2014: Presidency to spend N2.3b on travels

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62043

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

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‘Small time robbers killed advertising guru, Sesan Ogunro’ IN the spirit of the season, your favourite companion will be off the newsstands tomorrow. We're back Friday; keep the date. — EDITOR

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Christmas: Jonathan, Mark, Tambuwal, others task Nigerians on peace, love 8

2014: Presidency to spend N2.3b on travels •N362m for meals, refreshments •No provision for Oteh’s SEC •No breakdown for NASS's N150bn

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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BUJA—THE Presidency plans to spend at least N2.3 billion on local and international travels and

transportation next year.

The proposal is contained in the 2014 appropriation bill submitted by President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to

Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

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Mr & Mrs

Merry Christmas. Photo: NAN.

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —3

C M Y K

4— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON bly but did not give any breakdown of the sum.

It is not clear if the NASS would be in a hurry to pass the budget given the furore that attended the presentation of the document.

Controversy had mounted to the extent that President Jonathan had to back out of the presentation and later sent the Finance Minister to represent him.

Former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, at a Christmas party with orphans in Onitsha, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

Presidency plans N2.3bn for transport, travels Continues from page 1 the National Assembly last week.

A breakdown of the figure showed that the State House would require the sum of N1, 219, 612, 417 for what it called Local Travels. International travels and transportation will gulp N1, 159, 240, 600 .

For the whole year, the

Presidency intends to spend N200 million for the provision of foodstuffs/catering supplies while it also plans to expend another N162,556,500 on meals and refreshments.

For honorarium and sitting allowances, the Presidency has budgeted a princely sum of N320 million for that

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Instead of losing we can learn from our failures and faults.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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IVE with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon.

Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is— Mary A. Radmacher Mr. Albert Einstein was right: If you feel you need to go one way, even when everyone else is going the other way, do so, do so to make positive changes in your life and for this world. I guarantee you that you will never regret that decision. Believe in yourself, other people will also believe you in time.

If you have clear goals and you believe you can reach them, then your mind has the highest possible amount of receptivity to elements that can help you reach your goals. Thus you’ll detect them quickly, even the subtle ones, and you’ll be able to employ them.

When you approach a goal with disbelief, you feel anxiety and your thinking gets clogged by it, which makes finding good solutions to reach that goal less probable.

On the other hand, self-belief makes you relax and think clearly. It stimulates reasoning, memory and, above all, creativity. This makes it more likely that you’ll find good solutions to reach your goals.

In particular, you’ll be able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions that work really well.

purpose just as it has set aside the sum of N33.8 million for the office of the Vice-President to take care of his foodstuffs and catering supplies as well as meals and refreshments in the year.

Under the arrangement, N23.8 million will go for foodstuffs and catering supplies while the balance of N10 million will be spent on meals and refreshments in the office of the second in command.

In the same vein, the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is expected to spend the sum of N568,859,940 on honorarium and another N51, 403,464 on meals and refreshments within the fiscal period.

A scrutiny of the budget proposals however showed that the Presidency shied away from making any provision for the controversial Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, whose head, Arunma Oteh, has been embroiled in a ceaseless war with the National Assembly.

The lawmakers had vowed not to approve any budget for the commission until Oteh was removed but President Jonathan ignored them and their resolution.

In the same vein, the Federal Government made the same yearly provision of N150 billion for the National Assem-

XMAS: Take your destiny in your hands, opposition govs urge Nigerians

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—AS Nigeri ans celebrate Christmas today, governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have asked Nigerians to be ready to seize the opportunity provided by the party to liberate themselves from the crises plaguing the nation.

The governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, said that given the inability of the ruling party to solve the myriad of challenges facing the nation, it was important for them to rise up and work with the APC to move the nation forward.

The PGF said in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja that as Nigerians come to the end of the year, it was imperative for them to reflect on the way forward for the nation and team up with the APC to advance the cause of the nation at all times.

The forum said: “As we come to the end of another turbulent year, marked by growing insecurity, worsening poverty and the creeping dictatorship and intolerance in the country, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) wishes to express its solidarity with the Nigerian people and commend their patience, resilience and dogged resistance in the face of a federal government that has lost touch with the dreams and aspirations of citizens.

“We gladly observe that even as 2013 recedes into the annals of history as one of the worst years in Nigeria’s history, a few developments point to the fact that a new hope is emerging on the horizon, notably the merger of opposition parties and the growing

commitment of progressives and patriotic political leaders to unite under the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the singleminded determination of rescuing Nigeria.

“There is no doubt that the merger of opposition parties today represents a major source of hope for the nation and our people are full of expectations that our party, APC, its leadership, elected representatives and governments will take the right step and measures to move the country away from all the multitudes of crises, halt the current movement towards collapse, restore the credibility of institutions of governance at all levels and respect and recognize the value of the human person. This demands that all political leaders in the country must be ready to make sacrifices.

Commends APC leaders

“We therefore wish to acknowledge and commend our party (APC) leadership for demonstrating high resolve to set aside all their personal positions and aspirations in order to provide the needed leadership to unite all Nigerian progressives. As Progressive Governors, we are proud of the achievements of our party and will continue to support our leaders towards rescuing our dear nation, Nigeria.

“Against the background of today’s federal government that steers the affairs of the nation based on convenience rather than constitutionality, Nigerians have been reduced to helpless observers of a presidency that is only efficient in weakening its moral authority, making it difficult to relate with other levels and tiers of government in

accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“The hard and incomprehensible reality is that the Presidency, federal government and ruling PDP have become reckless, dishonest and completely insensitive to minimum requirement of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians. Government, as far as the conduct of the federal government shows, is all about the political aspirations of functionaries of government, notably Mr. President.

“This is unfortunate and the consequence is the increasing wave of both intra-party and wider national political crises without any visible demonstration of capacity by the federal government and the ruling party to manage or resolve the crises.

“Given the severity and intensity of the crises facing our dear nation, it is clear that rescuing Nigeria will have to commence with a strong commitment to a national agenda of reconciliation in order to resolve grievances of citizens and bring forth a clear roadmap for nation building founded on respect for our diversities.

“Such a commitment should be founded on the principles of acknowledging deepseated anger of citizens and recognizing that it is in the first place a product of injustices over years of bad governance. As a result, governments at all levels at different times have infringed on the rights and liberties of citizens."

“In 2014, we shall take all the necessary steps to roll out programmes that will facilitate development of synergy, experience sharing and collaboration by all progressive states."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Pastor docked over N20m fraud

Grandson, driver arrested over kidnap of 90-year-old woman

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zNonagenarian released after ransom

SABA — THE Delta State Police Command said, yesterday, that it had arraigned one Pastor Victor Osakwe at the Asaba Magistrate Court for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting victims of more than N20 million.

The command’s Acting Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Charles Muka, said in Asaba that the pastor defrauded more than 20 people of both money and property.

Muka also alleged that Osakwe was a fake pastor at the Holly Hill Zion Prophetic and Solution Ministry, Akwu Ofu, Asaba.

He said: “Osakwe has been arraigned on 20-count charge of frequently defrauding over 20 persons of a total of N20 million.

“The pastor’s mode of operation is to raise false alarm on death and imminent calamity on his unsuspecting victims to make them part with their cars and monies.”

Man arraigned for biting off friend’s lip at beer parlour

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AGOS — FOR alleg edly biting off his friend’s upper lip, a 31year-old man, Chidi Osuagwu, was yesterday charged before an Itire Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, The accused, who resides at 13, Agboola St., Ijeshatedo, a Lagos suburb, is being tried for assault.

The prosecutor, Inspector Olakunle Shobanire, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 25 at 9.00 p.m. at 271, Ijesha Road in Itire area of Lagos.

Shobanire alleged that Osuagwu was at a beer parlour when the complainant, Sunday Adebayo, asked him to buy him a bottle of beer, but he refused.

The complainant jokingly chided the accused for failing to buy him beer which angered Osuagwu and he immediately assaulted Adebayo by biting off his upper lip, he said.

The accused entered a plea of not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N40, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Gbajumo, adjourned the case to January 13, 2014 .

BY OKONKWO EZE

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NITSHA — THE grand son and driver of a 90year-old woman, Mrs. Madueke, who was abducted by gunmen suspected to be ransom kidnappers are now being grilled by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Awkuzu in connection with the kidnap.

However, jubilation rented the air yesterday at Adazi-Ani community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the nonagenarian’s release after ransom payment.

Gunmen abducted Madueke in her home about eight days ago and demanded N50 million ransom as a condition for her release but following series of negotiations between her family and the kidnappers, they agreed on an unspecified amount of ransom which was paid to them before they released her early yesterday.

A close associate of the family, Chief G. U. Okeke who is also a native of Adazi-Ani, said in a telephone chat, yesterday, that the ransom was taken to the kidnappers somewhere in Nsukka,Enugu State, as they

dictated, while victim was dropped at Abagana Junction in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, from where the family picked her up.

Okeke who is the Chairman of G.U.O. Motors Limited, said the victim’s grand son and her driver are now being grilled over the kidnap.

At press time, the officer in-

charge of SARS, James Nwafor, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, could not comment on the matter when contacted on phone as he said he was busy in a field operation.

Turkeys on sale for Christmas at Wuse market in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Police nab suspected killers of Customs comptroller

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI— IMO State Po lice Command has arrested one Mishack Osuala, the suspected mastermind of the recent kidnap and murder of an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Mishack Ugwuoha.

Parading Osuala before newsmen, yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, also said Chukwudi Okezue from Ubomiri, Mbaitoli Local Council Area of the state died as a result of gunshot wounds he received during the operation.

The Imo police boss also disclosed that 45-year-old Lawrence Udeze, who hails from the same Umuchoke, Amaigbo with the late Customs officer, was arrested.

The commissioner, meantime, has declared a 30-year-old Okechukwu Uzoma, a native of Umuchoke, Amaigbo, wanted in connection with the crime.

Giving a graphic detail of how the suspects were rounded up, Katsina explained: “Having been attracted by the gruesome kidnap and murder of the senior Customs officer, the command’s anti-homicide squad took over investigations.”

According to the CP, "after sustained and painstaking efforts by our men, a breakthrough was made when the principal suspects, especially the dead man’s relations, were arrested.

“One of them, Mishack Osuala, a 25-year old bricklayer, who is also a native of Umuchoke, Amaigbo, Nwangele local government area, was arrested. It is interesting to note that this suspect was the first to lead sympathiz-

ers to Nkwerre and Nwangele police stations, where he shed crocodile tears,” the CP said.

Katsina noted that the police saw something very questionable about Osuala’s conduct and placed a close watch on him, adding that he was later arrested by the Command’s Ambush Squad when he attempted to escape.

“His arrest and interrogation encouraged the police to classify him as the mastermind of the crime as he did not only

confess to the crime, but went further to recall how he planned the act to take over the man’s property, giving names of the other members of the gang,” Katsina said.

According to Katsina, the arrest of the suspects has again heightened the command’s fears of involvement of family members in crime and appealed to members of the public for credible information that would lead to the fleeing suspects' arrest.

7 killed, 5 injured in Bauchi auto crash

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — AT least seven persons have been confirmed dead while five others sustained injuries when a commercial bus veered off the road and hit an articulated truck on Alkaleri-Gombe road, about 50km from Bara village in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The accident which took place at about 12.30 pm occured when an 18-seater commercial Mitsubish bus with number plate AJ 779

TRN lost control at a sharp bend and rammed into an articulated truck with number plate BB 79 MUS, parked by the roadside.

Confirming the incident, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Sunday Henry Olatunji, said among the 12 persons involved in the crash, seven were confirmed dead while five sustained injuries.

According to him, “among the dead persons were three adult males, two male children and two female children.

The remaining five that were

injured are men.”

Olatunji who said his officers along with state rescue officials rushed to the scene shortly after it happened, attributed the crash to the fault of driver of the Mitsubish bus who was over-speeding.

He said all the victims of the crash, including the corpses of the seven persons were conveyed to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe State.

He a appealed to motorists to be careful and observe traffic rules and regulations, especially during the Christmas celebrations.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—7

‘Small-time robbers killed advertising guru, Sesan Ogunro’

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & MONSUR OLOWOFEJO

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AGOS — THERE are indi cations that prominent marketing communications guru, Mr. Sesan Ogunro, Group Managing Director, Eminent Communications and Spot-On Media, might have been killed by a gang of small-time robbers who were out to steal cars. This could contradict speculations that his killers were hired assassins. Police sources disclosed that findings from their investigations so far revealed that Ogunro was a victim of a robbery gone bad.

A source who spoke to Vanguard on anonymity, said a visit to the crime scene, interviews from eyewitnesses and intelligence gathered so far, pointed to the fact that the robbers were immature, and could not control their anxiety.

According to the source, “we’ve been to the scene and we’ve spoken to eyewitnesses.

It is obvious that the gunmen were small-time robbers and nobody would have hired such as an assassin.

Target was his Mercedes Benz SUV "Their target was his Mercedes Benz SUV, but they felt threatened when he threw the key at the floor and they shot him. I see no reason why they would have done such.

"When we visited the scene, we recovered the expended cartridge that was used and we believed that it was fired from a locally-made gun.”

Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent, said the command was on the trail of the bandits.

In a statement, she said: ”About 22:42 hours on December 22, a distress call was received by the Alausa Division of the Police Command. It was gathered that four armed men operating in a Honda Odyssey attempted to snatch a Mercedes Benz ML SUV belonging to Mr Ogunro.

“The man resisted and threw away the key of the SUV, hence the armed men shot him. They abandoned the Honda Odyssey and escaped with a red Toyota Yaris car belonging to the wife, who was standing with him at the scene.

“The scene was visited immediately by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and a team and the incident was confirmed.

The DPO also visited the victim at the Lagoon Hospital where he was receiving treatment, though in critical critical.”

She said none of the relatives

Kogi NDLEA re-arrests jail breaker with narcotics

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (2nd right) condoling with Mrs Damilola Ogunro, children and her sister, during his visit to the family of slain advertising guru, Mr Sesan Ogunro, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

had made statement on the incident.

The Police spokesperson explained that the Honda Odyssey was confirmed to have been snatched from somebody identified as Ali Balogun at EbuteMetta at 8pm.

The owner was reportedly dropped off at Jobi-Fele Way in Alausa, Ikeja, from where she was taken to the station.

Braide said the police had begun investigation into the incident and the search for the fleeing hoodlums.

Vanguard further gathered that Ogunro sighted the bandits harassing his wife and children in the Toyota Yaris car they came in at the entrance of their church, the International Church of Christ, along JobiFele Way in Alausa, where he attended a Christmas Carol service.

After the attack, the killers were said to have thrown out Ogunro’s son and grandchildren from the rear of the car before speeding off with it.

They were also said to have abandoned the car they originally came in, which is now in the custody of the police at the Alausa Police Station.

Our source also stated that the slain Ogunro was first rushed to the Lagoon Hospital on Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, before he was transported in an ambulance to the hospital’s headquarters in Apapa for special attention.

Ogunro shot with dane gun ”You know because he was shot with a dane gun, the pellets spread all around his stomach and perforated his internal organs.

Fashiola consoles family Meanwhile, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the Ogunro fam-

ily, describing the late advertising guru as a man with a truly restless spirit and master of his art.

Fashola, who was at Ogunro’s Ogudu GRA residence, was received by the widow, Mrs. Dupe Ogunro and the children of the deceased.

Some of the children present during the visit were Mrs. Damilola Gbadebo-Ogunro, Mr. Timayo Ogunro and Miss Fade Ogunro.

Fashola at the occasion added that his administration and indeed the Nigerian nation have lost a most resourceful personality who will surely be missed by all.

Said he: “On behalf of my wife, Dame Emmanuella, the Government and people of Lagos State, please accept my condolences and be assured that we are in prayers with you and members of your family for the peaceful repose of the soul of your husband and for the Almighty God to grant you the fortitude to bear this loss.”

OKOJA — THE Na tional Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Kogi State has arrested an awaiting trial inmate, Ilori Olusola, who escaped from Koton-Karfe Prisons in a 2012 jail break.

Olusola was standing trial at the Federal High Court, Lokoja, for unlawful possession of 106.8 kilogrammes of Indian hemp before the jail break.

Alhaji Idris Bello, the Commander of NDLEA in the state, said at the 2013 end-of-year news briefing in Lokoja that Olusola was re-arrested at Anyigba on December 19 with 2.9 kilogrammes of Indian hemp.

Bello said the suspect had been taken back to Koton-Karfe prisons for continuation of his trial, and that additional charges would be filed against him on resumption of the trial.

Presenting his score chart for the year, Bello said the command had recorded a total seizure of 6,499.809 kilogrammes of illicit drugs made up of 6,499.549kg of Indian hemp, 609 grammes of psychotropic substances and volatile solvents weighing 200 grammes.

The commander said that 23 vehicles were impounded and 225 suspects arrested in connection with the seizures, and that 36 of them were convicted and sentenced while 17 others were still awaiting trial.

Bello also said that 170 persons who were drugdependent had been counselled and rehabilitated, and two others discovered to be innocent after due investigation were released.

Ex-Anglican primate, Akinola abducted, rescued in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA— BARELY 24 hours to Christmas celebration, former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Peter Jasper Akinola was, yesterday, abducted in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

He was, however, rescued hours later by the state police command.

Ogun State Police Command said it rescued the ex-CAN President at Ijoga Price in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi told Vanguard on phone that, the rescue operation was like a war that lasted two hours.

Adejobi said, men of Nigeria Police and the gang engaged in gun duel for hours before the cleric was rescued.

He said: "It was a war because before we could rescue the old man. We found out that, apart from the man and his driver, one of his children was there.

“We have 10 teams of policemen that participated in the

rescue operation. Three of the teams were escorting the victims to their house. And the remaining teams are still there in the bush because the place is wide.”

When asked if it was a case of kidnapping, Adejobi said it would be too early to conclude, saying the command would find out from the victims during interrogation.

The 69-year-old cleric was reportedly waylaid by unknown gunmen at about 3:00 pm, in front of the main entrance of the Peter Akinola Foundation Centre for Youth

Industrial Training at Kilometre10, Abeokuta-Lagos expressway and seized with his driver, whose name could not be ascertained at press time.

A source close to the retired primate told Vanguard that Akinola was returning from the youth training centre where he had gone to inspect some ongoing projects.

Vanguard learnt that the abductors blocked the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) conveying the cleric and started shooting into the air before he was taken away in his vehicle.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

CHRISTMAS: Jonathan, Mark, Tambuwal, clerics task Nigerians on love, peace, unity

BY BEN AGANDE, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & CALEB AYANSINA

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S Christians in Nigeria join the rest of the world to celebrate Christmas today, President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, urged Nigerians to make personal sacrifices for the good of others and ensure the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill manifest in interactions with others during the yuletide period.

President Jonathan, in his Christmas message, promised Nigerians to practice the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified during his earthly ministry.

He said: “I join our Christian compatriots and all other Nigerians in giving thanks to God Almighty, whose grace and benevolence has helped our nation to overcome the many challenges it has had since we celebrated Christmas last year.

“The annual commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ is a most auspicious time for us as individuals and as a nation, to rededicate ourselves to the virtues and ideals which the Messiah preached and exemplified during his earthly ministry.

“Let us all, therefore, resolve to make the ideals of peace, harmony, tolerance, love and goodwill to all more manifest in our interactions with others this season.

“It remains my sincere belief that no height of human accomplishment is beyond us as a nation if we can overcome our differences, such as they are, and forge a binding national consensus to put the progress and well-being of the country above all other considerations.

Jonathan expresses hope for nat'l confab

“My administration will do all within its powers and abilities to ensure that when representatives of our people assemble for the forthcoming national conference next year, they will have every opportunity and encouragement to make very significant contributions towards forging the required consensus for sustained national peace, unity and progress.

“It is also my expectation that the national conference will contribute in no small measure towards the urgent resolution of contentious issues, which currently hinder our progress as a nation.

CHRISTMAS: Selling and buying hampers at Wuse Market, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. “With God Almighty as our guide, strength and enabler, my administration will continue to implement its agenda for national transformation in furtherance of its avowed commitment to improving the living conditions of all Nigerians.

“On behalf of myself, my family and the Federal Government, I wish you all very joyful Christmas celebrations, and a peaceful and prosperous 2014.”

The Senate President, David Mark and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in their separate goodwill Christmas massages to the nation, appealed to Nigerians to sink their ideological-cumpolitical differences irrespective of their religious, ethnic or political beliefs and make paramount the unity of the nation.

Senate President

Senator Mark, in a message by his Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, urged Nigerians to make peace and religious harmony the cornerstone of their relationship with one another.

The Senate President, who specifically called on the political class to lead the way to peace, law and order, cautioned that national interest and cohesion should not be sacrificed on the altar of individual or group ambitions.

He said that politics should ordinarily be a game and not a battlefield and reminded those fanning the embers of war or disunity not to set the

house ablaze before they even get there.

He said: “We have come a long way as a people. We should see ourselves as one people; one nation with a common destiny.

We cannot be moving in the reverse order when other nations are going to the moon.

“We have always admitted that the challenges are enormous but we must realise that nobody is coming from the space to solve our problems for us.”

He assured that the national assembly would always stand by the people.

Deputy

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in a message by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, urged the Christian faithful to emulate the humility of Jesus Christ with a view to eschewing all forms of bitterness so the nation can move forward.

Ekweremadu, who regretted that the progress of the nation had been seriously compromised by unforgiveness, also said that the current overheating of the polity was partly ego-driven.

He noted that mankind would have been eternally doomed had Jesus Christ put self first or considered himself too important to take the form of man to restore peace and reconcile mankind unto God. He said: “At Christmas, we have to learn to emulate the virtues of selflessness, commitment to common good, and total love, which the birth of Christ among men symbolises.

“Whatever the grievances are, we must shove them aside and live in the full consciousness that

this is the season of unconditional love demonstrated by God.”

Tambuwal

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, in his message enjoined Nigerians to continue to reflect on the positive tenets that unite the nation, strengthen the polity and enhance its stability and prosperity as they celebrate Christmas.

In his message, by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, Tambuwal also called for sustained prayers for peace, unity and stability in the country, even as he admonished persons of all faith to be their brother’s keepers and shun all vices and negative acts that can jeopardise the efforts of government in providing democracy dividends.

He said: “This period calls for sober reflection and continued prayers for our dear nation.

“We must replicate the teachings and lessons of Christmas and continue to exhibit good character and extend hands of fellowship and build blocks of unity and understanding to all irrespective of our perceived differences.”

Oritsejafor

The President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, also called on Nigerians, particularly, Christian faithful, to reflect on Christ’s external messages, as the country joined the rest of the world to celebrate Christmas.

Oritsejafor, in a statement signed by his Media Assistant,

Kenny Ashaka, yesterday, urged “all Nigerians, irrespective of our religions, to display the true spirit of devotion which originates from our systems of religious beliefs as enshrined in the holy books.

“Christmas is a season to construct our religions in an ordered way as Christ did by shunning all forms of devices designed to hide the true motive of its celebration. It is a season for us to ponder on the gifts that come with the birth of Jesus Christ.

“I call on all Nigerians to use this occasion to reflect on Christ’s external messages of abstinence, integrity, love, compassion, humility and to pray for our leaders, representatives, the growth of the economy, the advancement of democracy and a violence-free nation.”

Odedeji

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, Right Rev. Olusola Odedeji, called on all Nigerian Christians to use the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration to seek the face of the Lord for peace to reign in the country.

In a statement yesterday, the Bishop said: “This is not a time for wild celebration, but sober reflection on the state of the country.

“The roles of Christians are living peaceably with all men and women and inviting divine visitation to overcome the evil forces that have held the country hostage in the recent past.

Odedeji called attention to persecution of Christians in parts of the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—9

We lost 15 troops to Boko Haram attack— DEFENCE HQTRS

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA— THE Defence Headquarters said, yesterday, that it lost 15 soldiers when Boko Haram terrorists carried out pre-dawn attacks on Mohammed Kur Barracks, Bama in Borno State, last Friday, which claimed five civilians.

Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, who disclosed this in a statement, said the military operations to track the insurgents that carried out the attacks led to the destruction of over 20 vehicles conveying the terrorists.

According to the statement, “the vehicles were the ones used during the attack on the barracks and were sited through air surveillance as the terrorists were making efforts to cross the borders back to their haven in Cameroon.

“Although a good number of the insurgents escaped with bullet wounds, some have been arrested.

“Over 50 of them died in the course of exchange of fire with

z As DSS parades Air Force man, others over alleged kidnap ground troops in the ongoing operations to apprehend fleeing terrorists.

“The military has lost 15 soldiers mostly from the attack while some died during the pursuit. Five civilians also died during the attack.

“Intensive cordon-andsearch operation is still ongoing to fish out the insurgents that might be lurking around area.”

The statement added that the families affected by the attacks have been relocated to other military locations.

Kidnap

Meanwhile, operatives of Department of State Services, SSS, yesterday paraded a Lance Corporal with the Nigerian Air Force, Sulaiman Mohammed, and six others over alleged kidnapping of Sokoto State-based businessman, Alhaji Abu Dankure, who later died 11 days after his release.

Others paraded with

Mohammed are; Mustapha Isah, gang coordinator, Mohammed Abubakar, Farouk Waziri, Mohammed Bukar, Usman Idah and Abdullahi Musa.

Speaking on behalf of DSS in his office in Abuja, an Assistant Director, Mr. Doyin Adetuberu, said the men were caught after the mastermind of the criminal act, Isah, was arrested and confessed to the crime.

Adetuberu said: “On November 6, Alhaji Abu Dankure, a prominent Sokotobased businessman and philanthropist was kidnapped at his construction site, located in Kofar, Kwari area, along Western by-pass, Sokoto.

“Dankure was released by his captors on November 11 and died 11 days later.”

Confesions

Olatuberu said Mustapha Isah, a 31-year-old indigene of Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, residing in Sabongeri, Kano State, confessed that in September he

rented a 3-bedroom apartment at Mabera area of Sokoto, where he used for the operation.

He also confessed to have collected $290,000 ransom in Kwali, Kwali Area Council of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, after which he ordered the release of the victim, who was in their custody for five days.

While other confessed to have been part of the kidnap, Lance Corporal Suleiman Mohammed denied any involvement and insisted that he only sold a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to Abdullahi Musa.

The 24-year-old officer, attached to Ministry of Defence and residing at NAF base Airport Road, Abuja, however admitted to have told one of the gang members that his uncle could assist them in procuring arms.

He denied he ever have the knowledge or participated in the said kidnap operation.

Olatuberu reiterated DSS' commitment to combating insecurity in the country.

GIVING: Women Leader, Christ Perfect Church, Bayangari, Mrs Victoria John (left) receiving Christmas gift from Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Talatu Barwa, during the distribution of Christmas gifts to Christian women in Bauchi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Arrest of Kano lawmakers, political vendetta —APC

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the arrest of the Speaker, Clerk and nine members of Kano State legislature by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as an undisguised case of political vendetta by a hurting Presidency, whose target is actually the state governor.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said since the arrest of the lawmakers for carrying out their statutory duty of approving a budget cannot be justified by any law.

APC said it was clear to all discerning Nigerians that the only motive could only be to harass and intimidate the lawmakers of a state that recently “escaped from the hellhole called PDP to join the APC.” It said the arrest also undoubtedly marked the beginning of the longexpected series of persecution by a desperate Federal Government against APC states.

The party called for the immediate release of the legislators by EFCC, which it said had suddenly found enough resources from its driedup coffers.

The statement said: “Nowhere in the world are lawmakers arrested for carrying out their constitution-mandated role of approving a budget.

“The world must be having a laugh at the lack of ingenuity by a government that is so eager to extract a pound of flesh from supposed political enemies that it would orchestrate arrests for offences unknown to law.”

Police Minister assures on security during Christmas celebrations

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA— MINISTER of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, yesterday, assured Nigerians of the capability of the Nigeria Police to provide security

throughout the nation.

In a statement by James Odaudu, Assistant Director, Information, Olubolade said the Police are now, more than ever before, better equipped in terms of training and logistical provision to detect

and prevent all forms of criminalities, while also collaborating with other relevant security agencies.

He said: “With the directive of the Police High Command putting all police formations on red alert throughout the festive

period, Nigerians should be rest assured of adequate security and promised the Ministry ’s back-up for the Police to enable the officers and men of the Force discharge their duties.

He enjoined the people to be

conscious of security issues in their respective communities and give adequate and timely information of suspected threats to the police and other security agencies to forestall the activities of undesirable elements.

10—Vanguard, WEDNEESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Experts caution against excessive consumption of alcohol

L

AGOS — SOME health experts, yesterday, urged Nigerians to drink with moderation to stem health challenges associated with excessive drinking.

They gave the advice in separate interviews in Lagos ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe, is the son of God. It is celebrated on December 25. The New Year day is marked on January 1.

Christmas and New Year periods are usually accompanied with a lot of celebrations, ceremonies and parties that create avenues for people to indulge in excessive consumption of food and alcohol.

Dr. James Asoka, the Medical Director of Sheffi Hospital, Egbeda, Lagos, said that excessive drinking has negative effects on the human body and the environment.

“Drinking occasionally and moderately may not pose so much of a problem.

According to Dr Obi Anyanwu, a physician, excessive drinking could result in long-term health challenges.

Dr Kelechi Ahuchogu, a psychologist, said that excessive drinking has negative effects on the mental state of people.

Cleric urges Nigerians to turn to God

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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HE DISTRICT Superintendent of the Apostolic Faith Church, West and Central Africa, Rev. Emmanuel Adeniran has urged Nigerian to turn to God and forsake their sinful ways.

Adeniran said this during the annual Christmas concert of the church, entilted, 'The Messiah,' at the church campground, Anthony Village, Lagos.

Lamenting the rate of constant socio-political and security challenges facing the country, Rev. Adeniran advised Nigerians to preach love and peaceful co-existence, urging prayers for leaders to be guided by God’s wisdom in piloting the affairs of Nigeria.

FLAG-OFF: From left, Mr. George Noah, Managing Director, Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency, LASAA; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, and Mr. Abayomi Daramola, Chairman, Iru Victoria Local Council Development Area, during the flag-off of countdown to 2014, on the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Lagos to ban transporting workers in articulated vehicles L

AGOS — LAGOS State House of Assembly, yesterday, resolved to amend the state’s Transportation Law, 2000 to prohibit any company from using an articulated vehicle to convey its workers.

At a plenary session of the House, Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji directed a joint committee to look into the issue, and report to the House in January.

The joint committee includes

the Assembly’s Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, and that of Transportation, Commerce and Industry.

The proposed amendment resulted from a motion moved by

Christmas eve tragedy: 3 die, 18 injured in auto crash

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & BOSE ADELAJA

A

BEOKUTA — TRAGEDY struck, yesterday, at Obada – Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun Sstate when three persons lost their lives while 18 others including seven children were critically injured in a lone accident.

The accident, which involved a Toyota Hiace passenger bus with registration number, LAGOS FKJ 07 AS, occurred late Monday evening on Lagos – Abeokuta expressway.

Vanguard gathered that occupants of the Toyota bus were members of the Celestial Church, who were going for their annual prayer congress at Celestial town of Imeko in Imeko/Afon Local Government Area of the state.

The Itori Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Fatai Bakare, who confirmed the accident, said 21 persons which included four males, 10 females and seven children were on board as at the time the accident occurred.

Bakare said that those that were critically injured included seven children, seven women as well as all the four male occupants of the bus.

Commenting on the cause of the accident, the Unit Commander explained that the driver over-sped and when the tyre of the vehicle burst, he could not control it and the vehicle sommersaulted, resulting in the death of the occupants.

Bakare also said that the injured victims had been taken to the Federal Medical Center, Idi – Aba, Abeokuta for medical treatments, while corpses of those that died have also been deposited at the same hospital.

... 8 injured on Lagos/Ibadan expressway

N

O FEWER than eight passengers were, yesterday, trapped in an auto crash involving a Sienna bus on Lagos/Ibadan expressway.

The victims were said to have sustained minor injuries, but were, however, rescued by by traffic and emegency officials

on the expressway.

The cause of the incident could not be ascertained as at press time, but it occurred around 12 noon when the vehicle with number plate YA 183 FKJ, crashed when travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State to Lagos.

Mr. Abiodun Tobun, who represents Epe I Constituency on the platform of APC. Tobun drew the attention of the lawmakers to the use of articulated vehicles by some construction companies to convey their workers to sites.

“Recently, there was an accident which occurred somewhere around Ibeju-Lekki, where a Julius Berger vehicle, conveying its workers, collided with another lorry, and a lot of people died instantly,” he said.

Mr. Rotimi Olowo, APC-Somolu I, said that using articulated vehicles to convey workers was insulting.

“I have been to Germany where Julius Berger came from; no company uses articulated vehicles to carry its staff members,” he said.

Olowo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, urged the Federal Government to stop companies operating in Nigeria from conveying workers in articulated vehicles.

He said that it had become a trend among foreign construction companies in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee, Mr. Bisi Yusuf, said that such companies were not interested in the welfare of their workers, but in profit.

Group petitions Lagos Speaker over Ejigbo women

BY EBUN SESSOU

A

GROUP, Women Arise for Change Initiative has petitioned the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, over an alleged brutality of two women by some men in Ejigbo area of the state.

In the petition entitled, ‘Dehumanisation of two women in Ejigbo, Lagos State,’ by the

group’s President, Joe OkeiOdumakin, it was alleged that the women were sometimes this year subjected to one of the most vicious forms of human rights abuses and unspeakable horrors of brutality by certain depraved and savage men.

The group pointed out that there was outrage across the nation and around the world when video shots of the victims stripped, and mercilessly beaten

with pepper, and sodomised with strange objects went viral.

“As Nigerians and fellow citizens of the world watched the horrific scenes, they wondered if these were shots taken in the dark ages of savagery and primitivism.

“It was learnt that the victims were a mother and a step-daughter accused of stealing pepper, and that the husband and father was a palm-wine tapper," the group said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—11

Osun distributes 70 buses to NURTW

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CELEBRATION: Cross-section of Osun State indigenes and non-indigence, boarding Free Train Transport, organised by Osun State Government, marking the celebration of Xmas festival,at the Idoo Terminal, Lagos State, yesterday.

Ogun Labour Party exco drags Daniel to court zI remain the party leader — OGD

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — THE crisis rocking the Labour Party in Ogun State has taken another dimension as the party in the state, yesterday, dragged the former Governor Gbenga Daniel before the state High Court, asking that he be stopped from parading himself as the leader/chairman of the party in the state.

The state Chairman of the party, Olabode Simeon and Secretary, Olaposi Sunday; state Financial Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, and two others were the claimants, who sued the former governor and the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP, Ikemefuna Okoye as first and second defendants, respectively.

In the motion on notice obtained by our correspondent, the party prayed the court to restrain Daniel from meddling with the affairs of the party in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit in the case which has been fixed for January 10, 2014.

The party also urged the court to compel the CP to implement the interlocutory injection barring the first defendant from meddling with the party affairs in the state.

Members of the party ’s state executive and Daniel have been at logger-heads over the control of the party machinery .

The national leadership has

reportedly handed over the party structure in the state to Daniel, instructing the members of the executive to regard Daniel as the party leader.

But, in an attempt to stop him from hijacking the party from them, the state executive obtained an order of interlocutory injunction for the main-

tenance of the undisputed position existing in the executive council of the party in the state prior to the commencement of hostilities few weeks ago.

The claimants urged the court to restraints Daniel, “from further parading himself as the leader/Chairman of Labour Party in Ogun State.

NSCDC arrests 44, convicts 4 pipeline vandals

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — OUT of 44 suspects that were arrested by the Oyo State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for alleged vandalism of petroleum pipelines, four of them were convicted in the year. Other suspects are still standing trial in various courts in the state.

Also, yesterday, Vigilante groups in Ogbomosho/ Gambari axis of Oyo State ap-

prehended a tanker with registration number Lagos XE 431 LSD loaded with 40,000 litres of fuel.

The three suspects were handed over to the police.

In addition, 21 vehicles and five motorcycles were confiscated over related offences.

This was disclosed by the NSCDC state Commandant, Mr. Shem Obafaiye at the end of year programme organised by the command at Railway compound, Iyaganku Ibadan.

Commandant Obafaiye, while giving performance re-

ports disclosed that there was proliferation of private guard companies which duly registered with his command.

According to him, the number of the private guard companies surged from 69 to 81, while 10 staff of alleged illegal private guards companies operating in Ibadan were arrested and five companies sealed in the year.

The command gave awards to some of its outstanding staff in all departments, units and divisions.

Adeyeye warns Fayemi over destruction of bill-boards, posters

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FENIFERE CHIEFTAIN and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has said the state government should desist from acts that are capable of causing chaos in the state, alleging that, “In the last three days, agents of the gov-

ernor have been going about, destroying our billboards and posters, especially in AdoEkiti, the state capital.”

The governorship aspirant, who gave this warning in a release, issued yesterday, by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Mr. Bisi Kolawole, said the All

Progressives Congress, APC, government in the state should not push Ekiti people to such a level that they would begin to react violently.

He said: “Despite a pending suit number HAD/35/2013 filed against the Ekiti State Signage Agency and the State Attorney-General, demanding the

payment of N100 million as general damages, N2.25 million being the cost of fabrication and installation of the billboards and signposts over the wanton destruction of our billboards last April, agents of the government have been moving around, destroying our posters.”

HE GOVERNOR of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday, said that infrastructure development can only thrive in a state where the security of lives and property of citizens are guaranteed.

This was even as the governor lauded the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and the Road Transporter Employers of Nigeria, RTEAN, for the healthy relationship among them which has brought about peace in motor parks and the Osun State in general.

Aregbesola made these declarations at the formal launch of the first phase of the Government- Assisted mass transit buses to members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers in Osun, at Bola Ige House parking lot State Secretariat, in Osogbo.

The governor while distributing 70 brand new buses to the union, pointed out that road transportation is the chief mode of moving people and goods around in the country.

He noted that it has become the major indicator for measuring the standard of living of the people.

Amosun swears-in 2 new judges

G

OVERNOR IBIKUNLE Amosun has sworn-in two new judges appointed into the Ogun State Judiciary, charging them to be fearless in the discharge of their duties.

Swearing-in Justices Durojaye Naheem Omolaja and Babatunde Ademola Bakre in Governor ’s Office, yesterday, Amosun said as custodians of the law of the land, they should be firm and fearless in their judgments, noting that they will be accountable for their deeds while on earth.

Congratulating the judges, Amosun said: “I want you to justify the confidence reposed in you on your new assignment which is a call to service and I am sure you will not let us down.”

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Sheathe your swords, Delta IPMAN factions urged

Nigeria needs continuous prayers —Oshiomhole

BY FESTUS AHON

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

U

GHELLI—NATIONAL Auditor of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chief Benjamin Ojugo, has appealed to the warring factions in Delta State chapter of the body to sheathe their swords.

Speaking with newsmen, Odjugo said the Midwest zone and national body of IPMAN told the warring factions to adhere to the position of government on the crisis, adding that the zone would not tolerate any action from any of the warring factions that would be inimical to peace.

While noting that such faction would be dealt with accordingly, he commended Delta State Government for intervening in the crises rocking the state chapter of IPMAN, Ojugo said: “I am strongly behind the stand of the state government that anyone found disrupting the prevailing peace and security of the state will be dealt with decisively according to the law.

“I want to charge the different warring factions of IPMAN to be law abiding, embrace peace and adhere to the National Assembly and the Delta State Government position on the matter while carrying out their daily activities.

“The position of the state government and the National Assembly that a caretaker committee should be set up when the tenure of the present IPMAN leadership expires in April 2014 and election should be conducted into the body three months after, must be adhered to by the warring factions.”

B

SYMPOSIUM: From right: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Prof. G.G Darah and Chief Timi Tonye, Commissioner for Special Duties (DESOPADEC), during a symposium on Warri and it’s Environs in Warri, Delta State.

Dan-Abia laments NDDC's failure to meet expectations of Niger Deltans

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—NEW Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commissioner, NDDC, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, has lamented the failure of the commission to meet the expectations of the region, thirteen years after its creation.

Dan-Abia, who spoke at the commission’s headquarters, said it was time for staff and management team of the commission to thoroughly reflect on how best they could work to achieve NDDC's targets as an interventionist’s agency of the federal gov-

YO—AKWA Ibom State Government has commended the World Bank for ensuring quality standards in the execution of communitybased micro-projects in the state.

Secretary to State Government, SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, gave the commendation in Uyo while inspecting 30 open market stalls executed by the bank at Ifa Ikot Idang.

Emmanuel, who was represented by Mrs. Stella Usah, Director of Administration in

we have not done well then we will take off from there,” he said.

Dan-Abia said the new board would guard against any form of rivalry and personality clash, adding that the board was ready to work harmoniously with the entire staff of the commission.

“Be assured that we will not inherit anybody’s enemies.

Let us all work as a family. I assure you that there will be no room for division. Let’s work as a team, there will be no room for friction. We will go back to the NDDC master plan,” he added.

Delta assures on commitment to welfare of less privileged office holders, for showing

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mrs. Betty Efekodha, has restated the government’s commitment to the well being of orphans in the state.

A-Ibom commends World Bank on execution of micro-projects

U

ernment in the region.

He said the new board would dust up the NDDC master plan as a guide on how to tackle the challenges of underdevelopment and poverty plaguing the region.

“Perception of this commission is not so good. We have to be realistic. We should be fully conscious of the expectations of the region and the nation.

“Let us reflect, be honest and admit that we have not met the expectations of the region and the founding fathers of the commission. If we convince ourselves that

his office, also inspected skill acquisition centre in Obot Akara Local Government Area, four classroom blocks in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area and a health post in Ini Local Government Area of the state.

He said the projects, which were handled by Akwa Ibom Agency for Community and Social Development Programme, CSDP, were of a high quality.

The SSG said that the delivery periods for the projects were timely and urged the benefiting communities to make proper use of the facilities to better their lots.

Speaking during a party organized by Support Women and Good Government, SWAGG, for orphans from orphanages across the state and pupils from the school for Children with Special Needs and Hearing Impaired, Asaba, Efekodha appealed to well meaning Nigerians, public spirited individuals and corporate bodies to join hands with the state government to improve the living conditions of the less privileged in the society.

She said: “The state government alone cannot meet the needs of the less privileged in the society.

“Assisting them through skill acquisition and financial empowerment, amongst others by public spirited individuals, philanthropists and corporate bodies will go a long way to improving their living conditions.”

She commended the group, which comprises women in government/women political

love and care to the children and making them have a sense of belonging.

Earlier, President of SWAGG and Special Adviser to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Chaliokwu Orumade, and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Physically Challenged, Omasan Buwa, in their separate remarks, said the party was a testimony of their love and care for the child r e n and to a l s o g i v e them a sense of belonging this Christmas season.

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said, yesterday, that Nigeria needed constant prayers from both Christians and Muslims for God to intervene in its problems.

Oshiomhole, who stated this during a luncheon organised for the leadership of the state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, said: “For the past five years, I realize from time to time, that we have cause to ask CAN/ PFN to organise interdenominational services, to pray for the state, government and even Nigeria because we have so many problems.

“For the past five years, the church has been interceding for me, my family and the state; hence the luncheon, to thank God for what He has been using you, and will continue to use you, to do for the peace and unity of the state.”

The governor further solicited their continued support and pledged that he would sustain the pace of work.

Speaking earlier, state chairman of CAN, Most Reverend Peter Imasuen, who was represented by Reverend Richard Ofere, commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state and urged him to remain focused.

He thanked the governor for his administration’s timely intervention in the erosion-ravaged areas of Ekehuan and Queen Ede in Benin City as well as Auchi and other areas in the state, assuring him that the Christian community would continue to pray for his administration.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—13

Shun partisan politics, Amaechi tells security agencies

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME we thank all of you for remain- not to allow such contribu-

ing neutral and God will bless you for that.

“In the same manner, we will enjoin the Nigerian Police Forceolice to remain neutral because the consequences of taking sides will be too grievous. 2015 is a watershed for the country. All of us seated here must contribute to peace in Nigeria.”

He acknowledged the military’s contributions to unity and nation building and urged them

P

tions collapse in the current political debate.

“I will say to you, today, that all of you, both serving and retired, in one way or another, contributed to the unity of Nigeria and that you cannot afford to allow that unity to be lost.

“I have a very faint idea of what the civil war looked like because I was born in 1965.

My children do not have any

idea whatsoever of what the civil war looked like and I don’t want them to have any idea at all and God will not allow us to get involved in such situation where they will have ideas.

“For me, I will join you to preach peace. You will see us fighting politically. The reason why we are fighting politically is because Nigeria is too big and too rich to remain the way we are."

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has charged security agencies in the country to shun any move to drag them into partisan politics.

Speaking at the launch of the emblem of 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the governor said it would not be healthy for the armed forces to be enmeshed in the politics of the country, stressing that they should see themselves as the symbol of national unity.

His words: “The greatest source of unity in a country is the military and you have suffered enough to fight for the unity of this country.

“I will say to you, the Nigerian military; don’t be involved in Nigerian politics. Nigeria is too complicated for the military to be involved in politics.

“In Nigeria, we have many tribes. I tell people, I’m not Ijaw, I’m Ikwerre. There are people who are Ijaw, there are Hausas, there are Yorubas, there are Isokos, there are Fulanis.

“We are too many. If the military gets involved in Nigerian politics, the consequences XMAS SHOPPING: A trader selling Christmas decorations at Wuse Market in Abuja yeswill be too much. Currently, terday.

Kelvin's kinsmen beg Jonathan to lift siege on Kokori

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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INSMEN of alleged kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Ibruvwe, under the aegis of Kokori Progress Union, resident in Lagos, have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to withdraw soldiers from the community to give room for the restoration of normal life and activities.

In a six-point communiqué signed by the general secretary, Pastor Felix Abijoroh, the association reaffirmed its confidence in the unity of the country and the peaceful coexistence of indigenes of Delta State, arguing that life has been brutish for residents of peace-loving Kokori in Delta State as a result of the calamity and violation of the rights of the people.

Lamenting the untold hardship men, women and children of the community had experienced since the mayhem in Kokori, as their citizens had fled the town and without any means of livelihood, the communiqué said the search for kidnappers has inflicted severe wounds on innocent indigenes, and “keeps our old

men, women and children in perpetual fear, sorrow and anguish.

“The community life has been terminated: activities have been grounded, as the presence and continuous stay of soldiers in the community is doing more harm than good. Many innocent persons have lost their lives. Buildings have been unwattonly destroyed.”

Continuing, the association said the rights and privileges of their women had been grossly violated with attendant cases of

rape.

“Essentially, we abhor the continuous desecration of our cultural artifacts which make our history.

“That our people can no longer sleep in their houses.

Many have been displaced and rendered homeless with no abode to lay their heads.

Our fathers and mothers have been forced to flee to neighboring communities and beyond. This is an unwholesome development and des-

ecration of the rights of man,” they argued.

The communiqué also added that children could no longer go to school, adding that academic activities had been paralyzed with the loss of a full term. According to him, markets have remained closed, thus creating a situation of severe hunger, unease and possible deaths.

“As it is, many of our aged parents are dying of hunger in the community," it added.

YULETIDE: Uduaghan, Dickson preach peace

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

A

SABA—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has urged Nigerians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ by imbibing the qualities of peace, love and unity, noting that 2013 had been a challenging year for Nigeria, particularly in the area of security.

His Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr. Seriake Dickson, also urged Christians to worship God in love and in truth, noting that Christmas afforded every Christian an opportunity to demonstrate the true virtues of Christ.

In his own message to Christians to mark this year ’s Christ-

mas and New Year celebrations, Uduaghan said: “Christmas signifies hope and salvation brought to the world in need of redemption.

The world would be a better place if the values and virtues reflected by the holy birth of Christ, especially love for one another, were practised faithfully.”

Meanwhile, Dickson also asked Christians to reflect and rededicate themselves to the lifestyle of Christ, anchored on sacrifice, love, peace and truth.

According to him, Christians should always strive to be role models like Christ, who lived and died propagat-

ing the message of love, peace and peaceful co-existence among mankind.

The governor attributed the success of his restoration agenda in the state to the unending prayers of church leaders across the state as well a s God’s continu e d presence in the affairs of t h e state.

A'Court sets aside NIC judgement on NUT suit

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has set aside the judgment of the National Industrial Court, NIC, over its failure to pronounce on the issue of the suit brought before it by the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Ogun State chapter, against the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS. This was sequel to an appeal filed by Ogun State branch of NUT against the National President and Secretary of ASUSS in the state and others.

In the judgement delivered by Justice Agbadu Fishim, the appellate court affirmed that the NIC was wrong by refusing to pronounce on the issue of jurisdiction on the ground that the case could not be properly determined at that stage of proceeding when available materials needed for the resolution of the issue were before the lower court especially the terms of settlement and the proceedings of the High Court of Ogun state.

The appellate court, while allowing the appeal of the national legal adviser to ASUSS, Olayiwola Afolabi, held that, “having so agreed in the said terms of settlement that the two parties shall be allowed to co-exist and each of them shall continue to enjoy deductions of union dues and levies from their members to operate, to my mind, it is rather inappropriate and even unconscionable for either of the parties to turn around again and institute an action in court on the basis of the same subject matter of the former dispute over which there has been a consensus ad-idem.

“Where a party has whole heartedly and voluntarily entered into an agreement (in this case written), he is stopped from reneging from the terms of the said agreement except on ground of misrepresentation, fraud or mistake."

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Reps plan N2bn investment in Anambra

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

W K A —

L A W M A K E R S representing Anambra State in the House of Representatives are to attract about N2 billion investments to the state next year.

Disclosing this to reporters at Amesi in Aguata local government area of the state during her e m p o w e r m e n t programme for the people of the constituency, Mrs. Eucharia Azodo, who represents Aguata in the National Assembly, said the lawmakers were happy with the level of cooperation existing between the state government and federal lawmakers from the state.

She observed that the understanding between the state government and the lawmakers was a marked departure from the past when those representing the state in Abuja and the state government were at logger heads, which tended to undermine development of the state.

Xmas: FRSC deploys 1000 personnel in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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W E R R I — THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Imo State Command has deployed 1,000 regular marshals to all the major roads across the state to ensure free flow of traffic during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The Sector Commander, Mr. Yusuf Salami, who made this known while fielding questions with newsmen in Owerri, also disclosed that two mobile courts had been constituted to try traffic offenders during this period.

He said: “We increased our sensitisation campaign through our Public Enlightenment Unit, ahead of this festive season.”

C M Y K

Nwoye faults rescheduling of Anambra LG polls O

BY ENYIM ENYIM

NITSHA—THE governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in last November 16 election in Anambra State, Mr Tony Nwoye, yesterday described the rescheduling of local government elections for the fourth time as another grand plot to further deceive politicians and political parties.

Addressing his supporters in Awka for their support in the last governorship election, Nwoye said it would be preposterous for any candidate and political party to believe that the council poll rescheduled for January 11, 2014, by the state electoral body, ANSIEC, would hold.

The state electoral body, headed by an acting chairman, Mr Sylvester Okonkwo, had last week at a stakeholders meeting at the ANSIEC premises, announced that the December 21 date for the election was no longer feasible and consequently pronounced January 11, 2014, as a new date.

“If a person could rig the governorship election from the federal level how do you think the

local government election that is directly under his armpit would not be massively rigged, manipulated and maneuvered.

“I am not trying to discourage anybody but I am saying what is in my mind that nothing good

would come out of the rescheduled council election,” he said.

Besides, Nwoye said the state electoral commission, as currently constituted, fell short of the provision of the 1999

BRIEFING: From left: Former Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State, Dr. Alex Obi, Chief Austin Papa and Deputy Speaker, House of Representativess. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, during his 2013 constituency briefing, at Mbutu Secondary School, Imo State.

Why we are after Oronsaye —EFCC

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, took exception to insinuations that it was pursuing the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, because of his advocacy for his support for the establishment of the National Financial Intelligence Agency.

The commission said its investigation of the former HoSF had nothing to do with his support or otherwise of the NFIA but strictly in connection with the missing N6 billion pension fund.

It made it clear that even though Oronsaye had left office, the commission still had the right to question him on the alleged pension fund theft, which remained a criminal matter that could not be closed with the passage of time.

Spokesman for the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made it clear in a statement that it had no intention whatsoever to pursue anyone who had nothing to do with the said fund.

The commission said: “The EFCC is constrained to clarify that, contrary to the sponsored, misguided reports in the media the Commission is not after the former Head of Service, Mr. Steve Oronsaye over his perceived support for the Financial

constitution as amended, stating that any poll conducted by Okonkwo would be illegal.

On his election, he said he would fight the legal battle at the tribunal to its logical conclusion.

Intelligence Agency bill, currently before the National Assembly.

“Let it be made manifestly clear that the EFCC is a responsible and responsive law enforcement agency and has no scores whatsoever to settle with Mr. Oronsaye or any other

person for that matter.

“The Commission wishes to state that it is not the place of interested parties outside the EFCC to determine whether or when an investigation is closed in a particular matter, as is being falsely projected in the sponsored media reports.

“The pension scam investigation is an ongoing exercise and if anyone is mentioned as having played a role in it at whatever stage (as indeed Mr. Oronsaye is alleged to have done), he or she will be invited to shed more light on his/ her alleged involvement (as indeed, Mr. Oronsaye has done).

That is the standard practice in the best tradition of law enforcement worldwide.

Lorry drivers decry alleged extortion, multiple taxation

BY OKONKWOEZE NITSHA—THE Nigerian Lorry Drivers Association, NILODA, has decried alleged extortion of their members along the highways and multiple taxation by government agencies across the country.

National President of the association, Mr. Boniface Chiedozie, who spoke during the election and inauguration of an 11-man new executive members of Anambra State chapter of the association, said although the federal government had gazetted some of the taxable items, the ugly trend had impacted negatively on their members.

Chiedozie, however, expressed satisfaction that NILODA had so far been established in 28 of the 36 states of the federation, noting that the

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issue of multiple taxation would soon be subdued.

According to him, the national executive committee of NILODA has engaged the agencies in a mutual dialogue.

He noted that NILODA had equally teamed up with security agencies to protect their members from the menace of hoodlums along the highways, since its major role was to defend and protect the interest of their members.

He, therefore, charged their members, particularly the newly elected state executive, to be disciplined and behave as responsible persons.

Chiedozie warned that the national executive committee would not tolerate any act of indiscipline from any member.

In his post election speech, the newly elected Anambra

State chairman of NILODA, Mr. Uche Rogers Nebuwa, commended the members for electing him and his new executive members unopposed, adding that such a development showed the level of confidence reposed in them.

Nebuwa, who announced the immediate setting up of state task force to attend to Save Our Soul, SOS calls from members, pledged to carry every driver along and make all of them to become their brothers’ keepers.

Nebuwa, who is also the South East zonal coordinator of the National Committee Against Touting and other Related Matters, NCAT, also pledged not only to work according to NILODA dictates, but also liaise with government and security agencies to get to the promised land.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 15

$48.9bn: Northern youths accuse Sanusi of working against Jonathan

BY CALEBAYANSINA

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BUJA—THE Northern Youth Movement For Positive Change, NYMPC, yesterday, accused governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, of working at cross purpose with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The group said Sanusi had been a long ally of Senator Bukola Saraki from Kwara State, and that the duo were now joining

forces with rebel governors to bring down the government.

Coordinator of NYMPC, David Glavda, who made the accusation in a press conference, in Abuja, said based on the recent role played by Sanusi on the controversial $49.8b NNPC money, the CBN helmsman had failed to justify the confidence reposed in him by Nigerians, particularly the Muslim community.

He said: “Based on the

information you passed on to Bukola Saraki and Rotimi Amaechi, the Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum Resources (downstream) went to the National Assembly to accuse NNPC of stealing $7b from the federation account.

“When he could not convince his colleagues to institute a probe, Rotimi Amaechi took over the campaign.

“Again, both the National Assembly and the

public ignored them. This time around they encouraged you (Sanusi) to write this now infamous letter to the President, alleging that USD49.8 billion was missing.

“The content of the letter was now leaked by Bukola Saraki and Rotimi Amaechi to the press hoping that Nigerians will riot, protest and cause general mayhem, and eventually lead to the fall of President Jonathan’s administration.

“Sanusi since assumption of office has been carrying on more as a politician than a corporate helmsman. He has also thrown away all sense of decorum required of the head of the nation’s apex bank.

“Nigerians have come to know the truth. First, there is no missing money from the federation account, and neither has NNPC failed to remit oil revenues as at, when due as the CBN governor alleged.”

Consider OBJ’s letter a wake-up call, Ugbesia tells Jonathan

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU&JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Chief Odion Ugbesia, has told President Goodluck Jonathan to consider the controversial open letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to him as a wake-up call.

Senator Ugbesia, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, however, told President Jonathan to be extra-careful and watch his back to avoid something untoward happening to him.

He also said the mounting political tension in the polity had nothing to do with the prediction from the America’s Central Intelligence Agency in 2006 that Nigeria would no longer be in existence in 2015.

CIA had then predicted that Nigeria as a corporate entity was likely to splinter along tribal and sectarian lines in 2015 if some of the inherent fault lines were not properly managed and controlled.

Ugbesia said: “I believe Obasanjo really has his personal motive in doing what he is doing. I don’t think it has anything to do with the prediction by Americans that the country would disintegrate in 2015.

“But I will say that the President should consider the letter as a wake-up call, if anything. The President has to be more careful in dealing with people like Obasanjo. ”The president should begin to see the letter that there are people with sinister motives. Who ever thought that Obasanjo could do a thing like this?

Nobody thought that he would one day accuse the President of having these things he mentioned in the letter, that is the issue of corruption in the oil industry and the rest.

“Obasanjo was the President and minister of petroleum for a long time but now the country has a serving minister in the petroleum industry unlike during Obasanjo’s time.”

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Yuguda wants Nigerians to emulate Jesus Christ

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AUCHI—GOVERNOR Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, yesterday, urged Nigerians to emulate the noble character of Jesus Christ which preached mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

Yuguda, who made the call in a Christmas message, reiterated the need for Nigerians to learn to live with one another harmoniously, irrespective of political, cultural and religious differences.

Yuguda said: “Jesus Christ throughout his life time preached peace, honesty, love for one another and above all, the fear of God. “It is these virtues that people, irrespective of their religious belief, are enjoined to imbibe and put into practice.

“We should also imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and use the Christmas period to strengthen existing friendships and establish new ones".

HIV/AIDS: Kaduna govt okays N99.3m for purchase of ARVs

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ADUNA—KADUNA State Government, yesterday, approved N99.3 million for the procurement of anti-retroviral drugs, ARVs, for the treatment of HIV/ AIDS. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Ben Bako, disclosed this to newsmen after the meeting of the state Executive Council in Kaduna.

Bako said the meeting also approved N33.3 million for the purchase of anti malaria drugs to improve access to quality health care.

He said all the drugs would be supplied within eight weeks.

The commissioner said N100.9 million was approved for the procurement of generators, transformers and installation of street lights in Kakuri, and N64.2 million for automated traffic control system.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the council had also approved a contract worth N75.49 million for the construction of helipads at the Government House and Hassan Usman Katsina House in Kawo.

The helipad would be used for the landing and take off of the governor’s helicopter and “other important visitors”.

XMAS CAROL—Professor Tolulope Akinbogun, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development (right); Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor (2nd right); Dr (Mrs). Modupe Ajayi, Registrar (3rd right); Dr Femi Oguntuase, Librarian (4th right); Rev. A. Adeyi, Chaplain (5th right) and FUTA Choral group during the 2013 Christmas Carol Service of the Federal University of Technology Akure.

XMAS: Jang urges prayers for nation, Jonathan, political leaders

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS—GOVERNOR Jonah of Plateau State has urged Christians to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders as they celebrate Christmas, saying the nation is at a critical period.

In a Christmas message

issued by the Director of Press Affairs, Mr. James Mannok, the governor also called for prayers for the nation and enjoined Christians to celebrate Christmas in holiness.

He said Christ whose birth is being celebrated signified peace, love and sharing and urged people to emulate

these virtues in their dealings with other Nigerians.

He called for mutual respect among adherents of various religions, promising that government will continue to provide the enabling environment for all citizens to practice their religion.

Many streets in the Plateau State capital were a beehive of activities yesterday as people made last minute preparations for Christmas.

There was unusual traffic jam along major streets while markets and other commercial spots witnessed a large turnout of people who bought drinks and other items for the celebration.

3 Zamfara assemblymen defect to APC G

USAU——THREE members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, yesterday, announced defection from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Change, APC. The members are Alhaji Mani Masamar-Mudi, representing Bukkuyum North Constituency; Alhaji Lawali Dogon-Kade of Kaura Namoda South Constituency and Alhaji Umar Muazu, representing Maradun 2 constituency.

The lawmakers, who announced defection at a sitting of the house, said they had concluded arrangements to change political lineage.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the number of APC members in the assembly has now increased from 13 to 16, while that of the PDP has reduced from 11 to 8, which has 24 members.

Alhaji Mani Masamar-Mudi, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said their action was in line with provisions of the

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which allows party members to change political party at any time if they so desire.

Masamar-Mudi said: “We, as representatives of our people, have to follow the party that our people want,” adding “we took

the decision because we believe that the PDP is heading towards self-destruction”.

The Speaker of Zamfara Assembly, Alhaji Sunusi Rikiji, said the house had accepted the defection of the members because “it is in line with the provisions of the 1999

Constitution as amended."

The Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji Salisu Tsafe, described the defection as “a new and welcome development” in the activities of the house, saying that it would increase the level of unity and understanding among the lawmakers."

2015: FG tasked on insecurity

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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ORMER Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Simeon Itodo, has asked the Federal Government to make security one of its cardinal programmes as Nigerians approach the 2015 general elections, saying that this was to stem cases of thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping and

other criminal activities.

Itodo also urged politicians to see the forthcoming polls as an exercise aimed at enthroning patriotic leaders who would lead the country to the next level of development, instead of regarding it as a do-or-die affairs.

In his goodwill message to Christians, he said, "we should avoid utterances that divide the country. The 2015

elections will come and go but Nigeria and Nigerians will remain. Nigeria will remain as Nigeria, irrespective of what we think.

"The federal and state legislatures should amend the constitution to accommodate roles for traditional rulers.

Traditional rulers are also stakeholders in the development of the country as custodians of our culture. They outlive most governments."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —17 “There is no difference between mother and baby snakes; they are equally poisonous.” Kenyan Proverb.

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A beginning, or an end? another letter. He is likely to be satisfied that he has exposed Jonathan in ways, which appear to have hurt Jonathan.

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f there has been cordial relationships between these two, we can assume that their mutual hostility is now fully established at its highest point. Should the nation worry over a falling out of this magnitude, and in a manner which suggests that things can only get worse? The answer is yes. Not because Obasanjo and Jonathan will miss each other ’s

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RESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN has finally responded to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter. The nation will pour over its language, nuance and content, to see whether it represents an end or a beginning of a relationship between two of the most powerful people in Nigeria today. There is one point which will not be disputed. In more restrained and polite language which should befit a younger person, Jonathan called Obasanjo an irresponsible hypocrite and liar, a veritable security risk, a leader who had a long history of subverting his party and the electoral process, an inciter of the public against authority, an ambitious leader who is scheming to install puppets in place of Jonathan, and many more things that should keep anyone, other than Obasanjo, awake at night.

Jonathan’s letter appears to have benefitted from the wait and contemplation of appropriate response.

He used it as an attempt to sell his achievements which have been denigrated by Obasanjo’s letter. His approach is suggestive of an injured but dignified leader, quite capable of hitting hard with iron fists in velvet gloves. His responses were carefully chosen, neither leaving him at the risk of being further taken up, nor sounding unduly apologetic. He took advantage of intervening developments without stating them, such as the confusion which is trailing the letter of the Governor of CBN over crude payments. He would have scored a few brownie points for not referring to Iyabo Obasanjo’s letter to her father, or the deluge of condemnations over the manner Obasanjo made his letter public. He concluded as the injured party: “... you have done me grave injustice with your public letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, among other ills.”

Now that Obasanjo has Jonathan’s response, what is to be expected? It will be safe to assume that Obasanjo will not write another letter, open or top secret to Jonathan anywhere in the near future. His letter was detailed enough, and must have been written with the thought that a response will be made by Jonathan, but it will not mitigate the damage. In any case, there is nothing in Jonathan’s response which will compel Obasanjo to write

Obasanjo is lying.

Nor should we treat Jonathan’s 2015 plans as a matter which should not bother us. Obasanjo says Jonathan has no moral right to run again in 2015.

Jonathan says he did not say he will, or will not run. His party is, however, falling to pieces in part due to his undeclared ambition. Massive realignments are taking place which have major implications for the integrity of the 2015 elections. If Jonathan runs on the PDP platform in 2015, he and the opposition will polarize the nation in a manner it has

Now that we have two letters from a President and a former President tearing each other up, we can assume that Jonathan and his people will be more hostile to criticism from quarters similar to Obasanjo

company, but because the issues involved in the quarrel are important to national security and the integrity and survival of our democratic system.

Should the nation be content to treat allegations that Jonathan is raising a killer squad and compiling a list of opponents to match as the outcome of a spat? Are Jonathan’s denials sufficient to restore our faith that in addition to all our security challenges, we do not need to worry about snipers targeting opponents?

Neither Obasanjo or Jonathan should treat this issue as settled because one has made an allegation and other has denied it.

There should be a judicial inquiry into this matter, and we must know the full facts over the existence of a sniper squad, or receive evidence that

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never been more polarized. The electoral process will be unlikely to have a say in terms of who wins the presidential elections, with Jonathan’s defeat signalling major setbacks for a regime long used to power; and an opposition smelling blood and a certain victory, in part engineered by the PDP itself.

If he chooses not to run, it will be equally damaging to his interests, particularly if he delays announcing what everyone already suspects, which is that he will run. What possible reasons would he advance for not running? National interest? That won’t wash in a nation which has not set his bar for responding to national interest very high. He cannot involve personal reasons in a nation which is

accustomed to leaders equating their private lives with public offices. His personal life is linked to thousands of other personal lives of people whose fortunes and future depend on his continuance. Those people will have a say, and it is most unlikely that they will agree with his decision. He could invoke statesmanly qualities of sacrifice and the need to save our democracy and avoid security setbacks. His immediate constituency will not buy this. There are people willing to go the full distance to make sure that he is President until 2019, by any means necessary. If he jumps ship in 2015, they will blame the rest of Nigeria for throwing his overboard, and will make sure no one sleeps with two eyes shut.

President Jonathan is as good as being a candidate in 2015; and Obasanjo’s letter just seems to be more of an impetus to stick to the course.

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hat about the (mis)management of the national economy?

Jonathan says Obasanjo is misinformed and mischievous in his interpretation of the performance of the economy. Except therefore for a little problem here and there, some of which he inherited from Obasanjo, there is little to panic over. So we should expect no radical steps against corruption or poor management.

Security is a challenge, but Jonathan is doing his best, and results are showing. All in all, President Jonathan is doing his best, far from encouraging “disunity, confusion and chaos,” as Obasanjo alleges.

Now that we have two letters from a President and a former President tearing each other up, we can assume that Jonathan and his people will be more hostile to criticism from quarters similar to Obasanjo. Obasanjo himself is likely to assume a more trenchant posture as an irritant to the administration. This is the end of decency, and the beginning of descent into dangerous territory. The political opposition will feed off this damaging quarrel to make greater capital out of Jonathan’s woes. The presidency will dig in and fence off mediators and moderates who may be tempted to be peacemakers after Obasanjo’s damage.

There is still some room for other leaders who can get involved in influencing President Jonathan. His response to Obasanjo is far from an adequate assurance for Nigerians that the economy and national security are in good hands. The worst that can happen is to have President Jonathan think that abusing Obasanjo back has solved his problems.

OPINION

BY MOSHOOD ISAH

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T was all excitement as President Goodluck Jonathan unveiled the first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, named GULMA, built by the Nigerian Air Force in Kaduna. According to the President, the giant technological breakthrough of various sectors, particularly the Armed Forces, are pointers to the country’s potential for greater deeds. In his speech at the unveiling ceremony, President Jonathan said: “We must not forget the lesson of this encouraging moment in our nation’s history; that as Nigerians we are capable of great deeds. “In the same manner, we must not forget that ahead of us still lie challenges that we must surmount. We must, therefore, stay focused on our common national purpose. Today marks another landmark moment in our nation’s history, as we gather here to witness the unveiling of our country’s first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle, which has been designed and constructed by the Nigeria Air Force.

Young officers from Nigerian Air Force School of Engineers, Aircraft Design Centre, Kaduna, dazzled the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon BasseyEwa when they displayed to him an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV, referred to as drone, which could fly non-stop for about four hours at 3000 feet. The drone was conceptualised, designed and built by them in Kaduna under the direct supervision of the Provost of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF Institute of Technology, Prof. Emmanuel Ezugwu.

According to officials of the Institute, the drone’s empennage was about three metres while the wing span

Gulma drone: A step towards technological advancement was about half a metre. The four officers, all Flight Lieutenants, said it was a three-year effort in collaboration with Cranfield University of United Kingdom with funds from the Federal Government. The officers who asked that all the credit for the breakthrough be given to the Commandant of the school and Chief of Air Staff pleaded that their names be not mentioned in the press.

Nigeria doesn’t lack in competent and skillful workforce who are ingenious in creative initiatives that can compete with the very best in the world, especially in the area of technological advancement. Though GULMA may be another creative ingenuity which dream is now being realised, similar innovations were celebrated but without further incentive or improvement on the initiatives. We are living witnesses to various innovations and inventions by Nigerians which unfortunately have not been nurtured to maturity. For instance, just last year the international media was agog with the story of Nigerian girls who created a generator that produces electricity for six hours using a single litre of urine as fuel. Also about a decade ago, a student of Bayero University, Kano modeled an aircraft though pint in size but awesome in concept. It is therefore cheering development that the latest locally made drone in the country is designed and built by young officers of the Nigerian Armed forces.

This is a very good idea and more of this should be encouraged in the country as it will go a long way in yielding the fruits of science and technology in the country. It would

be recalled that this initiative is not the first of its kind by the Nigerian Armed forces. The latest drone tagged “GULMA” is a notable improvement on the previous ones christened “Amebo 1 and 2” respectively. Thus, if the young inventors, both within and outside the Armed Forces get the right support and incentive, this kind of inventions will just be a stepping stone towards better things in the country.

The pertinence of this new initiative cannot be overemphasised. Besides its diverse military application, unmanned aerial vehicle provides mankind with a range of benefits in disaster management, power line surveys, law enforcement, telecommunications, weather monitoring, and aerial imaging/mapping. It is also rapidly becoming an important tool in news coverage, environmental monitoring, and oil and gas exploration. It is also a step in the right direction in a bid to fight the insecurity situation of the country. More so, it may also attract foreign intelligence to the country and thus help instigate other form of initiatives to help fight crime and other prevailing insurgency in the country.

The efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces should be commended for its initiative towards bringing the nation in tandem with the developed innovation via science and technology. This also serves as challenge to civilians and encouragement to budding inventors.

•Mr. Isah, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 MERRIMENT and excessiveness have drowned the essence of Christmas. The way of celebrating Jesus Christ, who came to save mankind, according to the bible, turns the reason for the season upside down.

Nigerians dedicate December to celebrations. The noise envelops the message of the season – God’s abiding love for mankind, manifested in sending His Son to die for a world that celebrates injustices.

Thoughts of God’s love are hardly part of Nigerians ignore poverty this season. They this season of excesses. The worldly go to great lengths, against any economic celebrations of Christmas are steadily logic, to acquire new cars, new clothes, eroding its religious content. Frauds, greed, bigger country homes (that would be the selfishness, drunkenness, immorality have abode of rodents after the festivities). These been elevated to the reason for the season. achievements are announced noisily for More pains are inflicted on people through effect. The ordinary people look on in Christmas – the road accidents, the broken wonder. Is this Christmas? hearts, the split family and national The rich and mighty would send Christmas resources that are wasted in promoting an messages to themselves. Our leaders would affair that started in the poorest parts of regurgitate the message of Christmas without Bethlehem, in a manger. paying workers’ salaries. Some pensioners – Jesus Christ was born in dreary old people who have given their youth to this surroundings with animals. His poor country – missed making it to this Christmas; parents could not afford a better place in a they died queueing for their pittance. They crowded city bustling with its people, who hardly get paid. had returned to be counted in a census.

Christmas presents a great opportunity to

It Is Still Christmas

explore and imitate God’s unfailing love. We should think about those our national policies hurt the most. Jesus Christ, who we are celebrating, cared for the poor all the days of his life.

It was not a show He put on and off at certain times of the year. Caring for the needy, the challenged, the disadvantaged, the poor, the weak, the sick, the oppressed, the widows, the orphans is not about photo opportunities. It is a life long commitment that should endure after the season.

Please spare a thought for the ordinary Nigerian beyond the season. Life is getting tougher by the day. Ordinary Nigerians watch as opportunities elude them due to the selfishness of those who want everything including what they do not need - for themselves.

This definitely is not the spirit of the season.

As you celebrate, do something to spread the joy, in the knowledge that your kindness could be all the Christmas someone else would know.

Merry Christmas Nigerians!

OPINION

BY SUBAIR GBADEGESIN

Suicide is “all cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim himself, which he knows will produce this result.”- Emile Durkheim (1857 – 1917)

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N Thursday, December 12, 2013, a hit and run driver killed a man along the Lekki-Ajah tolled road. The middle-aged man, as he laid out a corpse, looked flamboyant. Dressed in a suit and tie, he looked so much like a banker. Whatever he was, it is too late then, he was gone. This was barely three weeks after three school children from one of the primary schools in the area were run over by a trailer driver on their way to school on the same highway. This particular incident provoked the ire of residents of the area, who blocked the major roads in protest to the spate of such killings on the road in recent times.

My worry is that whenever such an incident happens Lagos gets agog with emotion, on the roads and in the media – broadcast, print and social media - but for a couple of days only.

We blame the government for not providing pedestrian bridges; we blame motorists for not driving carefully, and funny, no blame goes to the victim and the other people who daily dash across the highways instead of using the pedestrian bridges. After these emotional expletives, life goes

Carnage on our rroads: oads: P edestrian bridges tto o the rescue Pedestrian on and only for more people to die of the same avoidable cause.

The human life is so precious that nobody can be excused for taking it, not even the owner of the life. This is why no society sees suicide as a virtue, even in the ‘ worst’ human conditions.

In some African societies, those who commit suicide are not mourned but buried in ‘evil forests.’ Nature has placed on the shoulders of everybody, the innate instinct to protect his/her life.

It follows that anyone who fails to protect his/her life and ends up losing it also committed suicide.

Many people in the world today, especially Lagosians commit suicide daily by, crossing the highway instead using the pedestrian bridges provided by government for such purpose.

Using the pedestrian bridges in Lagos is seen as a stressful exercise and many pedestrians would rather dash across the highway in a foolish bid to save time and energy.

They shun the bridges built to eliminate the hazards that pedestrians face in crossing major highways.

Along Ikorodu Road, Ikeja Along, Airport Road, Gbagada-Oshodi-Apapa expressway etc. pedestrians run across the highways with reckless abandon, not minding the availability of pedestrian bridges and some lose their lives in the process.

Statistics recorded by the Lagos Sector Command of the Federal Road

Safety Cooperation (FRSC) report that a total number of 17 pedestrians died between January 2010 and May 2013 from various botched attempts across Lagos only. There are chances the cases are under-reported and some of them may have happened without FRSC’s knowledge.

To ensure that people’s lives are safe, governments all around the world apply several safety measures such as constructing sidewalks, pedestrian bridges and zebra crossing on major roads in the cities. The Lagos State government has built new pedestrian bridges, sidewalks (complete with zebra crossings) and traffic signs for the benefit and safety of road users in Lagos. The government has even gone the extra mile of enforcing the use of these bridges in the high traffic spots of Lagos by putting barricades and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials to arrest those who dash across the highways.

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ike most commentators, I agree that government needs to do more in terms of building more pedestrian bridges and public enlightenment on the need to use them but unlike them I put more of the blame on the pedestrians themselves for failing to use these bridges. Most times, it is not that these bridges are nonexistent but that some people regard these bridges as either far apart or too energy

sapping to use.

It will be preposterous to think that government will provide pedestrian bridges at every doorstep so we need not walk a distance to use the bridge, but as safety-minded people, we are expected to protect our lives and this can mean walking to the nearest pedestrian bridge to cross the highway. We need not endanger our lives dashing across the expressway because the government did not build a pedestrian bridge in front of our houses.

It is tragic that despite the number of deaths that occur as a result of this deadly behaviour and the lorry loads of offenders that KAI officials daily move from different locations in Lagos to their Alausa offices, Lagosians are yet to imbibe the habit of using the pedestrian bridges.

As Nigerians and Lagosians, it is important we realize the importance of these safety measures on our roads and utilize them for our well-being.

Children and teenagers should also be taught about safety on the roads and how to keep away from harm. This should be an important aspect of the training we give to them both at home and in the school so as to secure future of our society.

*Mr. Gbadegesin a public affairs commentator, wrote fromLagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013— —19

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FTER the initial attempt at putting up a disclaimer by an impostor Nigerians including her befuddled father must now be reconciled to the fact that Iyabo was the author of the letter that exploded the burble created by OBJ’s own letter to Goodluck Jonathan. It was beginning to look like a comedy of the absurd of the Baba Sala variety when the impostor purported to be Iyabo sent out her disclaimer denouncing the letter which was the equivalent of a public flogging of her father as a fabrication and threatening legal action. The grammatical infelicities were obvious but that did not remove from the possibility that a big fraud might have been imposed on Nigerians.

This in spite of the fact that Iyabo’s letter sounded true enough; a fact that could only at the time have been very clear and believable to people familiar with her writing style and the details recounted in the letter. The general formal tone and outlook of the letter with her professional

titles and all heightened the fear that an impostor, probably in the pay of her father ’s enemies, might be on the loose. Nobody writes to their father in such terms. Iyabo’s letter was obviously meant to be read by the public.

But all doubt seemed at an end after Vanguard updated its story the following day. And even then many might still be pardoned to think that Iyabo would yet claim to be a true and properly groomed daughter of her father not to say a ‘Yoruba woman’ and distance herself from the letter.

Not the least of these was the former president himself who was quoted by Vanguard as boasting that Iyabo would finish them in court. Obasanjo must be so sure of himself, of his total mastery of his daughter, he just couldn’t believe she would fling him off the crest of attention into the dunghill of public ridicule just a couple of days after speaking with him. Which leaves one wondering if the impostor pretending to be Iyabo had the

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say-so of her father to issue her disclaimer. She had in that disclaimer wanted her readers/ listeners to believe she was so close to her father that they talk everyday! But all of that is now history if we are to believe Iyabo’s letter. Yet like all family disputes that are resolved without any invitation to the public I won’t be surprised to hear of or see Iyabo visiting her father, prodigal son style, sooner or later.

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ne can only urge some understanding for Iyabo.

Hers was a bitter letter that mirrored her pain and that of her siblings and mother under the suffocating imposition of their father and the husband of their mother. It’s not difficult to imagine what life must feel like under an overbearing man like Obasanjo. Not only is Obasanjo a domestic bully he wields political clout and power in addition. Which means few who cross swords with him have any

Def ection: Misadv enture of 3 7 Defection: Misadventure 37 federal legislat or orss legislator BYJOHN AINOFENOKHAI

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ERMIT me to go straight to the point by calling on Nigerians, in the light of the recent defection of 37 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives to the All Progressive Congress (APC), to draw attention to Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if - being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

Nigerians should also note that on Friday, October 18, 2013, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by His Lordship, Justice Elvis Chukwu, had ruled that there was no division in PDP and thus restrained the self-styled new PDP from using the colour and logo of the PDP under the chair of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Recall that the Court had also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from recognising, dealing and relating with the new PDP. It should be further noted that prior to the ruling, the Independent National

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Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Friday, October 10, 2013, expressly declared that it did not recognize the now defunct new PDP, thus putting paid to the factionalisation plot being orchestrated by members of the group.

The Commission, in a letter with reference number INEC/LEG/PDP/19/111/ 245 signed by the Acting Secretary, Mr. U.F. Usman, addressed to the National Secretary to the now defunct new PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had acknowledged receipt of his letters dated 1st and 23rd September wherein he had requested for the Commission’s recognition of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led NWC. The Commission had noted in the letter: “You will recall that the Commission monitored the National Convention and Special National Convention of the PDP held on the 24th of March 2012 and 31st of August 2013 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, after notices to the Commission.

“A National Working Committee (NWC) was elected at the two conventions with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman. The Commission will not withdraw recognition from the leadership of the PDP elected at the conventions duly monitored by the Commission. Be guided accordingly.”

Now that these 37 members of the House of Representatives, in defiance of the provisions of the Constitution and pronouncements by relevant bodies- the Court and INEC- that there is no division in the PDP leadership, have left the party for the APC, I ask: where is the division in the PDP or in its leadership? Are they

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Iyabo’s public flogging of her father okay but…

That said Iyabo’s letter remains what it is- a private communication between an estranged daughter and her father

chance of survival or being heard. He is full of himself, believes he is always right and would stop at nothing to rub that in the face of anyone who comes in contact with him except those able to stand up to him. Nobody with opinion can survive in the presence of such a man. His most public-spirited action is invariably motivated by self interest bordering on selfaggrandisement. Those closest to him, as Iyabo’s letter attests, are bound to suffer most. Which explains his meager political capital and no-love-lost relationship within his immediate circle of friends, family and the wider Yoruba public.

That said Iyabo’s letter remains what it is- a private communication between an estranged daughter and her father. In the context of the wider public debate it serves the important purpose of reminding Olusegun Obasanjo, as Iyabo noted, that Nigeria does not belong to him. He is but one person and no more no matter what he may think of himself or how he may view himself. It points at Obasanjo’s own complicity in the tragedy Nigeria has become. In his case there is the private dimension of a dysfunctional family in full display. But outside of this, Iyabo’s letter is a powerful putdown of Obasanjo that should proof a psychological boost for Goodluck Jonathan and fuel private excitement in his camp.

But that is the most he can hope to get from this letter. The point must be clearly made that Iyabo’s letter was neither intended to nor is it an apologia for Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan. There are very

What these legislators have done is immoral: taking the mandates given to them on the PDP platform to the APC. Understandably, the APC is happy to harness the fraudulently acquired mandates which it knows it did not get, directly, from the people.

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saying that the Court and INEC were incapable of determining the presence of a division in the party? I concur with the court and INEC that there is no division in the party leadership.

So, on what basis have they left the PDP and now keeping their seats in the House?

To answer the question, it was on the basis of an interlocutory injunction purportedly granted them by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 that they hurriedly effected their defection plan.

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he injunction had purportedly restrained the PDP, its chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the INEC, Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives from declaring vacant the seats of the defecting federal lawmakers to the APC. The leadership of the PDP had gone to court praying that the seats of its members who defected to the APC be

serious allegations in the former president’s letter that Iyabo’s private outburst cannot answer or obviate. Goodluck Jonathan still has enormous responsibility to respond to that letter in full or forever live with the fact that he is guilty of the charges leveled against him and the harsh verdict of history on that. As far as they concern public issues, Iyabo’s letter told Nigerians nothing they didn’t know about Obasanjo. It couldn’t have been more revelatory than her mother’s own memoir.

Thus Jonathan and his team must not see Iyabo’s letter as their own answer to Obasanjo’s letter.

These are two separate issues.

And in case they need to be reminded, Iyabo doesn’t think much of Jonathan, his administration or indeed of the general Nigerian attitude to condone mediocrity. She holds Nigerians responsible for the foolishness that has resulted in the likes of her father and Goodluck Jonathan, among many other misfits, controlling their betters in many respects.

There is no relief yet for Jonathan as Iyabo’s letter further indicts him and places greater moral responsibility on him to respond to Obasanjo’s letter directly and without equivocation. It is a shame though that more than a week after that letter emerged in the public no matter how- it is a shame that two weeks after Obasanjo’s letter, Jonathan with his tens of advisers, speech writers and ministers are yet to respond with a single line.

They’ve been caught pants down?

A big shame indeed. But they must respond. Any thing else is a red herring. Merry Christmas Nigerians!

declared vacant, which was the right to do in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.Now, which ground is provided in the law: is it not the condition for defection, to wit: division, which is absent, in the PDP leadership? Or, is it the restraining injunction granted by the court, which can be vacated? What will happen tomorrow if the injunction is vacated?

Without a division in the PDP, their defection will be legally flawed, standing on nothing. In that circumstance, they would be expected to do the needful: leave the House so that INEC can also do the needful: organise new elections to fill their seats. They can then decide to re-contest the seats on the platform of their new found APC. Flowing from the above, I expect that men of integrity and honour within the APC, if any, that they should not be involved in political fraud by appropriating what is not rightfully theirs.

What these legislators have done is immoral: taking the mandates given to them on the PDP platform to the APC. Understandably, the APC is happy to harness the fraudulently acquired mandates which it knows it did not get, directly, from the people.

It is, indeed, in the light of the above that I call on well-meaning Nigerians to urge the INEC to do the needful within the ambits of the law and call for elections where necessary. If the electoral body needs the pronouncement of the court on the issue to enable it act accordingly, the court should discountenance technicalities and other political shenanigans to rein in and sanitise the political process and system by acting strictu sensus with the provisions of the extant laws.

*Mr. Ainofenokhai, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

DECEMBER 25 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Obasanjo/Jonathan face-off (2)

BY EBELE ORAKPO Continues from last week

Fear grips Ikorodu communities as robber kill guard, injure retired police officer

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esidents of Charismatic Estate, Igbokuta and Oke-Agbo in Imota Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu are now living in fear following the activities of armed bandits who raided their abode.

The robbers who stormed the estate on December 17, succeeded in killing one of the residents while several others were injured. Similarly, cash and other valuable items estimated at several millions of naira were carted away in the robbery attack which occurred around 8 pm that fateful day.

Since the incident happened, things are no longer at ease in these communities. While some residents are already fleeing the area, others are living in apprehension of a fresh attack.

Vanguard Metro VM learnt that the robbers’ first port of call was the residence of the proprietor of a private school in the area. The security guard popularly called ‘’Papa’’ was allegedly tied to a plastic chair before he was killed by the bandits and left in the pool of his own blood.

When Vanguard Metro visited the communities last week, the remains of the guard had already been buried at Imota cemetery. Some friends and relatives who came to mourn him claimed the attack was suspicious and prayed God to unravel the mystery behind it.

While some respondents alleged that the deceased was felled by gunshot, others said he was matcheted to death by the robbers.

At Igbokuta and Oke-Agbo, many of the frightened resi-

dents declined to talk to the press. VM however learnt that the robbers who also laid siege on the road leading to the communities, disposed people returning from work of their money and other valuables.

The deceased who lived at Imota but worked at Igbokuta, was said to be preparing to retire from the job in January 2014. . A petty trader in the area, Madam Ajibade Tiwalola told VM that the deceased was her customer. ‘’He usually patronises my shop and on one of the occasions, he told me he was tired of the job and will retire in January. I was shocked when I received news of his death,’’ she lamented.

VM’ met the proprietor ’s house under lock and key but a blood stained chair was found under a tree, the ground was also stained with blood.

One of the victims at

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By BOSE ADELAJA

son to the sitting room as he went out to check the generating set which they (robbers) switched off.. As soon as they gained entrance into the house, they searched my pockets and snatched my phones after which they asked us to lie flat on the floor till they finished their operation. My wife and children were not attacked but I was seriously injured by their gun boot,’’ he said.

The robbers also attacked other families in the area before they headed for Oke-Agbo where a newly purchased motorcycle and other valuable items were carted away.

A public servant who pleaded anonymity urged government to provide a Police Station at Igbokuta . ‘’The Divisional Police Officer, Jimoh Tijani drove to the scene as soon as he got the distress call. The Imota Division is trying in this area but it serves too many communities.

The robbers also attacked other families in the area before they headed for Oke-Agbo where a newly purchased motorcycle and other items were carted away

Igbokuta, a retired Police Officer, Mr.Julius was wounded on his head by the robbers, ‘’I was to travel to my village today (last Wednesday) for the burial of my younger brother but the robbers struck while we were watching television. The burial was slated for Friday December 20, they accosted my

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There is need for more Police stations in this area,’’ he said.

When Vanguard Metro visited Imota Division, the DPO refused to comment on the development but referred this reporter to the Police Public relations Officer.

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Blood stained chair used by the deceased

“OBJ is an attention seeker, no doubt. He wants us to know he is still alive and well. He has written letters to almost all the exleaders, not just Jonathan. He writes when he feels things are going wrong. So as the headmaster of this great school called Nigeria, he has to act,” noted Edith, adding: “And his dearest daughter has helped in no small way to draw that attention to him. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. He forgot what the Bible says in Romans 2:21 - “You tell others not to steal, do you steal?”

“Imagine what would have happened if someone had written that kind of letter to him while he was in power. I bet you, that person would not know what hit him,” said Charity.

“But I think she went too far. How could you talk about your father like that? It is unAfrican,” protested Mercy.

“But reading through that piece, I feel the poor girl was just pouring out her heart. She must have suffered a lot in the hands of the man and has reached the end of the tether. She could no longer hang in there, hence the outburst,” said Sam. “You know what? I think what Obj is trying to do is to return power to the north since he could not control GEJ,” said Akan.

He continued: “When the north said it was their turn to produce the president after Obj’s tenure, he ensured that all the eligible contestants were dealt with one way or the other, by sending the EFCC after them. He then anointed the late Alh. Umaru Yar’Adua and GEJ to run. He knew Yar’Adua would not last long because of the pressures of office and his fragile health. Eventually, Yar’Adua died and GEJ, a southerner, took over. Now, he

You know what? I think what OBJ is trying to do is to return power to the north since he could not control GEJ

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wants to raise so much dust so that GEJ will be impeached and his vice, a northerner will take over, thus returning power to the north. Can’t you see what is going on?”

“Obj is bad but GEJ gave him the opportunity to do what he is doing. If he was alive to his responsibilities, no one will pay attention to Obj and his letter. Look at what happened in Lagos towards the end of Fashola’s first term. Tinubu, the godfather, wanted him not to run for a second term because they had an agreement that he will run for only one term. Ordinary people marched to Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa to say no to the madness because as far as they were concerned, Fashola was working and they saw it,” noted Charity.

What’s wrong with Nigerians and this issue of agreement to run for only one term when the constitution allows for two terms? asked Mercy.

“Falana said it all. GEJ is simply practising what Obj taught him,” said Sam. “But seriously, GEJ should not take the allegations lying low.

He’s been accused of raising snipers to eliminate over 1,000 opponents and so many other allegations, he should address them,” said Richard.

“The guy has no proof, na bad belle. He feels GEJ is outshining him, doing what he could not do in eight years. If I were GEJ, I will start the fight against corruption with Obj,” said Akan.

“I don’t think any past leader in Nigeria can boldly probe others because their hands are not clean. He who comes into equity must come with clean hand,” noted Edith.

“He accused GEJ of not fighting insecurity, the guy is simply following his footsteps. When ex-Gov. Sani Yerima came up with Sharia laws in Katsina State and people were being killed, what did he do? He played the ostrich, arguing that it will fizzle away.

GEJ even tried by deploying soldiers to fight the Boko Haram insurgents. What I see is that God is fighting our battle. Let them fight themselves so that we will know the truth,” she concluded.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 21

B & E DATA

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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hareholders of Unity Bank have authorized directors of the bank to raise additional capital of N40 billion through Rights issue and Special/Private placement of its shares.

The capital raising exercise is part of the bank’s business expansion strategy in the retail segment of the financial market.

This was among the special resolutions passed at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Bank which was held in Lagos on Monday.

Shareholders authorized that directors of the bank to take all necessary steps including initiating and negotiating mergers and or acquisition or any form of business combination or arrangement with company /companies or institutions whether foreign or local for the purpose of shoring up the bank’s capital.

They also endorsed the proposal to raise the share capital of the bank to N60 billion of 120 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each; reconstruct the shares of the bank in ratio of one reconstructed ordinary share of 50 kobo each for every four ordinary shares of 50 kobo each previously held by shareholders.

The resolutions reached at the EGM are expected to pave way for a fresh injection of huge capital into the institution, currently ranked among the top ten banks in the country in terms of branch network. This is geared towards making the Bank

From left: Marketing Manager (Personal Care), Mr. Ahmed Shah; Senior Brand Manager, Dettol, Mrs. Bunmi Adeniba; and Brand Manager, Dettol, Mr. Tolulope Olaoye, all of Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited at the trade launch of the new Dettol Re-energize Soap, in Lagos.

Shareholders approve N40bn rights offer for Unity Bank attain top-of-mind recall with customers as their Retail Bank of Choice.

The decisions reached by the shareholders at the meeting, also buttress information that has been in the public domain over the last few months of an impending sizeable equity

investment in the Bank. Two foreign and one domestic venture capitalist, keen on investing in high potential financial service operators in Nigeria, had been closely linked repeatedly in these reports.

The Bank had recently disclosed that some of its

immediate plans for provision of banking products and services directly to individual customers will leverage on an integrated multichannel approach which will include the opening up of new branches – electronic and physical - across the country and a massive drive for the

adoption of its internet and mobile banking platforms.

It would also expend a considerable amount of its resources on the Agency Banking model to reach the large population of unbanked Nigerians as part of its financial inclusion drive.

CAC adapts to IFRS reporting standard 117.0

1.7

2,806.00

-13.00

16.32

-0.13

111.57 98.85 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.7 252.9964 211.6915 172.637 1.4894 0.3031 236.6556 25.4822 41.2467 28.3702 237.4181

155.2 253.8141 212.3757 173.195 1.4942 0.3131 237.4205 25.565 41.38 28.4619 238.1854

-0.20 -0.47 SELLING 155.7 254.6318 213.0599 173.7529 1.499 0.3231 238.1854 25.6478 41.5134 28.5536 238.9528

CBN Exchange rate as at 23/12/2013

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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he Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, has successfully adapted its financial account to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The Journey which started in May 2012 has been successfully completed and the consultant to the project Optimum Support System Ltd has formally handed over the IFRS project to the Commission.

The Commission had engaged the consultant to pilot the process to ensure a smooth and seamless conversion.

At the handing over ceremony the Chief Operating Officer, Oso Olufemi Olukayode commended CAC for its tenacity in going through the entire process which included intensive training in Nigeria and UK and successfully concluding it. He noted that several agencies which

had embarked on the process were not able to conclude and had to defer it.

It will be recalled the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a roadmap for the conversion to IFRS by business entities, institutions and the Public Service.

The IFRS implementation roadmap was unveiled by Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment on Sept 2010 and Public Interest Entities were mandated to convert to IFRS. The use of IFRS as a universal financial reporting language has gained momentum across the globe and several countries have implemented it.

Earlier, while accepting the project report, Mahmud Bello, the RegistrarGeneral thanked the consultant for a job well done. He noted that the quest to have a common set of rules and standards informed the implementation of the IFRS. He

observed that this will engender comparability and transparency of financial statements, aimed at meeting the need of stakeholders, especially investors, to ensure that investments are well protected.

IFRS is a step in the right direction, towards entrenching transparency in financial reporting in line with transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

The Director of Finance and Accounts Muniru U. Wambai in his remarks at the event declared that CAC had since June 2013 adopted International Financial Reporting Standards and issuing its report based on the standard. He declared that the appetite for excellence, eyes for details, coupled with sheer dedication to duty and the passion to get it right at the first time, demonstrated by the Board, Management of the Commission, the various committees and other stakeholders led to the success of the project.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Penalty for late submission of financial accounts should be stiffer —Experts With only seven days to the end of the year, some insurance companies are still foot dragging in submitting their 2012 financial results to the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, because the penalty for late submission of results is mild, experts have said. Accordingly, there should be stiffer sanctions meted out to companies for submitting their financial results late, according to experts.

It will be recalled that Section 26, subsection (3) of the Insurance Act, 2003, states that “An insurer which fails, neglects or refuses to file the returns and accounts under this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000 per day for each day of default.”

However, insurers that are yet to submit their results are not bothered by the N5,000 per

day penalty because they see it as peanut.

“If the penalty is such that pains them, then they will sit up,” an expert said.

Recall that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, said that 18 companies are yet to submit their 2012 audited annual accounts.

According to NAICOM, the companies include NICON Insurance, Alliance & General, Alliance & General Life Assurance Plc, African Alliance, Anchor Insurance, Capital Express, Goldlink Insurance, Spring Life Assurance, Guinea Insurance Plc, Industrial & General Insurance Plc and International Energy Insurance Plc. Others are Investment & Allied Assurance Company Ltd, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Company, Nigerian

Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Staco Insurance Plc, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc and Unic Insurance Plc. However, the Commission said it has approved the accounts of Royal Exchange Insurance, Prudential Life Assurance, Regency Alliance.

Company and Zenith Life Insurance Ltd. According to NAICOM it has approved a total of 22 accounts of underwriters out of the 42 firms that have submitted their financial reports, while 20 underwriting firms are awaiting approval.

The 22 companies whose accounts have received approval are Mansard Insurance Plc, ADIC Insurance Limited, WAPIC Insurance Plc, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, Oasis Insurance Plc, FBN Life Assurance Limited and Continental Reinsurance Company Plc.

BRIEFS Insurance consumers lack knowledge about insurance

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new national survey reveals consumers have an alarming lack of knowledge about their own insurance coverage. As the New Year approaches, Trusted Choice and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big "I") say consumers should resolve to get their insurance coverage in order.

The independent survey conducted for Trusted Choice and the Big "I" found that more than onethird, an alarming 38% of respondents, said they have never conducted their own research prior to purchasing an insurance policy. Almost 40% of respondents said they were not confident or only somewhat confident that they have adequate and appropriate insurance coverage for their needs.

"It's critical that consumers understand the basics of protecting their family, home and property," says Robert Rusbuldt, Big "I" president and CEO. "This survey shows that many Americans may not even realize they are vulnerable to serious losses.

A lot can happen in a year. The start of a new year is a perfect time to dust off your insurance policies and review them thoroughly."

Since there are so many types of insurance available today, consumers should sit down with a reputable insurance professional to help sort through the confusion. The new survey also found that more than one-third of policyholders have not met with or even talked to their insurance agent within the last year.

"Keeping your agent updated on changes in your family or to your property is crucial to your financial security," says Madelyn Flannagan, Big "I" vice president of agent development, research and education. "A new baby, marriage, divorce, death, home renovation or a major purchase could significantly impact your insurance needs and costs."

This broad lack of understanding can lead to serious and expensive insurance coverage mistakes.

Trusted Choice independent insurance agents identify the following as some of the most common errors they see.

Atlantic American acquires direct life

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L-R1138;Mr.Mufutau Oyegunle,Director,Prestige Assurance Plc : Dr. Anand Mittal, Managing Director: Mr. Jethro Adewole, Director, during the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the company held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos recently

Prestige Assurance grows PBT to N870m P

restige Assurance Plc has said that its profit before tax increased to N870 million in 2012 financial period from N157 million in 2011.

The Chairman of the company, Dr. C.S Sankey, disclosed this during the firm’s annual general meeting in Lagos.

He also said that its profit after tax increased by 811 per cent from loss position of N34.7 million in 2011 to N603 million in 2011.

He said “Despite the huge claims, our profit before and after tax increased, mainly due to sound investment policy in place.” The chairman said that its core assets were in excellent shape and that it was confident of significantly improving upon its performance durC M Y K

ing the current financial year.

He said that a Dana aircraft that crashed last year in Lagos, and killed all the 153 passengers on board and others on ground, was the most tragic event the firm had ever witnessed in its 61 years of existence in the country.

The chairman also said that as the lead underwriter for the crashed plane, it recognized the need to ensure that the insurance obligations to the families of the deceased persons were met. According to him, the firm had met the first tranche of the dully processed claims to them.

During the year under review, he said that the firm took steps to further upgrade the quality and skill of its em-

ployees. Several employees, he disclosed, were sent on local and international training on relevant areas of insurance operations. According to him, the company was already feeling the impact of the new skills acquired in many areas of its business.

He said that as it strengthens capacity in some key areas of its business, particularly risk management and oil and gas, the new professionals hired in these areas would give the company the competitive edge in the emerging domestic energy business arising from the local content act of 2010, as also to endow it with risk management capability of international quality.

tlantic American Corporation announced that it has closed on its acquisition of Direct Life Insurance Company ("DLIC"), formerly a non-active subsidiary of Direct General Insurance Company. In connection with the acquisition, DLIC's name is being changed to Bankers Fidelity Assurance Company.

While not writing any life or health business in the past several years, DLIC has maintained various licenses in 14 states. The acquisition will allow Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company, the existing Atlantic American subsidiary, to offer complementary products to those it already writes in the same 14 states. This should permit greater diversification of product and pricing in those states as well as permit future expansion in other states as opportunities arise.

Speaking on the acquisition, Hilton H. Howell, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Atlantic American stated, "The acquisition of this company with its existing charter and licenses gives us the immediate opportunity for continued product diversification and expansion. And on a longer term basis, as we undertake to license the company in additional states, we see excellent opportunity to continue with the growth which we have exhibited in recent years."

Atlantic American is an insurance holding company involved through its subsidiary companies in specialty markets of the life, health, and property and casualty insurance industries. Its principal subsidiaries consist of American South Insurance Company, American Safety Insurance Company, and Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 23

BRIEF Insurers record $5.72 billion profit

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he Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, said that the insurance sector may witness reduced profitability in the next financial year due to the implementation of the ‘no premium, no cover’ policy of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM. Director General of the NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, who stated this, however said that the insurance market will be highly liquid and will be a better place to do business.

According to Thomas, the ‘no premium, no cover’ policy is the best thing to have happened in the insurance sector and in the years to come it will become a culture in the Nigerian insurance market and it will enhance service delivery to the insurance public.

Meanwhile, the NIA has said that it is putting modalities in place to ensure a smooth take-off of the marine insurance module of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID, by first quarter of 2014.

The marine module of the NIID aims to eliminate fake marine insurance policies that are in circulation in the maritime industry.

It will be recalled that the motor module of the NIID has been in operation for over three years now and it has reduced the volume of fake motor insurance policies in circulation.

Thomas applauded the performance of the motor module since it was introduced into the country, adding that the success achieved so far from the first module has led to the implementation of the second module in marine business.

He noted that the Association is collaborating with security agencies such as the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and the Police

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L-R:Managing Director, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc, Mrs.Toyin Ogunseye; Chairperson, Mrs. Adenike Adeniran; Company Secretary and Head of Legal, Mr. Stan Chikwendu; and Vice-Chairman, Mr. Remi Babalola, during the 44th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos

No premium no cover may reduce profitability next year —NIA Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA to ensure the successful implementation of the project in all parts of the country.

The Head, NIID, Mrs. Bola Omole while presenting her paper on insurance database said that the database in 2013 has uploaded 1.65 million vehicle insurance policies as against 300,000 it uploaded in December 2011.

She explained that since the deploying of 25 gadgets to Ogun State for verification there has been high patronage of genuine motor insurance policies by the people.

She however identified lack of government buy in, lack of enforcement and low awareness as some of the challenges confronting the performance of the NIID project.

She urged government at all

levels to enforce this laws that have been established by an Act, adding that is the duty of the government to enforce laws.

Omole added that lack of adequate awareness about the project has also contributed to the low performance of the NIID, adding that most vehicle owners are not aware of the existence of NIID.

Law union records N4.2b GPI

L

aw Union & Rock In surance Plc, recorded N4.16bn gross premium in 2012 financial period.

The Chairperson of the firm, Mrs. Adenike Adeniran, disclosed this during the company’s 44th annual general meeting in Lagos.

She said, ”Despite the impact of the challenging market and operating environment in the financial system, the company recorded a gross premium of N4.16bn in 2012."

According to her, the board and management remained committed to its strategic initiatives as contained in the approved strategy

document.

Although this was adopted in December 2012, she said that the full implementation of the timeline for all the strategic initiatives mapped out in the strategy document commenced in 2013.

“While we vigorously pursue our corporate objective and strategies intent, we will also focus on measures that will strengthen our relationship with our esteemed brokers,” she said.

The chairman said that in line with its promise to continue to improve its service delivery, it had implemented its e-payment strategy with the various platforms for premium collection and business transactions.

She said that as most transactions are now done online, the firm had deployed a digital marketing campaign in order to increase its customers reach, brand visibility and awareness especially to the young and mobile insurance customers.

With these mobile technologies put in place, she said that the insuring public could easily buy and pay for Law Union & Rock Insurance’s products from any part of the country.

The Managing Director, Mrs. Toyin Ogunseye, said that the firm will continue to put measures in place to ensure that the company was firmly footed to rise the storm in the financial sector.

Ogunseye said that the cost

reduction mechanism put in place by the management of the firm was already achieving the much desired result.

She said that it had embarked on series of strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening its operations and business model that would enable it to increase its market share in the industry.

"Indeed the future is bright as we will continue to deploy strategies that enable us to fully exploit emerging business opportunities and also make the company one of the top five in the industry in the nearest future," she said.

eneral insurers in Australia made a combined net profit of $5.72 billion in the last financial year, according to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

The industry achieved gross earned premium of $38.95 billion and incurred net claims of $17.77 billion, the company-level statistics show.

The statistics cover business financial years ending on December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30.

Suncorp Insurance earned gross premium of $1.24 billion for the year to June 30 and incurred net claims of $719.61 million, reporting a net profit of $364.77 million.

Suncorp stablemate AAMI earned gross premium of $2.23 billion and incurred net claims of $1.56 billion to report a net profit of $177.13 million.

GIO recorded gross earned premium of $1.78 billion, net incurred claims of $1.06 billion and a net profit of $224.26 million.

Allianz earned gross premium of $3.37 billion in the year to December 31, incurred net claims of $1.91 billion and reported profit of $357.63 million.

QBE reports as three entities. QBE Australia posted $4.17 billion gross earned premium, $2.3 billion net incurred claims and $394.8 million net profit, while QBE International reported $405.46 million gross earned premium, $90.8 million net incurred claims and $34.93 million net profit.

QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance reported gross earned premium of $234.37 million, net incurred claims of $60.82 million and net profit of $154.56 million.

IAG earned gross premium of $3.94 billion and incurred net claims of $1.33 billion, recording net profit of $371.68 million, while CGU reported gross earned premium of $2.33 billion, net incurred claims of $961.5 million and net profit of $245.16 million. Insurance Manufacturers of Australia, which is 70% owned by IAG and 30% owned by RACV, reported gross earned premium of $2.88 billion, net incurred claims of $1.6 billion and net profit of $353.97 million.

24 — Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

As 2013 draws to a close

SEC approves Oando’s N30.7bn special placement

By PETER EGWUATU

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has approved Oando Plc’s N30.7 billion fund raising through a special placement exercise.

Oando received the approval from SEC following the completion board meeting held recently where directors of the company and other parties to the issue endorsed the proposal to issue 2.5 billion ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N15.00 per share. The shares were fully subscribed to.

Out of the total amount (N30.7 billion) raised, N19.3 billion of the funds will be allocated to reducing the outstanding balance of Oando’s ongoing $1.6 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian assets, which has a sched-

uled completion date of January 31, 2014.

Commenting on the placement exercise, Mr. Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, said, “This represents another key milestone in the achievement of our overall strategic re-focus.

A significant portion of the proceeds will be used to finance the closure of our upstream asset acquisition process; a transaction we believe will transform us into a major indigenous producer of oil in Nigeria.

The inherent value to our esteemed shareholders is evident, as we look to grow our asset base and income streams, whilst at the same time enlarging the portion of revenue we are able to declare as profits, through the increased margins the upstream business offers us. We are excited

about the future in store for our company, as 2014 will witness the culmination of all our efforts over the past 12 months, as we begin to reap the dividends of a carefully planned and executed strategy.”

The capital raising effort is a firm indicator of Oando’s short term corporate and operational strategy to vastly increase its equity portfolio through a three-pronged approach to reduce debt, improve diversification in upstream, a n d f ocus on higher margins.

CSR: Flour Mills donates to New Era school

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

A

s part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and commitment to improving the standard of education in the country, Nigeria Flour Mills has donated a brand new Toyota Hiace bus valued at N6 million to New Era Girls Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos.

Presenting the bus to the Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Group Managing Director, Nigeria Flour Mills, Mr. Paul Gbededo, said the gesture was part of the company’s CSR which focuses on education.

He noted that within the year, the company has been involved in providing support to series of education based activities, all in a drive to support manpower development and thus contribute to the growth of the economy.

Some of the projects, he said, included, the renovation and rehabilitation of United Christian Nursery and Primary

School, Apapa, valued at about N60 million, the building and inauguration of Food Research Centre at the University of Ibadan and the building and commissioning of two new classroom block for Kaboji Primary School and a four classroom block for Day Secondary School, Kaboji in Niger State. He also explained that in Kaboji, Flour Mills own a 10, 000 hectare farm land, 40 percent of which is under cultivation as part of the company’s Backward Integration Policy. He said, “For us at Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, we strongly believe that business should be run in a profitable, but sustainable and socially responsible manner, creating great value for consumers, employees, shareholders, other stakeholders and giving back to the society particularly our host communities.

“Indeed, part of our culture and tradition in Flour Mills of Nigeria is to support schools in our host communities and to complement the efforts of state and local governments.”

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his column on 4 December 2013 discussed public safety and security with respect to posted speed limits on our roads and highways. As one travels out of Lagos starting from Ojota on the Lagos to Ibadan Expressway, there is a stretch of road in Lagos between Magodo and Ojodu Berger in which stretch there have been a number of spectacular motor vehicle accidents in the past two years. The latest multiple motor vehicle accidents on this stretch took place on Saturday, 7 December 2013.

There is a valley situated between a Mobil Oil station at Magodo and a Capital Oil station at Omole with a road bridge at the bottom of the valley. The motor vehicle accidents that occur in this valley usually start with a loaded articulated goods vehicle or fuel tanker running into vehicles ahead of it. Reports of the multiple accidents of 7 December 2013 indicate that there were substantial time intervals between three sets of major collisions. What can we do to change this valley of death to a valley of hope?

The Lagos State Government, LASG, has introduced a ramp structure for the control of motor vehicle travelling speeds on our roads. The structure is at a recognisable height above the road surface and a motor vehicle approaching the ramp must be brought to a virtual stop by the driver. The vehicle climbs the ramp, travels across the ramp and climbs down the other side of the ramp. The Federal Ministry of Works, FMW, should post a speed limit of 60km per hour on the stretch of the Lagos to Ibadan Expressway from the Ojota interchange to Ojodu Berger and should install ramps as described just above at intervals to enforce this speed limit.

If there are persons who have doubts about the efficacy of enforced speed limits, I would implore such persons to visit one piece of Nigeria which thrives on safety at the workplace, between the workplace and home and at home. This piece of Nigeria is the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, company complex on Bonny Island, Rivers State where there is an enforced posted speed limit lower than the 60km per hour mentioned here.

The other significant factors in the reduction of motor vehicle accidents are the articulated motor

vehicles and the drivers who control the vehicles. The major oil marketing companies that have majority foreign shareholders no longer own petrol tankers. However, these companies have a social responsibility in ensuring that fuel tankers delivering petroleum products to their retail outlets operate in a safe manner. The oil marketing companies, the flour millers, the cement manufacturing companies, the breweries, the bottling companies, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the companies operating the Lagos ports from which containers and other goods traffic originate and the labour unions to which drivers belong should all join together for a sustained road safety campaign. Vehicles associated

,

From left: Mr. George Taylor, Chairman, Ren Money Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Segun Akintemi, CEO and Mr. George Donchenko, Director at a press conference to announce change of identity of Renaissance Credit Nigeria to Ren Money Nigeria Ltd, in Lagos.

Federal Ministry of Works should post a speed limit of 60km per hour on the stretch of the Lagos to Ibadan Expressway from the Ojota interchange to Ojodu Berger

,

with the organisations just listed above should be covered with posters on safety issues. In particular, drivers should be advised to ask themselves if the brakes on their vehicles are in perfect condition before they set out on a journey.

They should be advised on what steps to take if the brakes show telltale signs that their vehicles cannot be brought to a stop within a safe operating distance. There are also issues related to the life styles of the drivers that should be addressed in the safety campaign.

I note that this is the last Wednesday in 2013 when we are at work. Next Wednesday, it would be Christmas day and the following one would be the first day of 2014. This column would not be presented on these Wednesdays. Please permit me to extend to all persons who read as well as to all persons who are associated with this column my best wishes for 2014.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—25

DIARY Select ICT events zTelecom CEM World Congress 2014 April 2014, Venue TBC, London zhong Kong ICT Expo 13 – 16 April 2014 Hong Kong. z Cards & payment Asia holds in Singapore 23-24 April 2014. zTransport Networks for Mobile Operators 2014 13 – 14 May 2014 London. zCritical Communications World 27-29 May 2014 BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

The House that walks

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new prototype house walked around the campus of the Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridgeshire, England.

The eco-friendly house is powered by solar cells and minature windmills, and comes with a kitchen, a composting toilet, a system for collecting rain water, one bed, a wood stove for CO2 neutral heating, a rear opening that forms a stairway entrance, and six legs.

I N S I D E C M Y K

KPI: Why mobile operators must improve on QOS

By EMEKA AGINAM

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LTHOUGH the Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union , ITU, Dr. Hamadun Toure, had commended Nigeria for achieving the highest growth in subscriber base among the telecommunications markets in the world for five consecutive years, poor quality of service has persisted.

However, the key performance indicators, (KPI) on which the operators were measured were call set-up success rate, call completion rate, standalone dedicated controlled channel congestion, hand-over success rate and traffic channel congestion.

Call setup success rate denotes the fraction of the attempts to make a call which result in a connection to the called number. For a number of reasons, all call attempts do not always result in a connection. CSSR therefore measures the success rate against the attempts.

Call setup success rate denotes the fraction of the attempts to make a call which result in a connection to the called number. For a number of reasons, all call attempts do not always result in a connection. CSSR therefore measures the success rate against the attempts.

On CSSR, NCC had set a minimum target of 98 per cent.

However, in the test it carried out, MTN scored 97.07 per cent in March and 96. 42per cent in April. Airtel scored 97.39 per cent in March and 97.48 per cent April. Etisalat scored 94.38 per cent in March and 96.88 per cent in April.

Globacom, on the other hand, scored 98.33 per cent and 98.02 per cent. Globacom would have been said to have met the minimal requirement but the regulatory agency said the figures for the company were not reliable because of network upgrade activities.

NCC said in its report, “The Glo Quality of Service recorded values for March 2012 and April 2012 do not reflect actual Glo network performance within the periods under review

Ekeh, Microsoft's new African business face

NCC EVC, Juwah

and are therefore not acceptable as they are misleading.

“However the values are displayed for reference and record purposes pending the conclu-

MTN scored 95.78 per cent in March and 95.20 in April; Airtel scored 96.56 in March and 96.59 per cent in April while Etisalat scored 93.05 per

More fines were coming for operators that overload their capacity and thereby degrade their networks. sion of ongoing QoS data integrity investigation of Glo network.”

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all completion rate de notes the total number of successfully completed inbound or outbound calls versus the total number of calls that were placed or received. On this parametre, NCC set a minimum of 96 per cent.

cent in March and 95.81 per cent in April.

Call Drop Rate refers to the fraction of the calls which were cut off before any of the speaking parties terminated the call.

On this, NCC set a maximum of two per cent. Of course, the lower the percentage of dropped calls the better.

On CDR, MTN scored 1.33 per cent and 1.41 per cent in

BlackBerry reports 3rd quarter results for fiscal year 2014

March and April respectively.

Airtel recorded 0.86 per cent and 0.92 per cent in March and April respectively while Etisalat recorded 0.86 per cent and 1.22 per cent in March and April respectively.

But come 2014, it may not be business as usual again for any operator that fails to meet up with the key performance indicators with respect to quality of service.

The Commission after careful investigation of all the major operators has concluded that the present quality of service provided by the operators fall below KPI. Accordingly, NCC has said that it is expected that operators take reasonable steps to maintain the threshold published in the quality of service regulation. Failure to comply with the directive, according to NCC , would result in imposition of sanctions t Already, the imposition of the fine on the mobile operators for failing to meet with the KPIs had caused a significant stir in the industry.

While the operators had raised issues with environmental challenges that had made it difficult for them to meet with the KPIs, some activist subscribers have been advancing reasons why subscribers should be credited with the proceeds of the fine.

Meanwhile, the mobile operators had considered going to court in order to stop the regulatory agency. The fear of operators, according to industry watchers was that the fine could become a regular feature should they fail to meet the prescribed standard which they claim are too high given the environmental inhibitions.

But while answering questions from Nigerian Journalists in Bangkok at the just concluded International Telecommunication Union, (ITU), on poor quality of service in Nigeria, Juwah said that more fines were coming for operators that overload their capacity and thereby degrade their networks.

“Some of them may have decided that because of their own plan, they will continue to increase their subscriber base. By this they are ready to pay fine that they incur from quality of service infraction. They will also be making investment until the investment will catch up with the needed capacity.

1.2m Nigerians enrol on NIMC

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Ekeh, Microsoft's new African business face

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

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OR the next two years, the name Leo Stan Ekeh, would not only be synonimous with his Zinox brand alone, but also with Microsoft.

This follows last week's sign-on of the mecurial Nigerian computer maker by software giant, Microsoft, to represent its interests in businesses around the African continent.

Ekeh's appointment as one of its Global Partner Advisors,according to Microsoft,was in recognition of his pioneering and pivotal role in ICT development in the continent.

More reasons the software maker aduced was that Ekeh merited the appointment,going by his intuitive leadership and capacity to define market trends.No wonder, he was the only African among the Advisors, Accepting t h e appointment, E k e h , thanked Microsoft f o r identifying with his vision to m o v e Africa from the analogue to digital platform.

H e commended Microsoft, f o r upholding t h e relevance and merits of the channel thereby helping to grow the IT market in Africa according to international standards. He praised Microsoft for believing in customer feedback as necessary consideration for business planning, product rollout and strategy development in both developed and emerging markets.

The Zinox Chairman said that he would use the Global Advisor platform to advance the objectives of the Digital Knowledge Democracy and create technology value for Africans.

He explained that part of his responsibility would be to advise Microsoft on how best to domesticate technology and catalyze development in Africa.

He pledged to work closely with ICT i n s t i t u t i o n s , professionals, governments, and the trade to ensure that his contributions to Microsoft are truly representative.

Meanwhile, industry stakeholders have reacted on the appointment.

President Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Mr. Chris Uwaje, described the appointment as a welcome development.

He said that the appointment of an African into that committee was a reflection of the growing importance of the African IT market.

He described Ekeh as having the experience, exposure and goodwill which have seen him pioneer many strategic ICT platforms to make Africa proud in this endeavor. He recalled that Mr. Ekeh’s

BlackBerry reports 3rd quarter results for fiscal year 2014 T

he global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry Limited has reported financial results for the three months ended November 30, 2013 Q3 highlights: Company begins transition to operating unit structure: Enterprise Services, Messaging, QNX Embedded business and the Devices business New organizational structure to drive greater focus on services and software, while establishing a more efficient business model for the Devices business

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sustained innovations have propelled many international OEMs to the Number One position in sub Saharan Africa.

Uwaje contended that this appointment means more than business for Africans because it would also be a source of inspiration for the development of IT capacities among professionals.

The Microsoft Global Advisor Committee is a committee of distinguished IT icons around the world who serve as feedback channel to Microsoft for business models and strategy for product rollout.

including most recently LG; over 250,000 BBM Channels created by global user base since launch of BBM Channels on BlackBerry, including large brands such as Coke Indonesia and USA Today; BBM is

Growing local software ecosystem through Microsoft 9japps challenge

By EMEKA AGINAM

• Leo Stan Ekeh

Enterprise Services: Company sees increasing penetration of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10) with over 30,000 commercial and test servers installed to date, up from 25,000 in September 2013; Company remains a mobile device management leader with global enterprise customer base exceeding 80,000 Messaging: Over 40 million newly registered iOS/Android users in the last 60 days; more than a dozen Android OEMs to preload BBM,

the most secure mobile messaging service for use in regulated enterprises QNX embedded business: QNX to unveil new technology in automotive and cloud services at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show in January Devices: Company strikes joint device development and manufacturing agreement with Foxconn; initial focus of partnership to be development of a consumer smartphone for Indonesia and other fast-growing markets in early 2014

y challenging Ni gerian local software code warriors to build applications that have local appeal, the global software giant, Microsoft may have started growing Nigerian local software ecosystem system though 9apps challenge.

Over 120 developers from across Nigeria had entered the competition, which is one of Microsoft’s initiatives to support the local developer community.

Earlier in October this year at an event held at Co-Creation Hub Nigeria in Lagos, winners were announced for the best locally-relevant apps in the Windows Phone category.

Like the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition that brings best tech students to contest in the global stage, Microsoft had initiated local app development contest aimed at empowering local app developers by helping them drive innovation and grow the local software ecosystem.

The challenge was designed to empower local developers to take advantage of Microsoft’s new tools and resources to develop locally appealing and locally-relevant apps for the Windows platform, utilizing Visual Studio 2012 and the Windows Phone SDK, in addition to the Windows Azure SDK, The challenge which was launched on March this year was designed to empower local developers to take advantage

of Microsoft’s new tools and resources to develop locally appealing and locally-relevant apps for the Windows platform Bringing the competition to finals last week in Lagos, Microsoft in a keenly contested final had engaged over 10 other finalist across Nigeria.

Oludayo Alli, who represented Nigeria along his colleague Timi Okoya in Sydney, Australia in 2012 during the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition for the global students beat other contestants with his solution called Tourism Nigeria to claim the grand prize in the keenly contested final.

The winning app (Tourism Nigeria) allows you to explore your environment and gives real time information on tourist attraction centers and hotels in Nigeria.

“It feels good to be the winner and for you to be a winner, you must pre-

pare to be a winner. I would say my effort really paid off because for you to win, you must have put in some effort,” Oludayo Alli, winner of the grand prize.

Similarly, Uchenna Okpagu took the second place prize with Places Nearby, an app which provides a direction of useful places around, e.g. hotels, ATMs, Banks, cinemas, among others.

He went home with the sum of N750, 000 while five, third place winners went home with windows 8 devices each.

For Uchenna Okpagu, the 2nd place winner “I am delighted to have been the 2nd place winner. It is an encouragement to do more. My plan is to improve on the app and equally engage more partners to provide us with deals that will be very useful to users of the application”.

Akinsete Sunday and Adedoyin Kazeem who both developed ‘CINE-

MAZ’, an app that enables purchase of movie tickets online thereby removing the stress of queuing for such, and also allows viewing of any paid for movie without going to sit in the cinema hall was named the overall winner and were awarded the sum of NGN 750, 000 for their app.

The second place winner, Bukola Akinfaderin also went home with the sum of NGN 500, 000 while the 3rd place winners all received Windows Phone devices.

Speaking the capacity building event, Olayinka Oni, Chief National Technology Officer, Microsoft said “We gave the finalist in the Windows 8 category two months additional time to improve on their solutions and we promised to let someone drive home the car today in order to encourage upcoming developers to put their best into the development of locally relevant apps.”

From left: Chief Information Officer UBA, Mr. Rasheed Adegoke, Senior Executive Microsoft, Kabelo Makwane, Oludayo Alli, winner Windows 8 category and Abiye Koko, Chief Information Officer, Diamond Bank shortly after final event of the 9japps competition held in Lagos last week. Photo by EMEKA AGINAM .

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 27

C M Y K

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

CHAN: Keshi ready to name squad C

oach of the national team, Stephen Keshi will have his work cut out as he prepares to make the final call that will determine which players will travel to South Africa for the Africa Nations Championship in January.

Already, all players invited to the national team last weekend have all reported to camp and have been showing signs of the battle for shirts in camp.

Despite the fact that some players have been dropped, at the last count about 33 players were in camp battling for 23 shirts for the CHAN tourney.

The technical crew is expected to again prune down the list of players by the weekend as momentum heightens for SA 2014 CHAN tourney

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ayer Ribe about pla rope, but USA or U The Fr Allianz A Bavarian with a st ances.

He is un champion 17, and th ing in a l he would pions Lea

Benteke out of Palace clash I

njured Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke will miss his team’s Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace tomorrow as he is undergoing physiotherapy in his native Belgium until Friday.

The 23-year-old Belgian international has been struggling with knee and hip injuries since the close season and decided to meet up with physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck, who also works for the Belgian national soccer team, in Antwerp.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen also spent some time with Maesschalck recently, recovering from an ankle injury.

“Vertonghen has already left but Christian Benteke will stay until Friday,” a spokeswoman for the Move to Cure physiotherapy centre in Antwerp, where Maesschalck works, said.

Benteke, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, has struggled to make his mark this campaign, failing to find the net in the past 10 matches as Villa have slipped to 13th in the table.

Federer at 2014 crossroads as Serena chases history

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afael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray open the 2014 season in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, with Roger Federer hoping his absence isn’t an indicator of more misery ahead.

World number one Nadal provided the comeback story of 2013, winning 10 titles, including a record eighth French Open and a second US Open, which took his majors haul to 13.

Djokovic defended his Australian Open crown, while Murray claimed Britain’s first Wimbledon mens’ title in 77 years.

But while the big three start

Rib out Bay

their new campaigns with a leisurely three-day stroll in the Gulf, record 17time major winner Federer begins his 17th season as a professional in Brisbane and with his career at a crossroads.

In 2013, the world number six failed to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2002 and his secondround defeat at Wimbledon ended his run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.

Federer will turn 33 in August but i s acutely aware that his great hero, Pete Sampras, quit at 31 and at the top of his game, having secured a fifth US Open.

‘Successful 2013’ delights Igesund

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afana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund says he feels proud of what Bafana Bafana have managed to achieve over the last 12 months, and looks forward to leading the national side in 2014.

“I keep hearing the same thing, ‘not qualifying, not qualifying’,”

Igesund said of the year that was.

“A lot of that was out of my hands. From a personal point-ofview, we’ve had a magnificent year. A lot of things have changed in the last year, the team is playing a great brand of football that people are enjoying.

“To keep talking about not qualifying for the World Cup – I came in under very difficult circumstances, we were behind.”

It was a year of ups and downs for the senior national team, having gone from a mediocre Africa Cup of Nations campaign, to failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, and then beating the world’s best team two months later.

Murray set for big return A

ndy Murray will play his first match since September when he takes part in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.

The Wimbledon champion has not played since having back surgery after beating Croatia’s Ivan Dodig three months ago to confirm Great Britain’s return to the Davis Cup World Group.

The injury had forced him to miss his first Grand Slam since 2007 when he pulled out of the French Open in May that year.

He’ll follow the exhibition game by playing in the Qatar Open in Doha ahead of the Australian Open which begins on January 13.

His Christmas Day might be a bit different but at least he’ll have his mum Judy there for support.

Last week while helping out at a tennis project at Stirling University, she told the Observer: “His back is getting better. It’s three weeks until the Australian Open so hopefully it should be OK.” He will go into the Australian Open hoping to go one better than three final defeats the last one in 2013 when he went down to Novak Djokovic.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 29

Pienaar reveals Madiba inspiration S

bery rules t move to yern’s rivals

rn Munich star Franck ry says he could not think aying for another club in Euwould consider a move to the UAE when he is older. renchman has been at the Arena since 2006 and led the outfit to five trophies in 2013 ring of devastating perform-

nder contract with the German ns until the end of the 2016/ hough he would consider playlesser league before retiring, not play for one of their Chamague rivals.

“In Europe, there will be no other club, but it would be a bonus for me if there can be another continent after that,” he told Kicker.

Robben set for new Bayern deal

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he Dutchman says he will soon begin talks over a contract extension and is confident that he still has three years of football left in him Bayern Munich midfielder Arjen Robben has revealed he is set to hold talks over a new deal with the club.

The Dutchman has been at the Allianz Arena since 2009, while his current contract expires in the summer of 2015.

However, the Netherlands international says he is enjoying life in Bavaria and believes he still has something to offer the team.

“The club knows what they have in me and I know what I have at the club,” the 29-year-old told SZ.

Mayweather taunts Pacquiao with Christmas card

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loyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are unlikely to meet in a boxing ring at this stage, but that hasn’t stopped the American boxer from having a dig at his rival.

Both men have hagglled over finances and drug testing meaning that one of the most eagerly awaited bouts will probably never come to pass, but Mayweather was keen to show just what he thought would happen if the two did ever meet in the ring when he posted a tongue in cheek Christmas card on his Facebook page.

The picture of the knocked out Pacquiao came during his defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez a little over a year ago.

The picture has gathered close on 170,000 likes in less than 24 hours since it was posted.

teven Pienaar has revealed how an emotional meeting with former President Nelson Mandela changed his life forever.

The Everton star, who met the Noble Peace Prize winner while still a schoolboy, admits he wouldn’t be half the man and player he is today if it wasn’t for Madiba’s inspiration.

“Yes, I -remember the first time I met him.

I was 15 years old. We played a tourn a ment in Italy with the school and we did quite well,” he was quoted in the Daily Star.

“When we got back we were in class and the -principal came over and said we had to go to meet the president.

“When we walked into the room the first thing he said was, ‘Gentlemen, you guys have an opportunity in your hands’.

“He said, ‘Sport is the most important thing to put smiles on people’s faces and you have something special and you have to keep -working hard’.

“I will never forget. Those words will stick in my head. To do everything possible to reach my goal.

He was a man of sport and -believed sport can bring people together.

“The words which came out of his mouth were always inspirational. He loved his sport and he loved his nation. If it wasn’t for him I don’t think I would be sitting here today and I’m really grateful for that.”

Mandela died on December 5 at the age of 95 and Pienaar added: “It was very sad for the country to lose a father figure.

Arteta admits Mikel could have seen red

A

rsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta admits that John Obi Mikel could have been shown a red card for a challenge on him in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

The pair went head-to-head for the ball with studs showing during the first half of the Monday Night Football clash at the Emirates, but referee Mike Dean allowed play to continue and neither player was cautioned.

Replays suggested that Arteta came off worse in the tackle due to the timing of Mikel’s lunge, and he believes that the Chelsea midfielder got away lightly with the challenge.

“On that moment I think that he caught me high - I’ve got a big swollen ankle,” Arteta told Sky Sports after the game.

“I think that he got late on the ball.

“You ask me if it is intentional or not - I believe that is why the referee didn’t give him a red card.”

Arteta did admit that both players were committed to the challenge, but thinks that the way in which Mikel flew in was more dangerous than his attempt to win the ball.

“I was not facing him and he points his studs towards me,” he said.

Pellegrini confident ahead of Liverpool clash M

anchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admits he is wary of the threat posed by Liverpool and Luis Suarez ahead of their Boxing Day showdown.

City are just one point behind league leaders Liverpool following a 4-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage last Saturday.

Liverpool have been led by the sparkling form of Suarez, who has already netted 19 goals in 12 appearances this season, while City’s leading striker Sergio Aguero sustained a calf injury which could see him out for eight weeks.

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Slot to expand operations across West Africa

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

1.2m Nigerians enrol on NIMC

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

The National Identity Management Commission, NICM, last week, announced that it has captured about 1.2 Nigerians into the ongoing registration for National Identity Numbers, NINs. The Director General of the commission, Dr. Chris Onyemenam, who disclosed this at a oneday Business Forum organised by NIMC in partnership with the Nigerian-America Chamber of Commerce in Lagos also hinted that the identity numbers will be issued in 2014.

Onyemenam said that 2014 would witness more aggressive attempt to enrol more Nigerians as his commission, targets 40,000 enrolments per day in 2014.

According to him, " the total number of enrolment is in excess of one million and the expectation is that as soon as the current efforts are completed we will be talking in terms of an increase from 40,000 per week to 40,000 per day."

He explained that the project wa aimed at providing a national infrastructure for identity authentification and verification for both government agencies and the private sector in Nigeria.

He added that, "the national identification is targeted at providing a national identity infrastructure that will enable every other government agencies that is involved in providing services to streamline their service delivery chain so that they can be able to affirm that those who are benefiting from the services are those that really should benefit from those services.

"This will ultimately deliver some of the efficiency or value add, in the service delivery process and also create better utilisation of available resources."

Also speaking at the forum, the Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Plc, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, urged corporate organisations not to see NIMC as a rival agency but rather strategise on how they leverage on the commission's infrastruc-

From Left: Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, and Peter Igor, Chairman of board of NCC last week in Lagos at the maiden edition of the telecoms stakeholders summit 2013 organized by NCC. Photo by EMEKA AGINAM ture by hooking into its database.

Corroborating Ilukwe, many other stakeholders at the meeting, admitted that time had gone for bitter rivalry when everywhere in the world, collaboration is making industries stronger.

They lamented the lack of unified identification database system in Nigeria, stressing the need to fast track the issuance of the new NINs.

In his comment, President, NigerianAmerica Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Sam Ohuabunwanoted lamented that lack of proper national identity management systems has done serious havoc to the country.

Ohuabunwa said that non-availability of a unified and verifiable identity system had caused a lot of identity thefts to the country,

which have resulted in economic loss and image damage.

For him, there was need for all Nigerians to support the new identif i c a t i o n initiative,because it will put an end to all other identification projects by various agencies and private organisation which have not even taken off, let alone solve a single of Nigeria problems.

Two major targets for one of Nigeria's leading mobile devices retailer, Slot System Limited, in 2014 would be to increase employment opportunity for youths and to expand its operations beyond the Nigeria to other West African countries The company also plans to continue benchmarking its business operations with international standards.

Speaking during a ceremony to kick off its 15 anniversary at the Ikeja Computer Village in Lagos last week, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Ezeigbo, said over the years, Slot has consistently created and delivered value to the Nigerian people by way of selling Phones, computers, laptops cameras and accessories.

According to him, "in the past 15 years, Slot has provided employment to over 450 Nigerians and business opportunities to hundreds of contractors and service providers through our 35 stores, to increase this for the betterment of the society is our target".

Ezeigbo, who promised that the company will continue to sustain the momentum as it increases it's spread across the country, said, "Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their rights and ben-

efits and as such, we benchmark on international standards in order to offer the right prices and products."

While noting that level of complaints from consumers had reduced due to remarkable investment in customer service delivery by the company, Ezeigbo predicted that the cost of smartphones would continue crash, saying the company would provide the needed after-sales support for its teaming customers using smartphone and featur ephones and other Information Technology accessories purchased from the company's retail channles.

In commemoration of the 15 anniversary, the company has begun a promo tagged 'Slot Promo 5' where it intends to give away a car and cash prizes.

"As a way of showing appreciation for the massive support from our Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs and our customer loyalty, we have a culture of giving out gifts at the end of the year. This is the fifth year of this annual bonanza tagged 'Slot Promo 5'.

"We have fantastic gifts which include N500, 000 cash prize, a motorbike, double door refrigerators, LED TVS, several models of phones and the grand prize of a brand new saloon car."

... Inaugurates National PKI infrastructure

By EMMA ELEBEKE

I

N the related development, the commission said that as part of efforts to ensure implementation of National Identification Management System, NIMS and subsequent issuance of multipurpose national identity card in Nigeria, it has inaugurated a National Public Key Infrastructure, PKI. The Director General of NIMC, Barrister Chris ‘E. Onyemenam, at the official inauguration of the PKI security platform noted that the launch was a historical and milestone achievement.

He explained that the PKI consists of a self-assigned root Certificate Authority, CA and a trusted Registration and subordinate certificate Authority, RA and CA owned and administered by NIMC. According to him, the PKI will provide the framework of services, technology, protocols and standards that will enable the deployment and management of a strong information security system based on public key cryptography.

Barr. Onyemenam added that the PKI will lead to the personalization and issuance of a secure National Identity Card that will be recognized and generally accepted

globally.

“The National Identity Management Commission is an infrastructure that ensures e-ID security which is the security backbone on which the national identity card stands. The successful test-run of the public key infrastructure (PKI) is an indication that the national identity card to be issued by NIMC is sitting on a secured platform,” he said.

Speaking further on the ID card, Onyeemenem explained that the chip on the ID card provides security that prevents private key document from being accessed without prior authorization from the issuing authority, NIMC. “The commission must issue a certificate to authenticate and guarantee official transaction before anyone can have access into the digitally secured document,” he noted.

On the issuance of the eID card, the NIMC boss said that the commission will put in place a door to door collection arrangement whereby ‘someone’ will knock on peoples doors with a hand held card reader to match on fingers before a card can be claimed or on the alternative NIMC will use a formal currier means of sending this card to the applicant.

•From left: Slot MD, Mr Nnamdi Ezeigbo and ED of the company, Mrs Nkechi Ezeigbo

'Smartphones can bridge digital divide in Africa'

By EMMA ELEBEKE

A

release by Erics son ConsumerLab report for Sub-Sahara n Africa shows that Smartphones have potential to bridge digital divide in Africa by providing universal access and connectivity to a wider scope of citizens.

The study also showed that the mobile phone is the most important piece of technology to 73 percent of mobile users.

It further revealed that 56 percent of consumers who are not currently us-

ing internet on their phones are interested in doing so in future, while 62 percent of app users find apps to be more effective than mobile sites.

Ericsson said it is enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow its workers to study, work and live their lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Its offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other i n d u s t r i e s .

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —31

C M Y K

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

C M Y K

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —33

My husband wasn’t there for me Dear Bunmi, AM a married woman of 43 with four children. I used to be the legal secretary of a company until I was inched out in a bitter boardroom brawl. As to be expected, my confidence took a bashing on top of which my savings dwindled.

At first, I had the sympathy of my husband. When he began to complain about the quality of food he was getting, I explained to him that now I wasn’t earning a salary. I couldn’t augment the house-keeping fund he was giving me. He became cold and distant and sometimes refused food until I found out he was having an affair a couple of streets from us! I confronted him and he was really wrathful, saying he had to eat decent meals once in a while.

Well, as God would have it, some factions broke away from my old company to form a brand new one and I was invited as an executive director. I was able to raise the money they asked for and the company is now doing well. My self-confidence is back.

What has gone really awry is

I

My ex wants to spend Xmas with our children Dear Bunmi,

J

UST OVER a year ago, my husband of nine years left me and the children for another woman. He lives with her now because she’s rich. At first he said it was a temporary thing to mitigate his joblessness.

Early this year, he said he wanted a divorce so he could get married to this woman and I didn’t object.

Any man who could do what he did to us is not worth fighting for.

Now another Christmas draws to a close and all the bitterness is back, I now live with my parents with our three children and I would want all of us to have a good festive period.

My ex has another idea though - he wants the children to spend the holidays with him and his flossie. I told him it was okay, but there’s no way I’m going to expose my innocent children to that kind of depravity!

Evelyn, by e-mail.

Dear Evelyn, You really haven’t let on

out how active your ex is in the lives of his children.

What he did to you was a deplorable thing but that doesn’t really amount to being depraved!

As much as you can, strive to make this Christmas one to remember by spending quality time with your children. Whilst you do that, resist the temptation to portray your ex Aan ir r esponsible father. You were terribly hurt and still suffer from your ex’s be-

My husband is anti-social Dear Bunmi, I HAVE been married for over 15 years to a man in his 40's. When people come to see us, he often refuses to be drawn into conversation with them. He just reads his papers or watches sports on telly and ignores them. This is particularly noticeable when his older sister calls round. I find his behaviour very rude and upsetting. I think that anyone who comes into our house should be treated with courtesy. I’ve

His wife doesn’t know about us Dear Bunmi,

I

AM a 30-year-old mother of two and my partner has refused to formally introduce me to his relatives.

Initially, he meant for me to be his second wife but changed his mind when I first got pregnant because his wife had a nervous breakdown. When I got pregnant again, he bought us the house we are now living in, hi my name. I come from a financially comfortable family and run a thriving business. But my fear is that my sons will not know their half brothers and sisters formally before he dies.

He believes that as long as he gives me his time

trayal, but he’s still your kids’ dad.

In the meantime, let your ex realise you don’t want to confuse the children by letting them be with him and his lover for days on end.

Instead, agree on the occasional visits and see how things go. Let your kids realise you love them - so does their dad. Then look forward to a relaxing and stress-free holiday.

and money, I should be all right. But what if he eventually dies: What role would I play at his funeral?

Jade, by e-mail.

Dear Jade, He has already pointed out the role he wants you to play in his life, that of a mistress. When he dies, you’ll play exactly the same role as you’ve always played.

The man has shown you the amount of tune he can commit to you. If you want more than that, I’m afraid you have to start looking for a man who will go the whole length with you.

As you’ve realised, you can’t force him to give what he doesn’t have.

tried talking to him about this reasonably. I’ve also tried getting annoyed.

Nothing works.

My husband says that he hasn’t invited these people into our home and he doesn’t see why he should put himself out for them. My husband’s father used to be the same way until he died, but that’s no excuse.

Tiwa by e-mail.

Dear Tiwa, It's obvious your husband allows his conflict with others to go unresolved. Instead of encouraging understanding, forgiveness and love, he retreats into himself and makes enemies and bears a grudge to those around him.

Your husband’s rudeness undermines your efforts to be hospitable to your guests, making you feel confused and irate.

You need to put a stop to this. Why not plan gatherings and visits of family and friends with your husband instead of waiting for them to drop by?

Agree with him who you’ll invite. When he says he doesn’t like someone or he doesn’t want them in his home, ask him to talk through and resolve whatever problems he has with that person(s).

Encourage him to become a more amiable and tolerant person towards his older sister. But if he still feels that he must go into a huff when an unwanted visitor arrives, then ask him to do his sulking somewhere else.

how I feel about my husband.

He has started being nice all over again, but I really hate him.

I never knew he could be such a fickle man. The kids want me to let by-gone be by-gone. But he let me down when I needed him most.

Joko, by e-mail Dear Joko, Hurts like your experienced will take a long time to disappear, but you must work at it. It was cruel of your husband not to support you when you were down, but he must have panicked too, thinking of the financial implications of your wage loss. Though it doesn’t explain his rushing to another woman for comfort, he must have been confused too.

Why don’t you have things sorted out with him? Tell him how much he hurt you and maybe you might be able to understand why he behaved so badly and with time, you will be able to forgive and forget.

You should listen to your children too, they count in the making of a stable family.

It was cruel of your husband not to support you when you were down, but he must have panicked too, thinking of the financial implications of your wage loss.

Though it doesn’t explain his rushing to another woman for comfort, he must have been confused too.

Why don’t you have things sorted out with him? Tell him how much he hurt you

He steals from me Dear Bunmi, 'VE BEEN involved with my current boyfriend for years.

He was such a charming and generous man that I didn’t hesitate giving him the key to my flat. Then he started dabbling into drugs and things have taken a dramatic turn.

A few months back, he borrowed a digital camera but said it was stolen. Then he came to the flat to remove the television set and video recorder.

Since then, he’d ‘borrowed’ a few things I haven’t seen and the last straw was when an expensive gold bracelet got missing. I’m sure he must have flung some of my things to pay for his drug habit.

In the past, I've parted with large sums of money whenever he promised to change, but as things are, he is on the path of

I

destruction - running up debts he has no means of paying, only to be back full of tears and apologies and making false promises that it won’t happen again. I’m really fed up with him, but don’t know what to do next.

Vanessa, by e-mail.

Dear Vanessa, For as long as you continue to bail out this man of yours, either willingly or unwillingly, he’ll have no incentive to address his problem. You’ve given him more than enough chances and he’s not only blown them, he’s become a lying thief.

Your only chance of a peace of mind is to change the locks of your flat and let your neighbours know he’s out of your life.

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

34 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Everything is wrong with PDP — Sen Adeyeye S

ENATOR Olusola Adeyeye representing Osun Central District in the National Assembly is the ViceChairman, Senate Committee on Education. He recently empowered people of his constituency with the sum of N50million. He fielded questions from newsmen following the programme on issues pertaining to the state and the country. Excerpts:

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

3,500 people and I did not nominate a single person, that is not my own way of doing things. What I did was to say bring your leaders together, the party leaders, the women leaders and the youth leaders.

Every leader in every local government is represented, every woman group is represented, the youths are represented, the youths cannot be cheated, the women cannot be cheated and nobody would be cheated and everywhere we have gone today, resoundingly, we have been praised by the people for doing what they think is right for them.

W

HAT do you think is wrong with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP? Everything is wrong with PDP; there is endless decay, endless immorality and endless stagnation. The people of Nigeria can see that what we have at the top of Nigeria is leadership without vision and the people are saying enough is enough.

What is the Senate doing to avert educational crisis in the country?

Anytime I see what is happening in the education sector, I feel like weeping, I went through the public school in Nigeria and it served me well and unfortunately, the public schools are not serving the present generation well but I believe that the end is in sight by the grace e of God and we shall end this problem.

Why the choice of distributing money to the people of your constituency as an empowerment programme?

My initial intention was to make it a micro-credit scheme but because of a lot of hurdles that we have to scale, the programme was delayed.

And this time I have decided

Would the gesture be continued after today?

,

Senator Iyiola Omisore alleged that one of the senators in Osun state was arrested for being in possession of arms and ammunition, what is your reaction to this?

All I can say is that he failed at an electoral competition where Senator Babajide Christopher Omoworare who is the youngest senator beat him hands down.

He could not even win his own ward, in other words, by the verdict of the people of IleIfe, in the year 2011, Iyiola Omisore was not even qualified to be a councillor, it would be our pleasure if the PDP is stupid enough to make him their candidate, it would also be our pleasure to take him in a contest before the people of Osun and I can tell him now that the end is a forgone conclusion because we will beat him in every ward in Osun State.

people something, you keep your word.

How? I will continue it, by the grace of God, as long as I am alive, I will do everything in my power to serve the people of Osun.

This year alone, I am building 24 different classrooms in different parts of this senatorial district. In addition, along with my other colleagues in the National Assembly, that is, those from Osun, we are building massively throughout Osun and very soon you would begin to see and if you had looked at the newspapers, you would see that there had been advertisements everywhere

Everything is wrong with PDP; there is endless decay, endless immorality and endless stagnation, the people of Nigeria can see that what we have at the top of Nigeria is leadership without vision

,

•Adeyeye: Everything is wrong with PDP to just give token to the people instead of buying bags of rice, beans, turkey and oil. I decided that I will not even buy motorcycles and things like that, I just give them money. If you like, you can use your own money to pay school fees, if you like take your own money and buy kola-nuts and take it to the north and make profit.

So, I actually gave them the money and I asked the people themselves to decide how much should be given to each person. I wanted the smallest amount to be about N20,000 and the biggest amount to be N100,000.

Resoundingly, they rejected that, they themselves elected that each person should be given the same amount, I said okay, give everybody N20,000 and they said no, they wanted everybody be given even a lesser amount, so each person

is getting N15,000 and today we are giving about 3,500 people a sum of N15,000 each turning to roughly about 50 million naira.

This makes me happy because the people are very happy. We have giving to

My goal is that the next round would be what I intended originally which is a micro-credit finance. This is just to let them know that when I made the promise, a little less than a year ago, I meant to keep it, I am a man of my word, I have brought two things to politics, I intend to leave politics with them, my Christian testimony and a good name and a good name means when you tell the

about what we are about to do in the area of education.

We in the National Assembly, not just me, all of us from Osun decided that we would pump all of our constituency projects into education and we did not get the contract, I am not a contractor, if they give me the contract, I will reject it.

This is contract awarded by the Federal Government in accordance to where we the representatives of the people want the project to be located.

Bridging the ethnic divide in Delta

BY JESUTEGA ONOKPASA

I

LONG ago came to the suspicion that much of the ethnic hostility in Delta State emanate from a toxic mix of ethnic hatred, rumour mongering and a cocktail of entrenched misconceptions.

Right from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's emergence as a gubernatorial hopeful back in 2007, there

emerged an implacable opposition to his aspiration.

While most political traducers hardly ever present their differences on ethnic terms, when, however, drawn into confidence, the ethnic bile they come up with is most profound.

Additionally, their grievances are seldom constructive, be it in presentation, content or context, usually turning out to

be unsubstantiated and contrived opinions on the scorecard of their political rivals.

Prejudice, for all its irritating haughtiness, would appear to be often mocked by what it once scoffed at. I have met critics of the Asaba Airport waiting to take flights at its terminal building.

I have encountered many

Continues on page 35

VANGUARD , WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 35

Bauchi commissioner battles for political survival

BY SUZAN EDEH

L

ATELY, the Bauchi State education sector has been in crisis, following alleged incompetence of the Commissioner for Education,Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu.

The state House of Assembly before going on recess two months ago withdrew their confirmation of the nomination of Aminu as commissioner for lower and higher education because of his alleged inability to turn around the educational fortunes of the state.

On the strength of that Aminu, was subsequently suspended, even as he was banned from holding any political appointment within a specified period of time.

Instructively, the decision was a fallout of the report by the House Committee on Education headed by Mr. Abduallahi Murtar, which investigated and subsequently indicted Aminu over claims that the Ministry of Education had nothing to show for the huge government investment in the sector.

Though there were attempts by the lawmakers to reinstate the suspended commissioner, but the moves were blocked

by the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS).

The group felt that the lawmakers were not acting in accordance with the constitution and were playing politics with the matter.

Briefing newsmen on the matter, ASUSS Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Ningi, said that Aminu was removed in August 2013 due to the crisis bedeviling the sector.

The crisis, he said included; retrenchment of primary school teachers, strike by secondary school teachers as well as tertiary institutions in the state.

Ningi, said ASUSS was invited to submit its input into the House committee’s investigation in order to carry every stakeholder along on the issue.

“This was submitted to the committee and we were invited twice for defence by the committee but none could take place due to some problems beyond the control of the committee. While patiently waiting and hoping to be invited for the defence of our submission to the committee, we received the shocking and disappointing news that our State House of Assembly

•Yuguda members have not only forgiven the removed Commissioner but also have returned

him to office as commissioner of education,”he stated.

He further accused the sus-

pended commissioner, Alhaji Aminu of bribing the House, so as to be reinstated, saying that the union had concluded plans to take the lawmakers to court over the development.

Accordingly, the union described the planned reinstatement of the commissioner as an act that is inimical to the future of education in Bauchi. Hence, the conclusion that the lawmakers are toothless bulldogs, who could only bite those perceived to be the enemies of the State Governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda.

Notwithstanding, the union has vowed to petition the.

Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the World Bank over the alleged financial recklessness of the suspended commissioner.

Reacting to the bribery allegation, the Deputy Chairman Bauchi State House Committee on Information Mr. Baba Suleiman, said the allegation that the commissioner bribed the lawmakers would not be swept under the carpet.

He however restated that decision to withdraw the nomination of Aminu still stands, adding that the suspended commissioner was not reinstated.

Bridging the ethnic divide in Delta Continues from page 34 who thrashed the construction of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara, receiving treatment at its state of the art consulting rooms, operation theaters and inpatient wards.

Indeed, it is my projection that upon its completion, the homes of numerous critics of the Independent Power Plant in Oghara, will be powered by electricity produced there.

For a while now, I have been attempting an interrogation of prejudice within the contexts of race, ethnicity, gender and class.

It has become my opinion, that it is always unreasonable to predicate any sort of animosity on grounds of such differentiation. Knowledge is power and when we take an objective interest in genetics, anthropology, philosophy, history, sociology, culture and linguistics, we inexorably arrive at the conclusion that our human differences are mostly superficial, contrived, and accidental.

Perhaps also, if we attempted to watch a bit less

•Uduaghan of Africa Magic or Supersport and tuned in to National Geographic and BBC Knowledge, we would come to the sentiment that the

awesome variety which characterizes humanity is better celebrated in love, cooperation and peaceful coexistence.

If we tamed our addiction to social media and visited Wikipedia and Encarta more often, we probably wouldn’t be so eager to process our naturally derived differentiation into infernal grouses upon which to further balkanize what should be one big happy human family. If we learnt to see a brother in the stranger, we wouldn’t be so convinced we are the only ones entitled to get to the top or that someone from another tribe, who was equally created by God, is not qualified to be governor or president.

Where and when it has pleased God to create humanity into different, races, tribes and ethnicities, having an axe to grind with others for corresponding reasons, amounts to one indirectly telling God, He did not know what He was doing when He made us members of these different groups.

At a secular level, it is

enough to invalidate ethnic bias on the ground that everyone, including the most irretrievably prejudiced, naturally feels very bad, if at the receiving end of ethnic or similar hatred, regardless of the lengths to which he or she may go to justify his own opposition to others on those same grounds.

While I am neither some Christian leader nor theologian, it is my suspicion that God is likely to become especially protective of someone particularly hated on unwarranted grounds. The fact that Uduaghan remains governor over certain persons, some of whom went so far as to rejoice upon rumours of his passing, may well be thus interpreted.

I am proudly Okpe, and if I died and came back to this world, I want to be an Urhobo man all over again.

Nevertheless, I would be very much inclined, at any appropriate gathering, to address Governor Uduaghan as ‘Oroghenevwerute’: ‘the one whom God takes care of ’.

After all, the Itsekiri man he is, happens to speak better

Urhobo than the Urhobo man I am.

It is the nature of truth to remain the truth whether it is accepted or otherwise acknowledged. The truth is always worth fighting for, however strongly, falsehood may have become entrenched.

And it is the truth is that in Delta, there is too much ethnic hatred and politically engineered tribalism. It is a challenge we must all strive to meet headlong in service to our shared humanity.

While there will always be those who eternally reject reality, there will also be many who upon encountering the truth are inspired to key into its import.

At any rate, doing nothing would amount to capitulation to the machinations of those who thrive on sentiments to paint a hardworking man bad before his constituents, simply on account of his ethnic background.

*Onokpasa, a Public Affairs Commentator, wrote from Sapele, Delta State.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Lawmaker urges media practitioners to defend democracy

Community tasks DESOPADEC on Esiri Road

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

A

member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Momoh, has charged media professionals and those in similar field to be vigilant to defend the nation’s democracy from those opposed to its tenets.

Momoh, who represents Etsako Federal Constituency, disclosed this in Benin during the conferment of Best National Assembly Legislator in Edo State for 2013 award on him by the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN, Edo State chapter.

He also stressed the need for Nigerians to live a life of sacrifice that would enable the country surmount all the challenges that serve as a cog in wheel of progress.

Using the late former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela that passed on recently as reference point, the lawmaker said people could be celebrated, not for the abundance of things they possessed, but for their service to humanity.

According to him, the case of Nelson Mandela should serve as a lesson for all, especially political office holders, to make sacrifices to solve the nation’s woes.

“On my part, I will do my utmost best in the service of

T

HE people of Esiri in Ugbeyiyi, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State have called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to prevail on Delta State Oil Producing and D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, to complete its road before the rains set in.

The community specifically charged chairman of the commission, Dr. Henry Ofa, to kindly intervene so the road would be built to standard.

Making the community ’s position known, Tuoyo Mabiaku, chairman of Ugbeyiyi Landlords Association, noted that the contractor seemed to be doing a shoddy job without side drains.

He said: “To worsen the matter, the contractor handling the project has since abandoned it for more than three months.”

Mabiaku also noted that users of the road were passing through hell because of its bad state.

Council boss assures on model leadership

T

HE Chairman of OrileAgege Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Taofik Adaranijo, has promised to lead by good examples through the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure.

Adaranijo said the council had provided various communities through the provision of basic amenities, including good roads, modern drainage system, health care, potable water, textbooks and scholarship to students.

Etsako people, whom I hold in very high esteem and whose interest I represent at the National Assembly,” he said.

He appreciated his colleagues at the National Assembly and Governor Adams Oshiomhole for their cooperation in ensuring that the people of his constituency got dividends of democracy.

THANKSGIVING: Mr. & Mrs. Harris Akhile, newly-married couple (right); Chief Charles Obule, and his wife, Chief Rosemary, parents of the bride, during the couple's thanksgiving service at Assemblies of God Church, Sapele.

Oshiomhole inaugurates Civil Service Commission

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has inaugurated the newlyreconstituted State Civil Service Commission, charging the members to reposition the service to meet present day challenges of effective and efficient service delivery.

He said the choice of Princess Ekiuwa Inneh as chairman of the commission was due to her numerous contributions and achievements during her stewardship as Head of Service.

He stressed the need for the civil service to be reformed in a manner that bureaucracy could be properly managed to ensure

efficient and effective system.

He also described the civil service as an indispensable organ of government.

Governor Oshiomhole reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to injecting new blood into the civil service by employing qualified and competent people from the geopolitical zones of the state, disclosing that funds had been set aside in the 2014 budget for training and re-training of civil servants to acquaint them with modern administrative techniques.

He said: “What is needed for the promotion of civil servants, who are due, is not the time spent in one level or at the point

of entry but competence, skills, ability and other productive factors.

“I, therefore, charge you to carefully look into these issues to ensure the promotion of qualified and efficient civil servants.”

Responding on behalf of the members, chairman of the commission thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them and promised that they would discharge their duties with all sense of responsibility.

Other members of the Commission are Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, Mr. Tony Oshinebo, Mr. Matthew Ogendegbe and Mr. Jim George Akhimien.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Momoh said he had so far sponsored seven motions that culminated in resolutions and five bills, besides cosponsoring several bills and motions in the National Assembly.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Jonathan, Obasanjo's letters

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OOK at how much time and energy many have spent talking about OBJ’s letter as if we had no issues before the letter. OBJ should tackle Nigeria’s issues objectively rather than exerting energy on pondering and writing personal opinions. — Ms. Maryjane Promise, Student.

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RE you telling us corruption should continue? That Jonathan cannot fight it? We don’t want your reply to OBJ’s letter. All we are asking for is somebody that will repair this country and take it to the next level.

Nigerians are tired of hardship. — Mr. Osaretin Jimoh, Engineer.

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F Obasanjo can be courageous enough to apologise to Goodluck and Nigerians, I think Nigerian should forgive and accept him as their leader. Leaders can as well make mistakes or fall, but if they are wrong, they must learn to say sorry to the sheep and move on. — Ms. Fortune Ajie, Model.

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NY leader, whether religious or political, that descends low will lose integrity and will become irrelevant. Everybody will always talk about a leader. He must apologise to us. The level at which our leaders see power as do-or-die is amazing. — Mr. Omojevwe Emmanuel, Cleric.

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HY would the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria belittle himself by replying? OBJ made himself a laughing stock by writing. He had no moral ground. Has he forgotten what he did during his tenure or does he think Nigerians are stupid? — Mr. Uchenna Azuka, Student.

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HE open letter shows that President Goodluck Jonathan no longer listens to OBJ’s advice and it should be celebrated. He should have said important truths about the House of Assembly and APC. Every well meaning Nigerian wants OBJ to explain that letter. — Mrs Ngozi Okoji, Businesswoman.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013—37

Uduaghan boosts mass transit with 130 buses

Rivers crisis: Dep Speaker lauds Vanguard's fair reportage

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ELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has commissioned 100 Toyota Hiace and 30 high capacity Marcopolo buses, with a pledge to continue to boost the state’s mass transport programme.

Commissioning the vehicles in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan said: “The state government is determined to banish rickety buses for mass transit from our roads and ensure that Deltans move around in comfortable vehicles.

“With this commissioning, the state now has over 700 units of 18- seater Hiace buses and 130 Tata, Marcopolo and Innoson buses for intra- and intercity Mass Transit Scheme with the broad goal of providing safe, reliable, efficient and integrated transport operations.”

The governor explained that the state government was in partnership with the private sector in the mass transit programme and charged private operators participating in the scheme to always make prompt returns.

Delta community lauds Uduaghan over water project

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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EMBERS of On icha-Ugbo water user committee in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have expressed appreciation to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen and others, for their overall support and commitment toward ensuring effective repairs to the water borehole in the community and restoration of water supply to the area.

A message issued by chairman of the committee, Mr. Steve Nnabuogor, on behalf of the traditional ruler and head of Ezichime clan H.R.M Obi Victor Chukwumalieze I (J.P), described the state governor as a detribalized, focused and dynamic leader whose leadership over the years had transformed various communities in the state.

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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FUND REPLENISHMENT PROGRAMME: From left: Rwandan First Lady, Jeanette Kagame; Nigeria's Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mark Dyle of the Global Funds, during the 2013 Fund Replenishment Programme, in Washington, USA.

Jonathan can't be intimidated to fight corruption with military tactics —AIDE

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youths and Students Affairs, Mr. Jude Imagwe, yesterday, declared that the President would not be intimidated into applying undemocratic means in the fight against corruption.

Apparently reacting to the letter by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Jonathan, Imagwe, who spoke during an end of year party organized for members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in Benin City, by the Presidency, said President Jonathan was being persecuted due to his refusal to adopt anti-democratic strategies in the fight against corruption and general governance of the country.

While emphasising that the fight against corruption by the administration was unshakable,

he noted that several elites in the country found to have been involved in corrupt practices, were facing trial in different courts currently, “unlike before when innocent people were prosecuted due to political disagreements. That is what Jonathan cannot be dragged into.”

The Presidential aide, who expressed the President’s regrets to Nigerian students during the ASUU strike, stated: “The first thing is that for any man who feels that Nigeria is not moving forward or that Nigeria is not better than what it was yesterday, they are deceiving the people, because what it was yesterday is different from what we have today. Several things that were grounded yesterday, this government have revived them.

“On the issue of corruption, the President is democratic

in all aspects of his life, democratic in his conduct and to institutions that are being saddled with the responsibility to carry out their functions.

“He has directed all relevant agencies that every sector of the Nigeria economy should be protected and scrutinised. So, if people are shouting that the President cannot fight corruption, I only ask, in which other method do they expect the President to demonstrate his ability to fight corruption?

“Is it the same pattern as it was yesterday when people were harassed, arrested and removed from office unconstitutionally and de-humanized? If that is the approach they feel Jonathan should adopt, then we need to remind them that we are not in a military system."

Aziza vows to reposition Urhobo nation

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—PRESIDENTGeneral of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, General Patrick Aziza (rtd), has vowed to place Urhobo ethnic nationality in its right place in the political scheme of things in the country.

Speaking during his inauguration for a second term in office as President-General of UPU, Aziza said he would work towards repositioning the Urhobo nation to produce the governor of Delta State or at least be king makers that could not be taken for granted.

He said his executive would work hard “to unite the political class to ensure unity of purpose and to work closely with them to strategically reposition our people to take their rightful place in Delta State and at the federal level.

“We will work closely with the federal and state governments to ensure security that is good enough to attract investors to Urhoboland.

“My executive will lobby the government at all levels to ensure that moribund industries located in Urhoboland are revived and properly managed to provide employment for the teeming youths.”

Admonishing the core politicians in the new team, he said: “You must consciously take a decision that will not hurt Urhobo cause. Never again shall we members of the UPU executive willingly trade information or leak discussions about strategic decisions that affect Urhobo nation through direct sale or publication in newspapers for cheap personal

gains.

“The December 7, 2013, UPU election is historic, most transparent and credible election process ever witnessed in Nigeria and I must appreciate those who participated in the exercise.

“Urhobo nation has shown a good example to the rest of the country that free, fair and credible elections are indeed achievable.

“This process of selection has produced a formidable team of leadership to run the affairs of the Urhobo people for the next three years. I feel extremely proud of Urhobo people.”

Chairman of the 2013 UPU electoral committee, Mr. Mike Igini, who also spoke during the ceremony, said UPU election was free and fair.

ORT HARCOURT— DEPUTY speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, has commended Vanguard newspaper and the media generally in the state for standing on the side of truth and justice over the lingering political situation in the state.

Kwanee, in acknowledgement of this, hosted the Rivers press yesterday at his official residence in Port Harcourt to celebrate the press for not letting Rivers people down in their trying moment.

Kwanee, who represents Khana II in the state Assembly, particularly noted that 2013 had been a very trying period for the House.

He said: “The successes we have recorded so far and the sustainability of our democratic process have been informed by the tremendous support given to us by the press community.”

ICCOBA '88 set marks silver jubilee

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ERIES of activities have been lined up for the celebration of the silver jubilee of 1988 set of Immaculate Conception College, ICC, Benin, Old Boys Association.

The celebration, according to the set coordinator, Mr. Kingsley Enobakhare, will include a public lecture with the theme: Education as a Vehicle for Social Change, to be delivered by Dr Phillip Ugbodaga, a Consultant Oro-maxillofacial Surgeon and Immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, Edo State.

Other activities lined up to mark the silver jubilee include commissioning of street light project in the school, executed by the class; novelty football match with Edo College Class of 1987, and a visit to Oronsaye Orphanage.

He added that there will also be an international congress, Family Dinner/ Award and Party, all in Benin City.

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Xmas: Orji pardons 12 prisoners

BY ANAYOOKOLI MUAHIA—AS part of Christmas celebration, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has pardoned and directed that twelve prisoners serving various jail sentences be released.

The governor also enjoined Nigerians to use Christmas celebration to embrace the love of Jesus Christ and shun bitterness in their relationship towards one another, saying sharing love was the best way to keep Nigeria one.

“The life of Jesus Christ is characterized by great virtues that include love; the love of Jesus Christ to mankind is immeasurable and can only be understood through his works that is known to be filled with compassion.

“It is this kind of lifestyle of love that can make a country.

We owe this debt to God and to fellow human being to extend love at all time, even in the face of hostility as admonished by the word of God,” Orji said.

The released prisoners are Boniface Okezie, Ikemdinachi Okezie, both convicted for manslaughter; Ezeogo Ogbonnaya, Ndukwe Ogbuisi, Sunday Chukwu, convicted for conspiracy and Ugochukwu Odoemelam, convivted for entering into a dwelling place.

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Navy holds Xmas carol in Lagos

BY ONOZUREDANIA AGOS—THE Nigerian Navy has organised a ceremonial sunset and end of year ball and Christmas Carol, to mark the end of Navy calendar year.

The ceremonial sunset was attended by both serving and retired Navy officers and their families.

Speaking at the event, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Command, Rear Admiral I E Ibas, said that the NNS had in the course of the year been able to arrest many vessels for various offences and had them handed over to prosecuting agencies.

Ibas noted that they contributed significantly to NN participation in the security operations in the Northern part of the country.

The FOC, who gave a welcome address during the carol night, said the event provided a platform to celebrate feats and accomplishments as well as say well done to the officers and men who have kept the maritime space safe.

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I've no plans to join APC —IHEDIOHA

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA WERRI—THE Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has said he had no plan to cross-carpet to All Progressives Congress, APC, or any other political party, being a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Chief Ihedioha made his position known at a media and constituency briefing in his country home, Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise local council area of Imo State.

“It is impossible for me to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for any other political party. I am a foundation member of the PDP and worked very hard to build it,” Ihedioha said.

The deputy speaker made it clear that he has contributed immensely to the sustenance of the party in his constituency and the South East geo-political zone.

He expressed regret that some detractors had continued to spread rumour of his alleged plan to defect to the opposition camp, and called on Imo people to avoid activities and statements that could heat up the polity.

Addressing Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpala people, Chief Ihedioha declared that as a federal legislator, he had initiated and completed more projects than any other

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representative the state ccould boast of.

The lawmaker explained that he had passionate desire to alleviate the sufferings of the masses, as well as develop his constituency and Imo State at large.

“Apart from initiating and completing roads, electricity and

water projects in Mbaise and Ngor Okpala federal constituency, I have provided jobs for 196 youths, with varying certificates from National Diploma to doctorate degrees,” Ihedioha said.

Responding to his address, former state PDP chairman, Dr.

Alex Obi, emphasized that Chief Ihedioha’s giant strides in human capital and community development was intimidating.

He appealed to Imo people to continue to give him the support he needed now, pointing out that he would do more, if given the backing in the days ahead.

INSPECTION: From left: Dr. Adeniyi Balogun, Director, Commercial Business Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Col. Onalo Carl (rtd), Chief Securtiy Officer, FAAN, Mrs. Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister, and Mr. Edward Olarerin, Regional General Manager, South West/ Airport Manager, Muritala Mohammed International Airport, during the inspection of the new expansation work, at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Police recover rifles of slain officers in Abia

BY ANAYOOKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Police Command has recovered the two AK 47 riffles belonging to two inspectors attached to the command who were killed two weeks ago by armed robbers.

The slain inspectors, Jimmy John and Kingsley, were killed along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway when they were attacked by armed robbers while escorting a Pool magnet moving money from Aba. The command also said it recovered one military riffle in the same bush where the two Police AK 47 rifles were recovered.

According to the Abia State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tilli Abubakar, the rifles were recovered in a bush at Umuawa Alaocha Ohuhu in Umuahia.

However, no arrest has so far been made as he said that the hoodlums who hid the weapons in the bush fled.

Abubakar also announced that his men arrested criminals who specialize in snatching car, especially Toyota Camry brand.

“Following a tip-off that two men operating on a motorcycle suspected to be hoodlums were sighted in a bush at Umuawa

Alaocha Ohuhu in Umuahia, Police operatives were dispatched to the area.

“Three AK 47 rifles and one Military riffle concealed in a big bag and buried in the ground

were recovered.

“Examination of the riffles revealed that two of the AK 47 riffles were those taken from Inspectors Jimmy John and Kingsley Etuk shot dead on

December 7, 2013, along AbaEnugu express road by hoodlums.

Efforts are still intensified to track down the fleeing hoodlums,” the CP said.

Youths demand reinstatement of Agbaso

BY CHIDINKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO youths have again staged a peaceful protest in Owerri, to back their demand for the reinstatement of former deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso.

The protest was sequel to the clean bill of health given to embattled Agbaso by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an

alleged bribery scandal.

According to the protesting youths, since the anti-graft agency has cleared Sir Agbaso, the proper thing now is to restore him to his former position.

Speaking to newsmen, leader of the demonstrators, Chief John Iwuala, regretted that the former deputy governor was framed up and removed from office for an offence he knew

nothing about.

Chief Iwuala said: “Imo people should now demand the return of their money since it was paid to a contractor for a project no executed”.

Iwuala urged the citizenry to come up with ideas on how not to just recover the N458 million allegedly paid to Agbaso but also the entire N1.3 billion paid to the contracting firm upfront.

Flour Mills conducts free eye screening for 1000

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AGOS—FLOUR mills of Nigeria Plc in collaboration with the Department of Ophthalmology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, recently organized a free eye screening exercise for people of Apapa area of Lagos. The programme was carried out in line with the firm’s commitment to healthcare delivery, with

regard to its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The screening programme, which took place at Apapa Local Government Town Hall, recorded more than 1000 people as highly skilled doctors administered eye medication and distributed spectacles supplied by Flour Mills.

The Group Managing

Director of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc., Mr. Paul Gbededo, said the main goal was to help save and maintain the sight of the participants, particularly those who might not have the means to visit hospitals and eye clinics.

His words: "This caring of the eye initiative should assist participants to know their eye status and give them lasting impression.”

Vanguard, WEDNEESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —39 ,

PRESENTATION: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, and the Emir of Ilorn, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the 2nd General Conference of Nasrul-lahi-lli-fatih Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, National Unity, a precursor to Development Islamic Perspectives, Ilorin, in commoration of the 90th anniversary of the Ansar-Ud-deen Society. Here the Executives of National Women Council presents gift items to the Modupe Cole for an under-privileged home, in Yaba, Lagos.

AWARDS: From left, Mrs. Lola Dada, Executive Director, Corporate Services of UAC; Mr. Joe Dada, who received an award in the 30–Year category; Miss Toluwani Dada (displaying the plaque); Chairman of UAC, Senator Udoma U. Udoma, and Miss Morioluwa Dada, at the UAC of Nigeria Plc's Good/Long Service (10 to 30 years) awards ceremony.

PROGRAMME: Students from eight Lagos State secondary and primary schools in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, embarking on a Patrol and Peer Education Project, under the Lagos School Safety and Advocacy programme, making a live

BRIEFING: Dr Paul Orhii,DG National Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC (right); Alhaji Hashim Yusuf,Director Nacortics & Controlled Substance, NAFDAC, and Mrs. Maureen Ebigbeyi, Director Port Inspection, NAFDAC, during DG's briefing the press on the latest sezure of counterfeit and fake drugs along the Badagry expressway at its HQ, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

COMMEMORATION: The Executives of National Women Council, presenting gift items to the Modupe Cole under-privileged home, in Yaba, Lagos, in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Ansar-Ud-deen Society.

ADDRESSING: Ondo State Gover nor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Ondo State chapter, during their "Thank You" visit to the Governor for re-calling over 2,200 workers indicted for record falsification, in Akure..

PRESENTATION: Wife of Oyo State Governor, Chief Florence Ajimobi (middle); Wife of Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Janet Alake Adeyemo (right), and Mrs. Jane Adeosun, during the presentation of a Christmas gift to the represetative of Christian Association of Nigeria , CAN, Oyo State Chapter, at the Office of the Wife of Oyo State Governor, Agodi, Ibadan. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

COMMISSIONING: Rt. Rev.Oluranti Odubogun,Chairman Chi Foundation Limited Lagos; Chief Michael Sunday Adigun,Chairman, Landlord and Residents Association, Idi Ape Zone 1, Ibadan Oyo State, Michael Oyekanmi Onagbola,General manager,Head of Administration, Chi Group, and Chairman, Management Committee, Chi Foundation Limited, and Mrs. Folashade Odubogun, at the commissioning of Community Borehole, at Bashorun Idi Ape Area, Ibadan, Oyo State,

by Chi Foundation Limited on Saturday. Photo: Akeem Salau

COMMISSIONING: Pastor Wilison Ajah, cutting the tape to declare 'Chop Open,' while Mrs. Uche Ejikeme, Chief Ken Ejikeme, Mr. John Emeanu, MD, Clicks Touchies Solution Ltd, LG Electronics, Ajah, Lagos, during the commissioning of LG Electronics Clicks Touchies Solution Ltd, Ajah, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

CAROL: From left,the Chairman of Fuman Juice, Chief Olayiwola Adeyemi; former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; Olamikunle Alao Akala,Yeye of the Source, Chief Oluwakemi Alao-Akala and General Brimo Yusuf, dancing at the 2013 inter-denominational Xmas carol and Nine Lessons with the Family of former governor, Akala, with the them, 'PEACE BE STILL,' at his Opadoyin Akala Logde, Randa Ogbomoso.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Kogi Govt sues for peace at Christmas

ATM users go through hell in Bauchi banks

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BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—BANK customers who wanted to withdraw cash through the Automated Teller Machines, ATM, literally passed through hell in Bauchi State, yesterday.

Apart from long queues by large crowds of customers, most of the ATM centres were not funded even after the banks had closed for businesses.

There were unusual crowds at the ATM terminals as most families struggled to get some cash for food items, second-hand clothings as well as drinks for the Christmas celebrations today.

Most of the banking halls were overcrowded even as some of the customers expressed frustrations that the ATMs did not dispense cash.

Parents can’t afford to fail their children — Adamolekun

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AGOS—PARENTS and guardians have been urged to make adequate preparation for the future of their children.

Proprietress of Anchor Springfield Montessori Schools, Itele, Ogun State, Mrs. Toyin Adamolekun gave the advice during the school’s 2013 Christmas party/concert.

She argued that education is a sure foundation for the future of the children, tasking parents to be committed to the well-being of their wards. She stressed that parents cannot afford to fail in performing their duties as they were stewards that would give account on the children in the future.

“The children are the future crown of their parents and nurturing them today should be a task for all of us. If parents, school authorities and the government work together, we can help build a prosperous future for our children. It is a task that we cannot afford to fail because the consequences will be grievous".

CHRISTMAS —Passengers for the Christmas holidays at Wazobia Park, Gwagwalada in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

OKOJA —THE Kogi State Government has advised Nigerians, especially Christians to see the Christmas season as a time to pray for peace and unity of the country.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter Governmental Affairs, Mr Austine Medaiyedu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lokoja.

He said that Christmas was a period to give thanks to God for all He had done all through the year, irrespective of the challenges.

Medaiyedu urged Nigerians to remember the country in their prayers, especially on the security and other challenges during the yuletide season.

ASKO boss faults call for Oduah’s sack

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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AGOS—AS Nigerians clamour over the two bullet proof cars bought for the Ministry of Aviation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, of Asko Group of Companies, Chief Samuel Anyanwutaku, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan, to ignore the calls for the removal of Mrs Stella Oduah, saying she had done so well within her two years in office.

The House of Representatives had last Thursday, adopted its Aviation Committee’s report which found Minister Oduah culpable over her alleged role in the purchase of two BMW cars worth N225 million and urged Jonathan to review her engagement as minister.

However, condemning the calls for the Minister ’s removal, Anyanwutaku said: “As a regular air traveller into and out of Nigeria and within our 22 airports, one cannot easily forget the shame which the airports brought to local and international passengers, before Princess Oduah assumed office, as the aviation minister two years ago.

"The airport toilets were hell, the arrival and departure halls were messed up, unclean and choking. The air conditioners were not working; the conveyor belts never worked and passengers usually had to wait for several hours to get

their luggage. Are we to talk of the terminals, runways, radars and other equipment in our airports? They suffered ‘epilepsy,’ as a result of years of neglect by past administrations, traced to gross corruption in the sector.

“But today, the story has changed for good. A tour of the country ’s 22 airports, shows that there has been a total overhaul. Our airports have now become functional.

Many of them redesigned and beautified, others upgraded.

One can now eat and even sleep in our airport toilets. The air conditioners in the waiting halls are now working; power supply is more stable than ever before, the conveyor belts are now working, as well as

the entire system in all the airports including air safety regulations. Even, the South East now has a befitting international airport, which was opened for operation not quite long ago. All these have become possible as a result of the competence of Princess Oduah.”

Describing the agitations for the minister’s removal, as a ploy by her detractors to rubbish her good records and humiliate her out of office, Anyanwutaku asked “those calling for her sack to take a more dispassionate look at the issues involved. From the aviation committee’s report, it has just been merely stated that Oduah and the NCAA spent money above their ap-

proval limits and that they were involved in anticipatory approval of expenditure.

“Even the minister herself has proved without doubt that the two cars were not bought for her personal use nor even in her name. Also, the EFCC having quizzed and interrogated Coscharis Company, the sellers of the two cars, did not find any shred of evidence of any shady deal or inflation of prices or any kickback against the Minister.

There was no proven act of corruption traceable to the minister from this story or any other, so those who want to humiliate this woman who has done so well within a short period of time should leave her alone.”

FG begins repatriation of 508 Nigerians from Saudi Arabia today

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BUJA— THE Federal Government has concluded arrangements to commence the repatriation of 508 Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia, beginning from today.

This is sequel to the clampdown on illegal immigrants by the Saudi authorities after the expiration of the four-month amnesty given them to regularise their stay.

Nigeria’s Consul-General in Jeddah, Amb. Ahmed Umar, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday, in

Abuja that the 508 Nigerians were those who voluntarily decided to return home.

He recalled that the repatriation, earlier scheduled to begin on Dec. 22, was stalled when the aircraft that was meant to convey them developed technical problems on the eve of their departure.

Umar commended the federal government’s generosity in repatriating those who chose to return home.

“The Federal Government responded promptly to the

need of those Nigerians who indicated their desire to return home.

“The consulate had provided items such as food, blankets and other needs for women and children.

“The consulate had maintained round the clock presence with the deportees to ensure that all their immediate needs were met, including medical attention.

“The sick were regularly taken to the clinic located within the facility for instant examination and treatment.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —41

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44— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Aerotropolis: Air city within the city

BY JUDITH UFFORD

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The City of Ekurilieni, located near Johannesburg hosted the World Airport Cities Conference

Key facts about aerotropolis

Britain without enhanced airports in London, “the city and nation will become markedly weakened in the coming decades”. And if the public does foot the bill, the bet might not pay off. Perhaps, it is on this note that the federal government is pursuing with vigour its aerotropolis project. But sceptics as usually are of the view that aerotropolis wiill not work in Nigeria. The reasons given range from inconsistency in government policies to government political will to see projects of such magnitude through. But Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah is optismistic that the project would see the light of day.

•7 x more high value job growth in Aerotropolis than traditional downtowns •3000 jobs – d i r e c t + indirect supported by each regularly scheduled long haul service •10 % passenger volume increase results in 2 % regional job growth •1 in 6 people live within 20 minutes of an airport in developed countries.

ccording to her, the concept will work in Nigeria and would create fresh areas of wealth as wellas contribute its quota to the country ’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. The project she informed is expected to bring about the development of new 5-star hotels, new housing estates and luxury houses targeted primarily at pilots and air support staff and other aviation professionals; auto

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his is a season when people move from one part of the country to another to visit loved ones. In Nigeria as in other parts of West Africa particularly cities, roads would be jammed and the traffic busting its stem. But in more organised and developed chimes, the rail and the airports would witness more human traffic.

As much as Nigerians would want to be part of the organised and developed world, they cannot lay claim to that yet as our airports are still work in progress. In fact, there is no gain saying that as a nation, we have out grown the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos as well as local airports across the country.

All over the world, countries are beginning to look in the direction of the more economic and socially viable idea of aerotropolis, a new urban development concept which was developed by U S d e v e l o p m e n t researcher, J o h n .D. Kasarda. The concept comprises aviation-intensive businesses and related enterprises extending up to 25 kilometres outward from major airport,with the airport as the centre.

Aerotropolis is the merging of two words—aero and metropolis. The whole idea is to find a single word to represent the emerging concept of an aviation-based development centre. People are already familiar with the concept of a hub. The aerotropolis concept however goes far beyond what we know about a hub.

The Aerotropolis is more of a commercial and social development concept, in which the airport area serves as a hub, or magnet around which other business and social development revolve.

In and around airports, there are industries related to timesensitive manufacturing, ecommerce fulfillment, telecommunications and logistics; hotels, retail outlets, entertainment complexes and exhibition centres; and offices for business people who travel frequently by air or engage in global commerce. Clusters of business parks, logistics parks, industrial parks, distribution centres, information technology complexes and wholesale merchandise marts located around the airport and along the transportation corridors radiating from them.

As increasing numbers of these businesses and commercial service providers

As economies become increasingly globalised and dependent on electronic commerce, air commerce and the speed and agility it provides to the movement of people and goods has become its logistical backbone

cluster around airports, the aerotropolis is becoming a major urban destination where air travellers and locals alike can work, shop, meet, exchange knowledge, conduct business, eat, sleep, and be entertained without going more than 15 minutes from the airport.

According to Kasarda, airports have evolved as drivers of business location and urban development in the 21st century in the same way as highways in the 20th century, railroads in the 19th century and seaports in the 18th century. As economies become increasingly globalised and dependent on electronic commerce, air commerce and the speed and agility it provides to the movement of people and goods has become its logistical backbone. Kasarda says: “most airport transportation connectivity will need to be based on public funding, and this will be expensive. I know of no significant commercial airport that has been privately built that had not received substantial public funding support, at least indirectly.”

The deal, in other words, is this: taxpayers would be expected to pay handsomely for an environment created

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almost entirely to serve the needs of business. If they don’t, as Kasarda says of a

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Examples of great airport cities or aerotropolises: *Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, which is largely credited for conceptualizing the world’s first airport city with more than 58,000 people who work daily within the airport grounds is a modern transport hub integrating people and businesses, logistics and shops, information and entertainment. *Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, US covers more than 29.8 square miles. It is ranked third in terms of operations and seventh in terms of passengers. Over 2,000 companies are located on the airport’s property, consisting of 18,076 acres, including the Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise mart. *Munich Airport, Germany has a full-service hospital, a full-service grocery store, two bakeries, a swimming pool and spa, a microbrewery and a huge, open-air covered forum that serves as a concert venue.

and technical repair shops, new medical facilities nearby, cinemas, entertainment, casinos, hair salons, discoun shops, duty-free shops, even schools and recreation centres. Colloborating this, General manager, Corporate Communications,FAAN, Mr. Dati Yakubu noted that “the swiftness and timeliness of aviation makes it the means of choice for several areas of industry and social life” Continuing, he said, “aviation is key to a flourishing global business of growing and selling fruits,vegetables and flowers. Without the aircraft and air travel, this global business in perishable agricultural produce worth N250 billion(2010 figures) to African countries that participate, would not exist”.

According to Yakubu, another pointer to what an aerotropolis could bring to Lagos is the Ajao area whch adjoins the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,MMIA1 which for many years is the country’s major connection to the rest of the world by air. “Ajao area and adjoining Ajao Estate has one of the highest concentration of hotels and relaxation centres in Lagos. The reason is obvious. Its proximity to the international and local airports in Lagos (the country’s major commercial centre) puts it within easy reach of air travellers who need overnight accommodation and hospitality services”, Yakubu said.

In April 2013, the City of Ekurilieni, located near Johannesburg hosted the World Airport Cities Conference. Ekurilieni is a Continues on page. 45

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 25, 2013

— 45

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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Bubbling Mile1 Market in Diobu, Port Harcourt

Fire of sorrow ruins yuletide for Rivers’ traders assessment, blamed the uninhibited impact of the fire on poor consciousness among traders and residents in the vicinity.

“Three things are involved in this disaster. Carelessness on the part of the traders and residents of this area, ignorance and sabotage.

These factors contributed”, Umunakwe stated.

Umunakwe further said efforts to co-opt the fire units of major oil companies in Port Harcourt which could have added value to the State Fire Service’s efforts to arrest the fire did not materialise as companies who were reached on phone declined assistance because they needed go ahead from their head managements.

Aerotropolis: Air city within the city Continues from page. 44 growing airport city.

How To Get There..

The recent signing of an agreement between the Chinese government and Nigeria for the building of five new modern airport terminals in the country is a big boost to the aerotropolis. Already work has commenced at the new airport terminals scheduled for Lagos MMIA1, Kano (Malam Aminu Kano airport), Enugu (Akanu Ibiam Airport), Abuja(Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport), and the Port Harcourt International airport. These new world class airport terminals to be built by the Chinese construction giant, CCECC are designed to have air cargo sections with modern cargo handling and storage facilities. But observers are quick to query the rationale of signing on the Chinese given the slow pace of work on the 10 lane Orile-Badagry expressway project.

To this Dati responded thus: “The funding has already been sourced by the Chinese Nexim bank by the federal government.

It was signed during the President’s visit to China. That takes away the problem of funding which accounts for slow of work”.

Of equal importance to the realisationof the aerotropolis project is the recovery of undeveloped parcels of land which were left for the future development of the various airports. In Lagos for example, lands that were given out under dubious conditions have been recovered through favourable court judgments by FAAN. That this translates to is that there would be enough space for physical expansion of the airport facilities as intended for the airports when the MMIA1 was built 40 years ago. A new multi-storied car park, 5-star hotel is on the cards in the vicinity of the new MMIA and is expected to be completed next year, 2014.

The State Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari in a separate reaction blamed the fire on sabotage, alleging a link between the inferno and current political uncertainties in the state.

“At 2am, we heard dynamite and all kinds of sounds emanating from the Abonima Wharf area and also from the Marine Base. This sound continued. We are suspicious of sabotage in the light of current happenings”, Semenitari claimed.

In a continued blame game, factional Chairman of the Mile I Market Association, Chief Young Obene Clark Georgewill, accused the Mayor (Chairman) of the Port Harcourt City Council, Chimbiko Akarolo of masterminding fire out break.

H

e said, “On 6th January 2004, one Daniel Inyeme collaborated with one Mr. Akarolo and burnt the market at 8pm. Last year, this same group attempted burning the market, and I quickly rushed to Zone Six of the Nigeria Police who asked that I substantiate my

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Y Monday, 16th of December, Christmas shopping had peaked at the popular Mile1 Market in Diobu, Port Harcourt that even the deaf could tell without prompting from the extraordinarily bubbling commercial life. From food items, clothing to toys, jewelries and all shade of wares, each of the hundreds of the congested shops in the market spread in over six acres of land was stuffed to the brim.

Beyond the front-line shops, pyramids of bags of rice, beans and yam tubers have overlapped, displacing pedestrians on the walkway and cars pullover lines on the Ikwerre Road as desperate traders defied sanitation and traffics laws with impunity on the road portion stretching to the Mile1 Market.

Shockingly before dawn of Tuesday, all the shops and every item stored in them had disappeared. A wild market fire of pains and sorrow which reportedly started at ungodly 2am had blown through uncontrollably, reducing everything on its path to rubles. The adjacent two storey building, House 57 Ikwerre Road was not spared.

Its shop owners and residents lost virtually all wares and personal belongings as the fire blazed in.

The market, usually under lock and key before 6pm everyday, is guarded by night watchmen, but none of the guards, the devastated shop owners and the market authorities have been able to establish a clue as to what ignited the fire and the exact point it began.

Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dickson Umunakwe whose ministry supervises the State Fire Service however, on self

The fire of sorrow been far minimal if the Rivers State Fire Service was proactive. She lamented that, “The fire started from the other side and as early 2am, I rushed with my husband to the Fire Service, so close by.

They came with trucks but none had water.

They were just there idling about with their vehicles as the fire spread, burnt the entire shops and took over our house.

No life was lost directly to the destructive fire, but eye witnesses said fleeing armed robbers in a car rushed through the market axis of the Ikwerre Road as the fire blazed on, and brushed their speeding getaway vehicle through a cluster of frantic shop owners who were

The same interest who hijacked the leadership are the ones who have burnt it again. I have been in this market for over 45 years

suspicion, but the fire was averted.

“The same interest who hijacked the leadership are the ones who have burnt it again. I have been in this market for over 45 years.

Recently I borrowed some money from a Micro Finance bank, but I was not feeling well so I gave it to my wife to stock my shop. Now everything is gone, burnt by these people,” he alleged.

Mrs. Olatoyin, one of several tenants at the storey building also gutted by the fire said the impact would have

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trying to salvage the much they could from the dangerous burning fire. Two victims of that car accident were speculated dead in the process while others badly wounded were rushed to hospitals. Some victims who had rushed to the scene watched helplessly as their entire goods disappeared.

Some of them reportedly collapsed and were rushed to the hospital.

Mayor of Port Harcourt valued the loss at billions of Naira. The loss also include

cash in millions of naira of the previous days sales locked in the shops by some of the victims.

Mrs. Olatoyin whose family lost everything, but her jewelries at the storey building said, “What I am putting on is the only clothes I have. We returned from the Fire Service to meet our apartment razed and everything including documents burnt. The State Fire Service is just there for nothing. They are not working. I am nonetheless grateful that nobody was burnt to death. I just went back to our burnt apartment and discovered that my gold jewelries were not damaged”.

M

adam Joy Opara lost her shop of deep freezers stocked with fresh stock of frozen food. In between sobs, she said, “I cannot quantity the loss. Most of us stocked our shops for the Xmas sales with credit facility provided by some micro finance banks who were frequent at the market over the previous week. The little returns I get daily I use in supporting my family and younger ones who are in school. Where do I go from here now?”

As victims count their losses, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Major of Port Harcourt City Council, Akarolo in separate visits to the burnt market have promised to build a more befitting market at the burnt shops with Akarolo also declaring his intention to set up inquiry into the disaster.

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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Police bust 7-man rob hijacking gang … Army officer gave us the uniform we used

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even members of a notorious armed robbery gang, including a serving army o f f i c e r, that specialized in hijacking goods on major highways in Lagos State, have been arrested by Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos.

The suspects, who were identified as Jude Madu, O s i t a N n a j i , C h ib u e z e Umezu, Abuchi Anuaya, Edwin Ndinememu, Romanus Nweke and Salau Adamu, the army officer, met their waterloo, when they hijacked a forty feet container carrying Forever Living Products, worth over N33 million, along Ikorodu Road.

Crime Alert reliably gathered that the bandits, clad in military camouflage uniforms, usually patrol major highways of the state in unmarked vehicle, searching for potential targets. On identifying a target, the bandits would pull over in front of the truck carrying the container and bring it to a halt, while the ar my officer, who is usually armed with a rifle will order the driver and his conductor out of the truck, before throwing them into their operational vehicle.

A member of the gang, would then take over the wheels of the truck and d r i v e i t d o w n t o I d do Te r m i n u s Pa r k , L a g o s Mainland, where it would be trans-loaded into another truck.

In most cases, the abducted truck drivers and conductors, are usually drugged and dumped along the highways. They are usually s t r i p p e d o f a l l valuables, including money, cloths and mobile phones before being dumped in isolated areas.

Incidents like this, have been common within the state and the bandits have always gone away with their crime. But in this case, the management of Forever Living Products didn’t take it lightly. They contacted the police at Anthony Police Division, w here they commenced investigation into the case, before it was transferred to the SARS for proper investigation.

Sources disclosed that, SARS operatives, led by SP A b b a Ky a r i , s w u n g i n t o action and tracked the bandits to a hotel which serves as a hideout for the gang. Seven members of the gang, including the a r m y o f f i c e r, w e r e a l l

He receives over 70 per cent of all the hijacked goods in this country and he is on the wanted list of almost all the Police anti-robbery formations in the country and nobody has been able to lay a hand on him

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apprehended and during interrogation they confessed to have hijacked the container belonging to Forever Living Products and many others within the State.

A source, who craved anonymity said; “they told us that the goods were taken to a notorious stolen goods receiver known as Obinna in Onitsha, Anambra State, but they

could not give us his exact location or home address.

Obinna, is a notorious receiver that is known all over the federation. He receives over 70 per cent of all the hijacked goods in this country and he is on the wanted list of almost all t h e Po l i c e a n t i - r o b b e r y formations in the country and yet nobody has been able to lay a hand on him.

He recruits criminals from all corners of the country but none of them knows how he looks. No one has been able to provide meaningful information that could lead us to him. They claim, communications are done mainly by phone and they don’t get to meet him at all.

After we arrested this gang, we quickly used them in arresting the driver whose truck was used in transloading the goods and he took us to a warehouse in Onitsha where the goods were stored and we found just half of it.” the source stated.

When Crime Alert interacted with the suspects, some of them claimed that Forever LivingProducts,was their first operation and they blamed indulgence on poverty. But the leader of the gang Jude Madu, said

it was his second operation.

He said he got Obinna’s contact through one Sunday Obasy, who he said is in prison custody. Madu, also stated that Salau Adamu, the army officer provided the army uniforms they used for the operation. He also gives us moral backing and motivational support.

According to him; “ I got to know Obinna through Obasy, but I never met him.

We talk only on phone and that is how he gives me instructions. I got to know the soldier through Romanus and he has been highly instrumental to our success. Obinna told me that he is highly interested in buying PVC chemicals, so I and my gang went out to look for it and we hijacked a container along Airport Road, Mafoluku.

We sent the goods to him

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

— 47

Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

DSS arrests suspected serial rapist for ‘de-flowering’ a 23-year old girl

BY OKONKWO EZE

O

*C. P. Manko and he paid us N8 million. He asked us to look for more and we did so.

When we hijacked the Forever Living Products, we thought the container was carrying PVC chemical, we didn’t know that it was drugs and even when we sent it to Obinna he refused to pay us claiming that the goods have no commercial value. We were still reeling from that loss when the police came and apprehended us.

anyone else and asked her to go back to her brother’s shop and sleep.

Narrating her ordeal to newsmen, the victim who

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bbery-

NITSHA - Men of the Directorate of State Services, DSS in Anambra State have arrested a middleaged man for allegedly raping and deflowering a 23-year-old secondary school girl in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The suspect, whose name was given as Tochukwu Nebo (a.k.a. Baby Boy), according to the source, had lured the girl into his residence at night with a fake promise to sell a deep freezer to her on credit to facilitate her elder brother ’s restaurant business.

According to the source, all efforts by the girl to resist the rape could not yield any fruitful result, neither did her loud screams save her as Baby Boy allegedly over-powered her under gun point, inserted his fingers in her throat and threatened to strangle her to death if she continued to resist.

It was gathered that as the helpless girl was screaming and begging him to spare her since she was still a virgin, he tightened his grip on her throat until she became unconscious before he stripped her naked, tied her long plaited hair to a corner of an iron protector in his room, tied one of her legs to the other corner of the protector, telling her that he would like to examine her to find out if actually she was still a virgin as she claimed, before he would decide whether to allow her go scot-free or still have sex with her.

It was further gathered that his first move was to forcefully insert his finger into her vagina which immediately resulted in blood gushing out and he actually confirmed that she was actually a virgin.

But that did not deter him from engaging her in a marathon sex bout until he was satisfied, he stood up, only to discover that she had become unconscious.

Sources said he became afraid at this point and invited one of his close male neighbours to come to the room and assist him check if she had died or not, adding that in the process, the visitor heard her breathe and expressed happiness that she had not died.

The source further hinted that Baby Boy woke her up, apologized to her for the defilement, pleaded with her not to reveal her ordeal to

together and sell the freezer to them on credit, adding that throughout her ordeal, she did not even see his wife in the house.

The source further hinted that Baby Boy woke her up, apologized to her for the defilement, pleaded with her not to reveal her ordeal to anyone else and asked her to go back to her brother’s shop and sleep

pleaded anonymity, said the whole thing started when their school closed for Christmas and she decided to go to her elder brother’s shop to assist him, adding that on the fateful evening, her brother travelled out of town.

She said contrary to their agreement with the former owner of the shop who had just moved out of the shop, that she would sell her deep freezer to them and be paid after Christmas, the freezer owner decided to come and take her freezer away that same night on the condition that she would no longer wait till January to be paid.

She said when all her pleadings fell on deaf ears and the freezer owner took away the freezer in the absence of her brother, removing all the meat and fish in the freezer, she started crying that the meat and fish would spoil without the freezer, adding that it was when Baby Boy heard her wailing that he came in, consoled her and promised to sell one of his own freezers to them on credit.

She said it was at this juncture that he lured her into his residence to go and present her case to his wife so that they can agree

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She said that why he even spared her life was because when he thought she had died and went over to call his friend from the other room, she quietly woke up and called his brother on phone to inform him briefly that Baby Boy was raping her and that he even threatened to strangle and throw her body away, without heaven falling.

She said as she briefly informed her brother about the incident, she heard his footsteps coming back to the room with his friend and quickly dropped the phone, pretending that she was still unconscious, until she heard her brother call Baby Boy to ask him what was going on but Baby Boy denied and told his brother that she was lying down with his wife, while he was sleeping in another room.

She admitted that he apologized and pleaded with her for pardon, adding that she quietly went back to the shop in pains and sat down all through the night as she could not sleep. Very early in the morning, she started hearing bangs on the door, initially she was afraid it could be Baby Boy again but when the knocks became persistent and she heard

them saying they were vigilante operatives, she opened the door and they asked her what happened and she narrated her ordeal to them.

She said the operatives quickly went in search of him and eventually arrested him, and while they were still debating whether to take him to Obosi Police station, they saw a team of DSS operatives on special duty and they handed Baby Boy over to them and they took him to Awka for interrogations.

She said a woman whom her brother called on phone that night contacted the vigilante operatives early in the morning.

Commenting on the development, the traditional ruler of Obosi community, HRH, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III, told newsmen in his palace that Baby Boy was notorious for such rape cases, adding that it appeared he was equally into cultism.

Insisting that the community will not condone such atrocious act, Igwe Iweka therefore said that the law should take its course in this regard.

The monarch disclosed that the girl had been taken to the hospital for medical examination and treatment after undergoing a series of laboratory tests.

Confirming the arrest to newsmen in a telephone chat, the State Director of DSS, Alex Okeiyi said apart from the rape case for which Baby Boy was arrested, he had also been implicated in robbery and kidnap cases, by some other suspected criminals who are already facing armed robbery and kidnap charges.

48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

CHRISTMASMESSAGES Okonkwo tasks Nigerians on peaceful living

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S the over seven billion people of the world prepare to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo has called on all citizens of the world and Nigerians in particular to remain peaceful and grateful to God because Christmas is all about love, peace and joy to the world.

Bishop Okonkwo who called on Christians to ensure that their relationship with Jesus Christ is intact, stressed that, it is not enough to rejoice in the fact that Jesus was born in a manger but it is also about emulating the worthy virtues He stood for while He walked on the face of the earth, most especially it should be a time of extending love, peace, joy and goodwill to everyone.

The Presiding Bishop of TREM who also called on all Christians to stand out as ‘Ambassadors of Peace’ wherever they might be located asserted that ”the onus lies on us to influence our environment positively through our peaceful conduct and life style knowing that we have been called to shine as the light of the world. If Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and also joy personified, then necessity is laid on us as Christians to also rise above bickering, strife, disunity, and

Olutola sues for peace, fear of God

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RESIDENT The Apostolic Church Nigeria (TACN), Pastor Gabriel Olutola has urged Nigerians to embrace the path of peace and the fear of God as Christians all over the world commemorate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Olutola said the birth of Christ gave hope to the sinful world as God executed His salvation plan for mankind.

Olutola said it was regrettable that people still indulge in sin and act savagely, contrary to the will of God, adding that Christmas should be used by both the rulers and followers to reconcile themseves with God and stop treading the path of destruction.

Pastor Olutola, who is also the chairman of the LAWNA Territory in the church, said God has shown and demonstrated His love for mankind

Continues on page 49

compromise in every area of life and endeavours”.

As we commemorate another Christmas, he enjoined “Nigerians to continue to work hard towards achieving lasting peace in our land and always lift Nigeria before God in prayers at all times and as we pray God Almighty will cause Nigerians to see the Nigeria of our dream”.

Dr. Mike Okonkwo assured that “in spite of the seemingly state of hopelessness that stares us in the face as a Nation; we must remain prayerful and hold on to God, because God will certainly turn things around and Nigeria will again take her rightful status in the committee of Nations”.

L-R: Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos, Msgr Gabriel Osu, Mr. Greg Enahoro and wife during the commissioning of newly renovated Parish House of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Lafiaji, Lagos sponsored by GAF Foundation.

Methodist prelate urges leaders to imbibe Jesus humility STORIES BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA HRISTMAS should be a time when we recall that God became lower than the angels to be born, lived, suffered and died for us.

Christmas should be a time for us to remember that we as Christians have an obligation to leave the comforts of our everyday life to help those less fortunate just as Jesus did for all of us.

No doubt, Jesus Christ’s birth ushered in joy, peace, happiness, celebration and a positive anxiety about tomorrow and indeed eternity which is God’s desire for all those who live according to His will and tenets.

God’s wish is that all men come into His eternal rest which is completely the opposite of what many are currently experiencing.

This is one of the things this season reminds us; that is, to make a u-turn from those activities inhibiting us from enjoying God’s manifold blessings and prosperity which are sequel to the birth of Jesus Christ. This is also the case with our nation. While God has so much blessed us as a country, well over 90 per cent of the citizenry are living below poverty line.

Despite the enormous resources deposited in various states in our country, over concentration and over dependence on oil and gas has made us a one-sector economy thereby making other sectors redundant or non-existent as

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the case is.

The birth of Jesus Christ is to bring about hope and expectations to His creatures of which Nigerians are part of, but those saddled with the responsibility of bringing smile to the faces of God’s people and happiness to their minds by maximising the abundance of the resources He has bestowed on this nation are doing exactly the opposite.

What should ordinarily be a blessing to us is seemingly becoming a curse which is further accentuated by the inability of Nigerians to enjoy quality education in a country that once gave scholarship to students to study abroad. Businesses are paralysed owing to a power sector that is near comatose.

The people’s representatives, elected to make laws that will make life more meaningful for Nigerians are taking home millions of naira on a monthly basis in a country where the Government is struggling to pay a minimum wage of N18,000 to an extremely hardworking and patriotic workforce.

The essence of the birth of Jesus Christ, if sincerely embraced, preached and promoted will stamp out corruption, kidnapping, political killings and assassinations, political thuggery and brigandage, wanton destruction of lives and property, especially through avoidable religious crises (predominantly in the Northern part of the country where the freedom to practice Christianity is being vehemently resisted, opposed and kicked

against by some bigots and fundamentalists) and resolve the ongoing crisis created by the Boko Haram sect.

But the failure of many, especially those in political leadership to put on the garb of Christ’s humility and put the people first in all their dealings has been the major force setting us back.

It is my prayer, that as we celebrate this Christmas, God will

visit our nation and bring about a miraculous transformation that will catapult us from our position of mediocrity to our rightful place in the comity of nations. I look forward to a Nigeria where things will work and where anyone can dream and equally practice his or her religion in any part of the country without fear of victimisation, intimidation or harassment. I believe this season will mark a turn-around in our collective destiny and will help us to attain our potentials as a people.

Martins urges leaders to emulate Mandela

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HE Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has called on Nigerians to show more love and mutual tolerance for one another, as these remains the prerequisite for sustainable growth and development of the country.

In his Christmas message signed by the Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Msgr. Gabriel Osu, the prelate also urged the political class to emulate the exemplary virtues of the late former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela who readily sacrificed his personal comfort in order to attain political freedom for his people.

While urging Christians to embrace the spirit of the yuletide by spreading joy, love, peace and sharing with the less privileged in the society, Archbishop Martins admonished all to be ready to make the necessary sacrifices to move the nation forward, just like God did by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to redeem humanity from the bondage of sin.

“It is at Christmas that humanity witnessed the consolation of the wretched, the redemption of the captives, the speedy deliverance of all who otherwise are lost, and the salvation of all Adam’s children. Christmas is indeed a season of joy, and the salvation of all Adam’s children. Christmas is indeed a season of joy, gladness, love, forgiveness, peace, salvation and celebration.’

The Archbishop enjoined all Christians not to lose sight of the spiritual significance of the season despite the festivities that come with it.

“While we busy ourselves with shopping, partying, cleaning and other material preparations for Christmas let us not lose sight of its spiritual significance---the opportunity to encounter Jesus and embrace his offer of friendship and salvation.”

CHRISTMASMESSAGES

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 49

At Christmas, remember those in captivity

By MONSIGNOR GABRIEL OSU

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AT H O L I C Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins is billed to visit the Ikoyi Prisons to share the joy of Christmas with inmates. The event is an annual one organized by the Prisons Apostolate of the Archdiocese, the Directorate responsible for the spiritual needs of our brothers and

sisters who are either being remanded in custody or serving jail terms.

During the visit, the Archbishop will be accompanied by Rev. Fr. Jacob Adeyemi, other priests, religious and lay faithful. It will afford the inmates the opportunity to interact one-onone with His Grace while some gift items and food stuffs would also be donated to them.

The spiritual significance of

the visit would be uppermost in the mind of the prelate. He would be sharing with the inmates the message of love, peace and joy that comes with the yuletide. He would try to make them understand the essence of Christ’s birth which is to free mankind from the bondage of sin and to grant eternal salvation to all who believe in Him. The import of such the above event must not be lost to each of us. It is part of charity

THANKSGIVING: From left; His Eminence Elder (Dr) Israel Akinadewo Omoeri, (Supervising Head), Primate, Founder and Supreme Head, Motailatu Church C&S Worldwide, His Most Eminence, Baba Aladura (Dr) Mutailatu Akinadewo and His Eminence (Prof.) Joseph Otubu, (guest speaker) during the adoption thanksgiving of Molaitatu Church Cherubim & Seraphim Worldwide, held at the church headquarters in Lagos.

Be your brothers' keeper, Cleric charges Nigerians

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INISTER in charge of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Lekki parish, Rev. Emmanuel Nwankpa has stressed the need for Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of giving back to the society as Jesus Christ did during his time on earth.

Speaking at the church's 2013 harvest at Lekki, Rev. Nwankpa also welcomed the national dialogue as proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that it would provide a platform for various nationalities to vent their anger and redefine their existence in the nation.

According to him, "if we are able to sit down properly, dialogue properly; with God on our side, we will be able to address some of the social-political challenges currently facing the country."

Speaking on the theme of this year's harvest, "Harvest of Faith and Sacrifice" which is in line with the church's national theme; "Living By Faith", Nwankpa said proceeds from the harvest would be used to build a multi-purpose complex for community service.

works, part of the corporal works of mercy; a virtue that influences one’s will to have compassion for, and, if possible, to alleviate another’s misfortune. Other works of mercy include: To feed the hungry; to give drink to the thirsty; to clothe the naked; to harbour the harbourless; to visit the sick; to ransom the captive and to bury the dead.

At this season of Christmas, also, we are enjoined to go beyond the corporal works of mercy to incorporate the spiritual dimension through church services, retreats and vigils, viz-a-viz: To instruct the ignorant; to counsel the doubtful; to bear wrongs patiently; to forgive offences willingly; to comfort the afflicted; to pray for the living.

When we combine all these, we would have succeeded to a great extent in fulfilling the admonition of our Lord Jesus Christ who said thus: ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brother that you do unto me.’ (cf Mathew 25:40) By creating time to share the joy of the yuletide through the nourishment of our bodies and souls with fellow brothers and sisters, especially those in

Lagos West gets new archdeacons

By OLAYINKA LATONA HE Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Angli can Communion, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji has described the late former South African president, Dr. Nelson Mandela as an exemplary leader who would continue to inspire future generations even after his death.

Speaking during the colla-

T

tion of Archdeacons at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, Odedeji said the world had lost a great leader who lived a life of sacrifice for the well being of mankind.

Admonishing the new archdeacons, Rt. Rev. Ezekiel Dahunsi challenged them to do God’s work diligently, explaining that leadership in

RCCG begins Let's-Go-A-fishing

T

HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), La gos Province 1 has perfected plans to join others in the RCCG family to hold this year's Let's Go A Fishing at the Centre for Management Development, Shangisha, Lagos.

Theme: “The greatest gift”, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Speaking to reporters, the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola said the period will be dedicated to prayers, praise and worship, adding that the general overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye will be ministering during the programme.

Calling on Nigerians to reflect on the message of salvation and practise the ideals of charity, love, peace and harmonious co-existence, Pastor Odesola said the event will be a unique one as thousands of people will be imparted spiritually and equipped for the coming year.

Highlighting activities for the programme, the chairman, planning committee, Pastor Lanre Dada said there will be song ministeration from Provincial Mass Choir, Throne of Grass Mass Choir while Ayan Jesu will be a special guest artiste.

In the spirit of Christmas, Pastor Dada enjoined Christians to remain committed to the ideals of Christmas as that is the only way to accord proper meaning to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, pointing out that Yuletide season should not only be a time of merrymaking but a time for people to renew their commitment to Christ and to live good lifestyles.

church is a call to service to edify the Body of Christ.

He regretted that some priests after being ordained become lukewarm, warning “don’t allow this responsibility given to you to take away the gospel of Christ from you, because to whom much is given much is expected.

"Our primary assignment is to preach the gospel and from now on you carry some measure of respect, people are expecting the best from you, as archdeacons and they also look up to you spiritually," he advised, adding "always remember that we live in a permissive society where truth is not allowed. Do not fail to preach the true gospel as this is not the end of your ministry, the truth must be preached”.

The diocesan bishop, Odedeji also enjoined the archdeacons not to relent on past glory but work harder in the Lord’s vineyard, explaining that the churches are looking for vibrant and faithful clergymen who will add value to the Church of God. Some of the new archdeacons include: Rev. Adeniji Abiade, Rev. Canon AbrahamOdumuyiwa, Rev. Agara Adegoke Oludare, Rev. Dina Adeleke, Ven. Festus Ademola, Rev. Canon Nnaemeka Nwosu among others.

prisons or infirmed, we would be sending them a heartwarming message that God loves them and understands their travails; that things may appear tough at the moment, all would be well; that there is need for them to rise, pick up the bits and pieces of their lives and gaze at the one who gave His life to redeem mankind from sin.

The message of Christmas is that of hope. By coming into the world at Christmas and dying for us at Easter, Christ succeeded in uniting us back to God. The paradise man lost at the Garden of Eden through the disobedience of Adam and Eve is now gained through the heroic obedience intercession of Christ, the second Adam, who came to us through the second Eve, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

And so let us share the message of joy and hope all around. As we merry and join our loved ones to enjoy this season, let us also spare some thought for those in captivity, both physically and spiritually. Let us also remember that we all have been bugled down by sin and need deliverance for we all have sinned and come shot of the glory of God. (cf Romans 3:23) Anyone who says he is not without sin is a liar. Our prayer today is that we may embrace the love, peace and lasting joy that comes with the Christmas season; a season of hope for all humanity. Amen.

Olutola sues for peace Continues from Page 48 by giving us His only son, whosoever believes in Him shall not perish nut have everlasting life.

He urged Nigerians to embrace love and the peace of God in their relationship with one another. Pastor Olutola said al is not well with Nigeria, there is a lot of avoidable hardship, affliction, sufferings in the land.

He called on the Nigerian leaders to submit themselves to God and allow Him to reign in the affairs of the country, Hoping for a greater Nigeria, TAC president said leaders must not allow the house to fall, adding that everybody would be held accountable by God for his/her stewardship.

"We should stop acting bestially. We should stop all wickedness in high places. We should reconcile ourselves with God. This season offers love, joy, peace, happiness, charity, and all good virtues for which Christ came to the world," he stated, appealing to Nigerians to pray to God for the forgiveness of sins, saying that God is ready to hear and forgive His people.

50 — Vanguard, WDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS: Although erratic people from unexpected quarters may oppose you openly, your being self assertive will earn you both victory and financial success. Then tomorrow will prove more successful.

CAPRICORN: Yes! It’s your day again. The more ambitious you are the better for you. Then you will need to ignore those with queer characteristics within your working arena..

AQUARIUS: Mixed trends are indicated. If you take good advice from your cool headed friends, you will benefit more than you imagine, but if you take to unpredictable attitude, you will today start fire that will burn with great intensity tomorrow.

PISCES: If you take the veterans within your base for granted, they will fail you painfully. Yet here is a lucky day for you when your being secretive and self reliant will earn you success. Be more ambitious.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

F

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 any way 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

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Nations.

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

ARIES: Some of the people around you may get on your nerve via careless remarks, you must not allow them to disorganise your plans. The closer you are to the influential people the better for you.

TAURUS: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage.

And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercely against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

GEMINI: Opposition between the Moon and Venus may induce personality clashes you don’t need at lest for now.

What can help you now is love and your being persuasive.

Think of the future.

CANCER: Positive events that started yesterday will continue today. Rely more on your ability to be as bold as necessary so that you can get things done your own way at work.

LEO: Romantic interlude that started late yesterday may become excitingly louder and melodious to the satisfaction of your soul.

VIRGO: If you allow domestic pressure to affect your working pattern, your senior colleagues may not understand and make things a bit more difficult. IF you’re stable, you will have more to gain financially.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA: After snappy aggressive approach exhibited by you yesterday ,you are back at your being pleasant self to the admiration of others. This is the wrong time to take law and it’s agents for granted. Young-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

SCORPIO: Some of you will wake up from slumber and realise mistakes about your finances early enough and make amendment but those who are reckless will commit more blunder. Beware of joint venture.

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

Why constant frustration Dear Joshua,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Although I am a healthy person yet I want your Astrological ex-ray about my star and tell me what to expect healthwise and/or how to manage myself, career and financially.

Right now I am in the Military as a Soldier.

Lawal, Lokoja Dear Lawal, Your parents must have gone through a few numbers of troubled moment while trying to raise you as you have what looked like a dirty childhood from both health and other areas of your life as indicated by opposition between conjoined planets across Pisces and Virgo when you were born Luckily for you however, as your natal Moon strongly got positive aspect from Venus, Your survival is assured. And there are indications of better health for you as you outgrow the childhood problems.

Nonetheless what you will need to take seriously include constant worries, toothache, skin infection, headache (fever)lungs, stomach-ache, feet and sometimes the bones (dislocation). Nothing fatalistic about everything stated here but mere warnings.

Yours is a rugged personality suitable for military career of any type. And whenever you opt out of the military, it will be wise of you to give consideration to involvement with liquid related business especially the oil industry. The computer world and essential needs of women. Actually dealing with women along your business line will prove most fortunate for you.

Fish farming and other agro-allied can be favourable but because of your love of changes, you may not be able to see such through.

As your natal Moon got good aspects from comfortably placed Venus (another money related planet), financial success is within your reach.

T-square aspects formed by your natal Sun/Saturn, Uranus/Pluto and Jupiter will bring delay related frustrations.

Miscalculation and gambling like tendencies are other things capable of militating against your finance. Financial success will eventually be earned by you but you will need to embrace discipline nature in handling your finance.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 51

BRIEFS Snowden declares leakage mission “accomplished”

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Santa gets clearance to enter US S

ANTA Claus was of ficially cleared for entry into the United States as federal agriculture officials waived stringent livestock checks on his nine reindeer.

The US Department of Agriculture announced in a light-hearted statement that a “Mr. S.Claus” of the North Pole was free to enter the United States with his reindeer from December 24 to December 25.

“During this season of giving, USDA wants to do everything in its power to help Santa,” said John R. Clifford, USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

“We agreed to waive the normal application fees and entry inspection/overtime costs, provided he winks his eye and wishes port personnel a Merry Christmas at the time of crossing.”

Authorities also waived the normal health checks for Santa’s reindeer — provided they met certain alternative conditions. “As a condition of entry, the reindeer must be certified

by Santa Claus as never having been fed anything other than hay, sugar

REMLIN critic M i k h a i l Khodorkovsky is set to reunite with his wife Inna and their three children in Berlin on Christmas Eve after spending 10 years in a Russian jail, his spokeswoman said yesterday.

“The family is coming today,” spokeswoman Olga Pispanen told AFP. “They have not been together for 10 years.” They will meet up in Berlin where Khodorkovsky went after walking free from a prison in northwestern Russia following a pardon from President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Khodorkovsky, who has said he would stay out of

B •A reindeer, pulling Santa Claus in a cart plums and gingerbread,” the statement said.

“The reindeer must also be individually identified with microchips or official

eartag identification, and must respond to the names ‘Dasher’, ‘Dancer’, ‘Prancer’, ‘Vixen’, ‘Com-

et’, ‘Cupid’, ‘Donner,’ ‘Blitzen’ and ‘Rudolph’ when interacting with port personnel.

Pope Francis marks first Christmas, visits predecessor

P

OPE Francis visited his predecessor Benedict XVI for an informal Christmas greeting, as the Argentine pontiff prepares to celebrate his first Christmas as leader of the world’s Roman Catholics.

Francis met with the 86-

Russia, is mulling a move to Switzerland where his twin sons go to school and would like to discuss that plan with his family, the spokeswoman said.

The Swiss foreign ministry said he applied on Tuesday for a three-month Schengen visa to travel to Switzerland.

Khodorkovsky’s wife Inna and their three children, who are believed to have been in Moscow when Khodorkovsky flew to Berlin, have had to sort out their travel documents before going to Germany.

“My family is my main treasure and we are together despite the years, kilometres and barbed wire,” Russia’s one-time richest man said in one interview from prison.

year-old Benedict in a former monastery building on a hill inside the Vatican City walls where the pope emeritus has taken up residence following his historic resignation earlier this year.

The two men could be seen praying side by side in a chapel inside the residence and chatting amicably on white sofas with a Christmas garland in front of them in photographs released by the Vatican press service.

Both were dressed in

the white cassocks used by popes. Francis came to “give his best wishes for the Christmas celebrations”, the Vatican said in a statement.

The 77-year-old pope earlier on Monday compared the Catholic Church to an expectant mother during a homily at one of his daily masses in the residence where he has been staying since his election by fellow cardinals in March. “Like the Virgin Mary, the Church this week is expecting a birth,” Francis said.

U

est country into civil war.

Ban made the recommendation for the twothirds increase in the size of the force in a letter to the 15-member council, in which he also called for 423 more police officers. Currently some 6,700 U.N. troops and 670 police officers

RITISH tycoon Richard Branson has urged companies to boycott Uganda over a draconian antihomosexuality bill passed by its parliament last week.

The Virgin founder said Uganda must abandon the bill, which would make homosexuality punishable by up to life in prison, or find itself “ostracised by companies and tourists worldwide”.

“I have been courted by various people and

government officials to do business in Uganda. I was seriously considering it,” Branson wrote on his website on Monday.

“However, the dreadful witch hunt against the gay community and lifetime sentences means it would be against my conscience to support this country. “I would urge other companies worldwide to follow suit.

Uganda must reconsider or find it being ostracised by companies and tourists worldwide.”

Egypt blames Brotherhood for police compound bombing

E

GYPT’s prime minister designated the Muslim Brotherhood a “terrorist” organization after multiple explosions at the security headquarters in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura killed at least 12 and injured more than 100.

Although militants with no connection to the Brotherhood are believed to be behind the attack, the organization is suffering the aftereffects. Cabinet spokesman Sherif Shawki blamed the Brotherhood, saying it has revealed its “ugly face as a terrorist organisation shedding

blood and messing with Egypt’s security,” according to the state-run Middle East News Agency.

Egypt’s interim government has led an extensive crackdown against the Brotherhood and other supporters of Mr. Morsi, killing hundreds and arresting thousands more. The movement, which sat at the apex of Egypt’s political establishment only five months ago, has repeatedly been described by officials as a new enemy in the military’s self-described “war on terrorism.”

Hollande regrets comment on Algeria’s security

P Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI receives his successor Pope Francis

South Sudan: UN scribe calls for more peacekeepers .N. chief Ban Kimoon asked the U.N. Security Council on Monday to send 5,500 more peacekeepers to South Sudan as soon as possible to protect civilians from worsening violence that threatens to plunge Africa’s young-

because the public is now informed about the US government’s massive sweep of Internet and phone records. “For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission’s already accomplished,” he said in the interview published yesterday. “I already won.

“As soon as the journalists wereabletowork,everything that I had been trying to do wasvalidated,”Snowdentold the Post."

Branson urges MNCs to boycott Uganda over same-sex bill

Khodorkovsky to reunite with family in Berlin

K

UST six months after first leaking National Security Agency secrets in a move that triggered a revaluation of US surveillance policies, Edward Snowden is declaring “mission’s already accomplished.”

Snowden told The Washington Post in his first in-person interview since his June arrival in Russia, which granted him temporary asylum, that he was satisfied

make up the U.N. force in South Sudan, which is known as UNMISS. The Security Council is due to vote on Tuesday afternoon on a resolution to approve the increase in peacekeepers in the land-locked oilproducing nation, said French U.N. Ambassa-

dor Gerard Araud, who is president of the council for December.

The council met to discuss Ban’s request on Monday and Araud said the reaction by all members had been positive.

The United States circulated a draft resolution on the increase.

RESIDENT Francois Hollande expressed regret on Sunday that a quip he made about poor security in Algeria had caused an outcry in the former French colony, as opponents accused him of a diplomatic blunder.

Hollande was attending an anniversary dinner for the CRIF Jewish organisation on December 16 when he made a remark to the audience about his interior minister having returned safely to France from a trip to Algeria.

“He’s back safe and sound, and that’s saying

a lot,” Hollande said. The remark spread on social networks, causing an outcry in Algeria where daily El Watan denounced it as a “joke in bad taste” with “pathetic insinuations” on Sunday. Another newspaper carried the headline “Indignant Algiers”.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said the remark did not reflect the security situation in his country and he hoped a page could be turned quickly on an “unfortunate incident”, Algeria’s APS news agency reported.

52—Vanguard, WEDNESD AY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 WEDNESDA

Pfizer NEAR partners PEACE campaign against cancer

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• Go easy on rich, high calorie meals during the yuletide, particularly at Christmas dinner.

Smart indulgences for Christmas

By MELISSA CONRAD STOPPLER

T

HE Christmas meal isn't normally a time for strict adherence to a weight loss diet. The traditional feast is arguably the heaviest, most indulgent meal we'll be eating all year.

The "typical" meal of turkey, dressing, rolls, candied sweet potatoes, and pie with whipped cream contains a whopping 2,200 calories or more, and that's more calories

than an average-sized woman with a sedentary lifestyle burns in a typical day.

If you're concerned about your weight, you can try to make some smart choices and substitutions to curb the caloric excess without sacrificing the satisfaction of the Christmas feast (and yes, you can still have dessert).

Here are examples of smart Christmas food choices that won't leave you feeling deprived:

Pumpkin seeds, healthier than you know

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UMPKIN seeds contain a heap of great nutrients and their inherent plant-based health benefits are often understated. There are loads of vitamins, minerals and other important phytonutrients in pumpkin seeds. These include manganese tryptophan, magnesium phosphorus, copper, zinc and iron.

Pumpkin seeds are either an excellent or very good source of all of these nutrients and vitamins. Tryptophan helps fight depression and helps relieve anxiety and other related conditions.

Zinc boosts immune function and fights osteoporosis.

Phytosterols reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and raise HDL (the good kind) and may also be effective in the prevention of cancer.

Rich in antioxidants, pumpkin seeds have a diverse range of antioxidants in them. These include, but are not limited to vitamins. The seeds contain vitamin E in a variety of forms. Having so many forms of Vitamin E in one food is beneficial because some of the forms are more bioavailable than others.

Pumpkin seeds also contain mineral

antioxidants like zinc and manganese.

They include phenolic antioxidants, Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed extracts, and pumpkin seed oil have long been valued for their anti-microbial benefits, including their anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.

Research points to the role of unique proteins in pumpkin seeds as the source of many antimicrobial benefits. The lignans in pumpkin seeds have also been shown to have antimicrobial—and especially antiviral— properties.

Preliminary studies have suggested that ground pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed extracts, and pumpkin seed oil may improve insulin regulation and help protect the kidneys of those with diabetes.

Because of pumpkin seeds’ rich antioxidant profile (and thus their potential to reduce oxidative stress) they may help decrease risk of cancer. Preliminary studies have focused specifically on the lignans in pumpkin seeds, and their potential to reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Choose white meat.

A reasonable portion (about the size of a deck of cards) of white meat turkey without skin has 230 calories, while a mixed portion of white and dark meat with skin has about 345 calories.

Limit rolls and butter.

An average roll has 80-85 calories. Add butter, and you're eating 120 calories instead.

Eat steamed rather than buttered vegetables.

Buttered vegetables have about twice as many calories per cup as steamed vegetables. Even cutting back on the amount of butter you use on vegetables can be significant. emember that every tablespoon of butter adds about 100 calories to a dish. Lemon juice or low-fat salad dressings are alternative ways to top vegetables if you're craving a sauce.

Avoid eggnog

A cup of eggnog at 340 calories is a calorically dense aperitif. Try a glass of white wine or champagne (about 160 calories) instead, or have a juice and mineral water spritzer and "save" your calorie consumption for the main meal.

If you're having appetizers, offer vegetables with low-fat dip instead of cheeses and crackers. With the rich meal to follow, you won't feel deprived.

If you're preparing the stuffing, omit some of the fat. A rich, buttery stuffing with sausage can top out at 500 calories per cup.

Suggestions for fat reduction include omitting sausage or meats and replacing some of the butter or oil with low-fat products. A cup of low-fat stuffing contains only 125 calories.

Have pumpkin pie

A piece of pumpkin pie has about 175 calories, while a comparable slice of pecan pie has 495 calories.

N a bid to reduce deaths from cervical and breast cancers, Pfizer NEAR partnered with the PEACE Campaign to promote early detection.

PEACE - acronym for Providing Early Attention to Cervical Cancer - was borne out of the need to educate women particularly on the treatable yet dangerous disease.

Dr. Peace Okonkwo, Founder, PEACE Campaign says about 4,500 women have been screened so far. The plan is to screen at least 10,000 women in cervical and breast cancer..

“We are happy to have PEACE Campaign as a partner as we will continue to work together to help raise awareness to contain these devastating and widespread diseases that potentially afflict and terminate the lives of millions of Nigerian women,” said Medical Director, Pfizer NEAR, Dr. Kodjo Soroh.

The collaboration is aimed at providing increased awareness on cervical and breast cancers and show women that early detection can help in reducing the number of deaths.

Pfizer NEAR is committed to spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against cervical and breast cancers within its region.

4D ultrasound scanners detect congenital abnormalities

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OWARDS changing the landscape of medicine and healthcare in Nigeria, 4 Dimension Technology in partnership with China-based organisation, Landwind Medicals recently introduced state-of-the-art 4D ultra sound scanners.

Speaking during a recent demonstration of the state of the art equipment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Associate Professor Radiology Department LASUTH, Racheal Akinola, said the 4D scanner is most useful for obstetrics cases.

“The best time to use is at 22-26 weeks gestation. The machine shows all dimensions of the feotus. It can be used to detect congenital abnormalities in obstetrics which is better found within that age range that the machine specifies. The patient is now better for it because once a diagnosis is made, treatment commences based on what the scan has shown."

Business Manager, 4Dimension Technology, Fidelis Mordi, explained that, the use of technology in medicine would help professionals in medical practice to take good care of patients.

"Lack of appropriate medical equipment is the bane of the brain drain in medicine. Doctors perform excellently abroad because of availability of medical tools." He said the different financial package that allows prospective clients to acquire equipment with ease is based on credit facility that can be spread over 18 months.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 —53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 25, 2013 — 55R

NFF tasks tech Com on 2014 programme T

HE President, Ni geria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, has said that the body was conceiving a strategy that would ensure befitting outings for national teams in 2014.

Maigari told the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone that the strategy was aimed at ensuring that national teams remained consistent and progressive with their performances.

He said that the body had directed the Super Eagles’ technical crew to submit its action plan for 2014.

•Home-based Super Eagles players in training

No international friendly for Eagles before CHAN — Ikpeme N

IGERIA Football Federation technical director Emmanuel Ikpeme has revealed the national team will be playing the majority of their practice games on home soil as they prepare for the African Nations Championship .

The Super Eagles are currently in a training camp as coach Stephen Keshi looks to trim down his squad ahead of next year’s showpiece tournament, which will be staged in South Africa.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations holders will not be training outside of Nigeria, though, with a series of matches

against some of the country ’s top-flight teams lined up over the new couple of weeks.

“There won’t be any need for the team to travel out of the country for any training tour

rather, it should concentrate in the country with their preparation against a couple of premier league clubs,” Ikpeme told Daily Independent.

“This will afford them

an opportunity to build and understand what the coaching crew wants from them before they can now start thinking of a training tour and that is what we have agreed on.”

Sherwood gets Tottenham nod

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OTTENHAM have announced the appointment of Tim Sherwood as their head coach until the end of the 2014/ 15 season.

Sherwood was among the frontrunners for the job after being named interim manager of the north London club following the sacking of

Andre-Villas Boas last week.

A statement on Spurs’ official website on Monday evening said: “Following the departure of Andre Villas-Boas, the club can announce that Tim Sherwood has been appointed head coach with a contract to the end of the 2014/15 season.”

•Wenger

A

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger felt his side were denied a clear penalty in their 00 draw with Chelsea on Monday.

Wenger ’s men struggled to break down a stubborn Chelsea side at C M Y K

told SkySports. “In my mind there is no doubt.

I don’t know why it was not given.”

The Frenchman still

•Sherwood

felt his side could have won it, with Olivier Giroud guilty of spurning a glorious late chance from close range.

Mourinho taunts ‘crying’ Arsenal

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HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has accused Arsenal of overreacting during the two sides’ feisty 0-0 draw on Monday.

During a full-blooded contest that saw a number of physical challenges, the Gunners’ staff and fans made their feelings clear over what they perceived to be an over-the-top approach from Mourinho’s men.

This largely centred on a forceful tackle by John Obi Mikel, which went unpun-

Nnacheta Continues from B/P paign. From the camp site to the training ground, the dieting and stuffs like that. They are experienced enough in tournaments so I cannot prescribe anything here for them and they have six months to get it right,” Nnachetta said.

He re-echoed the popular belief among Nigerian football buffs that the chances of the Super Eagles are bright. “The World Cup is not a one week campaign. It is an experience on its own. It is a tournament that re-

Kenya

Arsenal denied 100 per cent penalty, says Wenger the Emirates Stadium in a game that featured few clear-cut opportunities, as the hosts missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League.

However, the home side were left aggrieved late in the first half as referee Mike Dean waved away their claims for a penalty after Willian appeared to bring down Theo Walcott.

And Wenger, who has now failed to defeat Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 10 attempts, was quick to state his view that Arsenal had been the victims of a poor decision.

“It was 100 per cent a penalty when Theo Walcott was fouled,” Wenger

“There is no doubt that this has been a remarkable year for us, but we do not want it to end just there. It must be continuous.

“We have developed a short, medium and long term plan in order to achieve our objectives, not only for the Super Eagles but for all our national teams,” Maigari said.

He said that the NFF was doing its best to ensure that Super Eagles play some ‘Grade A’ friendly matches before the 2014 World Cup. “We have advanced in many ways with our teams, and we will do well as a body to take the country’s football to

ished, and Mike Dean’s decision not to award a penalty when Theo Walcott went down in the box.

However, the Portuguese claims that Arsenal have a history of moaning - adding that players from overseas lack the qualities of “English blood in football”.

“They like to cry - that’s tradition. I prefer to say that English people - and I give one example, Frank Lampard - would never provoke a situation like that,” Mourinho told reporters.

Continues from B/P expressed doubts over the possibility of this match going ahead.

“I am not sure this can work even though we would have loved to honour it. We would be preparing for the World Cup

Suarez

Continues from B/P let-up in the title race.

The Anfield club visit fellow contenders Manchester City on Thursday before travelling to Chelsea on Sunday and Suarez, who missed the opening five matches of the season following a ban imposed last season for biting an opponent, is a man reborn.

“It is my dream, I hope to win the league and a big trophy with Liver-

its pinnacle in the nearest future.

“We are not relenting because this dream is not just ours but the collective desire of Nigerians as stakeholders who expect the best from our football teams.

“I must express my deep appreciation to Nigerians and, of course, the media for the role they played in shaping our thoughts positively at critical moments.

“We must collectively work hand-in-hand again in 2014,” the NFA president said.

Maigari said that Nigeria’s victories in 2013 gave the federation an insight into how it could successfully execute its plans for 2014. quires a lot of inspiration and our country is so blessed with a lot of talents. We are no longer minnows. We have a bright chance.”

He observed that with six months to the World Cup, the Stephen Keshiled technical crew still have a lot of time to make amends and fortify the team, where necessary.

“We still have six months before the first match and the Keshi’s team I know will train and retrain the players and find new legs because expectations are high.” and it’s only right we play countries with similar football culture in our group at the World Cup,” a top NFF official said.

Nigeria are drawn against Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the first round of Brazil 2014. pool,” he said on Monday.

Suarez signed a new four-year contract last week and according to one prominent football writer, is in such good form he’s making “the likes of (former Anfield greats) Ian Rush, Roger Hunt and Robbie Fowler appear like they were occasional marksmen”.

The race for the title reaches the halfway stage with four rounds of matches over Christmas and New Year.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013

Kenya demand Eagles friendly

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ENYA Football Federation (KFF) have written the Nigeria Football Federation for a friendly between the Harambee Stars and the World Cup-bound Super Eagles on March 5 in London.

MTNFootball.com specially gathered that the KFF request may not see the light of day as the NFF are shopping to play a tougher opponent on that day as it is the only FIFA-free window before the World Cup in Brazil.

Kenya were forced to a 1-1 draw by hosts Nigeria in a 2014 World Cup qualifier earlier this year, before the Eagles beat them 1-0 in Nairobi in a reverse fixture.

However, officials have

2014 W/Cup: Nnacheta challenges NFF

It is my dream to win the league — Suarez

BY JACOB AJOM

A

former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Tony Nnacheta. has backed the current board to produce a team that will give Nigeria a good presentation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Speaking with Sports Vanguard in Ikeja after attending the media presentation of Chuka Momah’s two books, Sports Spectacular and Mohammed Ali. Nnachetta said, “this board is experienced in tournaments, they should know what to do to meet the people’s expectations.

“They know the right thing to do for the cam

Continues on Page 55

Continues on Page 55

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CONTEST: Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi is challenged by Arsenal forward Giroud during the EPL match between Arsenal and Chelsea. The matche ended 0-0. Photo: AFP

EW players have undergone a transformation from sinner to saint like that which Luis Suarez is experiencing this season, and the prolific Uruguay striker is now dreaming of winning the Premier League.

Liverpool went top of the table by beating Cardiff City 3-1 on Saturday, Suarez scoring twice to take his season’s tally to 19 goals from 12 league matches ahead of the busy holiday programme which offers no Continues on Page 55

CHAN: Keshi ready to name squad — Pg 28

•Suarez

Tomorrow's EPL Fixtures Hull City Everton Newcastle

vs vs vs

Man United Sunderland Stoke City

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM

Norwich City Aston Villa Chelsea Tottenham West Ham Cardiff Man City

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

Fulham C/ Palace Swansea City West Brom Arsenal Southampton Liverpool

4:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 1 Irrigate (5) 5 Tried (6) 8 Rush (5) 10 Cave (6) 11 Declare (4) 14 Wandering (6) 15 Liberate (7) 18 Damp (3) 19 Sailor (3) 21 Action (4) 23 Leaf (5) 24 Frozen (4) 27 Colour (3) 29 Yelp (3) 31 Ludicrous (7) 32 Poured (6) 34 Fruit (4) 35 Noble (6) 38 Untrue (5) 39 Voucher (6) 40 Bordered (5)

Down 2 Tune (3) 3 Respect (6) 4 Groove (3) 5 Rip (4) 6 Filtered (6) 7 Stubborn (6) 9 Revel (7) 12 Promise (3) 13 Ceremony (4) 16 Heroic (4) 17 Consumer (5) 20 Fundamental (7) 22 Wicked (4) 24 Whole (6) 25 Watched (4) 26 Material (6) 28 Scorched (6) 30 Favourite (3) 33 Adroit (4) 36 Employ (3) 37 Prosecute (3))

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 1, Resort 5, Dirk 8, Voted 9, Nil 10, Trim 11, Lone 12, Appal 13, Arctic 16, Lore 18, Ever 20, Wed 22, Nut 23, Dig 24, Made 25, Teem 28, Docile30, Found 32, Suit 33, Urge 34, Ill 35, Repay 36, Died 37, Stayed.

Down: 1, Rental 2, Selected 3, Retail 4, Completed 5, Delayed 6, Idol 7, Knew 8, Via 14, Continual 15, Peg 17, Rue 19, Vicinity 20, Wad 21, Devoted 26, Modest 27, Yelled 29, Used 30, Fire 31, Dry.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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