile 12 and Ikorodu Town Roundabout for the first time. There are also BRT services between Ikeja, Ipaja, Ikotun and Igando. The LAGBUS Asset Management Limited

dedicated lanes for BRT service and a light rail corridor in the central area of its crosssection. The project is moving into a phase which would determine whether it succeeds or fails. This phase would involve the construction of a viaduct for rail traffic through the National Theatre and Ijora areas unto a bridge across the Lagoon and into Lagos Island. This phase is not likely to be completed before the end of Governor Fashola’s term but one hopes the next administration would carry the project to completion without any delays. The next governor must do this for us. I am partial to anyone who builds bridges as they get us over and across barriers to our movement. The Lekki Phase I to Ikoyi link bridge provides a much needed second access out of the Lekki peninsula. This new bridge eases the bottleneck at the bridge at the end of Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue. Governor Fashola demonstrated his commitment to obtaining results when he got President Yar’Adua to give up Federal Government properties at the Ikoyi end of the bridge without which the project was not feasible. TO BE CONCLUDED DR. AKINTOLA OMIGBODUN omigbodunaa@yahoo.com

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—25

DIARY

NITDA wakes up to responsibilities in ICT sector

ziSTEAMS Honours Conference 2014 Auchi, Edo State Sep 29-30, 2014

z Cisco Connect Sun City, South Africa Nov. 2 - 4, 2014

*As Jack vows to jack-up ICT devt tempo *promises enforce NITDA Act By PRINCE OSUAGWU

Preview

hile Nigeria’s achievements in the Information and Communications Technology, ICT, industry have become ready subjects of discussions at global forums, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has given indication of a new focus to further raise the tempo of activities aimed at taking the country’s ICT industry to greater heights. The Director-General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack, gave the indications in Abuja, while throwing more light on the agency’s plans to ensure that

Impressive wireless earbuds

the ICT industry is properly regulated and evaluated on an on-going basis in line with the content of the NITDA Act 2007. Jack says the NITDA Act 2007 gives the federal government agency the overall responsibilities to regulate, monitor, evaluate, and verify progress on an ongoing basis in the ICT industry, under the supervision and coordination of the Federal Ministry Communication Technology. According to him, although Nigeria has made much progress in the industry, “there is need for renewed moves, focus and activities to ensure that the tempo that has been generated is further strengthened so that we can take this industry with renewed vigour to greater heights.” He said NITDA will not relent in its efforts to bridge ICT gap in Nigeria through its programmes and policies targeted at developing technology and its usage across the country. The agency, in highlighting some of its achievements said that although the journey of the last few years has been quite eventful with its ICT programmes and projects spreading throughout the country, it is ready to do more to promote ICT usage and adoption in public and private sectors. According to the NITDA ACT 2007,

he Powerbeats2 Wireless ear buds were specifically designed with athletes in mind, with features like B l u e t o o t h capabilities, a long battery life, additional straps to secure them in place, as well as sweat and water resistance. This makes the ear buds especially practical for running or working out, since you don’t have to choose between sacrificing sound or your own p e r s o n a l performanceOne of the most impressive parts of this Bluetooth Beats ear buds is that they boast a long six hour battery life. The Powerbeats2 Wireless ear buds can be charged by USB and even if you haven’t got much time to spare, plugging them in for about 15 minutes will give you an additional hour of listening time. C M Y K

I N S I D E

New inventions shaping life and living

Easy life, work, reason for partnering Microsoft on Lumia 930

There is need for renewed moves, focus and activities to ensure that the tempo that has been generated is further strengthened so that we can take this industry with renewed vigour to greater heights

NITDA is saddled with the responsibilities of “creating the framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria and all matters related thereto and for that purpose, and which without detracting from the

generality of the foregoing shall include providing universal access for Information Technology and systems penetration including rural, urban and under-served areas.” The agency is also to “provide guidelines to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of appropriate information technology and systems application and development in Nigeria for public and private sectors, urban-rural development, the economy and the government. It is to also “develop guidelines for electronic governance and monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communication transactions as an alternative to paper-based methods in government, commerce, education, the private and public sectors, labour, and other fields, where the use of electronic communication may improve the

Continues on pg 28

Companies registration may suffer as softwarevendor tussle puts CAC out of service

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Inlaks partners four new IT providers, engages new director

nlaks, a distributor of TEMENOS T24 banking application in West Africa, has announced new strategic partnership with an additional four global IT solutions providers. This strategic decision is in line with the global evolution of banking and to further demonstrate the company ’s vigorous determination in transforming clients’ businesses through innovative banking solutions. The four companies are Fiorano, Digital Persona, R-Systems and Verisim. The partners, according to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Inlaks, Africa Operations, Mr. Femi Adeoti, offer a range of unique Information Technology support services to financial institutions. They also specialize in critical IT solutions such as biometric identification verification and provide a secure, scalable platform for a “realtime information network” for financial institutions, as well as software simulation solutions for training among others. He expounded that Inlaks partnership with these global IT solution providers will reinvigorate excellence in the quality of support services that the company renders to financial institutions in Nigeria and West Africa. “With these new additional solutions, fraud detection, Loan Management System and integration of complementary banking services such as ATM, SMS, internet banking with core banking solution to boost operational efficiency and productivity among banks is seamless, “ he emphasized. In another development, the company has appointed Mr. Precious Osegi as the new Director, Sales and Strategy, Financial Business Unit. A statement by the company described Osegi as a highly experienced senior business leader with over 18 years’ experience in Information Technology and Telecommunication markets across US, Middle East and Africa.

Gidimall.com steps up social media engagements in universities

igeria’s online retailer, Gidimall.com, has stepped up social media engagements in univeristies with a view to building long lasting customer relationships. The platform said that with the initiative, it was taking advantage of the unprecedented growth in internet penetration largely driven by strong mobile penetration. It is estimated that Nigeria, would have about 143 million mobile phones by 2015. To execute the engagement, the company is organising a two – week social media awareness campaign in University of Lagos,UNILAG. This maiden event is however specifically geared towards promoting social media awareness and youth empowerment. According to Head of sales of the company, Mr Eki Toju “there are a lot of fun activities lined up across our social media channels. These activities include – fastest finger, photo contest, massive price slash, quiz contest, Selfie contest training, games, photo shoot, sweep stakes and whole lots more”, he added. Toju enjoined students to participate actively in the programme, saying “they can list their products where necessary, give feedback and be more involving.

Easy life & work, reason for partnering Microsoft on Lumia 930 By Cynthia Okere & Favour Anthony

ansard Insurance plc has said that its desire to make work and life so easy and simple was major reason behind its partnership with Microsoft Corporation to the newly introduced Nokia Lumia 930 mobile phone. The Nokia Lumia 930 was introduced to the Nigerian market at a media launch recently at Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. The Lumia 930, runs on Windows 8.1 and comes with the best of Microsoft built in for work and play features such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, XBOX, Skype and One Note to ensure customers are able to work hard and play hard whenever and wherever, whilst keeping content like photos, videos and documents in sync across their Windows Phone, Personal Computers, tablets and Xbox devices.

*Nokia Lumia 930

The Lumia 930 comes with 2.2GHz Quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor as well as the Lumia Cyan update of Windows 8.1 to give customers the most out of the latest Windows 8.1, whilst enjoying a super fast experience. The Lumia 930 also comes with in-built Wireless charging as well as a 20 mega pixel Pure View ZEISS camera with Optical Image Stabilization and 4 ultra high performance digital microphones that record Dolby Digital for an unparalleled imaging and rich recording and audio capture experience. Speaking on the insurance company’s foray into the world of

mobility, Mansard’s Director of Retail Business, Yomi Onifade, stated that “The partnership with Microsoft on the Nokia Lumia 930 is the coming together of two forward-thinking and innovative companies, aimed at delivering an experience that is the first of its kind to Nigerian mobile market.” Onifade added that “every new Lumia 930 comes with free insurance which covers two screen damages and one liquid damage. The insurance is in place for a period of one year and everyone one that purchases the Nokia Lumia 930 from any of the authorized outlets in Nigeria is automatically covered.” He further said that “Buyers should be on the lookout for the Mansard Insurance sticker on their Nokia Lumia 930.”

Companies registration may suffer as softwarevendor tussle puts CAC out of service By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

hose planning to register their companies at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, may experience a little delay as the commission’s official software vendor, Messrs Decision Technology Incorporated of USA, DTI, allegedly shutdown the entire system of the commission paralysing business activities in the commission. The shut down followed a hint the official vendor gathered that the commission was planning to appoint a new software provider. The collapse of business registration activities caused by the shutdown ignited protest from lawyers, Secretaries and other customers of the CAC over their inabilities to process business registrations in the commission. Registrar-General of the commission, Alhaji Bello Mahmud in an interview with Hi-Tech in Abuja on Monday, said that the Commission has embarked on a new version of the Commission’s registration software with an e-payment portal that is being developed while he added that the appointment of a new vendor vexed the ex-vendor who shut the system down in protest. Mahmud said: "The Commission’s service was dragged for over two weeks because the vendor we were using for software shut us down

immediately after we paid him part payment for the current year, it was paid on the 14th of August, 2014. According to him, “The reason why DTI shuts us down was because the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment announced that we were going for a new software by October and because of that, DTI now shuts us down. He even told us that he was aware of the new software” Mahmud said that all effort to explain to DTI and make the company understand that the incoming of a new software vendor would not in any way affect the Commission’s payment commitment to it, fell on deaf ears as the company still went ahead to shut CAC out.

*Software

The Corporate Affairs Commission was established by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) of 1990, to regulate and supervise the formation, incorporation, registration, management and winding of companies in Nigeria. The Commission’s new software system will drive its key Business Processes such as Company eRegistration, Incorporation, Winding-up and other Pre and Post Incorporation activities. Meanwhile, the said the commission is losing N2billion annually to the 60 percent cut in business registrations following a directive of president Goodluck Jonathan to cut down on business registrations at the CAC. The directive which was disclosed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga said the reduction of the business registration fees underscores the importance of the sector to poverty reduction, job creation and inclusive growth. The Minister said since SMEs accounted for about 80 per cent of b u s i n e s s e s registered with the CAC as well as contributing about 50 per cent to the countr y ’s Gross Domestic Product, there was a need to remove all factors that would impede their development.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 — 27

Encomiums on NCC as Nigeria heads CTO Council By Prince Osuagwu

ey Nigerian players and lovers of the country ’s steady Information and Communications Technology, ICT growth, have commended the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC for leading the country to the top leadership position of the Council and Executive Committee of the C o m m o n w e a l t h Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Organisation (CTO). According to them, this latest development has further deepened the recognition of the country as a key player in the global ICT state. Their argument is that though Nigeria’s emergence as new Chairman of CTO, was not surprising, it has however, elevated the country’s status as a key player, not only among the commonwealth nations but in the global Information and Communication Technology market. Leading the avalanche of stakeholders who poured encomiums on the regulator is the first Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, who is also the Child Online Protection Ambassador of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunications Union, ITU. Dame Jonathan at the weekend congratulated the Executive Vice Chairman of

Dr Eugene Juwah, EVC, NCC, and his team in Dhaka, Bangladesh. From right: Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs; Dr Juwah, EVC; Josephine Amua, Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis; Abdullahi Maikano, Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund; A.K. Yakubu, Head, Competition and Tariff; Ibrahim Galadima, Senior Manager, Policy and Competition; Kelechi Nwankwo, Principal Manager, Universal Service Provision Fund; Okoh Aihe, SA Media, EVC; Nnena Ukoha, Head, International Affairs; and Jerry Ugwu, Chief of Staff, EVC. the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah for pioneering the telecommunications sector to the enviable height that saw the country being elected the CTO council Chairman. In a congratulatory letter to Juwah, Jonathan observed that “the Commonwealth has, once more, through this election demonstrated its confidence and goodwill, not

only in you but in the Nigerian nation.” While wishing him a successful tenure in office, the First Lady expressed the belief that Dr Juwah would use the opportunity to help curtail the threat and challenge of child online security, as well as deepen a secured penetration of telecommunication access within the less privileged communities in the

commonwealth. Other notable players who believed that the favourable regulatory regime enthroned by the NCC, facilitated the election to a great extent included the President of the Association of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr Lanre Ajayi and his counterpart in the Association of licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga

NCCT Council urges state governments to adopt ‘Smart State’ initiative BY EMEKA AGINAM

nless more state governments sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Ministry of communication technology for the implementation of the Smart State initiative, Nigeria’s quest to become a digital economy may be derailed. This, among other issues formed the summation of a communique issued at the end of the third meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology, NCCT, held in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State recently. Already, three states, including Lagos, Cross River and Federal Capital Territory have signed the MoU with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, FMCT. Meanwhile, the Smart State initiative is being tested in Anambra, Bayelsa, Ondo with others to follow. Before now, the Ministry of Communication Technology and the Broadband Council chaired by the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, have been promoting

the ‘Smart State’ initiative; a campaign geared at engaging governors and relevant authorities at the state and federal level to address the issue of multiple taxation impeding the development of critical infrastructure across Nigeria. Accordingly, the communique urged the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST to use its post offices to deploy ICT services all across the country and leverage on existing Public Access Venues, PAV, infrastructure around the country to deploy its services. Earlier in her keynote address at the NCCT forum, Johnson while commending Bayelsa state for signing the Smart State MoU disclosed that the Ministry was collaborating with Bayelsa State in a number of areas and congratulated the Governor for pursuing a Digital Transformation Agenda in his State. Priority areas: Johnson highlighted the top priority areas of the Ministry to include Connect Nigeriawhich focuses on building ICT infrastructure, Connect Nigerians, ICT in government and Local Content. She disclosed that the Ministry of

Communication Technology has made progress in its priority areas resulting in improvements in a number of indicators including tele-density, active subscription, number of internet users, and internet penetration. She assured that the Ministry of Communication Technology would provide the necessary leadership and rallying point for ensuring that the potential of the Nigerian ICT sector was fully harvested for the attainment of inclusive and sustainable development. Deliberating exhausting the 73-page report presented by the meeting, the NCCT urged State and Local governments in the country to make policy changes in the areas of investing in infrastructure security and development, among others. The communique also urged members to sensitize their Chief Executives and mobilize support for implementation of the national addressing policy to be piloted in the six geopolitical zones with Ekiti, Nasarawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Osun, Plateau, Gombe and Anambra states as volunteers.

Adebayo. Ajayi said “ we are delighted about the new position into which Nigeria has been elected and in the new role, it is noteworthy that Nigeria is being represented by Nigeria’s chief telecoms industry regulator”. He urged the NCC to leverage on the position to further launch Nigeria into higher status while enjoining the NCC to continue in the implementation of its various programmes in a manner that will benefit the industry more. Expressing similar disposition, Engr. Adebayo, said “NCC has been tenacious in putting in place series of regulatory intervention to put the industry on the path of consistent growth, making telecoms a key enabler of economic development. The new role is a testimony to Nigeria’s frantic effort to remain as major player in the global telecoms space.” The election took place during the CTO,s Forum and 54th council meeting which held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on September ,8-12,2014 with member countries well represented. With the election, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, will assume this position on behalf of the West African country. He took over from Director for Human Capital and Administration at the Communications Authority of Kenya, Juma Kandie. Juwah was previously 1st Vice-Chair of the CTO with over 30 years of experience in the IT and telecommunications sectors, including over 20 years of the above in top managementlevel positions. Rated as the fastest-growing telecoms markets in Africa, Nigeria has grown tremendously recording an annual growth rate of 30 per cent. Also, Juwah, in a speech delivered at the event, captured the major developments that are catapulting Nigeria’s telecoms industry onto the global ICT stage. According to him, the country, has adopted the Open Access Model as the country’s choice of broadband deployment and in line with its National Broadband Plan approved by the Presidency early 2013. In February, an operator was licensed on the 2.3GHz band as a wholesale wireless broadband access provider in what analysts have described transparent process to build out a network that can provide quality data services across the country.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

IBM offers solutions for efficient data management By Emmanuel Elebeke

I Iyanya leads top stars to TD Mobile launch

By Paul Ikuforiji

ne of Nigeria’s leading musicians, Iyanya, will lead other Nigerian artistes who have been confirmed to perform, as Digital lifestyle and mobile products distribution arm of Technology Distributions Limited, TD-Mobile will be officially launched next week, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Iyanya is said to have promised to make the night one to remember. TD-Mobile has already signed distribution agreements with worldclass mobile products manufacturers like Lenovo, Nokia, HP, Zinox, Toshiba, Dell among others. According to the Marketing Head of TD-Mobile, Mrs. Gozy Ijogun, TD-Mobile is everything about Original Digital Mobile products like Smart Phones, Phablets, Tablets, Laptops and Mobile Printers from world class manufacturers for all highly upwardly Mobile Resellers/ Partners in Nigeria who really deserve the best with peerless aftersales services. Ijogun went further to say that, “What differentiates TD-Mobile from other distributors is that we are focused on digital mobile products direct from manufacturers and we take responsibility for all our products. The market is full of fake products and we thought we should define this market for the good of the country. We have in the past six months hired smart and well educated” she added The company says it has invited selected partners nationwide for the evening which is an eye opener to modern digital lifestyle mobile products distribution.

BM West Africa last week organized a workshop tagged, ‘Smarter Government Forum’ to intimate government institutions on trendy IT solutions for problem solving and efficient service delivery. The event was designed to provide insight into the solutions IBM software has pioneered across the globe that leveraged current mega trends in IT. It also provided a platform for the company to showcase how a selection of IBM’s leading partners are enabling forward looking organizations across Africa to succeed by implementing the solutions. Some of the solutions include: IBM ECM, IBM content Navigator, Smart counter fraud, IBM data cap and IBM Data manager. The workshop also threw insight on intelligence investigation, Information Life cycle Governance and emerging trends in capture and imaging of documents. Speaking at the forum, IBM Software Group Executive, Middle East and Africa, Cherif Morcos, said IBM the Smarter Business Africa was focused on the African organizations to deliver valuable on IBM Software’s capabilities to improve efficiency, profitability, agility and ultimately benefit business. According to him, IBM has been active in a number of African markets for some time, and had proven to be a significant factor in the success of some organizations in the continent by making its

solutions fit into t h e i r requirements. Head of External Relations, I B M , Charles Moyela said: “We have great technology solutions and are working hard to maintain a worldleading identity and brand its partners can share and leverage from, when securing important deals. We are here to help Nigerian government manage their data and secure their valuable documents since Africa is becoming an increasing important piece of the IBM globally strategy. Our recent investment in bringing the power of cognitive system, Waston, to Africa demonstrates this . This investment is symbolic of how IBM software is looking to bring solutions to the businesses and challenges faced across the continent.” ‘‘Our passion for success on the continent should not be underestimated either. We’re committed to empowering and energizing our business partners and helping them to think differently too. That is why this forum is aimed at highlighting successful case studies that show what is possible by IMB software’s solutions when our pool of talented business partners set their minds to solving a business challenge. ‘‘These trends are undoubtedly changing the technology landscape

and the business environment, and that’s clear by the fact that we’re seeing increasing interest. We are focusing at government because they play ever-more important roles in the decision making of how they need technology to empower their businesses,’’ he stated. Moleye said the company in the coming months and years will be focusing a significant amount of attention and resources on b ringing complete solutions to market that offer a better response to the need of the individual African markets and their people. Also speaking, Moyela said, ‘‘ we found out over time that most of the sections we have establishments, they complain about is how IBM is going to help them become more efficient. They know that we have the technology to handle them in a way they will be more efficient in the way they handle documents, talking about documents moving from one place to another. ‘‘We look at both stages of removing the document and processing them, making them more efficient and how they store that information or data they can use in future to drive efficiency within their environment and business.

As Jack vows to jack-up ICT devt tempo Continues from page 25 exchange of data and information.” Other mandates of the agency include: To develop guidelines for the networking of public and private sector establishment; develop guidelines for the standardisation and certification of Information Technology Escrow Source Code and Object Code Domiciliation, Application and Delivery Systems in Nigeria among several others. In fulfilment of these mandates, NITDA has embarked on infrastructural development and human capacity development projects across the country. The agency said it has been delivering its mandates through human capacity development programmes such as Scholarship Scheme for graduates andundergraduates; Cisco Network Academy; Train-The-trainer Programme; Catch-Them-Young; Free and Open Source-Software Training; Enterprise Technology Centre and Kado Resource Centre; Training of Unemployed Graduates in IT Essentials; ICT Youth Empowerment Scheme; and Business Process

Outsourcing. For ICT infrastructure development, NITDA is pushing the country forward through the establishment of Rural Information Technology Centres (RITCs); Mobile Internet Units; Virtual Libraries; Software Development Centres; IT Parks; IT Infrastructure for Tertiary Institutions; and Public Service, Network (PSNET) among others.

According to the agency, the Rural Information Technology Centre (RITC) project is aimed at bringing Information Technology (IT) to the doorsteps of Nigerians by ensuring that the under-served areas get access to IT infrastructure, adding that it has established over 395 centres since it commenced the project in 2009.

Alcatel re-enters Nigerian smartphone market with new products France and TCL Communication of China. Speaking at a press BY EMEKA AGINAM

igeria’s smartphone market is set to witness a major boost as global phone manufacturer, and one of the earlier key players in Nigeria’s mobile phone revolution, Alcatel Mobile, has re-entered the smartphone phone market with four new android smartphones. Alcatel Mobile Phones are a brand of mobile handsets established in 2004 as a joint venture between Alcatel-Lucent of

conference last week in Lagos for the launch of the new product, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezeonyeka, Operation Director, GIOCAH Ventures, Alcatel major distributor in Nigeria said the phones will be well accepted because of the pricing and all the additional features of a smartphone embedded in them. He said: “The battery lives of these phones are long, and the designs are very attractive. I believe Nigerians will be happy with the products we have here.”

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30 — V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

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VANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 — 31 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

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VOL. 1 NO 9

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

* The rail line leading to Port Harcourt

* Sleepers used for rehabilitation

Anxiety mounts over delayed rail rehabilitation in S-East BY FRANCIS IGATA

NUGU—THERE is anxiety in South-East geopolitical zone over the long delay in the completion of the rehabilitation of the eastern flank of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC,rail services which was started by the Federal Government in 2010. The eastern rail tracks which transverses through Port-Harcourt, Abia, Ebonyi, Makurdi, Imo and Enugu, had

since the inception of the contract award, been fraught with sabotage and shenanigans. The government had awarded Contract 3 of the nationwide railway tracks rehabilitation slot to a Turkish firm, ESER West Africa Limited with a completion time-line of 10 months. South East Voice gathered that the government had in the past, awarded several rail rehabilitation contracts to for-

eign firms starting with the Indians in 1979, Chinese in 1999-2002, without any visible result, hence the renewed efforts by the incumbent administration to get the tracks functional. A reliable source in the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the PortHarcourt-Makurdi tracks fell under the South-East region which was awarded to a Turkish firm, ESER West Africa Limited.

ALSO IN THIS EDITION Igbo-Eze North Fears over Local Govt: epidemic outbreak Dilapid ated at ‘filthy’ Gariki Enugu council structures, Cattle market without abandoned legislative building — Page 4 projects litter UNN — Page 2 — —Page Page78 C M Y K

The source said: “The major challenges faced on the rehabilitation project have been surmounted. The construction of Nyaba Bridge (15) in Enugu, reconstruction of the heavy washout at Eziama in Aba, reconconstruction of Bridge (3) in Port Harcourt are all completed. The blasting of stones used to form the base and anchor for the rail tracks had been under contention with the Ebonyi State government. “What remains for the NRC management to do is to restore the train mass transit service between Enugu-Ehamufu line which has been linked. What remains to complete that line is just blasting. Due to the poor road network, people from that area patronize us hugely and we generate funds from the mass transit scheme. As we speak, two brand new locomotive engines are lying idle in Port-Harcourt and Aba. That is the cry of the easterners. ”We are shocked with this

development. This Ehamufu line is very lucrative. The locomotives for the transportation are available but we don’t know why the management is refusing to give the order for the operation to commence. The management just parked the locomotive engines at those places instead of deploying them to work.”

Delay caused by lack of funds — ESER West Africa The Managing Director, ESER West Africa Limited, Mr. Tugrul Karaduman told South East Voice in his office that, “lack of funds had been the bane of the rehabilitation project.” His words: “Whoever says that the eastern line is not operating is telling lies. We are not making a new line rather we are rehabilitating existing one, so, the 463 kilometre route

Continues on page 3

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

ABIA

Abandoned lorry park overtaken by weeds

Fears over epidemic outbreak at ‘filthy’ Gariki Cattle market BY ANAYO OKOLI

M UA H I A— U N L E S S the authorities of Umunneochi Local Government Area act quickly, the possibilities of an outbreak of epidemic looms at the Gariki Cattle Market located on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway as a result of the filthy environment of the mar-

ket. More worrisome is the fact that the market environment also serves as the abode of hundreds of people, mainly the cattle dealers from the North who reside in the area with their families. The monthly clean-up exercise by Abia State government is not observed in the market as

the entire environment is filled with foul air arising from the filthy environment. South East Voice during a visit to the market noticed the deadly stench pervading the whole area which make visitors and even passers-by very uncomfortable. Apparently unconcerned with

…as Cattle dealers flay FG over abandoned lorry parks By Anayo Okoli

BIA— THE Federal Government has abandoned two expansive lorry parks constructed at the Lokpanta Gariki market in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. The two lorry parks, built on the two sides of the EnuguPort Harcourt Expressway and very close to the Gariki Market to reduce road accidents are now overgrown by weeds. It was learnt that FERMA built the parks following complaints that trailer drivers were constituting serious traffic problems while off-loading C M Y K

their goods on the busy highway instead of the parks. Built with millions of tax payers’ money about three years ago, the bushy parks now serve as toilet to the cattle sellers and buyers, as well as residents of the market, among others. The parks were meant to accommodate the heavy duty lorries and other big vehicles that convey livestock from the northern parts of the country to the eastern part as Lokpanta Gariki cattle markets serve most of the states in the zone. However, while the parks deteriorated due to non-utilisation, the nuisance caused Continues on page 3

One of the lorry parks

the filthy environment, the traders and residents of Gariki go about their normal businesses as they had obviously become immune to the stench. The median of the expressway directly opposite the market has even been turned to a dumping site for waste, causing more dangers to the peo-

ple. It was observed inside the market that the little huts and houses, which serve as the residences of the cattle dealers, were also built on top of waste materials even as the entire environment is littered with all manners of rubbish. In this era of campaign for clean environment, the authorities of the Umunneochi Local Government should act quickly to avoid an outbreak of any epidemic in the area. Efforts to get reactions from the local government officials proved abortive.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—3

ABIA

Speaker’s lifeline for rural women, youths in Abia By ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA—LUCK smiled at the many rural women and youths in Abiriba and Nkporo, Ohafia North constituency in Abia State, when the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Ude Oko Chukwu empowered them with various items to improve their means of livelihood. Oko Chukwu also provided a well furnished modern skills acquisition centre inAbiriba to train unemployed youths in various trades for the people of his area. Items donated include cars, motorcycles, generating sets, computer sets, sewing machines, weaving machines, hairdressing and barbing kits with their accessories, vulcanizing machines, grinding machines, garri processing

machines, deep freezers, modern DJ equipment, bicycles and 300 wrappers. According to him, the items were meant to change the life style of the people in the constituency, especially the rural women and youths. He disclosed that the items were procured due to his ‘’sincere commitment to serve and leave an enduring legacy for posterity.” The empowerment items, he further said, were “equally my own modest way of contributing to and complementing the genuine efforts of Governor T. A. Orji’s administration geared towards entrenching and enhancing good governance and delivery of democracy dividends for the common good of the people of God’s own State.”

…as Cattle dealers flay FG over abandoned lorry parks Continues from page 2 by trailer drivers and other big lorries that bring livestock to the market persist as the drivers continue to park indiscriminately while off-loading their goods. When South East Voice visited FERMA office in Umuahia, the state director was said to have

travelled, but a staff who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “please ask Abuja people. That one is their project. We don’t know much about that project. We only know that it was a FERMA project but our involvement was very minimal.”

Anxiety mounts over delayed rail rehabilitation in S-East

* A moribund locomotive engine

Continues from page 1 will not be replaced with new lines. If we see critical areas or sections, we rehabilitate them. Some sections were removed entirely, and laid with new rails and sleepers. Some areas are being blasted. ”The bridges and culverts that were washed out are being maintained properly. Since the beginning of 2013, the line has been functional. Materials

for rehabilitation has been delivered for Port-HarcourtMakurdi. This is a 10-month contract entered into in 2010. Before the down payment, we mobilized to site. Which company in Nigeria will do that before getting any payment. "If you delay in the Interim Payment Certificate, then it will delay the project. We have been using our funds to finance this project. We have used our contract deeds to source for

funds to finance this project and the interest accruing from it is suffocating us. The Nigerian factor is terrible. There is too much paper work in the payment process. I am not happy about it either. The project is about 70.5 per cent completed. We are optimistic that by the end of January next year, we will handover the project and it will operate fully on a commercial scale.” C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 , 2014

ENUGU

Igogoro Road leading to the Council headquarters allegedly tarred

Igbo-Eze North Local Govt: Enugu council without legislative building Abandoned Igbo- Eze North LGA Legislative Building BY FRANCIS IGATA

NUGU—IN most local government areas in Enugu State, the councillors who form the legislators of the third tier of the government have office accommodation from where they enact laws for their various council areas as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. These councillors whose duties are closest to the people at the ward levels are also through their by-laws expected to draw

the impact of government to their people especially from the council areas. However, this is not the same at Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state where both the legislative building and the official quarters of the chairman started by the incumbent administration have been abandoned. Also abandoned are several other projects in several communities. They include rural roads, electricity, health facilities,

among other projects that affect the daily lives of the people. South East Voice investigations at the Igbo Eze North Local Government revealed that the expansive chairman’s/legislative buildings had reached the roofing level before being abandoned. At the time of the visit, almost all the woods that were meant to carry the roofing had fallen off due to over exposure to both the sun and the rain which led to

their decay. Lamentation South East Voice spoke to the Chairman, Ette Ward 2 of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Lazarus Owoda. He frowned over the issue, describing the abandonment of the legislative building as a colossal waste. He said: “We never wanted Bona Onuh to come back for this second tenure. We protested to

government and all other relevant authorities during his second term electioneering campaigns but the powers that be foisted him on us. ”The councillors now seat in a ramshackle building. What quality of legislation will they offer when they are being frustrated? ”They now make use of the previous secretariat for their legislative duties. The building has been abandoned by the chairman since the past four years. You can see grasses have turned into forests in and around the building. If any government is to salvage this building, the entire wooden structure used for its roofing will have to be replaced.” He bemoaned the poor state of development in the area pointing to Igogoro road, which was the major road leading to council headquarters but which had remained “impassable” as an example of poor leadership. The road was, however, alleged to have been tarred recently. Also, two other roads including the one leading to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office in the area as well as the old Aji-UmuogboOgurute road were seen to have become impassable even as it was learnt that the local government council had promised to award contracts for the construction of the INEC Road over a long period of time ago. Efforts made by South-East Voice to reach the Council Chairman, Chief Onuh for his reaction was futile as telephone call and messages were not answered.

How fake Deacon celebrated Mass in Catholic Church IMO BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—THERE is no product in Nigeria today that does not have a look alike. Some call it “Taiwan” or “China” while others describe such products as fake. However, the craze for faking everything under the sun took a different dimension in Imo State, as there are now many fake pastors or Reverend Fathers. These fake preachers were mainly associated with the new testament or Pentecostal preachers, who own churches under varying names, until recently, when a young man, identified as Jude Chinonso Amadi, was arrested for allegedly claiming to be an ordained deacon of the Catholic Church. South East Voice gathered that last December, this same man allegedly deceived members of his immediate family, his parish priest and the entire faithful of St. Theresa’s Catholic C M Y K

Parish, Nguru, in Ngor Okpala Local Council Area of Imo State, to believe that he was an ordained deacon of the church. Sources said that his well crafted story was that he was ordained deacon by Pope Francis

The fake Deacon, Jude Chinonso Amadi

in Rome. It was alleged that the fake deacon so cleverly perfected his gimmicks that no one was able to unmask him until his family organized a grand reception in his honour following which a thanksgiving mass was also organized by the parishioners for him. It was further said that the banns for his diaconate ordination, dated July 24, 2013, was written with the headed paper of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul, MSP, and signed by an equally fake Rev. Fr. William James, SSP. The said fake Rev. Father Williams allegedly acted as the “Delegate Superior” to Deacon Amadi. The fake banns, addressed to St. Theresa’s Catholic Parish, Nguru, Ngor Okpala, however, allegedly emanated from MSP in Dugbe, Ibadan, Oyo State. The alleged document informed the parishioners that their student, Jude Amadi had been approved for diaconate ordination, adding that the ordination proper would take place on September 7, 2013

at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. When the reality of his alleged status was discovered, Jude was arrested and charged to court for impersonation and fraud. With this development, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province thought that his wings had been effectively clipped but his assertion turned out to be a mere wish as Amadi in his usual style, stormed another parish within the Archdiocese where he ended up celebrating mass with the parish priest before being detected again.

Next victim The next victim of his escapade was Holy Cross Catholic Church, Emii in Owerri North Local Government Area of the state. The soft spoken fake deacon allegedly succeeded in deceiving the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Augustine Onyeneke, who allowed him play the role of an ordained Catholic deacon, during the requiem

mass for a deceased parishioner, whom he claimed was his uncle. Onyeneke, who narrated the story said he was at the verge of commencing the requiem mass when the young man came and introduced himself as Rev. Andrew Ibe from Umuororonjo village, in Owerri Municipal Council. The priest stressed that the “deacon” equally claimed that his home parish was St. Paul’s Catholic Parish, Owerri. “The young man told me that he was ordained for the Missionary Society of Saint Paul, MSP Congregation. He presented some pictures of his ordination to support his claim,” Fr. Onyeneke said. On how he got to know that the alleged Catholic deacon was a fake, Fr. Onyeneke said: “Up and until I was called by the Archbishop’s Secretary and the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, I never knew that the person, who celebrated mass with me during the requiem mass was not a genuine deacon. He deceived me.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—5

ANAMBRA

‘Extortion’ reigns supreme at Anambra traffic agency By VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—DESPITE the An ambra State government’s threat to remove the bad eggs in the state-owned Anambra State Traffic Agency, ASTA, to sanitize the system, operators in the agency have gone headlong in extorting money from motorists who park in unauthorized places.

Governor Willie Obiano recently ordered the re-branding of the establishment because of the poor image the organization was giving the state administration. He also announced the suspension of ASTA activities in Ihiala, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Onitsha and allowed only those in Awka to operate pending the reorganization.

But it appears that government’s decision to allow the agency operate in Awka has given the operators license to extort money from people with impunity. For instance, operators of the agency demand between N5,000 and N10,000 gratification from offenders or risk having their vehicles towed to the agency’s

Continues on page 7

21 YEARS ON: Search continues for accurate boundary between 2 Anambra communities By NWABUEZE OKONKWO

NITSHA—TENSION is mounting between the Ogidi and Nkpor Communities in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, following renewed skirmishes over the age-long boundary dispute between them. The boundary dispute which dates back to 1921 has claimed several live and property and only the timely intervention of the appropriate authorities can bring to an end the endless search for an accurate boundary between two belligerent neighbours. While the Ikenga Ogidi people claim that the boundary between them and Umusiome Nkpor was at a bush called “Mpia,” their neighbours also believe that the boundary was actually at another bush called “Mkpu” which was about 150 meters distance away from each other. The cases had gone to Onitsha High Court before Justice Awogu in suit No. 0/52/73; the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu which both dismissed the case/appeal filed by Umusiome-Nkpor against the High Court judgement. The Supreme Court also, affirmed the decisions of both the High Court and Appeal Court on March 21, 1997 in Suit No. SC./ 1/1996. The unianimous Supreme Court judgment was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu, on behalf of five other members of the panel of justices, namely Abubakar Bashir Wali, Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu, Uthman Mohammed, Sylvester Umaru Onu and Yekini Olayiwola Adio. The suit was brought by Chief

Samuel Ikenna and Benson Ikezue for themselves and on behalf of the people of Umusiome village, Nkpor against Chief Benedict Bosah and Chief N.O. Okudo for themselves and on behalf of the people of Ikenga village, Ogidi and the SurveyGeneral of Anambra State. Dismissing the application, Onwuegbu declared: “I am afraid that the applicants have not set out in this application a full statement of the facts and legal grounds showing that there is a substantial case on the merits and points of law for the property involved to be determined by this court. One would want to relax the Rules in the over-riding interest of substantial justice but the applicants must show that the circumstances are such that it is just that this application should be granted and they have not done that. For the above reasons, the application is refused and dismissed with N100 costs to the respondents”. The applicants had brought the application pursuant to section 31(2)(a) and 31(4) (s/c) of the Supreme Court Act, 1990, sections 6(6)(a) and 213(3) of the 1979 Constitution and Order 2, Rules 28(1) and 31(1) and Order 6 rule 2(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, praying the court for the following reliefs: An order enlarg-

ing the time within which the appellants/applicants may file the record and appellants’ brief of argument pursuant to Order 6, Rule2(1)Rules of this Court as well as an order deeming as properly filed the said brief of argument dated June 11, 1996 and the record of appeal filed with this application as sufficient records for the effectual determination of the appeal herein l o d g e d . The applicants also sought for an extension of time within which to apply for leave to appeal against the ruling/judgement of the court of appeal (Enugu Division) dated the 15th April, 1996; leave to appeal; extension of time within which to file the motion and grounds of appeal and to deem the same as duly filed upon payment of the prescribed fees; leave to file and

ASTA men at work augue grounds other than that of law, stay of execution of the judgement/ruling of the court of Appeal dated April 15, 1996, pending the determination of this appeal and an accelerated hearing of this appeal among others. The application was supported by a 29 paragraph of affidavit and a further 13-paragraph affidavit both deposed to by the first plaintiff/applicant, various judgments and rulings of the High Court, the Court of Appeal. Speaking on the recent development which sparked off violence at the disputed boundary, a forthnight ago, a stakeholder at Umusiome Nkpor community, Chief Greg Okeke pointed accusing fingers at the former Deputy Governor of the state, Dame Virgy Etiaba, hinting that she headed the land demarcation committee between the warring communities which according to him derailed from the decision of the Survey-General of

the Federation. According to Okeke, “in 1974, Ikenga Ogidi unilaterally demarcated the boundary between Umusiome and Ikenga Ogidi against the decision of the Survey-General of the Federation.

REACH US DO you have any news of neglect or abandoned projects or your representative at the local, state or federal governments are not representing you well? Do you have unique cultural activities coming up or any community news to tell us? Emeka Mamah (Co-ordinator): 08033218645 Tony (Enugu): 08033218180 Vincent (Awka): 08035804090 Anayo (Umuahia): 08034046839 Chidi(Imo): 08033391108 Peter (Abakaliki): 08032680756 Chinenyeh (Nsukka): 08185664011 Nwabueze (Nnewi): 08037794782 Enyim(Onitsha): 08169297179 Or: e-mail us: eastervoice@yahoo.com

One of the destroyed buildings C M Y K

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

ANAMBRA BY CHINENYE UZOR

SUKKA—NIGERIA’S first indigenous university, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, known for academic excellence is said to be facing hard times due to several years of maladministration by past administrators. As a result of this development, the university is said to be lagging behind other first generation universities in terms of academic and other recreational facilities. For example, the games village used for the NUGA games which the institution hosted in 2008, had been taken over by rodents just as it had become a free toilet zone for students and other passers-by. A visit by the South East Voice to the games village located at the main campus of the institution showed that the place has turned into a mockery. The 2008 edition of the NUGA Games hosted under Prof. Chinedu Nebo as vice chancellor, now minister for power, attracted companies, corporate bodies and individuals which mobilised enough funds for the project. Nebo had appointed his successor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, chairman of the NUGA games. The Akanu Ibiam Stadium at the university was to be constructed to a full stadium with tartam track, but abandoned half way which now serves as lecture hall for students of the university. Ifeanyi Ubah’s multi million Naira ICT data centre at the university was also abandoned during the five years Prof. Okolo served as vice chancellor of the university just as the student’s music performing centre had become the venue for nocturnal meetings by the bad eggs on campus. Walking round the games villages portends danger mostly at night as female students could be gang raped, harassed and intimidated without being rescued. The cricket pitch earlier planned for synthetic grass

* Abandoned swiming pool constructed for the NUGA games

* Hockey field

Dilapilated structures, abandoned projects litter UNN has been overtaken by grass and now serve as evening football pitch for students on exercise. Worst among the facilities abandoned in the university is the swimming pool built to Olympic standard during the NUGA games but now a ghost land in the university. Costain Construction Company that handled most of the projects allegedly left in anger three months after the NUGA games when the then LOC Chairman, Prof. Okolo became the vice chancellor and could not complete the projects he started as Mr. 2008 NUGA of the university. The only project that was completed remained the squash

* Structure meant for indoor games C M Y K

pavilion, built by the Dangote Group of companies. The project stands out as the best and only one completed at the games village. Globacom Telecommunications which sponsored the constrution of the stadium allegedly had some misunderstanding with the LOC committee on where to channel the funds for the stadium project as the company maintained that it would directly mobilize the contractors to site while the LOC insisted that such funds should be channelled through it. As it dragged on, the university sealed Globacom premises at the gate of the university which housed Conoil petroleum, Glo shop and Equatorial

* Plant house Trust Bank (now acquired) allegedly compelling the company to pay the N150 million contract sum in full before Globacom was allowed to operate even as

* Abandoned stadium project

the stadium had still remained uncompleted till date. Some time ago, South East Vo ice gathered that one Ozoemena, a final year student on double scholarship hanged himself inside the abandoned hockey pitch in the games village as the pitch had become a place of immorality, among other social vices. The abandoned tennis court had also been taken over by reptiles. Efforts to get the authorities of the UNN comment on the abandoned projects were unsuccessful but the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba had promised to redeem the battered image of the UNN as well as reposition the games village as part of his efforts to restore the dignity of man in line with the motto of the institution.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—7

ANAMBRA

Gov Obiano’s N100m for rehabilitation of Onitsha Army Barracks roads By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA—REHABILITATION work on adjoining roads within the Onitsha Military Cantonment has resumed following last week’s donation of N100 million to the Nigerian Army by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. Obiano who made the donation when he visited the cantonment on an inspection tour, said the gesture was in line with his administration’s determination to maintain a closer working relationship with the military. The governor said that his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi had in April 2013, initiated the eight-kilometre project to be handled by the Nigerian Army Engineers at a cost of N400 million and thereafter, released N300 million mobilization fee for the work to commence adding that the N100 million was the balance. Handing over the cheque to the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, who was represented by Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers,Maj.- Gen. John Sarduana Davies, Obiano commended the army engineers for completing about 80 per cent of the road project so far and further urged them to ensure that the remaining 20 per cent of the project was completed with the N100 million.

* Governor Willie Obiano inspecting a guard of honour mounted for him during the visit

Construction of the roads He also commended the army engineers for the good quality job so far done, as well as for other projects executed by the army in the state. Obiano pledged to partner with the Nigerian Army in reconstruction or construction of other roads network within Onitsha after the current rainy season.According to him, the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers had proved that they were capable of constructing quality roads within a record time. Obiano, who also inspected the military hospital at the cantonment; pledged to assist in expanding the structures apart from supplying them with drugs and equipment. His words: “We are also planning to establish a quarantine centre for Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, victims within the cantonment since we have large space available here.” On the cantonment’s moribund water project; he said that the state government would resuscitate the project which ceased

From right; Gov. Willie Obiano, Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers, Maj.-Gen. John Davis and Commander, 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Jubrin Fagge, during the governor's visit. to function since 10 years ago through the help of the World Bank, saying, ‘’we will make sure that the water is reticulated beyond the cantonment for the benefit of the neighbouring communities.’’ He also urged the authorities concerned to articulate the cost of the water project and get back to him for prompt action. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the COAS, Davies thanked the governor for partnering with the Nigerian Army in the areas of road construction and internal security. Flanked by Brig-Gen. Francis Akanji also of the Army Engineers Corps; the Commanding Officer of 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Onitsha, Lt. Col. Sherif Aremu and the Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Jubrin Fagge, Davies said: “The Nigerian

Army Engineers are capable of handling road projects at a cheaper rate as well as maintaining specification, quality and

meeting target schedule.” Earlier, the Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Fagge lauded the Anambra gov-

ernment for supporting the army with communication gadgets, patrol vehicles and in the upkeep of soldiers.According to him, “this has accounted for low crime rate in the state as well as the restoration of confidence to the people, security-wise.” In a vote of thanks, the Commanding Officer of 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Onitsha, Lt. Col. Sherif Aremu, commended the governor for finding time to inspect facilities at the cantonment as well as redeeming the balance for the ongoing road reconstruction. ”We thank the government for its love and concern for the military in Anambra. We are assuring the government of our continued loyalty and dedication to civil authorities,” Aremu added.

‘Extortion’ reigns supreme at Anambra traffic agency Continues from page 5 premises at Agu Awka. Most of the victims are first time visitors to Awka who are not familiar with places marked ‘no parking’ areas and if they fail to pay the gratification, they are fined N25,000 once their vehicles are taken to the ASTA premises. Usually, the ASTA operators rely on informants who call them on telephone once somebody parks in an unauthorized place and once they arrive with towing van, negotiation begins. It is

only when the negotiation breaks down that the vehicle is towed to the agency’s premises. The state Commissioner for Transport, Chief Chuma Mbonu, in a recent interview said that as a first step towards the re-branding plan, the agency would henceforth be known as Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency, ATMA. According to Mbonu, bad eggs in the old agency would be sacked after re-screening of the workers of the establishment. His words: “We are reorganizing and re-branding the agency and

it will come in a new form and new shape for greater efficiency as ordered by Governor Willie Obiano. Those of them who are good will be retained after the rescreening, while the bad eggs will go. We have the data of all of them. “The new ATMA will be made up of men and women of integrity. You know their reputation before now had not been wonderful and the state government will rely on additional information from the public to act accordingly.” C M Y K

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

ABIA

FERMA under attack over failed federal roads in the S-East By VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—THE Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has come under attack from stakeholders for allowing the federal highways in the South East geo-political zone to degenerate to very deplorable conditions. Most of the federal roads, including the Onitsha-Enugu, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Oba junction-Nnewi-Okigwe, Arochukwu-Ohafia, among others, have become impassable, even with FERMA maintaining offices in all the five states in the zone. While some people called for the scrapping of the agency, others urged it to sit up to justify its existence. Managing Director of Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit, one of the largest operators of bus fleet in the South East, Chief Obi Okoli said there is no agency created by government without good and genuine intentions, but the problem is that some politicians use some of these agencies for political settlements. He said: “Nowadays politicians use the available offices for political compensation. So scrapping it may not be the best option. If they scrap FERMA, what will happen to its entire workforce? “At this period when the nation is still battling with insecurity, the problem will become worse if more people join the unemployment queue. So I believe that the government that set it up in the first place should find a way to strengthen it. If I’m to suggest, I’ll tell government to set up a formidable, responsible task force that will among other things find out the main problem with FERMA, the root cause of the problem and how it would be solved. “Again, government should not be appointing people into the offices of these agencies on the basis of political affiliation, or for political settlement. Let it be purely on merit. That is my stand on the issue.” Another transporter, Chief Anthony Nwafor said it would seem that the idea of leaving federal highways to become so bad is a deliberate act to attract big contract sum for the reconstruction of the road. He recalled that there used to be road camps along the roads before the Nigerian civil war and wondered what happened to them. C M Y K

Failed portion of a federal highway undergoing rehabilitation in the South East

Residents lament poor road networks in Ebonyi By PETER OKUTU

B A K A L I K I — RESIDENTS of Ebonyi State are now grumbling over the inability of the state government to standardize the construction of road networks across the state. Roads still begging for the attention of the state government are enormous despite the huge public funds that had been expended on them over the years. Investigations by the South East Voice showed that most of the roads being constructed by the present administration often times fail even while construction work was still ongoing. These failures had punctuated the accolades on the administration in the area of road construction even as the Governor Martin Elechi-led administration had embarked on the opening of the hinterlands as well as the construction of virgin roads in areas where they had never existed in the history of the state. The roads begging for construction and reconstruction include the Nkaliki

road in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state. The road leads to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly where laws governing the state are made for the benefit of all. Also begging for attention in the state capital are the AgubiaOkpuitumo-Abomege road, the concluding portion of the Enugu-Abakaliki expressway (which is directly opposite the permanent site of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, EBSU), and the Abakaliki-Ikwo road which leads to the Federal University, Abakaliki, FUNAI, Ndufu-Alike, in Ikwo Local Government. Some community members of Ndufu-Alike Ikwo who spoke to South East Voice on condition of anonymity called on the state government to mobilize its resources to ensure the construction of the AbakalikiIkwo road, adding that the state of the road had brought untold hardship on the people and students of FUNAI. He said: “We wonder what is preventing the state government from working on this road. It is very significant to the economic and social well-being of

the people of Ndufu-Alike community. It also leads to FUNAI. This road needs urgent attention as foreigners also come to study at FUNAI.’’ Apart from the roads in Ikwo, most roads in Ezza except the one that transverses Ezza South and Onicha Local Government Area are not motorable.

Poor state of roads Also, begging for attention include the Onueke road in Ezza South and Ezza North LGAs as well as those in Nkalagu, Ishielu Local Government. They include the Agubia-Abina-Ndiagu Amagu road, Abakaliki-Oferegbe road leading to the Governor’s residence in Ikwo, OhauwkuEffium road, among others. A cross section of Ebonyians who spoke with South East Voice expressed unhappiness over the level of failed roads across the state arguing that assuming road experts were employed by the present administration to construct these roads on time, issues surrounding failed roads wouldn’t be there. ”The present administration had

really tried in the area of infrastructure development. It took a giant step to open up development across the 13 local government areas of the state especially with the construction and completion of 34 unity bridges. ”However, the challenge facing this present administration has been on the construction of durable and significant roads across the state. Can you imagine that it is even when the present administration is winding down that it thought about the construction of all the ring roads cutting across some local governments in the state?” ’’With all the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, states in the country gearing up for the conduct of its primaries next month for candidates who would succeed the incumbent governors and other public office holders, many are still doubtful if these roads could still be attended to.’’ Reacting to the criticisms, the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Chukwuma Nwandugo stated that the government was working hard towards upgrading the standard of roads across the state.

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

HEFFIELD Wednesday take the second mean est Championship de fence to League Cup holders Manchester City hoping to avoid a backlash. City will eye today’s thirdround tie at the Etihad Stadium as the perfect chance to end a four-match winless run in all competitions. But Wednesday have started the new season well and there is no shortage of confidence at the Yorkshire club, both on and off the pitch. Stuart Gray’s men dumped Premier League side Burnley out at Turf Moor to reach round three, have suffered just one defeat in the opening 10 games in 2014-15 in all competitions and have conceded only four times in eight Championship games. Gray is under no illusion about the size of the task facing Wednesday, but the 54year-old is determined to enjoy the occasion. “I’m sure they will make 11 changes and that team will be worth around £300million and be full of internationals,” Gray told The Sheffield Star. “But I’m really looking forward to my players pitting their wits against top, top players. “That’s our aim. It’s a great game for us. “You never know with the underdog.” As Gray is quick to point out, City ’s star-studded squad makes them the overwhelming favourites to start their League Cup defence with a routine victory. Indeed, City’s League Cup record under Manuel Pellegrini is impressive. Pellegrini’s side shipped just two goals in six games in last season’s tournament and ruthlessly swept aside Wigan Athletic 5-0 in the corresponding round.

West Brom coach wants players to be more focused

EST Brom head coach Alan Irvine wants his players to recreate Sunday’s performance at Tottenham when they host Hull City in the League Cup. The Scot took charge in June but his reign at The Hawthorns got off to a difficult start, with just two points gained from West Brom’s first four Premier League outings. That changed at White Hart Lane at the weekend, however, as James Morrison’s secondhalf header earned a 1-0 triumph - their first at Spurs in 30 years. Victory lifted Irvine’s men out of the bottom three and up to 16th in the early league table, and the 56-year-old is hoping for a similar standard of play in Wednesday’s third-round clash. “We were comfortable and had a good shape about us when we were in possession,” he said. “We had no need to be negative and we kept two strikers up top throughout until the end.

Gray: Sheff Wednesday out to shock City

Man C player celebr mood

Gray

Newcastle on a redemption mission to Selhurst

EWCASTLE United manag er Alan Pardew heads to former club Crystal Palace seeking to further ease the pressure on him with a League Cup win. Pardew’s men visit Selhurst Park for today’s third-round clash having not won a Premier League game this season. A 1-0 victory at League One outfit Gillingham in the previous round of this competition represents Newcastle’s only victory of the 2014-15 season, leading many fans to increase the already-vociferous calls for Pardew to be removed from his position. With Newcastle trailing 2-0 at home to Hull City on Saturday in front of watching owner Mike Ashley, Pardew looked set to heading closer to the brink. However, he found salvation in the form of substitute striker Papiss Cisse, who rescued a point and quite possibly Pardew’s job with a late double on his return from a fractured kneecap.

Tottenham v

Kaboul eyes Leag

OTTENHAM’S Younes Kaboul ha on League Cup silverware ahea third-round showdown with Nottingh Spurs have endured an indifferent st season and Sunday’s 1-0 home d Brom in the Premier League extend less run to four matches in all compe Kaboul was appointed captain earli and he is determined to get back to w when Stuart Pearce’s Championship to White Hart Lane. And the fact that a trophy is on of four-time winners of the competition distance is all the motivation the Fre needs. “The game on Wednesday (today) because we want to win something th told the club’s official website. “Forest are a good side, they are doi Championship and we have to bounce away.” Tottenham are unbeaten in the la ings between the two but the sides h each other since 2005, with Forest relegated from the top flight in 1999. Pearce, like his opposite numbe Pochettino, is only in the early stages at the City Ground but, with a vast signings, they have started well.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 — 33

Mourinho fortifies team against Bolton

Serena retires with illness at Wuhan Open

HELSEA are set to field a much-changed lineup when they take on Bolton Wanderers in the third round of Capital One Cup today. Jose Mourinho has fielded a largely unchanged side through the first month of the season as Chelsea have raced out to a three point lead atop the Premier League. After beginning the campaign with four straight victories, Chelsea dropped points for the first time on Sunday when former Stamford Bridge great Frank Lampard struck a late equalizer for champions Manchester City. Just three days re-

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moved from such an intense encounter and with a busy run of fixtures upcoming in the Premier League and Champions League, there is little surprise that changes are planned for the visit of Championship strugglers Bolton. “We haven’t finalized the squad for tomorrow yet,” assistant first-team coach Steve Holland said, reports Chelsea’s official website. “We have looked at the players following the game against Manchester City and it is an opportunity to rotate, we will do that for sure, but in terms of who is playing and who isn’t, that is unclear. For the first weeks of the season we have had one game a week and the international break. Now the two games-aweek cycle kicks in and it is important you have a pool of players who are ready to handle that schedule.”

Ramires to miss clash as Chelsea host Bolton

AMIRES is out of Chelsea’s Cap ital One Cup third-round tie with Bolton at Stamford Bridge today with an abductor muscle injury. The Brazil midfielder was substituted during the second half of the Premier League draw at Manchester City as a result of the minor problem, which will be reviewed later this week. Striker Diego Costa (hamstring) is unlikely to feature but goalkeeper Petr Cech could start as manager Jose Mourinho plans to rotate his squad with Premier League and Champions League matches to follow in the coming weeks. Chelsea provisional squad: Courtois, Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Fabregas, Zouma, Ake, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba, Mikel, Schurrle, Salah, Remy, Costa, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Boga, Baker, Schwarzer.

N her first match since winning the U.S. Open, Sere na Williams retired to Alize Cornet in the second round at the Wuhan Open due to a viral illness yesterday. Williams, who arrived in Wuhan on Saturday, was able to break Cornet’s serve after a long deuce game to give herself an opportunity to serve out the first set at 6-5, but signs of her physical discomfort were evident throughout the match. Williams looked fatigued and slow with her footwork in a long deuce game at 5-all. After breaking Cornet’s serve Williams called the trainer and doctor on the changeover, where her temperature and blood pressure were taken. After a brief consultation Williams retired from the match. She was helped off the court with the aid of the trainer and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Murray hopes to build on recent form

NDY Murray is hoping to build on his recent good form during the Asian swing to improve his chances of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. “I want to build on the momentum I started to have in New York [at the US Open],” Murray told reporters yesterday at the inaugural Shenzhen Open. “The tennis I played against [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga and [Novak] Djokovic, in periods of the matches, was some of the best tennis I have played this year. “I want to try and get some energy and try and win one of these tournaments. I want to get to the semi-finals and finals and get the winning feeling back. That was a reason why I added this tournament to my schedule.”

Ryder Cup: McIlroy calls for European support

ORY McIlroy has backed the Gleneagles crowd to make the difference in the Ryder Cup. Europe go into this weekend’s contest as hot favourites with world No.1 McIlroy leading the charge. And ahead of the start, the Northern Irishman has urged his team_mates to use the support to their advantage. McIlroy said: “It’s a great rivalry now between Europe and the US and I think it’s going to a very exciting, evenly_matched contest. “But Europe are very strong and hopefully we will come out on top again. “The Americans have a great mix of youth and experience but if we can target the experienced players, and take points off them, it will make our job a lot easier.”

34 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Dr. Ada Igonoh T

he female doctor who certified Nigerian Ebola index case Patrick Sawyerr dead was amongst the survivors who visited Lagos governor Raji Fashola last week. Dr. Ada Igonoh of First

Josephine Anenih

ighly regarded former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development was the subject of much discourse on blogosphere last week, having spoken up about the recently concluded National Conference. I always tell women who want to come into public life, that they first have to develop a skin thicker than that of a crocodile. In fact, if they can add another layer of elephant skin to that of the crocodile, it will be good they do so. They equally need to guard their underbelly so that when those who come to attack them arrive, they won’t be able to do anything. The truth is, many still see the female

leader as ‘ordinary woman’ who shouldn’t be seen or heard and because of this they will use everything in their armory to fight the woman. Today, we celebrate Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf of Liberia. Do you know who put her there? It is the women. She even got support from Nigerian women, because I still remember that I was in the delegation of the former First Lady, the late Mariam Babangida when she went to Monrovia for Sirleaf ’s swearing-in ceremony.

Grace Mugabe

imbabwe first lady, colourful Grace Mugabe, was once a lowly member of the presidential typing pool. Then she caught Mugabe’s eye. Now speculations are rife she will be succeeding her husband.

Kudirat Abiola

n 1993, Nigeria elected M.K.O. Abiola as president in a historic vote that promised to end years of military dictatorship. Shortly after the election, however, Abiola was imprisoned as another military regime assumed power, and his wife, Kudirat, took over the leadership of the pro-democracy movement, organising strikes and

C M Y K

She also paid respect to the late Professor Dora Akunyili: We pray that we have more women like Dora Akunyili, as she was a woman of integrity and valour. In addition, she praises Mr. President for his gender sensitive stand. This is the first time that we recorded this number of female delegates at a national conference or anything of this sort. We had 92 women out of 400 delegates. During the conference, Anenih had advocated death penalty for corrupt government officials.

marches, and winning international attention for the Nigerian struggle. She was assassinated in 1996. Eighteen years after her death, a film in honour of Kudirat Abiola will be screened on September 25 at the Africa Film festival, which runs until October 1 and will also feature Kunle Afolayan’s October 1. Titled The Supreme Price and directed by Joanna Lipper, the film tells the story through the eyes of Hafsat Abiola, who was on the verge of graduating from Harvard when her mother was murdered (her father died in prison two years later). Determined not to let her parents’ ideals die with them, Hafsat has dedicated her adult life to continuing their fight for democracy. Returning to Nigeria after years abroad, she is at the forefront of a progressive movement to empower women and dismantle the patriarchal structure of Nigerian society.

The 49-year-old was recently nominated as leader of the ruling Zanu-PF’s women’s league, as well as having a place on its central committee. She insists she is ready. The time has come to show people what I am made of, reportedly told a crowd .People should learn to wait for their time… I had never dreamed of

Consultants Hospital is one of the doctors who attended to Patrick Sawyer and was to go down with the deadly virus d a y s afterwards. After virtually going to hell and back, she survived. I thank God for the support of family and friends. I remember my colleagues who we lost in this battle. Dr. Adadevoh my boss, Nurse Justina Ejelonu, and the ward maid, Mrs. Ukoh were heroines who lost their lives in the cause to protect Nigeria. They will never be forgotten. I commend the dedication of the W.H.O doctors, Dr. David from Virginia, USA, who tried several times to convince me to specialize in infectious diseases, Dr. Carolina from Argentina who spoke so calmly and encouragingly, Mr. Mauricio from Italy who always offered me apples and gave us novels to read. I especially thank the volunteer

entering politics, but you have approached me and I am ready to go. Blogosphere thinks she sounds pretty much like someone we know! Africa’s oldest leader (he’s 90!) looks certain of his party ’s nomination for the 2018 election and was recently e l e c t e d chairman of a regional bloc of 15 southern African nations and looks set to b e c o m e chairman of the African Union.

Patti Boulaye F

or those on blogosphere who had thought 80s Nigerian British celeb over the hill are proved totally wrong this week. Not only has she been active on social media in recent times, she has used the medium to publicize her latest gigs. The Middlesex University diversity conference will have in attendance keynote speakers from a number of

l e a d i n g organisations, including the Civil Service, the BBC and the Institute of Directors.

Nigerian doctors, matrons and cleaners who risked their lives to take care of us. I must also commend the Lagos State government, and the state and federal ministries of health for their swift efforts to contain the virus. To all those prayed for me, I cannot thank you enough. And to my First Consultants family, I say a heartfelt thank you for your dedication and for your support throughout this very difficult period. I still believe in miracles. Nigerian blogosphere has never been more religious, offering up praises on her behalf and that of her fellow survivors.

Whoopie Goldberg

ome consider her ‘ weird’; some ‘outspoken’- but one thing is for sure: you cannot ignore African American award winning actor Whoopie Goldberg, who trends big time on cyberspace for the past fortnight on account of her statement on one of the biggest topics of conversation on the Internet. Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens was in the spotlight for punching his wife Janay in an elevator when she was still his fiancee. On a show, Whoopie was heavily criticized for not joining with those who felt that Ray Rice was entirely wrong for striking his wife back, riling up many of her female viewers. According to Whoopi, if a woman hits a man, he has a right to hit her back. To further explain her point of view, Whoopi put out a video on social media to explain what she meant. Whoopi is faced with a firestorm of controversy over the comments, mainly from those who think that any time a man hits a woman, it is automatically defined as domestic violence. However, a woman hitting a man can be seen as justified in most cases.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 —35

For Learning, Digital Devices offer an Advantage — Helen Horace

HY, when and how did you decide to go into business? Consultancy is a little bit of a business. You find the projects that you want but you don’t really 100% own the decision. When anybody asks me I tell them I should have started this business ten years back. When you start early you can decide, the family is still small, you can stay in one room and by the time you have a large family the business has taken its course. Imagine I’m sixty right now and I lose money, I die. That’s like you’ve lost everything you ever worked for. When you’re young… You have nothing to lose… At least you can start all over again. Your options are many. You can decide to pick a job and work for five years and come

Doing homework If you buy a tablet and you haven’t used it and you leave it on a desk and walk away and your child touches it he starts using it. You can use the same device to watch a movie, play your music, you can read your bible, you can do your homework, you can take photographs. What part does training and maintenance have to play in your business? That’s what the service centre is all about. That is where you walk in to lay your complaints, bring in your defective products. We fix them; if the products are warranteed we replace them. We handle various levels of repairs within

Helen Horace

back. I can say I started okay. Eventually I started fully sometime in 2006. I started making diapers in Nigeria because every single diaper was imported.

Local manufacturers The local manufacturers certainly were not making very nice diapers so I decided to go into diaper manufacturing. You know you have something in mind but you have several options come to you. Somehow I’m back to the same line of business. I found myself going back to the same thing I was doing. You already have people calling you, you already have a connection; the learning curve. Does it make things better that you know about how

things work rather than just selling them? Yes but there’s theory side then there’s practical. You can read a lot of things from the business book. They are supposed to be guidance. People who put them together are coming from their own experience, their world environment so basically, yes. If you have information on how businesses should run, what makes a business survive it could help you when you’re running your business to see your mistakes, to call yourself back. A state government recently gave tablets to schoolchildren. What are your thoughts about that? Let me give the example of the brand I represent. The French government gave one tablet to every student and France is an advanced country. It is just fantastic. These things have all

Oracle Consultant turned serial entrepreneur, Helen Horace, is not a stranger to challenges and what is, traditionally, the world of men. As a consultant she has participated in and anchored countless large networking projects with a diverse range of clients including g o v e r n m e n t s , u n i v e r s i t i e s , international and intergovernmental organizations across the globe. At some point, she turned to business, hoping to reunite with her first love, M e c h a n i c a l Engineering, by running a diaper factory. Yet, it was to the fast paced world of computers and commerce that Horace was eventually to return, jostling for a niche in the famous Computer Village of Lagos alongside established android brands as sole distributor for Archos in the West African subregion. She chats with Morenike Taire in the inaugural showroom- the first of 60 across West Africa.

meaning you can even charge tablets for a whole school using a small tiger generator. I have power banks that can charge the same amount. It’s something every state government should do. We are now entering a phase whereby we are talking of bring your own device when you’re coming to work. They ’re learning to use the devices they’re going to use to work tomorrow. My son started using a device at two. Exactly. So, how easy it is to teach a 15 year old to use a device she has never used to learn? As easy as it is for a two year old. They pick a tablet and start pressing piano buttons to learn how to play piano; because all they need to do is to touch something and by the time you press this comes up, that comes up. In fact kids get used to the devices within minutes.

I started making diapers in Nigeria because every single diaper was imported. The local manufacturers certainly were not making very nice diapers so I decided to go into diaper manufacturing

the subjects in one device. These kids don’t have to carry heavy bags to go to school. Everything will fit in the tab. Imagine you were talking to a kid in multimedia and you’re trying to show the child the heartbeat and the child is seeing it. The child learns better so what a digital device offers is an advantage. You don’t even have to use computers in the classroom because you have to now use generators to charge that but do you know that just a little tiger generator is used to charge over 250 tablets

the service centre. They probably have done something while using the device , deleted some things they have been using so we probably just install them again. They can walk away with a problem solved. Where are you looking to take this business? What are your long term goals? I want an (Archos) device in the hand of every Nigerian. Every single one of our products comes with a gift. I call the prices ridiculous and incredible because how can you get so much for so little?

36 — V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMPER 24, 2014—37

HE is hailed and honoured in Abuja, but at home in Kaduna, Vice-President Namadi Sambo is surrounded with political foes and dogged by his inability to pull off electoral victories for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was as such not surprising that doubts have lately arisen about his place on the party’s 2015 presidential ticket. Those doubts were to his relief quenched last Monday.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

ICE-PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo and his associates would have been reassured with the declaration by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last Monday, that he is an integral part of the successful presidential team that was endorsed for a second term by the leadership of the party last Thursday. A day earlier, at a press conference called by the party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh to introduce the PDP state of the states tour – meant to showcase achievements of the party since 1999- the publicity secretary had affirmed that Sambo’s fate on the ticket would be determined by President Goodluck Jonathan. Even though he had hailed Sambo as a part of the successful Jonathan team, Metuh knowing his bounds had that Sunday, refrained from speaking more. “I believe a lot of people are trying to speculate on Jonathan/Sambo ticket, but why don’t we wait when the president declares for such issues to be highlighted? I

to take it to the next level.” The equivocations on the prospects of Sambo is not unusual for vice-presidents. The first vice-president in the Fourth Republic, Atiku Abubakar was even in more troubled waters in the approach to the 2003 presidential election. Indeed, when President Olusegun Obasanjo made his declaration for a second term in 2002, Atiku was reportedly left out from the preparations and was even abroad when the idea of making a formal declaration for a second term was done. Atiku was forced to abort his holidays and returned to Nigeria on the eve of the declaration. At the declaration proper, confusion was created when the then president did not mention that he would retain Atiku on the ticket in the election, setting the stage for clandestine plots by Atiku to contest for the presidency himself. Sambo, the present vicepresident, by all estimates, however, lacks the capacity and craft of Atiku to engage his principal in the way and manner Atiku did in the period between 2002 and 2003.

Even though he had hailed Sambo as a part of the successful Jonathan team, Metuh knowing his bounds had that Sunday, refrained from speaking more

believe that there is no need to magnify or attempt to import any difference between the President sand the vice President, they have worked so well,” Metuh had said as he progressed to rate the incumbent vice-president as the second most loyal vicepresident in the nation’s history, expectedly after former Vice-President Jonathan. “The Vice President has continued to be the second most loyal Vice President in the history of this country so I believe that he enjoyed the confidence of the President. In 2015 elections if the President accepts to run we will be able

Despite being a former governor, Sambo has been unable to build a winning election machine for himself. His election as governor of Kaduna State was through the political machine of his predecessor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, a man he is now said to have since fallen out with. Following that election, political pundits have taken to mocking the vice-president in every election cycle on the point that he has almost always consistently failed to deliver his party even in his booth. Critics of the vice-president have particularly noted that despite the PDP won 22 of the

•Sambo

2015: The Sambo’s satire 23 local government areas in the last local council elections only failing to win Kaduna North, the local government where the vice-president has chosen as his base. It is remarkable that the councillor, local government chairman and all legislators representing the vicepresident are from the All Progressives Congress, APC, a fact his political enemies have used to embarrass the vice-president. Given the political challenges he has encountered at home, it is not surprising that political rivals of the vice-president had in the past sought to capitalise on how they could displace him from his position in the Jonathan administration. Among those speculated to have eyes on the office of the vice-president are some second term governors notably, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Aliyu Babangida of Niger State. The argument that has been presented to displace Sambo is his perceived incapacity to bring any political benefit to

the ticket either in his native Kaduna State or in the Northwest geopolitical zone that is easily seen as the bedrock of the APC.

Political permutations However, none of the three outgoing governors, Shema, Yuguda or Aliyu may have the capacity to radically alter the political permutations to lift the fortunes of the ticket to warrant the dramatic displacement of Sambo from the ticket. Given the ringing endorsement he has received from the hierarchy of the party, President Jonathan apparently, may have chosen the safety channel of retaining loyalty over ambition as is viewed with the three other aforementioned outgoing governors. That thinking may have prompted the statement last Monday by Metuh declaring Sambo as an integral element of the winning presidential team that got the endorsement of the PDP. “There is no doubt

whatsoever that the Vice President has the implicit confidence of the President. The PDP is therefore very pleased that they are working together in actualizing the transformation agenda to the popular acclaim of both Nigerians and the international community. “ “We wish to place on record as well that the 66th NEC meeting of our great party which endorsed President Jonathan as the sole candidate of the PDP for the 2015 general elections, responsibly reasoned and anchored this decision on the outstanding performance of the Jonathan Presidency of which Vice President Sambo is an integral part of.” “This motion which was unanimously endorsed by NEC left no room for any form of speculation as Senator Jim Nwobodo who seconded it, expressly commended both the President and his Vice for lifting the banner of the PDP very high while praying the NEC to approve the motion.”

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMPER 24, 2014

AS the 2015 general elections draw closer, the political atmosphere in Bauchi State is turbo-charged as aspirants engage in a flurry of activities to outwit one another.

2015: APC raises stake in Bauchi tion,” he said. How APC will contend with the growing number of governorship aspirants in Bauchi State is an issue that the party must resolve before the 2015 election. A political analyst in the State PDP, Mustapha Garba Muhammed urged the party to handle the issue with care. He said: “I can vividly recall during the 2011 general election when the defunct CPC had this challenge. The problem was so serious that we had a situation where more than three governorship aspirants were claiming that they were the flag bears of the party .They sued each other in court and at end of day there was no governorship flag bearer for CPC. In 2015, if APC is not careful, the same thing will repeat itself,” he warned. However, the newly elected state Chairman, Uba Nana, said that the party would definitely arrive at a consensus candidate and it was not an issue for the party to worry about. According to him, “APC is all about democracy, and this party has its own constitution. The party constitution is there and whatever we are going to do will be guided by the constitution. We will strictly follow the constitution inch-by-inch, step-by-step; we will never go or conduct any of our operations outside the confines of the constitution.

By Suzan Edeh

OW, some of them have intensified consultations with stakeholders, holding midnight meetings, house-to- house visitations and seeking for endorsements of political god-fathers as a routine. Another twist is that many politicians have also resorted to defecting to political parties that hold greater prospects for them. One party that is gradually bracing up to give the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) a showdown in the 2015 election is the All Progressive Congress (APC), which has been working hard to wrest power from the PDP since it came on board. APC guber aspirants As it stands, not less than 10 aspirants in the APC have indicated their interest to contest the governorship position. They include former governorship candidate under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mallam Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Dr Ibrahim Lame, former Minister of Police Affairs; Engr Sadiq Mahmud; Engr. Nuhu Gidado; Senator Nazif Suleiman Gamawa; Barrister Ibrahim Zailani; Muhammad Garba Gadi; Sarki Abdullahi Adamu Dan China; Barrister Husseini Umar and Barrister Muhammad Abubakar. Senatorial aspirants Those, who have indicated interest for the senatorial position in Bauchi Central include Senator Mohammed Mohammed, Senator Isa Hamma, Alhaji Bappa Aliyu Misau and Ahmed Ilali. In Bauchi North, the senatorial contenders are Captain Bala Jibrin, former APC interim National auditor and Alhaji Mustapha Katagum, a retired

•Yuguda: Race to take over from him hots up

Confines of the constitution

•Tuggar

•Gidado

tivities, particularly finance. Recently, the state chapter of the party under the Freedom of Information Act 2011, dragged the state government to the State

The complainant alleged that the government took a N15 billion loan to build houses for the former governor, his deputy, the incumbent governor and his deputy, arguing that the defendant had no power to collect such loan and convert same to personal use. He claimed that the defendant had no means of paying the loans because the state government owes salaries to workers and is unable to settle pensioners’ N10 billion gratuity. Counsel to APC, Kassim Abdul Hamid said that the party was worried the current government was leaving a huge debt for the incoming government and if the issue was not addressed, it would create a big burden for the incoming government.

In spite of APC’s efforts, a major hurdle before it is managing the uncertainties expected from its primaries permanent secretary in the state. For Bauchi South the contenders are Ali Wakili, a retired senior Customs officer and Lawal Hussein among others. Most of the aspirants have accused the Yuguda’s administration of poor performance. One of the strategies the APC has adopted to snatch power from the PDP is checking the alleged excesses of the state government by probing into its ac-

High Court, demanding an explanation on the outstanding government loan. The suit filed by Musa Idris Hardawa on behalf of the party claimed that the state government is indebted to some financial institutions to the tune of N 8.8 billion and urged the court to compel the state government to explain the N25 billion it allegedly borrowed.

Hurdles before APC In spite of APC’s efforts, a ma-

•Lame

jor hurdle before it is managing the uncertainties expected from its primaries. There are fears that differences in ideologies and beliefs among the parties that merged to form the mega opposition may play out. An APC governorship aspirant, Barrister Muhammad Abubakar, while declaring his governorship intention recently berated the attitude of some APC aspirants belonging to a special group known as the progressive circle. “Some members of APC known as Progressive Circle are claiming to have an edge over other aspirants as regards who emerges as our candidate. As a governorship aspirant in the party, I want to refute this false claim by some of us because the party is providing a level playing ground for all aspirants to contest elec-

Another factor threatening the unity of APC in Bauchi is the delay in attending to petitions sent to the national secretariat over the unresolved crisis in the state chapter of the party. A group known as the Grassroots Political Awareness Association (GPAA) in the state said the recently concluded ward, local government and state congresses were marred by irregularities as a result of which, many of the party’s supporters became aggrieved. Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Tanimu Shehu, who spoke to newsmen said his group received several complaints about the congresses from APC supporters, and a number of the petitions were sent to the party secretariat in Abuja with copies made available to party elders. Defections Another twist to the Bauchi 2015 election is that the quest for political relevance is pushing many not comfortable with the situation in the PDP to defect to the APC. Good as it is for the opposition party, it is only adding to the stress of the party as it contends with the aspirations of its new members.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMPER 24, 2014—39

Akwa Ibom: Join guber race, young professionals ask SSG YOUNG professionals of Akwa Ibom origin within and outside the state have called on the secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel, to join the governorship race without delay. By Ayo Onikoyi

E S C R I B I N G Emmanuel as one of the leading aspirants in the race to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2015, the professionals spoke on the banner of Akwa Ibom Young Professionals Leadership Initiative (AK PRO). While unveiling the secretariat of the group at Unit A54, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, the Managing director of Ibom Power Company, Dr Victor Udo, expressed appreciation to the young professionals for coming together with the purpose of partnering the governor in moving the state forward.

He and described the SSG as a thorough bred professional whose wealth of experience in the private sector has placed him in a better position to bring about sustainable development of the state through industrialization and job creation. Also speaking, a former Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr. Christopher Nyong, who was a guest at the event, saluted the courage of the youths, who are all professionals in different fields for deeming it necessary to come together to chart a course that would secure the future of the state. He threw his weight behind the zoning arrangement earlier endorsed by the State Exec-

utive and Working Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Dr Nyong maintained that the only way that the continuous unity of the state would be guaranteed was allowing Eket Senatorial District, which has never produced a governor since the creation of the state, to have its turn in 2015. The former Council boss condemned those who are currently fanning the embers of ethnicity by their insistence that power should not go to the district, charging the young professionals and the entire youth of the state to remain steadfast and not to relent in their pursuit of equity, justice and fair play in the 2015 governorship. The Diaspora representative of the body, Mr. Abasiekwere Imoh, said the decision of Akwa Ibom youths in the Diaspora to

•Udom queue behind the aspiration of Emmanuel was informed by their firm belief that he represents the new face of Akwa Ibom and has the capacity to sustain the uncommon transformation drive of the Akpabio administration. He said it was high time every Akwa Ibom indigene stood up to protect their future and the future of the state by rejecting charlatans masquerading as agents of change, not-

ing that they do not have anything good to offer the people other than their selfish interest. AK PRO National President, Barrister Ofonime Enoh, stated that the group is a platform targeted at bringing together young professionals practising their trades within and outside the state as a melting point with the aim of changing the face of politics and governance in Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

PDP: Showcasing the achievements By Sufuyan Ojeifo

ATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, announced on Sunday plans by the Party to immediately undertake a nationwide tour to enable a team from the Publicity Directorate of the Party visit all projects executed by the governments of the party at the federal, state and local levels since 1999. He rationalized the tour at a press conference in Abuja during which he harped on the imperativeness of adequately publicizing to the entire world key achievements that the PDP government has recorded in its 15 years of being in the saddled. Since the ultimate objective of the tour is to showcase the achievements of the PDP government, the enterprise should be seen as a welcome development by party members who are concerned about the under-reporting of the party, its government and achievements. For those who may not quite understand the shape of the tour and how it is different from the Good Governance Tour embarked upon by a team led by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, in earlier part of this administration, the PDP Publicist said: “While the Good

Governance Tour focused on the projects executed by the Federal Government under the current dispensation, the PDP Publicity Tour focuses on all projects executed by PDP elected or appointed officials at the federal, state, local government and ward levels since 1999.” This, no doubt, is an ambitious enterprise. It is a huge task in which the Publicity Directorate Tour Team must invest quality time and sharp focus. It must muster the capacity to articulate, in lucid language and strategies through the various media, what the concrete achievements are, what the development situation is in the different sectors and states and what the situation was before the PDP government stepped in the saddle. As the nation approaches another general election in 2015, the recurring question has always been: what has the PDP Government achieved? Some even introduce an element of mischief into it, aimed at eroding the political footing of the PDP, by asking what the party has done since 1999 to deserve being in power beyond May 29, 2015. They seem to give the impression that, beyond Metuh’s celebratory declaration that the PDP has, for 15 years, continued to be the custodian of the sacred mandate freely given by Nigerians, there are no ample democracy dividends to match

what the PDP Publicity Directorate Tour Team intends to “recover” the projects executed by the PDP Government and return the credit to the Party. Interestingly, attention is being paid to such states as Edo, Rivers, Nasarawa, Kano, Kwara and Sokoto, among others, where opposition parties controlling the mechanics of government are now laying claims to the projects executed by PDP Government.

Constituency projects •Mu'azu the number of years and the huge amount of money that had been spent, through budgetary allocations, for capital development. But Metuh, at the press conference, robustly dismissed their claims, describing them as flawed. He said the opposition parties had always played politics with the performance of the ruling PDP. The PDP Publicity Directorate Tour, according to Metuh, is a unique way of responding to the shenanigans of the opposition parties. It will certainly excite members of the PDP who have been worried about the negative profiling of their Party by the opposition over the years to know

The Tour Team will stretch itself to the limits by also keeping a tab on constituency projects by federal and state lawmakers, which were mobilized by the PDP-led Federal Government. Overall, the tour is expected to entail a comprehensive sectorby-sector appraisal of the performance of the PDP Government in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and the successes recorded in transforming the lives of citizens in the last 15 years of democracy. Perhaps, what will be missing during the period of the tour are the brickbats that have for a long time characterized relationship between the PDP and the opposition. The PDP Publicity Directorate, as understood, would no longer focus on replying to the opposition

diatribes and, perhaps, propaganda. How then does the PDP intend to rebut possible falsehood against it by the opposition? “Our answer to such is that we meet at the polls,” Metuh said. Well, it is difficult to place a bet on Metuh’s words as far responding to the opposition is concerned. What is likely to happen is that he may find it necessarily at some point to put the lie to the opposition’s claims. Indeed, Nigerians, especially the opposition elements, are keeping their fingers crossed as the PDP Tour Team embarks on the enterprise to, in Metuh’s words, “catalogue our collective successes under the PDP-led administration.” As the PDP Tour Team begins to celebrate the key achievements of the PDP Government nationwide, in spite of very serious security challenges facing the Jonathan administration, especially the insurgency in the north, a veritable platform to sell (not necessarily to campaign for 2015 election) the ruling Party on the basis of its achievements in the last 15 years would have been created. How does this enterprise serve the electoral interest of the ruling Party as against the opposition parties’ interest? Only time will tell. •Ojeifo, journalist/publisher, wrote from Abuja.

40— VANGU ARD, ANGUARD,

WEDNESD A Y, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 WEDNESDA

His drinking could ruin our relationship

I’ve never had orgasm Dear Bunmi, I am 28 and have done love-making a few times, but I have never enjoyed the act or had what experts call an orgasm. I have a man now that I love very much and he is very worried that love-making doesn’t give me as much satisfaction as it gives him. I told him not to worry about me as I was more concerned about his pleasure, but he said he doesn’t want to be selfish. Can I ever have an orgasm? Sherifat, By e-mail.

Dear Sherifat, You should really learn to enjoy lovemaking. Orgasm is not the be-all and end-all of all love-making relationships. Now, ask yourself, do you encourage fore-play? Are you always completely relaxed during lovemaking? Fortunately you love your man and that’s important. Now, encourage him to teach you all he knows about love-making. If you are relaxed, you can also pin-point the aspect of love-making you enjoy and encourage him to focus more on this.

Why do you encourage pre-marital love-making? Dear Bunmi, I don’t agree with your advice on pre-marital love-making. It seems to me that a girl having five lovers or more before wed-lock, which you often suggest, is now the norm, is very risky. With such easy pickings, men must be laughing their heads off with lust-unless they catch a nasty disease along the way. The guilt left behind causes a lot of misery. If lovemaking is worth anything, it is worth waiting for. Treating love-making as a commodity or

doing so on a whim, devalues it. Without love, love-making becomes as meaningless as scratching your bum. There is an alarming rise in AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, STDs. There are also many thousands of unwanted children languishing in orphanages around the world. All this misery being caused by a few minutes of sweaty struggle is almost obscene, and I think your views are a bit reckless. Natalie By e-mail.

My wife has let herself go Dear Bunmi, My wife no long er turns me on as I don’t find her attractive. We’ve been married for 28 years and are now in our 50's. I’m not a strapping young man but I’ve kept fit and exercise daily while my wife has let herself go. My social club of which she’s a member, has a state-of-the-art gym, but she refuses to join, even though she’s always taking diet pills. We used to have an excellent love life, but her appearance now puts me off and I can only get aroused by picturing younger girls I’d slept with. I still love my wife and everything else in our life is good. The three children of the marriage are well turned out, so what can I do to make her take more interest in her looks? Dan By e-mail. Dear Dan, It’s obvious that in spite of the young women you’ve slept with, you appreciate the fact that you and your wife have built so much together that it’s worth trying to find a workable solution. It’s clear that you value physical fitness highly, while it isn’t as important to your wife. It could be that she finds exercise boring or simply doesn’t enjoy it. May be there are other activities she would enjoy more — like going for a walk, for instance. Talk to her calmly but lovingly about how you wish she would look after herself better both for her health and your relationship. Reassure her that you love her but share your frustration. Then suggest some fun exercise you can do together like taking her for a walk, or dancing. At her age, you can’t really maker her exercise seriously and ultimately, she will decide whether she wants to compromise to improve your marriage.

Dear Natalie, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. The years of being free and single stretch ever longer as youngsters delay entering committed relationships. Girls once got married soon after becoming fertile. Society now encourages them to become physically and emotionally more mature before agreeing to marry and bear children, inevitably, most - if not all - teenagers, 20-somethings and 30-somethings experiment with lovemaking during this period. Most divorcees and many whose partners have died also seek love-making without marriage. Sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted children spring from ignorance, recklessness and lack of choice. Condemning love-making between young people encourages furtive behaviour that spreads guilt, accidental pregnancies and infection. I agree that love-making is beautiful and valuable. It should not be cheapened or made shabby. A golden rule for all of us is never to do anything of which we feel ashamed. I can’t agree that we need to make arbitrary judgements about which couples should or will enjoy lovemaking.

Well, no man is perfect! You’ve advised your boyfriend to be wary of abusing alcohol. Good for you. Instead of repeatedly condemning his drinking, understand and respect his zest for living. You have much you could learn from him, be there to pick him up. Many men learn how to handle alcohol only from their own early mistakes. Either love your man and accept his fallible nature – or walk away.

Dear Bunmi, I’VE been with my boyfriend for close to two years and we’re very much in love. My former boyfriend was nice but very possessive and we never did anything together. My current boyfriend is such a contrast but I’m concerned about his drinking. I told him he had to cut down on it and he agreed but a few days later, he was back at his favourite beer parlour. My father was an alcoholic and he used to beat my mother. My boyfriend is different from him, but my experience of drink has shown me how bad the result can be. The fact that we disagree on this issue puts a strain on our relationship. Apart from this, we’re very much in love. He accepts he has to limit his drinking and he’s made progress. But I feel bad if he starts drinking to excess. Boyede By e-mail

Dear Boyede, IT’S OBVIOUS you have a lingering fear of men - and not just of those who drink. After all, your dad, the man whose love you most needed, handed you fear instead. He abused drink and the mother you loved and worshipped. The disenchantment has left a cruel mark. As an adult, you resist the intimacy that you think of as being possessive. Your boyfriend’s eagerness for life must have thrilled you initially. Now, his relaxed behaviour seems too scary to you. Because he fails to control his drinking tightly, you felt uncomfortably confronted to prove that he is, after all, another man who is unreliable. Well, no man is perfect! You’ve advised your boyfriend to be wary of abusing alcohol. Good for you. Instead of repeatedly condemning his drinking, understand and respect his zest for living. You have much you could learn from him, be there to pick him up. Many men learn how to handle alcohol only from their own early mistakes. Either love your man and accept his fallible nature – or walk away.

How can you recognise serious man? Dear Bunmi In the last few years, I’ve been out with three men only, I'd discovered that they weren’t the partners I always hoped for. In fact, the last one was having an affair with a so-called best friend behind my back. I’ve just met a new man and he’s kind and generous. The love-making is better than I’ve ever had, and I have a feeling he could be the one. But how can one really be sure you’ve found a soul-mate with all men saying one thing and acting the other? Dorcas, By e-mail. Dear Dorcas, An active love life, otherwise known as lust, is great, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve met Mr. Right. With any new potential, you should keep an eye on whether or not you truly suit each other. According to relationship experts, if you tick ‘yes’ to fewer than six of the sections below, you should be wary: Goal: Your major life goals (such as having kids) match each other. Sense of humour: You find it easy to make each other laugh. Talking styles: The two of you communicate well, particularly when you’re in conflict. Desire to be together: Your commitment to each other is more or less equal. Love-making preference: You have similar tastes in bed. Expectations of life together: You agree on the basic issues of day-to-day living, such as who does which chores around the house. Emotional styles: You can handle each other’s tears and tantrum. Attitude to money: You and your man agree on when to save, when to spend, what to buy. Mutual esteem: You respect each other. Values: You have idea on what’s important in life, such as family, friends, money and success. But don’t expect to be perfect match in all categories, and don’t rush to dump him at the first sign of problems. Time and efforts bring you and your man closer together.

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

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—41

ARRIVING AT EAGLE SQUARE FOR GOODLUCK SUPPORT GROUPS SUMMIT

Torture: Amnesty International lied in its report—FG By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, described as arrant falsehood, the recent report by Amnesty International which rated Nigeria very high among countries that have made torture a common investigative technique. Amnesty International had in the report, alleged that security agencies in the country usually torture and inflict injuries on suspects within their custody. Debunking the report, Chairman of the National Committee Against Torture, Dr. Samson Ameh, SAN, said that it

had became necessary to “disabuse the minds of Nigerians and the international community on the wrong information being peddled by Amnesty International about Nigeria. The report was deliberately negative.” Addressing journalists in Abuja, Dr. Ameh, maintained that Nigeria was a signatory to the United Nations’ Convention against torture, adding that the Federal Government had equally ratified the optional protocol of the UN Convention against torture. Ahmed said, “The protocol enjoins countries that have ratified the convention to establish

From left: Dr. Omoakara Samson , Elegbete Barr. Moses Odibo , DIG Ekpoudum (Rtd) (former Commissioner of Police to Delta) and Bishop Malese arriving at the venue of the Summit.

national torture prevention mechanism. Soon after the ratification, Nigeria constituted the National Committee Against Torture as its national torture

prevention mechanism. Nigeria has been consistently taking steps to make sure that torture is eliminated in this country. This was why the National Committee Against Torture which was inaugurated on September 28, 2009, by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, with a membership that cuts across all sectors of the society.” Besides, he noted that the committee’s terms of reference included to, “Receive and consider communications on torture from individuals, civil society organizations and government institutions as well as visit to all places of detention in Nigeria and promptly, impartially examine

any allegation of torture therein.” The committee, according to him, was made up of nineteen members including the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, former Director General of the National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Olawale Fapohunda, Mrs. Rhona N. Dimude, Mrs. O. O. Fatunde, Mrs. Joy BobManuel, a representative of the Inspector General of Police, among others. Ameh said his committee had visited several prisons and detention centres across the country, saying they had also made recommendations to the federal government on the need to quickly arrest the dilapidated condition of prisons in Nigeria. He said there was need for government to build more prisons as a way of addressing the problem of prison congestion. “More courts should be built and judges appointed to fast track justice delivery in the country”, he added.

Taraba High Court restrains action against Suntai By John Mkom, Jalingo

STATE high court siting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has restrained the acting governor, Speaker and the state House of Assembly, from taking any further steps or actions or further doing anything in any manner or otherwise in relation to the office of the state governor of Taraba pending the outcome of the case earlier filed by Suntai. It will be recall that Taraba State house of assembly on September 13 constituted a five man medical team to verify the health of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State who had an accident in a plane clash in 2012 near Yola in Adamawa State. The high court presided by Justice Silas Haruna said the motion was brought in pursuant to order 10 rule 1' 2(1) and (2) 6 and 7(1) and (2) order 8 rules 5(1) and (2) of the

Taraba State high court civil procedure rules 2011 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honorable court. The court refused to grant an injunction to restrain the recent five man medical panel set by the state house of assembly stating that the medical panel had not been made a party to the earlier proceedings of the applicant. The judge said,“This court lacks jurisdiction to make an order against a body which had been joined as proper or necessary party. The determination of the notice was fixed for September 26, 2014. “By the order 9 rule 5 of the rules or this court this court has powers to abridge for time doing an act. The time for entry of appearance in this suit is hereby abridged from 30 days as stipulated by the rules of court to 15days from the date of service of the originating summons on the defendant.”

42 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

OIL THEFT, VANDALISM & PIRACY:

Navy’s surveillance sensors, battle-ships to the rescue B

EFORE April 2013, when President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the North East states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno because of the escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency, other criminal activities like illegal bunkering, oil thievery, piracy and pipeline vandalism were ignored or received less attention. Consequently, the nation has been the worse for it in terms of poor revenue outlay. Incidentally, the Nigerian Navy whose primary duty it is to safeguard the nation’s revenue generation base, got involved in the battle against Boko Haram terrorism with many of its ratings and officers deployed to fight the monstrous insurgency, thereby reducing the impact the force would have had in fighting maritime crooks. It is against this background that a recent mandate from President Goodluck Jonathan to turn the tide in the fortunes of Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone being run aground by oil theft and massive thievery, has resulted in the Navy intensifying efforts at fighting all forms of illegal activities in Nigeria’s maritime environment. Towards this end, the Chief of

Naval Staff, CNS, came out with a policy direction which defined key deliverables for the Navy with a view to improved maritime security in Nigeria, focusing on short and medium terms. To achieve this policy thrust, certain focal areas, including elimination of pipeline vandalism, elimination of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy or sea robbery were spelt out, as well as the establishment of a Fishery Protection Patrol Squadron in collaboration with other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

Maritime environment The objective, according to Vanguard Features findings, is to bolster the operational capability of the Nigerian Navy towards achieving a safe, secure and enabling maritime environment in line with the transformation agenda of Mr. President. In this light, a credible strategy, the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy, TSMS, was promulgated to provide an operational framework for the employment of the Navy’s fleet in fulfilment of her statutory roles. It entails a flexible application of naval power over a range of areas and contingencies based

on proactive layered responses. It implies giving support to the current drive for joint operations in the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the Navy’s desire to operate in synergy with other maritime stakeholders for the peace and security of the region. It is consequent upon this strategy that the Navy leadership came up with eight developmental objectives with operational time-lines for enhanced operations: through a Maritime Trinity of Actions in the Maritime domain that currently drives all operations in the force. A major plank of this trinity in the war against maritime crime is the improvement in the use of surveillance capabilities which has subsequently been enhanced with the emplacement of the 10 Regional Maritime Awareness Capability, RMAC, Centres at Badagry, Apapa and Victoria Island in Lagos; Abuja, Formoso, Brass, Yenagoa, Bonny, Ibaka and Calabar. Through these centres, the Navy has encircled the nation’s territorial waters with modern digital security mapping and tracking systems that enables the force locate and intercept illegal operations of saboteurs as well as oil thievery even in remote location of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

VF gathered that the Navy has also concluded plans to construct additional centres for layered coverage and that each centre will be equipped with a night navigator camera, radar, a marine radio and an Automatic

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Deputy Bureau Chief - ABUJA

MT NORTE, MT KERELA and MT C RETRIEVER that were hijacked by pirates in Nigeria waters. The RMAC Centre was also instrumental in vectoring the arrest of ‘TUG GARE’ on March 27, 2014 for conducting illegal bunkering operations around Brass River entrance. As regards vessels that have no automatic identification systems fitted onboard but operating within the limits of Nigeria’s territorial seas and backwaters, the RMAC system can still detect them with its radar, thus ensuring sea vision for the Nigerian Navy and enhancing its maritime domain awareness. At this juncture it should be

A major plank of the war against maritime crime is the improvement in the use of surveillance capabilities which has subsequently been enhanced with the emplacement of the 10 RMACs

Identification System, AIS, transceiver, among others. Contacted, Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, confirmed that modalities have been concluded for the new centres, pointing out that the Navy has fully taken over and integrated PICOMSS (Presidential Committee on Maritime Security) sites with the existing RMAC centres, resulting in the total surveillance coverage of Nigeria’s 420 nautical miles coastline by the sensor sites. This means the force is now able to detect vessels fitted with AIS when they enter our territorial waters. VF learnt that these surveillance technology some of which are installed at the Naval Headquarters RMAC Centre, helped in locating the vessels

noted that the Maritime Trinity of Actions has other components, including better response initiatives and enforcement actions by other law enforcement agencies. This explains why the Navy has assiduously embarked on these improvements through collaborative efforts for the effective interplay of the maritime trinity of actions. Regarding its second component, the response initiatives, VF learnt this vital aspect is anchored on serviceable operational platforms, battleships, trained and ready force. In this light, the Navy has restructured its force with a view to improved naval presence, deterrence, patrols and responses. Thinking out of the box to Continues on page 43

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 — 43

Na vy’s sur s, Navy’s survveillance sensor sensors, battle-ships to the rescue Continues from page 42 achieving its set goals, the Nigeria Navy created a Naval Air Base at Ojo in Lagos, a Naval Air Station at Effurun in Delta State and some coastal observation posts along Nigeria’s coastline amongst others. Equally, the force’s asset recapitalisation drive has resulted in the acquisition of some Seaward Defence Fighter Boats, SDBs, like the OCEA, Shaldag, Manta and other mix of platforms as well as support facilities to discharge her statutory responsibilities. The construction of two new Offshore Patrol attack Vessels, OPVs, is near completion in China, and the arrival will greatly boost the Navy’s fleet recapitalisation efforts. They are being fitted with latest technology fighting, tracking and deterrent equipment for optimum performance. It is apt to further disclose that one of the OPVs will be fully built in China, while the other will be completed in Nigeria to ensure that same technology is transferred to the Nigerian Navy. Further efforts toward ensuring better response initiatives will come in the form of the US Coast Guard ship ‘Cutter GALLATIN’ becoming a Nigerian Navy vessel, and is expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year while the Navy on its part is currently building a second ‘ANDONI Class SDB’ (Sea Defence Boat) at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos. The third leg in the trinity, which is enforcement, involves the prosecution of culprits. This entails the handing over of suspects arrested by the Nigerian Navy to the appropriate law enforcement agencies vis-a-vis the Nigeria Police Force, EFCC and the NSCDC.

Full wrath of the law So far in enforcing this mandate, VF gathered that 492 suspects were arrested between January and April 2014 and handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Furthermore, Vice Admiral Jubrin recently threatened to visit the full wrath of the law as contained in the revised armed forces statutes on any officer of the Navy caught conniving with multinational oil companies to defraud the nation through oil theft. Declaring that oil companies were neck deep in the oil scam taking place in the Niger Delta, the CNS said some oil companies deliberately leave their oil well-heads which should be sealed, uncovered for ulterior motives, saying this is where the crude oil is being siphoned from. At a no-holds-barred meeting with executives of oil companies

in Abuja he said: “I can say without fear of contradiction that some oil companies are deeply involved in these unwholesome acts and this we must address with all seriousness. “It has become worrisome that we have not been able to check this menace, and that is why it has taken me seven months to summon this meeting. I have decided to stop pointing fingers, but now to mention the names of the companies involved in this oil theft because if the oil wells are properly sealed with the required manifold, it is only an expert that can open it and this crime is denting the image of the country. “Failure to stop this unwholesome and conniving sabotage would soon result to the Navy arresting and shutting down oil companies whose oil wells are not sealed with manifold, and are still left open,” Jibrin warned. The CNS had also in a meeting with the GMD of NNPC, Joseph Dawha, noted that strategic measures put in place by the Navy has led to crude oil theft reduction in the Niger Delta from 2.6 million barrels to about 900,000 barrels between January and June this year.

•Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chief of Naval Staff Regarding national and international efforts, the navy recognising that globalisation has made it possible for easy movement of goods, services and threats, keyed into workable joint efforts with foreign maritime organisations to ensure seamless connection of all continents by the oceans. Consequently, the navy leadership posited that any discussion of the force’s efforts must as a matter of fact be considered three dimensionally, covering national, regional and

international efforts. Starting with national efforts at countering crude oil theft, statistics obtained reveal that while over the years, the Navy had arrested many vessels involved in oil theft, a total of 54 vessels were arrested in 2013 alone, while between January and August 2014, another 63 vessels were also arrested by the force. The Navy, in collaboration with Operation Pulo Shield and other security agencies, also continues

to sustain the fight against pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves resulting in the destruction of over 509 illegal oil refineries from January to April 2014; 35 barges, 406 big wooden boats and 10,868 units of auxiliary equipment. These efforts at safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime space can further be substantiated as seen statistically between January and April 2014, when about 602 oil tankers successfully loaded a total of 61,584,599 metric tons of crude from Nigeria’s maritime domain on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Other important tools used in achieving the set developmental goals include a vibrant website, www.cot.navy.mil.ng, that was developed to articulate, share and showcase her efforts to mitigate maritime illegalities, especially those relating to pipeline vandalism, COT, piracy and sea robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. The website has also enabled the public to convey useful information to the Navy on the activities of vandals, crude oil thieves, pirates and other criminal elements. Conclusively, maritime and defence watchers are of the belief that despite the contending challenges, the Navy has remained focused in the fight against criminality in Nigeria’s maritime space as well as the Gulf of Guinea while limited resources have been harnessed in a judicious and efficient manner to achieve stated deliverables.

Cardinal Arinze’s visit and the blessing of Innoson’s 43-seater bus BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

N an annual basis, the Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican City, His Eminence, Cardinal Francis Arinze usually returns to Nigeria on a monthlong vacation. His annual visits started since 1992 when the late Pope John Paul II visted Nigeria, promoted him from Archbishop to Cardinal and transferred him to the Vatican City. Before that Pope’s visit, Arinze was the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese in the Onitsha Ecclesiastic Province and he was believed to have impressed the Pope so much that he earned the automatic promotion as soon as the Pope went back to the Vatican City. Each time the Cardinal arrives Nigeria for the month-long annual vacation, he would head straight to his home town, Eziowelle in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State and within that period, most Catholic faithful usually strive to book an appointment turn by turn to attract Arinze to their various celebrations that would require the attention of the Papacy or above Bishops and Archbishops levels. This year’s annual August va-

cation was fully loaded with events that attracted spiritual reformation for many Catholic faithful, East of the Niger. Since his return this year, Arinze had attended many occasions, including the burial ceremony of the late Professor Dora Akunyili at Agulu and also visited Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, Nnewi on an invitation by Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company. At the Innoson Company, Arinze showered abundant blessings on Chukwuma and his workers, and then went home with a 43-seater luxury bus, a product of the motor manufacturing firm worth N19 million, as a gift. Cardinal Arinze, flanked by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paul Hillary Odili Okeke and a host of other top Catholic priests from Rome and within Nigeria was conducted round sections of the factory by Chief Innocent Chukwuma who explained the manufacturing processes to his Eminence and his entourage. Overwhelmed by the technological breakthrough in the company and its classy products, Cardinal Arimze said: “We praise God that we have such a beautiful industry developed in Nigeria. We must begin to love more

*Chief Chukwuma handing over the key and particulars of the vehicle to Cardinal Arinze and more what we produce by ourselves. Importation is good but exportation is better. May God bless Innoson and those who will use his vehicles both big and small. Let Nigeria rejoice. I urge his workers to be dedicated to their duties”. He said he visited the Innoson’s site in the internet in Rome and was well impressed about what he saw and decided to come and see things for himself. Cardinal Arinze described the company as good news to Nigeria and praised the standard of the company’s products. The Nigerian Cardinal said government should support

home industries and encourage local investors which, he said, would generate employment opportunities to curb some societal problems. He said that Innoson employed thousands of workers as an example of what local industries would achieve if encouraged. Chief Chukwuma, in his response, expressed gratitude to the visiting Prefect and his entourage, saying that the Innoson Group counted itself privileged and blessed to have His Eminence at the factory site after which he requested Cardinal Arinze to point to any vehicle of his choice for a gift from the company.

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—45

CJN threatens to sack court clerks over leakage of judgments BY Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Mukhtar, has vowed to disgrace out of office any judicial officer found culpable in the leakage of court judgments before they were delivered, describing such action as bad

and reprehensible. Flagging off a national workshop for Secretaries, Court Registrars, Process Clerks and Bailiffs at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja yesterday, the CJN, in her keynote address, said it was regrettable that some of them had gone

ahead to “solicit for and collect millions of naira from unscrupulous litigants on the pretext that they are acting for the judicial officers handling their cases. “This year ’s workshop is particularly very interesting because the theme, Revisiting the Code of Conduct for the

SEMINAR: From left— Olufemi Bakre, Executive Director, First City Monument Bank; Titilayo Olujobi, Executive Director, Training; Funmi Agusto, Managing Director; and Sade Odunaiya, Executive Director, all of IBFC Alliance, at the seminar on the Nigerian Banking Industry: A Strategy Outlook, in Lagos.

‘Jonathan support groups have 80m members' BY CHRIS OCHAYI & JUDE OPARA

BUJA—SPECIAL Adviser to the President on Political Affairs and National Coordinator, Goodluck Jonathan Support Group, JSG, Professor Rufai Alkali, disclosed, yesterday that the organisations now have over 80 million membership. Professor Alkali said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja, adding that the President will not ignore the over 7,000 support groups that had called on him to seek re-election for second term in office. He added that at the appropriate time, the President would make his intention known. According to him, “a lot of work actually took place before the adoption of President Jonathan as the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “The leadership of a big party as PDP had met and agreed to adopt the President because of his sterling qualities.”

Wogu wades into Education Ministry staff crisis By Laide Akinboade

BUJA—THE Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, yesterday, summoned the leadership of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, to a meeting over the strike declared by its members due to unpaid allowances and salary arrears. The meeting, Vanguard learnt, is to resolve the crisis, with a view to getting the union to call off the strike. It would be recalled that staff of the Ministry and those of the 104 Federal Government colleges had on Monday, commenced an indefinite strike to protest non-payment of allowances to the tune of N1.8 billion. According to the union, the N1.8 billion released by the Federal Government to the Ministry to settle all the outstanding salaries and allowances of staff, had been diverted for other purposes. The strike had grounded government activities at the headquarters of the Federal

Ministry of Education since Monday, while the gates of the 104 Federal Government colleges have also been shut. At press time, the meeting was yet to commence, but the Organising Secretary of ASCSN, Mr. Musa Abbas, however, said Wogu had waded into the crisis. He confirmed that Wogu had invited the leadership of the union for meeting in his office. Abbas, who said the meeting was to be held yesterday, said ASCSN was not opposed to dialogue, adding that some representatives of the union would attend the parley and provide a platform for further examination of the issues. He said: “All staff are on strike: staff of the 104 unity schools, Federal Inspectorate Offices and the headquarters, Federal Ministry of Education. “Our grouse is that we want our entitlements paid to us. Since 2007, we have been discussing with the management and they kept on making promises. They collect money from the Federal Government and do not pay the staff allowances.”

Staff of the Judiciary, underscores and encapsulates the glaring need for a paradigm shift in the conduct of some of the judicial staff. “This shift has become necessary because the emergence of critical media coverage of judicial proceedings has increased awareness and public scrutiny of the judicial process. “Now more than ever, the public has become more critical of the conduct of judicial staff, perhaps buoyed by public outcry against some unwholesome conducts of the judicial staff like leakage of judgments before delivery. “Others are demanding bribes before the preparation of records of appeal, acting as go-between for some overzealous litigants and some corrupt judicial officers, ostentatious live styles beyond legitimate earnings and a host of other activities.

...credibility, integrity

“These corrupt activities of some judicial staff have raised serious issues as to the credibility and integrity of the persons who are employed to assist the judicial officers in the performance of their duties. “Some of the corrupt ones amongst you have gone ahead to solicit for and collect millions of naira from unscrupulous litigants on the pretext that they are acting for the judicial officers handling their cases. “This is bad and reprehensible. Many Judges and Magistrates have been violently attacked by hoodlums on the mistaken belief that they did not perform even after money has been given to them through their staff. “Many have been caught and disciplined, but so many have so far escaped detection. However, I must state that as we say in Nigeria, ‘that the lake is quiet does not mean that all is well with it’. “That all the bad eggs have not been fished and flushed out does not mean that what they are doing should be copied by the good ones. Evil remains evil whether punished or not, though lack of punishment may encourage others to do same. “I, therefore, warn you not to involve yourselves in any misconduct no matter how minimal. If you indulge in any misconduct and you are caught or reasonably suspected to have done so, you will not only be disgraced out of the judiciary but will also be made to face the legal consequences of your ignoble and nefarious actions.”

FG to build emergency response, ambulance bays nationwide By Laide Akinboade

BUJA—IN order to ensure quick and rapid response during emergency in Nigeria, the Federal Government yesterday, said it had concluded plans to build Emergency Response and Ambulance Bay, ERAB, across the nation. Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed Sani-Sidi, disclosed this while commissioning ERAB in Abuja. The NEMA boss said the newly-unveiled ERAB would enhance prompt emergency response in the country. He said: “As you are aware, time is of the essence when responding to emergencies. “Timely response to emergencies and disasters can drastically reduce losses to lives and properties. “As a responsive agency, NEMA has continued to evolve strategies and programmes to ensure the survivability of victims of emergencies and disasters. “One of such strategies aimed at reducing response time is the emplacement of emergency response facilities at strategic locations. “The ERAB that is being commissioned today (yesterday) is an improved version of the earlier prototype design. Our ultimate aim is to promote the ERAB as a national standard and to replicate same across the federation. “We believe this will go a long way in helping to bring succour to distressed persons, especially in cases of emergencies and disasters. “Within the meagre resources we have as an agency, we have been trying to put ambulance bay across the country and this would continue. “I want to assure you that we are going to sustain this effort.”

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Kano govt shuts schools over resumption date dispute

$9.3M ARMS DEAL: JNI insists on probe

By Abdulsalaam Mohammed

By Luka Binniyat

ANO—KANO State Government has shut down primary and secondary schools across the state following dispute between the federal government and Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, over resumption date. The action is coming barely 24 hours after both public and private schools resumed from long vacation due to outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. A public announcement by the state Ministry of Education signed by the Permanent Secretary, Audi AbdulKadir Bappa was, however, not specific on the resumption date. The statement read: “We notice with dismay the current dispute between the federal government and Nigerian Union of Teachers, as it affects learning and are compelled to suspend academic activities until after Eid Kabir.” The permanent secretary further disclosed that Kano is yet to receive anti-Ebola kits from the Ministry of

ADUNA—THE Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has asked both the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe the controversial $9.3 million seized by the South African authorities from two Nigerians and an Israeli. The money was flown to South Africa in a private jet belonging to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. The money was said to be meant for the procurement of arms for intelligence agencies in Nigeria. The JNI in a statement by its Secretary-General, Dr Khalid AliyuAbubakar, said: “Our Senators must rise to the occasion. EFCC must play its role in this direction by prosecuting those involved. It doesn’t matter whose ox is gored. “All relevant government agencies must also discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour to show the world that our country is serious. “The following posers are instructive: Is government short of official agents which necessitates assigning nonofficial ones? Why was the Presidential jet not used? With the current trend of cashless financial transaction, why is such huge amount carried in cash?"

Health. He said: “Considering these unresolved issues on ground, it is imperative to return the children back home.”

The terse statement triggered confusion in most schools across the state, yesterday, as those who had hitherto opened for academic activities were

forced by the new directives to shut down. Parents were seen around private schools collecting their wards after spending barely an hour in the school.

MEETING: All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial aspirant for Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani (right), addressing some destitutes at their colony, during a meeting in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

KANO ATTACK: Bauchi Police beef up security

in tertiary institutions By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—FOLLOWING an attack by some unknown gunmen at the Federal College of Education in Kano, Bauchi State Police Command said that it has deployed plain clothes security personnel in tertiary institutions across the state to protect them

against attacks by gunmen. This is even as the Police said it has embarked on patrol to beef up security in the city, particularly at government institutions and schools. Apart from this, Police checkpoints have reappeared at strategic locations in the metropolis, especially the entrance roads

into the state from Jos, Kano, Gombe and Maiduguri, while motorists were subjected to intensive search. Spokesman for Bauchi Police Command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the measures taken to protect both secondary and tertiary institutions in the state said: “The Police is leaving

PEOPLE SPEAK

nothing to chance by ensuring the security of lives and property in the state, particularly at institutions of learning. The command has adopted many security measures to safeguard the lives of students in their schools” “There is no cause for alarm because security has been beefed up at the various institutions of learning across the state.”

On 12 soldiers sentenced to death for ‘shooting’ GOC

igeria my country! How can the senior officers in the army, who are still struggling with the Boko Haram insurgency, now want to kill their own? To me, it just does not make any sense at a time like this. Mrs Agnes OdoleHairdresser

think some people are just trying to silence the young boys in the army there are some secrets going on about the book haram and the government that they are likely to know. More i n d e p e n d e n t investigations needed in this case. Mr. Jaiyeola TimmyFreight Forwarder

ow can we be sending our soldiers to war front without ammunition to confront the Boko Haram sect? Sending them to Boko Haram without arming them to the teeth is also death on its own, how much more eliminating our soldiers by court martial? Mr. Emmanuel Jannah- Communicator

f law should take its due course on those 12 soldiers, what should happen to those sponsors, allies and sympathizers of terrorism among military officers, government officials, community leaders and traditional leaders? Mr. Sunday OlawaleLecturer

y advice to Jonathan is that do not approve the sentence, is like some body in the army is trying to trap GEJ with this type of judgement, if it is life sentence it is still okay if they are truly found guilty of the offences. Mr. Ndubuisi Igwe- Engineer

s much as we all agree these lives shouldn’t be wasted, what they did is terribly wrong. Opening fire on a GOC, that’s totally wrong. I’m sure they allowed emotions get in the way and they regret their actions now. Ms. Okoye PreciousStudent

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014—47

EBOLA: No resumption until all measures are in place —KWARA TEACHERS By Demola Akinyemi

L O R I N — T H E Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kwara state has said that teachers in the state will not resume until all provisions to prevent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are made by government. This development is however against the directive of the state government that both public and private schools in the state resume Monday 22 September. State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Saka Onimago, had asked all schools to provide basic hygiene materials including washing bowls, soap and towels, just as the government directed two teachers from each school in the state to undergo training on Ebola Prevention, as soon as the Federal Ministries of Health and Education provide necessary facilities. Hovewever, a statement signed by the NUT chairman, secretary and the publicity secretary in the state, Comrades Musa Abubakar, Ola Idris, and W. A. Jogbojogbo, respectively and made available to journalists in Ilorin last Friday said the union had noted the inadequate measures taken by the government so far in schools and was of the opinion that schools could not resume on Monday, September 22,

By Ndahi Marama

PORT HACOURT INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK: From Left; Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Commissioner for Information, Rivers State; Miss Ibitein Thompson, Winner, Young Designers Competition and Engr. Tele Ikuru, Deputy Governor, Rivers State at the Native & Vogue, Port Hacourt International Fashion Week.Photo by Oscar Ochiogu. 2014. The union, which called on all stakeholders in the education sector to be proactive in tackling the Ebola scourge, appealed to government at all levels to use qualified health personnel to train teachers to forestall outbreak of EVD.

The union also said that hand sanitizers and infra-red thermometers should be provided in schools, adding that there was need for proactive measures in schools to safeguard health of teachers and pupils/students. According to the

statement,”Stakeholders should focus more on preventive measures so that there would be no epidemic in our state. Therefore, teachers shall not resume until all these provisions are made in our schools”.

180, 000 unemployed graduates to benefit from SURE-P internship scheme By Peter Duru

AKURDI—OVER 180, 000 unemployed graduates across the country are to benefit from the Subsidy Reinvestment and

Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, this year. Project Director of the GIS, Mr. Peter Papka made this known yesterday, at a one-day Sensitisation and Internship

Kwara, Ogun partner on health services

LORIN—KWARA and Ogun State governments are to create an interface on health services at the primary level to enhance health care delivery services in the two states. The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed disclosed this in Ilorin while receiving a delegation from Ogun State Health sector, led by the State Commissioner for Health, Doctor Ola-Ogun Soyinka who was in the state to under study the Community Health Insurance Scheme in the state. Governor Ahmed explained that constant engagements of Health officials from the two states on primary healthcare delivery would improve accessibility through sharing of relevant information. The governor promised that the visit would be strengthened into a broader platform for comparism

Yoruba community donates relief materials to displaced persons in Borno

of success stories, challenges and new ways of creating funding windows to enable the states expand the scheme. Governor Ahmed who emphasised that the strength of any nation lies on its ability to provide quality healthcare delivery to the people noted that the enrolment into the scheme had made it expedient for the state government to expand the scheme to enable more people access healthcare delivery at the grassroots. Earlier, the leader of Ogun State delegation and Commissioner for Health, Dr Ola-Ogun Soyinka had disclosed that the Health ministry officials and lawmakers were in the state to understudy the State Community Health Insurance Scheme which pilot scheme was launched in April, this year in five council areas of Ogun State.

Opportunities Fair, held in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Papka said over 7,000 firms had already signed up with the GIS “to take on interns in their respectable firms for over a period of 12 months while the Federal Government pays a monthly stipend of N30,000 to the interns. “Our expectation is that during the graduate’s internship, he/she is expected to acquire professional skills, training and work experience to improve their jobplacement opportunities while participating institutions are also expected to provide adequate opportunities for on the job training and mentoring.” In his speech, the Convener of the SURE-P’s Community Service Women and Youth Employment, CSWYE, Sub-Committee of the GIS, Mr. Audu Maikori said the programme annually provides 50,000 employment opportunities for jobless Nigerian graduates. “The issue of unemployment is a subject we are all familiar with in this country and statistics have also shown that about 300,000 Nigerians graduate from the university yearly into the labour market with little or no job opportunities. “We are happy to announce to you that in a bid to engaging more

unemployed graduates all over the country, some states in the country have not only indicated interest in the scheme, but that as of today, 11 states in the country have approached us requesting for over 13,000 unemployed graduates to be deployed in the various states for the GIS programme.”

AIDUGURI— THE Yoruba community in Borno state yesterday donated relief materials to people who were displaced from their communities following attacks by insurgents Boko Haram in the state. Oba of Yoruba in Borno, Alhaji Hassan Yusuf Alao led other members of the community to the NYSC orientation to present relief materials to the IDPs. Alhaji Alao, who sympathised with the people over the unfortunate incident said the Yoruba community identified with the displaced people by donating relief materials to them. “We feel the pain of the displaced people that is why we decided to present this token as our own contribution to assist the people. It is not this little gift that matter but the spirit behind it” the Oba said. He prayed for the restoration of peace in the state and all over the country. Relief materials distributed include food and other consumable items. Chairman of the sub– committees for displaced people in NYSC camp, Abba Yarama Bukar who received the items on behalf of the displaced people thank the Yoruba community for identifying with the people in time of distressed.

‘I won't seek elective post again' By Demola Akinyemi

LORIN—FORMER military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye (Rtd), has declared that he would not seek any elective post again. A chieftain of PDP in kwara state and former gubernatorial aspirant, Bamigboye said he has resolved to use remaining part of his life to add value to humanity stressing that there are several other avenues to serve humanity than elective post. The former military administrator spoke yesterday when he led members of the Rotary Club of Ilorin GRA on a courtesy visit to the secretariat of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The PDP chieftain, who is also the new Charter President of the club said he had used most part of his life to see to the oneness of the country as a military man, adding that he had been working to ensure socio economic development of the nation after his retirement from military. Bamigboye said,”Now is time for me to leave the stage for the incoming generations seeking to contest the elective positions in my state to come out and vie for the positions. “ “When you start a dance, you must know that the dance will come to an end. So, I will no longer seek elective position in my life again but rather devote remaining part of life to serve God, my family and development of humanity”.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

CONFERENCE: From left, Mr. Yomi Adelakun, representative of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; Ken Gbagi, former Minister of State for Education, and Dr. Nelson Uwaga, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, (Chartered), at the opening of the 2014 Annual National Management Conference of the institute in Warri, Delta State.

CONFERENCE: From left, Dr. Sarah Alade, OON, FCIB, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Jonah Otunla, Accountant General of the Federation, representing the President and Commander –in- Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, and Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication and Technology, during the opening ceremony of the 8th Banking & Finance Conference, organized by CIBN at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja

PROGRAMME: From left, Chairman, Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria, ATWAP, Lagos Chapter, Mr. John Oloruntola; Deputy Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, NAFDAC, Mrs. Sylvia Ajoku, Representative of Director General, NAFDAC, Mrs. Adetola Adegoke, and Deputy Director, Food Safety and applied Nutrition, AWARD: From left, former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; NAFDAC, Mrs. Esther Amuta, at the flag-off ceremony of water monitoring programme former member, House of Representatives and Ogun State Commissioner, for table water and packaged water producers by NAFDAC, in Lagos. Dr. Josephine Soboyejo, and Manager, Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Chineze Amanfo, receiving award for 'Telecom Entrepreneur of the Year on behalf of the Chairman of Etisalat, Hakeem Belo-Osagie.

DINNER: From left, Chairman, Mouka Limited Dotun Suleiman, Outgoing Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Peju Adebajo and Board Member, Mouka Limited, Hasib Moukarim at the Send forth dinner organized for the outgoing MD, Peju Adebajo held at Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.

PROGRAMME: Cross section of trainees on sewing machines at the on-going Economic Empowerment Programme of the Lagos State Government at Ikota Primary School grounds, Ikota, Eti-Osa Local Government on Monday

CEREMONY: From left, National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress,APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chairman, Lagos APC, Hon. Henry Ajomae; Chairman, Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Dr., Samuel Adedayo, and former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leader, Apapa/Iganmu community, Prince Kayode Obadiah, during the official unveiling ceremony of Prince Obadiah and voice of the people's group as a members of APC, in Lagos.

AWARD: Former Executive Governor, Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Commissioner in Ogun State, Dr. Josephine Olatomi Soboyejo; Mr. Ehizojie Ohiowele, Senior Manager, Ecobank; Ms. Foluke Aboderin, Executive Director, and Afeez Onafuwa, Manager, Ecobank at 10th anniversary of Nigerian Telecom Awards, in Lagos, weekend, where Ecobank was given the ‘Infrastructure Financing Bank of the Year Award.

RECEPTION: From left, Chairman, Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Bayo Dayo; Chairman, Heydey Petroleum, Chief Dapo Abiodun, and Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, PDP, South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, during a reception in honour of defectors into the PDP, at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 —49

doctor@lagospainclinic.com

How Nigerians helped pay for Ebola doctors treated in Atlanta

•Ayodele Sasona, CEO, Ability Orthotic Centre displaying a model prosthetics limb.

I’m in Nigeria to change the lives of amputees A

re you an accident victim or a genetically limbless Nigerian desperately in need of prosthetics or orthotics aid? Are you planning to travel abroad to replace a lost limb or any other body parts? Shelve the idea. The United States-based Delta Orthopedic Laboratory Centre has berthed in Nigeria with advanced bionic technology and affordable prosthetics services for all levels of amputations. The cutting-edge Ability Prosthetic and Orthotic Centre, Ibadan, is first of its kind in the country established out of the need to give hope, comfort and help change lives of amputees with prosthetics/orthotics, spinal braces, and fracture bracing at all levels. The Centre founded and managed by Prosthetist and Orthotist, Gbolahan Ayodele Sasona whose computerised prosthetics/orthotics experience and professional medical rehabilitation advocacy was instrumental to passage of the regulatory licensing law for prosthetics practitioners in the US. With on-site clinical laboratories using advanced technology in Dover and New Jersey, USA, Sasona, disclosed that the fully-fitted and advanced medical rehabilitation centre will provide prosthetic services including sport orthotic, limbs/ elbow/finger replacement with bionics. Data from Nigeria estimate that lower limbs are more often involved in amputations requiring prosthetics. Prosthetics and orthotics is the science of fabricating various Orthopadeic devices or appliances to substitute or replace a missing body part. Orthotics is so wide that it comprises virtaully the entire body segments. C M Y K

Nigeria currently boasts three National Orthopaedic Hospitals located in the Northern, Western and Eastern part of the country with functional Prosthetic/Orthotic services, yet the country has less than 10 trained professionals. “One advantage of the Ability Centre patients don’t have to travel to South Africa,United Kingdom, India or United States to be able to get the kind of effective treatment and care they desire. Whatever we do in the Nigerian office is of the same standard with that of the United States. We deal with all levels of amputations starting from the hip disarticulation, above the knee amputation, knee disarticulation, below the knee amputation, and amputation across the ankle, both at the upper and the lower extremities. “For instance, if someone is involved in a road traffic accident and loses an arm or leg, we have all levels of prosthetic devices that can replace that function adequately. And with the advent of technology, we have some computer-based application known as bionics,” he explained. Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on people with disability, Prince Paul Ayodele Adelabu acknowledged the essence of the new Centre. “This is the first time in Nigeria I would encounter a fully functioning Prosthetics/ Orthonotics Laboratory. If you have been to the National Orthopedics Hospital in Lagos, then you would appreciate the cutting edge and advanced prosthetics and orthonotics designs here in Ibadan. The state has held series of meetings with the founder on collaboration with government institutions to give hope to the disabled and make them feel stable and focus on their heart desires in life.

TLANTA and Chicago’s airports have the highest passenger traffic in the world. Equally they have a massive array of shopping, relaxation and entertainment for their guests. In Europe, Schipol is not always as busy as London’s Heathrow but its boulevard-like shopping and relaxation facilities are quite impressive. Our airport in Lagos is...a little different. Executive kick-backs and lounges abound for the up market, upper class and business traveller. For everyone else, there are a handful of shops selling perfume, cigars, arts and crafts, meat pies and jollof rice. We should be thankful. I overheard a conversation between two gentlemen ahead of me as we disembarked in Amsterdam recently. “How should we invest the $5 million in Nigeria?” the older, grayer man asked.

Telecoms and the media I fell into step behind them. It was not difficult to overhear them. Their casual chat began on oil and gas. I followed them as we negotiated the labyrinth of Schipol’s terminal. They continued on the subject of mining, telecoms and the media. Not a word on medicine or the health sector. Finally they decided to make a pit stop at a cafe. I stopped too; perhaps we were making the same connection to the UK. I wanted to tell them of the numerous opportunities wasting away in the health sector.....our desperate need for Intensive Care

Units, Neonatal Units, oncology centres, secondary care services (as recommended by the WHO) and women’s health centers to tackle our disastrous worldleading maternal death rates. I had all these on my mind. Here was my chance for a pitch for “money in medicine”. They ordered a drink. I leaned forward and said: “Good morning sirs. Did you know that you and I helped pay for the treatment of those Ebola doctors in America?” Gbosa! I had got their attention. In their hesitation, I slid my chair towards them. “You may not have heard of Asa Griggs. He was born in a small town just west of Atlanta in

years ago, I worked on this Unit; I can testify it is one hospital environment so super plush that it exceeds what many a 7 Star hotel can offer. The Emory Winship Cancer Center, at which my wife was a Clinical Manager, is also named after him.” The two men looked interested but puzzled. “Asa Griggs last name was Candler,” I continued. “Atlanta’s airport used to be on land called Candler Field. Atlanta also has a Candler Road and Candler Park. Connect the dots. Money from the Woodruff Family and Asa’s Company Foundation supports Emory Hospital today. By the way, Asa Griggs

Good morning sirs. Did you know that you and I helped pay for the treatment of those Ebola doctors in America?

1851. He made his fortune from a very simple invention. A great philanthropist, he provided the funds for the original 272 bed Emory facility. Emory hospital was founded in 1904. It now has over 600 beds, including the two occupied by the Ebola doctors. Emory and the Centre for Diseases Control, CDC, sit on land donated by Asa Griggs’ son; a real estate developer who, after his father ’s death in 1929, truly brought his father’s invention into corporate dominance. There was another gentleman by the name of Robert Winship Woodruff. He was President of Asa’s company from 1923 to 1954. Another great philanthropist, the Private Suite at Emory Hospital is named after him. Fifteen

Candler was not even from Atlanta.” The younger man beckoned for their bill. “Why are you telling us all this American history? “My apologies, Gentlemen, I overheard you talking about investing in Nigeria. I am telling you all this to encourage you to look at the health sector. Sorry, I have to catch my flight now but please take a look at my forthcoming article in Vanguard. It is titled ‘Making Money in Medicine’.” I grabbed my bag and got up to leave. “Wait, wait,” said the older man. “You have not said how Nigerians paid for the Ebola doctors!” “And,” the younger man added “What was Mr Asa Griggs’ invention?” The waitress brought their bill. “You just paid for it,” I said. “Coca Cola”.

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CAF picks Moroccan officials for Nigeria-Gabon duel 4 African Champions

A for Akpabio Classics

OROCCAN r e f e r e e , Noureddine El Jaafari licensed by FIFA in 2013 would be in the centre when Nigeria’s Under17 side, Golden Eaglets host Gabon this weekend in their second leg-final round decisive qualifier. Born 36 years ago, El Jaafari was in charge when Warri Wolves drew goalless in their CAF Confederation Cup home match against CA Bizertin of Tunisia in March and he equally supervised home-based Super Eagles’ 2-0 loss to their Ivorian counterparts for the 2014 African Nations Championship qualifier in Abidjan last year. He would be assisted by 33-year-old Benbapa Essam and 34year-old Hicham Ait Abbou who would serve as first and second assistant respectively. The fourth official is also a Moroccan, Mounir Mabrouk who is also 36 years old while the Match Commissioner Osama Ata Elmanan Hassan is from Sudan. Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets would miss the services of striker Victor Osimhen and creative midfielder, Ernest Agenor against Gabon due to poor disciplinary record.

•El Jaafari

HREE former African Scrabble Champions and the reigning one, and four former winners of the Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics highlight this year ’s entry that has topped 448 contestants compared to the less than 310 that competed last year. Moshood Sani, Dennis Ikekeregor, Jighere

Why I deserve the NFF Presidency — Umeh

UT-GOING First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Mike Umeh has reiterated his claim that he remains the best candidate among those jostling to replace Alhaji Aminu Maigari as NFF President in the forthcoming board elections. Umeh who is the Anambra State FA Chairman said, above all other considerations, his record as a football administrator covering over three decades stands him out as a forerunner in the race for the NFF Presidency. Going back memory lane, Umeh started, “I

Dahan Continues from BP his future to Hapoel Petah Tikva until the summer of 2016. The defensive midfielder completed the move to the Premier League club few hours before the Israeli transfer window closed on Monday. Since arriving Israel in 2013, Chimezie Mbah has clocked up 24 appearances in the league for both Hapoel Bnei Lod and Hakoah Ramat Gan. Agent Dudu Dahan has tipped the former Warri Wolves star to be a big hit in the Ligat ha’Al, and stresses that he is a better option for the Super Eagles than Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi. ‘’Yes, Chimezie Mbah

NFF Elections: Ogunjobi promises to unite stakeholders

has signed a two - year deal with Hapoel Petah Tikva. I’m 100 percent sure he’ll be the best defensive midfielder in Israel ten months from now, and he’ll play in Europe at the end of the season. ‘’He is better than Obi Mikel,’’ Dudu Dahan told SL10. Dudu Dahan represents the interests of Glasgow Celtic’s Efe Ambrose and MS Ashdod’s fullback Juwon Oshaniwa. Back in February 2012, he arranged for Efe Ambrose to test with Manchester City, but a deal failed to materialize as the Super Eagles defender was ineligible for a work permit as as that time.

was team manager of the famous class of 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and went to the World Cup in USA. “I am also part of the success story of the Alhaji Aminu Maigari golden era where we are African champions and also world champions in the U-17 category. We surpassed the achievements of all the previous boards.” The former Rangers International of Enugu boss said his administration would focus on club football administration in the country and ensure players’ welfare takes prominence in the scheme of things. “Our board will ensure we consolidate on the success recorded by the League Management Company and reposition the Nigerian Professional League.

Wellington and Rex Oghakpa African Champions all, and four former Akpabio winners, Umujose Emmanuel, Moses Peter, Jighere Wellington and Sammy Okosagah are in Uyo to battle it out for this year’s diadem. Meanwhile, subject to screening and accreditation, the entry list yesterday hit the 448 mark, the largest ever in the history of the event. The Technical team of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation on Tuesday were seen at the venue of the Classics, the Five Star Ibom Le Meridien Hotel trying to acquire additional space for the event since the hall that has been used in the past five years will not accommodate the entry for this year. “This will be the first time ever in any competition world wide that you have up to 400 entries and we are in the process of updating our soft ware to accommodate the influx, especially in the Open Category” The NSF President Sulaiman Gora said.

•Gov Akpabio

Tyson Continues from BP last week. Ryan Chesley, 29, was on Interstate 15 in Las Vegas when a taxi cut him off and he went down, his lawyer Stephen Stubbs said. Chesley was lying on the ground when he looked up and saw Tyson, who was yelling at people not to touch the injured motorcyclist, Stubbs said. The lawyer said Chesley snapped a

mobile phone picture of Tyson, who vanished from the scene on 16 September “like some kind of superhero” when paramedics arrived. Tyson received a handwritten thank-you note and a fruit basket from Chesley on Friday, the for mer boxer ’s assistant Steve Lott said. Chesley broke bones and tore ligaments but has since been released from hospital.

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant in the forthcoming Nigeria Football Federation elections, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, has promised to unite football stakeholders if elected into office. Ogunjobi, a former secretary general of the NFF, said that the spate of crises in football was becoming embarrassing. He said many followers of the game all over the world now hear only negative news about Nigeria on the Internet and in the media generally. “It is because we are not united that crisis come up all the time. If we have a united body, there will be understanding. “Football issues should be settled amicably by stakeholders not in the law courts and by government. I have a good relationship with a good number of people in the football family and this will be enough to unite all of us.” Ogunjobi also vowed to boost the sponsorship drive of the football ruling body. He said it was sad that

•Ogunjobi kits sponsors of the NFF, Adidas, wrote a letter of intent to quit by December 2014. “Nigeria got the sponsorship when I was in office as Secretary General and if elected, I will ensure we retain the adidas deal and I will bring in more international sponsors for the federation. “There is need to get sponsors to enable the NFF to run programmes and achieve independence to a large extent,” the former international added. The NFF elections hold on September 30 in Warri, Delta State.

Onazi Continues from BP “It’s important to know that your future at the club is sorted; I’ve always insisted that I love it here and I’m delighted to stay. “My focus and desire is to give my best in the club colours and continue to enjoy the love and warmth of our

fans. “As a young footballer you learn every day, work tirelessly and seek to improve. I have the players, staff and the needed support to grow here,” he added. The midfielder has yet to make an appearance this season, as he is still recovering from the injury he picked up at the World Cup.

Keshi Continues from BP “Changes? I am not sure, but we will see how it goes. I think what is most important now is to get our qualifier back on track and we are working towards that,” he said. Keshi noted that his contract talks have stalled because of the protracted leadership tussle in Nigerian football. “There are no talks now because there is no board in place at the federation, but hopefully

we would get over this because we are supposed to be taking advantage of the gains from the AFCON and World Cup,” he said. Nigeria battle Sudan away and home next month in continuation of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. The African champions are in danger of not qualifying for next year ’s tournament in Morocco as they are in third place with a solitary point after two matches.

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Costa tips Chelsea to win title IEGO Costa has D revealed his hamstring problems are on the mend and believes Chelsea’s busy fixture list will help him make a full recovery sooner rather than later. He also tipped Chelsea to win the EPL title this season. “I suffered an injury with Spain and could not play against Macedonia (two weeks ago). It was a shame but then during that week I was treated and could play [against Swansea). “I’m working to get the best physical condition soon. The games we have now, almost every three days, will help me to get fit. “We played against a great team and we knew it would not be

Malaga out to surprise Barca

•Costa easy to win there. But as we were leading the game and got one more man, we thought the victory was near. “But this is football. City are one of the best teams in the world and to get a point there is important. Hopefully we can win a title this season. That is our goal and I personally hope to continue scoring. I always try to improve but the most important thing is that the team is playing well and if the team does well I am sure I will also do fine.”

A L A G A midfielder Duda believes his team can cause Barcelona problems when the teams clash at La Rosaleda on Wednesday night. Luis Enrique’s men have yet to concede a goal in La Liga this season but Portuguese international Duda, who scored Malaga’s late equaliser against Espanyol at the weekend, is convinced the Costa del Sol outfit can spring a surprise. “It will be a difficult game but we will up to the challenge because we are at home in front of our own fans,” the 34-yearold told a Press conference. “We’ll be facing the best team in the League so we need to do our homework and hopefully get a bit of luck, although if we continue doing things as we have been we will definitely have our chances.”

Argentina recall Messi for Brazil A

•Messi

RGENTINA boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has recalled Lionel Messi to his squad after he missed the 4-2 friendly defeat of Germany. The South Americans have friendlies with Brazil and Hong Kong lined up for October 11 and 14 respectively, both to be played in China, although it is understood that Messi will only play in the game against Brazil before returning to his club Barcelona. Recent statements by Julito Grondona, son of Argentine Football Federation President Julio Grondona, said that Messi had decided to cut down the number of international appearances he would make until the Copa America. Former Barca boss Martino also included Javier Mascherano of Barcelona and Villarreal’s Mateo Musacchio.

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New deal excites Onazi L

AZIO midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has spoken of his delight after signing an improved deal to extend his stay at the Serie A outfit. According to an official

Sudan vs Eagles

statement from the club, the 21-year-old has signed a four-year deal which includes a 10million euro release clause. The Nigeria international said that he was happy to commit to the Biancocelesti, despite

interest from the Premier League as well as the Bundesliga. “I give God the glory and special thanks to everyone involved in sorting out this new deal,” Onazi told BBC Sport. Continues on Page 60

Keshi to release list next week C

OACH Stephen Keshi has disclosed his list of call-ups for the AFCON qualifiers against Sudan next month will be released next week. Keshi, who is still without a contract said “It’s still too early to come out with a list, but I am working on it, it should be out by next week.” However, the coach will not say whether he would be ringing changes to the squad that fell in Calabar to Congo and drew to South Africa in Cape Town. Continues on Page 60

Dahan: Mbah better than Mikel

OP Israeli agent Dudu Dahan has claimed that his client, former Nigeria Under 20 international Chimezie Mbah, is a better option

for the Super Eagles than Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi. Mbah has committed

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Tyson rescues injured motorcyclist

ETIRED boxer Mike Tyson came to the rescue of an injured motorcyclist after a crash on a Las Vegas interstate

•Mikel

Continues on Page 60

•Tyson

•IN CONTROL — Onazi

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Motionless (5) 9 Tray (6) 10 Pointing (6) 11 Lukewarm (5) 12 Cupid (4) 15 Rodents (4) 17 Protection (7) 20 Rabbit (3) 21 Loathed (5) 23 Always (4) 25 Beat (4) 26 Wanderer (5) 28 Tree (3) 30 Reply (7) 33 Back (4) 35 Whirlpool (4) 36 Reigned (5) 38 Affair (6) 39 Season (6) 40 Adhesive (5)

DOWN 1 Enquired (5) 2 Distant (5) 3 Fixed (3) 4 Ditch (6) 5 Placed (4) 6 |Cover (3) 7 Inflexible (5) 8 Tally (5) 13 Revoke (7) 14 Cut (5) 16 Praise (7) 18 Keen (5) 19 Guided (3) 22 Curtain (5) 24 Decay (3) 27 Reiterate (6) 28 Fragrance (5) 29 Hurry (5) 31 Dislike (5) 32 Moribund (5) 34 Atmosphere (4) 36 Material (3) 37 Owing (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Aghast 5, Scorch 9, Pitch 10, Better 11, Ripple 12, Debut 14, Ewer 17, Dab 18, Vice 20, Dared 22, Hired 23, Arsenic 24, Seedy 26, Taken 29, Tray 30, Cub 32, Ride 33, Holed 35, Penned 37, Rebut 38, Dodged 39, Neared.

DOWN: 1, Ambled 2, Hatter 3, Sped 4, Tired 5, Scrub 6, Chit 7, Repair 8, Heeled 13, Baleful 15, Wager 16, Ready 18, Vicar 19, Ceded 21, Dry 22, Hit 24, Stupid 25, Earned 27, Kipper 28, Needed 30, Coded 31, Begun 32, Here 34, Date.

How to Play Sudoku

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

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