Oduahgate: Ministry jerked up car budget — Ex-NCAA boss by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62000

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

CHOLERA OUTBREAK: Lagos NATIONAL CONFAB: identifies suspected sources APC has nothing 10

to offer — PDP •P.8

Oduahgate:

Ministry jerked up car budget — Ex-NCAA boss BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG, LAWANI MIKAIRU, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & ONOZURE DANIA

•Says cars increased from 25 to 54; N240m to N643m •Reps order PermSec out, insist Oduah must appear •We're unaware of purchases — BPP •APC, Sagay, TUC, NLC, IYM, others react

BUJA—IT was revelations galore, yesterday, as former Acting DirectorGeneral of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr Joyce Nkemakolam told House of Representatives members how the approved budget of N240 million for cars was jerked up to N643 million by the Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST:

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Mr & Mrs

JONATHAN IN ISRAEL—President Goodluck Jonathan at the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu (where Peter denied Jesus three times). With him are from left, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr Precious Gbenol; Gov Jonah Jang of Plateau; Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia; Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akin Adesina; CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John kennedy Opara. STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

NEW TAX LAW: Lagos to lose N6.25bn monthly

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POCKET CARTOON

ACCIDENT—A multiple accident involving a tanker and some cars at OdoOlowu Bus-stop, along Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, yesterday. Many people were injured in the auto crash. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Ministry jerked up car budget — Ex-NCAA boss Continues from page 1 Ministry of Aviation. The former acting D-G made the revelation before the House Committee on Aviation investigative hearing into the purchase of BMW bullet proof cars at N255.15 million allegedly bought for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. Also, members of the

committee demanded that the Aviation Minister must appear before the committee next Tuesday or face sanctions. Her non-appearance made the lawmakers order the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr George Ossi and officials of Accident Investigation & Prevention Bureau, AIPB to leave venue of the hearing. A representative of the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

ROM a spiritual perspective, each individual heart is a place where Divine love is expressed and experienced. That’s what it’s designed for. That love shows up in an unlimited way. We are here to love, as big and as fearlessly as we possibly can — Jeffrey R. Anderson When we enter a new level of consciousness we find that everything changes around us and we have to live by new rules. As sure as you are living, and as sure as you are alive, if you can make it through the next hurdle, through the next stormy sea, your view of life will change and so will your viewpoint on truth, for these experiences will make you wiser. People want the love of God but when it truly comes it burns deep, it burns slow, and it burns long. Now people don’t understand this as they think love is all sweetness and light, which at times it is. But there are other times that this divine love has a nature to transform you, if you are so fortunate to have this blessing. It will turn your insides out and replace this with something better. Divine love will compel you to make changes in your own life, because otherwise you cannot grow and unfold to a better life spiritually and otherwise. When we make a change in life we have to leave the places we left behind in a responsible fashion. There is more to freedom than just simply reacting to a whim. When we ask the universe for something, we may have to change something in our lives to receive it.

Bureau for Public Procurement, Mr Ayo Adedipe told the committee that none of the purchases was brought to the notice of the agency. Chairperson of the committee, Rep Nkiruka Onyejeocha simply said: “AIB, you are not wanted here until we start investigations on crashes, and as for the Permanent Secretary, leave here since the Minister is not here.” The total sum approved in the 2013 budget for vehicles was N240 million but the agency has committed the sum of N643 million to the purchase of operational vehicles. The Acting DG was put in the lime light as the substantive D-G washed his hands off the issue as he told the committee he was not in office when the issue of the budget implementation started and that the process of purchase of the vehicles started during the tenure of the acting D-G. The lawmakers noted that the security vehicles approved for the NCAA was for monitoring of the perimeter fences of airports, which the BMW bullet-proof cars were not suitable for. The committee also reminded the agency that its initial 2013 budget proposal only contained the request for bulletproof vehicles which was rejected at the point of budget defence. On the purchased

BMW cars, Nkemakolam in his unsigned presentation, said: “Due to the impromptu departure of the former D-G, who started this process since 2012, I inherited all these things. The utility vehicles are purchased annually to service the 22 airports in the country and due to old age there is need to acquire new ones. “The bullet-proof cars were bought so that we can use them when the country hosts dignitaries from IATA,, ICAO and other international bodies and it was through lease financing. “We sent a letter to the Ministry on April 5 and got approval on April 15 to go ahead with the lease financing in line with best procurement practices. First Bank, Stanbic and Union banks emerged as potential lessors for the 54 cars at N643,88,250.00million. “First Bank eventually won and we were expected to complete the payment in 36 months before we finally own the vehicles. In conclusion, I wish to point out here that we are expected to pay N23,249,181.00 million monthly, so ownership of the vehicles is still with First Bank." The Chairperson, at this juncture, asked him:”So you got approval from the Ministry of Aviation and you know what Section 84 of the constitution says, that you cannot withdraw from the consolidated account or any public fund without recourse to the National Assembly?" A member of the committee, Zakari Mohammed also asked the current D-G to tell members when he resumed and when his employment was consummated and “when did you take over from the acting D-G? The story is slightly different now as it appears you have two different budgets. We also want all the bank statements and transactions in the last six months submitted.” The new D-G, Fola Akinkuotu said: “I was nominated on March 14 and confirmed July 25 but resumed on August 14.” Another member, Rep Jerry Manwe asked the acting D-G that since N240 million was approved for 25 cars which he had jerked up to 54, who authorised him to do

these things? The acting D-G could not provide any glaring answer and all he could do was to ask for assistance from the Director of Finance, Mr Nuhu Ozigi but the members turned down his request. They insisted that the presentation which he had to eventually sign was in his name.

What the purchase document indicated

In the document submitted to the committee the agency admitted that the 2013 budget approved for five Toyota Hilux Pickup vans, 10 Toyota Corolla cars, five Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, three Toyota Hiace buses, all at a cost of N240 million but eventually they bought 54 vehicles through the bank lease for the sum of N643 million which was financed by the bank. It was also discovered by the committee that the financing agreement between the agency and the bank showed that NCAA was to repay the sum with an interest of about N500 million to be paid on the N643 million within 36 months. Two months instalments on the repayment, the agency said, have been made to the financing bank. When asked by the committee on the propriety of committing the 2014 and 2015 budgets to repayment of excess debt incurred illegally in the process of implementing the 2013 budget, the agency could not provide any answer. The drama played out as aviation stakeholders condemned Princess Oduah’s response to the query issued to her by President Goodluck Jonathan, and her decision to travel to Israel despite the raging controversy. Meanwhile, the Trade Unions Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has vowed to ensure that none of its

members is sacked for leaking the car scandal as legal icon, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) warned people against reading ethnic bias into Oduah’s travails because the development could threaten peaceful co-existence in the country. Indeed, the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) canvassed due process in handling the issue and condemned what it described as “attempts by political enemies of the Aviation Minister led by disgruntled businessmen, who felt dislodged by her farreaching reforms in the aviation industry, to bring her down at all costs.”

Aviation stakeholders condemn Oduah’s response

In an interview with Vanguard, an aviation consultant and former maintenance engineer with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Engineer Iyiola Bankole called for the scrapping of the office of the Aviation Minister as it is not relevant to the day-to-day running of the aviation industry. “There is absolutely no need to purchase cars for somebody who is not relevant in the running of the aviation industry. The NCAA regulates civil aviation in the country. Civil aviation major components are maintenance, flying, and traffic control. There are agencies in charge of these components and they have heads. So, what is the role of the minister?” he asked. This to him, explains why Princess Oduah had to leave for Israel despite the burning issues concerning her and her ministry. He continued: “ Nigeria is only one of the very few countries which are International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) members that Continues on page 9

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Villagers beat up man found with father's amputated leg BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI— THE Bauchi State Police Command has rescued a middle aged man found with a human leg from being lynched by a mob in Gudun village, Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, who disclosed this yesterday in Bauchi, said that Police initially arrested a man

Lawmaker, 6 others arrested over Benue community crisis BY PETER DURU

AKURDI— A councillor (names withheld) and six others have been arrested by the Benue State Police Command for allegedly attacking and burning down the house of Ukum Local Government Area Chairman, Mr. Teryima Nguher. The suspects were, last Tuesday, alleged to have invaded the home of the Chairman at GyadoWukari community in Zaki-Biam, where they reportedly shot a man before setting the house ablaze. The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adams Audu, said, yesterday, that the suspects were already undergoing interrogation to determine their complicity in the matter. Audu said the attack was a fallout of a dispute between contenders for a chieftaincy stool in the community.

(names withheld) with a human leg in Bauchi. He added that after investigation, it was discovered that the leg belonged to his father, which was amputated in the hospital because of an illness. Mohammed said: “The hospital gave him the amputated leg to go and bury. As a stranger, he pleaded with an Okada rider to take him to the outskirt of the town where he will dispose of it. “Unfortunately for him, the motorcycle rider took him to Gudun village and alerted the public. The enraged mob took laws in their hands and started beating him before he was rescued by the police.” He added that after he was rescued, the Police took his statement and paid a visit to the hospital, where they met his father whose leg was amputated. He said: “The father of the man gave us the same story and we feel there is nothing incriminating against the suspect. “We released him and he was admitted in the hospital because of the beating the villagers gave him.”

SERVICE: National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Community Development Service, CDS, sanitation

Oronto Douglas' sister freed BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA— AFTER nine days with her abductors, Mrs. Augusta Douglas-Ayam, sister of Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, has been released. Though it could not be immediately ascertained if any ransom was paid, a statement by the family, yesterday night in Yenagoa, said she was set free unconditionally in the early hours of the day. Mrs. Augusta DouglasAyam, who was seized by armed men from her shop at Ogbia in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, accord-

ing to the statement, is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. The statement read: “After nine traumatic days in the hands of abductors, our beloved sister Augusta DouglasAyam was this morning unconditionally released to the family. “We thank God for his protection and intervention. We also thank Nigerians who, through prayers and words of encouragement, supported us throughout this ordeal. “Our sister is currently in a

have a rethink over the matter and release her to reunite with us as a family.”

Mrs. Augusta Douglas-Ayam.

77-yr-old burnt to death in Lagos fire BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & ANGELA OKPE

PROTEST: Youths protesting non-payment of oil spill compensation in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

hospital receiving treatment. “We will not be making any further statements on this issue and wish to put it behind us.” Head of the family, Mr. Romeo Douglas, had last week pleaded with her captors to set her free on humanitarian grounds due to her poor health. He had said: “We do hope and pray that those who have kidnapped her will give her the best of treatment deserving of any human being and envision also that they will

AGOS— A 77-year-old man, Vincent Agbare, has been reportedly killed in an inferno that gutted his two-storey building apartment at 84, Osho Drive Street, OlodiApapa, Lagos, leaving property worth millions destroyed. An eyewitness told Vanguard that the fire started from a burning candle from Agbare’s living room, before spreading to other parts of the building. The eyewitness, who identi-

fied himself as Shola Akinjobi, added that the septuagenarian was sleeping alone in the apartment, when the fire started Tuesday night, and that he was burnt beyond recognition. While confirming the report, the Lagos State Fire Service Director, Razaq Fadipe, said men from the state fire service were at the scene to put off the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjoining buildings. Fadipe said: “Investigations have shown that Mr. Agbare could not escape from the

building, when the fire started, because the building has only one escape route and was covered by the fire. “I want to advise Lagosian to always ensure they create alternative routes in their buildings that will serve as escape route during emergencies. “I also want to advise members of the public to endeavour to have fire extinguishers in their apartments. Lastly people should stop using candles, because they may not be awake when it would have burnt out.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—7

Boko Haram trial: Journalists sent out of courtroom

HE journalists, who were at the Lagos Federal High Court, yesterday, to cover the arraignment of the alleged 17 members of Boko Haram were greeted with humiliation and threat from men of the Department of State Services, DSS, that escorted the accused persons. The journalists were sent out of the courtroom by the armed security operatives and one of them threatened to arrest the journalists if they resist. A senior DSS officer told newsmen that the directive to keep them away from the arraignment of the suspected Boko Haram members was from the Presidency. Other litigants were equally barred from the courtroom. When the Boko Haram case was

called, some lawyers were implored to leave the court, this, it was gathered, was due to the small size of the courtroom. However, the arraignment of the suspected Boko Haram members, which had suffered two adjournments on October 2 and 9, due to lack of interpreter and the absence of the trial judge, respectively, could not go on yesterday. This was beacause the first to fifth accused persons namely (Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali) did not have legal representation. Presiding judge, Musa Kurya, adjourned the matter till November 27, for the arraignment of the accused persons.

Lawyer, 3 others nabbed over crude oil theft BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

n group on duty in Gombe metropolis, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

ENAGOA— Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nige-

7 returning hajj pilgrims die in road accident BY SALISU MARADUN

USAU— SEVEN pilgrims from Zamfara State, who were returning from this year’s hajj exercise, lost their lives few hours after arriving the country. The deceased, who were indigenes of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the state, died when the vehicle conveying them from the International Airport, Sokoto, ran into a ditch after the driver lost control. According to Lawal Garba, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Service Commission, FRSC, Sokoto State Command, survivors of the accident are currently receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau. According to Lawal, who officially confirmed the death of the returning pilgrims, investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the accident. Also speaking on the issue, the Registration Officer of Bukkuyum Local Government, Mallam Ibrahim Nasarawa, revealed that the accident happened along Sokoto-Gusau

Road. He said: “The pilgrims, who also happened to be the second batch to be airlifted from Saudi Arabia after the conclu-

sion of hajj, were hearty and healthy. “But to our dismay, we received the news of their death.”

Pastor accused of raping 9-yr-old, two 7-yr-olds

BUJA— A pastor, Emmanuel Mathew, 50, appeared before an Abuja High Court for allegedly raping three pupils in a primary school at Mpape, Abuja. Mathew, who is the pastor and General Overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, and proprietor of the said school, was arraigned on a five-count charge. The Prosecutor, DSP Stanley Nwodo, told the court that the accused raped two seven-year-old and a nineyear-old pupils on different occasions in his school. Nwodo said the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code, which attracts 14 years imprisonment, an option of fine or both.

Mathew pleaded not guilty to the charges. After arraignment, the Counsel to the accused, Mr. Uya Yamah, urged the court to admit his client to bail. The prosecutor did not oppose the application because the accused had been on administrative bail. In his ruling, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum. Baba-Yusuf ordered that the surety must be resident within the FCT and must produce proof of ownership of a landed property. He adjourned the case till January 21, 2014, for hearing.

rian Police have arrested four persons, among them a lawyer, over their alleged involvement in the theft of over 2,000 metric tonnes of petroleum product suspected to be Automated Gas Oil from a facility belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The lawyer, simply identified as Angelo, is Lagos-based and counsel to one chief, said to be on the run and wanted by the Bayelsa State Police Command over the illegal movement of the stolen petroleum product from Bayelsa to Lagos. A source in the Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, said the lawyer and three other persons were arrested at an area known as Outside Bar in Lekki Area of Lagos, while negotiating for the transfer of the stolen product to a foreign buyer. The source said: “They had successfully moved the vessel from the Bayelsa waters into the Lagos axis. The surveillance team were detailed to allow negotiation for sales to commence before their arrest. “We could not apprehend the Chief as he escaped.”

FRAUD: DSS parades fake Boko Haram member in Enugu BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE Department of State Services, DSS, Enugu State Command, yesterday, paraded a 35-yearold man, Mr. Daniel Danboyi, who claimed to be a repentant member of Boko Haram sect, for allegedly extorting money from some churches under false pretence. The suspect, who is also known as Shuaibu Shehu Rabiu, was said to have visited several churches in the country, telling fictitious story of how he was actively involved in the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents before he repented and became a Christian. The State Director of DSS, Mr. Victor Duru, who paraded the suspect in Enugu, said that Danboyi, a native of Garshi District, Kura Falls, Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, “has been going about duping innocent Nigerians, using religion as his tool.” According to him, the suspect was arrested at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, Zik Avenue, Enugu, in connection with Boko Haram activities Duru said: “He has been going about with a false testimony, deceiving people, duping and exploiting people in the name of religion. “He claims that he was a Boko Haram member, who has converted to Christianity.” He added that Danboyi began the deceit in 2001 in a church at Abuja.

PROTEST: Members of Education Rights Campaign, ERC, protesting the strike embarked on by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in Lagos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

BY HENRY UMORU & IKENNA ASOMBA

BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP ,yesterday, lampooned leaders of All Progressive Congress, APC, for planning to snub the proposed National Conference by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the APC had nothing to offer during the dialogue. The APC leaders, did not help matters, yesterday, as they differed on the necessity to hold the conference. Speaking with newsmen, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, noted that the proposed conference was not for political parties, but for Nigerians, arguing that if a particular party does not have anything to offer, there was nothing PDP could do. Said he: “What else can they say, there is nothing they can say except to promote discord, disunity and cause confusion in the country. Market women, National Assembly members have welcomed the conference. Nigerians have welcomed the

National confab: You 've nothing to offer, PDP tells APC zAs APC leaders express divergent opinions on participation in confab conference. Traditional and religious leaders and the civil society, have embraced the dialogue. If they are boycotting, it is because they have nothing to contribute to the progress of the nation. “If they do not want to participate, Nigerians should note that they have absolutely nothing to offer this country. The reason for national conference is for Nigerians to come up with ideas on how the nation can move forward." It will be recalled that the APC had at the end of its National Executive Committee, NEC, on Tuesday, declared that President Goodluck Jonathan lacked credibility to initiate a meaningful national dialogue, adding that it would not participate in the proposed national conference initiated by the

Federal Government and called on APC controlled states to boycott it.

APC leaders differ on national confab

Meanwhile, coming few days after APC national leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu dismissed the confab as diversionary, those who were in support of the confab were former Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; APC chieftain, Senator Anthony Adefuye and Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, party chieftain and the Asiwaju of Igbogbo Land, Ikorodu. However, the party’s Chairman in Lagos, Chief Henry Ajomale and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House Committee on

Diaspora Affairs, Federal House of Representatives, were on the same page with Bola Tinubu, cautioning that the confab was diversionary. They spoke yesterday at the public presentation of the book entitled: “Nigeria of my Dream” authored by Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, to commemorate his 75th Birthday, in Ikorodu, Lagos. Speaking at the event, Dabiri-Erewa said: “I’m on the side of my party, the question we have raised is what’s the underlying motive behind the national conference. At this point in time, what we need is good governance in Nigeria. We need good leadership in Nigeria. We need good infrastructure. Nigerians want to live together as one, there’s no doubt about that. "So, anything that will

truncate 2015 elections should not be allowed by us. I support the position of my party that we should be careful and look at the underlying motives and intentions. Most importantly is that let free and fair elections count in Nigeria. The moment Nigerians know that one vote counts, things will change. I can’t really prophesy if anything good or bad can come out of this national conference. But now, I stand with the position of my party.” Similarly, Ajomale said, “I sincerely stand on the position of our party, that the confab is needless, as it won’t be different from the previous one we have held. We believe that this confab is a distraction, considering the timing. We believe that the timing is too short for all ethnic nationalities to converge to discuss the way

forward for this country. Contrarily, Sen. Mamora opined that his party irrespective of what is termed the disguised intentions of the President, his party should participate in the conference. He said: “For me, I have an approach, which is that you don’t boycott anything. Particularly, something that you don’t have absolute control over. Because you may discover that at the end of the day, you must have shot yourself in the foot. So, irrespective of reservations, irrespective of what might sound as disguised intention of Mr. President, irrespective of reservations concerning the outcome, I think we should participate as a party. Dialogue in any form is an opportunity to share positions. And to that extent, I think APC should participate."

Crisis: Baraje's nPDP appeals court ruling, seeks stay of execution zNo plans to sanction G7 govs, Baraje — PDP BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—THE Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday filed a notice of appeal against last week’s ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja which recognised the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led faction as the authentic National Executive Committee and also restrained Baraje and his group from making use of PDP’s logo and colours. This was just as the National leadership of the party disclosed that there were no plans to sanction aggrieved members of the Baraje-led faction even as it inaugurated a seven member national Disciplinary Committee. The notice of appeal was filed yesterday by a team of lawyers led by Ahmed Raji, SAN, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Evoh Chukwu, who ruled against Baraje and his group last Friday. A statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Eze

Chukwuemeka Eze said, “We are also seeking an injunction and a stay of execution of Justice Chukwu’s ruling. “The decision to file the appeal was taken at an emergency meeting of the New PDP National Working Committee, NWC, following return of the party ’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, from the 2013 pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken after the NWC carefully studied last Friday ’s ruling by the Federal High Court and after due consultations with our team of lawyers. “We once more wish to reiterate that we remain convinced that we have a good case and are thus determined to ensure that Tukur and his cohorts are not allowed to hold sway as the leaders of our great party. “Our teeming members and supporters should, therefore, entertain no fears whatsoever and should remain steadfast as we seek to legally establish our case and logically conclude our

mission to rescue the PDP from anti-democratic forces so as to restore the noble vision of the party ’s founding fathers. Meanwhile, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday disclosed that there were no plans to sanction aggrieved members of the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led factional PDP, just as it has inaugurated a sevenmember national Disciplinary Committee. Answering questions from newsmen after the inauguration of the National Disciplinary Committee, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said, “G7 will not face any disciplinary committee, no petition, no move to sanction them; we have held meetings for reconciliation, but we had some challenges, the doors of the party are still open for reconciliation, no more sanction for members of G7 as at today. We want peace and progress in the party, yet there must be trust, equity, fairness and justice.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—9

New tax law: Lagos to lose N6.25bn monthly BY MICHAEL EBOH

AGOS State will lose about N6.25 billion monthly from its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, put at about N25 billion monthly, as a result of the new tax law put in place by the Federal Government, barring state governments from engaging consultant tax collectors. This was stated yesterday by the Department for International Development -State Partnership for A c c o u n t a b i l i t y, Responsiveness and Capability, DFID-SPARC, Lagos State Programme. This may be as a result of the fact that the state, at the moment, lacks the requisite capacity to effectively discharge the functions of the contractors. Mr. Austin Ndiokwelu, Senior Technical Officer (Public Finance Management/Policy & Strategy), DFID-SPARC, who disclosed this in Lagos, noted that the conclusion was reached after a series of research and investigations on the likely effect of the new tax law, carried out by the Lagos State Government, in partnership with DFIDSPARC and other consultant Ndiokwelu, who was speaking at a two-day

training programme for Heads of Planning and Budget in all Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos, on Planning and Budget, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, said the new law will have a negative effect on the IGR of Lagos. “Following the new law, the Lagos State Government undertook a study and review and it was concluded that 25 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, will be negatively affected, monthly,” he said. He, however, noted that the state government is coming out with a number of strategies to counter effect of the new law on its revenue. He identified abandonment of local capacity and difficulties in getting the state government and its development partners to agree and adhere to scheduled time for inputs as some of the major challenges militating against the state’s public finance management reforms. However, he noted that the government can address the shortcoming and plug wastages with its

Public Procurement Act and effective management of its debt programme. Also speaking, Mr. Ben Akabueze, Lagos State Commissioner for Budget & Economic Planning, said the government is striving to be independent as much as possible from revenue sources it cannot control, hence its decision to focus its budget programme on its IGR. Akabueze, represented by his permanent secretary, Mr. Bayo Sodade, declared that a lot of work still needs to be done at the local governments as regards internally generated revenue, saying this is as a result of lack of political will. He emphasized the need for local governments to focus on increasing IGR, instead of clamouring for funds from the federal and state governments. The Federal Government had on Monday, barred states in the country from the collection of approved taxes by engaging agents other than the various states’ boards of Internal Revenue Services, BIRS. The government also stopped MDAs, of the Federal Government from collection of taxes and levies, saying this is a violation of the Taxes and Levies Act.

Danjuma's firm, SAPETROL, discovers oil in Benin Republic BY VICTORIA NJOKU, with agency reports

IGERIA oil firm, South Atlantic Petroleum, SAPETRO, yesterday, said it has discovered an 87 million barrels onshore oil block in Benin Republic. Mrs. Daisy Danjuma, Vice President, Sapetro, also stated that the company has discovered 110 million barrels of oil in the Seme offshore blocks. She, however, stated that the company, who together with Total and CNOOC, owns the oil blocks in Nigeria, will commence production soon. Theophilus Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff is the Chairman and founder of Sapetro. Barthelemy Kassa,

Minister for Mines and Energy, Republic of Benin, said that talks had started with the aim of starting production from the block by July, next year. Benin, a neighbouring country to Nigeria, started producing oil in the 1970s but output remained low and stopped by the end of the 1990s. It's economy now depends on cotton. South Atlantic Petroleum Limited had a couple of months ago, entered into an agreement with Marex MC Incorporated to purchase a 90 per cent participating interest in the Belo Profond Production Sharing Contract, PSC, which is situated in deepwater offshore Madagascar, in the Mozambique Channel. The transaction will ses Sapetro assume operatorship of the block while MarexAREX retains

the remaining 10 per cent interest. The Belo Profond block, which covers an area of 13,770 km2 is in water depths of 1800m to 3,000m and is adjacent to the Juan de Nova Permit in which SAPETRO also reached an agreement to purchase a 75 per cent interest from ROC Oil. The block contains a significant portion of a new deep-water exploration province adjacent to ENI and Anadarko’s recent major discoveries in East Africa. Modern seismic data indicate that the block contains substantial thicknesses of favorably structured Tertiary and Mesozoic sedimentary packages throughout the acreage and remote sensing studies have indicated areas of hydrocarbon seepage.

Ministry jerked up car budget Continues from page 5 still have aviation ministers. Aviation is under the legislative list, the Senate should take over the responsibilities of the aviation ministry and the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA should report directly to the Senate since the D-G of NCAA is the representative of ICAO in the country.” According to him, since the aviation industry is regulated by ICAO rules and regulations, the minister does not have any role in the aviation industry and so can neither dictate to the D-G of NCAA nor overrule any decision of the D-G as the rules are international. Also speaking, Chairman of Aviation Round Table, (ART) Captain Dele Ore, said the minister’s response was deceitful.. “I want to categorically tell you that the whole response of the Aviation Minister is full of lies and deceit and they have made everybody not to talk about it but we from ART, we will talk and continue to talk about it. It is a very big shame and I must say this: watch out, nothing is going to come out of this whole thing, we are just wasting our time,” he said. Asked if the minister erred by travelling to Israel despite the car scandal, Captain Ore said: “I don’t see anything wrong with the minister travelling, at least we know that she is going to perform a function in Israel, a probe panel has been set up and they are going to come out with their findings in two weeks and with that we are going to know what will become of her.” Another stakeholder, an aviation union member who refused to have his name in print said that the minister's claim that the operational vehicles were meant to convey dignitaries from ICAO, US FAA was not true, asking if the cars were meant to carry them from Lagos to Abuja or convey them within Lagos airport. The union member further added that even if those dignitaries were coming, their embassies often provided them with all they might need, adding that was not enough reason for the minister to buy those armoured cars.

IYM insists on due process

Arguing that some faceless individuals hide behind all sorts of groups to ask for Oduah’s removal, IYM National Chairman, Evangelist Elliot Uko, in

a statement, urged enemies of the minister “to desist from playing politics with every issue. The minister has carried out upgrading that no minister had the courage to do in our nation’s history. Attacking her over vehicle purchase is petty, and opportunistic; they should point to what she ought to do and failed to do.”

We must avoid ethnic prejudices – Sagay

Instead of allowing ethnicity to becloud their sense of judgement, Sagay said Nigerians should look at issues of corruption dispassionately and speak with one voice against graft, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations. According to him, the actions of the Minister is condemnable given the fact that she betrayed public confidence reposed in her by misusing public funds entrusted in her care. “I don’t see any reason why some people should read tribal or ethnic meanings into this issue. It is a straightforward case of a public officer recklessly and irresponsibly dipping her hands into public funds and spending it without care. The issue of taking sides is becoming a recurring problem in our society”.

TUC, NLC, SPN intervene

As the TUC vowed to ensure that none of its members is sacked for leaking the car scandal, the Socialist Party of Nigeria, SPN, asked organized labour not to allow any worker to be victimized over the issue. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also discussed the scandal alongside other national issues at its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Kaduna, yesterday. TUC President, Comrade Bala Kaigama who spoke exclusively to Vanguard said: “ We will not allow any of our members to be victimised for leaking the scandal”. Kaigama who wondered why government or any of its agencies should be bothered about who leaked information on the contract said: “Let them do their homework well if they don’t have anything to hide, they should not be scared of anything. If due process was followed contract award should be made public”. Similarly, SPN in a statement by Segun Sango, its Protem Na-

tional Chairperson, said what the scandal had shown “is that the problem in the aviation sector is not primarily that of lack of funds but gross mismanagement of resources. This is why we of the SPN have consistently matched the demand for adequate funding of any public sector with a call for open democratic control by elected representatives of workers, consumers and relevant professionals.

Don’t use politics to justify corruption— APC

Meantime, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned Aviation Ministry officials against using politics as a cover for the scandal. In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it is most unconscionable for anyone to blame the opposition to President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 as the reason for the widespread outcry against the monumental corruption and abuse of office engendered by the scandal. It said that the opposition, in particular, should not be blamed for the indignation of most Nigerians to the corruption scandal, as Yakubu Dati, who goes by the nebulous title of ‘coordinating Spokesperson for the Aviation Ministry’ tried to do in his winding postulation on the scandal. ‘’What Dati and his cospin doctors tried to do is to play on President Jonathan’s insecurity as far as 2015 elections are concerned. This is very insulting not only to Nigerians but also to President Jonathan himself, and it will not sell." After all, attempts to blame the opposition for the lingering ASUU strike has also failed. In any case, what is the business of a public servant, who is supposed to be apolitical, about whether a President is re-elected or not? ‘’We in the APC have not joined the fray over the Oduahgate scandal since it broke out because we thought this was a straightforward case of corruption and abuse of office that should be summarily dealt with. But President Jonathan has again failed to live up to expectation, thus allowing all manners of clowns to seek to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians in the name of defending the indefensible,’’ APC said.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

FG mulls new law on piracy, robbery at sea

ASUU STRIKE:

ERC lobbies NUPENG, others By LAJU ARENYEKA, OLASUNKANMI AROWOLO & ANYANWU FORTUNE

BY GODWIN ORITSE & MARIAM EKO

HE FEDERAL Government has commenced the promulgation of new laws that will checkmate the activities of pirates and related crimes at sea. Disclosing this in Lagos, yesterday, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Maritime Matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole said that the move is part of government efforts at curbing the menace of pirates in the country and waters of neighbouring countries.

Abba Moro lauds Babalola

HE Minister of Inte-rior, Dr. Abba Moro, has lauded the foresight of Aare Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, for establishing a unique and outstanding educational institution. The Minister, who stated this at the first convocation and honorary doctorate degree award ceremonies of the institution, said education remains the only purveyor towards the elimination of poverty of the mind.

Iran accused of spying on US, EU, in Nigeria BY UDUMA KALU with agency report

N 2010, Iran’s influence in West Africa was exposed when a ship carrying dangerous weapons were intercepted in Lagos by the Nigeria Customs. The affair led to diplomatic and legal tussles between Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia and Iran. The report highlighted in the CTC Sentinel, a journal published by the Combating Terrorism Centre at West Point, and was released, yesterday, said, “Iran’s influence is increasingly extending into western Africa, where its operatives in Nigeria are gathering intelligence on US and European targets, according to a new analysis exclusively previewed by Fox News.” Nigeria, the report said, is host to many Westernbased companies, and has been the scene of ongoing violence between Muslims and Christians.

ANNIVERSARY: From left, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Prince Ademola Dada, Chairman, Island Club, and Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, at the club's anniversary lecture, in Lagos.

Lagos arrests 68 NURTW members over extortion BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS — THE Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special offences, yesterday, arrested 13 teenagers and 68 suspected members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, found extorting motorists on highways in the state. Chairman of Task force, CSP Bayo Sulaimon disclosed that development was part of the agency’s renewed efforts at enforcing the 2012 Lagos Traffic Law which prohibited touting on highways. Of the 68 hoodlums arrested, 10

were touts, who specialised in extorting motorists whose vehicles broke down on the highways while the 13 teenage hoodlums were found at the railway line in Oshodi. Sulaimon said: “This is another demonstration of war against Agbero again; we will not allow them to take over the state. "They were arrested when our men raided Oshodi, Ketu, Ojota and other areas in the state. Some of them were arrested when our men disguise like one of them. “The 13 teenage miscreants were arrested early in the morning in Oshodi at the Railway line. They refused to tell us whether they have relatives in the state or not; we are thinking of what to do

with them in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development. “They are below 18 years of age, they will not be arraigned in court. Every time we raid and clear the Oshodi of miscreants, new set of thugs keep coming there. "We arrested almost 98 of them recently. We just have to continue to mount pressure on the place because different underaged boys who left their different homes and assembled at this place. “Some of them might be taken to Boys' Remind Home in Abeokuta that can take care of the hardened ones among them.”

Lagos identifies, investigates suspected sources of cholera BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

AGOS — AN unnamed female food vendor of African salad, otherwise known as Abacha at Cele Bus-stop junction, suspected to have been the primary source of contamination of the reported cholera cases in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos, has been identified and is being investigated. A source in the office of the Lagos State Epidemiology Unit and Disease Control, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that samples of suspected food preparations believed to have been consumed by most of the victims who came down with symptoms of cholera infection in the area, have been obtained for laboratory analysis. It was gathered that laboratory samples have also been obtained from the vendor for analysis at the State Quality Control Laboratory, Ikeja, and the results are expected to be ready in few days. “What I can tell you is that of all the cases so far identified, the greater percentage, about 70 per cent of those involved, consumed African salad sold by a food vendor at Cele junction. Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area officials are already making efforts to educate the vendor on the proper and hygienic way of food preparation,” the source stated. The vendor, who is believed to be an agent of contamination, may not be infected. “She may exhibit no visible symptoms and yet be spreading the disease to others. So it is better to get

samples from her, the food items, the water and other samples and send them to the lab. "If she is infected, she will be treated by the operation's environmental unit,” the source affirmed. On the suspected outbreak in Amuwo Odofin and Apapa local government areas, Vanguard gathered that the source of infection has also been traced to contaminated well water. “Laboratory analyses gave isolated evidence that water in the area contained pathogens such as salmonella, streptococci and other bacteria capable of causing severe diarrhoea such as that witnessed. We are looking at treating the water in the area. Vanguard gathered authoritatively that the immediate effort is to break the chain of the infection.

HE EDUCATION Rights Campaign, ERC, has called on Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG; Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT and National Union of Electricity Workers Employees NUEE, to declare a one-day solidarity strike in support of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The placard carrying members of the ERC visited NUPENG and NUT offices in Lagos to deliver letters requesting the unions’ support. ERC was also supposed to visit the NUEE office in the same regard, but did not for unconfirmed reasons. In a letter to NUPENG and NUT, signed by the National Coordinator of the ERC, Mr. Hassan Soweto and its National Secretary, Mr. Michael Ogundele, the ERC appreciated both unions for their promise to embark on solidarity strikes if the Federal Government remains intransigent in bringing a solution to the challenges bedeviling Nigerian universities.

OnyeadorMayson's estate suit for hearing Nov 25 BY ONOZURE DANIA

AGOS — JUSTICE I. Harrison of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has fixed November 25, 2013, for the hearing in an application filed by the late Angela Onyeador-Mayson’s son, Ikem Onyeador on behalf of his step father, Captain Samuel Mayson, himself and his sister Adaora Onyeador over the deceased's estate. The judge fixed the date to enable the defendants’s counsel George Obute go through the processes and respond to all the applications that were served on them in the court after the seven days order in the on-going trial of Alexander Onyeador, Martin Onyeador, Thomas Onyeador and Nkemdilim Onyeador, issued on them on October 17, 2013 . The four defendants are the children of the late brother of late Angela Onyeador-Mayson.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—11

Police disrupt ASUU rally in Akure BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE — POLICE in Ondo State, yesterday, disrupted a rally organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, to educate the public on their four-monthold industrial action. Also, the ASUU chapter in Ondo State owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, were not granted permission to hold a rally slated for yesterday. No fewer than 30 policemen including Mobile officers with an Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC, barricaded the main gate leading to the university, yesterday. The ASUU members who had planned to move to the streets with their placards were ambushed and stopped from moving to the streets of Akure metropolis. Some of the lacards displayed by the protesting lecturers had the following inscriptions, 'Transformation witout education is zero,' 'ASUU says no to destruction of Public Universities.” Others include: 'Agreement is agreement, Federal Government do the right thing,' 'ASUU is the real Nigeria Patriots,' 'Okonjo is Wahala,' 'Jonathan Stop Playing Politics with Education,' amongst others. Addressing newsmen, the FUTA

chapter chairman, Dr. Alex Odiyi expressed disgust about the disruption by police despite a letter to the police command since October 17. Dr. Odiyi said in a copy of the letter made available to newsmen in Akure that the rally was meant to enlighten the citizenry on the motive for the strike. The rally, according to the letter signed by the chairman and the

secretary, Dr. K. S. Adegbie was to begin from the university gate to the Akure Central Market. Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Ilorin Zone, Dr. Ayun Adeleke said that the strike action was as a result of government's refusal to honour a 2009 agreement. Adeleke said that it was agreed then that federal universities required N1.5 trillion

to be spread over three years (2009-2011) to address the rot and decay in the system. Addressing the ASUU members, a police officer who led the team that stopped the protest, Adekunle Omisakin appealed to them to remain within their campus to avoid miscreants from hijacking the action to loot and cause harm. On the failure to give permis-

FORUM: From left, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Guest Speaker; Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, Registrar/Secretary to Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, CIPM, and Aare Afe Babalola, CON, Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, at the just concluded CIPM Education Sector Human Resource Forum, at ABUAD, Ekiti State.

charges filed by the erstwhile Chairman of the National UnBADAN — A Federal High ion of Road Transport Workers, Court judge in Ibadan has de- NURTW, Oyo State chapter, clined jurisdiction on contempt Alhaji Lateef Akinsola and 14

others against the Governor of Oyo State, the Commissioner of Police and 14 others. The former NURTW in the

School wall collapses, kills one, injures 4 in Ogun BEOKUTA — TRAGEDY struck, yesterday, in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, when the wall of Ketu Adiye Owe Primary School collapsed, killing a pupil (names withheld) and injured four others. The incident came barely 48 hours after the state House of Assembly Committee on Education decried what it described as deplorable condition of public schools in the state. The injured pupils were reportedly rushed to a private hospital

before the council Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Rahmon, who reportedly visited the school shortly after the incident, directed that the victims be moved to the General Hospital, Ota, for better medical attention. Vanguard learnt that the collapsed wall had been eaten up by erosion which had been the prob-

lem in that part of the school compound. Confirming the incident, Chairman of the council expressed regrets over the unfortunate incident, saying he has directed that the standing wall of the affected classroom be brought down.

DO EKITI — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has derided a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele over his purported res-

state had filed a case marked FHC/IB/CS/30/2012, praying the court to grant committal proceeding against the Oyo State governor and others. According to Tokyo, the respondents should be held responsible for alleged disobedience of an order contained in the judgement of the honourable court, delivered on May 25, 2012. While delivering the judgment yesterday, Justice Abimbola Obaseki, held that it would amount to judicial rascality for his court to assume jurisdiction over the case.

Ogun lawmakers lament declining federal allocation

HE OGUN State House of Assembly has expressed worries over declining allocation accruing to the state from the federation account in recent times and has therefore challenged local governments in the state to brace up to

the challenge by putting strategies in place on how to improve on their revenue generation for improved service to the people. Giving the charge while addressing some council chair-

Resign membership of APC, Awe tells Bamidele BY GBENGAARIYIBI

BEOKUTA — OGUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has appointed former acting Vice Chancellor of the Osun State University, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde as the third Chief of Staff within his two years in office. Olatunde, 57, succeeded Ambassador Emmanuel Ogunnaike who was appointed Chief of Staff in March 14, 2012, but resigned eight months after.

BY OLA AJAYI

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

...mourns Chief Imam Alejulehun

Tokyo loses suit against Ajimobi, CP, others

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

Amosun appoints 3rd Chief of Staff in 2 years

ignation as the leader of the party ‘s caucus in the National Assembly, urging him to resign his membership of APC now. Bamidele, who represents Ado Ekiti, Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Governments in the House of Representatives, had

signified his intention to run for the governorship position of the state along the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Bamidele had Tuesday resigned his leadership of the party’s caucus in the National Assembly.

men on their budget performance, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Olukunle Oluomo, urged them to work on improving their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, if they hope to meet the needs of the people. The committee, which commenced its oversight function, would visit all the 20 local governments in the state to assess their budget performances so far. The committee chairman who was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Olowo-Oloja, noted that the measure is necessary considering the present precari

GUN STATE governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has expressed deep regrets at the death of the Chief Imam of Ijebu Ode, Alhaji Salisu Alejulehun. The governor in a statement by his senior Special Assistant, Media, Mrs. Funmi Wakama expressed his condolences to the Muslim community in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and Nigeria in general on the exit of the foremost Islamic cleric, and "a dedicated servant of Allah, who devoted his entire life to the propagation of Islam."

Why APC will shun National Confab — Chieftain BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO — THE protem chairman of Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi has given reasons the party will shun the National Conference being arranged by President Goodluck Jonathan. Fielding questions from newsmen in Osogbo, yesterday, the party chairman noted that the party decided to distance itself from the conference because it was not properly constituted. The APC’s leadership stated that there was no law constituting the conference, adding that it was diversionary.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Extra-judicial killings: N-Delta Coalition wants FG to prosecute culprits BY INNOCENT ANABA in Geneva

ENEVA—THE Niger Delta Coalition of Universal Periodic Review has called on the Nigerian Government to take necessary steps to bring the perpetrators of the various acts of extra-judicial killings in the Niger Delta to justice. The coalition, in a report to the 17thUPR session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, going on in Geneva, Switzerland, said: “During the four-year period after the review, rather than Nigeria improving on its record in promoting its citizen’s right to life, the country, particularly the Niger Delta region, has become a killing field, where innocent citizens have been extra-judicially killed in their hundreds by the Police and the various security forces established in different states. “No officials have been implicated in these acts but the growing regime of impunity in the land has ensured that

the culprits go unpunished. The period under review has witnessed high incidences of the mindless and unlawful killings of numerous citizens by the police and their ilk. Unfortunately, most of these killings have not been investigated and the culprits go unpunished, thereby increasing the level of impunity among security and law enforcement agents in the region and contrary to the expectations inherent in UPR outcome recommendations, as recommended by some countries, Nigeria has not taken the necessary steps to bring the perpetrators of these various acts of extra-legal killings to justice.” Noting the progress made since 1999 in overcoming a legacy of military dictatorship, with respect to reports of extra-judicial executions by the police, it called on the Nigerian government to ensure that all members of the security forces, including Police, operate within the law, because, “contrary to claims by

the Nigeria delegation dur- Chevron Tank Farm in Escra- pany. An altercation between ing the UPR, the Police and vos Gas To Liquid (EGTL) the security men and the other security agents contin- project site, workers who had workers ensued over carrying ue to kill innocent Nigerians closed work for the day were out checks on the tired workextra- judicially with impuni- being conveyed by the com- ers. As this happened, it was pany’s buses to their camp, learnt that one of the JTF ofty.” ficers identified as Hassan It noted that over 50 cases all in the Escravas. “Narrating the story, the opened fire on the workers of extrajudicial killings in the Niger Delta between 2009 brother of one of the de- shooting to death two of them, and 2012, were listed in its ceased, Mr. Prince Tonfa, said Mr. Solomon Tonfa aged 47, report, including January 4, that the bus was stopped at and Mr. Sunday Mala aged 2010, when a Joint Task the 4th gate by OSL security 27 years while others were men attached to the oil com- injured,” the report said. Force, JTF, soldier, allegedly shot one Mr Solomon Tonfa and Mr. S u n d a y Mala to death at Chevron’s Escravos Tank Far m Facility, Delta State of Nigeria. “Our investigations indicated that in the evening of January 4, 2010, at 2013 CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS: Nigerian Christian pilgrims listening to their tour guide, Mr. Meir Shalom, at Golgotha, in Jerusalem, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Pirates kidnap two American sailors BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, with Agency report

ENAGOA—PIRATES stormed an oil supply vessel off southern Nigeria and kidnapped the ship’s Captain and Chief Engineer, both US citizens, a private security firm and US officials said, yesterday. “A US-flagged C-Retriever owned by American oil servicing company, Edison Chouest Offshore, was attacked on Wednesday off the city of Brass,” said AKE, a London-headquartered private security firm. “Both the Chief Engineer and the Captain were kidnapped. They are both Americans,” Richard Fylon of AKE, said. US Defence officials in Washington, who requested anonymity, confirmed the details. The US Navy and the Marine Corps had not yet received orders to intervene, two US Defense officials told AFP. An official at AKE’s Lagos office said this was the first reported kidnapping of US nationals around the oil-producing Niger

Delta in at least two years. The official, who requested anonymity, said the same area was attacked by pirates earlier this week, but that there appeared to have been no increase in naval patrols operating in the area. Police spokesman, Alex Akhigbe, in Bayelsa State, where Brass is located, told AFP he had no details on the raid. Confirming the kidnap, Nigerian Navy directed its operational commands and the operational bases to search and rescue the two Americans. Security sources told Vanguard that the naval units in the region had deployed its personnel and gunboats in search of the missing sailors. Contacted, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aliyu Kabiru, said: “The Nigerian Navy has received a report on the attack of a US flagged vessel, C-Retriever. Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy has directed its Operational Commands and the Operational Bases to search

and rescue the crew members and the vessel.”

Pa Oghwie dies at 89

A Sunday Oghwie, Managing Director/CEO, Trust Inspection Services Limited, is dead, aged 89. Burial rites will commence with a service of songs tomorrow at his compound, 31, Urhueri Quarters, Okpara Inland, Delta State, followed next day by funeral service and interment, at the same venue. He is survived by many widows, children, and other relations, including grand children and great grand children.

Late Pa Oghwie

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—13

Amaechi woos investors to Rivers

IVERS State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has called on investors to ensure optimum utilization of investment opportunities in the state to promote maximum economic growth in the country. Amaechi spoke, yesterday, with newsmen at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum 2013, held at Onne oil and Gas Free Zone in Port Harcourt. He said: “I charge investors to take advantage of the peaceful investment conducive business climate put in place by my administration.” He also commended operators of the free zone for their wider consultation and satisfactory investment performance towards improving and developing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Edo LG by-election: Accept defeat in Esan N-East or go to court, APC tells PDP ...as Onolememen faults Oshiomhole on allegations of attempts to influence results

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—EDO State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, advised Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to either accept defeat in Tuesday’s by-election in Esan North- East Local Government Council or go to court, saying the claim that the election was rigged was laughable. This came as Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, rebuffed allegations by Governor Adams Oshiomhole that he attempted to use his security entourage to influence the results of the council polls. Interim Chairman of APC in the state, Mr. Thomas Okosun, while reacting to Wednesday’s briefing by Chief Dan Orbih, said: “We read in the papers that PDP said they were rejecting the results of the election and Orbih was saying that the authentic result sheets were with the Police, SSS and Civil Defence, without saying that the

result sheets were with the EDSIEC staff who are the authentic umpire for the election. The first question we are asking Orbih is, who requested for the services of these people during the election because it is the responsibility of EDSIEC to request for security during elections. So, these people who requested for their services, were they from Edo State or other states and if they were from other states, who brought them to Edo State?” However, Onolememen in a

statement by his Press Secretary, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, accused Governor Oshiomhole of allegedly twisting the rules of electoral conduct and swearing in the candidate he (the minister) claimed was the loser in the election. According to the Minister, “Governor Oshiomhole may be crafty in his game of fooling Nigerians all the time with his rhetoric, but it is time the Nigerian public, especially the media, began to beam searchlight on this personality and

hold him accountable all the way, as he poses serious risk to our nascent democracy in his pronouncements and acts. Executive lawlessness of the kind being displayed by Governor Oshiomhole should never be tolerated in Nigeria if the current democracy is to endure. Those who exercise executive powers on behalf of the people should never use those powers to disenfranchise the same people in a mere local election, just because it did not go their way.”

Sack Wike now, Rivers Forum tells Jonathan

IVERS’ People Forum, RPF, a socio-political umbrella body of all Rivers people, at home and in diaspora, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to summarily sack the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, over his comments that he won’t be able to resolve the lingering national strike by university lecturers for another few months. It would be recalled that

Wike had, on Tuesday, said the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, could only be resolved in a few months time. Already, the university lecturers have been on strike for about four months. President of RPF, Charles Bekwele, in a statement, noted that Wike’s comments showed clearly that his appointment as a minister must be terminated immediately to

save the education sector from imminent and total collapse. He said: “We have said time and again that Wike, who’s from Rivers State, does not mean well for President Jonathan. He is a threat to democracy and is hell bent on destroying the Jonathan administration. Wike’s actions, inactions and statements are injurious, inimical and pernicious to the administration.”

C M Y K

14— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—15

Nigeria deserves permanent UN Security Council seat —Senate BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, said Nigeria deserved a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, in view of its contributions to global peace keeping mission. The Senate also said the country should tread cautiously while celebrating its election to serve as a non-permanent member of the security council for a two-year term beginning from January 1, 2014.

Resolution

The call for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council followed a resolution by the upper legislative chamber congratulating Nigeria on its election to the United Nations Security Council. Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, had in a motion he sponsored, noted that the present election of the country as a non-permanent member of the UN Security

Council was the fifth time since independence Nigeria was elected to the position. Besides, he stated that Nigeria deserved commendation for the feat, observing that it was the second time the country, under the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, was given such a recognition. Ndoma-Egba, who represents Cross River Central in the senate, said the membership of the country in the UN Security Council had placed the country at the centre stage of global politics.

Mark congratulates Nigeria

While congratulating the country, Senate President David Mark, who said the election was a clear indication of acceptance of Nigeria in world matters, advised that whoever should be its representative must be up and doing as the election placed greater responsibility on Nigeria.

Senator Matthew Nwagwu, PDP, Imo North, said Nigeria should use the opportunity to prepare for a permanent seat, adding that having served four times, it was equipped to know the knitty-gritty of the place.

On temporary membership

For Senator Emmanuel Bwachi, Taraba South, being a temporary member should not overwhelm the integrity of the country as one of the countries that was elected to the same post, Saudi Arabia turned it down. Senator Bwachi said the country should be conscious of her sovereignty as well as where the world was heading. He said there was a drift in international politics to ensuring that nations retained their sovereignty, stressing that though it was good to be a non-permanent member, there was nothing wrong to give Nigeria a permanent status.

No going back on N1,000 on-line application fee —Interior Minister BY ALICE FESTUS BUJA—MINISTER of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro yesterday dared the House of Representatives on the N1,000 on-line application fee charged those seeking employment in the agency, insisting that there was no going back on the fees. Following complaints about the fee by applicants, the House of Representatives had directed the Ministry of Interior to cancel the fee. But speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Paramilitary Village Housing Scheme Development project Nationwide in Abuja, the minister said the fee subsisted. He said he was not bothered by the opposition to the fee by the House of Representatives, noting he was doing the right thing. “Parastatals and I do know the hazards of life threatening for the ordinary person, but I am aware that we are coming from a background of a distorted process of recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service where

it was alleged that the process was compromised. “What we have decided to do is to attempt a new police design that is employed by the Nigeria Police Force, and employed by the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army in processing applications for recruitment into the serv-

ice.” Moro urged the committee to take responsibilities in the discharge of its duties. He said: “I told you on assumption of duty here that it is no longer going to be business as usual, you either prepare to work and ship in or you prepare not to work and ship out.”

Canada introduces new gitimate travel, it will also visa policy BY VICTORIA OJEME BUJA—THE Cana dian Embassy in Nigeria has introduced a new visa policy which will require provision of fingerprints and a digital photograph for applicants for visitor visa, study or work permit. In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, the embassy said visitors to Canada from several countries, including Nigeria, were affected by the new visa policy. It read: “This new requirement will not only help protect the safety and security of Canadians while helping facilitate le-

protect prospective visitors by making it more difficult for others to forge, steal or use an applicant’s identity to gain access to Canada. “The new requirement will put Canada in line with other countries which are already collecting this information from visitors, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, countries in the European Union Schengen Zone, and Japan. “In the long run, the use of this information will make entry to Canada easier by providing a reliable tool to readily confirm a person’s identity.” C M Y K

16— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 —17

HE Federal Capital Territory Authority, FCTA, is threatening to demolish a building that “New PDP” rebels are using as a Secretariat…on the grounds that it is in a residential area and can therefore not be used for this purpose. Unsurprisingly, the rebels – who have declared independence from the main PDP - aren’t buying this explanation, even though an FCTA spokesman has announced that over 200 other buildings have been earmarked for destruction because they also, in various ways, violate the provisions of the Abuja Masterplan. The Baraje-chaired splinter group’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, is furiously accusing the FCT Minister, Senator Bala

*Marked for demolition...The nPDP Secretariat

Why demolish?! of the position he presently occupies”. What I don’t understand is this: why FCTA thinks that it is acceptable to pull down a very expensive structure that has a legal right to exist. Whether FCTA is motivated by tyrannical spite or genuine concerns about

What I don’t understand is this: why FCTA thinks that it is acceptable to pull down a very expensive structure that has a legal right to exist

Mohammed, of politically motivated vindictiveness, of being desperate “to attack and reduce the opposition in the country” on behalf of the ruling Party and of messing up President Goodluck Jonathan’s image. According to Eze, the President himself “is treating a political party as if it is his personal estate” because he “has failed to understand the altruistic mission of the breakaway faction”, while the Minister “…does not have the powers he is arrogating to himself [and is] is confused…. undemocratic…wicked…. not normal…and not worthy C M Y K

Masterplan issues; why do the folks who run Abuja think that it is acceptable to pull down a very expensive building that has a legal right to exist? Talk about oafishly overreacting and killing flies with sledgehammers! If a building is supposed to be a home rather than an office, are there not more civilized ways of preventing the building’s occupants from using the premises inappropriately if they flatly refuse to comply with the law? Even if malice is the real reason for putting that building on the demolition list, are there not less

wantonly wasteful ways of undermining political opponents? As for Eze, his colleagues and their former cronies: A lot of ordinary citizens, Vanguard readers included, have told me that they are finding this New PDP versus Old PDP fight increasingly tiresome, negative and regrettable. There is, furthermore, a widespread suspicion that the fight is more about personality clashes and competing mega-egos than about one camp being more ideologically sound or morally justified than the other camp. My view is that it no longer matters who is right or who is wrong…and that the rebels should just leave the PDP altogether – and join or form another party – if they are not willing or permitted to reconcile with the Tukur/Jonathan wing. I can see why New PDP guys – many of whom have invested vast amounts of money and energy in the original PDP – might be

*FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed

reluctant to pack their bags and walk away. I can see that it is galling and emotionally traumatic to let something go when you feel that you have as much right to own it as anyone else.

But if you feel that a club you belong to has treated you very shabbily, there is no point clinging to it if you cannot resolve your differences internally.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 T has become more obvious that government officials have completely insulated themselves from the realities of the wider society, where up to 70 per cent of the citizens live in poverty and millions of young people and school leavers are unemployed. Everyday we are confronted by stories of mind-boggling spending by public officers on items that only further cut them off from the harsh circumstances of the environment they are supposed to serve. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has continued to demonstrate its penchant for profligate spending by spending three billion Naira to construct official quarters for the principal officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly. To make matters worse, the officers reportedly rejected the quarters over alleged insecurity and delay in the provision of amenities. What makes this incident more remarkable is the fact that only a few years ago, the Apo Legislators’ Quarters, built by the military regime as the permanent residence of Senators and members of the House of

FCTA’s edifices of profligacy

Representatives, included posh residences for their principal officers. Against public outcry and commonsense, the Legislators’ Village was sold under the Monetisation Policy of the President Olusegun Obasanjo regime to their current occupants. The foolishness of this measure immediately showed when a new crop of National Assembly members showed up in Abuja in June 2007 only to find they had nowhere to stay. It cost the nation a fortune to keep them in hotels, and their allowances had to be jacked up to enable them acquire their own private residences. For the FCTA to turn around to spend such huge sums of money to build yet another set of quarters for principal officers

of the federal legislature smacks of lack of foresight and signposts an eager tendency to lavish public funds on white elephant contracts. The stupendous amounts being doled out to keep public officials in princely comfort way above the economic realities confronting the people they are representing is condemnable. It also encourages corruption and graft because these officers will do everything to stay in office and to maintain this unholy standard of living when out of power. It is a corruption of values for public officers to jettison the principle of modesty and simplicity opting to live like kings at public expense. This is one of the major reinforcements for systemic poverty because there is little fund left to build amenities and strengthen the educational and health sectors for the good of the generality of the citizenry. Labour unions become unbending in their demands because of this profane, high living of public officers on tax payers’ funds. We must pay quality attention to issues of cutting down on profligate consumption by public officers at the impending national conference.

OPINION BY KEITH EBIUWE

N my over five decades on mother earth, I have never comprehended the import of the cliché ‘’never judge a book by its cover” until by divine providence, I met Victor Onyekachi Ochei, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, during the recent Annual Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Asaba. His inclination to listen, discuss and offer advice to the teeming and enthusiastic crowd, devoid of the Bonapartean carriage of c’est moi d’etat (I am the state) was a sort of curious paradox. Though I was enthralled by his simplicity; I was determined to unearth this enigma, who had been severally and erroneously classified as haughty. My inquisitiveness provided an interesting vista on his innumerable accomplishments in diverse fields of human endeavour, which stemmed from his courtship with courage and confidence as core components in achieving success. Unarguably, Ochei’s accomplishments find unshakable base on the Shakespearean postulation that “there is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries”. In other words, the rare combination of courage and confidence are somewhat predisposing factors in the quest for success. If not for the above, what could have prompted Ochei, who in 1994, qualified as a young chemical engineering graduate, plunged into the vicissitudes of self- employment, by setting up a one-room boutique within the Asaba, Delta State metropolis in apparent acquiescence to an Thomas Henry’s submission ‘’that the rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man’s foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher”. His undiluted sense of purpose in 2003 further eluci-

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Ochei: Manifesting courage and confidence dates the topic in focus, as he was the only minority member of any state legislature in the South-South zone, a feat achievable by only the courageous and confident, because during that period, the Aniocha North constituency was a strong base of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which paraded an array of political stalwarts. Against all odds, he emerged victorious at the polls. His educational resume validates these virtues as central to his inter- professional accomplishments, obtaining a first degree in chemical engineering, then crossed over and got an MBA in financial management, subsequently schooled in corporate governance at the Leeds Metropolitan University culminating in a Masters degree, added a diploma in Education Management from the prestigious Harvard University as well as a law degree from the Delta State University, DELSU. What could be more ensconcing than his submission in a press interview that: “People miscomprehend confidence for pride, I am a confident man and nothing gives me confidence other than education. That is why I give so much to education”.

easonably, he has acted this submission by his nu merous contributions to the growth of education, ranging from the primary through the tertiary levels in the state, by way of providing over 20 brand new buses and books worth millions of naira to secondary schools and DELSU, Abraka respectively; institution of annual awards to the best 10 graduating students in 10 departments of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba worth over N2 million and assistance to indigent students in tertiary institutions in the payment of fees and other sundry charges, just to list a few.

His resume as a philanthropist which transcends ethnopolitical and religious bias, provides further illumination on his avowed inclination to enhancing societal development through educational and economic empowerment programmes, a trait that exudes courage and confidence. From 2002 till date, he has empowered over 10,000 people in his Aniocha North constituency and beyond, as exemplified by the recent empowerment of over 1000 women with materials and cash worth over N25million, which he has pledged to replicate in the remaining 24 local government areas of Delta State, which by the multiplier effect theory, translates to almost a million people. His helmsmanship at the Delta State legislature gives an interesting insight as a confident, courageous and focused leader, illustrated by the numerous administrative and infrastructural innovations, a feat that elicited commendation from his colleagues through a motion moved by Talib Tebite and unanimously adopted by the House. The summation of this man of several positive attributes, is his unflinching belief that courage and confidence are critical factors in soaring to unassailable heights, thus; aptly lending incontrovertible credence to an American poet, memoirist, actress and an iconess of the American Civil Rights Movement, Maya Angelou’s submission that “courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently”.

•Mr Ebiuwe, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013— —19

T is highly outrageous to buy two vehicles, any kind of vehicles for N225 million. It is also highly outrageous for mainstream media to rely on reports of online media, which most of the time are laced with gossips and rumours, for serious aviation reports. Now that Nigerians are outraged about the exaggerated reports on the purchase of the vehicles, the facts of the matter have been eclipsed as the first report always finds a listening ear. But it is good to deliberate on the motive behind the report and preceding reports before this last one. Princess Stella Oduah as Minister of Aviation has jolted the apple cart. In her strive to make desired changes in the sector she has excavated the status quo. There are certain trends that have defined the aviation sector. There are always since 1999 those who use lopsided agreements and contracts to milk the aviation agencies. There are also those who use aviation related associations to sustain their lives and the aviation union executives rely on agency heads and succeeding ministers to make money in the sector. Stella came and changed all that. These people were denied their source of material life by Stella and these are people behind the forces that coalesced against her. It is said in the industry that two

The highly placed, powerful people behind these companies have been injured by the Minister; the war has been drawn: Stella Oduah must go!

there when FAAN workers started crying out against the agreement and alleged rip of FAAN by the agreement. He did nothing. Felicia Njeze came and smiled away few years later without doing anything about it. Stella came and did something. She revoked the agreement!

he was attacked with all kinds of arsenal, including media and court scud missiles. She remained unshaken. Other Ministers did not have the courage to do anything because of the Giant Eagle that facilitated the agreement and the agreement was aimed to rip off the agencies and empower some individuals. Another agreement was the Pan Express agreement which gave the company the right to collect revenues from cargo and pay FAAN certain amount of revenue every month. That agreement was easily eased out because it did not come from the Big Eagle. Ironically that was the only decent agreement that was drawn not to strip FAAN its

Nigerian drivers' licence and international passport BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

N most countries of the world, citizens are required to use both their national driver’s license and the international passport for driving and travels, respectively and as means of identification. These documents are important because some of the holder ’s bio-data on them are captured and stored in a form that can be referred to in a system for anything. The information could be used to trace an individual in the case of an accident or crime. The system bearing such data is supposed to have a link to the vehicles registered by such individual. Where Police crime records are kept and protected, it could as a link to the record of the holders conducts, movements, and crimes of any sorts. The driving license, in particular, is therefore a very important document of national security value and importance. It is for this reason that many governments accord it importance. In such countries, any intending driver must go through and pass requisite tests, including language, sand sight tests for the safety of the driver and other road users. The language test is very important because a driver should be able to read and understand road signs and directions. In Germany, for example, you must pass the general Dutch language test before you get a driving license as it reduces accidents and confusion on roads. In most countries, including Great Britain, from where most of our traffic laws and rules were lifted, a citizen gets one driver ’s license for life at an affordable rate or C M Y K

fee. In this country, for a very long time, you could get a driver ’s license seated in the comfort of your house. All you needed was to give your agent your passport pictures; he goes out and in a few days return with your driver ’s license. This system, coupled with massive illiteracy level among drivers, especially the commercial drivers, made life very difficult for traffic law enforcement officers, some of whom exploited the situation, extorted money from such drivers at every corner and turn. In those days the validity of the driver's license was 10 years, after which a holder must renew. Someone then decided to modernize the document, plasticize it, and reduced the validity period to only five years. Today, the FRSC has the responsibility for the driver’s license, with the assurances that the plastics will be ready within hours of one's records being captured, but that is very far from what obtains. The new driver’s license comes at a cost of about N12,500 and in some cases up to N15,000. You could wait for up to five months to receive the plastic card. Assuming only 85 million(about half of Nigerian population) can drive, this translates to an income to the FRSC of not less than N1.062 trillion. With this type of money, it becomes difficult to understand why an applicant will have to wait for five months after his data has been captured to obtain his plastic driver ’s license; and during this period he must be visiting the FRSC for update of validity periodically, thus subjecting citizens to avoidable hardship. The temporary or

revenue; in fact, before the company started work, that source of cargo revenue for FAAN was in limbo, but it was done away quickly as soon as contrived agitation against it started. Then the big masquerade of agreement which is still subsisting...the Bi Courtney concession agreement to build the domestic terminal in Lagos which initially was given for 12 years and was later extended controversially for 36 years without the expected approval of the Federal Executive Council, as Obasanjo recommended when the letter for the extension was presented to him by the then Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. In the letter requesting for the extension, Obasanjo responded, “No.” That it should be taken to FEC for approval. The approval never took place and since then Bi Courtney has done everything possible to use the courts to get the extension and it remains at best controversial. How did Oduah cross the way of Bi Courtney? The company realising that it did not have enough apron to park aircraft MMA2 claimed that the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, belonged to it and pointed out a clause in the agreement that said no other domestic airport terminal should be built in Lagos without deferring to Bi Courtney. Oduah defiantly made it clear that GAT which she dismantled and rebuilt under one year, did not belong to Bi Courtney. Then there was the AIC Limited which claimed that many years ago a portion of land meant for expansion of the Murtala Muhammed International

BY ORE KINGSLEY

people before 2011 made noticeable changes in the sector. One was Peter Igbinedion who was the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, during the Abacha years. In retrospect also, kudos goes to Mrs. Kema Chikwe who was also the Minister of Aviation in the first tenure of Chief Obasanjo as Nigerian President. Story had it that she was pressured to leave, just as Stella is being pressured now and that when she was eased out broom was used to sweep out her footsteps from her office. But when she left, the same people acknowledged and still acknowledge that before Stella, Kema Chikwe was the best performing Minister of Aviation since civilian rule in 1999. When Oduah was appointed there were three subsisting agreements that were controversial. One of them was Maevis which was managing the revenue of FAAN. FAAN said that the agreement was lopsided against the agency to the extent that the agency did not know how much that accrued in its coffers as Maevis every months gave it a hand out, a situation where a principle is being handed over money by its contractor. The agreement, to the agency was obnoxious and it was eating its revenue and hampering development of the 22 airports under its management. Three Ministers came when the agreement was enforced, including Felix Hyat, who just witnessed its unveiling, Babatunde Omotoba who was

Why Stella Oduah must be punished

If our National Driver’s licence and the epassport processing now conform to international standards , why do we still have short validity in these documents that Nigerians carry about?

paper license could be made valid for six months or more during which period the holder could be telephoned at any time to come and pick up his plastic card. Of equal concern is the short validity of the driver’s license which brings every holder back to pay another sum every five years, during which costs must rise for many reasons. The Nigerian International Passport, which they call the e-passport, also costs about N15,000 to obtain, no matter what you may be told. In the 1980s the validity of the passport was for 10 years. Later it became renewable every five years, but must expire at the end of 10 years, leading one to wonder why the new e-passport should not be valid for a life time. The policy of one life one passport will save costs, bring our own practices close to what obtains in other nations of Europe and the Americas, and reduce the drudgery intending Nigerian travellers go through at immigration offices across the nation. Most passport offices are often crowded, with officers processing new applications, renewing old ones, and other related issues, and these officers know that

Airport, Lagos terminal was given to the company to build hospitality facility. But for years nothing was done at the portion land and recently with terror threats and the inevitable need to have another terminal at the Lagos airport, it became unrealistic to build such facility at that portion of land. Stella Oduah overruled that quest. The highly placed, powerful people behind these companies have been injured by the Minister. But her purpose is obvious: that for the aviation industry to develop and progress there must be an end to these rip-offs and that the assets that are meant for Nigerians should not be coveted by a few highly placed people at the expense of over 160 million Nigerians. The war has been drawn. Stella Oduah must go! The foot soldiers As stated earlier, the labour union leaders and some association executives rely on aviation agency heads to sustain their existence. A former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, kept the Aviation Round Table, ART, leaders on a payroll. Other agencies like FAAN, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, give them contracts. But these contracts stopped when Oduah became the Minister. In protest, the attacks against her came in torrents to the extent that the President of ART, Captain Dele Ore at one time alleged Oduah threatened to kill him. Some aspects of the media made a savoury of it. Continues on Monday *Capt. Kingsley, an aviation stakeholder, wrote from Lagos

everybody will come back after 10 years. What a colossal waste of money of Nigerians. Again if only half of Nigerians travel overseas in a period of five years, you are talking of another N2.75 trillion every five years. In spite of these, it is either that the booklet is scarce in one region or state, or the capturing machines will become faulty, with applicants spending long hours in long queues just to own the International Passport. In some immigration offices in Lagos, people start queuing as early as 6 am for their applications. Under such a situation people start jostling to cut corners, to jump the queues; some officers begin to exploit the situation for corrupt practices and it all brings stress to poor and hapless citizens. If I may ask, why can't Nigerians have one driver ’s license, one International Passport and one National ID per life? It is so in America, Brazil, Mexico, and Europe, to name a few. If our National Driver’s license and the e-passport processing now conform to international standards as the Minister would want all of us to believe, why do we still have short validity in these documents that Nigerians carry about? The answer may well be either that the government officials have the tendency to continue to milk the people until they say enough is enough, and cry out loud or someone thinks that Nigerians are happier when they suffer more indignities! We surely do not need to pray to know that the time has come with the vision 20-2020,for Nigeria, to begin to treat her people better, and to bring the validity and processes for the driver’s license and international passport to conform with what obtains in other countries.

•Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20— Vanguard ,

FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 25 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Indiscipline: Do Nigerians need iron fists? BY EBELE ORAKPO

‘A

•The accident scene with the wreckage of the vehicles involved. INSET: FRSC’s Jose Abuo handing over the valuables to Mr Sam Ede, representing families of the accident victims

Garland of honour for FRSC official •For returning over N200,000, other valuables to families of accident victims

ONSIDERING the prevalence of the get-richquick syndrome in Nigeria, there has been increasing doubt about whether there still exists genuine Good Samaritans in the country. But an official of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Ebonyi State, Mr. Joseph Abuo recently proved to sceptics that there are still men of integrity, efficiency and character in most Federal Government agencies across the country. This he did by returning N215, 690 cash and other valuables to the families of last month’s accident which took place in Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

Head-on collision It should be recalled that the September 14 crash which was a head-on- collision involving a Nissan premier car with a yellow trailer truck claimed the lives of Mr. Victor Idam, his wife and three others. The accident occurred at about 3.45 pm at Berger Junction along the Ishiagu–Afikpo Road. The husband and wife who were members of the Deeper Life Bible Church were driving in a Nissan Primera with registration number UML 250 AA when it (car) collided with a yellow-coloured Mack Trailer with registration No. APP 215 XP. A source close to the FRSC in Ebonyi State told Vanguard C M Y K

Metro, VM, on condition of anonymity, that the crash was caused by over-speeding. He advised road users to desist from over-speeding on the smooth-surfaced Ishiagu/Afikpo road. In a chat with VM in his office at Ishiaka, the Unit Commander, FRSC, in Ivo LGA, Mr. Joseph Abuo who led the team to the scene of the incident revealed that the accident occurred a distance of about 100 meters to Ivo LGA secretariat as all the occupants of the Nissan Premiere, including two men and three women believed to be coming from a

‘

yuletide period. I want to advise drivers to be mindful of their activities on the highways. I want to charge them to avoid over- speeding, dangerous driving, wrong over-taking; they should make sure they wear seat belts and avoid drinking while driving because their loved ones are waiting for them at home”. Another eyewitness attributed the crash to the carelessness of the driver of the trailer. The source told VM that the accident occurred when the conductor of the trailer was trying to take

It is clear that 75 percent of road traffic crashes are caused by human factors; so road users should avoid over-speeding, dangerous driving

church convention, died on the spot. According to Abuo, five GSM phones, including a Black Berry, a female hang bag containing several items, a recorder belonging to a staff of Continental Broadcasting Limited, TVC, news department and above all a cash of N215, 690 recovered at the scene of the incident were returned to the families of the deceased. Handing over the items to the representative of the family led by Ede Sam Ede, a lawyer, Mr. Abuo stated that the FRSC was a well disciplined outfit that will ensure that the right things are done irrespective of whoever is involved. “It is clear that 75 percent of road traffic crashes are believed to be caused by human factors; so road users should remember that we are now in the

‘

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

over from his driver while the vehicle was still in motion. “The accident was very terrible; in fact, those who came to rescue the victims had to force the doors open before the victims were brought out. I learnt that the conductor was trying to take over from the driver while on steering. Before their death, the couple were resident in Umuahia. The wife worked with the Education Board in Abia, while the husband who is graduate of Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki worked with a media outfit located in Port Harcourt. He was a presenter with Deeper Life Satellite Television,” the source explained. Responding on behalf of the deceased families, Mr Ede thanked the FRSC for their contribution towards the recovery of the items.

H, what kind of hold-up is this at this time of night?” asked Steve, a commuter in the Kuje, Abuja-bound taxi as the taxi slowly inched its way towards its destination. “I can’t believe this! So this Lagos disease has infected Abuja,” said Julie matter-of-factly. Replied the taxi driver: “No! This is nowhere near Lagos traffic oo. Lagos traffic no dey get part two. The most annoying part is that you hardly know what causes it because when you get to the end of the traffic, you won’t see anything that has caused it in the first place. I worked in Lagos for years before relocating to Abuja.” “This hold-up, I believe, is as a result of the many army check points in Abuja, thanks to the activities of Boko Haram guys,” Tim stated. As the taxi got closer to the check point, commuters could see both commercial and private vehicles parked on both sides of the road with occupants sitting or standing by the road side. Commented Steve: ”Something must be wrong. These people look like they have resigned to fate. Anyway, we will know soon enough.” A few minutes later, the taxi driver beckoned on another driver and asked why people were sitting or standing by the road sides while traffic was flowing slowly. The driver replied: “The soldiers stopped them, asked them to park and collected their keys. The same thing happened the previous day. The soldiers were controlling traffic at the checkpoint. You know half of the road is blocked so the road is very narrow. What the soldiers do is to pass vehicles from opposite directions alternately. But these ones were in a hurry so they decided to proceed without permission from the soldiers. So once the soldiers see any driver leave the queue, they stop him/her and collect the keys. They did not

let them leave until 12.00 midnight and you can imagine the time it took them to sort out the keys!” “That’s the kind of thing we need in this country. There is so much indiscipline. Everybody is in a hurry. Ok, look at where the hurrying got them. Oh, I like these soldiers. Although some were caught today but they are less than the number caught the previous day and I am sure tomorrow, some will still be caught but the number will continue to reduce until people learn to follow orders,” commented Steve. “Yes, the fear of the soldiers is the beginning of wisdom. If you can’t voluntarily discipline yourself, the soldiers will help you,” stated Mimi, “ Exactly! Just like agberos forced young men and women to dress decently, especially when going to the Main Market in Onitsha,” noted Julia, adding: “And the worst thing is that those soldiers hate people begging them for mercy. If you do that, they will increase your punishment so these people understood them. Just do what they ask you to do and wait patiently. When they are satisfied, they let you go.” Narrated Tim: “They slapped a lady one day because they stopped the driver of the commuter bus she was in and after a few minutes, the lady felt they were like the police so she asked the driver to give them N50.00 so they could let them go. The soldiers felt so insulted that one of them slapped her hard across the face. She saw stars!!” “Haba !, that was wrong,” said Steve, to which Tim replied thus: “Na you sabi. At least, that thought her a lesson. We are fond of blanket judgement. She had concluded that since Police mount road blocks to extort money, anyone else in uniform does that. I think we really do need iron fists to deal with indiscipline.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 —21

By Emmanuel Elebeke

HE Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr. Labaran Maku, has disclosed that the President Goodluck Jonathan led administration has recovered the sum of N118.9 billion from ghost workers since the beginning of the year. The minister made the disclosure during a World Press conference held in Abuja, where he stated that about 46,821 ghost workers have so far been identified from 215 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, with the application of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS. Maku also disclosed that work is still on-going to bring in other 321 MDAs that are not yet on IPPIS. “The purpose of this reform is to increase efficiency and public financing, personnel cost, planning and budgeting as personnel cost will be based on actual verified numbers and not estimates. Also, government intends to eliminate ghost workers from its payroll and channel the money into capital projects. “There are moral issues involved; government has discovered that people are frustrating the system with ghost workers. That is why we embarked on this reform and today, we’ve saved a lot of money through this reform process. “The problem is that a lot of corruption in the system came from defective system we had in the past, it is that systemic and defective structures that have wasted a lot in the

economy,” he said. He alleged that the issue of security is being politcised by politicians rather than supporting Federal Government in the on-going effort to combat insurgency in

OUTHS of Eket Federal C o n s t i t u e n c y have planted plantain suckers at ExxonMobil Airstrip along Eket Oron road in protest against the non-payment of compensation by the oil

2,765.00

+35.00

19.47

+0.05

110.01

+0.37

97.59

-1.42

155.4 250.8001 212.525 172.0359 1.5797 0.3136 238.6177 25.5051 41.4345 28.4834 239.3782

has become our culture. If we do not co-operate with the federal government, the worst for us, particularly in the northern part of the country. Let us keep politics aside and confront our common enemy

because many Boko Haram members are not Nigerians. “Let the media be more professional and stop being used as a platform to take us back.” Explaining further, Maku said “The establishment of army unit in the north-east part of the country is aimed at tackling insurgency in the region once and for all and also to check the infiltration of their foreign allies,” he stated. On the plan to ban importation of Tokunbo cars, Maku said the policy is not meant to punish Nigerians, but to grow the local car manufacturers and to create jobs and wealth in the economy. “Instead of 177 million Nigerians depending on Tokumbo cars and exporting jobs to Japan, China and other car manufacturing nations, we felt that it is better that we bring in a system that will encourage local car manufacturers and make loan cheaper for them. We will use the new policy to generate jobs and increase our capacity,” he said.

Oil spill com pensation: Youths plant plantains at ExxonMobil airstrip compensation:

+0.05

154.9 249.9931 211.8412 171.4823 1.5747 0.3036 237.85 25.4226 41.3012 28.3918 238.608

the north-east. ” We politicise insecurity in the north. The earlier we wake up and understand it, the better for us. We are playing too much politics with insecurity in this country; that

From left: Folake Sanu, Partner, Averti Professional Managers; Inyang Sami-Orungbe, Partner; Babatunde Dabiri, Chairman, Lagos State Pension Commission; Cecilia Osoka, Partner, Averti Professional Managers, and Bukki Orekoya, Partner, during the official launch of Averti Professional Managers, in Lagos.

111.85

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

FG recovers N118.9bn from ghost workers

SELLING 155.9 251.607 213.2088 172.5894 1.5848 0.3236 239.3855 25.5876 41.5678 28.5751 240.1484

CBN Exchange rate as at 24/10/2013

company. The group comprises community leaders, women and youths from Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Onna Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom. The communities

are protesting the nonpayment of compensation for oil spillage in their areas. A source that claimed anonymity said that the planting of suckers in front of ExxonMobil airstrip signified a traditional injunction

NAICOM seeks cooperation of insurance stakeholders

IRECTOR, Inspectorate Division, National I n s u r a n c e Commission ( N A I C O M ) , Mr Barineka Thompson, has urged stakeholders to cooperate with the commission on the implementation of “No Premium, No Cover” Poicy. Thompson made the plea at the Great Insurance Debate on “No Premium, No Cover,” organised by the Nigerian Council of

Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), as part of its 2013 Conference. According to him, the policy has come to stay as it is beneficial to the industry. “By the last count of the 2010 financial statement, over N60 billion of uncollected insurance premium was still outstanding in the industry’s books. The industry has been paying claims out of no money in their accounts and this has to stop,” he said. Thompson said that it was safe for the operators to collect money in advance and invest it so that they would be able to pay when claims occurred. The director said that failure to obey

the law by the insurance brokers would attract sanction from the commission. He said that instead of finding excuses to circumvent the law, they should reposition their businesses, policies and risk management profiles. According to him, the benefit from the implementation is not for NAICOM, but for the success of the industry. Also, Mr Olorundare Thomas, Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), said that the operators have been “singing a new song” since January, when the implementation came into effect.

against the company. According to the source, anybody, who removes the suckers, will incur the wrath of the gods of the land, adding that only traditionalists imbued with the power of the gods could do so. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company premises have been locked with the workers remaining at home since Monday when the protest started. Reacting to the development, Mr Isaiah Abia, the leader of the group, said that the action signified a traditional warning protest against ExxonMobil. He said that a seven-day ultimatum given to the company would expire On Wednesday by midnight, adding that if ExxonMobil failed to comply, there would be a massive protest. “It was a warning protest for ExxonMobil to comply within the seven-day ultimatum, which expires on Wednesday midnight,” Abia said.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—23

Challenges, solutions of intra-African trade

EGIONAL integration has been part of the African continent's overarching strategy for economic transformation for over five decades. As the African Union commemorates 50 years of existence, one of the suggested approaches to building a strong integrated union is through regional groups such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The key question raised in the African Development Bank paper "Border Posts, Checkpoints and Intra-African Trade: Challenges and Solutions" is why have countries involved in regional integration in SubSaharan Africa failed to foster competition, access to wider markets (via trade), larger and diversified investments/production, socioeconomic stability and bargaining power? What are the fundamental challenges to trade (the free movement of goods and services) that need to be addressed in order to fully reap the benefits of regional integration in Africa? Trade is widely accepted as an important engine of economic growth and development. There are many regions and countries of the world that have been able to lift their peoples from poverty to prosperity through trade. Although the African economy is characterised by a relatively high degree of openness, with the ratio of exports and imports to GDP on the increase in the past few years, trade has not served as a potent instrument for the achievement of rapid and sustainable economic growth and development for many of the countries. As a consequence, Africa remains the most aid-dependent continent in the world, unable to eliminate poverty through

trade. African countries do not trade much with one other, thus they have been unable to take full advantage of the economies of scale and other benefits such as income and employment generation that greater market integration might have provided. Due to the fact that Africa does the bulk of its trade with the outside world and exports are heavily concentrated on primary commodities, the continent has been particularly vulnerable to external microeconomic shocks and protectionist trade policies.

Why counterfeit drugs flood Nigeria — NAFDAC STORIES BY DANIEL GUMM

HE Director-General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii has given reasons why Nigeria is susceptable to drug faking, arguing that the population of the country is so huge and attractive for fraudstars and drug fakers, who fraudulently and delibrately misrepresent drugs with regards to their identity or source. He stated that fake drugs are widespread and drug barons are attracted to Nigeria because of the huge population and to benefit from the racket. While delivering a lecture at the Stakeholders Forum with the LCCI, he said that registration and certification of products “is a very delicate process, if you over-regulate you kill the industry and if you under-regulate you kill the industry.” NAFDAC, according to him “as an agency is charged

FG to cut wheat importation by 20%

HE Federal Government will cut down importation of wheat by 20 per cent from 2014, Minister of Agriculture Dr Akinwumi Adesina has said. The minister, during a twoday training workshop organized for master bakers from the North-Central zone on cassava bread said the policy is expected to save over N127 billion from its annual wheat import bill of over N635 billion. Adesina, who was represented by Mrs Toyin Adetunji, his Technical Adviser on Cassava Value Chain, said government has concluded plans to implement its policy of 20 per cent substitution of wheat with cassava flour in bread production to reduce

FORUM — From left: Chairperson, Small and Medium Enterprises Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mrs. Victoria Onafowokan-Obadina; Director- General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii; President, LCCI, Mr. Goodie Ibru, OON and Vice Chairman, LCCI, Mr. Adams Idufieko, at the one-day Stakeholders Forum with NAFDAC in Lagos.

the bill and save money for the country. "The master bakers' training is part of measures aimed at developing the cassava industry through the domestic market apart from creating jobs and improving the income of the people. “The step is also aimed at diversifying the nation's economic base from oil to non-oil sectors, of which agriculture occupies a prime position," he said. He noted that Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world with a production level of 40 million metric tonnes. The minister added that President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the sum of N10 billion for cassava bread development fund.

with the regulation and control of the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, use, sales, advertisement, of what we collectively know as regulated products: Foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, bottled water are all regulated products.” He noted that his agency, “has one of the shortest registration time in the world,” explaining to participants that products certification “takes 90 days, if the product passes all quality tests,” adding that application would be considered as abandoned when an applicant stopped during the process at any stage. He also explained that in order to assist applicants fastrack their applications, particularly the small and medium enterprises, NAAFDAC has opened a small business support desk in its office. Meanwhile, President of the LCCI, Mr. Goodie Ibru, OON has called on the Federal Government to empower and support the private sector, especially, the SMEs, since it could generate the quantum of jobs needed to gainfully engage the teeming unemployed youths. In his opening remarks at the Stakeholders Forum with the NAFDAC, he said that the SMEs are critical to national economic development, especially in the area of job creation and poverty alleviation. He explained that members of the various groups in the chamber are partners with the regulators in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, adding that “the regulatory environment is crucial to the operations, viability and profitability of businesses in Nigeria, especially small businesses.

“NAFDAC,” according to him, “has been in the forefront of protecting the country from the inflow of hazardous food and drugs,” and called for collaboration and understanding with the business operators, who are already burdened with challenges of infrastructural deficiencies. Ibru noted that in Nigeria, most of the SMEs provide “their own electricity, access roads, security and other industry-specific facilities in the midst of poor access to affordable credit and multiple taxation.” He charged NAFDAC to reflect on delay in registration and certification of products, multiplicity and arbitrary charges, overlap of functions with other agencies as well as excessive human interface in operational framework,etc. Earlier, in a welcome address by the Chairperson, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Mrs. Victoria OnafowokanObadina, noted that the background information in the activities of the Small and Medium Enterprises Group “is one of active and vibrant organs of the LCCI, which draws its membership from reputable enterprises and allied businesses.” Explaining the objectives of the group, she stated that it is to “advance and protect the business interests of its members as well as promote commerce and industry within the context of the overall development of the country.” She said part of the contribution towards the development of the SMEs is organising “interactive session such as this, with aim to address the issues affecting the sector and the economy generally, and proffer solutions to the problems confronting operators within the sector.”

SON moves against fakers of fake bulbs

MPORTERS of substandard electric bulbs are in for hard times as authorities of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) said that they will stop at nothing in ensuring destruction of such products with the eventual prosecution of the importers. SON had recently engaged importers at the popular Alaba International market in Lagos in a bid to stamp out substandard bulbs from markets as part of activities to mark this year ’s world standard day. The agency led by its Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, frowned at the proliferation of substandard electric bulbs in the markets typically characterized by their short life spans due to nonadherence of standards in their production processes by foreign manufacturers. Odumodu also reiterated the agency’s unwavering stance on the commencement of enforcement to remove all unregistered products from markets nationwide as part of ensuring traceability and boosting consumer confidence in every product offered for sale. According to Odumodu, “It is possible to buy bulbs that can last up to one year with the consumer happy and the seller equally making profit. It is possible for us to celebrate a new Nigeria that is substandard free within one year if we all join hands together.”

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

NB shares underperformed at NSE Index — FBN Capital By PETER EGWUATU

he Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc shares underperformed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE All Share Index this year, said a report from FBN Capital. The report stated that on Year-to-date (Third Quarter) the NB shares have gained 19.7 percent compared with the 32.8 percent return delivered by the NSE Index. According to FBN Capital report, the third quarter (Q3) financial results released by NB shows that its sales of N56.5billion were flattish on Year-to-Year (y/y). Although gross margin contracted by 62 basis points (bps) to 46 percent , a 27 percent reduction in net interest expense and a substantial growth on the other income line resulted in Profit Before Tax, PBT and Profit After Tax, PAT growing by three percent y/y and five percent y/y respectively. In terms of sequential trends, sales were down by 18 percent y/y, while PBT and PAT declined by 44 percent and 45 percent respectively. However, the sequential decline was expected, as the Q3 quarter is seasonally slower for beer demand because of the rains. Compared with our forecasts, sales were behind by 12 percent y/y. PBT and PAT also missed our forecasts by between 13 percent and 14 percent. According to FBN Capital research, the management of Heineken stated in its Q3 2013 conference call on Wednesday morning that unit volumes in its Nigerian business, of which NB is a very significant part, came in slightly lower due to inflationary pressures and the continued slowdown in consumer discretionary spending which started in 2012. Heineken’s management also noted that although there was a pick-up in beer volume in August as distributors stocked up for the Muslim Ramadan festival, beer demand waned in September. “Presently, the lower end of the beer market is growing faster than the mainstream end as some consumers’ down-trade to lower priced alternatives. Consequently, the larger brewers such as NB and Guinness Nigeria that concentrate on premium and mainstream beer are increasingly under pressure from smaller rivals such as SAB Miller which focus on the lower end of the market.”

From left: Country Director, AFD Nigeria, Mr. Albert Dognin; Country CEO, Lafarge Nigeria, Mr. Guillaume Roux; and Managing Director, LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe at the signing ceremony and official launch of partnership between Lafarge Nigeria, LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited and AFD Nigeria’s 1.3 Billion Naira Affordable Housing Project held at Lafarge Plant, Sagamu, Ogun State.

Julius Berger to increase shareholding in subsidiary to 90% By NKIRUKA NNOROM

ULIUS Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN) has announced plans to increase its shareholding in Abumet Nigeria Plc, one of its subsidiaries, to 90 percent from the initial 70 percent. Abumet Nigeria Ltd is leading aluminum manufacturer in Nigeria, producing a range of aluminum products including windows, doors, curtain walls, roofing and facades which are used by Julius

Berger in the turnkey construction of buildings throughout the country. According to a notice filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Julius Berger said the increase will take effect today (October 25) “The Company believes that this strategic decision will achieve a sustainable increase in JBN’s efficiency and responsiveness, as well as set the basis for a future of long lasting success, JBN said in the notice. It will be recalled that the Chairman, Avm (Dr) Mohammed Imam, had at the 2012 Annual General Meeting told shareholders that the company focused on

IFC, Diamond Bank to facilitate financing for SMEs in agric sector By PETER EGWUATU

FC, a member of the World Bank Group has said it will provide advisory services to Diamond Bank Plc to help it increase access to finance in Nigeria’s agricultural sector by up to $33 million over two years, strengthening a vital but severely underfinanced sector in Nigeria’s economy and boosting small businesses. The projected lending will be extended to small and medium enterprises across the sector, including livestock farmers, producer groups, distributors, processors, traders and retailers. It will also target almost 2,000 small holder farmers. IFC will provide C M Y K

Diamond Bank with advisory services on strategy, product development and risk management and help develop a financing model to viably lend to small and medium agribusinesses. Alex Otti, Group Managing Director/ CEO, Diamond Bank, said, “Diamond Bank has always demonstrated market leadership in the provision of innovative financial services and solutions to all segments of the society. Through this partnership with IFC, we are better positioned to serve a faster growing share of Nigeria’s newly emerging bankable population in the agricultural sector, and create more growth opportunities for the players as well as the economy.” IFC Financial Markets Manager in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ian Weetman, said, “Increasing growth and

employment in the agricultural sector is a critical objective for IFC in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, IFC’s Advisory Services aim to increase access to finance throughout the agricultural and food supply chain. We are very pleased to be working with our longstanding partner, Diamond Bank, in the pursuit of these objectives.” Agriculture is the main activity of the majority of Nigerians, accounting for 40 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 60 percent of employment, but the sector currently only receives 1.4 percent of total commercial bank lending in the country. With increased financing, the agricultural sector can develop as a business to fulfill its potential as an engine of economic growth and employment.

enhancing its operational structures in 2012 by making investments in its subsidiaries, saying that it was a means of supporting provision of integrated construction solutions in Nigeria. As a result, he said, “PrimeTech Design and Engineering Nigeria and Julius Berger Medical Services, both in their first year of operation, made progress in their structural and recruitment processes. Julius Berger Services Nigeria remained an essential arm in our logistical value chain and also achieved 20 percent third party business representation. “Abumet Nigeria continued to hold a leadership position in the Aluminium manufacturing market. Additionally, in the reporting year, our company acquired a 90 percent shareholding of Julius Berger International (JBI), in Germany. JBI is showing strong performance in their function as a key collaborator for planning, design and engineering as well as logistical support for our business in Nigeria.” He noted that the company’s turnover increased by 17.7 percent in 2012, saying that the achievement was as result of a number of factors, including the handover of large-scale projects such as the Admiralty Alexander LinkBridge in Lagos, the Escravos Gas-toLiquids Plant, as well as the completion of a major segment of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and several projects in Akwa Ibom State. Additionally, a higher turnover in building projects and the award of new contracts, such as the Uyo Ring Road Phase 1, Uyo Stadium, Edo Cement Plant, Bua Sugar Refinery and P&G Baby Care Expansion Facility enhanced 2012’s performance, he said, adding that improvement in the efficient use of resources and streamlining of processes were main factors leading to an impressive 24 percent increase in profitability.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—25

BABALAKIN AND EFCC:

In defence of truth and justice

CONSTITUTION REVIEW:

Who disenfranchised Enugu East zone? BY EJIKEME UDEH

ISTORIANS may be preoccupied with setting the records straight but in the short term it is the politicians who are fixated with historical outcomes. Left to their own designs, politicians would stop at nothing to re-write history, or to manipulate its course to fit into their petty, narrow world view and exaggerated sense of their own importance in every narrative. Blaming their political opponents and enemies alike in the face of situations that call to question their integrity or competence is easily the last refuge of the political scoundrels. Sad to say, the Nigerian politician who can muster the moral fibre to own up responsibility for his actions and inactions, has not yet been born. Being adept at the blame game is the reason why our politicians do not ever accept responsibility; they would rather invent a scapegoat when things go wrong. By contrast, they are the first to take the credit when things seem to go right. The quest to re-write history is what Gilbert Nnaji, the senator representing Enugu East zone embarked upon recently when he instigated a flurry of banal political reports in some national newspapers, purporting to shift responsibility for the apparent failure to hold a public hearing in the zone, earlier this year on the on-going constitutional amendment process being undertaken by the National Assembly. As it turned out, the zone, comprising six local

•Map of Enugu State

country is presently passing through uncertain political times. Despite the very high political stakes, it is unacceptable to say the least that the senator representing the zone, in cahoots with the other three members of the Federal House of Representatives from the zone; Ofor Chukwuegbo (Enugu South/Enugu North), Peace Nnaji (Nkanu West/Nkanu East), and Kingsley Ebenyi (Enugu East/Isi-Uzo) federal constituencies, would sit idly by and watch helplessly as the zone is excluded from the constitution review exercise. So what happened exactly? In a nutshell, according to Senator Nnaji, the public hearing was scheduled to hold at the secretariat of the Nkanu West council, Agbani, and he and his colleagues at the National

Assuming there was a lock-out, why was it impossible for Senator Nnaji to arrange an alternative venue for the public hearing same day or the following day in any of the other five councils?

government areas, namely Enugu North, Enugu East, Enugu South, Nkanu West, Nkanu East and Isi Uzo, was the only one out of the 109 senatorial zones in the country that did not take part in the constitutional amendment process through the zonal public hearings that allowed the electorate to ventilate their views on some of the contentious issues. As can be deduced from the tenor of the work of both chambers of the National Assembly, the amendment of the Constitution is a far-reaching exercise that is expected to shape the future of the nascent democracy and of the country itself. An exercise of this magnitude and national significance ought not to be taken lightly by any section of the country, more so given that the

Assembly sent out invitations to that effect. On the d-day, however, the dignitaries and other invitees were locked out of the venue on the purported orders of the council chairman, Barr Ekene Okenwa, who himself was alleged to be acting on higher orders from Government House Enugu, ostensibly on that of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo. This thesis is anchored on the assumption that the chief of staff may be interested in the Senate seat of Enugu East Senatorial zone come 2015 elections. It is pertinent to observe that Mrs. Nwobodo has since repudiated the lock-out allegation. The Nkanu West Local Government Chairman, in turn, accused Senator Nnaji and his colleagues at the National

Assembly of lack of consultation with both himself and the other five council chairmen that constitute the zone, as well as other relevant stakeholders, such as the members of the state House of A s s e m b l y , commissioners coupled with serving and former political office holders from the zone. It was the abject lack of consultation, in addition to a failure to build a broad-based consensus behind the work of the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee that was responsible for the failure of the public hearing, he surmised. As a civic-minded Nigerian and a card-carrying registered voter from the zone, I feel genuinely aggrieved that my people were totally disenfranchised in the Constitution review process, and rather than accept responsibility for what went wrong, our socalled elected representatives are busy drowning themselves in a familiar political orgy of blame game. Yet, it must be stated that responsibility must lie with leadership.

Puerile excess It is patently scandalous that an elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would find it convenient to peddle the kind of puerile excuses that Senator Gilbert Nnaji has had to inundate his constituents with on why they must come to terms with the fact of their disenfranchisement from the Constitution review exercise. The lock-out story beggars belief indeed. It sounds like a fairy tale and would have made far more sense if it was meant, not for sensible adults, but for the marines instead. At best, it is an embarrassing catalogue of self indictment. How does Mrs. Nwobodo’s alleged interest in running for Senate come 2015 explain the failure to hold the exercise? Is it to foreclose any amendment to the constitution that would make it possible for Senator Nnaji have a constitutional right to a second term? Assuming there was a lockout, why was it impossible for Senator Nnaji to arrange an alternative venue for the public hearing same day or the following day in any of the other five councils? Did he lay any official complaint with the Commissioner of Police?

To be concluded

BY ABIODUN OSOFISAN

the bundle of documents to HAVE watched with all returned with the same considerable irritation, and comment that the charges sometime despair, the travails were outright victimization of of my former boss, Dr. Bolanle a Nigerian citizen. How did Olawale Babalakin. Why am I these set of documents pass writing this piece? I have read through the scrutiny of the a lot about his case and about EFCC and get to Court? Who his person in various authorized this prosecution? newspapers, magazines, soft Someday, these issues will be sell publications, and the revisited Digging into the issues: internet. Most of the articles have not been accurate. While digging into the Knowing him as well as I do, circumstance of the case, I he is not given to self discovered that there was an coincidence advertisement. He will unusual respond and would probably between the termination of discountenance the exercise as the Lagos-Ibadan Concession the ranting of mediocre. on November 19, 2012, and Unfortunately, mediocrity now the filing of the charge on rules in Nigeria, as it has November 21, 2012. Was become the major voice in our Babalakin charged to court to cow him over the brazen and national life. When I first heard that Wale unlawful cancellation of the Babalakin had been charged to Lagos-Ibadan project? If this court for money laundering, I was the case which I have no had the laugh of my life. I knew basis for doubting, then it was that Wale Babalakin is simply the most short-sighted action too proud to launder money. ever taken by any authority. He is one of the most Why would anybody think principled men that I have ever this sort of action will cow an come across in my indefatigable fighter like Wale life. However, I did not allow Babalakin? Even if you my loyalty to influence me. I decided to ask for the bundle of documents including the proof of evidence upon which the charge was brought. On reading them, I moved from alarm to shock •Wale Babalakin and finally outright disdain. I could not succeeded in cowing Wale believe my eyes. I read the Babalakin, what about the documents with the mind of a other stakeholders in the critic and not an admirer of Dr. project? They all have the locusBabalakin. I make bold to say the entire proof of evidence standi to pursue legal cannot sustain the charges remedies on the project. Is it anywhere in the world. There not clear to all Nigerians now is no link between Wale that the project under BiBabalakin and the issues Courtney, Babalakin’s contained therein. There is no Company, would have been better and timelier executed causal connection. than what is happening now? I will not dwell too Assembly of much on this topic, because I speculations know that the souls of The entire charges are an Nigerians who are dying on road and the assembly of speculations the without any factual basis. Yet, inconvenience caused every in the wisdom of some people, user are sufficient issues to this was sufficient to charge vindicate Bi-Courtney and such a man of distinction to Babalakin on the issue. Going Court. Having come to the back to the charges filed conclusion that the entire against Wale Babalakin, apart bundle of documents was a from the suspicious charade and a scandal, I coincidence mentioned decided to do two things above, I discovered that immediately: (1.) Dig deep into under any civilized system the circumstances surrounding this case would never have the filing of the charges. (2.) been prosecuted at all and Seek the opinion of more even if it had commenced, it experienced lawyers than could not have lasted more than a sitting. myself. Opinion of other lawyers: To be continued The eight lawyers that I sent

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—27

Rotary International top honour for Nigerian BY MOMODU KASSIM-MOMODU

LOROGUN Kenneth Gbagi, a Nigerian lawyer, industrialist and former Minister of State for Education has become the first African to be admitted into Rotary Internationals’ exclusive Arch. C. Klumph Society. Other distinguished members of the Society (about 200 in total) come from Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and the USA. Membership of Arch. C. Klumph Society is one of the ways The Rotary Foundation recognize and honour Rotarians and friends for their generous support. The Society is named after Arch. C. Klumph, Rotary International’s sixth president who in 1917 created The Foundation as an endowment fund for Rotary “to do good in the world.” The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programmes. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. The Fund has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 only to more than US$55 million. It is one of the largest and most prestigious international fellowship programs in the world. The Rotary Foundation provides special recognition to Rotarians and friends of Rotary who contribute $250,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation by inducting them into the Arch C. Klumph Society. Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has become the first Nigerian and indeed the first African whose cumulative contributions to Rotary Foundation has exceeded US$250,000:00 (Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars). As a members of the Society, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi will receive a certificate

signed by the President of Rotary International and the Chairman of The Rotary Foundation, and has been invited to an induction ceremony in October 2012 at Rotary International’s World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA. His picture and biography will be installed in the Arch C. Klumph Society interactive gallery. Also, his photograph and statement of support for The Rotary Foundation will be recorded on a touch screen kiosk at Rotary International World Headquarters. The touch screen kiosk is portable and on display at major Rotary events such as the

Kenneth Gbagi International Convention and International Assembly. As a member of Arch C. Klumph Society he will receive invitations to special society events, along with membership pin and crystals that commemorate giving at each level. Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has, therefore, joined the exclusive class of The Rotary Foundation’s top leaders and innovators. He has become a key supporter of The Foundation, whose involvement is vital to its work. The Society members like Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi support The Rotary Foundation for a variety of reasons. With their help, the Foundation is fulfilling

Rotary’s promise of creating a polio-free world. Children and families are living healthier lives through the Foundation’s Humanitarian Grants Program. Educational and cultural exchange programs are helping young people build lasting friendships and mutual

understanding with their peers around the world. Their support enables tomorrow’s leaders to live and study together as Rotary World Peace Fellows and provides them the opportunity to begin building a more peaceful world. •Kassim-Momodu is a Paul Harris Fellow

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Ifes unite to celebrate yet another Oranminyan festival ...Celebrates Oranmiyan festival

LE Ife was agog recently as the entire ancient town led by the Oba Okunade Sijuwade olubuse 11, Ooni of Ife, celebrated yet another Oranminyan festival with a call on Yorubas to form a common front at all time. The three day event which kicked off with a procession round the city and a public lecture on Oranmiyan saw the groove of the deity filled to capacity on the grand finale as people climbed whatever available platforms and building to catch a glimpse of the activities. In his welcome remarks, The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, said traditional rulers and leaders have responsibility to the coming generation and should not allow anything to divide the Yoruba race, “our utterances and disposition to one another must be decent, respectful, promote love and unity and guarantee our common future as an indivisible Yoruba nation.” Delivering the festival lecture, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso called on all Yoruba son and daughters to stop all wars and needless bickering and rivalries capable of derailing meaningful progress.

Oranmiyan as nation builder He, said Oranmiyan, ruled on three thrones, as Alaafin o f Oyo, Osile of Oke-Ona in Egba and the 6thOoni of Ife, leaving lasting legacies for the Yoruba people. Oba Tejuoso described Oranmiyan as nation-builder, bridge-builder of understanding and an excellent leader, who deepened the institution of monarchy in Yoruba land. Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, said “as many of you would readily affirm, this age long festival has conferred on the city of Ile Ife a special status of a global cultural centre.” Speaking on ‘Celebrating Yoruba’s common heritage, forging common front’, he noted that celebrating Oranmiyan should serve as bond of unity and rally point for all Yoruba people, noting that in celebrating Oranmiyan, “we’re identifying with the character of Oranmiyan, who had adept leadership qualities, virtues of compassion, which leaders of today should

A Fertility Dance performance led by veteran dance and drama instructor, Columbus Irisonga, during the flag-off media conference for the state-owned internationally acclaimed cultural tourism brand, the Port Harcourt Carnival (CARNIRIV), dubbed ‘Green World Edition’.

emulate. It was these qualities in Oranmiyan that made Aregbesola to adopt Oranmiyan as his campaign symbol and which enabled him to defeat his strong enemies during his governorship struggles. He also noted that celebrating Oranmiyan would bring enlightenment to young people and tasked all Yoruba people to use the festival to fortify the walls of unity and forge a common tie. Aregbesola harped on the

importance of using festivals in Nigeria to accelerate economic development by developing all tourism sites and actively promoting same so as to attract tourists from all over the world. Aregbesola said Tourist sites like the Oranmiyan staff, Oke Mogun at Ile Ife, Oluminrin water fall at Erin Ijesha, the Osun Osogbo Grove, among others, are continuously undergoing serious modernisation in order to

improve their tourism potentials and capacities to generate employment and wealth for our people”. The state government is determined to ensure that the yearly celebration of the Oranmiyan festival records progressive increase in the number of participants. This development will result in increase in revenue generation, which will in turn significantly improved the standard of living

of our people.” Adding that” if well organised, tourism and culture has a huge capacity for human development, creation of employment, and reduction of poverty. Tourism contributes largely to global economic growth and development.” Aregbesola, also urged the son and daughters of Oduduwa to see the festival of Oranmiyan as a celebration of Unity, Love and hope”.

CARNIRIV 2013: Rivers promises cultural, tourism splendour By JIMOH BABATUNDE

IVERS State Government will be using this year’sPort Harcourt Carnival (CARNIRIV) to key into the 2013 World Tourism Day which had as its theme, “Tourism and Water” meant to increase global awareness on the need to protect aquatic life against human and industrial degradation especially pollution. As a way of amplifying the message, CARNIRIV 2013 will be focusing on environment sustainability under the codename, “Green World Edition” with the theme as “Our Environment, Bedrock for Sustainable Development”. Governor Rotimi Amaechi has promised that the people of the state and tourists will see another dimension of cultural and tourism splendour at this year’s carnival holding in December. Unveiling the plans for CARNIRIV 2013 in Port Harcourt, the DirectorGeneral of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Dr. Sam Dede, disclosed that one of the highpoints of this year’s initiative is the planting of 1,000 trees during the carnival while the objective is to help increase the current global efforts toward preserving the environment from degradation. He explained that the tree planting would involve all the relevant stakeholders as the destruction of the

ecosystem has reached an alarming rate and practical step was required to stem the challenge posed by environmental degradation to the continued existence of life. “If you take a boat ride through our creeks you will see the extent of damage that has been done to our beautiful creeks. As a little boy way back around 1977, I recall that on the sandy banks of the rivers you could see huge reptiles, crocodiles playing in the sun; all those things are gone.

Extent of damage

“We thought that we could use the carnival to mobilise our people to realise the extent of damage that we have done to our environment, and to begin to make amends towards correcting the wrong. So, the theme we chose for CARNIRIV this year is ‘Our Environment, Bedrock for Sustainable Development’. We call it the ‘Green World Edition’ and we are hoping that at the end of the carnival season, even in our merriment and joyous dancing and singing, we will remember to do well for our environment before it gets worse than this. Sam Dede added “incidentally, the World Tourism Organisation’s World Tourism Day on the 27th of September has the theme ‘Tourism and Water’. And we are water people, we have contaminated our water and this is the time to get it right again”, he said. Dede disclosed further that the intent of CARNIRIV was to re-awaken the

consciousness of the people to be more environment-friendly, saying “we need to celebrate the greenness of our land with potential investment opportunities lingering on the horizon, and with the rest of the world singing the now familiar tune of environmental sustainability. The time to join in and utilise attendant opportunities is now. So even the papers that you use helps in a way to depict the environment so we need to begin to get conscious and get involved.” “So, during the carnival season we are going to plant 1,000 trees together - RSTDA, all the 10 bands in the free style parade from the 23 local governments. We are jointly going to plant 1,000 trees to commemorate this edition of CANIRIV”, he declared. Another unique offering of the carnival is the upgrade of the popular local wrestling competition, Egelege, to a stand-alone event following its instant success over the years. And to add spice to this local sport, arrangements are in top gear to bring some celebrity wrestlers to the event. He added that other exciting events include CANIRIV Praise Jamz, which will be the opener of the entire carnival while children would have a feel of the carnival during the Kids’ Carnival.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 —29

Why I’m staging a concert to explain Eko-Benin connection —Jesse King ‘Buga’ Jesse King, popularly known as ‘Buga’, who got his name from his first album, is not the usual run-of-the-mill artiste we find on the scene these days. This Auchi-born Benin boy is brimming with ideas, not to skim profits off his fans, but to bring about an awakening in them, to respect their roots and look to the African values in every aspect of their lives. Hear him:

Let’s meet you? ’m Jesse King, people call me Buga. I,m an artiste from Auchi, Edo State.I was born in Lagos, grew up here in Lagos in a Mission House. My dad is a pastor. I sing contemporary highlife. I’ve been in the industry for a while and so far, God has been faithful. When did you go into music? I went into music professionally in 2006. I used to do Radio Jingles and I’m also a producer. Did you do music in school? No, I studied Economics at the Ondo State University. I started doing music in church and the church actually helped me a lot , before I fully launched myself into the music world. What songs have you done? My first album ‘Buga’ was released in 2007 and lots of people heard it within and outside the country. How are you able to handle being an artiste and a producer? I think it’s actually a talent I have. I also believe that if you’re going to be a successful artiste, you have to be into the studio thing – be a studio rat, work with people and learn from them. I started as a pianist, taking piano lessons before delving fully into the music . I thank God for the talent and wisdom he has given to

I want to sleep in my grave and know that my children still flock around me. As an African, I believe so much in my land and people

me to put things together. Some of my tracks were produced by me and others were done with the help of other producers. You have a musical concert coming up soon, what is it about? The concert titled ‘Eko Benin Connexion’ is all about the cultural tie between the Benin Kingdom and the Eko (Lagos) of today. Sometimes I feel bad that things have derailed from our cultural lines and that’s why I’m coming out with this concert to bring back the memories of where we are actually coming from and if we don’t understand where we are coming from, we won’t even know where we are going. There is the need for us to go back to the roots and get things fixed. Eko-Benin concert is just to show that we are one. The Obanikoros, Igbosheres are originally from Benin; Ido Market is actually from

•Jesse

Benin. The Aworis are the original owners of this land (Lagos). It’s actually scandalous when people refer to Lagos as a ‘ No man’s land’. It’s important we know our beginnings, so we can be more confident and original. It’s a wakeup call for people to go back to their roots and be original. What do you hope to benefit by embarking on this programme? I want to sleep in my grave and know that my children still flock

around me. As an African, I believe so much in my land and people. Nothing can change me to James Brown or Michael Jackson. Why do we neglect what we have and completely embrace those of others? I believe that in 100 years time, civilization is going to come back to Africa. I want to see the younger generation coming back to realize who they are, appreciate it and stand for it. I learnt from someone

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Tale of 3 Nollywood damsels at war

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Jeta Amata’s marriage finally crashes

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Synopsis

Why I’m staging a concert to explain Eko-Benin connection

Do you have sponsors working with you on this programme? Honestly, for now we don’t have sponsors, but we are actually supported by Daviva – they believe in Africa,they gave us the Ankaras. But I believe that with time, people are actually going to tune to the idea and support it. It isn’t really all about the money, it’s about the message – people keying into it. It’s good at least once a week for people to put on Ankara. It’s also good when interacting for you to sometimes use your local language. I pray that with time, people’s minds are going to be open and they’ll try and see how we’ll be able to push this, because I can’t do it alone. What are some of the highlights of the events? There is going to be a display of the Aworis , Ajashes, the people from Benin, those from Badagry, in their various attires with their ‘Ape’,drums and other instruments, showcasing their beautiful culture. There is going to be musical display, I’ll also be performing alongside others. It’s going to be fun and a colourful event. How has the journey been so far? The journey has been so wonderful. If you understand yourself, you understand where you are actually going. You have to work first for the money to come in. We are still working and money is more like a colour to it, it’s more about the message. God has been so faithful, I’m not rich and I’m not poor.

How were you able to get Toyin Oshinaike to work with you on this upcoming event? I got to know him when we were in the university and he was well known as a good director. He’s married to one of my directors, Tope, and we all used to be together at the Ondo State University then. We were all together alongside Funsho Adeolu, the actor and they were all very wonderful people. I thought I needed someone to really stand for me and so I chose him, he’s so good professionally. Wale Adebayo is also going to come in and will be handling it because Toyin Oshinaike will be tied down with a project at that period, but we’ve been

Continues from page 29 recently that some Nigerian children are taking Chinese lessons, where they even do better than in their indigenous ( Nigerian) languages. It’s a serious issue. I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to parents, teachers, children and everyone to try their best to bring back our cultural values.

I love tourism, very soon I’ll be having a place like a jungle, where you can have African continental foods,local dishes and you just go there and have fun

working together so far.

What else are you into besides music? I love tourism, very soon I’ll be having a place like a jungle, where you can have African continental foods,local dishes and you just go there and have fun. There are some things you don’t find around like gari, groundnuts and fish, akara and pap, roasted yam and palm-oil and so on. This will also help promote more of our culture. You are very culturally inclined, why is it so? I think we shouldn’t say no to ourselves, we should learn to accept who we are. My story is Africa, everything about me is Africa. I think I should keep saying yes to myself. I believe so much in culture, it’s very unfortunate what we have today, so many are drifting away. Though some people are actually doing a lot, but we still have to do more. We should have a content to talk about.

Below is the schedule for the week commencing October 25, 2013. The Movie Captain Philips and Confusion Na Wa are releasing on Friday, attached are the art work. Synopsis for Captain Philips. The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Starring : Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman. Synopsis for Confusion Na Wa Confusion Na Wa is a dark comedy about a group of strangers whose fates become intertwined over the course of 24 hours. Emeka is a caring husband who it happens just can’t resist the temptations of frustrated housewife Isabella. Even without his wife’s affair Isabella’s usually cautious husband Bello has enough problems to deal with when he gets arrested by the righteous Babajide after breaking his car window in a rare display of anger. To Babajide the run in with Bello is just another sign that society is on the verge of collapse. Closer to home the signs seem to point towards his son Kola being of an ‘immoral persuasion’. At the heart of the mischief are two opportunist wasters, Charles and Chichi who happen upon Emeka’s phone and, having read through its contents, decide to blackmail him. Little do they realize that their misdemeanours have set in motion a chain of events that could lead to a shattering end. Starring: Ramsey Nouah ,O C Ukeje.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK BATTLE OF THE YEAR R.I.P.D 2 GUNS

ALAN POZA PAIN AND GAIN

Exhibition Schedule from OCT. 11 — OCT. 17, 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Captain Philips : 1:55pm,6:25pm,8:45pm Thanks for Sharing : 2:15pm,8:20pm Confusion Na Wa : 12:20pm,6:20pm Battle of the year : 2:25pm,4:30pm,6:35pm R.i.p.d. : 4:30pm,8:40pm Pain and Gain : 12:05 2 Guns : 11:45am SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Captain Philips : 1:00pm,5:35pm,8:30pm Thanks for Sharing : 4:55pm,9:00pm Confusion Na Wa : 12:25pm,4:40pm Battle of the year : 10:30am,4:50pm,7:00pm R.I.P.D. : 11:05am,3:40pm, Pain & Gain : 12:30pm Keeping My Man : 2;30pm, The Big Wedding : 9:05pm 2 Guns : 2:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Captain Philips : 12:40pm,3:20pm,6:00pm,8:40pm Confusion Na Wa : 11:30am,1:35pm,5:30pm Thanks For Sharing : 1:50pm,6:30pm,8:55pm Battle of the year : 12:20pm,2:30pm,4:40pm,6:50pm,9:05pm R.I.P.D. : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:00pm,7:00pm,9:00pm Pain & Gain : 6:50pm,9:20pm Dark Skies : 3:50pm,8:00pm The Big Wedding : 12:10pm,2:00pm,6:05pm 2 Guns : 11:40am,4:05pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Captain Philips : 12:55pm,3:30pm,6:10pm,8:50pm Confusion Na Wa : 3:05pm,7:00pm Battle of the year : 12:50pm,2:55pm,5:00pm,7:05pm Alan poza : 1:00pm, Keeping My Man : 5:10pm,9:00pm 2 Guns : 9:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Captain Philips : 12:30pm,3:10pm,5:50pm,8:30pm Thanks for Sharing : 12:25pm,2:35pm,8:55pm, Confusion Na Wa : 2:30pm,6:50pm,9:00pmm, Battle of the year : 12:00pm,2:10pm,4:20pm,6:30pm,8:40pm R.I.P.D. : 12:40pm,4:55pm,6:50pm Alan poza : 12:20pm,4:40pm Pain & gain : 2:05pm,6:25pm Keeping My Man : 12:10pm,4:35pm, 2 Guns : 2:35pm,8:45pm,

What challenges have you encountered so far? Everyone has one challenge or the other and the society is not also helping matters. You have to be really determined to get there. Challenges help me, they don’t discourage me. It tells me that I have to keep running. I don’t really look at challenges anymore,one has to just survive it. Challenges are like a push to me.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO

Do you find fulfilment doing what you do? Yes, it’s not really about the money. Once you’re happy doing what you do, you are fulfilled. You might have big cars and still be crying, and you see a man by the roadside eating N150 Rice smiling. So no matter how it is, I’m happy.

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADAN Captain Philips : 12:10pm,2:45pm,5:20pm,8:00pm, Thanks for Sharing : 2:05pm,6:20pm Confusion Na Wa : 10:00am,12:00pm,4:00pm Battle of the year : 11:55am,4:10pm,8;20pm

Confusion Na Wa : 12:30pm,2:40pm,4:50pm, Battle of the year : 12:15pm,2:30pm,4:40pm,6:50pm Alan poza : 12:25pm,4:40pm Keeping My Man : 2:35pm,6:40pm This Is The End : 12:00pm,4:45pm,6:55p Dark Skies : 7:00pm White House Down : 2:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, SURULERE Captain Philips : 1:45pm,6:00pm,8:30pm Thanks for Sharing : 2:15pm,4:25pm,8:35pm Confusion Na Wa : 10:00am,4:15pm, Battle of the year : 10:00am,12:15pm,2:25pm,6:30pm,8:45pm

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,CALABAR Captain Philips : 10:00am,12:30pm,3:00pm,5:30pm,8:00pm Confusion Na Wa : 10:00am,12:05pm,4:00pm Battle of the year : 11:00am, 12:50pm, 1:15pm, 3:30pm, 5:45pm, 6:55pm, 8:15pm, 8:50pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013— 31

Stories by Ayo Onikoyi

Ice Prince to release sophomore album

d o o w y l l o N 3 f o Tale r a w t a damsels

ome of the newest names making waves right now in Nollywood are Angela Okorie, Colette Orji and Queeneth Hilbert. The Trio who seem to have nothing in common except for their talent, drive, beauty and perhaps the hands they have on the knob of the pulse of the movie industry have had their paths crossed more often than not. While no evidence exists whether the three beauties

have had to jostle for a role, there is more than enough evidence to prove the ladies have fought each other for an award. In the ongoing Vanguard’s Sexiest in Nollywood public opinion poll, the trio have been engaged in fisticuffs of sorts to make the last ten in the competition. As at last week, th Angela seems to be leading at 5 position but hotly being chased by Colette Orji at 6th. Queeneth, who has had mixed blessing in th the run is chasing hard at 8 place. As if that is not enough to pitch the ladies’ wits against one another, Chase Awards nominees were unveiled during the week where their names come up

again to battle for the position of the Best New Actress of the Year. The three of them complete seven-man nominees list which include Titi Oludipe, Tayo Sobola, Mary Remmy and Memunat Yinusa. Though Chase hasn’t come up with a list of films which earned the actresses the nomination but a good guess may not be inappropriate. Colette has said she is particularly fond of ‘Demonic Angel’ a movie which is a sequel to ‘Angel’. Other films she thought might have put her in the picture include ‘Tears of Vengeance’ or ‘Illuminati’. For Queeneth, she felt her movie “My Daughter, My Jewel” may be her trump card while Angela fingers no film in particular but the trouble she went through in shooting ‘Widows Cot’, a film that saw her shaving her hair, may just be her calling card.

ighly anticipated sophomore album( “Fire Of Zamani”, from international multi-award winning Chocolate City rapper, Ice Prince is set to be released come Monday October 28th. The album launch is scheduled to hold at an elaborate concert at Eko Hotel & Suites on November 23rd, 2013 and promises to be a spectacular offering from the popular rap star. Fans may have waited a bit longer for this one as the release date was moved from September 7 to October 28 with profuse apologies via Ice Prince’ Twitter handle. The 2013 BET Best African Act Award winner assured Nigerian music fans that this would be worth the wait as there are lots of surprises in this album. The album “Fire of Zamani” features some of the hottest names in the music industry as guest artistes. Sunny Nneji, Sound Sultan, MI, Jesse Jags and Wizkid are among the Nigerians in the album while Chipmunk, Wale and French Montana make up the foreign contingent. Even notable producers like Don Jazzy, Chopstix, Sammy Gyang, Sarz, E Kelly, Jay Sleek and MI also produced various tracks on the album.

Jeta Amata’s marriage finally crashes

Jeta Amata and Mbong Amata

he long stand-off between Nollywood film-maker, Jeta Amata and his actress wife, Mbong Amata has finally come to the end of its limit as the couple has finally called it quits, putting an end to almost a decade of marriage. According to reports, the marriage began to show a sign of a crack last year after the couple could not come to terms with each other ’s career. It is said that Mbong felt being hard done by his hubby who had restricted her to featuring in only his productions while the wife wanted more. Further investigations

have revealed that the marriage has crashed, few months after another Amata, Ruke called it quits with his wife over allegations of infidelity. Of course, that does not put into the picture, Fred, another Amata who divorced wife, Agatha, a couple of years back. While Mbong lived separately from her estranged hubby, Jeta in Los Angeles, the couple seemed able to keep the cracks in their marriage under wraps for awhile until they could no longer do so. Jeta and Mbong have a five-year-old daughter together.

Ice Prince

32— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

C M Y K

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 , 2013 —37 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Nokia in a 'swag'release of 6 new devices and the 503 have 3-inch screens and 5megapixel cameras with LED flash. The 503 is a little bit more classy, s p o t t i n g Gorilla Glass 2 and 3G c o n n e c t i v i t y. Although all three have WLAN,

spot LTE speed capacity of up to 150/50 megabytes per second. The Lumia 1520 for instance displays 6-inch full HD 1080p LCD , ClearBlack, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight readability, Super sensitive touch for glove and nail usage, Gorilla Glass 2. Built with a 2.2GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, the device has PureView 20-megapixel auto focus ZEISS optics with optical I mage stabilization (OIS), 2x lossless zoom, oversampling technology, dual LED flash, 1080p @ 30 fps full HD video with optical image

•Elop presenting Lumia-1520

New Asha ranges Elop, who introduced the devices in a fashionable way, began with the lowest range, the Asha 500,502 and 503 ranges which are additions to the Asha family. The selling point of the Asha devices, according to him is their social initiatives,

espite insisting it was going ahead, to sell its mobile device unit to Microsoft, the swag with which Stephen Elop, Nokia's Executive Vice president, devices and services, Tuesday, mounted the stage at St Regis Hotel Abu Dhabi, venue of this year's Nokia world event,to introduce six new devices, almost betrayed an impression that the device maker may change its mind. More to that feeling was his opening introduction: "This is exciting times for Nokia, which has been innovating and will never seize to innovate. The quality and value that Nokia products deliver continues to grow as we partner with developers to introduce app experiences that are unique to Lumia and Windows Phones. And clearly, with Lumia and Asha smartphones enjoying quarter-on-quarter volume growth in Q3 2013, that quality and value is resonating with consumers around the world," However, his colleague, Chris Weber, Executive VP Global sales and marketing, was to quickly discountenance that feeling when he exclusively told GlamTech that " we are still going ahead. As a matter of fact, we are very excited about the deal"

•No kia -As ha500 -50 2-5 03 d evic es

... Clearly, with Lumia and Asha smartphones enjoying quarter-on-quarter volume growth in Q3 2013, that quality and value is resonating with consumers around the world,"

including the ability to take a photo with a single swipe, after which you can share it instantly to your social network of choice with a single tap. Elop said that the new devices in terms of the easy camera operation can be summed up as "one touch to capture, one touch to share". Again, users of the new Asha devices, will have the opportunity to connect with the over 350 million active Whatsapp users around the globe. And if the App developers are correct in their claims of registering 250,000 users everyday through Nokia handsets, then Asha users would have a field day. Nokia also advanced the Fastlane feature of Asha, in the new models, making it customizable to users. The feature, a list-like view of recent activity, can now give the user history of past, present and past activities. The 500 has a 2.8-inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera, while both the 502

quad-band EDGE and boasts of one month of battery standby time. They're also all available with dual SIM capabilities. But the 500 and the 503 also come in a single SIM variant. The 500, 502 and 503 would cost potential users $69, $89 and $99 respectively. Elop said these devices would be available for people in Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific,Europe and Latin America. Lumia 1520, 1320 smartphone Nokia also added to its fleet of Lumia smartphones, bringing in the 1520 and 1320 models. The phones feature windows phone 8 operating system, with updates and GSM/ EDGE/ WCDMA variations in MHz. They also

stabilization, as primary camera while Secondary Camera is HD 1.2-megapixel wide angle The battery power is integrated with built-in wireless charging. It also has rich Recording with four microphones; Wideband Voice and multi-microphone noise reduction with four microphones; Dolby Headphone, Graphic equalizer, Audio leveling and FM radio The six inch smartphones Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 will be available for $749 before taxes and subsidies and $339 respectively. The former is expected to start shipping this quarter in Hong

•Lumia 2520 tablet

Kong, Singapore, U.S., China, U.K., France, Germany, Finland and other European markets, with other markets to follow while the latter will be available in Q1 2014 in China and Vietnam, followed by other Asian markets, India and Europe. Now enter the latest tablet makers The device comes in a range of matte and glossy colors, and offers about what you might expect from a tablet in the Lumia range. The most prominent feature here is easily the cameras. Nokia's tablet runs on a 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU and features built-in LTE connectivity, 2 GB RAM and 32 GB expandable storage. The display clocks in at a full 1920 x 1080 with 650 nit brightness and “almost” 180degree viewing angles. The new tab however, features some fairly capable optics, with a 6.7-megapixel shooter on the back, an F1.9 aperture and Zeiss optics. There's also a 2-megapixel offering on the tablet's front face. The device comes with an optional wrap-around cover that features a keyboard and trackpad like Microsoft's Surface. But Nokia calls its own, Power Keyboard. The peripheral of the power key board provides users with two USB ports and an additional five hours of battery life. The tablet ships with Windows RT 8.1, augmented with some Nokia-exclusive software. This includes the Storyteller app, which automatically pulls photos from numerous sources including Facebook, Picasa, SkyDrive and Flicker, creating a single image timeline. Also included are Nokia Music, HERE Maps and the Video Director editing app. The Lumia 2520 is scheduled for release this quarter with a recommended price of US$499. But the talk around town after the launch,was what Nokia and Microsoft were playing at, launching on the same day, though at different locations, Nokia Lumia 2520 and Microsoft Surface tablets - Devices that share almost same features and outlook, when both claimed to be neck deep in a deal that would see Microsoft swallow the Nokia unit that produced the 2520. Would Microsoft be pushing two tablets of almost same features and outlook at the same time, when the deal is done? Time will tell!

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—39

Imo moves against loitering by school children

WERRI—GOVER NOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has directed sole administrators of the 27 local government areas of the state to set up a task force to check loitering by school children. The directive is contained in a statement issued by the governor ’s media aide, Mr. William Unadike in Owerri, yesterday. The statement quoted the governor as saying that each task force should monitor the activities of school children who hawk or loiter during school hours in their areas. Okorocha added that the state government had made education at all levels free and compulsory because of its desire to eradicate illiteracy. He reiterated the administration’s desire to empower every youth in the state through the provision of quality education.

Confab: Cleric seeks support for Jonathan

AGOS—A POLITI CIAN and General Overseer of Light of God Ministries, Prophet Joyce Osula, has urged Nigerians to rally round the President to embrace the national dialogue as a means of solving our lingering socio-political problems. Osula, in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan meant well for the country by proposing the national conference which had eluded the country since political crises that trailed the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections. He noted that many Nigerians have lost their lives while bloodbath has continued unabated since the beginning of the imbroglio, stressing that the national conference will afford delegates from all ethnic groups in the country the opportunity to bare their minds on grievances and also fashion out a political system that will suit the country.

Anambra: APC raises alarm over alleged plot to rig election BY ENYIM ENYIM NITSHA—THE All Pro gressive Congress, APC in Anambra State, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plot by a political party in the state in connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to disenfranchise voters in areas where such parties have strong voting strength. The Director-General of the Chris Ngige campaign Organization, Chief George Moghalu made this known while addressing newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday. He said the party had ‘’uncovered a grand plan by a government funded party to frustrate APC by making sure that electoral materials were not delivered on time at designated polling units during the November 16 governorship election.’’ Besides, Moghalu said there was also a plot to ensure that election did not hold in their electoral strong-holds by employing thugs to chase voters away from polling units. ”There is also the issue of the destruction of our bill boards and posters. But the fact remains that nobody has the monopoly of violence. Nobody should take us for granted because we have the capacity to resist any form of intimidation and harassment. ’’This election is not about Senator Chris Ngige as a person but

NASS committed to high standards in food technology —Emeka Ihedioha BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

BUJA—THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has said that the National Assembly was committed to ensuring effective regulation and enforcement of high professional standards within the food processing and agricultural sectors of the economy. Ihedioha stated this, yesterday, in Abuja, at the opening of the 37th annual international conference and annual general meeting, AGM, of Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, NIFST. He said that Nigeria has the potentials to feed its citizens, as the inability of any nation to feed its citizen is at danger of social vices. His words: “A nation that cannot feed its populace is vulnerable to social crisis, insecurity and external manipulations. This is why the National Assembly is firmly in support of the efforts to move the country away from a mono-cultural economy and accord food and agricultural sector a renewed attention in the scheme of things.”

about Anambra State; returning our state to the part of greatness by salvaging it. ’’We have come into this race with a known brand that has been tested

and is trusted by the Anambra people. Therefore we see ourselves as those everybody is struggling to beat in the contest. So, the APC is the party to beat in the November 16, governorship election.

”Again, we want to advise that anybody or group that has decided to frustrate us in this election should cave in because we will not fold our hands and watch them,” he said.

CAMPAIGN: From left: Enugu State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Vita Abba, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, PDP Chairmanship candidate of Nkanu West L.G.A. Mr. Afam Okereke and the state secretary of the party, Mr. Steve Oruruo, during the governor’s election campaign tour to the council area.

Chime flags off entrepreneurship sensitisation propgramme for schools

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime has flagged off an Entrepreneurship Sensitization Program for post-primary schools in Enugu State. According to the South East Zonal Coordinator of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN, Mr. Victor Ugwu, the programme tagged: Catch Them Young – Through Entrepreneurship Education-CTYTEE, is an initiative of the SMEDAN in partnership with the Enugu State Ministry of Education. Chime was represented on the occasion by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chris Okoro. He commended SMEDAN for initiating the programme, noting that it came at a most auspicious time when the country was grappling with the challenges of huge youth unemployment and other social vices. Chime also asked the Nigerian youth to urgently realize the need for self employment, adding that days of paid white collar jobs were over, except for those who are ready to work for themselves, as government has put in place various incentives to encourage such individuals. Earlier, Ugwu who repre-

sented the Director General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Masari, noted that the agency came up with the programme as a way of addressing the waning interest among the youths in self employment. According to him, over 80 percent of Nigerian youths were either unemployed, un-

deremployed or unemployable. About 30 secondary schools are expected to benefit from the entrepreneurship sensitization programme which would be replicated in the remaining four states within the south east geopolitical zone.

9 Northern states to get 420MW of solar energy

BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment is set to provide more than 420 megawatts of renewable energy for nine states in the northern part of the country, Secretary, National Energy Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Njiddah, has said. Njiddah stated this on Monday in Abuja during a stakeholders meeting on the Nigerian-German Energy Partnership-Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects, REEPS. The secretary said the project would be implemented under the Nigerian-German Energy Partnership-Renewable Energy scheme. The Federal Government had in 2008 signed an agreement with Germany to provide more than 20 million euros to increase energy efficiency by about 6500MW through a mix of

power generation sources. Under the project German Government is to provide 500 megawatts of solar energy to be spread across the northern states of the country within five years. He said the project was expected to take off in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Kano Nasarawa and Sokoto states as pilot scheme before the end of this year. He said each of the states had indicated interest in getting 30 megawatts solar plant with the exception of Kano and Nasarawa that wanted three or four plants in different parts of their states. Njiddah, who said each plant would cost between 50 and 60 million dollars, noted that that the project was borne out of the desire to tap the abundant solar energy in the northern part of the country.

40 — VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 HE divine call to visit the Kaaba al-muazzama is in fuilfilment of the fifth pillar of Islam. A Muslim is expected to fulfil the call once in a lifetime especially when the means and wherewithal are available, saying the slogan:”labayka Lahuma labayk,” which means “I am here O’ Allah to obey your call.” Some had been rearing to go but without the opportunity, some had begged for the grace but Allah decreed otherwise, while He gives ample opportunities and multiple grace to others. For all those who had just returned from life changes from good to the Holy pilgrimage, they better and he becomes diligent should show gratitude to in fulfilling Allah’s Allah. This is because it is a commandments golden opportunity to have His love and inclination one’s sins forgiven, to be towards the Hereafter refined and become a new increases and love for the being. worldly pleasures decline. One thing that should be Pleasure uppermost in his mind is the of Allah readiness to shun all evil deeds, he should remember They are fortunate in the that Allah has obliterated his sense that they are divinely sins and he should not blessed going by the words of immerse himself in sin so as prophet Muhammad (s.a.w): not to void his good works. He “Whoever performs Hajj for should try his best to fulfil the the Pleasure of Allah and obligations laid down by Allah therein utters no word of evil, and avoid all forbidden things nor commits any evil deed, by Him. He has to be shall return from it (free from conscious of Allah at all times, sin) as the day on which his observe his prayers (salat) as mother gave birth to him.” — and when due, pay zakah/ Bukhari, wa Muslim. Another charity, fast when it is required one which always strikes me and show kindness to people. each year I miss the And when ye have completed opportunity is that: “Verily, your devotions, then there shall be no reward for a remember Allah as ye Mabroor Hajj except remember your fathers or with Jannah.” —Bukhari, Muslim. a more lively remembrance May Allah make us (Quran 2: 200) candidates of Janah. Also consider what Allah Hajj is considered a blessing says again in Quran 90: 200, and honor, while the Al-haj Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and becomes a role model and kindness, and giving to epitome of good deeds. His kinsfolk, and forbiddeth

Lessons for the Hujjaj lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed. Fulfill the covenant of Allah when ye have

steadfast and guard this great deed against things that could nullify it. Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees

Hajj is considered a blessing and honor, while the Al-haj becomes a role model and epitome of good deeds. His life changes from good to better and he becomes diligent in fulfilling Allah’s commandments

covenanted, and break not your oaths after the asseveration of them, and after ye have made Allah surety over you. Lo! Allah knoweth what ye do. (AnNahl: 90-91) Importantly, you should be

and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus Does Allah Make clear to you [His]

verses that you might give thought. Quran 2:266 This verse speaks about those who did good deeds and then regressed replacing good deeds with evil ones. There was also an hadith which draws a picture of a rich man who does good acts out of obedience of Allah but he was not steadfast and the devil got upon him and he committed sins till all his good deeds were lost. We seek refuge with Allah The Exalted from this. You can't afford to let the extra-ordinary acts of worships in Kaaba; Arafat among others to be wished away by evil acts; you just have to be determined to make your Hajj a turning point in your life. I hope those who have gone to Hajj learnt good lessons from this journey, apply all these in their daily lives and be charitable towards other Muslims. We beseech Allah with all the name He named Himself and His beautiful attributes to accept your Hajj, reward you for your efforts and make it easy for those of us who are anxious to go. May Allah gives us the steadfastness and uprightness to gain al-Janah. Amin

The legacy of Prophet Ibrahim BY HARUN RAZAQ

e thank almighty Al lah for sparing our lives to witness the great acts of worship in Islam such as Hajj, Umrah, Day of Arafah (for those on Hajj 2013), Edul-Adha, AlUdhiyyah, Ayyamut Tashriq, etc. It is very important to understand the fact that the aforementioned acts of Ibadah and many others emanated from Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) and his family. Allah distinguished Ibrahim first in the Qur’an with the title of Khalilu llah (intimate friend of Allah). On this Allah says:“….And Allah did take Ibrahim as an intimate friend (Q 4:125) Again, Allah addressed him as Ummah, Obedient, Hanif, in the following verse of the Qur’an: Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities); or a nation obedient to Allah, Hanifa (i.e. to worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-mushirikin (Polytheists). Thirdly, there is a special place in Ka’abah called

“Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Ibrahim) in which the Hujaj are encouraged to perform Mafilah. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is regarded as the father of the religion with revealed books more importantly Islam. A surah in Qur’an (i.e. Suratul Ibrahim) Qur’an Chapter 14 was named after Ibrahim. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) named one of his sons after Nabi Ibrahim (AS) etc. But, most of us do not really understand what Ibrahim (AS) went through before he became prominent in the sight of Allah to the extent Allah commands believers to emulate Ibrahim. Allah said … Indeed, there has been an excellent example for you in Prophet Ibrahim… It is on record that Allah tested him with regard to his faith; faced persecution from mushrikeen; he was asked to discard his family (wife and son) in a barren land (Makkah); he did not gave birth to a child untill his old age; he was asked to slaughter his only son among other trials among other trials.

Chief Imam, Mubaraka Cenral Mosque, Sheik Sakariyau Adigun,(left) praying for Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and his Executive members on the Re-classification of Schools in the State, after a special Jumat Service, held at Mubaraka Central Mosque, Sabo Area, Osogbo, Osun State recently

•Ogun State Pilgrims shortly before they left Makkah during the 2013 Hajj.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013— 41

20 13 Hajj ends 2013 ‘Hajj with bad behaviour’

HE poor behavior of some Nigerian pilgrims was reported to Facing the Kaaba both in Makkah and Madinah as some of the pilgrims return from the holy land. According to a pilgrim, many used their precious time shopping while some male and female pilgrims were seen engaging in close conversation. Many according to him, disregarded the rules and engaged in one form of prohibition or the other. “It was quite embarrassing especially when you noticed these people speak your language. While some were seen holding hands and engaing in intimate discussion at odd hours, some will wait behind at their camps with the alibi that they are ill but without seeing the doctors.” “Some also disregard warning and advice, by treating some of the rites with levity; some will not join the team but prefered to stay at home; while some are busy shopping and lacing making gold-teeth. They dont have regard for warnings and advice by leaders,” he stated. All the same, Hajj Mabroor!

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal declares 2013 Hajj huge success

Myths about Muslim women P unfortunately, comes from the un-Islamic practices of some Muslim rulers who would collect women as concubines and cordon off whole areas of their palaces as pleasure gardens. These are what the Europeans and now the so-

ERHAPS no other issue has influenced people’s imagination more so than the status of women in Islam. In the middle ages, when Europeans were engaged in warfare with Muslims in Palestine, the focus was on painting a picture of Muslims as minions of the devil. But with the powerful Ottoman empire holding sway over much of southeastern Europe from the fifteenth century until 1918, many Westerners began changing their views and instead focused on the exotic excesses of Ottoman court life. Europeans began to view the typical Muslim family as a licentious man lording over a harem of beautiful, nubile women. Many French, Italian, and British painters created fanciful images that fueled this notion and gave rise to the myth of the harem. The word harem itself does not mean in any way a pleasure room full of compliant women. It literally means forbidden space and is the term Muslims used for that area of the house where male visitors were not allowed to go. In the same way that it is considered bad etiquette to walk into the bedroom of another person’s house while you are a guest for dinner, Islam also has an etiquette regarding private areas of the home. The harem of any house was the area where women could be assured of privacy, where they could lay aside their head scarves and relax without feeling the pressure of men around. The bawdy mythology,

zealots. This stereotype has taken off in recent years due to three main factors; the issue of arranged marriage; the belief most people hold about Muslim women, purdah etc and Cultural oddities in some Muslim lands. So, the way to help Muslim

The harem of any house was the area where women could be assured of privacy, where they could lay aside their head scarves and relax without feeling the pressure of men around

HE once-in-a-lifetime journey of faith, endurance and determination for over 2 million Muslims from nearly 200 countries came to a successful end last week with Prince Khaled Al-Faisal describing the event as a huge and overewhelming success. Prince Faisal who is the governor of Makkah said every body worked as a team to ensure the success of the event. “All government institutions, security forces, volunteers, pilgrim establishments and men on the ground worked as one team to ensure the success of this year’s Haj,” he said. “You can call this a turning point,” he said, and praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman and Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif. “All the rituals were carried out in a calm atmosphere and free of any political demonstrations, proving that Islam is a religion of peace, civilization and progress,” he said. Many Nigerian pilgrims have returned to the country while a few others are still being expected.

Quotes

You shall observe the complete rites of Hajj and`Umrah for GOD. If you are prevented, you shall send an offering, and do not resume cutting your hair until your offering has reached its destination. If you are ill, or suffering a head injury (and you must cut your hair), you shall expiate by fasting, or giving to charity, or some other form of worship. During the normal Hajj, if you break the state of Ihraam (sanctity) between `Umrah and Hajj, you shall expiate by offering an animal sacrifice. If you cannot afford it, you shall fast three days during Hajj and seven when you return home - this completes ten - provided you do not live at the Sacred Masjid. You shall observe GOD, and know that GOD is strict in enforcing retribution. (2:196)

women in both the Eastern called corporate class without and the Western worlds, is to knowledge of Islam have taken apply the principles of Islam as representative of the in any given society. normal state of Muslim women. Islam does not foster or condone this type of situation, and except for a few high-profile cases, this practice has been virtually unknown in the Muslim world. How are Muslim women viewed today? Surprisingly, the myth of the harem is no longer in vogue a m o n g corporate Muslims. Instead, it has been replaced by an equally damaging myth, that of the Muslim woman as a victim of f a n a t i c •After arriving in Makkah from Mina on Thursday, pilgrims circumnabulate the Kaaba marking the end religious of Hajj 2013.

42—Vanguard, FRID AY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 FRIDA

• WALK FOR LIFE: Minister for Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu (centre) during the 5-kilometre walk organised by the Institute Of Directors, IOD, as part of efforts to promote regular exercise as a healthy lifestlye routine among busy executives. Flanking the Minister are Dr. Ebun Sonaiya, Chairman Health Committee, IOD (2nd left); Dr. Anthony Udofia Usoro, Director, NCDs/Board member, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State (left); Chief Ajibola Ogunsola (2nd right) and Dr. Genevieve Ndukwu, Special Assistant to the Minister on Disease Prevention, Surveillance & Control. Photo: Sola Ogundipe.

How syndicate lures patients to purchase kidneys illegally BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

SYNDICATE that specialises in organising the illegal sale and purchase of donor kidneys in India to patients of end-stage kidney diseases and end-stage renal failure, is currently operating in Nigeria. The sale and purchase of human kidneys is being carried out in violation of the Indian Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994. The syndicate which is made up of medical doctors and other hospital personnel, takes advantage of the high demand for donor kidneys and the relatively low acceptance of voluntary organ donation in developing countries, particularly Nigeria, to continue the illegal practice of commercial kidney exchange. The mode of operation of the syndicate, Good Health Weekly, gathered, begins with touts who scout for and recruit commercial kidney “donors” in India in readiness for potential recipients in Nigeria. After being certified fit enough to give a kidney, these “donors” who are actually indigent persons, are paid an agreed sum to pose as a relative of a kidney recipient. Another set of touts operates in Nigeria, scouting for patients of end-stage kidney disease that are in desperate need of donor

kidneys. Advertisement “What they do is advertise online as consultants to kidney transplant hospitals in Mumbai, New Delhi and other big Indian cities,” noted a 45-year-old woman diagnosed witth end stage kidney disease in May this year. “When I was diagnosed, I had two immediate worries. Apart from the high cost of the surgery, the follow-up tests and medications estimated at about N4 million, I had no idea how or where to get a compatible donor kidney,” said the woman who had been undergoing series of haemodialysis before her kidneys failed completely. Eventually, her doctors prescribed a kidney transplant as solution to the endless dialysis sessions. But while there was at least a chance she could raise a substantial part of the required sum, her chances of getting a compatible kidney were remote as no member of her immediate and/or extended family was willing to donate voluntarily. Experience Relating her experience, the patient recalled how in her search for the elusive donor kidney, she was introduced to someone who linked her with an agency that arranges medical trips to India for various organ-replacement/ repair surgeries such as for renal, cardiac, oncological problems.

• Dr Vijaya Rajakumani “They made all the arrangements and connected me with the hospital in India, and even assisted in hotel reservations, processing of visas and other travel papers. When I indicated that I had no donor kidney, they told me I could purchase one in India for N1.5 million. “All payments had to be in advance. The surgery was to be carried out one week after my arrival in the hospital in Bangalore.” It was like a dream come true until a few days to her departure when her neigbour’s daughter, who had lived in India, was home on a visit and during

conversation, there was a mention of the intended trip. It was the visitor who first raised pointed out the existence of an illegal kidney black market which caters to the kidney buyers from around the world. According to her, it was illegal to buy or sell kidneys in India, with a warning that even if the p a t i e n t succeeded in leaving Nigeria without a donor accompanying me, she might likely have problems with the Indian immigration who would suspect she was in the country to buy a kidney, in violationof the law. Reaction: In a reaction to the development, Dr. Vijaya Rajakumania, Senior Consultant Surgeon, Kidney Transplantation, Vascular Access and Laparoscopic Surgery, Apollo Transplant Institute, New Delhi, India, acknowleged that shopping for kidneys in India used to be a common trade. “Donating a kidney isn't particularly risky to health, and combined with the biting poverty

and absence of legislation, the poor could afford to sell off a kidney.” Rajakumania, who transplants an average of 30 - 40 kidneys every month, observed that once upon a time, when commercial kidney trade was legal, so many persons sold off one of their kidneys to make money. “But it later got to a stage when there were large numbers of people with one kidney around the country and government was compelled to outlaw the practice. Today, there are some other countries where you can buy kidneys from the shelf, but not from India.” Stages Rajakumania observed that the kidney goes through five stages before it ends up in the end stage disease. “When it reaches this stage, the patient may require either a dialysis or transplant. So depending on the age of the patient, and if there is a donor available, they can now become candidates for a transplant.

Candidates for transplant “In the pediatric group, it is either that they are born with certain abnormalities like hyperplastic kidneys where the kidneys are not properly formed, or ballistics kidney disease, and a birth abnormality. These are things which could have been corrected and prevented after birth, but if they are not picked up, we then have persons at 10 12 years of age with renal failure. Patients from Nigeria, Rajakumania noted, are usually very sick and on wheelchairs when they arrive. “So what we do first is to stabilise them on haemodialysis. With good quality haemodialysis, they start improving. We dialyse them, make them fit to go through a transplant, they can get their family donor, we evaluate them and then we proceed with the transplant. On the average, it costs $12,000 - $14,000 (N1.92 millon - N2.24 million). Precaution “I will tell everybody that at the time they reach 20 years of age, they should have an annual health check. Women during pregnancies go through health checks and at least that is the reason why renal failures are less prominent in women. “Also, four to five kilometers a day of walking and dieting is important. Take note that tress contributes to health failure but exercise is the best de-stressor because there are a lot of endorphins which get released and improve the mood. Endorphins released take care of stress. “You can do whatever suits you such as playing music, dancing, playing instruments, Rajakumani remarked.”

Vanguard Vanguard,,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 —

YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation. SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health. SAGITTARIUS: Minor financial success you record today can lead to something bigger and good in the near future; as good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury, merry, making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers. CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles. AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument. Been your lucky day you are expected to take good advantage today.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY By Richard Eromosele

OR those that know me intimately well, they can identify me with my principles of “anything is possible”. Yes! there is nothing impossible. Even

Do it an ay anyy w wa when everybody around me believes otherwise, I do not allow it to weigh me down. Look around you and tell me which notable human achievement has ever

seemed possible in the eyes of cynics? Did the whole Nigerians not say Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t win the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

All you need is to believe in yourself. Have faith in God. Get started. Get along. Anyway, anyhow keep on going and the Almighty God will perfect your effort. Do it anyway, today!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money. ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others. TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena. GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously. CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this. LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my Horoscope? Dear Joshua, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is. Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Remi, Ogun. Dear Remi, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality. YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each. Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary. Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics. One moment, you can be very emotional, exhibiting temper with stinging tongue but a few hour later you are amiable, easy going, friendly and compassionate. You are the adaptable type who will see changes as sources of good opportunities. LEADERSHIP quality is one of your greatest gifts from God. placement of your natal sun (basic-selfhood) and moon (your emotional being) in Virgo and Pisces respectively mean that characteristics of both Virgo and Pisces are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

44—Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Foundation makes case for widows

Pirates kill 2 soldiers in Rivers, one missing

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA ENAGOA— SUSPECTED pirates have reportedly killed two soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, in an ambush along Ikuru community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, while another soldier was said to be missing. A boat driver and three staff of the Z-Cube Construction Company were also wounded in the ambush, which occurred Tuesday. According to security sources, the soldiers were on escort duty for a three-man team of Z-Cube Construction Company officials. They were said to be on their way to the site of the project awarded the firm by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, when they ran into the ambush. The JTF media coordinator, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said: “At about 1p.m. on Tuesday, three of our soldiers fell into an ambush of sea robbers, while on escort duty of three civilian staff of Z-Cube Construction Company, moving from end of New Road to Ikuru town in Adoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. “The company staff were on their way to NDDC road con-

HE most beautiful girl in the Niger Delta region otherwise known as face of the Niger Delta Queen, Miss Gwendolyn Okutele, has appealed to Federal Government to consider a proposal that will ameliorate the suffering of widows across the nation. Miss Okutele, who also advised women to stand for what is right and just even in the face of intimidation, spoke at the memorial organised by Florence Michael Foundation, FLOMIKE, to commemorate the first year anniversary of late Captain Michael Okorodudu, a pilot and philanthropist. The Coordinator FLOMIKE, and widow of the late pilot, Mrs. Florence Okorodudu, has said that she keyed into the vision of her husband because of his integrity, honesty, sacrifice, love and enterprise.

Anniversary

AITH Mission Cheru bim & Seraphim Church Headquarters will celebrate this year’s harvest and thanksgiving anniversary service, themed God is For Us, on November 10 at its premises on Faith Mission Close Satellite Town, Lagos. Her Eminence, Prophetess Mariam Adeleye, Founder/President of the churh worldwide, said Lady Superintendent Sheye Sholoye, Snr. Superintendent Apostle R. S. Aransiola, Lady Elder Helen Edoja, Evangelist Sola Adeyemi, Mr. M. Ayo Sobowale and representatives of three state governors will grace the event.

struction site in the area. Our troops fought gallantly and

HE newly sworn in chair man of Ugborhen Community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Sunday Jemijaye, has debunked insinuations that the new executives led by him committed illegality during the swearing-in ceremony. Jemijaye said the InspectorGeneral of Police ordered Delta State Commissioner of Police to enforce court judgments, which made the community members

HE Cross Rivers State gov ernment, Wednesday in Tinapa Business Resort Calabar, said it would promote 2013 national software competition with N7.5 million, even as the team from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, won the 2013 Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, National Software Innovation competition organised for technology students in Nigerian universities and polytechnics. However, 70 percent of the fund, it was learnt, will go to the winners, while the remaining 30 percent will be kept as seed fund for mentoring and innovation. Accordingly, N2 million will go to the first prize winners, N1.5 million to the second winners, while N1 million will go to the third place winners. The award was for the overall best and most promising solution submitted. The winners, after showcasing their solutions before impartial judges, were determined based on the quality of solution presented, its rel-

to open the town hall and swear in the executive council. He urged Seplat Oil Company and the general public to disregard the falsehood and promised to preside over the affairs of the community with the fear of God. Mr. Jemijaye commended the police, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies for maintaining peace and order in the community.

evance to the society, especially in Nigeria and capacity to solve local problems, extent of work and creativity demonstrated in the solution. Of the 24 teams that competed in the first round, 10 were short-listed in the second round and three teams emerged 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the final round of the competition. Olaoluwa Aboluwarin, Oluwadara Oladapo and Mofesola Banjo emerged as the first prize winner with Enchanter as the project name in the 2013 ISPON software competition grand price. The three students were selected after four days of creative work in a keenly contested software competition involving about 70 students from 21 schools from Nigerian tertiary

institutions at the Nigerian Knowledge City, Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State. Team 1 from Covenant University, Otta, with Anti-cultism social education media won the second price with Ativie Raymond, Orogo Alanunioluwa as team members. Team Efficacy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, came third with team members including Moyin Adeyemi, Adegoke Obasa and Adeyemi Olaoye. Twenty-four teams in different categories, including mobile app, web app, desktop app, and mobile game had competed in national software competition and conference sponsored by Main One, Nigerian Communications Commission, NEXIM Bank, NITDA among others.

Nigeria to host Int'l Chiefs of Police conference BY EMMA NNADOZIE, Crime Editor, with agency report

NDICATIONS emerged, yesterday, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, that Nigerian may become the first African country to host chiefs of Police across the globe in 2015. Sources at this year’s International Chiefs of Police Conference holding at Philadelphia hinted that with the laudable credentials Nigeria police was bringing to the world policing stage, it might win the heart of the board of the largest police body and become the first African country to host the

conference. According to the source, “Nigeria Police has made impressive mark in the United Nations Peace Operations and other areas. “We are looking at the possibility of hosting the 2015 IACP conference in Africa and Nigeria would be the first choice.” Yesterday ’s session of the conference was attended by top police chiefs across the world, including the AttorneyGeneral of United States Of America, USA, Mr. Eric Holder, who commended the police body for uniting policemen from all over the globe.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

sacrifice to ensure the safety of the civilian staff.”

Imoke boosts software competition with N7.5m, as FUTA wins 2013 cup

‘Our community EXCO is legal'

stood by the creed of their profession by paying the supreme

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Nigeria in UN Security Council

IGERIA should first take back its leadership position in Africa. If you are not solid in your continent, why talk about global leadership? Our concern should be our democracy and unity. Anything short of that is putting the cart before the horse. — Miss Maggie John, Student.

IGERIA really has what it takes to be part of the UN Security Council. At least, this might help the fight against terrorism. But I still think there is cheating. Why should some country have permanent seat in the UN Security Council? — Mr. Fashola Hassan, NYSC Member.

HE council's mem bership is not for a country whose leaders are the only people that eat three meals daily; where university students have been home for three months and citizens cannot enjoy 12-hour uninterrupted power supply.— Mr. Olurin Olaleye, Businessman.

HIS is the end of those who do not mean well for Nigeria. I am talking to those who are behind this Boko Haram insurgence. They will never think of the better future this Goodluck country brings. GEJ carry go. It is your time to rule. — Mr. Francis Okhakhume, Worker.

welcome the idea of Nigeria becoming a member of UN Security Council. I hope Nigeria will not be a bench warmer because it is one thing to be elected and another thing to perform. I pray Nigeria does well with the opportunity. — Mr. Nurudeen Bello, Worker.

E have major problems back home. But I must congratulate the President. He is one of the best presidents that this country has ever had. This is a bold step to address and seek for the democratisation of the Security Council. — Mr. Igwe Ndubuisi, Engineer.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—45

Displaced Liama people return home

Pipeline surveillance workers accuse Delta govt of non-payment of salary

BY SAMUEL OYANDOGHA

ENAGOA—AFTER seven years in exile, the displaced people of Liama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State have returned to their ancestral land. The return of peace to the troubled area followed the intervention of the state government which set up a committee to bring about lasting peace in the area. The coastal settlement on the Cape Formosa Island, off the Atlantic coast of Brass, was destroyed and indigenes forced into exile in the wake of violent clashes with its sister communities. Governor Seriake Dickson had while constituting the committee during a meeting with the chiefs and elders of Liama Community in Yenagoa, noted that the present administration believed in the rule of law and would not allow any community, under any circumstance, to send people on exile. Speaking at an event to mark the return of the people to their ancestral home, Deputy Governor, Real Admiral John Jonah (rtd), lauded the people for their cooperation during the peace process, noting that without peace, there could be no development.

Nigerians urged to donate blood voluntary BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

IGERIANS have been called to imbibe the culture of voluntary blood donation to prevent avoidable deaths, arising from lack of availability of safe blood for patients in need of transfusion. Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, LSBTC, gave the advice during its voluntary blood donation drive to Nigerian Immigration Services Command, Alagbon, Lagos. Spokesperson of the agency, Mr. Solomon Eka, said “unpaid donors are the safest source of blood. proper screening of donors, who have any risk factors are not allowed to donate. Donated blood is tested and free of Hepatitis B, and C; HIV 1 and 2; Syphilis and Human T Cell Leukaemia (HTCL) and other blood related diseases”. C M Y K

BY FESTUS AHON

U TRADE FAIR—From left: Former Information Minister, Professor Sam Oyovbaire; Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama; Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Abe I, His Royal Majesty Emmanuel Sideso and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), Orhue I, during opening ceremony of Delta State Trade Fair 2013 in Osubi, near Warri.

Oil spillage: Community asks govts to prevail on Chevron BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI—OPIA community in Warri North Local Government Area, has called on both federal and state governments to prevail on Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to mitigate environmental consequence of crude oil spillage in their community which occurred on July 17, 2013, allegedly caused by equipment failure. The community also wants Chevron to pay compensation for polluting its environment and cater for the medical bills of Opia women, who were allegedly beaten up by the company’s security officials when they protested against the company in Dibi oil field, on October 6. But Chevron denied that the spillage was due to equipment failure, saying it was an act of sabotage.

Leaders of the community, Moses Odibo, Mr Ebi Eyenim, Nelson Butara and Darlington Lelekumo, who narrated the ordeal of the people to newsmen, said following the spill, which occurred, on July 17, Chevron mobilized a servicing company to carry out repairs on the damaged pipeline from which the fire erupted. They said: “First joint investigation visit was conducted on the site on July 23, 2013, followed by the second one on the September 30, 2013. Upon these visit we had expected Chevron Nigeria Limited to deploy relief materials to cushion the adverse effect of the oil spill, which caused varying degree of destruction to environment activities which is our main economic potential. “But nothing was done in this

regard. Instead Chevron Nigeria mobilized a servicing company to effect repair on the damaged pipeline. The pipe line was brought to the surface and observed by the JIV team comprising D.P.R, NOSDRA, Delta State Ministry of Environment Officials and communities’ executive and the damage was found to have been caused by the equipment failure.” Vanguard was told that the Chevron official that was present sounded a discordant tone, saying it was as a result of sabotage and third party involvement. "Consequently, he declined to sign off the JIV result forms on September 30th 2013. The community said Chevron called for a meeting with some of its leaders for a resolution, which ended in a deadlock,” they added

It's illegal for state govts to take foreign loan without FG's approval — DMO boss BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—THE Director General of the Debt Management Office, DMO, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, yesterday, in Benin City, declared that it was illegal, unconstitutional for any state government to borrow funds externally without approval of the Federal Government. He urged state governments to key into transformation agenda of the Federal Government by focusing on other areas to generate funds outside oil to help in the rapid growth of the economy. Dr Nwankwo spoke at a threeday retreat organised by the DMO for the Senate Committee on Local

and Foreign Debts, led by its chairman, Senator Ehigie Uzamere. He said: “ The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that no state government or agency can borrow externally without approval of the Federal Government, no state has the capacity constitutionally to borrow unless through the Federal government. "Any state that is interested in borrowing will package their proposal which is sent to the Minister of Finance, then the Minister will refer to DMO and we now process that request after our investigations. If what you are borrowing from is not a priority for the country it will not

be granted. And what it means is that the Federal Government must be interested in what is happening in the states because the money has to be serviced as at when due. "We are responsible to make sure that states borrow from the right sources and that whatever they borrow is repaid as at when due.” He stressed that states should help grow the economy and transform education, agriculture, and focus on other areas outside oil. "They have the capacity to grow agriculture or build industries to create employment just like the Federal Government,"he said.

GHELLI—PIPELINE surveillance workers in coastal communities of Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State have raised alarm over the non-payment of entitlements. Addressing newsmen on behalf of the communities which includes Olota, Alagbabiri, Oghwrugburu, Ogoda, Orere, Arhawvarhien and Okuama, Mr. Akporode Mado, accused the Chairman of the Pipeline Surveillance Committee, Mr. Government Ekpomukpolo (aka Tompolo), of non-payment of one and half year salary to the workers. He explained that the Federal Government had contracted the pipeline surveillance in the riverine communities to Tompolo, alleging that “since 2012, he has been neglecting the youths who were employed as the vigilante group in charge of pipeline surveillance in the communities.” He noted that the workers were duly issued with identification cards by the surveillance office in Abuja, arguing that since their employment, they had ensured that that there were no incidents of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and illegal refining of crude oil in the area.

Launch

BSOLUT Vodka will launch a new campaign, “Transform Today” in Nigeria themed: ‘The End is Far’ tomorrow in Victoria-Island, Lagos. According to a statement by Akintayo Akinseloyin, Brand Manager, the campaign serves as an opportunity for people with a creative path to express themselves through different genres of art." “This event, which marks the start of the campaign, promises to be more than just a party — it is a call to transform today as we put the ART in party. "Absolut seeks to tap into the creative energy that radiates in the city of Lagos by creating an environment that will inspire the process of creation. It is what we refer to as deep play.”

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;47 ,

VISIT: From left, Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Charles Ogunwuyi; Director, Governor's Cup Tournament, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, and Chief Commercial Officer/Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, during a courtesy visit, at the Etisalat office in Ikoyi by players and officials of the Governor's Cup tournament sponsored by Etisalat.

CEREMONY: From left, Mr. Osaze Ebueku, Manager, Mobile Money and Rural Telephony, MTN; Omoyemi Akerele, Creative Director, Style House, and Mr. Dola Bamgboye, Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN, at the opening ceremony of the MTN sponsored Lagos Fashion and Design Week. Photo: Joe Akintola (Photo Editor)

PROMO: The winner in the 'American Honey Buy and Win' promo, Mr. Tunde Taiwo, dislaying the KICK-OFF: Representative of the Vice President, Mr. John Chukwu (right), keys of his brand new KIA Picanto 2013 model won being received by the Public Relations and Advert Manager, Toyota, Mrs. Bukunola at the grand finale of the promo by Brian Munro Ogunnusi, and others, shortly after the official kick-off of the 15th Abuja Inter- Nig Ltd, Marketers of American Honey in Nigeria, at Shoprite, Ikeja. national Motor Fair, at the Eagles Square, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

AWARD: Mr. Meyiwa Erewa, displaying the award of 'Diligent Service to Fatherland' given to him by the National Association of South South Students Assembly, NASSSA, in Warri.

VISIT: From left, presidential aide, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, during Kuku's courtesy visit to Bakare, in Lagos

LAUNCH: General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Junhwa Jeong; Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani; Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Deog Jun Kim, and General Manager, Corporate and Brand Marketing, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Rajesh Agnihotri, during the official launch of LG Mosquito Away Air Conditioners, in Lagos.

AWARD: Ambassador Toyin Orighomisan Agbolayah, displaying the plaque of the award presented to him by members of the Niger Delta Youth for Good Governance, NDYGG, as 'Icon of Hope and Inspiration to Niger Delta Youth of the Year, in Warri.

AWARDS: From left, Alugbin Adeola, student of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, receiving 1st Local Government Basis Ranking Award from Mr. Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Ehi Obasogie, and Mrs. Ayandare Adeola, during Lagos State EcoFriendly Schools Competition/Eco Star 2013 Awards, at Blue Roof,LTV 8 Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

VISIT: From left, Olufemi Bakare, Executive Director, Lagos and South West FCMB; Prince Wale Oladunjoye,Tournament Director; Cristina Dinu, lawn tennis player from Romania, and Mr. Segun Odunsanya, Deputy Managing Director, FCMB, during a courtesy visit by Lagos Lawn Tennis Tournament players to FCMB, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

48— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—53

So Ifeanyi’s life style with the masses is not something I designed today. I have taken kerosene to every corner to touch the lives of the masses. So I know what people in Kano how they are feeling, the poor masses in Kano, the poor masses in Bauchi every part of this country.

My rival suffers from intellectual poverty — Obiano DR. Willie Obiano is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. In this interview with selected journalists, he bares his mind on Anambra State and what he has in stock for the State if elected as the next Governor.Excerpts BY CHARLES KUMOLU

Proud Anambrarian

•Uba: I am not a protocol man

I am a money magician — Ubah CHIEF Ifeanyi Ubah, Labour Party candidate in the election responds to issues on his candidacy, capacity and controversies around his campaign Excerpts: BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & KELECHI AZUBIKE

HAT is keen to me is politics of Anambra State. I am flexible, I am calm, I am relaxed, I am just doing it as if I’m like somebody trying to do his business. I don’t follow protocol, I don’t follow style. I am doing it in my own style and I’m as a man that tomorrow, whatever the outcome is, I can always go home and sit. If I win the election I will still go and take a rest and say God thank. If I don’t win I’ll also go back home. I am winning because I am the best candidate. I am w i n n i n g because I have

OW has the campaign been? We are still on it and I enjoy every bit of it because, for me, it is expository. Though as a son of the soil, I had visited many parts of the State before, the campaign has afforded me the opportunity of visiting more places. I am confident that before the election proper, I would have visited all the 177 communities in the State. If you have followed my campaign, you would have noticed that it is more of grassroots sensitization. Some people say I should buy airtime in all the electronic media, including CNN . I have watched some of those adverts and my •Obiano: I have gone round conclusion is that what they show us is but the confirmation bigger than what the State has. Having been the first man to become that they are not worthy to become lead men in any capacity not to talk of being the internal auditor of Texaco Worldwide and the number two man governor of our state. in Fidelity Bank for nine years, I think How do you mean? Take the case of the advert where a I have more local and international particular candidate goes to different experiences than those in the race. I spent two extra years in Fidelity schools in the State. Coming to a school where three out of the maybe existing Bank after I was supposed to retire 6 buildings had been rehabilitated, he because the institution found my will shoot those yet to be rehabilitated services worth keeping. In term of and present same as the state of character, you see me campaigning Anambra schools. I have personally with my wife. At the risk of sounding immodest, I done on the spot visits of projects going on in the State for a first hand was brought up by a Spartan father understanding of what obtains in who was a teacher and an Anambra State. One area Gov. Peter Obi understanding mother for whom virtue has done marvelously well in is is everything. I embraced my parents’ wish for a virtuous life and today education. nobody can I enjoy far reaching privileges among peruse through my life and say the gubernatorial candidates. As the that I have number two man in Fidelity Bank, I was been found wanting. Can exposed to money several times bigger o t h e r than what the State has candidates say the same about Now, the man doing selective themselves without being reminded of shooting is merely showing us his many skeletons in their pockets not deceptive character. You cannot, even cupboards? because you are standing for election, The candidate of Labour Party, Dr. categorically propagate that the Ifeanyi Uba was quoted ….. incumbent is doing nothing. This (Cuts in) Please, as a matter of shows that you are inherently policy, I do not discuss individuals. I deceptive and will continue to deceive have seen adverts by people in the the people in whatever capacity you media castigating others and even the find yourself. incumbent Governor because they Do you think you are better than want to become Governor. other candidates why? If you lie against one another Your question boils down to what I because you want to become governor, have been talking about. In terms of you are telling us that you are not fit experiential pedigree, I enjoy far for the office. In fact, I take it as a sign reaching privileges among the of intellectual poverty when I see gubernatorial candidates. As the somebody who cannot tell us about his number two man in Fidelity Bank, I manifesto but who revels in heaping was exposed to money several times Continues on page 55

Now coming to my state, I am with them and I am a very proud Anambarian. So what drives me into this politics is that the politicians have not been fair to Anambarians and the sacrifice I am giving today nobody can afford to give it. Nobody will be at the top of his business and then they say come and run the company and say I don’t want to run I want to go into politics. It is not that Anambra State has more money than what I am getting from my company, but I want somebody to manage it today let me go and see how I can fix Anambra, at least you should appreciate it from this

point. I want to tell you about other politicians that are contesting. Some don’t have any business with the masses, some have never been in the state, some were forced, some don’t even know the name of their deputy governor (running mate), you know it’s a big crime for somebody to be in a debate and he will not remember the name of his deputy governor. It happened in America, the candidate they want to force on

First it’s a challenge, if anybody is better than me in any line, he should come and challenge me for a public debate before our debate

the solution to the problems of Anambra people. Whoever in Anambra politics that feels that he is better than me I challenge him with five million naira to come for a debate. If anybody in Anambra be it Ngige, be It whoever and thinks he is better than me, he should come. Because first it’s a challenge, if anybody is better than me in any line, he should come and challenge me for a public debate before our debate. What gives you the assurance? I came from a poor background, very humble background. I know the society. I have felt what people there are feeling. In Lagos, this my street won the best street in Lagos in 2011 by Lagos State government. There is light, street light from street end to street end, there is covered drainage street end to street end, this is what I did in Lagos.

Anambra people couldn’t remember the name of his deputy governor (running mate). He was confused, that is the truth. It took him two minutes to remember the deputy governor ’s (running mate's) name. Is that the kind of person we want in Anambra State? Somebody who doesn’t understand how to fix Anambra that is why I said anybody that feels he’s better than me should come for a debate and take five million if he wins me. But he has intimidating credentials? Credential is not all about practicality. Bill Gate once said it, it’s not all about credentials, it is all about being street wise, understanding the problem of your people. Bill Gate said it, Aliko Dangote too said it. The solution is getting the Continues on page 55

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Ladoja and Akala: Bitter-sweet romance POLITICAL leaders in Oyo State are not given to retiring even when the ovation is loudest. It is as such not surprising that the recent reconciliation by two bitter enemies, and incidentally the two immediate past governors of the state, Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala is now set to unravel BY ÒLA ÀJAYI

T is no surprise that as the 2015 elections approach, the competition for the highest office in Oyo State, the governorship, has become more intense. Though, the story is the same in other political parties, that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP attracts more attention because of the number of those involved. For the past two years, the political space has been filled with the rumour that a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the leader of the youngest political party in the state, Accord, was contemplating returning to the PDP fold. As events unfolded, it became glaring that the party was doing everything possible to have him back. All the bigwigs in the party in the Southwest, including the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and former leader of the party in the zone, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo visited his Bodija residence and made overtures to him almost on weekly basis.

Mounted pressure The pressure mounted on him was occasioned by the success of his party in the 2011 elections despite its late takeoff. PDP discovered that if it joined forces with Accord, that the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC

•Akala: Showing interest in 2015

•Ladoja: Also has interest in returning to power

retreat. He later accused the PDP of insincerity. Despite his refusal to rejoin the party, many political analysts still believe he can spring surprises at the poll especially going by the sympathy people in the state had for him during his illegal impeachment in January 2006. Many still believe he was unduly cheated by his party at that time, the PDP. Before meeting Ladoja, Akala had sent some of his closest associates such as Prince Dotun

that he is still a force to reckon with. A meeting was recently held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, with the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide where his faction backed President Goodluck Jonathan and Bamanga Tukur group. A source confided in Vanguard that the decision to pitch tent with the president was taken overnight. As things are now, Chief Akala is already moving from one place to the other trying to convince people in the state that he is the best governorship candidate. Even though he is yet to declare the platform on which he would contest, it is evident that he would still want to use the PDP platform.

It is because of this that many are now asking that Akala, Ladoja and others tainted by the bad politicking of the past should give way for fresh blood

would definitely be defeated in the election. Since he was a golden fish that had no hiding place, everybody wanted to associate with him. So, it was not surprising when his former deputy, Chief Adebayo AlaoAkala who had parted ways with him following his role in the impeachment of Ladoja, suddenly made u-turn and swallowed all the pride to pitch tent with him. But, there was a clash of interest which made Ladoja to

Oyelade who was his Special Adviser on Public Communication to go ahead of him. When Ladoja and Akala agreed to work together, there was avalanche of scepticism that the two non-identical twins were parallel lines that could not meet. It was generally said that what brought them together would soon separate them. Some alleged that Ladoja would be unforgiving of the alleged treachery against him by his former deputy, Akala.

Of course, the point of concern among stakeholders was the issue of who becomes the governorship candidate of the duo? Would Akala, who was a governor in the state again surrender himself to the political tutelage of his former boss? As the agreement between the two former governors was being sealed, Akala had his left leg in the Accord and the right one in the PDP. Each time, he was asked if he was still in the PDP, he kept on saying he remained a PDP man. Rumour was rife that a senatorial ticket was reserved for him in Accord. Scepticism of associates and onlookers nonetheless, the two forged ahead and set up a 14man committee to fine tune the reconciliation. The membership of the committee was evenly distributed between the two of them. As rightly predicted, facts soon emerged that Akala was not totally convinced he could work with his former boss. Though, he has been in the cooler for sometime he has obviously used the period to study the political developments. He has abstained from most meetings of the PDP and where not, sent representatives. He, however, used the crisis that engulfed the national leadership of the party to prove

Second term ambition With the forces that ensured his second term ambition was thwarted still in place, it needs the intervention of God to make him achieve this in PDP. Just few days ago, a notable chieftain in the PDP, Senator Lekan Balogun who was one of those who opposed his second term ambition said he had forgiven him. However, when asked if he would support another term for Akala, he evaded the question. It was gathered that the

sentiments of some in the PDP hierarchy in Ibadan and Abuja is already moving towards the former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin to fly the party’s flag in 2015. That many fear, would also spark a fresh round of crisis in the party. Teslim is a bitter political adversary of Akala’s and was incarcerated as a suspect in the killing of the former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state, Alhaji Lateek Salako aka Eleweomo. It was the court that came to his rescue. Since that time, Folarin has kept Akala at arm’s length. It is because of this that many are now asking that Akala, Ladoja and others tainted by the bad politicking of the past should give way for fresh blood. Those supportive of this initiative note that by 2015 Akala would be 65 years old while Ladoja would be 72. Critics witin the party say that the two should take the back seat and direct the affairs of the younger ones. But will they? The drumbeats, though, distant, are very audible that 2015 elections will be another tug of war in the state especially as the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the broom party wins the election.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013—55

F there is one thing on which many Nigerians and the friends of Nigeria agree upon without any reservation, it is that the country‘s economic and political achievements since 1960 are below expectation. The naturally endowed nation which should be the undisputed ‘giant of Africa‘ is however, unfortunately, has become a pitiable crawler in the race for development. The politicians of the first republic (1960-1966) tried, howbeit, not with desired effect to practice the inherited democracy through the British type of parliamentary system. The economy, based on the cultivation and export of agricultural products, was driven by a simple policy of import substitution. Ordinarily, import taxes and export taxes on commodities supplemented internal personal and corporate taxes to ensure modest revenue to nurture and drive governmental activities. Everything appeared smooth until the rise of political cynism leading to anarchism – the prelude to the first military coup of 1966. The mood of sceptism followed the attempt of the military leaders to promote understanding after the regrettable massacres of many Ibos, especially in the Northern part of the country. The apparently justified cynicism of the leaders of Eastern Nigeria, especially after the failure to implement Aburi Accord (a form of confederation), led to the costly civil war (1967-1970). It was believed in certain quarters that civilian politicians would have prevented, at the last moment, the rush to a disastrous conflict. The astute political move of the military government of the 1970s was the creation of states to give the minorities the say and rights in a plural society. Nigeria is now a country of thirty-six states with Abuja (a semistate) as the capital. Though the motive of state creation might be altruistic, the deficient structure of those states created serious doubts in the minds of some Nigerians (19 states in the North; 17 states in the South) on

Here they come again: Cynics and sceptics the question of equity. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the question of political stability of the country has been in focus. Perhaps the lack of expected quality performance of the ruling party (PDP) has been responsible for the return of cynicism, sceptism and utter confusion in national politics. In many parts of the North, lives and properties of people of Southern origin were wantonly destroyed. In spite of setting-up and reports of many committees set up by several governments, living in some parts of the North has become a dangerous experiment, even as the Constitution of the country guarantees the peaceful living of all Nigerians in any part of the country. It is a pity that the Boko Haram insurgency (NorthEast) has already worsened a very bad case of difficult co-existence. Many observers believe, and rightly so, that the resurgence of the political instability and economic uncertainties in the country could be attributed to the inefficiency and lack of focus of the present PDP administration under the present leadership. Although the problems of Nigeria are many, some stand out clearly – corruption, ethnic and religious cleavages, unemployment leading to deepening poverty, violence and insecu-

rity. Some see the resolutions of the problems in the formation of a virile opposition and the restructuring of the political structure of the country. Under the prevailing mood of cynicism and sceptism, a formidable opposition has emerged in the All Progressives Congress (APC). The hostility the formation of the party encountered in certain ethnic quarters could hardly be imagined. However, it should quickly be realized that it is only in a re-structured society that a virile opposition could thrive. It is believed by many Nigerians that it is in the spirit of re-structuring of the polity (supported by many eminent Nigerians) that President Goodluck Jonathan (probably after genuine conviction) has called for, and set in motion, the desired National Conference. Now, the celebrated cynics and formidable skeptics are having their field day of confusing issues. What is wrong with President Jonathan as a politician finding a way out to consolidate his position through a popular step? It is the duty of a responsible opposition to see that the people are not taken for a ride by being vigilant. It is like committing political suicide for APC to see the declaration of a National Dialogue or Conversation as a diversion from na-

tional issues. If the APC (mostly representing South-West and North-West political interests) allows itself to be led into an inglorious boy-cot of the National Conference, it would find itself in the miserable position of UPGA in 1964 by refusing to participate in the 1964 elections on the mere suspicion of a fraudulent election. What would be gained if the PDP (under Jonathan) could not be defeated under the existing electoral arrangement in 2015? Now is the time to discuss a workable arrangement for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria where no section would complain of MARGINALISATION (as people of South-West do now) THE ECONOMY Following the late disbursement of monthly allocations by the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the States, some governors, especially those of Delta and Edo have doubted the stability of the Nigerian economy (which at present) has been given pass mark by IMF and other bodies. The concept of monthly allocation itself negates the principle of true federalism. Our own type of federalism is queer where the states are dependent on the centre for survival and the President, as the grandmaster of a charity organization. In September, an allocation of N1.196 trillion was made to the States. If that amount had been devoted to economic ventures and infrastructural developments, there would have been no need for such remark by a spokesman of the governors. He said that: “ we strongly disagree…..that the Nigerian economy has created the kind of jobs and attained the level of stability claimed when most qualified Nigerians are roaming the streets in search of nonexisting jobs”. If it might be politely asked, what do the governors do with their monthly allocations? We need to talk to re-fix Nigeria urgently before 2015, a romantic date for the gluttonous politicians.

My rival suffers from intellectual poverty — Obiano Continues from page 53 lies against people. If such a man is allowed to become Governor, only God knows what the thrust of his government will be. I have seen a particular candidate calling on Gov. Obi to account for the 3 trillion he has received as Governor. For a person at that level to peddle such falsehood smacks of supreme mischief or very poor calculations. How can somebody say that kind of thrash when the yearly budget of the State is a matter of public knowledge? How would you tackle the menace of insecurity? This is one area Gov. Obi has committed a lot of resources in. Besides providing patrol vehicles to security agencies, he has also bought patrol vans for all the communities in the State. He is equally paying towns’ vigilante groups, among other security measures. I shall devote more time and resources in intelligence. You see, our security people cannot catch armed robbers

and kidnappers when they carry AK 47 all over the places. When those armed robbers know where they are, they will not go there. I shall focus on intelligence. With good intelligence, armed robbers will be routed in their hideouts and houses even before they embark on crime. We shall continue the policy of punishing owners of

buildings used in kidnapping and we shall continue to pull down such buildings according to the laws of the State. What message do you have for the people of the State? It is simple. Vote for Willie Obiano and Nkem Okeke because of proven capacity to add value to the State. Do not vote for people

because they share money, for they will steal your money to recover their expenses. Do not vote for people that will not protect our people in any part of Nigeria by supporting primitive actions such as deportation of our people. Do not vote people who did not contribute anything to the institutions where they are now or where

they served in the past. If a Senator did not pass one bill for three years at the senate, if you vote for him, he will simply continue the slumber in Government House. Above all, vote for me, people with the fear of God and be assured of quality service and esteemed respect for the dignity of Ndi-Anambra and Ndigbo. Vote for Willie Obiano.

I am a money magician — Ubah Continues from page 53 result. It’s not about credentials. Credentials have not helped Anambra people, and I am not also saying that credentials are not good, but we should not lay emphasis on credentials because with credentials without understanding the problem of the people it is equal to zero. How are you going to generate employment? If I am looking at people, I can create fifty thousand employment in six months. I am addicted to employing people, so I have that addiction to employing people.

How will you do it? I’m a money magician. I don’t want to say it now till we get to the debate table. But people will raise issues concerning your company and AMCON. Your company was taken away from you by AMCON. How will you react to that? If they don’t raise it, I’ll raise it. In America nobody asked me (about) AMCON, I raised it. I said I was expecting you people to ask me and by the time I finished nobody even challenged or discussed anything. But how do you respond to the fact

that your company was taken over by AMCON? Have you ever seen a company that is bankrupt and somebody will go and raise the company up? No. If you are quarter to die and somebody will come and say there is life for you. Capital oil and gas is not bankrupt. When you see a company that has ten naira and is owing one naira that company is alive, and if they cannot make one naira based on government policy, government must come and see how they will help the company because Capital Oil and Gas is a company of strategic national interest.

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

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V anguard AY OCTOBER 25, 2013 — 57 Vanguard anguard,, FRID FRIDA

Vanguard CLASSIFIED

SPYGATE

Merkel queries Obama on NSA's phone taps G

ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on US President Barack Obama to demand an explanation after secret service reports appeared to show that US intelligence agencies had tapped her mobile phone for years. “The Chancellor made it clear that should the indications prove true, she unequivocally disapproves and considers them totally unacceptable,” Ms Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert told reporters. “This would be a serious breach of trust. Such practices must be halted immediately,” he added.

•Obama

•Merkel

Confirming that the highly unusual call had taken place, White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said that Mr Obama had reassured Ms Merkel she is under no such surveillance. “The United States is not

monitoring and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor”, he said. Mr Carney did not say whether monitoring of Ms Merkel’s phone might have occurred in the past. That a German chancel-

lor should even make such an inquiry of an American president is remarkable and serves to illustrate how far trust has broken down between the US and its allies on how far Washington has gone in breaking the norms of privacy to keep tabs not just on its foes but friends too. The European Parliament today voted to suspend a data sharing agreement with the United States aimed at detecting terrorist fund-raising, the latest salvo as the EU scrambles to find an appropriate response to the hacking allegations against America’s National Security Agency.

...As Albright accuses France of snooping F ORMER US Secre tary of State Madeleine Albright said yestesday that France had eavesdropped on her when she was in government as she dismissed European concerns about Washington’s snooping. “This is not a surprise to people — countries spy on each other,” Albright said at the Center for American Progress, a think tank. Albright, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997 before being appointed as the top US diplomat, said she learned about surveillance firsthand at the world body. “I will very much remember when I was at the United Nations, the French ambassador coming up to me saying, ‘Why

did you say that to somebody, about why do you want women in the government?’ “And I said, ‘Excuse me?’ They had an intercept,” Albright said, without giving further details of her intercepted conversation. France, Germany, Brazil and other traditional allies of the United States have complained after revelations about US spying in leaks from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, responding to allegations of US snooping on her mobile phone, said Thursday in Brussels: “Spying between friends, that’s just not done.” French President Fran-

•Hollande

•Albright

cois Hollande also complained this week to President Barack Obama after reports of US spying on millions of phone calls in France. Albright said that Snowden’s leaks had been “very damaging” for the United States. “A lot of foreign policy is gossip and picking up

what somebody has said about somebody else that is useful in the long term of trying to figure out how you deal with a particular country,” she said. “Glorifying Snowden is a mistake. I think what he has done is a criminal act and it has hurt us very, very badly,” she said.

Toddlers murder, rape rise in South Africa N a country where been adjourned until NoInvestigators are cur- obtained and will be used I several rapes are said vember 1 while investiga- rently analyzing DNA in court, according to Sito occur every minute, in tions continue, Medupe evidence and awaiting masiku, but the other susa township where violence is commonplace, this was a crime that shocked the entire community of Diepsloot, South Africa. Two girl cousins, aged two and three, were taken from their doorstep — kidnapped in broad daylight. And when Yonelisa and Zandile Mali were found a few days later in the township north of Johannesburg, the news only got worse. The two girls had been raped and murdered, their lifeless bodies dumped in a public toilet in Diepsloot. The suspects appeared briefly in court in Pretoria Thursday but the trial has

Simasiku, a spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, told CNN.

official identification of the five men, he said. A confession from one of the suspects was legally

pects have not confessed to the alleged crimes. All five will defend themselves in court.

Gaddafi's aides indicted for uprising

Libyan court has in dicted about 30 senior aides of late leader Muammar Gaddafi, including his son Saif al-Islam, for a raft of alleged offences during the 2011 revolt, prosecutors have said. Thursday’s indictment includes charges of murder, kidnapping, complicity in incitement to rape, plunder, sabotage, embezzlement of public funds and acts harmful to national unity. “The court ordered they

stand trial on the main charges against them dealing with the repression of the 2011 revolt,” prosecutors’ office spokesman Seddik alSour said after the hearing. “The trial date will be set by the Tripoli criminal court.” Only a dozen of the accused appeared in the court, said a lawyer who was present at the hearing, held under tight security at a court and prison building in the Libyan

capital. Sour said the law did not require that the defendants all be in court to hear the indictment. He said that the fact that “some of the defendants would have needed exceptional security measures to appear prompted the court to decide to notify them of its decision after the hearing”. “But the presence of all the accused will be obligatory at the trial hearings before the criminal court,” Sour said.

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ADVERT HOTLINE 01- 8737025 VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , LAGOS.

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25,

2013

Baba goes marching on! BY OWEI LAKEMFA

ABA. Baba Omojola. Baba Oluwide. These names were recurrent in the radical political movement when I was young. I was later to learn that the three names referred to the same person. Apparently, he used a particular name depending on the occasion. But in the days I talk about, his polemical works and publications were authored by Baba Oluwide. When I newly graduated from the then University of Ife in 1982 and was posted to Kano State for my Youth Service, I was told that when I got to Kano, I should go to 46, Bello Dandogo Street and ask for Baba Omojola. I was a bit confused since I thought he was based in Lagos. I went to that address a number of times, but was always told he travelled. One day as I passed by, I decided to look in once again, only to be asked to wait. At last, Baba was in! After a while, I was ushered into a living room. “Yes what do you want?” came the voice from a rocking chair which was backing the door. I couldn’t see the person who was enveloped in the chair. I muttered that I was a corps member who had been sent to see him. He asked who sent me

and I reeled out a few names. He turned, and I came face to face for the first time with the lion of radical politics affectionately called Baba (father) by young and old social activists. We talked for some time; he wanted to know the state of the Student Movement, what was required to deepen the consciousness of students and my opinion about the radical groups in the country. I was later to discover that Baba was quite mobile; visiting him was like trying to trap the rainbow. After a few years of acquaintance, I was to conclude like a number of young cadres, that Baba lived in Kano, worked in Lagos but had his offices in London and France. When I returned to Lagos after service, I joined a group of young cadres who were trying to mobilise and radicalise workers for a better country. We had a semi underground publication called Forward. In those early 80s, one of the most popular cars was Peugeot 504. The address of Forward was P.O. Box 504, Yaba. It sounded fake; perhaps it was necessary to shake off the intelligence agencies. But I found out that it was genuine! How did we acquire such a unique, easy to remember post office box? The answer was that it was owned by Baba. He seemed to be

•Comrade Adewole Babarinde Omojola Ajibola

everywhere there was progressive politics; the Student and Youth Movement, Socialist and radical groups, the Peoples Redemption Party, and of course the trade unions. He had been in the Zikist Movement which was banned by British colonialists, and had been jailed in Britain with an option of fine for being part of the youths who attacked the Aparthied South Africa House, in Trafalga Square. A 1961 first class

Baba Omojola: Death of an itinerant revolutionary TRIBUTE

BY DENJA YAQUB

T was a sad moment for progressive activists not just in Nigeria and the African continent, when news broke out that one of the most revered leaders of the movement had died soon after making a presentation to the National Dialogue Committee in Akure, South West Nigeria. Born July 13, 1938 in Ipetu Ijesha, Osun State, Babarinde Adewole Omojola Ajibola, popularly known as Baba Omojola, a renowned development economist; first class graduate of the famous London School of Economics (1958 Class); a Marxist socialist; consummate revolutionary; selfless and trusted mobilizer of people and resources; a great thinker with extra ordinary precision; an uncommon but quiet warrior; a human archive of our collective past; a humanist par excellent; a hero of our struggles; a great intellect of exceptional values, died Saturday, October 19, 2013. Baba, an internationalist, was not just a link between revolutionary movements in Africa and South America, he was indeed very close to key revolutionaries across the globe giving undisputed accounts of the conditions of peoples of various colonies in Africa from French colonies to Portuguese and British. He connected our struggles with those of the Cuban people led by Fidel Castro, Ernesto Che Guevera, etc. He was a reliable linkman between these great leaders and their organizations with leaders of the African anti colonial and revolutionary movements such as Osagyefo Kwameh Nkrumah, Algeria’s Ben Bella, South Africa’s Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki, Winnie Mandela, Steve Biko, Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Keneth Kaunda of Zambia, Leopold Senghor of Senegal, General Kasongo of former Zaire, as well as the Nigerian flank of the movement. It takes an extremely trusted and courageous comrade of Baba’s caliber to be involved in such dangerous

clandestine shuttles. In Nigeria, Baba was involved in nearly all radical organizations. Indeed, Baba Omojola was part of virtually all progressive and left organizations from 1960 until he had his last breathe. He was deeply involved in the All Nigeria Socialist Alliance; Movement for Popular Democracy; the Socialist Revolutionary Vanguard; People’s Redemption Party; National Consultative Forum; Committee for the Defence of Human Rights; Campaign for Democracy; National Democratic Coalition, NADECO; the Pro National Conference Organizations, PRONACO; the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria, JACON; the Socialist Party of Nigeria; June 12 Movement etc. He was actively involved in mobilizing for and organizing Nigerian socialist conferences and meetings between 1960 until his death. Despite his revolutionary background, Baba maintained his relationship with all his friends, many of them his old classmates without class, ethnic or religious considerations. Perhaps many of them didn’t know the depth of his involvement in the movement. Despite his closeness to these friends, he never compromised the movement. Rather, some of them became useful to some of the popular programmes of the movement in many ways. Baba, who was until his unfortunate death, the Chair of West African Economic Consultants, otherwise known as Econsultants (Overseas Ltd), a consortium of seasoned academics and professionals of various backgrounds in integrated economics, industrial engineering and environmental consultants, was also a prolific writer and author of several books, particularly biographies, economics and revolutionary politics. Denja Yaqub worked with late Baba Omojola as a Research Officer at Econsultants Overseas Limited between 1988 and 1989; he is currently an Assistant Secretary at the headquarter of Nigeria Labour Congress, Abuja

graduate of the famous London School of Economics who was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1962, he returned home to immerse himself in the struggle to liberate the masses from poverty, want and disease. He popularised the ‘Mass Line’ as a journal and a vehicle of struggle. Taking part in the 1964 general strikes that almost brought down the Tafawa Balewa administration, he became the Political Secretary of the famous labour leader, Michael Imoudu. In later years, Baba authored the definitive biography of the labour legend, titled Imoudu: A Political History Of Nigeria: 19391950. Baba’s Lagos office was located on Jebba Street, Ebute

TRIBUTE

was the convener of the National Conference which was aborted by the General Babangida dictatorship in 1990. Many in my generation of social activists, accepted Baba Omojola as our Baba (father) in radical politics, and AkaBashorun as our political leader. Baba was bold and fearless; he was there in all struggles I can remember, and was one of those captured in the 1990s prodemocracy struggles against military dictatorship and sent to Kuje Prisons. Always cheerful even in battle, some of us used to say, if old men like Baba were not tired, what excuse have we the younger ones? Baba became active in the Labour Movement when I was a toddler, so when I was in the NLC, I often consulted him especially when with Biodun Aremu, I had to lead the action in Lagos during labour strikes. When he moved from Surulere to Ajah, I promised to visit him whenever I was in Lagos from my new base in Abuja.

New base in Abuja He promised that if I did, he would open his archives to me which I needed in my efforts to write the history of the Nigeria Labour Movement. Baba fondly called me ‘Owei Omo Lakem-fa!’ (Owei the son of Lakemfa) and whenever, I got out of touch, he always ensured he found me. The last time was this May when he told my younger brother, Tare, who was handling a case for him, that I must call him. I did and he said he was aware I was busy leading African workers. Then in August, I got the invitation to his 75th birthday in Lagos. I called from my Accra base to apologise my

Baba was bold and fearless; he was there in all struggles I can remember, and was one of those captured in the 1990s pro-democracy struggles against military dictatorship and sent to Kuje Prisons

Metta West. Comrades were welcome there. It was known amongst us that any cadre finding himself in bustling Lagos could go to Baba to be accommodated. Last year, I was telling a colleague in the trade unions about Baba’s assistance to the young, and she informed me that after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria she came down to Lagos; with no place to stay, she went to Baba who gave her free accommodation for seven years! Baba’s Lagos office was a building or two from the chambers of his political soul mate, the unforgettable Alao AkaBashorun who as president of the Bar, transformed the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, from a conservative Any Government In Power, AGIP, organisation to a fighting force that took on military dictatorship. Aka-Bashorun who funded numerous student, youth and radical organisations and trade unions, and gave them, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, free legal services,

inability to travel to Lagos. On October 18, Baba travelled from his Lagos home to Akure. His mission was to make a propeople submission to the Presidential Advisory Panel on the National Conference. He urged the panel to adopt as a working document, an alternative constitution he and people like Chief Anthony Enahoro and Prof. Wole Soyinka had midwifed. Mission accomplished, next morning, he prepared to leave for home, but rather left for eternity. The noble heart of the lion, Comrade Adewole Babarinde Omojola Ajibola, better known as Baba, stopped beating, and like Alao Aka-Bashorun, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, Wahab Goodluck, Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X and John Brown, his soul goes marching on. Forward Ever! •Owei Lakemfa, the Secretary General of the Organisation Of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, sent this tribute from Geneva.

Vanguard, FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2013 — 59

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Wake up, Ndanusa, Wake up made tennis vibrant here and the sport competed with football. Newspapers led with tennis stories. We went to the airport to cover the arrival of tennis players. Before this era was that of Yemisi Alan, Thompson Onibokun, Lawrence Awegbegba, Ojugbeli.

OW times change. Rolake Olagbegi, the once elegant tennis queen of Nigeria from the famous Olagbegi family is now married to Moyo Kassim and boasts of all the features that make her a mother of three. But she has not left tennis. She runs a tennis clinic in her base in Atlanta, USA, and was home last December. Delta State engaged her to train their tennis team to the sports festival. They dominated in the sport. Rolake drilled the players and they felt the difference. Out of five gold medals in tennis Delta won three, a silver and two bronze medals. It was even the first time Delta was winning a gold in tennis. And they did it in such a style that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan commended her during the reception the state held for their contingent which also won the festival in style. I vividly remember the comments Rolake made at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, the venue of the tennis event. “There are companies now than in those days our tennis thrived. We even have richer and bigger companies now than then. How come there are no more sponsors of the game? How come we had more tournaments then than now? What’s going on? I have seen some talents here but they say they have only one or two tournaments in Nigeria now and that they don’t get to play. Tell me, what’s going on? I said that I wished Sani Ndanusa were around to answer Rolake. I’m sure Ndanusa was not on the scene when Rolake was playing. I never heard of him then. I wouldn’t know if he also knew about the standard of tennis in the country then. If he knew and followed the sport from his Minna base then I’m sure he would be having sleepless nights about the messy state of Nigerian tennis. But for Ndanusa everything appears fine. That’s why I doubt if he followed the game in the 70s, 80s and even in the 90s. He is comfortable as President of the Tennis Federation, a sport that once projected Nigeria tremendously and provided such financial succour that many players lived on it and provided for their families with earnings from tournaments but has lost everything that made it flamboyant in Nigeria. Just a quick reminder to Ndanusa. We once had The Lord Rumens Classics, Ogun Green Courts, Ogbe Hard Courts, Kaduna Clay Courts, Kano Dallas Hard Court, John Player Clay Court and later Okada Tennis Championships as among the Challenger series in Nigeria. They were ATP Challenger events and Nigeria was one of the destination points for many players especially those hungry for points and rankings which could earn them entry into Grand Prix events and possibly the Grand Slams aside the prize monies. And a number of them did. Thomas Muster once played here and at a time was world number one. It was a fancy to see the likes of Sadiq Abdullahi, David Imonitie returning after playing the qualifying rounds of Wimbledon to display some souvenirs from such events. Tony Mmoh and Odizor were high enough to play in the main draws and Odizor once got to the round of 16 after which he ranked 64 in the World. Then, we had players. Remi Osho, David Imonitie, Godwin Emeh, Innocent Modika, Yakubu Suleiman, Friday Itabor, Solomon Ona, Robinson Odoko, Godwin kienka etc. Later, the likes of Nnamdi Ehirim, Kyrian Nwokedi, Segun and Rotimi Akinloye, Paul Areh, Abdularaman Idi, Adjongo, Gabriel Otu etc. They

I’m not sure Ndanusa knew when Ezeibe was spending thousands of dollars sponsoring Tony Mmoh’s ATP tours and the likes of Modika and later the Nwokedis

The girls were also top on the game. Esther Isabor, Ngozi Morah, Cecelia Nnadozie, Rolake Olagbegi, Ann Abimiku, Vero Oyibokia, Nosa Imafidon, Mary Amina, Aisha Adamu, Osas Amadin, Titi Onatshile etc. We had a national coach in Mrs Elizabeth Ekong who made sure the players were always busy on courts tournaments or no tournaments. And we had so many of the local tournaments too. All Nigeria Open sponsored by Nigeria Breweries was so big that players came from abroad to play it. CBN was in the calendar and the only one still on. Kudos to them. National Printing and Minting Company had one. Green Sands Shandy had one for girls that even attracted the famous Berth sisters from Senegal. NNPC had a tournament. Coca Cola co sponsored the President’s Cup, the only cup final that President Ibrahim Babangida attended in his tenure as President. After watching the thrills in the final he said that he would start playing tennis. here were tournaments in various cities. There was even Onitsha Open made interesting by a tennis buff called Chief Ben Ezeibe, the man that tried to encourage Ndanusa when he came on board but ended being disappointed. I’m not sure Ndanusa knew when Ezeibe was spending thousands of dollars sponsoring Tony Mmoh’s ATP tours and the likes of Modika and later the Nwokedis. He shouldn’t fall out with such people. He needs them. He needs the corporate world. He probably lacks the marketing prowess to market tennis and make it vibrant. But he could engage people to do that for the sport. Sponsors have long withdrawn from the game and Ndanusa should be worried. He appears not. He is also the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee and was a sports minister not too

long ago in this country. I guess he has enough contacts to help the sport but probably lacks the will and tact. Tennis thrived under Raheem Adejumo and the plunge started after he left. I even criticised Chuka Momah for not being an Adejumo but I now know better. Ndanusa is my friend but I must tell him the truth. Tennis is not only dead but being buried in his tenure as President of the federation and I know that he can do better. My experience at the National Stadium, Lagos last Friday, influenced this piece. I went to the tennis courts to see who was playing and to know what their standard was like. I saw more men playing social tennis than the young ones preparing for tournaments. There are no tournaments. Safe for CBN, Governor’s Cup which is an ITF Futures event and one or two junior programmes packaged by Godwin Kienka there is virtually nothing happening in the country. t the stadium courts I saw a number of teenage players looking for who to coach and sell rackets and other things to. One approached me. He didn’t know who I was. He said, “sir, do you want to play tennis? I can teach you. You don’t need to pay so much. Tennis is a good sport. You will love it. You can buy this racket and start tomorrow. I will teach and you will like it.” I asked him his age and he said 17. I felt bad. 17 year old who should be playing tournaments under the guidance of a proper coach, looking for who to coach and earn some money for a living? I looked around and two other teenagers joined us, all telling me to come and be taught how to play tennis for a fee. They didn’t know what I was thinking and how terrible I felt for my country. I told them I had started tennis and without knowing my standard they said I would be a better player if they trained me. They could be right but what struck me was the pitiful sight of teenagers who should be playing tournaments, earning money and planning big for possible careers in tennis begging to coach to earn tokens as a living. It felt so bad that I was almost in tears. “We would not be doing this if there were tournaments and sponsors,” one of them said. Certainly, this wasn’t the sport that I was assigned in my teething days in sports journalism. It just couldn’t be. It was hectic covering junior and senior tournaments all over the country. One of my first official commendations from then sports editor, Ikeddy Isiguzo, was for my coverage of tennis in a rural area, the Okada Wonderland. I tried to capture the atmospherics of tennis in the cosmopolitan Lagos with cars blaring horns as they pass by the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club at Tinubu and the tranquil Okada village where only the singing of birds and and whispering of trees were now being pieced by the sound of tennis balls and players celebrating winners and some cursing over unforced errors. I was everywhere covering tennis. Now, there’s nothing to cover. And ironically, the sport is richer globally. There’s more money in tennis now but no Nigerian player is partaking in the billions of dollars at stake every year now. Too bad. I left the stadium a sad man and vowed that Ndanusa must share in my feeling. He can do better. The sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi wants all sports to grow. He can also help tennis.

GOtv ‘hood to hood’ football championship begins A

S part of activities marking its second anniversary in Nigeria, GOtv - the digital terrestrial PayTV provider has unfolded plans to host a grassroots football tourney - ‘Hood to Hood Football Championship’ in Lagos beginning tomorrow in Lagos. The tourney ends Saturday 9 November 2013. Speaking at the press conference in Lagos yesterday, the general manager, GOtv Nigeria, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa disclosed that the ‘Hood to Hood’ football championship is aimed

at developing football at the grassroots by engaging the youth positively and redirecting their energies towards sports, and to further entrench the brand with its core target market. Mrs Amkpa noted that football is sport of choice for Nigerians and has over the years become a unifying factor with great entertainment value which is in sync with the GOtv brand promise to deliver family entertainment to Africa. Sixteen teams from

across Lagos will be taking part in the competition. Winners will take home N 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 , N150,000.00 for the runners up while N100,000.00 and N50,000.00 have been pegged for the second and third runners up. “Among our programme genres is Sports, offering three channels – SuperSport Select, SuperSport Select 2 and SuperSport Blitz, and games from this tournament will broadcast via these channels,” she said.

From left: Mr Akin Ademofe, Ex-Super Eagles player, Miss Efe Obiomah,PR Mgr, GOTV Nigeria and Mr Oludare Kafar, Marketing Manager during the Press Conference for GOTV Hood to Hood Football Championship in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola (Photo Editor)

Blatter pays tribute to Yekini

IFA President Sepp Blatter paid tribute to Nigeria’s late football hero Rashidi Yekini yesterday. The former Olympiacos and Vitoria Setubal striker would have turned 50 on 23rd of October if he were alive, and Blatter tweeted a tribute in honour of the legend’s birthday. “Rasheed Yekini would have been 50 today. His name as scorer of Nigeria’s first World Cup goal lives on,” the message on Blatter ’s official twitter handle read.

60 —

Vanguard, FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2013

Iraq promise Eaglets fight I

RAQ have vowed to give the Golden Eaglets a tough battle when both teams clash today at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai. Having lost two of their first two matches at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq stand little or no chance of qualifying for the next round except for a calamitous display by the Nigerians, who have bagged four points in as many games. Speaking yesterday at the media centre, Iraqi midfielder Resan Bashar said that they have to put up a brave fight against the Nigerians, to maintain their pride at the competition. Admitting that poor defending and loss of concentration caused their two defeats, Bashar said that though the Eaglets were a strong team that the Iraqis would offer their all to halt the losing trend. “The match will be a tough one because Nigeria are a strong side and though we have little chance of qualifying, we will fight for a win. “We lost our two matches because of less exposure and loss of concentration but now we have learnt and have resolved to fight to the end”, added the Iraqi player.

Centre on yesterday, Manu said the Golden Eaglets were ready to battle the Iraqis who are seeking their first win in the history of the competition. The Golden Eaglets go into the match as the top team in Group F after a 6-1 win over defending champions, Mexico and a hardfought 3-3 draw against Sweden. “We have no other way than to win our game against Iraq and Insha Allah (by the grace of Allah), we are going to win,” Manu said. “We respect Iraq but we are going to do everything in our capacity to win this match because our objective is to do very well at this championship.”

White cars everywhere

UBAI is a place to be. And that could be an understatement. It is my first time in the United Arab Emirates, the country that prides itself as the home of the world. Everything here is heavenly. The roads are just wonderful. It is a beautiful haven. Coming from Lagos to this part of the world has been an eye-opening experience. Everything is just too fine here to be true for a Lagosian like me, where dirt is a stark reality of life. On the roads, their cars are a sight to behold. They love white cars a lot. Everywhere you go you see clean white cars gliding through the roads. And the white cars are such a beauty to behold. In Lagos, people avoid white cars because of dusts and mud on the roads.. A colleague here was so taken aback after seeing these clean white cars that he wondered aloud if these same cars can remain in such excellent condition in Warri, Enugu, Lagos and other Nigerian cities.

Fine city, fine girls, but don’t touch L- R: Olufemi Bakre, Executive director, Lagos & South West , FCMB, Price Wale Oladunjoye Tournament director and Segun Odusanya, Deputy Managing Director, FCMB during a courtesy visit by some of the Tennis players at the ongoing Governor's Cup, Lagos Tennis to FCMB's Corporate Head Office. FCMB is a major sponsor of the tournament.

Tuface, Omawunmi join Ultimate Commander •Battle of Legends

OME December 6, Oriental Hotel, Lagos will thrill guests to the best of wrestling as the world heavyweight wrestling champion, Osita Offor, also known as De Ultimate Commander, will defend his title against Bobby Lashley of the United States Of America. The event, tagged Night of Legends the event,

which will see two Nigerian music superstars, Tuface Idibia and Omawunmi, performing at intervals during the wrestling extravaganza, is being packaged by Aghalieaku Entertainment in collaboration with popular Nigerian showbiz promoter, Tee Mac Itseli. Aside from thrilling wrestling fans with superlative tag-team bouts,

Eaglets coach Continues from B/P

DUBAI BITS By John Egbokhan

Not forgetting the loss to Cote d’Ivoire at the CAN Under-17 in Morocco last April Manu said “You assess a team with the number of chances they create and I disagree with the impression that we struggle against well organised teams. We always do our best and even at the CAN Under17, we scored 18 goals compared with Cote d’Ivoire that scored five goals.” Talking specifically about scoring goals, Manu said he has in his arsenal several players who can fill the void created following the loss of star striker, Isaac Success due to injury, adding that the team would cope well despite the obvious setback.

“Success had a scan today and it is unfortunate that he would not be available against Iraq,” said Manu. “But we have other players who can do the job and a good example is Taiwo Awoniyi who scored the equaliser against Sweden.” Speaking later to Iraq TV, Coach Manu said he has great respect for the Iraqis but maintained that the Golden Eaglets would have the upper hands on Friday. Meanwhile, Italian referee, Gianluca Rocchi would be in charge. He would be assisted by Elenito Di Liberato and Gianluca Cariolato; the fourth official is Ken Hansen from Denmark. The Golden Eaglets would wear the Green gear while the Iraqis would be on white.

the event also aims at exposing guests coming from different parts of the globe, especially the United States of America to Nigerian arts and culture. Speaking on the fight yesterday, Innocent Ujah Idibia, better known by his stage name, Tuface Idibia, said, “the Night of Legends will be a wonderful thing to happen to Nigerians and the country as a whole because for sometime now, many of the other sports have been neglected and it is a welcome development that Aghalieaku Entertainment is reawakening some of them, especially wrestling. “Wrestling is a very wonderful sport and countries across the globe are making millions of dollars from it, so it will be a good thing if Nigeria could emulate these countries to make the money and enjoy the fun. We should promote the sport to the extent that Nigerians would be able to spend their weekends going to the stadium to Commenting on the collaboration, Tee Mac said the event would expose Nigeria to the outside world, stressing that it will be likened to the legendry Mohammed Ali Rumble in the Jungle fight that shook the world.

E are in the United Arab Emirates, touted as a tourist and business destination of the world. Fine things abound here. This is a place where citizens of the world work, live and play. But there is a limit to everything that you see here. These people have their rules, which are not clearly laid out. You get to understand them when you act contrary to their rules. A tip of it was gotten yesterday when we attempted to check into a hotel in Deira, a little bit outside the city. Dubai. After formailsing everything, two of my colleagues, went up to check the rooms, leaving me and another at the lobby. My friend sighted a beautiful lady, some seats away from us. He admired her. As I made my way upstairs, I was compelled to say hello to the lady and she responded with “I’m fine”. She later told me that she’s from the Comoros.. My friend, who works for a television station in the Niger Delta, now came around and as I introduced him to the lady, he stretched out his hand for a handshake but the lady did not offer hers. He did not know that he was being watched by the receptionist, who later charged at him angrily for trying to shake the hand of the lady. At that moment, he canceled our booking, telling us to go and look for another hotel elsewhere. He said in the city, you can admire the girls but you dare not touch them in public. We tried to plead for leniency but he was adamant. To him, my friend had crossed the line and deserved no mercy but to go out. He also told us that we were not spared from the punishment. I was shocked and as we made our way out,someone told my friend that Dubai is a fine city with fine guys but you don’t touch them in the public. Lesson learnt.

Neymar Continues from B/P Real Madrid as a “pinnacle” for any player. “I don’t think there is any need to explain what this match is all about,” he told Barça’s television channel. “Even though players might never have participated in one, they understand the importance of a game between Barcelona and Real Madrid. “A Clásico is the pinnacle for any player.

It’s the game everyone wants to play in and demonstrate their best football. This will be my first and I want to make a great debut, preferably with a victory.” The £50m striker added: “I think the nerves are the same in all the games you play. I know that it’s about a very important Clásico but I think the feeling of having butterflies in your stomach is the same as before a normal match.”

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62— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Inside today's Sports Vanguard

We'll roll over Iraq --- Eaglets coach •Italians to officiate match (Kick-off: 2 p.m.) G OLDEN Eaglets Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR) believes his players would deliver the goods when they play their last Group F match against Iraq at the Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai today. Speaking at the official match conference held at the stadium’s Media

Eagles open CHAN camp December

Continues on Page 60

El Clásico

FIFA U-17 W/CUP

Neymar not nervous

TODAY’S MATCHES Argentina vs Canada Austria vs Iran Nigeria vs Iraq Sweden vs Mexico

EYMAR has described this weekend’s Clásico between Barcelona and Continues on Page 60

Iheanacho

PUZZLE

first week of December for us to open the CHAN camp” he said ”But you know it’s my employers that would have the final say. So, I am hoping that all things being equal in December we would begin so that we can at least have four weeks of intensive preparation for the CHAN.”

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

5 pm 5 pm 2 pm 2 pm

UPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed he plans to open his training camp for the 2014 CHAN in the first week of December. Nigeria will be making its debut in the CHAN championship which is billed for next year in South Africa. ”I am looking at the

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Elderly (4) 4 Lie (3) 6 Dud (4) 8 Market (6) 9 On ship (6) 10 Encountered (3) 12 Beano (5) 14 Defy (5) 15 Skill (5) 18 Sexless (6) 20 Brawl (6) 24 Collier (5) 26 Chasm (5) 28 Condescend (5) 30 Wager (3) 32 Harm (6) 33 Tepee (6) 34 Jolt (4) 35 Manage (3) 36 Row (4)

DOWN 2 Seize (5) 3 Brogue (7) 4 Shape (4) 5 Urchin (4) 6 Slaver (5) 7 Recipe (7) 11 Sprite (3) 12 Transgression (3) 13 Before (3) 16 Equip (3) 17 Brown (3) 19 Hug (7) 21 Nourished (3) 22 Cargo (7) 23 Longing (3) 25 Freeze (3) 27 Boast (5) 29 Abrade (5) 30 Support (4) 31 Identical (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Smell 7, Bathe 8, Foray 10, Rapid 12, Rub 13, Shied 15, Retreat 17, Tendon 19, Foe 20, Wedlock 23, Turf 25, Tube 26, Elevate 30, Ago 31, Expose 34, Fervour 37, Paste 38, Boo 39, Sober 40, Rebut 41, Crave 42, Deity.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Cache 2, Shred 3, Meadow 4, Lair 5, Correct 6, Cabal 9, Rue 11, Deflate 13, State 14, Inure 16, Nervous 21, Kudos 22, Melee 24, Flavour 27, Ego 28, Expect 29, Rebel 32, Parry 33, Stave 35, Rob 36, Role.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.