NASS takes over Rivers Assembly

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61933

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Justice Ayo Salami retires

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NASS takes over Rivers Assembly •Asks IGP to redeploy CP Mbu •Warns against impeachment of Rivers Speaker •Senator Abe hails decision •Nobody can push me out of PDP — Amaechi

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BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—THE Sen ate, yesterday, ordered the National Assembly, which comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate to, as a matter of urgency, take over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Senate in its findings and observations after investigation into the crisis in Rivers State, however, fingered President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Pa-

Continues on Page 5

Wema Bank shores up capital base by N40bn •P.22 COLUMNIST:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE •P.56

Mr & Mrs CONDOLENCE —From left: PDP BoT member, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo; PDP BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih consoling First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on the death of her mother. Right is the President's mother, Madam Eunice Jonathan. INSET: President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, yesterday. STATE HOUSE PHOTOS.

5 Northern govs, Court halts agents of opposition PDP's

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— PRESIDENCY •P.8

convention

Veteran Journalist, ALLAH DE Odunewu dies at 85

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2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

CHATHAM HOUSE—Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), London on Wednesday.

NASS takes over Rivers House of Assembly's duties Continues from page 4 tience Jonathan in the crisis following their perceived undue interference with the political security structure of the state as well as what the Senate committee described as alleged highhandedness of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

According to the Senate yesterday, the takeover of the Rivers House of Assembly was pursuant to Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution(as amended) pending resolution of the lingering political logjam and res-

toration of peace in the state.

Deliberating on the report of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments Administration on the Investigation of Crisis in the state House of Assembly, led by Senator Kabiru Gaya, ANPP, Kano South, the Senate, yesterday, urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to urgently redeploy the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu given the fact that his relationship with Governor Chibuike

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

In life you have to make necessary adjustment to take the best advantage of what you can’t control.

If you can take advantage of it , you end up controlling it.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

W

E cannot trample upon the humanity of oth ers without devaluing our own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb Onye ji onye n’ani ji onwe ya: “He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down — Chinua Achebe Les Brown has this to say about encouragement.

“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.

And I have come to understand that people need to learn how to select their thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life to be better, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.”

Elisabeth Gilbert sums it aptly: “I’d learned enough from life’s experiences to understand that destiny’s interventions can sometimes be read as invitation for us to address and even surmount our biggest fears. It doesn’t take a great genius to recognize that when you are pushed by circumstance to do the one thing you have always most specifically loathed and feared, this can be, at the very least, an interesting growth opportunity."

Amaechi has broken down irretrievably.

Approved Senate committee Report

The prayers of the committee which were approved by the senators read thus: That the InspectorGeneral of Police should as a matter of urgency redeploy the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu since his relationship with the Governor has broken down irretrievably. That the National Assembly should as a matter of urgency take over the functions and duties of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pursuant to Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution(as amended) pending the resolution of the crisis and restoration of peace in Rivers State.”

Meanwhile, Senate President, David Mark while speaking after the prayers were taken by the senators warned that minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove the speaker, just as he said that they should not even contemplate his impeachment, adding that the present National Assembly would resist impunity and unconstitutionality.

According to him, “all we want is for peace to return to Rivers State. Let me add that the National Assembly will uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as we all individually swore to

do. This we will do at all times and at all cost. Let me leave no one in doubt that the impunity of the past remains in the past, and the past is gone for good.”

Senator Mark who urged all warring persons involved in the Rivers State crisis to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the state and the country, said: "All that is left is for the proper lessons to be learnt from the past. Minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove and should therefore, never contemplate the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly or anyone else for that matter and should perish the thought if they ever harboured it. Our institutions of state must also uphold the Constitution at all times and must not in any way encourage the impression that impunity of the past is possible today.

"This National Assembly, for the avoidance of doubt, would resist impunity and unconstitutionality. This is the stand of the Senate. And once more I must emphasise that we remain neutral and we want to see an end to the crisis in Rivers State."

The Committee’s report also stated that the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Otelemaba Daniel Amachree by the five members of the State House of Assembly led

by Hon. Evans Bipi was not in compliance with the provisions of Section 92(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and also not in compliance with Orders 12 and 28 of the Rivers State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 1999.

The report stated: "The Committee finds no evidence to support the claim by the five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that the Speaker was properly impeached and Hon. Evans Bipi elected Speaker.

"Governor Amaechi’s insistence to run for a second term as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF did not go down well with the PDP and the Presidency. The suspension of the Governor of Rivers State by the PDP National Working Committee in Abuja on May 27, 2013 did not go down well with the sup-

porters.”

Senate remains neutral — Mark

Earlier, the senators at a a closed-door meeting discussed the crisis in Rivers State for over four hours and when they reconvened at the end of the meeting, Senate President, David Mark said: "We spent several hours this morning discussing in great detail the situation in Rivers State. We devoted so many hours because we believe it is important that we look at it from the prism of our own committee that went there to find out exactly what happened. And we are happy we sent our own team to go and investigate and report back to us.

"Our final objective, throughout our discussion, was to ensure that peace returned to Rivers State. That was the focus of the discussion this morning. Our appeal to all the principal actors involved is that unless there is peace in Rivers State they cannot ensure development in the state. We want development across the length and breadth of this country. Therefore, we use the opportunity once more before we go to the prayers to appeal that all those involved sheathe their swords so that peace can reign in Rivers State.

The Committee has not indicted any particular group of people. It has not indicted any section and I don’t think it has indicted any individual.

The reason is because we want to ensure that there is peace. The Senate as a body wants to be an integral part of the solution to the problem in Rivers State. We remain neutral.

"We have not taken sides with the groups and we are not going to take sides, but we will stand on facts.

When we eventually approve our prayers, those prayers will be based on the facts that are known to us and our neutral po-

sition. And we hope that all the parties involved would appreciate that what we want to ensure is peace in Rivers State.”

It's good decision — Abe

Reacting to the decision of the Senate, Senator Magnus Abe, PDP, Rivers South/East while speaking to journalists noted that the Senate acted in a manner that was consistent with its mandate, just as he stressed the need for all to leverage on what the Senate did, adding that the senators acted from an informed position.

Some of the recommendations made by the Committee include: That the Senate President should intervene and mediate in the Rivers State political crisis and see to its amicable resolution; That all security agencies in Rivers State should complement each other and ensure greater cooperation and inter-dependence in addressing the security situation in the state; Urge all heads of security agencies in the state to demonstrate high level of professionalism and ensure full co-operation with the State Governor, who is the Chief Security Officer of the State; That the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State High Court be allowed to respectively, determine cases of the removal of the Party Executive and the suspension of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council pending before them in the absence of any resolution to settle out of Court.  That the Commissioner of Police should comply with the subsisting Court Order directing the Police to vacate Obio/ Akpor Local Government Secretariat to enable the workers resume work until the Order is set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Lebanese regains freedom, 3 weeks after abduction

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— THE Lebanese attached to the Setraco Construction Compnay, Mr Toni Yosse, who was kidnapped by gunmen three weeks ago in Benin City, regained his freedom early yesterday.

Vanguard learnt that he was found at Obiaruku in Delta State at about 1 am. It would be recalled that the Lebanese was abducted three weeks ago at Upper Mission after a soldier guarding the expatriate workers was shot dead.

It was learnt that the construction company has been in serious negotiation with the kidnappers with a view to secure the release of their colleague.

30 injured as Catholics, Awka community clash

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BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA — THE lingering crisis between the Catholic faithful and a section of Awka community over the observance of Christian burial rights in the area took another dimension, Wednesday night, when the two clashed openly in the heart of the Anambra State capital, leaving about 30 persons wounded.

Among those injured were Mrs. Juliana Okeke, Mr. Ogah Moses, Mr. Christian Anichebe, Mr. Obuekwe Obukwelu, Mr. Onwa Patrick, who are receiving treatment at Regina Caeli Hospital in Awka.

Speaking from their hospital beds, they said it was only God that rescued them from the hands of the youths while returning from a burial.

The latest incident was triggered off during the burial ceremony of an 85-year old man, Mr. Samuel Nwana Nebolisa at Umudioka, Awka.

The bone of contention between the church and some people in Umudioka community was the dust-to-dust ceremony usually performed during the burial of Catholics, which a section of the community had objected to over the years and often led to confrontation during burial ceremonies in Awka.

BY ONOZURE DANIA & JEOMA NATHANIEL

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AGOS — A 53- YEAR-OLD teacher on Grade Level 10, Asogbon Victoria Abosede, was yesterday, arraigned before Lagos Chief Magistrate's Court One, sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly impersonating the first lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola.

The defendant was said to have sent text messages between June and July to the Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos by falsely presenting herself as first lady of Lagos State and obtained N100,000 from the chairman.

The defendant who is facing a 10-count charge of impersonation and fraud, preferred against her by the Anttorney General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, was docked before Chief Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo.

The prosecutor, Attorney General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, told the court that the accused committed the alleged crime between the months of June and July 2013, by also sending text messages to one Mrs Gbolahan Khadijat Daudu, who is the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Maryland in Ikeja area of Lagos.

The Attorney General, who was represented by Sumonu Babatunde, said she also represented herself as sister to Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola.

He said the defendant between June and July 2013, at Local Government Education Authority, in Alimosho Local Government also sent a text message to one Isaac Omoregie, Education Secretary and falsely represented herself as Dame Fashola.

Babatunde also alleged that the suspect with intent to defraud presented herself to be Dame Fashola, to obtain redeployment from Local Government Education Authority, Alimosho, to the Lagos State Basic Education Board.

He also claimed that between the same time, the accused sent a text message to one Isaac Omoregie, Education Sectarary Alimosho, Lagos State by falsely presenting herself as being sent by the first lady to obtain three Blackberry phones and

Queue during the launch of Kaduna Refining and Petrolchemical Company, KRPC, community kerosene in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Teacher poses as First Lady, swindles officials of N.1m ...also presented herself as Mrs Aregbesola’s sister N105,000, from the chairman.

The prosecutor said in June 2013, the defendant falsely represented herself as sister to Mrs Sherifat Aregbeshola, the first lady of Osun State, and gave a false information to one Mrs Gbolahan Khadijat Daudu that Mrs Sherifat Aregbeshola was involved in a road accident and could not attend the wedding of Daudu’s son and that thieves carted the gifts meant for her away as a result of the accident.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to sections 378 (1), (b), 312 (2) and punishable under sections 312 (3), 96 (a), criminal law of Lagos

State of Nigeria 2011.

Counsel to the defendant, Samuel Gbolahan, pleaded with the court to grant her bail in liberal terms, since the crime is a bailable offence.

However, when the 10-count charge was read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After listening to both counsel, Magistrate Fabamwo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum, stating that the sureties should deposit N250,000 with the registrar.

She adjourned the case till September 2, 2013 for mention.

Asogbon Victoria Abosede, the accused

Father of 3 abducted, killed by friend

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—A 39-year-old father of three, Tartseagh Boshien, has been reportedly kidnapped and killed by a gang allegedly led by his friend (names withheld) in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Vanguard gathered from a reliable source that the deceased who was a senior driver with the Benue State Urban Development Board left his Makurdi home last weekend to attend a wedding ceremony at Udei, in Guma Local Government Area.

According to our source, “he did

not make it to that wedding ceremony as he was kidnapped and taken to Adaka, a community located in the outskirts of Makurdi town.

"His kidnappers waylaid him on his way to Udei and took him at gunpoint to a bush at Adaka village where they forced him to drink a poisonous substance.

“After they made him drink the substance, he was asked to make a call to his wife and family members to bid them farewell. But while making the call, he passed out, but his abductors, who were led by his supposed friend, abandoned him in the bush and fled.

“Luckily, a group of farmers discovered him and used his cellphone to contact his wife, informing her of her husband’s condition and location.

“His family members hurriedly mobilised to the scene from where they took him to the Makurdi Federal Medical Centre, where he managed to narrate his ordeal and his people immediately alerted the Police.

“And as fate would have it, the leader of the gang trailed him to the hospital, probably to ensure that their victim actually died.

“On sighting the leader of the gang of kidnappers, though he was still conscious but could no

longer speak, recognized his supposed friend, made gesticulations to his family members, informing them that the friend was part of the gang that abducted him.

“The supposed friend was immediately arrested by the Police and is currently being detained and interrogated by detectives at the state command headquaters but unfortunately we lost Tartseagh few minutes later.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Suprintendent Daniel Ezeala said the command had commenced full scale investigations into the matter.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—7

Hoodlums beat monarch, sack community in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — HELL was let loose in Ehin-Ogbe Community, a border town in Ogijo area of Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State when hundreds of hoodlums believed to be land speculators invaded the community, beat the monarch, Oba Akeem Elupepe, and some residents before they sacked the entire community.

An eye witness told Vanguard that the monarch, who was installed by Igode-in-Council, and four others sustained injuries following the attack.

The hoodlums, it was further learnt, later chased them out of the community and subsequently took over, claiming that the land belongs to their forefathers.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of his attackers from his hide-out, Oba Elupepe accused his rival to the throne identified as Moshood Okeowo of sponsor-

ing the hoodlums, alleging that the suspected sponsor of the hoodlums used policemen from Lagos State as shield.

He further said that before the hoodlums attacked the village, policemen led by one Sergeant Lateef from Area ‘N’ Police Command, Ijede in Lagos State reportedly summoned him and other four people in the village over a petition written by Moshood Okeowo, Taiwo Okeowo and Bashiru Okeowo for alleged rape and detained them.

He said: “After we were released by the IPO, Inspector Bassey, we were escorted by Police back to our village. As the policemen were about leaving us at the entrance of the village, we started hearing gunshots and we begged them to follow us to the village. They told us that they were behind us.

“As we alighted from our car, the land speculators, who were

more than 100, descended on us.

I was seriously beaten and rolled on the ground untill I was unconscious. I was later taken to hospital where I was revived."

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Police command was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Adejobi, however, pledged to make public the command's position as soon as the Divisional Police Officer in the area briefed the command.

Car conveying family of 4 plunges into river

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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Seized bags of rice at the Seme Command of Nigeria Customs Service warehouse, Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Sub-standard goods seized and destroyed by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) at the SON Apapa warehouse, Lagos.

BEOKUTA — EMOTIONS ran high, yesterday, when a car in which a man, his wife and two children were travelling suddenly plunged into Ososa river on LagosBennin road in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Ijebu-Ode Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Isa Seidu confirmed the incident, saying the occupants were not dead yet.

The FRSC boss who explained that the family members were coming from Lagos before the incident, however, said timely rescue efforts saved their lives.

Seidu said: “A black End of Discussion Honda car with number plate EA 768 LSR which was conveying a family of four crashed into the river in the early hour of today (yesterday) due to over speeding, but fortunately no life was lost.

“The man and his wife and two children, a male and a female, were rescued without any injury.”

Seidu, however, appealed to motorists plying Sagamu-OreBenin expressway to always exercise caution.

He said: “I want to passionately appeal to motorists plying Sagamu-Ore-Benin highway to always excercise caution. “ Due to heavy rain at this period, rivers on this highway have risen in volume and there is need for motorists to always apply common sense when approaching these rivers.”

Seidu added that motorists should particularly beware of Ososa river, Ogbere and J4 bridge in Ijebu-East local government.

Court remands NURTW worker over alleged murder

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS— AN Ikeja Magistrate's Court, yesterday, ordered that a 25-year-old worker with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Monday Ikudenyibo, be remanded in prison custody, pending the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, over alleged murder of five people and attempted murder.

Ikudenyibo, who was arraigned before Magistrate Akinde, is facing a 10-count charge of conspiracy, murder and attempted murder, preferred against him by the Police.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the accused and others at large committed the alleged crime on May 25, 2013 at about 8am at Ajah roundabout.

He said Ikudenyibo murdered one Shola Hausa and one Isiaka Promise by shooting them.

He added that while armed with a gun, he also murdered one Idowu Olumegbon, by shooting him.

The prosecutor said the suspect and others still at large, on the same date, time and place murdered one Bola Akeju and Hammed Alex, by shooting them.

The prosecutor, further told the court that the defendant on June 26, 2013, at about 9:30pm, at Lakowa Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos attempted to kill one Lateef Aluko by shooting him on his chest.

He said that the accused also attempted to kill one Ibrahim by shooting him on his left leg.

Emuerih also claimed that the defendant unlawfully inflicted wounds on Lateef Aluko’s chest and wounds on Ibrahim’s left leg.

According to the prosecutor, the crime committed is punishable under sections 231, 221, 228, 228, 244 (a) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria

8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

FG to adopt Asian Tigers as economic models

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & ALICE FESTUS

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BUJA—FEDERAL Government may soon adopt the model of the Asian Tigers towards the economic transformation of the nation.

To actualise this goal, government may undertake a study of the contribution made by the diaspora of the Asian tigers towards the economic transformation of their different economies.

This was disclosed, yesterday, by President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by VicePresident Namadi Sambo, while declaring the 2013 Nigeria Diaspora Day open.

President Jonathan further stated that the success of countries like India, China, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines, which have strategically worked with their citizens in the diaspora to accelerate national development, remains a model for the nation to understudy.

President Jonathan singled out the Indian experience to emphasise the fact that diaspora communities are important sources of foreign direct investments, trade linkages, knowledge and technology transfer.

He said: “Having lived abroad and embraced international best practices, Nigerians in Diaspora possess the requisite experience, expertise and contacts to contribute to all facets of our national life.”

Commenting on the role Nigerians in diaspora could play in Federal Government’s transformation agenda, he urged them “to constitute a viable and proactive platform for marshaling Nigerians abroad to transfer their competences and technical skills as a means of strengthening our technological base and in furtherance of profitable investments, which will in turn create jobs here.”

OANDO: From left— Ms. Ayotola Jagun, Chief Compliance Officer/ Company Secretary; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Gbadebo, Chairman, and Mr. Wale Tinubu, Group Executive Officer, all of Oando Plc, during the company's 36th annual general meeting in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Justice Ayo Salami retires

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA—AFTER almost two years of intrigues against his recall, former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has resigned.

Vanguard learnt from competent judicial sources that the respected judge had finally opted to retire from service rather than continue to wait for reinstatement as was recommended by the National Judicial Council, NJC, which had earlier approved his suspension.

The source confirmed that Salami had already tendered his pre-retirement letter to NJC and that the council had accepted it.

According to the source, Salami, who is expected to formally retire from service on October 15, was to proceed on his pre-retirement leave this month.

The source, yesterday, said: “It is true that we have received Salami’s pre-retirement letter and notice in accordance with the rules of National Judicial Service of Nigeria.

“The development has put to an end any possibility of recalling him.”

The retirement notice filed

by Salami is expected to pave the way for the emergence of either Justice Dalhatu Adamu or Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the substantive FCA judge in the next three months.

Bulkachuwa has, however, been acting in that capacity since November 22, 2012.

A reliable source said, yesterday, that the authorities

were more disposed to recommending the female judge to succeed Salami because of her impeccable record of service so far.

It will be recalled that NJC had, in August 2011, suspended Justice Ayo Salami for refusing to apologise to the council and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, after a panel of the council found him to have lied against CJN.

Beyond the suspension, the council recommended to the President to retire him from the Bench, an action that forced Salami to challenge NJC’s action in court.

However, in May 2012, NJC rescinded its decision and recommended the reinstatement of Salami, but Federal Government citing several court actions over the matter, distanced itself from the recommendation of the council.

Although the Attorney-General of the Federation admitted receiving the letter, he however, insisted that President Jonathan would not abide by it until the cases were disposed of by the courts.

Adoke, who described reports of the President’s reluctance to reinstate Mr. Salami as a misconception, stated that no responsible government would proceed to recall the judge when a case against his reinstatement was pending in court.

Presidency to five Northern govs: You're agents of opposition

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA—THE presidency, yesterday, described the five northern governors, who carpeted Peoples Democratic Party over alleged poor leadership and internal crises, as agents of the opposition.

It warned them to desist from continuing to engage in acts capable of unduly heating up the polity and distracting President Goodluck Jonathan from delivering on his promises to Nigerians.

Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, made the allegation in an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja.

He also said that Jonathan never signed any agreement with northern governors or traditional rulers, arguing that he (Gulak) would have been part of the process because of his position in the administration.

Gulak said that in the first place, it was not the duty of the five governors to constitute themselves into a group to go round the country consulting with former heads of state, since they were not commissioned by the party or the leader.

He said: “I can tell you that the five governors do not mean well for the party and the country. They are acting the script of some elements bent on distracting Mr. President and causing confusion where none exist.

“A discernible pattern from what the five governors are doing is that their grandstanding is not about a genuine concern to put things right in the country as they claim, but how to bring down President Jonathan so that one of them can step in.

“What I can assure them is that they are bound to fail woefully because Nigerians know that they don’t have any genuine concern for the country.”

Gulak, who stated that

Jonathan was not worried about their antics, said that the President was only unhappy over the decision of the five governors to raise false alarm about the party and its leadership.

He particularly had harsh words for Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Wamakko, who was suspended last month and recalled a week after. Gulak described them as ingrates.

Gulak said it was painful to the leadership of PDP for the duo of Nyako and Wamakko not to show a debt of gratitude to the party.

He said the party welcomed them with open arms from All Nigeria’s Peoples Party, ANPP, thereby paving the way for them to win elections in their respective states.

He said that despite the forces working against the party, PDP was still solid, predicting that the party would win the next election without any hassle.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—9

VISIT: From left— President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, and Mr. Okey Wali, President, Nigerian Bar Association, during a courtesy call on the President by the association in Abuja, yesterday.

Nobody can push me out of PDP, says Amaechi

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday said he is remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP affirming that purveyors of his desperation for higher office had no right to bring down the country because of their assumptions.

Speaking on a BBC television interview, Hardtalk, Amaechi asserted that problems between him and the president were essentially fanned by those in the presidency bent on profiting from a crisis.

In the 25-minute interview anchored by Shaun Ley, Amaechi painted a triangle of insecurity, poverty and unemployment as the major problems of the country which the political class must address. He said the qualification of leadership must not be ethnicised as he called for a visionary leader.

While pleading for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB as a way of addressing decreasing investment by multinational oil corporations, Amaechi nevertheless called for the abrogation of the office of minister of petroleum or reduction of the powers of the minister under the PIB. Amaechi also restated his opposition to the administration’s amnesty programme which he said partially rewards criminality and has fanned the embers of criminality in other parts of the country.

Challenged that his focus has been on ascending to higher office of vice-president, he said: “That has not been my focus. My focus has been mainly on developments. We have disagree-

ments on policies, this is the transition period, we have disagreements on the issue of transition and there are a lot of assumptions here and there by different persons about what they think or assume my ambitions are.”

“Let us assume that my ambition exists, nobody has the right to bring down the state because my ambition exists.

First and foremost everybody should allow 2015 for 2015 is a bit too early.”

Charging stakeholders to allow the president do his job of presiding over the country,

the governor said: “I want everybody to allow Mr. president to preside over the country for which he has been elected and I support that and I want everybody to allow Mr. President to preside over the country for the interest of the country.”

Challenged that he had raised charges of impunity against the president in the past, he sharply drew back saying: “I didn’t say the president, I said the people around him.”

When asked whether he was told not to run against Governor Jonah Jang who the interviewer described as the oldest politician in the NGF, Amaechi replied: ”Nobody told me not to run.

Nobody told me not to run.” But on whether he informed the president he was going to run for the NGF chair, he said: ”There is no law that requires me to tell him that I am going to run.

I didn’t need to. If the journalists in Britain have an association and you belong to the association would the prime minister tell you to run or not to run for the public office?” he asked.

“That is the freedom we are looking for in the Nigeria Governors Forum, I didn’t need to go to the president and say Mr. President I want to run for the office of the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum. I didn’t need to do that.

“And I didn’t do that and he in

turn didn’t call me to say don’t run, ‘I heard you are going to run.’ So, I ran and I didn’t see the president on the ballot. The person I saw on the ballot was Jonah Jang.”

Challenged on the outcome of the vote and on whether he beat Jang, he quipped: ”I didn’t say that I beat him, the result was clear.”

On his continuing membership of the PDP and on whether he would leave the PDP, Amaechi affirmed: ”I am going no where.

We will all be in PDP.” Told that he was sticking to PDP because the party is the country’s dominant party and the only platform to the presidency or other high office, he is accused of aspiring to, he said: ”Let’s assume that I remain in PDP and that I am running for the office of vicepresident, will my leaving PDP not enhance that ambition?

“Don’t forget that it is assumed that the president wants to run in PDP and if PDP wants him to run and I remain in PDP, it then means that I have no ambition.

“Or those who are assuming that I have ambition would be making a lot of mistakes. Because the place to pursue that ambition would be on an alternative party but the reason for remaining in PDP is because nobody can chase me out of PDP. I am a member of PDP and I love to be a member of PDP.” Amaechi blamed the tension in the country on 2015 politics.

“The point is that we are getting close to transition and politics is one of the greatest businesses in Nigeria and a lot of those whose interests appear to be threatened have come up now to pursue their very private interests and as governor of Rivers State my focus is not on that.

“My focus is to pursue the goals for which I have been elected.”

... as court halts PDP's convention

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—AN Abuja High Court at Apo, yesterday, aborted plans by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to organise a convention for the purpose of electing its national officers.

The court, in a ruling it delivered yesterday, restrained the party from carrying out any action with a view to filling vacancies in its national structure, pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed against it by three aggrieved members.

Dismissing a preliminary objection that sought to terminate further hearing on the suit brought against the party

by Abba Yale, Yahaya Sule and Bashir Maidugu, Justice Suleiman Belgore accused PDP of deliberately attempting to usurp the powers of the

court by fixing a date to hold its national convention despite being aware that a case bordering on such subject matter was pending before the court.

The court’s decision is coming barely 24 hours after the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, inaugurated the Professor Jerry Gana-led Special National Convention Planning Committee, which had already agreed to conduct South-West congress and mini convention of the party on August 24 and 31, respectively.

However, Justice Belgore, visibly irked by the action of the party, yesterday, warned that no such event should take place until the court makes its final pronouncement on the case before it.

He said: “Evidently, the defendants have taken some steps to pre-empt this court by constituting a committee to organise and conduct election into its va-

cant offices, but can they do that when the matter is still pending in court? My answer is in the negative.

“Such action was a deliberate attempt to foist on the court a fait-accompli capable of rendering any decision this court will eventually take on the matter nugatory.

“Parties, who have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, have a duty not to take any action to make nonsense of the final decision of the court. It was recklessness of some high degree for PDP to have sworn into action to do certain things that have a direct effect to the case before the court.”

Consequently, he ordered that “PDP and its agents or any group of persons acting on its behalf are hereby restrained from convoking, convening or holding any convention, special or ordinary, for the purpose of electing its national officers for any office pending the hearing and determination of the suit before this court.”

Meanwhile, National Chairman of PDP, Tukur, yesterday, brought an application wherein he sought to be joined as an interested party in the suit.

Tukur, through his lawyer, Mr. R. Oluyode, in a 13-paragraph affidavit and a written address, successfully persuaded the court to grant his joinder application, and was eventually joined as the 2nd defendant in the matter.

The plaintiffs had through their lawyer, Mr. Jubril Okutekpa (SAN), sought for an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain the National Chairman of PDP, Tukur and other officers of the party from holding the scheduled “special convention,” which date they said was announced by a committee led by former Minister of Information, Prof. Gana.

They further urged the court to set aside or nullify all steps and processes that led to the appointment of all the national officers of the party.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

‘Hepatitis B worse than HIV’ lic health concern.

Hospital statistics available in AGOS — Ahead of the the country, show that HepatiWorld Hepatitis Day, tis B is 10 times more infectious stakeholders have called for than HIV/AIDS. Ropheka Foundation, Dr. partnership between the pubJoseph Onigbinde, said stalic and private sector in Nigeria to combat Hepatitis B tistics had shown that many which has become a global pub- countries in Africa suffered double burden of disease, infections and chronic disease because there was little or no prevention.

According to

BY EBUN SESSOU him, “this can be AGOS — A bill to establish a separate reduced to barest board to oversee the affairs of the exist- minimum if there ing Lagos State Emergency Command and are thriving partControl Centre, has run into a hitch as nerships that will aid healthcare stakeholders have rejected it.

The stakeholders, including Lagos State services.

“Hepatitis B is as Emergency Management Service, LASEMA, disease which atState Trust Fund, Lagos State Fire Service and Etisalat, among others, at a public hearing on tacks the liver and the bill by the State House of Assembly, in- ravages it over the years. The sympsisted that status quo be maintained.

The bill, being handled by the Committee toms are quiet, ocon Information, Security and Publicity, headed casionally patients

by Olusegun Olulade, provides for the estab- might exhibit weaklishment of a board which shall be a body and ness and headache, has power to sue and be sued in its corporate but there is really no way to tell unless name.

The board to be headed by a chairman and one is tested.

“The good news a general manager, among others, will provide the state with the capacity to respond is that it can be preeffectively to different types of human secu- vented yet thourity threats and manage panic resulting from sands of people are dying of it.” natural disasters, among others.

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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Stakeholders reject board for Lagos Emergency Command

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AWARD: From left, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos; Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Lagos Eko Project, Ms Ronke Azeez; Principal, Lagos Baptist Senior Secondary School, Agege, Mrs. Rebecca Afikpo; former Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola; Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, and Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, during 3rd Lagos Governor's education award, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Fashola rewards 128 public secondary schools with N256m

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS— GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, presented cheques worth N256 million to 128 public secondary schools in the state, as reward for academic excellence.

This came as the governor said his administration recently, employed 1200 new teachers to boost teaching and learning in the state public secondary schools.

Fashola handed the cheques to the schools at the third edition of the Lagos Eko Project Awards, a World Bank assisted project, held in Ikeja.

The event was attended by former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ajibola, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, among other eminent personalities.

The governor noted that each of the 128 schools selected from the 661 junior and senior secondary schools in the state will receive N2 million, explaining that the gesture was to encourage the schools and urged them to ultilise the money to further develop their schools.

Explaining the reason for the award, the governor said it was conceived to enhance academic standards through the promotion of healthy rivalry among schools in the state.

According to him, “the award has enabled us to diligently monitor performances of students, schools, and teachers and promote academic excellence in Lagos public secondary schools.”

The governor said the programme, “midwifed by the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project, was one of the

efforts by the state to transform public education in the state.

“In 2008 the pass rate of our pupils who made credits in five subjects including English and Mathematics was just 10.5 per cent. But by 2012 it tripled to 38.5 per cent. This is not our destination.

“We hope our results will keep getting better than those of the preceding year.

That is what we want and we are working towards that.”

Fashola, however, announced the award of international leadership training for 24 teachers and principals who performed remarkably in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking on employment, Fashola said: “Recently, we employed 1200 teachers and they are currently undergoing requisite documentation to formalise their appointment to join the team of the reliable workforce of the state.

“All these are to ensure that we leave no stone unturned in the bid to revolutionise the education and restore confidence in the public schools.”

He said 19 new schools had been established across the six education districts in the state to widen access to public education, saying, “it has increased the number of secondary schools in the state from 641 to 661.”

...at Mogaji’s 40th day Fidau

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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OVERNOR B A B AT U N D E Fashola of Lagos State, was among eminent Nigerians that attended the 40-day Fidau (Muslim prayer for the dead) yesterday, for late Alhaja Abibabtu Mogaji, mother of the former governor of Lagos State and National Leaders of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Asiwaju Tinubu was not present at the event, as Vanguard gathered, he was out of the country.

It would be recalled that Mogaji, died on June 15, at 95 years old at her No. 10 Adigun Street, Alausa, Ikeja residence.

Among other dignitaries at the event were former

Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, First ladies of Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states and former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Lagos State and Mrs. Kemi Nelson.

The Missioner of NawarUl-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Abdulmojid Ayinla, who delivered the sermon at the event, extolled her virtues, saying, “she was a man in women form. And this was evident in her daily activities.”

Ayinla urged women, especially traders, to use position to contribute positively to the development of the country, saying, “GOD has mentioned their role in the holy Quran and dedicated a chapter of the holy book for them.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY

26, 2013—11

CHILD MARRIAGE: Senate

got its priorities wrong, says SERAP

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OCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Senate President David Mark “seeking urgent explanations on why the Senate chose to spend time on revisiting the sensible deletion of child marriage provision in the Constitution rather than use the time to discuss how to make citizens’ enjoyment of water, healthcare, electricity fundamental rights.”

In the letter dated July 25, 2013 and signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “We are seriously concerned that the discussion in the Senate has focused rather disappointingly on how to undermine children’s internationally recognised FIDAU: From left, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Chief Folashde Tinubu-Ojo, new Iyaloja General; Mrs. Olufunso Amo- human rights rather than on how to improve the conditions of millions of sun, Ogun State First Lady, and Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Ekiti State, First Lady, during the 40th day Fidau Prayer for Nigerians living in poverty through the Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez entrenchment of a progressive Bill of Rights that will recognise access of Nigerians to water, healthcare, education and electricity as fundamental rights in the new constitution.

“By failing to discuss these important issues as fundamental rights, the Senate simply ignored feedbacks from 279 constituencies across the country, and moved in the opposite direction from the House of Representatives that has

BY DAYO JOHNSON discussed making citizens’ enjoyment of clean water, KURE — A Former Meanwhile, the former gover- adequate healthcare, quality and party is determined now more

BY HENRY UMORU Vice Chancellor of than ever, to reclaim the domi- nor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, who uninterrupted education, and the University of Ibadan, nance of PDP in the South-West. was at the PDP national secretariat regular and affordable electricity Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, yesBUJA — NATIONAL Speaking after being inaugu- to complain about his purported terday, called on adminisChairman of the Peoples rated, Governor Dickson observed suspension this week by the lead- as fundamental rights,” the trators of higher institutions Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji that the nation’s unity had come ership of the Ekiti State PDP led organisation said.

The organisation also said that in the country to seek colBamanga Tukur, yesterday, la- under severe attacks by forces by Makunjuola Ogundipe over “given your indication to SERAP laboration with the indusmented that the control of Southwhich are exploiting its diversity alleged violence, alleged that of your support for the ECOWAS trial sector with a view to West geo-political zone by oppo- and making political capital out there were plans by the state jointly producing employsition political parties was tragic of it, adding that the stability of working committee to impose a court’s judgment declaring that the Nigerian government has a able graduates. to the PDP and charged the Govthe country depended on the sta- governorship candidate using a legal responsibility to provide as He gave the advice at the ernor Henry Seriake Dickson-led bility of the PDP. consensus arrangement. of right, free, quality and Fifth Annual Registry Lec31-member PDP National Recon“This has become a source of compulsory basic education to ture of the Federal Univerciliation Committee to be focused extortion leading to every Nigerian child, we urge to sity of Technology, Akure. to ensure that the party wins the compromise of the use your leadership and position zone in coming polls. state chairman and to revisit these issues and to According to him, it was sad that some exco members.

This undemocratic ensure that the Senate does not the entire South-West except Laconsensus committee miss this important opportunity to gos State, which was controlled aimed at producing a end the legacy of poverty and by the PDP before the 2007 elecparticular candidate inequality in the country by tions, was now under opposition without the input of adopting a progressive Bill of BY OLA AJAYI political parties. that includes r e l e v a n t Rights “Painfully, the entire South-West internationally recognised BADAN — PEOPLES Democratic Party, stakeholders, has zone except Lagos was under

BY OLA AJAYI PDP, in Oyo State, has dragged Gover- pitched our members human rights like education, PDP governments and there can nor Abiola Ajimobi and others to an Oyo against one another," housing, health care, water be nothing more tragic than the BADAN — GOVERreform and social security."

State High Court, over alleged reluctance to he said.

NMENT Oyo State has present disturbing reality of losconduct the local government election since ing that entire zone to the opporeinstated 26 freelance assumption of office. sition. broadcasters who were Chairman of the party, Mr. Yinka Taiwo, sacked about one year ago, "The birth of our problem in the South-West and indeed other told Vanguard that, “We want to know why from Broadcasting Corpozones can be attributed to the in- he has refused to organise election in the 33 ration of Oyo State, BCOS. in the state.”

The governor, Abiola ability of our people to manage councils State Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adebayo our past successes.

Ajimobi directed the man"The present leadership of the agement of BCOS to reOjo, had repeatedly absorb the disengaged said it was the litigaworkers. tion in court that made The governor’s directive it difficult for the govwas occasioned by pleas ernment to conduct from the leadership of the the polls.

Freelance Independent PDP claimed the Broadcasters Association of government had disNigeria, FIBAN, in media appointed the people parley. in the state and had The governor also clarino option than to fied that his administration leave the government had no plan to ban commerHouse for the PDP in cial motorcyclists, popularly 2015, saying “rather called Okada, from the than making life easy state for now. for the people, the He was quick to add that government always Okada would gradually be disappoints them. Acreplaced by tricycles and tion Congress Govexplained that commercial ernment, ACN, government has taken motorcycling was the sinthe means of liveligle largest employer of lahood from them.” bour in the economy now.

Don seeks varsities' collaboration with industrial sector

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Opposition’s control of South-West tragic for PDP — Tukur .Nigeria’s unity under attack — Dickson

.Ekiti consensus arrangement source of corruption — Fayose

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Oyo re-instates 26 freelance broadcasters

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Oyo PDP sues Ajimobi, others over council polls

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12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2013

NNSG tasks Jonathan, Amaechi on peace

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS—THE Nigerian National Summit Group has called on President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to resolve their differences in the overall interest of the country.

Speaking at the group’s National Working Committee meeting in Lagos, Executive Secretary of the group, Mr Tony Uranta, said that the cause of the crisis in Rivers State due to a breakdown in communication between the Presidency and the governor.

Uranta said: “We are seizing this opportunity to call on the Presidency and the governor of Rivers State to sheathe their swords and also call on Governor Amaechi to meet with the President of Nigeria, table whatever his complaints are and we are sure they will be addressed.”

He noted that it was not right for either the federal or the state government to be antagonising each other, adding that the governor should endeavour to meet the President with his complaint.

Uranta who noted that the group would also pay a visit to the presidency and Rivers State as part of its efforts at finding a lasting solution to the crisis, insisting that the Nigerian National Summit Group would not take side in the crisis.

NASS approves N4.9trn in 2013 budget amendment

BY HENRYUMORUEMMAN OVUAKPORIEJOSEPHERUNKE &LEVINUSNWABUGHIOGU BUJA—THE drama which had trailed the 2013 budget, following sharp disagreement between the Presidency and the National Assembly, was laid to rest yesterday as both chambers of the National Assembly approved a total of N4,987,220,425,601 in the amendment requested by President Jonathan.

The amount captured in the amendment is almost the same with the earlier figure approved by the lawmakers in the original budget.

The total budget passed by the Senate was 4.987 trillion, out of which N388 billion was for statutory transfers, N591 billion for debt service, N2.415 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, while the balance of N1.591 trillion was earmarked for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ending on the 31 December, 2013.

This development came after a closed-door meeting that lasted over three hours.

Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, said the Senate decision was in the interest of Nigerians.

Presenting his committee’s report on the budget earlier, Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Maccido, explained that the budget amendment did not in any way increase the aggregate expenditure of the original bill passed in December 24, 2012.

Jonathan, had in a letter to the Senate, asked the upper legislative chamber to restore the over N77 billion which he said the Na-

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tional Assembly unilaterally removed from the proposed budget for the Ministry of Works, including N4 billion approved for Abuja –Lokoja road.

In his remark, Senate President, David Mark advised the executive to keep faith to the approved budget just as he tasked the standing committees of the senate to step up their oversight function on the executive and government agencies.

Meanwhile, the Presidency yesterday described the passage of

the 2013 Appropriation amendment Bill by the National Assembly as the triumph of constructive dialogue, just as it hailed the Senators and members of the House of Representatives for the job.

According to the Presidency, yesterday’s action by the lawmakers was an indication that they were on the side of the people who are working for their common good and national interest.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi who reiterated the commitment of the

presidency on early submission of the 2014 Appropriation Bill as promised, said: ‘’I wish to commend members of the National Assembly for the successes so far recorded in year 2013, especially on the issue of 2013 Appropriation (Amendment) Act and Constitution Amendment. ‘’I commend them for the eventual passing of the 2013 Appropriation (Amendment) Bill. This is indeed a boost for national development, as it will go a long way to keep the targets of the 2013 Budget on track and facilitate the actualization of the overall Transformation Agenda of this administration.”

Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio flanked by other PDP Governors addressing newsmen at the end of PDP Governors' Forum in Abuja, Wednesday night.

Rivers crisis: Rights groups slate protest rally for Tuesday in Port Harcourt

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BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT— MESSRS OLISA Agbakoba, SAN; Femi Falana, SAN; and Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin are among other activists in the country that will attend a peaceful protest in defence of democracy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State next Tuesday.

Flanked by other members of his group, Chairman, Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition, Mr. Anyakwe Nsirmovu, said that the rally was about saving the country’s democracy from collapse.

Nsirimovu in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said that the body agreed on the rally tagged One Day of Global Action in Defence of Democracy because of the alleged gradual attempt to replace democratic traditions with abuse of rule

of law by those he said were desperately seeking political power.

Lamenting the recent fracas on the floor of the state House of Assembly, Nsirimovu also decried what he termed the inaction of the Police in the face of alleged insecurity of lives and property

in the state.

The group said activists from all parts of the country will gather in Port Harcourt on Tuesday to protest the near collapse of rule of law and democratic traditions in the state.

Imoke’s wife wants transition homes for widows

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BY ONOZURE DANIA

YO—WIFE of Cross River State governor, Mrs Obioma Liyel–Imoke, has called for the establishment of transition homes in each of the six geo-political zones of the country to cater for the needs of widows in distress.

Mrs Liyel–Imoke in Uyo, AkwaIbom State, while fielding questions from newsmen at the first National Widowhood Summit convened by wives of governors in the South-South and South East states, said that the homes will serve as a refuge for displaced widows.

She said that the initial homes to be sited in each of the zones, would be ex-

tended to all the states of the federation over time.

She explained that such homes will provide welfare, counseling and legal services to the widows The governor’s wife, who is also the Founder/Board Chair of Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation, POWER, lamented the dearth of information and data on widows as well as the absence of systematic means of addressing issues threatening widows.

She expressed joy that the Minister of Women Affairs had put machinery in place to address the issue, adding that in Cross River State, the government was undertaking a comprehensive biometrics to capture widows in the state.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 13

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Strike: FG, ASUU meet today

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA—THE Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will meet today on the ongoing strike embarked upon by university lecturers over the non- implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement.

This came against the backdrop of Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu’s denial of a newspaper report that the Federal Government agreement with ASUU could not work.

The minister said he never made such a statement and that he only appealed to the union to return to the classrooms while negotiations continued.

Last week, the two opposing sides had met with the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Education to find a solution to the crisis, so students could go back to school, but the meeting ended in deadlock and the two groups were told to go back and review their positions to come back on a latter date.

But the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, while fielding questions from newsmen, yesterday, disclosed that the Federal Government had no other option than to meet with the union to resolve the crisis, so students can return to school.

Prof. Rufa’I said: “Government has no option but to make efforts to resolve ASUU crisis. Mr. President is concerned, everybody is concerned, definitely, efforts will have to be made to have students back in classrooms.

“So we are pleading with our colleagues in ASUU to call off the strike but we are meeting with them, we are meeting tomorrow (today).

President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, has said Nigeria’s economy had been taken over by Chinese as leaders in Nigeria have refused to provide quality education to the people, while the Chinese government trained its people in all sectors with the necessary facilities.

Dr. Fagge in an interview with Vanguard said Nigeria’s economy will continue to dwindle except leaders of the country provided universities with

adequate facilities to give qualitative education to the youths.

He said: “The thing about it is that, if other countries are investing about 28-30 per cent of their annual budget in education, typically Ghana, even this year, Ghana has committed 28 per cent of its total budget to education, if they can do it, why not Nigeria.

“Is it because we are under the dictates of IMF and World Bank, don’t we want to do what is right, must our children continue to go to Ghanaian university for education, must our people be leaving our country, be braindrained to other countries to go and develop their economies, must we continue this way"?

Jonathan urges Saudi envoy to ease Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, charged Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fuad Bin Abdul-Aziz Rajih, to work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as National Hajj Commission to ease and facilitate the annual participation of Nigerian pilgrims in this year’s Hajj.

Speaking at an audience with Mr. Rajih, after receiving his letters of credence at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan noted that Nigerians were deeply religious people and urged the Saudi ambassador to do everything possible to make them perform their religious obligations.

He said the Federal Government will greatly appreciate the ambassador’s cooperation and support in making the

participation of Nigerian Muslims in the Hajj easier and free of hindrances.

He said Nigeria would welcome greater economic relations with Saudi Arabia and urged the ambassador to focus on expanding areas of economic cooperation between the two countries during his tenure.

At an earlier audience with the new Ugandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Kagimu Kiwanuka, President Jonathan emphasised that African nations must make greater efforts to boost formal economic and trade relations amongst them.

According to the President, Nigeria is committed to making trade amongst African nations easier and less cumbersome and will work with Uganda and other members of the African Union to achieve this objective.

Ubah campaign organisation accuses PDP of plan to stop his candidature

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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HE Ifeanyi Ubah C a m p a i g n Organisation alleged, yesterday, that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was planning to dislodge Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, from contesting the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State under the platform of Labour Party, LP. Speaking with newsmen, Chairman of the campaign organisation, Mr. Ifeanyi Obiokoye, said some chieftains of the PDP who had been advised to dump their gubernatorial ambitions by their party’s

CONDOLENCE VISIT TO DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN

national leadership were allegedly putting pressures on the Labor Party National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, to dump Ubah on the grounds that he was not qualified to contest the party ’s primaries.

It was also alleged that a handsome amount of money had been offered to the leadership of LP to execute the plot which Nwanyanwu was said to have turned down.

Obiokoye said the campaign organisation would resist such plot, insisting that it was against Ubah’s fundamental human rights.

Vice President Namadi Sambo signing the condolence Register while some ministers watch as the Vice President led members of the Federal Executive Council to condole with the First Lady on the death of her mother, in Abuja, yesterday. Pix: Abayomi Adeshida.

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); his mother, Mrs Eunice Jonathan (left) welcoming the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan from Switzerland after the death of her mother. Pix: State House.

Dame Patience Jonathan; Chief of Staff to the Presient, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; Education Minister, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufai and Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (left) being consoled by the former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—15

Jonathan vows to check political excesses ahead of 2015 polls ...orders detailed security report on Rivers crisis

BY BEN AGANDE

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associations in the country to find ways of interacting with government on a regular basis, noting that the associations were established not to antagonize government, but contribute to national growth and development.

He accepted the NBA’s invitation to open the association’s Annual General Conference at Tinapa, Cross River State, next month, promising to personally honour the invitation if his official schedule permitted him.

Speaking with newsmen after meeting with President Jonathan, National President of the NBA, Mr Okey Wali, said the association was in the Villa to convey its views on the state of the economy, security, rule of law, independence of the judiciary, anti-corruption crusade, elections and electoral process as well as the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution.

He said the association pointedly talked about Rivers State and expressed concerns that it was disturbed about what was coming out of the state.

He said: “We appealed to the President to do all that he can

lawfully to ensure that peace returns to Port Harcourt and; law and order prevail. And at all times the principles of the rule of law must be adhered to.

We made that clear to the President.

"As you know, NBA is a major stakeholder in the affairs of this country. We discussed some issues that were bothering us, such as security, economy of the country, the rule of law, the judiciary.

"So we thought we should have audience with Mr President and express our concerns on some issues. The president graciously took the issues and addressed them".

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, gave a firm commitment that he would take decisive action to curb political excesses ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He gave the commitment when a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its president, Mr. Okey Wali, visited him and raised concern on a number of challenges facing the country.

According to President Jonathan, the rising political tension in the country is uncalled for and disturbing, and urged those in elected position to concentrate on governance.

President Jonathan said: “The political tension in the country is mainly built around the 2015 elections which should not be the case. It is quite disturbing. The year 2015 is still far off. I expect politicians to focus on the business of governance.

“We must do what we were elected to do first. We will do our best to curb overheating of the polity".

On the crisis in Rivers State, the President said he had asked for a detailed brief on the security situation in the state and assured that necessary action would be taken to ensure adherence to the rule of law in the state and maintenance of law and order.

Addressing other issues raised by the delegation, President Jonathan said his administration was implementing the right policies, programmes and projects to accelerate economic development and boost employment in the country.

AWARD—From left: Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enitan Denloye; Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, Dr. Umar Bindir; Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano, Professor Yahuza Bello, at the 2013 Etisalat Merit Awards at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Wednesday.

Nigerians should exercise little more patience

Dangote to receive 'Pride of Africa Award'

He called for a little more patience from Nigerians, saying results of the present administration’s efforts in areas such as power supply, would become even more apparent in due course.

President Jonathan also assured the NBA that his administration would do all it could towards the positive reformation and strengthening of Nigeria’s judicial system, including the resolution of issues relating to increased funding for the judiciary.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the progressive reformation of Nigeria’s electoral processes to guarantee that all votes cast in elections truly counted and that elections in the country were accepted by all objective stakeholders as free, fair and credible.

President Jonathan urged the NBA and other professional

NBA decries chaos in Rivers State

Defence College boss assures on military repect for civil authorities

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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B U J A — T H E Commandant of National Defence College, NDC, Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson, yesterday, assured that with the level of training for military personnel in the country, Nigerians have nothing to fear about military authority subjecting itself to civil rule.

Lokoson, who gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on activities lined up for the Graduation Week for the NDC Course 21, scheduled for July 26 to August 3, in Abuja, maintained that military authorities would always act within the purview of the country’s constitution.

He explained that the military authorities had taken it upon themselves to train and retrain officers of the military on civil-military operation, which he noted had assisted in nurturing democracy in the country.

NUJ blacklists Mamu, publisher of Abuja magazine

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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HAIRMAN, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will in September be honoured with Hall of Grace’s Pride of Africa Award in Lagos.

The Managing Custodian, Hall of Grace Awards, Rupert Ojenuwa, disclosed this during a briefing in Lagos.

He said the award, which is aimed at rewarding excellence and contribution to nation building, would also recognize other Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in different spheres of life including entrepreneurship, entertainment and philanthropy.

He said: “The Hall of Grace Awards was initiated to serve as a reward platform for deserving

Nigerians. You know Nigeria is passing through a lot of challenges that could threaten our collective but despite this; we know that Nigeria is not as bad as portrayed and that a lot of people are actually working very hard to make things better.

“It is also true that criticisms are intended to make leaders work hard but praises such as this that our platform offers, could also make people who are already working hard to work harder.”

He explained that other Nigerians who would also receive awards include: Bayo Olugbemi for the Role Model Awards of the Year and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State for Man of the Year Award.

He also disclosed that Inyanya, Olamide, KC, Chidimma and Wizkid had been nominated for the Best Hip Hop Act of the year award, while Funke Akindele, Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson, Yule Edochie, Frank Atus and John Dumelo were nominated for the Best Movie of the Year award.

Fans of the short listed celebrities are therefore expected to vote online for their choice candidates at www.hog.com beginning from August 2013.

The Hall of Grace Awards, which was put together by Chief Alex Akinyele three years ago, had had Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Murray Bruce of Silverbird Group as beneficiaries.

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA —THE national secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, yesterday, blacklisted the publisher of Desert Herald Magazine, Mallam Tukur Mamu, over alleged blackmail, attempted extortion, defamation and libel against the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed.

National President of NUJ, Mallam Mohammed Garba, stated this while receiving report of investigation into the petition from Special Assistant, Media of FCT Minister, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, against Mallam Mamu.

He said following the refusal of the publisher to appear before the committee on July 3, 2013, and the publisher in an open letter to the committee, said he was not a member of the NUJ in Nigeria or outside the country.

16—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

WAGB holds empowerment seminar

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EALTH Academy Global Initiative, WAGB, an international youth initiative aimed at developing entrepreneurial potential in young people, is organising an empowerment and skill acquisition seminar designed to equip students, undergraduates and the unemployed with the fundamentals and techniques of kick starting and running a successful business.

According to a statement announcing the seminar, scheduled to hold, August 10, at Aguda, Surulere, Lagos, Mr. Mark Idiahi, Chief Executive Officer of the company, said the seminar will give birth to a club that will help participants harmonise innovative business concepts and ideas, while empowering them to proffer solutions to nagging business problems.

He said: “The unemployment ratio is alarming. The National Bureau of Statistics declared recently that 40 million Nigeriansarejobless.Weneedto sail clear above water so as not to be swept away by this current and unfortunate tide.”

Abia oil communities make case for 13% derivation BYEMMELEBEKE

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BUJA—OIL producing communities in Abia State have joined their counterparts in other oil producing states to demand for the direct payment of 13 per cent derivation fund to the communities.

Their demand was contained in a letter sent to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, and signed by 10 leaders of the communities, including Chief Jones Udeogu, Mr. Chinedu Elechi, Chief Onyema Olujie, Prince Sam Nwogu, Obinna Ememenna, Nwaloziri Ignatius, Emma Ukaegbu, Ugochukwu Ekpo, Reginald Ezenta and Maduka James.

The group noted that 13 per cent derivation exists before any revenue formula and the amount due to the fund is constitutionally set aside before any Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC meeting to share the balance of the total oil revenue of 87 per cent.

FORCED CONVERSION TO ISLAM: Etsu Nupe, Police decline comments on calls to probe palace

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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INNA—THE Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and the Niger State Police Command, have declined comments on calls to investigate activities in the Bida Emirate Palace to ensure that people who had been forced to convert to Islam were not been held in the place.

Pastor Raymond Uzoechina, father of Miss Charity (Aisha) Uzoechina, the 24-year-old lady alleged to have been forced to drop Christianity for Islam and is now staying in the palace, on Wednesday alleged that his daughter was not the only one in the palace. He called on security agencies to investigate activities at the palace to ensure that many people there had not been forced to convert to Islam and held against their will.

After persistent telephone calls, Secretary of the Emirate Council, Alhaji Abdulmalik Usman, said no details on the issue could be made available again since journalists had gone to the press before contacting the emirate.

He said: “You cannot get any details on phone since you have gone to publish before getting our own side of the story.”

Efforts to reach the Etsu Nupe on the development proved abortive as he was said to have travelled to Abuja with members of his emirate on an official assignment.

It was also difficult to get access to Charity Uzoechina, the lady in

question as reporters were not allowed into the palace especially since the Etsu and most members of his council were not around.

Contacted, Niger State Police Command spokesman, ASP Richard Oguche, declined comments because the matter is in court.

He said: “It is above my power.

Besides, since the matter is already in court, I cannot comment on the issue.”

Charity left their Abuja home to further her studies at the Federal

Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.

According to reports, she has not returned home since March.

She has allegedly been at the palace of the Etsu Nupe on her own volition after converting to Islam and changing her name to Aisha.

Pastor Uzoechina is claiming that his daughter was kidnapped and hypnotised and could never abandon the Christian faith for Islam. But the Etsu Nupe argued otherwise and produced legal documents where his daughter

said she had converted to Islam and alleged that his father could kill her for the action hence the need to seek protection from the Palace and the Sharia Court, which the court granted.

Consequently, the Etsu Nupe refused to release the lady to Uzoechina, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, citing the Sharia court ruling.

The court is expected to rule on the appeal, August 1.

SIGNING: Chief Operating Officer First Bank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Akin Fanimokun (left)and Africa Executive Director, Trans-Fast International Ltd, Mr. Jean-Charles Faye, at the signing ceremony and partnership between the Bank and Trans-Fast in Lagos.

Subsidy scam: Court bars EFCC from prosecuting Ifeanyi Ubah

complaint that Ubah and his company were involved in the petroleum subsidy fraud.

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI Ubah and his company had arBUJA—JUSTICE Abdul gued that it was wrong for the Kafarati of a Federal High EFCC, IGP, AGF and any other Court in Abuja, yesterday, issued an order of perpetual injunction agency of the government to want restraining the Economic and Fi- to prosecute them over the same nancial Crimes Commission, issue on which a Federal High EFCC, from prosecuting the Man- Court in Lagos had exonerated aging Director of Capital Oil and them by virtue of its February 18, Gas Limited, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah 2013 judgment in suit number: and his company over their alleged complicity in petroleum subsidy fraud.

The court further barred the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, the Attorney General of the FedPOLITICAL EDITOR eration and Minister of Justice, A R A R E — INSINUAMohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, TIONS that former Presifrom taking any step towards prosdent Olusegun Obasanjo had ecuting the applicants.

Besides, Justice Kafarati, while been removed from his position delivering judgment in a funda- as leader of the 60-member Afrimental rights enforcement suit can Union, AU observer mission marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/284/2013 to Zimbabwe’s elections were disfiled by Ubah and his company, missed yesterday by a member faulted a recent invitation sent to of the mission, Dr. Orji Kalu, a former governor of Abia State. the applicants by the EFCC. Kalu who is also in the UN obConsequently, he granted four out of five prayers the applicants server mission confirmed yesterraised in their suit which chal- day that President Obasanjo was lenged the decision of the anti- in that position as leader of the graft agency to re-investigate the observer mission at the induction

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FHC/CS/07/2013 and a report by the House of Representatives committee which investigated the fuel subsidy fraud.

They also relied on a letter dated February 12, 2013 written by the Police Special Fraud Unit, D Department to the Minister of Finance, clearing them of any criminal complicity in the allegation of subsidy fraud made against them.

Justice Kafarati declared that the February 18 judgment, the House of Representatives’ committee report and the police letter of February 12 “collectively tantamount to a complete and final exoneration of any criminal offence with regard to application for receipt of subsidy payment under the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Support Fund , PSF, scheme.”

Obasanjo remains AU election mission in some quarters.” chair for Zimbabwe —KALU Kalu noted that the choice of

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ceremony in Harare, the capital of the Southern African country.

Zimbabwe is going to the polls on July 31.

“President Obasanjo has the mandate of the African Union to lead the mission and nobody has the right to stop him,” Dr. Kalu said at the end of the induction ceremony presided over by Dr. Nkosazana Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

“I know President Obasanjo is a strong willed and courageous leader who will not be discouraged by the falsehood spreading

the leader and members of the mission was adopted after a rigorous process of selection based on certain criteria.

He said there could not have been a better team.

Kalu said the essence of the Election Observer Mission is to observe without bias the presidential and legislative elections, adding that the team will not be moved by sentiments, especially with its assignment based on well defined terms of reference.

He appealed to the electorate, politicians and political parties to adhere to the rules of the game.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 17

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Ekiti State Governor, Fayemi

ACN feedback the Governor of Ekiti State, objected to my criticisms.

And Fayemi is so articulate and well-intentioned that I’ve concluded, on reflection, that I should be more balanced and say that the ACN is, despite its shortcomings, a credible

Stop child molesters!

A HMAD Sani Yerima, a serving Senator, sharia law advocate and former Governor of Zamfara State, has gone all out to prevent his National Assembly colleagues from setting a minimum age for marriage (from a female perspective).

According to Yerima, it is “un-Islamic” for the Nigerian Government to tell Muslim males and females what they can and cannot do on the marital front..

I’ve read many passionate condemnations of Yerima’s perverted views in the past few days; and the best article I’ve seen so far was written by the former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, in this newspaper (check it out via Google).

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In the meantime, I just want to firmly assure anyone who is willing to listen that any grown man who wants to have sex with innocent little girls has a sick, twisted mind and urgently needs psychiatric treatment and a jail term.

Yerima married his driver’s early adolescent daughter and is determined to force the rest of us to regard this abomination as “normal “ and “acceptable”.

Even in diehard Islamic societies, there are men who are not remotely interested in sleeping with minors and parents who share my view that it is our sacred duty as adults to protect youngsters from salivating paedophiles.

God will punish this unrepentant destroyer of

organisation that contains quite a few impressive individuals who intelligently challenge the status quo and quite rightly highlight the multiple failures of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This desire to be fair also

What A Guy!

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HE Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammed Pate, has just resigned from the Cabinet to take up a Professorship in the United States. He will work for Duke University’s Global Health Institute and also serve as a Senior Adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is based in Washington DC. I salute this fine gentleman for being so different from the average Nigerian. While others are scrambling to drop perfectly adequate foreign jobs, so they can come home to enjoy the ridiculously numerous perks that are lavished on Nigerian government officials, Pate is going in the opposite direction.

In America, he will not be treated like a demigod. Nor will he have access to billions of dollars worth of ill-gotten gains or be allowed to get away with performing lousily. He will have to cope with a finite salary and will be addressed like a normal human being and will be expected to achieve good results.

I wish this paragon of integrity maximum success in his new job.

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AST week, I angrily accused the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, of treachery, inconsistency, religious insensitivity and political parochialism.

This tirade was largely motivated by the fact that various Rivers people, including my cousin Kenneth Kobani (the ACN’s former National Treasurer), have told me that they joined the ACN in good faith before the 2011 election but eventually resigned because they felt disrespected.

Most of the Vanguard readers who reacted to my comments shared my view that the ACN can be amorally pragmatic and has not invested much energy in winning support outside Yorubaland. Much to my surprise, a couple of senior ACN members contacted me to say that they felt that I had been truthful.

Only two people, including Kayode Fayemi,

compels me to praise the ACN Governors who visited Rivers State last week - for sensibly advising their embattled colleague, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, to reach out to President Jonathan in a bid to actively seek a lasting solution to the crisis that has engulfed our state in recent months.

Even PDP stalwarts such as Dr Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to Mr President, have commended Fayemi, Fashola, et al, for being laudably statesmanlike on that occasion.

Having said all this, I cannot resist the temptation of making a naughty little observation concerning Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the famously overbearing and nepotistic ACN leader, who recently inspired grumbles from bona fide traders when he appointed his daughter, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to replace his late mother as Head of the Lagos Market Women’s Association.

I laughed heartily when I heard this story because I strongly suspect that the only marketing experiences with which Mrs Tinubu-Ojo is truly familiar revolve around fancy foreign retail outlets like Harrods (an exclusive London department store that is frequented by folks who are way too rich to worry about boring stuff like the price of a tomato or yam!).

Please give the female Nigerian child a pen not a penis; concentrate on her books, not her boobs; pay her school fees, not bride price; she needs education, not ejaculation….

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innocence…and the fellow legislators who do not have the guts to tell him to go to Hell...! A Vanguard reader made the following comment:

Senator Sani Yerima “Please give the female Nigerian child a pen not a penis. Concentrate on her books, not her boobs. Pay

her school fees, not bride price. She needs education, not ejaculation….”

I couldn’t agree more!

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 IT is obvious the Nigerian economy is in a precarious situation. It is really nothing new.

The only thing that could be new is the momentum of oil theft, which combining with corruption, is drying up resources available to governments.

Nigerians do not need a warning from the World Bank to know that an economy founded on only one product is doomed.

Years of contemplating what to do with the economy has not thrown up solutions that governments are willing to implement. Every government is interested in getting resources it immediately needs for its projects, most of which are short term programmes.

A World Bank’s Nigeria Economic Report for May 2013, noted that, “Despite the recovery in oil prices, Nigeria expanded its fiscal stimulus significantly, increasing consolidated spending by an estimated 2.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and drawing down the remaining balance of the Excess Crude Account at the same time that many other oil exporters were building back their reserves.”

What the World Bank is looking at is

BYBOBSON GBINIJE “The first bond of society is marriage; The next our children; then the Whole family and all things in common” (Cicero-106-43BC-DE OFFICIIS).

HE contemporaneity of metempirical and empirical evidences, unravels the truism that our world is swirling in the cesspit and epicenter of apocalyptical immorality, depravity and sacrilegious profanity. Nothing, yes nothing, is sacred anymore. Indeed, the sanctum sanctorum of the marriage institution has become defiled, desecrated, arrantly polluted and lethiferous. What a shame!

Without anachronistic whimsicalities, but with respect for traditional and theological stereotypes, marriage is a compact and a contract entered into by a man and a woman, to live together as husband and wife. A wedlock with hymeneal, marital, connubial and conjugal characteristics. But, in the light of man’s mercurial and grotesque values, marriage is now a contract between consenting persons to live together as married couples, without bias for gender. It could be between a woman and a woman and between a man and a man, etc.

In some countries of the world, especially in America, Canada, Scotland, Britain, France, Italy and Spain etc, there are existing signed and sealed statutes, laws, provisions and ordinances lending credence to this kind of marital practices. In short, homosexuality, lesbianism, sodomy, foeticide, etc, has recently received the sacrosanct legal blessings of the Supreme Court in America.

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Nigeria After Oil Theft different from the needs of Nigerians. While the bank is concerned with the ability of Nigeria to meet its international obligations, Nigerians are worried that the country has no plans to create an economy away from oil. All the talks about diversifying the economy, some dating more than 40 years, have remained mere talks.

The saddest aspect of the patch Nigeria is passing through is that once oil revenues climb to levels that can fund the 2013 budget, all those responsible for the economy would happily return to their spending sprees.

Oil accounting for 95 per cent of exports and 75 per cent of consolidated budgetary revenues in Nigeria, is a bigger danger than

the volatility of oil prices and thieves who are exploiting weaknesses in the oil production chain.

Those celebrating the assistance Europe is promising to end oil theft are missing the point again. The West’s interests are served by stable oil prices. A stable Nigerian economy, with a broad manufacturing base to serve Nigerians would not benefit from the West’s help which wants Nigeria to be a net importer.

Nigerian authorities should be planning an economy above oil thefts. The only way that would be possible is by diversifying the economy. Oil would still be useful by providing the resources to redirect the economy.

The current practice of consuming all the money the country makes each budget season is another version of oil theft.

Indifference to the future is new slavery awaiting Nigerians. Our governments owe us a responsibility to rescue Nigerians from that blight instead of rejoicing that Europe would help it maintain the endless dependence on oil.

OPINION Gayism and the spirituality of matrimony Jehovah, the High Potentate Yahweh, established the institution of matrimony as a union between a man and a woman for the sole reason of procreation. The Bible scripturally substantiates this position: ”Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it :and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”. Even the atheists, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Dialectical Logicians, in Mormonism, Laoism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Krishna Consciousness, traditional religions in Africa, Asia, America and Europe, etc, concur with pertinacious exactitude, that have a nexial synergy with Yahweh and the Bible position on marriage.

The marriage institution is not perfect, but it remains the basis of responsible child upbrining. The prevalence of ‘LOVE’ is supposed to be the magnetic propellant and pull to brings Couples together. But, in a materialistic world befuddled by decadent normative standards ‘LOVE’ is virtually dead.

The existentialist philosopher Wilcox Truman defined secularly mundane love as “a blitheful awe of uncontrollable emotion, which dies immediately the source of delight decays and extinguishes”. A sort of sentimental glamorization of lustful passion. The essayist Maria Coleridge wondered in her novel ‘VENDELTA’ saying, “Gold, gold forever. What can it not do? It will bring the proud to their knees and the obstinate to servile compliance. But the love

of women, that perishable article of commerce is ever at its command”.

The vast majority of marriages are derobed and divested of love. But such marriages fulfill the divine avowal of a hymeneal relationship between a man and a woman.

It is therefore a grotesque and weird abuse of nature and spiritual order for a man to crave after a man and to ask for the hands of a man in marriage. Marriage has within its entrapments and tentacles a preponderant presence of spirituality, because, it’s a Divine Command and afflatus concretized by unctuousness of Yahweh’s presence.

Therefore, a marriage that venerates the Divine Order will radiate the luminosity and effulgence of light and it will bring out the promises inherent in the configuration and contours adumbrated in tartuffian ordinance. But the President Barrack Obama promoted, advertised, sponsored and approved gayism and same sex marriage is a horrendous serpentine twist and convolution of civilization and a tenebrous apocalyptical precipitation of moral doom for mankind.

Our children are now in the mortal moral dilemma of narcissistic regressionalism and atavistic Neanderthalism. For goodness sake, how can a man marry a man? Even if they adopt children, what about the moral rigours of parenting and parenthood? This is lunacy unlimited and the whole world must rise to protect our standards and values.

Yes, if there is a hormonal defect in a man or

woman. This is strictly a biological matter which can be diagnosed for cure and remedies. But the prevailing cases in America, Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Scotland, Canada, Holland and Germany e.t.c. are spiritual. And it is going to be difficult and pleonastic to deal with because it is been practiced, conjectured, postulated, defended, hypothesized and triangulated by the powers that be Oligarchs and the Joneses e.t.c.

This moral dwarfishness is fueled by their curmudgeon and churlish civilization, nuances, equal right illusions and idiosyncrasies, theatricalized in Boeotian Legislations, bovine inanities, imbecilic fancies and asininities in action. Their clamour for equal rights, liberty and freedom to justify this terroristic terrorism against the sacred institution of marriage smacks of humanity cascading down the labyrinth of total self annihilation. They must know that freedom and liberty means responsibly.

Finally, the Nigerian Congress and the rest of humanity must speak with one voice against Gayism, Lesbianism, Homosexuality Foeticide, Sodomy Pederasty, Pedophilism, Same Sex Marriages and such other forms of sexual and matrimonial terrorism and reprobate moral perversions, notwithstanding what President Obama, America and other Nations on their civilizing mission think.

We commend the Nigerian Legislature for it’s unblemished averments against *Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013— —19

, Nigerian government but the Nigerian people who often respond to the calculating, preying actions of their leaders not with outrage, but with the cunning of those who will profit by supporting what we all know to be wrong.

However, today I am proud of the outpouring of reactions following the passage of the Senate’s Bill making the age of consent in Nigeria 13 (in most European countries it is 16 and even in Spain, where it is still 13, activists, public figures, fight tirelessly to have it raised). Child marriage has been legalised in Nigeria, everything our mothers and grand mothers have fought for, to guarantee us a right to education, a right to determine and decide for ourselves our path in life, has been swiftly destroyed. One question remains: Where are the female members of the Senate?

Nigerian women need to know they deserve better. When a female House of Representatives member is interviewed, she is often happy to answer banal questions on her

stars are more intellectually challenged by the media. Mothers, sisters, daughters in every walk of life, we all need to recognise that we deserve better, that we should be valued more than the amount we can fetch by being sold at the altar, that we are more than our fashion choices, no matter how elaborate, that we are more than the incredible pressure society puts on women to seek existence and outright fulfilment in marriage.

Our lives as women are worth something. It might seem like a moot point. But believe me when I say that there are women, even powerful women in Nigeria and Africa today, who need to realise this because they are the only ones who can truly champion the rights of the girl-child. I ask the female members of both Houses today, how many of their daughters marry at 13. I ask the wealthy, carefree politicians in Abuja today, how many have given away their precious brood to men three or four times their age who would

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be free to use them as they see fit.

Most host lavish weddings which fill the society pages of our magazines and the pictures tell an interesting story: one of political and business marriages to secure benefits and further hoard economic opportunities by concentrating them in the hands of the few at the expense of the many. It is the daughters of the poor and the uneducated that we expect to marry at 13 because they have no voice and more so because their families are in desperate need of money. So their innocence, their right to dream is butchered on the altar of some of our lawmaker’s perversities, who seek out poor young girls and turn them into playthings.

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e hide behind religion to excuse horrific deeds. Both Christians and Muslims are guilty of this in the Nigeria of today. The legalisation of child brides will open the road towards abusers marrying their victims and therefore being excused. In fact, we are tacitly changing the very definition of rape or of any kind of abuse in a society where the rights of women and children are already

The Igbos have more at stake in Nigeria

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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HE recent twist in Nigerian politics leading to agitations for presidency based on ethnic and zonal cleavages, has led some to the conclusion that no leader can emerge that will unite Nigeria. Their reasons include that a Northern leader will attract resistance from other zones, because the North led this nation for 35 out of 50 years and basically brought us to this stage of despair. The South West got power from the military in 1999; their leadership brought in GEJ, under whom we are still groping, with insecurity and bad politicking threatening the very existence of the country, while the North has vowed to remove him from Aso Rock.

Many, therefore, reason that Nigeria has reached a stage where no leader will be able to unite the country. I do not agree with this position, and I am not alone.

There is yet a zone that has shown complete and unalloyed loyalty to the nation of Nigeria, and within that zone lies the leadership that will take Nigeria out of the doldrums. An honest check of the investments by ethnic personalities and individuals across the country, take us to one ethnic group that qualifies by reason of their investments in each state of Nigeria to produce a leader that will bring unity.

My unaided estimates, for want of verifiable statistics, show that in Lagos, Igbo investment is not less than N300 trillion; it is double of that in Abuja at about N600 trillion. In Kano and Kaduna, Igbo investments run up to N10 trillion respectively; while in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, Igbo investment run into N5 trilion respectively. In Plateau State

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Igbo investment is hovering over N15 trillion! I can confidently add that there is no state in Nigerian where Igbo investments in business do not exceed N5 billion. Capitalism is about investments, profits and financial power. The Holy Scripture tells us a man’s heart is always where his treasures are kept. Igbo treasures and investments are spread across every nook and corner of Nigeria.

It makes sense to me to posit that only an Igbo man can bring unity to Nigeria. The problem is that those Igbo haters do not want to face this fact and would prefer our continued suffering as a nation,than accepting this honest reality! A few reports of this reality will help us.

In 2007, the Minister for FCT,Mallam Nasir el-Rufai declared that “Igbos have acquired about 73 percent of landed property in Abuja". He was addressing a gathering of South East elected officials,he also revealed how the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali abused him for demolishing his house in Asokoro District in Abuja.On a lighter mood, elRufai called on the Igbos to take Abuja as the sixth state of the South East in view of their dominance of the real estate sector of the FCT. He pointed out that such dominance explains why the Igbos appear to have been the worst victims of the demolition exercise in the territory.For instance, he said 68 percent of the land allocations in the FCT belong to the 19 Northern states, but in actual land ownership, 73 percent belong to the Igbos with the most aggressive in land ownership belonging to the indigenes of Anambra State, while Ebonyi lags behind.

In Benue State, in 2010, when the Igbo

so difficult to uphold. On whose side is our government? Whose will are our legislators serving? If their goal is to tear this country apart then they are doing a fine job by giving Islam a bad name.

Christians, this is not Islam. Nor is it another attempt at the islamisation of Nigeria, unlike what I have heard. Nor is this symptomatic of the North’s refusal to modernise or due to the unhealthy influence of Boko Haram on Muslim communities.

Simply put, it is yet another example of government’s blatant attempt to legalise gluttony, selfindulgence and covetousness under every and any form. It is right to steal pensions. It is right to treat those without a rich father or a Mercedes Benz like second class citizens, to deny them a voice because they are unable to buy votes or pay for the hard earned right to preach hate, divisive falsehoods and general misunderstanding between ethnic groups and religious communities.

It is right and acceptable to rob children of their innocence.

Child brides are not Muslim culture. Nor are they an inherent part of Hausa culture. Rather, the perpetuation of this practice is based on debatable interpretations of the Quran. History shows that sex with pre-pubescent girls predates Islam and can thus not be considered typical of Islamic belief. As such, we must recognise, due to the availability of modern science and technology, the health implications of children becoming pregnant, which your average Nigerian who might be in favour of child marriages, might not fully understand. Then, it is the duty of the Senate to educate its constituents rather than to pass controversial, misogynistic bills, which criminals will see as a path to the legalisation of sexual slavery

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Pay her school fees, not her bride price OR as long as I can remember, favourite colour, the number of delusion, self-interest and Chanel bags she owns, her F greed have motivated not only the favourite holiday spot. Even film

The legalisation of child brides will open the road towards abusers marrying their victims and being excused; we are tacitly changing the very definition of rape

If Nigeria wants peace, only an Igbo president can give us unity, peace, and progress, because the Igbo people have more at stake in Nigeria than all other federating ethnic units

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community resolved to boycott the popular Zaki Biam Yam Market, the biggest in the nation, over disagreements with the host community, the market ran into serious challenges. In reaction to this, Governor Gabriel Suswan said: “Any state government that ignores the Igbo does so at the risk of its economy. It is in this wise that I appointed a high-powered official in my government from the Igbo community to liaise between me and the community…; as we develop further, the issue of where one hails from will no longer be an issue because people from other communities would contest and win elections in communities where they reside and have made contributions”.

D

uring the Jos crises in 2011, a coalition of people from the SouthEast , South-South and South-West resident in Jos, Plateau State said “that since the crises started in the state, the Yoruba had lost property worth N450bn; the Igbo, N410bn; and South-South, N110bn.The three groups from the year

and paedophilia across the board.

Our lawmakers never seem to consider the possible unintended consequences of their actions.

Child trafficking, rape, the brutality many young girls face in Nigeria today, are sore topics many would rather not address.

Every day life in Nigeria devalues women. In offices, crude, extremely lewd jokes are made about women who also laugh at them like it means nothing. We suffer unwanted advances, which are difficult to report. Female heads of human resources tell interns it is their provocative dressing which attracts men and that they must pray for guidance.

So, to those Southerners who will see this as an opportunity for more Northern bashing, look long and hard at yourselves. Women in Nigeria are commodities, property. No more than cattle in fancy clothing.

The Quran condemns nonconsensual marriages. How many of us believe that it is a 13-yearold’s dream to be married to an old man? Men and women in Islam have equal status before God. Ironically, in practice, men who are greedy for money and power turn the writings upside down and excuse behaviour whose sole intent is to keep women down.

I am a Christian, a Southerner and many I am sure will say I don’t know or understand Islam. One thing I do know is that I believe in one Nigeria and I feel akin to every young girl up North (and who is to say it won’t happen down South now that it is legal) who will be sold to an old man to settle debts or simply given as a gift. Let us all remember the little girls we once were, picture our daughters, our nieces, our sisters and our friends when we think of the nameless, faceless young girls who are being robbed of their childhood.

1994 to date lost property estimated at over N970bn.”

In Maiduguri in 2011, it was reported that “the majority of the non-natives, especially Igbos, have resorted to selling their houses and other landed property, at ridiculously cheaper rates, saying that they no longer feel safe to carry out their businesses in Maiduguri and other neighboring Northern states.”

In 2012, following the death of some Igbos in a bomb explosion in Kano, an Igbo leader was reported as saying: "With more than one million Igbos and our over N20 billion investments in Kano, this is our home away from home. And no one can force us to return home where... land is scarce and expensive for setting up new businesses."

A report this year 2013 has it that “the Igbo community in Kogi State has concluded plans to launch N200 million social responsibility fund to facilitate development of the permanent site of a comprehensive college under the aegis of Igbo Community Association, Lokoja branch".The Igbo community in Kogi State plan to use the commissioning of the college to celebrate its centenary anniversary, which exemplifies peaceful communal living in Nigeria.

President of the association, Mr. O.A. Achinivu, said: “The official handover of the college project to Kogi State government is expected to coincide with Nigeria’s Centenary of programmes, under the theme: “Cultural Integration: Veritable Tool for National Unity.”

If Nigeria wants peace, only an Igbo president can give us unity, peace, and progress, because the Igbo people have more at stake in Nigeria, than all other federating ethnic units. You may take it or leave it, the facts and reports speak for themselves.

* Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

20

— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

community.

“Last Saturday around 1pm, a team of policemen from Ebonyi State Command which was trying to locate the area the woman was kept eventually stumbled on the place through the assistance of the people of the area; the woman was rescued unhurt and no ransom was paid.

“When the information reached the State government, it directed the Commissioner for Works to go to the area with a bulldozer and demolish the house where the woman was kept. It was that order that the Commissioner of Works executed. He went with a team from the government house and eventually we were directed to provide security to enable them do the work.

“The three-bed mud house was not plastered. It was empty when we got there and nothing reasonable was found in it as the kidnappers had left the scene before we arrived. We are looking for the Village Head of the area to identify the owner of that house,” DSP Igbo said.

Indigenes of the community who spoke with Vanguard Metro, VM, shortly after the demolition applauded the state government for the action and promised to continue to volunteer information that would improve security in the state.

*Team of police men that carried out the demolition

Activities of kidnappers

*The kidnappers’ hideout

KIDNAP OF LAWMAKER’S WIFE:

How suspects’ abode was invaded and demolished T

HE kidnap of the wife of Deputy Leader, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mrs. Winifred Ogbu last Friday evening along Gracecourt Hotel, Abakaliki, by a six-member gang which operated with motorcycles had led to the enactment of a new policy on kidnapping by the Ebonyi State government. The policy states that any building where kidnapped victims are kept with the knowledge of the owner, the structure will be demolished; and that if the owner of a building finds out that his residence was being used to keep kidnap victims and fails to report it to security agents, the building will also be demolished.

It would be recalled that Mrs Ogbu was taken away by the suspected kidnappers who held her hostage in the three- bedroom

mud house located in an isolated part of Umezabi community, until she was rescued by men of the Nigeria Police Force following a tip-off. The ensuing gun battle left one of the suspected kidnappers dead.

The state government on Tuesday demolished the threebed room apartment in Umezabi community, Ngbo, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State, following reports that it was used as a hideout for keeping victims of kidnapping.

Supervision of the demolition State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Chukwuma Nwandugo, who supervised the demolition carried out by a team of policemen from Ebonyi State Police Command, said the exercise was a new policy of the

state government meant to send a warning to criminal elements in the state and their accomplices.

“The State government is out to stamp out incidences of kidnapping in all the LGAs in the state. This new policy will help to checkmate the activities of kidnappers and their accomplices; no building where kidnapped victims are kept in this state will be allowed to remain. If after investigation and it was discovered that the house of any person is being used to house kidnappers and their victims, that house will be razed down,” he warned.

Also, the Acting Commissioner of Police in the State, DCP Istifenus Shetima, noted that such policy would serve as a deterrent to other criminals who might want to engage in heinous crimes. He added that Onicha,

Ohaukwu, Afikpo South and Ezza North local government areas had been identified by the Command as locations where kidnapping was prevalent in the state.

In his remarks, the Command’s

,

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

VM learnt that the Police also recovered the Toyota highlander jeep belonging to Mrs Ogbu, wife of the Deputy Leader of the State House of Assembly.

In a related development, Igbo added that the state Police Command had also discovered a community in the state where kidnap activities of different kinds usually take place without the knowledge of security agents over the years.

Speaking with VM, DSP Igbo disclosed that most kidnap incidents in the state are usually traced to Abomege community in Onicha Local Government Area of the state, adding that the trend had given a bad reputation to the people of the area.

The State government is out to stamp out incidences of kidnapping in all the LGAs in the state; this new policy will help to checkmate their activities

spokesman, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said the police had commenced investigation to ascertain the true owner or owners of the building that was demolished by the state government as nobody was found inside the building when the team arrived Umezabi

,

According to him, the police had commenced a manhunt for the kingpin in charge of coordinating incidences of kidnap in the state, even as he gave the name of the suspect as one Emeka Nwafor alias Oshimiiri, a native doctor by profession.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 21

Nigeria earns N305bn from non-oil export — NBS N

IGERIA earned about N305.1billion within the first three months of 2013, figures obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate.

A breakdown of the figures highlighted under “2013 Export First Quarter ” in the NBS’ report on ‘Merchandise Trade’, showed that export from natural rubber was N158.38 billion; raw cocoa beans attracted N62.198 billion; Sesame seeds, N20,76 billion; cotton yarn, N16.44 billion; and Leather products, N8.56 billion.

Similarly, within the period under review, the export value of flowers and buds stood at N8.19 billion; footwear, N7.07 billion; tanned or crust hides, N5.41 billion; frozen shrimps and prawns, N4.96 billion; ginger, N4.09 billion; sacks and bags, N3.84 billion; cigarettes, N2.75 billion; and aluminum alloys, N2.54 billion.

The exports mentioned above, which are captured under the sub-heading, “2013 Export First Quarter” in the NBS report, totaled about N305 billion.

However, the NBS further said, “Analysis on exports by section revealed that mineral products contributed N3,034.2billion or 87.9 percent of total exports during the quarter, followed by plastic, rubber and associated articles with N168.1billionn or 4.9 percent; and prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirit, vinegar and tobacco with N115.2billion or 3.3 percent.

“Exports to various continents showed that Europe

ranked first with N1.66 billion or 48 percent of total exports, followed by the Americas with N830.2 billion or 24.1 percent; Asia with N591.8billion or 17.1 percent and Africa with N304.2billion or 8.8 percent.”

Meanwhile, crude oil exports stood at N3, 030.7 billion during the first quarter of 2013, the NBS said, representing a

decrease of N1.07 billion or 26.1 percent when compared with the previous quarter.

Based on the Bureau’s statistics, analysts linked the drop in exports to the significant decrease in crude oil export.

Out of the exports to Africa, however, the report noted that ECOWAS contributed N178.2billion or 58.6 percent.

Exports by country of destination showed that United States took the lead with N414.1 billion, followed by Netherlands with N386.0bllion; Brazil with N343.0billion, India with N332.6billion and Spain with N327.6billion.

The NBS added that exports to various continents showed

that Europe ranked first with N1.66 billion or 48 percent of total exports, followed by the United States with N830.2billion or 24.1 percent; Asia with N591.8billion or 17.1 percent and Africa with N304.2billion or 8.8 percent.

Out of the exports to Africa, ECOWAS contributed N178.2billion or 58.6 percent.

...to export 63 cargoes of crude in September

BY MICHAEL EBOH with Agency Report

N

From left: General Manager, Small and Medium Enterprise, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Ganiu Mohammed; Director General, SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State at Stakeholder Validation Workshop on Draft Revised National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Abeokuta, Ogun, State.

Industrialists decry conflicting roles of NAFDAC, SON

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

I

NDUSTRIALISTS under the aegis of Apapa branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN Ikeja, have expressed dissatisfaction over the conflicting roles of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, say-4.1 122.0 ing that improper distinction of their roles consti2,362.00 +3.00 tutes a clog to their wheel progress.

16.22 -0.12 Speaking at the 2013 Business Luncheon for top company executives organised by MAN Ike106.49 -1.93 ja, the Chairman, Mr. John Aluya, said unclear 105.25 -1.98 understanding of distinction of the roles of both CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING agencies has become a DOLLAR 154.76 155.26 155.76 serious source of anxiety POUNDS 237.634 238.4017 239.1695 among the members of EURO 205.057 205.7195 206.382 the association.

FRANC 165.4833 166.018 166.5526 “In today’s business YEN 1.5465 1.5515 1.5565 discourse, the roles of CFA 0.292 0.302 0.312 WAUA 232.7076 233.4595 234.2113 SON and NAFDAC are RENMINBI 25.2199 25.3019 25.3838 at the forefront burner of RIYA 41.2638 41.3971 41.5305 creating opportunities of KRONA 27.487 27.5758 27.6646 enlarging our scope on SDR 233.8733 234.6289 235.3845 research and developCBN Exchange rate as at 25/07/2013 ment of quality products

and standards that are comparable in any part of the world.

However, it is noteworthy for us to clearly understand the checks and balances of the operating agencies and scope of their function. Members have expressed their anxiety over the conflicting role of these two agencies and would be glad to have a clearer pronouncement on the areas of overlapping functions,” Aluya said.

“Apart from some obvious limitations to the growth of manufacturing of which lack of infra-

structure accounts for over 70 percent, it is imperative to stress that overbearing posture of some government agencies are really a clog in the wheel of progress for our members,” he added. He stated that following the increasing rate of counterfeiting in the country, the association has increased its collaboration with various agencies of government charged with the duty of curbing the menace, especially the SON to ensure that perpetrators were brought to book.

IGERIA will export 63 cargoes of crude oil, totaling 58.2 million barrels or 1.94 barrels per day for the month of September 2013, according to data obtained from Bloomberg.

With cargoes ranging in size from 250,000 to one million barrels, the report said this will keep Nigeria’s daily crude exports for September little changed from August, and will cover 17 grades excluding Bonny Light.

Breakdown of the crude export loading programme shows that the country will ship 12 consignments of Qua Iboe grade, seven of Agbami, five each of Brass, Akpo, Bonga and Forcados, four of Usan, three each of Amenam, Erha, Escravos and Antan, two each of Yoho and Okono, and one each of Abo, EA, Okwori and Pennington.

Traders with knowledge of the loading program, however stated that i remains unclear whether Nigeria will export Bonny Light in September, especially as no shipments for this grade were planned for August.

Oyo State institutes mobile advertisement policy

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

T

O stem the tide of unstructured and irra tional behaviours of the previous ad operators and several complaints on the path of organisations, Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency, OYSAA, has inaugurated Mobile Advertisement Policy in Oyo State.

Addressing political office holders, seasoned administrators, and highly skilled professionals in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Director General of the Agency, Yinka Adepoju, said that the launch of the policy, which shall relate to all branded vehicles marks the end of jungle justice, irrational behaviours on the part of previous operators and several complaints

that the agency receive over illegal harassment of the good citizens of the state and visitors on the crude way and manner of collection of mobile advertisement fees before now.

He said “Our testimony today as an Agency is that this project finally became a reality.

Though it took us close to six months to develop our strategic frame work in consultation with relevant bodies such as Association of Local Government Councils of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter (Algon), representatives of the Federal Organization called Mobile Outdoor Advertisement Agency of Nigeria, MOAN, the Nigerian Police Force and the financial institution that wiould be responsible for safe keeping of our instruments.”

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 201 3

GSK ownership tussle: Court-ordered meeting deadlocked

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

HE court-ordered Extra Ordinary General Meeting, EGM, between GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc and its Nigerian shareholders over proposed scheme for the reorganisation of capital ended in a stalemate.

The shareholders rejected the proposal during the court-ordered meeting between the two parties held in Lagos as they called for complete abandonment of the scheme, noting that it was inspired by greed and aimed at ripping them off their investments.

“The market in Europe is crumbling and African market is where the opportunities are.

They have seen that the future of African market is very bright.

That is the reason for this hostile attempt for indirect ownership increase. This proposal is a pure attempt to deprive us of what is our right but I must say that no Nigerian must be forced to part with his share,” a shareholder, Nonah Awoh said.

Adebayo Adeleke, the Secretary General of Independent Shareholders Associations, while condemning the proposal called on the company’s management to strive to follow due process and allow the law to take its course in their bid and to reach a common ground with their shareholders.

Other shareholders who spoke, Peter Okoh, A. D Vincent and Moses Ibru all con-

demned the proposal and called on the Board of Directors to defend their interests in the company and their investments.

But the Chairman, Board of Directors, Olusegun Osunkeye, GSK Nigeria Plc, maintained that the proposal was in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. “Let me say that this process is all about share consolidation and not share construction as some of you fear,” he told the shareholders.

He said the proposal when executed would enable the company begin to pay share

bonuses, which it had not been able to pay in the past as result of large share capital.

In a document for the proposed scheme of arrangement for the reorganisation of capital between Glaxosmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc and the holders of its fully paid ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, the chairman explained that, “The proposed scheme will facilitate significant investment

by GSK Plc in GSK Nigeria.

The board, he said, “believes that this proposed increase in GSK Plc shareholding should create considerable benefits and opportunities for share-

holders, customers, staff and other stakeholders of the company.

These benefits, he said, included: “enabling GSK Plc to provide the support required for GSK Nigeria expansion and capital improvement plans, development of GSK Nigeria’s product portfolio and reinforcement of GSK’s long term commitment to GSK Nigeria as one of the leading companies in Nigeria. The proposal would also lead to smaller and more manageable share capital base and improvement of investment ratios.”

From left: Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki; DD/SA, - DG, BPE, Mr. Danlami Z. Jelka during a courtesy visit to The Nigerian Stock Exchange, in Lagos.

Wema Bank shores up capital base by N40bn …Seeks National Banking license

BY MICHAEL EBOH

W

EMA Bank Plc has in creased its capital base

by N40 billion, with the successful completion of its special placement exercise to private and institutional investors.

The bank further stated that it is already in the process of applying for a national banking license and will also increase its Tier 2 capital through an additional fundraising exercise in the next couple of months.

According to a statement by the bank, yesterday, the N40 billion fund-raising exercise, which is currently awaiting the approval of the regulatory authorities, will further bolster its return to profitability and top performance in 2013 in line with its multi-year strategic plan.

According to the bank, the N40 billion capital inflow was successfully realised from a mixture of private and institu-

tional investors.

The bank also released its audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2012 and its half year unaudited results for the period ended June 30, 2013.

According to the results, the bank’s total deposits grew by 18.3 per cent to N174.3 billion in 2012, while it bounced back to profitability in its 2013 half year results.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank, said the financial performance and its return to profitability is in line with its projection.

According to him, despite the capital constraints experienced in 2012, Wema Bank was able to record considerable growth in total deposits and net interest income, while capitalizing on existing business relationships to generate impressive growth in fees and commission income.

Oloketuyi also stated that

while the Bank closed with a loss position in 2012 due to additional impairment charges on legacy loans, the books

are now clean and its NonPerforming Loans ratio had dropped to 3.39 per cent by June 30, 2013.

BRIEF Honeywell Flour records N46bn turnover, plans integrated foods complex

H

ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc has released recorded a turnover of N46 billion for the financial year ended December 31,2012. This revenue is well above analysts’ expectations and represents a 20 per cent increase on the N38 billion it achieved the year before.

The results which were recently released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE showed that the company’s earnings were boosted by the coming on stream of additional milling capacity occasioned by the recent completion of the food producer ’s ‘E and F Mills’ with a combined flour production capacity of 1,000MT per day, thus bringing the overall capacity to 2,610MT per day.

According to a statement, the company completed this expansion project only towards the end of the financial year and consequently the full impact of this project will be felt in the 2014 performance.

At the bottom line, Profit after Tax (PAT) grew 6 per cent from N2.6 billion in 2012 to N2.8 billion in 2013. Earnings per Share (EPS) increased to 36 kobo from the 34 kobo recorded in the previous period.

In terms of its Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2013, the company showed considerable growth in total assets which rose by 16 per cent to N55.4 billion when compared to the N47.9 billion at the comparable date of 2012.

Stanbic IBTC aims to achieve ‘best branch network’

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & PAUL METU

S

TANBIC IBTC Bank Plc has stated that its aim is to have the best branch network and compete for the booming retail banking business in the country.

Head of Personal and Business Banking, West Africa, Standard Bank, Mr. Lincoln Mali said this at the opening of a new branch of Stanbic IBTC in Gbagada, Lagos State.

Fielding questions from journalists, Mali said, “Our aim is not to have the biggest branch network in Nigeria but to have the best branch network. This means Stanbic IBTC will be in the right places where the customers are, offer the right ser-

vices, have the right people inside.

“If the right number is two hundred so is it, if it is two fifty so be it. But for now, I’m not obsessed about being the biggest I want ours to be the best.

I want us competing and let the customers say we are giving them good service. We are also going to be following where our customers are going.

Mali said that the focus of the bank is to grow its retail business, and it intends to do this by offering unique products and services to the banking populace. He said the bank is aware that the retail banking business is already dominated by some of the big banks, but it is ready to compete.

He said “We are going to do

two things, the first one is the customer experience of what we give to be the differentiator and that is why having the right staff who are motivated, who believe in what we are trying to do would relate to the customer everyday has to be a winning branch. You all belong to newspapers, and what separates a newspaper from another newspaper is the quality of journalists that you have in the newspaper. That is the thing that separates us, attracting and retaining the best staff is going to be the differentiator. The second one is what products and services do we bring that are new and different in the market for us to compete, that is what we are going to have to do and it is a crowded market.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 23

C M Y K

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

D

R. AHMED ADEKUNLE, is currently the Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, on mechanization. He also doubles as the Mechanization team leader of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda team as well as the chairman Advisory Ministerial Committee.

In this chat with Vanguard, he gives an insight into the workings of the committee on efforts at getting farmers in the country to have access to tractors and how they are partnering with the private sector.

DR. ADEKUNLE said the tractorization in Nigeria is the lowest in the world. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

O

N the level of tractorization in the country It is not hidden that the tractorization in the country is the lowest in the world. It is of the lowest in the world. I don’t see us getting to the FAO standard in the next 15-20 years technically and practically.

I mean practically even if the money is available we can’t just immediately bring in everything, we have to go in stages of demand of 0.027. But right now, we are talking of 0.0027 which is very low; it is of the lowest in terms of mechanization.

So, currently what we are putting is like dropping a needle in the ocean, but we have to start from there , even today, if they say they are giving us one million tractors, to mechanize the agriculture of this country right now we need a minimum of about 75,000 tractors.

So mechanization in the country right now is of the lowest in terms of density and intensity. I want to advise the vendors, the manufacturer representatives and the service operators’ providers to be in the look out for the brand new private sector mechanization .

It will be private sector driven as the banks will be running the show alongside the vendors who now play the role of leasing outfits.

On the work of the mechanization committee of ATA The primary function of the committee was earlier on to come up with a report, a frame work that will deploy mechanization from the position that it was, that is when

•Dr. Ahmed Adekunle

•Tractors government was running the mechanization program to a complete private sector frame work.

Our job was to come up with a frame work that will deploy

,

Nigeria has lowest tractorization in the world— Adekunle

as to w b o Our j up with aat comee work th fram deploy n will anizatio rivate mechly to the p total r platform secto right from the moment we

mechanization totally to the private sector platform.

O

n the role of private sector in the new scheme

The committee has completed the public sector mechanization framework and we have test driven it by calling few of the private sectors, not all of them, but those we know move the vehicle of mechanization equipment and hiring centres.

We have also enlightened them about it. They are responding positively.

Let us look at when you talk about private sector responding, from the side of off takers, we are not approaching it properly because we have to look at it from the angle of funding.

If the private sector is not putting in money into the mechanization, the equipment will not be readily available for the farmers to take.

So the factor of funding is extremely important and that is the angle I want to take it from.

I have seen greater response

African Cocoa Coalition signs Abidjan Declaration T

HE African Cocoa Coalition (ACC), which comprises autonomous non-governmental organizations and farmer groups active in the cocoa sector, has become the 35th stakeholder to sign the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration.

David Guba Kpelle, the ACC’s Programme Director, signed the Declaration on behalf of the Coalition at the recent International Workshop on Cocoa Certification in Douala, Cameroon.

ACC has been playing an active role in the ICCO’s multi-stakeholder sustainability initiatives in the cocoa sector since the first Roundtable on

Sustainable Cocoa Economy was held in Accra in 2007 and it has since been involved in capacity building for cocoa farmers, including training them to form strong associations and cooperatives.

The ground-breaking Abidjan Cocoa Declaration now has 35 signatories from across the entire cocoa sector. The international stakeholders began signing the Declaration at a special ceremony during the first World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan in November.

The Declaration recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, and reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted

by the Agenda formed the basis of the many presentations and panels that took place at the Conference.

The Declaration is the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference, planned for 9 – 13 June, 2014 in Amsterdam, is set to monitor and review the progress being made to deal with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.

,

signed an MOU with the Bank of Agriculture.

The private sector financial institutions have studied carefully the dilution of the funding to see how government is coming out with their own funding. To see how service providers are coming and how the bankers are doing.

They are responding positively.

In fact, I will tell you that we have ten banks that have individually pledged an average of N3.5billion to support the minister’s private sector mechanization program between 2013 and 2016.

Altogether, they want to put about N28billion together to support his private sector program.

That is where I want you to look at the response of the private sector, if the banks are ready to put in the money; it means it is a viable frame work.

If we look at it from the consumers, the off takers, it will look as if we are just yearning to fill the needs of the people without consideration of the financial aspect.

On how the smallholder farmers can key into the scheme With the private sector financial institution embracing the private sector framework of the federal ministry of agric now , we have groups such as tractor owners , all farmers associations, cassava growers associations, independent individuals , service operators providers .

They have technically put in applications to off take this mechanization frame work from the side of the bank to deploy mechanization to the farmers.

This is how the common farmers will benefit from the mechanization, putting into consideration that our farming system in this country is limited due to the fact that our land is fragmented. It is not more than one hectare to three hectares.

Economically, it is not viable for a farmer to own a tractor.

Practically and logistically it is not also viable, because for you to own a tractor in Nigeria context now, in terms of intensity and density, you need a minimum of 200 hectares for you to say this tractor is mine for which the tractor will work for three to four months of raining season.

Technically, it is not possible, so what the minister of agriculture did was to ask me to deploy the mechanization to the common farmer at his domain.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 25

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

A

S Nigeria prepares to join leading countries of the world that have been able to attract tourists with a strong brand identity, President Goodluck Jonathan said the that the choice of ‘Fascinating Nigeria’ as the nation’s tourism brand identity was far-reaching as it represented the nation warmth, nature and rhythm.

President Jonathan said Nigeria has a lot to showcase to the world, adding that the new tourism identity “is a testament to the richness of our land, embodying culture, growth and diversity.”

Speaking at the launch of a new “tourism identity” for the country as part of efforts to develop the tourism sector and diversify the nation’s revenue sources, Jonathan said the tourism sector, if properly harnessed, would generate income and attract investment to drive the country’s economy.

Unveiling the new identity, Fascinating Nigeria, on behalf of the President at a dinner held at the

New tourism brand represents Nigerian best —Jonathan

*Omawumi transform this sector and join the league of countries that draw significant revenue from this important and multifaceted industry [tourism],” the President concluded.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, expressed delight that “for the very first time in the history of our country, a tourism brand which will properly position our country in the global tourism stage is being launched.”

Quoting the Right Reverend Jesse Jackson who noted recently that it was time Nigeria stopped being seen through a keyhole but through a wide, open door, Duke said “Tonight is that night when we open that door into the nation’s unbelievable possibilities and aggregate the talents that dwell in this country in the interest of Nigeria’s image.”

He added that, “It is also important for us to say it loud

and clear that culture, enterprise and tourism is one of the biggest economic sectors in the world and it behoves us as Nigerians to open a new and a glorious page for culture and tourism in this country. “ If Nigeria desires to be one of the top 20 economies by 2020, we must do what the top 20 economies are doing; they have invested in tourism and are using culture as major collateral. This is a country of 167 million creative minds.

This is a country that has been defined by the rest of the world as accommodating the world’s happiest people. This is a sector

that accommodates every professional calling; there is versatility, creativity and enormous possibilities in the sector.”

The Governor of Cross

and the brand Nigeria,” Imoke said.

Before the speeches, the night had been spiced with the best of Nigerian art, craft, music, dance, fashion and entertainment.

,

Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, the Vice President,Arc. Namadi Sambo, disclosed that tourism contributed three per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in 2012 and 2.8 per cent of total employment. ”With this encouraging contribution and the vibrancy of the sector, Nigeria is indeed emerging as one of Africa’s leading destinations investing in the hospitality industry,” the President noted while reiterating government’s determination to transforming the sector for the benefit of Nigerians.

The President said he has “directed the Ministry of Trade and Investment to work with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in developing sector specific mechanisms that will stimulate and sustain investment in this very important and fascinating sector.”

He added that government would collaborate with the private sector in upgrading tourist attractions across the country and allayed fears in some quarters that the initiative would be sponsored by government. “I have directed the Ministry of Finance to come up with creative funding options for the sector, not through the budget but through Private Public Partnership.”

President Jonathan added that government has identified 100 heritage sites in the country for restoration, activation and promotion.

“Today ’s launch is commendable and aligns fully with our focus and plan to

Vice President Namadi Sambo with Tourism Minister, Chief Edem Duke and other dignitaries at the unveiling of the Fascinating Nigeria Brand in Abuja.

If Nigeria desires to be one of the top 20 economies by 2020, we must do what the top 20 economies are doing: they have invested in tourism and are using culture as major collateral

River state, Senator Liyel Imoke whose state has invested heavily in making Nigeria a fascinating country, expressed happiness that there is nowhere in the world where Nigerians are not known. “This is a new beginning for Nigerian tourism

,

Guests that included politicians, tourism stakeholders and civil servants were treated to delightful rendition of the National Anthem by singer Nikki Laoye as well as other singers like king Sunny Ade, Omawumi, Inyanya and Tu face Idibia.

Preparations for Osun-Osogbo festival in top gear

T

HE people of Osogbo are set to host the world again in August has preparation for this year ’s Osun Osogbo festival has begun in earnest.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos during the week, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, Laroye I1, disclosed that there will be series of side-attractions during the festival, and that tourists and visitors will be

entertained and exposed to the rich cultural heritage of his people.

While thanking the corporate sponsors for their supports over the years, the traditional ruler said the festival will commence August 12 with the customarily clearing of traditional paths to the Osun Grove and will reach a crescendo with the departure of the votary maid

— Arugba-Osun – from the shrine with a calabash on August 23.

Speaking earlier, Chief Popo Bolarinwa said the desire of the people of Osogbo is to keep the festival in the front burner as a leading cultural festival in the world.

He added that the state of Osun has given its support to the festival as a veritable tool of attracting tourists and investors.

Vanguard Vanguard,,

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

— 27

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CAPRICORN: 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.

Youngs-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

AQUARIUS: 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.

PISCES: 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.

ARIES: 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.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

great thinker once wrote that words are the forerunner of our action. People first hear us talk before they see us act our talk. It is what we say that first captures their attention and ensure that they give us au-

Talking to people dience.

You may be a great actor but if you are not able to market your skill you will have a scanty audience. And if you are a leader, if you can’t communicate your

intention, chances are that you will have a very low followership. This is where ability to speak and communicate appropriately comes in. It is not enough to know it,

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

the question is can you convince people that you know it?

Talking to people is a skill everyone of us should develop. The leader, the marketer, the politician, the manager etc. we all need the skill.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

TAURUS: 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.

GEMINI: 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.

CANCER: 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.

LEO: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage.

And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercelly against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

VIRGO: Opposition between the Moon and Uranus in your star sign 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.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA: 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.

SCORPIO: Good luck will smile at you. Romantic interlude that started recently may become excitingly louder and melodious to the satisfaction of your soul.

SAGITTARIUS: 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.

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

When would frustration go?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I am a prominent chief around here. I know that everybody has heard what frustration is but I doubt it if someone somewhere has first hand experience of what frustration is more than me. Why? Right now I am a healthy person yet I want your Astrological ex-ray about my star and tell me what to expect health-wise and/or how to manage myself, career and financially.

Anonymous Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, It is true that you have gone through a few moments of test but today you are prominent. Meaning that what you tagged as frustration are needed challenges.

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 as 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 out-grow 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 started 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.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26,

2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 29

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26,

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Gov Imoke celebrates 52, his younger brother, Efa 50 Efa and Liyel Imoke celebrated their birthdays weekend, in Calabar and Vanguard captured the festive moments

The celebrants, Liyel and Efa Imoke, with their beautiful wives Obioma and Anyanna

Beautiful ladies in red - Obioma Liyel Imoke and Anyanna

The celebrant Efa, cutting his cake with his wife, children Deneval and Gizai, and niece Lesoda

L-r:Charity Eziegbo, Obioma, Liyel Imoke, Mallam Hamidu Dahiru and a guest going through a copy of Vanguard newspaper

Emeka Okeke, Efa's brother in law and Jitender Sachdeva, friend of the family L-r: Efa, Liyel Imoke and Michael Williams

The celebrant Efa Imoke, dancing with his beautiful wife Anyanna

L-r: Chief Akin Ricketts and a guest

Adah Inah, Charity Eziegbo, Pastor Obii Pax-Harry and Enuma Chigbo

L-r: Nedum Ejiogu, George Obiamalu and Efiok Cobham Data Pax Harry (centre) Alex Egbonna right, and a guest (left)

Efa Imoke, George Obiamalu and a guest C M Y K

The Imoke children giving the father and Uncle Efa a birthday song

Prof Offiong and his wife Ameh

Maurice Inok and his wife Patricia

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 —33

I’m crazy about

Tiwa Savage — P.R.E

By Opeoluwani Ogunjimi

Davido

acquires Mercedes SUV, cries out for wife

Iyabo Ojo

floats beauty parlour in Lagos Is Nokia new Asha phones for rappers?

H

ing with Tuface. As we all know he’s OW I started professional legendary in both Nigeria and Africa . music He inspires me a lot because of how Music has always been my first love humble he is and all what he told me and I knew I would later do it in life no in the studio when we were recording matter what. I was actually at the Greenthe song, Take It Up. I’ve always known ish University, UK studying Business Administration but I had to make a detour when I I own my record label, Twisted realized that it wasn’t what I really wanted to do. My Minds Records first of all and I foray into professional have a strong team with me. music began four years when I was with a group These are not individuals who called Twisted Minds. We just work for me, but they are covered a good mileage and when the group split, my friends I decided to go on musical sabbatical and attended the London School of Sound Engi- Tuface for a long time, I used to see him neering where I fine-tuned my skills in around and he also told me that he’s a order to make riveting music in such a kind of person who listens to a lot of saturated market. upcoming artistes in order to know where the music industry is heading at Working with Tuface every point in time. He had heard my It was an amazing experience work- songs before we were introduced by a

,

I N S I D E:

BAYELSA State-born David Etete popularly known with the showbiz moniker, P.R.E. which stands for Pretty, Real and Entertaining is a budding songster with a difference. With one of his videos, Let Me Know enjoying massive airplay, the vivacious songwriter, singer and label owner has also cornered Tuface, Timaya, Dammy Krane and other mesmeric acts for musical collaboration to blow the minds of pundits and cynics alike.

,

mutual friend in order to make the collaboration happen.

How I hope to be at peace with my team I own my record label, Twisted Minds Records first of all and I have a strong team with me. These are not individuals who just work for me, but they are my friends. We try as much as possible to respect one another so that we don’t cross parts to a level where a split would become inevitable or have a controversial issue in our camp.

Upping the ante At the end of the day, I’d say that a good music is good enough regardless of what the norm is at the moment.

We’ve come to see that even slow songs can also do well at the clubs, for example; Burna Boy’s Like to Party. At the end of the day, my only plan is not looking at any other person or what they’re doing in the industry. My plan is to be real me and make good music that will appeal enough to the people. I believe with this, my music will travel as far as it should.

About signing artistes on my label I have thought about it but I’ve not signed any artiste yet. I’d like to be at a certain position in my career before I start that phase of it because I won’t like

Continues on page 34

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

I’m crazy about Tiwa Savage mother is half Igbo, half British, so that’s where my look comes from. I decided to grow the dreadlocks which is nothing genetic. I grew my hair about three years ago, not necessarily because of my brand but I’d always wanted to grow dreadlocks when the time is right. It adds a bit of style to my look and I appreciate it.

P.R.E. Continues frompg 33 to sign someone and use him to experiment. I’d like to know the game inside out and take my career to a certain height so that I can be equipped enough to help other individuals build their own career as well.

Plans for debut album Well, I have loads of songs though, I’d always like to say that the album will come when the demand for it is ready.

I’m working with a lot of people on this.

My background I was born and brought up in Festac Town for the first eight years of my life and at that point, I really got to see what life could be like without being so privileged. Later on, God made it possible that my family was able to move to the Island after the first eight years of my life. I had a very good childhood and I was very exposed. I wouldn’t say that there was a particular time that I hawked to fend for myself but I remember there was a time when my jean trousers were local, shirts and shoes too were also of poor quality because that was all I could afford then.

Life was sweet as a kid.

My projection in five years I hope to have gone very far and be a household name in the industry. I also hope to be able to take my music farther than my country and make it international.

My forthcoming work with Dammy Krane I just did something hot with my man, Dammy Krane which is a single dropping next month. Of course, there will be a video for that. In fact, the video would have been ready before the sin-

,

Yes, a couple of times people have said I don’t look like a Nigerian, but the truth is that I’m actually more Nigerian than not

By way of collaboration, I’d be engaging Dammy Krane in my work. I have Timaya and other top acts I’d like to keep mum about for now. There are several other songs in the pipeline but if I start telling it now, it will finally mean squeezing the jam out of the doughnut. And without sounding immodest, I have an archive full of songs, but I have to study the timing to drop whichever one I choose.

Nigerian singers I’m crazy about Right now, I think I’m loving Tiwa Savage’s album which dropped just recently. It’s crazy and I’m loving her sound. I love a couple of other Nigerian acts but I don’t want to start naming names.

About my look Yes, a couple of times people have said I don’t look like a Nigerian, but the truth is that I’m actually more Nigerian than not. My father is from Bayelsa while my

,

gle comes out. I don’t like to rush things. I’m looking at shooting in Nigeria and my team and I am still rubbing minds as to which video producer to engage for the project.

We’ve concluded the recording of the single, right now we are going to locations to shoot.

My hobbies Outside music, I like extreme sports.

At my leisure, I go court-biking, fishing, swimming and those other hard exercises order than going out drinking and idling with lazy minds. I love to travel and I enjoy foods from different parts of the world because I’m a lifestyle connoisseur. Like when I go fishing, it depends on what season it is; there’s fishing and non-fishing season.

In the fishing season, you go fishing when there’s high tide because that’s when the fishes come out. High tides change at the different times of the year.

If you want to go fishing, depending on what type of fishing it is, if it’s selfcasting, places like Eko Atlantic behind Eko Hotel and the little ponds you find behind Lekki expressway are very good places for fishing. If it’s deep sea fishing, you need to get on a boat and go about an hour and a half or two hours to really cash the big fishes.

Synopsis

S

ide Effects is an American psychological thriller film which tells the story of how a young woman’s world unravels when a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist has unexpected

side effects.

The film stars Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Channing Tatum.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK WHITE HOUSE DOWN DESPICABLE ME AFTER EARTH HOUSE OF GOLD FAST AND FURIOUS 6

Exhibition Schedule ffrom 26th July - Aug. 1, 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Side Effect :1:50pm,6:30, 8:40pm House of Gold :11:40pm,3:50pm Admission:6:00pm Despicable Me :11:30am,1:20pm.

White House Down: 6:10pm,8:40pm SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, IKEJA Side Effect: 1:40pm,6:25pm,8:35pm.

House of Gold: 1:50pm,8:55pm.

Admission: 7:00pm Despicable Me: 10:45am,12:40pm.

White House Down : 4:30pm,9:05pm Fast&Furious6: 6:45pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORTHARCOURT Side Effect:2:10pm,7:00pm,9:10pm Admission : 12:20pm,2:30pm,4:40pm,6:50pm,9:00pm House of Gold: 4:40pm,6:45pm,8:45pm Despicable Me :11:30am,1:35pm Facade : 12:10pm,2:30pm.

White House Down: 3:40pm,6:15pm,8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA House of Gold:4:40pm,8:50pm White House Down :3:20pm,6:00pm,8:30pm After Earth :11:10am,1:20pm Facade: 12:30pm, 6:45pm.

Temptation: 1:50pm.

Cartel: 2:35pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS ABUJA Side Efect:12:30pm,2:50pm,5:00pm, 7:10pm,9:20pm House of Gold:2:15pm,6:55pm,9:05pm Admission :11:20am,4:10pm Despicable Me:12:50pm,2:55pm,4:55pm White House down :12:20pm,3:00pm,5:30pm,8:00pm This is 40 : 2:10pm,9:10pm After Earth :3:30pm,7:30pm,9:30pm Fast&Furious: 11:45am, 4:25pm StarTrek:11:20am,4:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO House of Gold:12:15pm,2:25pm,4:35pm,6:55pm Admission :11:50am,2:10pm,4:30pm,6:50pm Facade:12:10pm,4:20pm Cartel:11:45am,1:45pm After Earth :12:20pm,2:35pm,4:40pm,7:00pm Temptation: 3:45pm, Letter to My Mother:2:20pm,6:40pm Yeh Jawaani Hai: 6:00pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Side Effect : 2:45pm,9:00pm House of Gold : 2:50pm,9:15pm White House down : 6:05pm,9:10pm Despicable Me: 10:55am,12:55am This is 40 : 12:05pm After Earth :10:00am Star Trek: 12:05pm Fast &Furious: 10:00am GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Side Effect : 10:40pm, 4:05pm, 9:00pm 11:50pm House of Gold: 12:35pm, 5:35pm, 9:45pm 11:55pm Admission :6:40pm,11:20pm White House down :5:00pm,7:55pm,9:45pm After Earth :10:20am,7:40pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Side Effect : 9:30am,12:05pm,7:15pm House of Gold :1:40pm White House down :11:50am,6:30pm,9:10pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS ENUGU House of Gold :11:55pm,4:00pm,6:10pm,8:20pm White House down :10:00am,3:25pm,8:50pm Temptation: 9:20pm •Laide Bakare

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 35

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—37

Glo X Factor Judges at war as top 9 perform live in Lagos

T

D

Davido acquires

Mercedes SUV, cries out for wife

T

•Iyabo Ojo

by the veteran singer but M.I. will later prove to have a long memory.

The entertaining night continued seamlessly with Bayelsa State-born Vickie mentored by Onyeka. Even though she got Onyeka’s and Reggie’s pass mark, M.I got his pound of flesh back by berating the artiste’s act and her throaty rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Where Do Broken Hearts Go’.

While the other contestants, Eshun, DNA Twins,Pheel, DJ Switch, Symphony and Smooth Boiz gave stimulating performances to the admiration of the audience the

real war of words existed between the judges who, while protecting their mentored artistes reserved some acidic comments for the artistes of other mentors.

Reggie Rockstone was particularly looking lucky on the night because his artistes were getting positive nods from other judges until the Symphony group, from Ghana came on stage with their rather off-key costumes which was attacked by M.I. Even Reggie himself agreed there was something comical about their costume and exonerated himself from choosing it for the group.

op hip-hop star, David Bankole, known as Davido isn’t a guy who has ever been apologetic about his silver-spoon background, in fact he is well known for flaunting and brandishing it for all to see. His alias ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ did not come by accident, it is a name he earned not only by showing off his wealth but also by •Davido spending it.

Just a few days back, the singer added a Mercedes Sports Utility Van to his swelling fleet of cars. The latest brand of the Mercedes has been valued at something in the range of N20 million.

Surely, something to make any man overjoyous, but not Davido who seems to be running out of ideas how to spend the money his family has and the one he has amassed for himself from his several hits and endorsements.

To show he is getting increasingly bored with himself and ‘too much money’ he has in his kitty, Davido took to Twitter a couple of days back “I’m a young nigger living the single life... need a queen

Yvonne Nelson’s House Of Gold Hits Cinemas G

THE TEAM BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

AYO ONIKOYI onikoyi68@gmail.com OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

floats beauty parlour in Lagos

electable Yoruba actress and mother of two, Iyabo Ojo has joined pantheon of movie stars who earn their daily bread not only by turning out tricks •Iyabo Ojo on the big screen but also by having a business concern on the side.

Iyabo, who surely must be smiling to the bank following the success of her own latest produced movie “Arinzo” sent text messages to friends to announce the opening of her beauty parlour christened ‘Fespris World’.

No doubt the beauty parlour situated in the highbrow Allen Avenue enclave must have set the make-believe star back some millions. The opening is billed for 4th of August and if the star is to be believed “it is going to be a zip”.

STORIES BY AYO ONIKOYI

he world acclaimed number one singing reality TV show, X Factor brought to Africa by leading telecommunications company, Globacom, reached another exhilarating crescendo as the 9 contestants who survived the boot camp to go the distance in the final run for the N24 million prize money performed live in Lagos on Tuesday before an enthusiastic crowd made up of their family members, Globacom executives, the media and members of the public.

Though the final battle for the prize money is among the 9 contestants, three groups and 6 solo artistes, which began their live performances on Tuesday to vie for viewers’ votes to remain in the competition, the war may just be won among the judges who mentored them.

Immediately the judges were announced to come on stage by the delectable on-air personality, Toolz, who was the anchor person for the night, one could feel the cold war palpitating among the judges; Onyeka Onwenu, Reggie Rockstone and MI as each made his opening speech by rooting for the artistes they have mentored.

First on stage was the Ankara boi, 23-year-old Michael Inalegwu Ogah, a law graduate of University of Abuja mentored by Onyeka Onwenu and the Otukpo, Benue State-born rising star did not disappoint. Besides Onyeka who passed his act of the night the two other judges, Reggie and MI also concurred.

Next to thrill the audience was 49 year-old Princess Pat Mohie who did a rendition of Tina Turner’s ‘What love gotta to do with it’ to a rousing acceptance from the audience.

M.I. as the mentor had only glowing words for the Isokoborn contestant just as Reggie also concurred but not Onyeka who slammed the artiste’s choice of song. That was the first missile of the night thrown

Iyabo Ojo

•Yvonne Nelson

hanaian screen sweetheart Yvonne Nelson’s new movie House of Gold last Friday, 19 July hit Nigerian cinemas after a premiere at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos.

The premiere of the new movie, the third film and second cinema feature of Nelson paraded top stars in Nollywood and Ghollywood and other entertainment icons from various sectors.

The delectable actress said she was feeling very excited about the Nigerian release of the movie based on the

acceptance she had received from movie enthusiasts over the years.

“This is a movie filled with lots of laugh out loud moments and loaded with so much excitement. Movie enthusiasts should brace up for a thrilling experience,” said Nelson.

The movie, which has been described as a “Ghana Meets Naija” features an eclectic mix of stars from both countries, includes Nelson, Majid Michel, Eddie Watson, Luckie Lawson, Umar Krupp, and Nigerian music stars Omawumi Megbele, Mercy.

38— Vanguard ,

FRIDAY FRIDAY,, JULY 26, 2013

By Jemi Ekunkunbor

When simple is elegant

t

T

he cliché le look at th ss is more, is so very ese four, e legant wo true when you tak such eleg ea ance and men here Ib .T It takes m ore than c et this is not about th hey exude lothes to fashion ca eir clothe lo These wo nnot be completely ok this way altho s. ugh men are d grooming separated -h ri fr their dres air, make up, etc. a ven by attention to om it. ses nd d Remembe . Keep things simp they don’t appear etail, good le li r, ke slaves a b n e d in d g ele on’t within; fin e manners gant is a total pac pile up accessorie to k accessory s.

- a smile, , right posture and age and it comes from as sweet a of course, s Dakore’s th or Millen’s at priceless, .

•Dakore Akande

•Elohor Aisien

•Mo Abudu

•Millen

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 —39 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Is Nokia new Asha phones for rappers?

By WINIFRED IMONLUAMEN, ADEBADE ADEJIMI & AYOMIDE BABATOLA

G

LOBAL mobile device maker, Nokia at the weekend got behind Nigerian rap musicians in what it called Don’t Break Da Beat campaign, apparently to popularise its two latest Asha range of smartphones in the country.

The two new entry level smartphones and the rap competition were unveiled simultaneously, Friday night, with thousands of Nigerian youths turning the Grandeur Events centre, Ikeja, venue of the launch into beehive of activity from midnight Friday to Saturday morning.

Popular Rap stars, Modenine, Eva, Phenone as well as a growing number of other upcoming rap artistes did their thing and thrilled scores of youths who took delight in Rap genre of music.

Shortly before the event became more of entertainment than technology,Nokia’s MD, West and Central Africa, Mr Nick Imudia, introduced the two devices, Nokia Asha 501 and 210. He described Asha 501 as the first of its kind in the next generation of Nokia Asha devices, using the new Asha operating system. He dubbed it perfectly suited to consumers in emerging markets looking to buy their first smartphone. The device features two main screens; ‘Home’ and ‘Fastlane’, for launching software and taking action on new

notifications.

Both smartphones come with the Nokia Xpress browser which enables up to 85% data compression making it faster and cheaper for consumers to access the internet, browse, use web apps and update social networks.

He also described Asha 210 as an affordable all-in-one smartphone built to satisfy users’ need to be socially connected. It is a dual SIM smartphone with a 2.4 inch LCD display, fast and responsive QWERTY keypad and WiFi. It also comes with two dedicated buttons on the keyboard for users to access camera and social networks. The device offers a range of smart features such as voice guidance for taking perfect selfportraits, fast editing of images directly from the camera app and Nokia’s innovative Slam feature for transfer of content such as images or videos to another Bluetooth-enabled phone without the need to pair devices.

•Nokia Asha 210

Avoiding hazards of your device

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

T

yping with your thumb is not as harmless as it seems. In actual fact, health experts say that it causes a condition known as repetitive strain injury (RSI). Last week, we learned that prolonged use of ear phones can lead to deafness or mental disorientation. Here are safe tips to ensure that that device doesn’t harm or make you sick.

Problems from the computer screen?

Studies show that eye strain has become a common workrelated health complaint, particularly among office workers.

But some ophthalmologists argue that there are many misconceptions about sitting in front of a computer or TV screen for hours on end.

Problems such as headaches usually stem from poor posture or distance from the screen, rather than the eyes being strained. While there is no evidence to show that computers cause long-term vision deterioration, sitting in front of a screen all day causes your blink rate to reduce from 20 times a minute to once or twice a minute, this has a tendency to dry the eyes. To protect your eyes, take frequent breaks and intentionally blink more often.

Blackberry thumb, iPod finger Are your thumbs sore or wrists aching? If you are an excessive mobile phone or

iPod user, you could have “BlackBerry thumb” or “iPod finger”. Health experts in Australia are noticing a rise in repetitive strain injury (RSI)style injuries, particularly with the advent of the internet on pocketsized hand-held devices. The American Society of Hand Therapists has issued a consumer alert, warning users of small electronic gadgets that heavy thumb use could lead to painful swelling of the sheath around the tendons in the thumb. The group recommends taking frequent breaks during emailing and resting your arms on a pillow for support.

Back breaking work?

No one could compare sitting at a computer screen to back breaking work until recently. To save your back and neck from torture, viewing distances that are too long can cause you to lean forward and strain to see small text. This can fatigue the eyes and place stress on the torso because the backrest is no longer providing support.

Viewing distances that are too short may cause your eyes to work harder to focus and may require you to sit in awkward postures. For instance, you may tilt your head backward or push your chair away from the screen causing you to type with outstretched arms. Generally, the preferred viewing distance is between 20 and 40 inches (50 and 100 cm) from the eye to the front surface of the computer screen

Nokia-Asha-501

Tech wonder

New Tab-Book comes tablet, PC in one package I

F detaching your tab from the keyboard which is one of the wave making innovations recently will deprive you of your cherished Qwerty typing experience, there is no need to be sad. As long as technology is dynamic and the Nigerian market is gradually becoming choice destination to wonderful innovations across the world, there must be an alternative.

You may not even wait long for the miracle to happen. This is as LG electronics has already chosen a smart way to re- enter the computer market, introducing the Tab-Books models H160 and Z160.

The new Tablet-Notebook hybrid cleverly combines the light weight and mobile capabilities of a tablet with the comfort and functionality of a full QWERTY keyboard in one product. The TabBook boasts of a physical onetouch slide-out keyboard that emerges from underneath its 11.6-inch multi-touch screen.

With the keyboard extended, the screen rests at a 40 degree angle, optimal for both typing and touch computing.

No wonder, General Manager, Media division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Jae Sang Lee boasted: “Together, these devices represent our latest

steps forward in the PC segment”.

While the Tab-Books offer full QWERTY keyboards, mobile functionality and all

...as Tablet the benefits of exceptional IPS picture quality, the Ultrabook lineup combines incredible computing power, good looks

and maximum portability. These two products are exceptionally versatile, particularly suitable for today’s on-the-go consumers.”

Across the world, the demand for tablets and notebook PCs grows from strength to strength, with many consumers finding them simple and elegant for doing business while on the go.

In Nigeria, too, these devices are becoming worthy companions considering the number of upwardly-mobile professionals as well as tech-savvy individuals, going for them.

It could be why LG’s Product Manager, Information technology for West Africa

Operations, Mr. Sunny Bangera noted that “LG’s new hybrid PC devices offer a stylish, industry leading light weight alternative and meticulously constructed with features that reinforce greater stability and longevity.

...as Laptop

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

TREBLE CHANCE Manly U. North Star Eastern L. Avondale Ballaratt Fitzroy C Langwarrin Malvern C. Noble Pk Bunbury

v Leichhardt v Capalaba v Fawkner v Keilor PK v. E. Altona v. LA Trobe v Mornington v Kinston C v Morwell v Armadale

SOCCER TIPS

Cristiano free kick breaks bo y’s wris boy’s wristt

FOUR HOMES

FOOTIE superstar Cristiano Ronaldo left a British fan aged 11 in agony — by smashing his wrist with a free kick.

Schoolboy Charlie Silverwood had been taken to see his team Bournemouth host Real Madrid in a friendly.

His dad DUCKED as the £80million ex-Man United forward’s wayward 35-yard rocket scorched into the stands — breaking his son’s wrist in two places.

The lad was so determined not to miss the action he kept watching for the remaining 84 minutes — before going to hospital where X-rays revealed his double fracture.

He faced an operation before being plastered.

Charlie admitted: “It was very painful. I’ve told friends and they cannot believe it. Ronaldo is the world’s most expensive player — and he broke my arm.”

The youngster, from Christchurch in Dorset, added: “I could see the ball coming towards me. It curled past the post and was going to hit my face — so I had to block it with my hand. My dad sat next to me and ducked out of the way so I took the full force.”

His father Lee, also a Bournemouth fan, said: “It all happened in a blur.

“One minute we were watching Ronaldo stand over the ball and the next it was flying towards Charlie.

“It must have been travelling at a rate of knots and hit Charlie right on the wrist.”

Ronaldo, 28, went on to score twice as the Spanish giants — who were paid £750,000 to appear in .

Sunday’s exhibition game — battered the Championship side 6-0.

One of his goals at the Cherries’ Goldsands Stadium — in front of a capacity 12,000 crowd who paid up to £60 a ticket — came from a similar trademark free kick.

Bournemouth gave Charlie — who will be in plaster for the entire six-week school holiday — a LATE Real Madrid shirt signed by Ronaldo and teammates to “cheer him up”.

TIPS his He also got a ball signed by the Bournemouth team.

The lad’s dad said: “It is a game Charlie will never forget.”

Real Madrid spokesman Juan Camilo Andrade promised they will donate a memento to Charlie.

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS .WEEK 02 NSW Premier League 1 Bonny 2 Central C. 3 Manly U. 4 Sutherland.

v S'th Coast W 1 v Blackt'SP 2 v Leichhardt XX v Marconi 1

Brisbane Premier

5 Albany Creek 6 Brisbane F. 7 North Star 8 Peninsula P. 9 University O.

v Rochedale 2X v Wolves 2 v Capalaba XX v Eastern S. 2X v Logan 2X

10 Eastern L. 11 Moreland Z..

v Fawkner v Box Hill

Victoria Division one

Vict oria Division TTw wo Victoria

12 Avondale 13 Ballaratt 14 Fitzroy C 15 Sydenham 16 Whittlesea R

XX 2

v Keilor PK. XX v. E. Altona XX v. LA Trobe XX v Brunswick C 1 v Preston L. 1

Victoria Division Three

17 Clifton H. 18 Dandenong C. 19 Langwarrin 20 Malvern C. 21 Noble Pk 22 S.Springval

v Diamond V. 1 v Doveton 1 v Mornington XX v Kinston C XX v Morwell XX v Springvale W. 2

West Australia Premier 23 Bunbury 24 .Cockburn 25 Inglewood 26 Stirling L. 27 Ashfield

v Armadale XX v Perth 1 v Sorrento 2 v Balcatta 1 v Uwa Nedlands 1

West Australia Division One 28 Dianella 29 Gosnells 30 Knights 31 Rockingham 32 Swan Utd.

v Wanneroo X v Morley.

2 v S.P.Perth XX v Cannin g 2 v Mandurah XX

41 Noarlunga 42 Northern D. 43 Olympic SA 44 Pirates 45 S Adelaide 46 W. Adelaide

v Sturt v Cove v Salisbury v Eastern U v Playford v Toros

South Australia Premier

1 X 4 X 6 X 8 PAIR 33 CampbellT v Croydon 1 FOUR AWAYS 32 34 Cumberland v Adelaide R XX 2X 6 X 22 35 Enfield v AD Cobrass XX X X 25 36 Para Hills v Blue Eagles X1 34 Arsenal bid £40m plus 37 White City v Adelaide C X1 PERMUTATION 38 WT Birkalla. v Comets 1 £1 for Suárez 10 X 12 X 13 AVOID ARSENAL have reinforced their determina- South Austra lia State League X 14X 35X 41 27 tion to sign Luis Suárez with a club-record bid of £40m plus £1 for the Liverpool striker. The 39 AD Hills TIPS RISKY offer v Seaford 1 was rejected out of hand by Liverpool but 40 42 X 43 X 48 v Gawler 1 Suárez could push for talks over a sensational 40 Modbury CREDIT

EXCELLENT

Kingboro 2 North Star 7 Olympic SA 2 Avondale 7 Northern D. 2 Fitzroy C. 7 Noarlunga 3 Langwarrin 5 Enfield 3 Malvern C. 5 Cumberland 3 Noble PK 5 Swan Utd. 3 Bunbury 5 Knights 3 Dianella. 5

move to the Emirates Stadium, if he so desires.

Liverpool were angered by Arsenal’s second bid for the 26-year-old when it arrived on Tuesday and remain adamant it will not trigger the release of their prized asset. The Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, was informed by his Anfield counterpart, Ian Ayre, that Liverpool would not consider a sum of £40m for Suárez when he lodged an opening offer of £30m plus £5m in add-ons.

But that has not deterred Arsenal from returning, a fortnight later, with an offer that activates a clause in Suárez’s contract by one pound.

Under the terms of a contract signed in August, Liverpool must inform last season’s leading goalscorer of a club’s interest once they receive a bid of more than £40m.

Tasmania S tat e Stat tate League

10 12 32 48

XX XX XX .1 1 X1

47 Devonport v Launceston C 1 48 Kingboro v FGlenorchy XX 49 N'nth Rangers v S. Hobart 1

Revised Pairs 10 x 12, 19 x 20 21 x 34, 43 x 48

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—41

S-West PDP lifts suspension of Fayose, others in Ekiti

Ubah: Rights group hails judgment, says it's victory for rule of law

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HE South-West Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, lifted suspension of former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and other members of the party’s executive in the state.

Rising from a meeting of the executive committee of the party in South West zone in Lagos, the zonal exco directed that suspension recently announced by various groups in the state PDP had been set aside and status quo ante maintained.

The party said the decision was taken to prevent a situation where it would go to the election next year as a divided house.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the party in the zone, Chief Ishola Filani, the party said it could not fold its arms and allow individual interest to destroy it as the 2014 governorship poll drew nearer in the state.

Those who are to benefit from this rapprochement are former Governor Ayo Fayose; State Chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe; Secretary, Dr. T.K Aluko; Public Relations Officer, Pastor Kola Oluwawole; Woman Leader, Busola Oyebode; Treasurer, Deolu Aluko; Youth Leader, Taye Olatunji, and Director-General, Information, Chief Gboyega Aribisangan.

“The raging crisis,” according

Imo PDP blasts Okorocha over alleged statement

WORKSHOP—From left: Mr Amechi Okolo, SSG Enugu State; Mr Chidi Ezema, Head of Service; and Dr. Joe Nwogu, Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo during a workshop in Enugu.

Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

EFCC arrests ex-commissioner in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—OPERATIVES of anti-graft organisation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stormed Owerri on Tuesday and reportedly arrested the immediate past commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Jerry Okolie.

Vanguard gathered that while two directors of account and general services and treasurers of two local councils are said to be cooling their heels in EFCC net, some other members of the sacked Imo State executive council have since scampered into safety to avoid being picked

I

commissioners still staying in the quarters since they were sacked by the governor, quickly fled into s a f e t y .

The source added: “The EFCC operatives truly encountered stiff resistance from security personnel at the premises but were eventually allowed to carry out their assignment when they properly identified themselves and their mission.”

Another staff of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs who spoke on anonymity, explained that the former commissioner’s arrest might be connected with petitions sent to EFCC on the alleged embezzlement of local council funds in the state.

Boko Haram: Igbo youths condemn amnesty c'ttee boss over compensation for victims

BY CHARLES KUMOLU MO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims credited to Governor Rochas Okorocha that the party was habouring criminals, describing the statement as baseless.

It lampooned Okorocha for retiring 17 permanent secretaries over alleged refusal to yield to his style of governance.

A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Blyden Amaji, regretted that the governor was yet to absorb into the state’s public service some Imo public servants fired by Abia State government.

His words: "How can Rochas Okorocha accuse PDP of habouring criminals and not meaningfully moving this country forward when he was sacked as Special Assistant to President Obasanjo for reasons that are not unrelated to shaddy deals"?

up by the stern looking antigraft personnel.

A senior staff in Imo State civil service, who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that EFCC operatives had severally been visiting the state to probe reports of alleged fraud perpetrated by the state government.

The source said: "In this instance, the EFCC operatives stormed the Commissioners’ Quarters, situated along Concorde Avenue, Owerri, on Tuesday and arrested the former Commissioner for Lola Government Affairs, Mr. Jerry Okolie”.

He said some other ex-

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

I

GBO youths have condemned chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution on Security Challenges in the North, Tanimu Turaki, over his comment that there would be no compensation for victims of Boko Haram insurgency, describing it as divisive justice.

The youths, speaking under the aegis of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, said the Turaki Committee had failed in its duties by taking such position when it ought to have computed the figures of victims, living and dead, and made suggestions for appropriate compensation.

In a statement signed by the National President, Comrade Francis Oji, and two others, the group called for immediate compilation of the figures of victims of Boko Haram as well as their losses by a Federal Government appointed team to

reconcile the degree of their losses and determine reparation.

According to the group,

compensation is akin to healing and placating the wronged for a new lease of life to quell likelihood of reprisal attacks.

Man, 27, arraigned for alleged impersonation

BY IJEOMA NATHANIEL

L

AGOS—A man, Mohammed Baba, 27, was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court yesterday for alleged impersonation.

The suspect, docked before Magistrate Dan Oni, is facing a three-count charge of impersonation and conspiracy preferred against him by the Police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June 29,2013 at Idimu Area of Lagos.

He said the defendant, though not in the Army, did unlawfully wear the camouflage uniform of the Nigerian Army and had in his possession a fake Nigerian Air Force identity card bearing his name and giving a false impression.

Edet said the offence was punishable under section 409 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 and also punishable under section 79 (a), (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N 200,000 and two sureties with verifiable addresses, and adjourned the case to August 28, 2013.

human rights groups, Centre for the Rule of Law, Equity and Justice, CRULEJ, has hailed yesterday's judgment of the Federal High Court in favour of the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, describing it as a“ victory for the rule of law”.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting and investigating Ubah over the fuel subsidy regime.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its Executive Director, Comrade Jamiu Agbabiaka, the group said: “The judgment has shown that Ubah is a clean businessman who never soiled his hands. He acquired his wealth by a dint of hard work and the blessings of the almighty God. He did not need to cut corners.”

The statement reads in part: “This verdict has shown that truly the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. The course of justice has once again been served very well. It is a sweet vindication for Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah who has always maintained his innocence in the fuel subsidy racket".

Commonwealth varsity honours Sen Nwokeafor

C

OMMONWEALTH University, Belize, has bestowed Senator Levi Nwokeafor with an honorary Doctorate Degree for his outstanding contribution to national development, public administration and management.

A statement signed by Prof. David Iornem, Coordinator of Dubai Leadership Summit, said the university sought to recognise achievements in business, governance and other spheres of human endavour.

The statement read: "I am pleased to inform you that you have been nominated for the award of the Honourary Doctorate Degree of the Commonwealth University in Belize City".

42—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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JIBWIS set to provide foodstuff, clothes to orphans, prisoners

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Illness and concension for breaking fast difficulty or that is unbearable. You cannot say because you want to keep the fast and cause great harm to yourself, it depends on thenindividual and the nature of illness.

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minor headache for example with no other conditions may not in many instances constitute a situation where a person can use the flexibility of the injunction of illness to skip Ramadan fast. Scholars agree that sickness that doesn’t cause any hardship cannot be used as an excuse for not fasting.

Some of the conditions for breaking fast during Ramadan are as follows: Intense illness that will further aggravate the illness if he or she were to fast, or that recovery will be delayed because of fasting.

Illness that causes great pain in fasting or it becomes unbearable with fasting.

“The person who is unable to fast because of a sickness which he hopes will go away is not obliged to fast. This applies if he encounters obvious difficulty in fasting and is not subject to the condition that he reaches a point when he is unable t o f a s t . R a t h e r, o u r companions said: The permission not to fast is subject to the condition that fasting causes him difficulties that it is hard for him to bear.” —– [AlNawawi said in alMajmoo’, 6/261] Again, consider this: “With regard to the person who is slightly sick and who does not suffer any obvious hardship, it is not permissible for him to break his fast, and there is no difference of opinion among us concerning that.

—– [Al-Nawawi – AlMajmoo’, 6/261] This means the sick person who is not affected by fasting, such as one who has a slight cold or headache, or a slight toothache and the like, is not permitted to break his fast. The injuction in Quran 2 verse 185 is refering to cronic illness that causes great pain and

people who neither can fast nor can make up for the missed fasts later. Any of these people will have to feed one poor person a day as equivalent to one day fasting. The Quran states:

The concession on pregnant and nursing mothers is slightly different; if they can’t bear the rigours of fasting, they should not fast but they have to pay back after delivery

Almighty allah loves His concessions to be accepted just as He hates the disobedience of His commandments.

‘A’ishah (r.t.a) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier of them, unless it was a sin. If it was a sin, he would be the furthest away from it. —– [alBukhari (6786) and Muslim (2327)] Again, Islam provides concessions to the aged or

,

“And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” — – [Surah al-Baqarah 2:184] The concession on pregnant and nursing mothers is slightly different, if they can’t bear the rigours of fasting, they should not fast but they h a v e t o p a y ba c k a f t e r delivery or when it is convineint for them before the next Ramadan. Most wome mix up these issues

and go on to feed the poor to replace their fast. No sound Muslim is exempted from fasting unless the aged and the terminally sick persons.

The pregnant woman or nursing mother still have the opportunity to fast at a later date. Ibn ‘Abbas (r.t) said: Concession to feed the poor refers to old men and old women who cannot fast, so they should feed one poor person for each day. —– Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4505. May Allah accept it and reward us abundantly.

HE Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS) has said that it will provide foodstuff and clothes to orphans and prisoners in various states in the spirit of the Ramadan.

The National Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi BalaLau, made this known with newsmen in Yola.

Bala-Lau said the aim was to show love and give the beneficiaries a sense of belonging.

He said the group had directed all its preachers and members across the country to mobilise for the programme and ensure that at least, 5,000 orphans and prisoners benefited from the gesture in each state of the federation.

He also said that the group would sponsor the enrolment of school-age orphans into primary and secondary schools.

“Taking care of the needy is a big Jihad and that is why I want to appeal to all stakeholders, including government authorities, to do something about the growing number of destitute and the culture of begging in the country.

Imam Moshood, Founder/Leader of IMAF Islamic Society and other IMAF missioners during their Ramadan Tafsir held at Alaguntan, Ajahn, Lagos.

ASK YOUR IMAM Relationship with a Christian wife in Ramadan

Question: How can a Muslim relate with his wives especially when one of them is a Christian?

Answer: If I understand the import of the question, it is about relationship with your Christian wife during Ramadan. If that is the case, there is no special way of relating with her as a Christian in Ramadan. What is important is the legality of the marriage as far as Islam is concerned. In this type of case, payment of dowry is considered as the major factor that confers legitimacy. If her dowry was fully settled, that confers legitimacy to your relationship as far as Islam is concerned.

So, you must treat her the way you treat your other Muslim wife. She is fit to prepare your food for your sahur and Iftar, she is permitted to carry out all duties expected of a Muslim wife. And at this point, you must ensure to do what is right for both, never discriminate on the basis of religion; be fair and strive to do justice at all times and work harder to revert her. It may be difficult but not impossible. In fact, you need to work harder to show her good precepts of From left: Imam Saadalah Bello, Secretary of the Council of Imams and Mumeen. Islam advocates a good and happy family, and encourages a Muslim Ulamas Lagos Division; Chief Imam S. O. Lawal, Lagos Division (2nd left); to marry another Muslim. But you can only continue to convince her not only Chief Imam Moshood M. Alamorieda of Alaguntan Central Mosque (middle) through the words of God but also and essentially by your attitude. Thanks. May being honoured by Eti-Osa Council of Imams and Alfas and Imam T.O. Gbajabiamila, at a forum in Eti-Osa. Allah guide us aright since He knows best.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 —43

RAMAD AN BRIEFS: RAMADAN

Muslims urged to pray for unity of Nigeria

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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Guiding your fast ASTING is not only about abstinence from food and drink, but also going closer to Allah by doing what you are enjoined to do and shunning those things that will vitiate your fast and render the whole exercise useless.

Come to think of it, what is the need to deny yourself from the food and pleasure of life, feeling the pangs of hunger and yet with the availability of food or the means to get same, you chose to fast only to be rendered useless on account of your inadequacies borne out of ignorance or sheer neglect.

Among the things that break fast other than eating and drinking are: Injections that are given to replace food and drink is not acceptable. Other injections such as vaccinations do not break the fast, but to be on the safe side, they can be administered in the night after the dusk.

Essentially, all those with terminal illness are advised to leave out fasting pending the time they can pay back.

Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast,

because this is just compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times to keep the person alive, in Ramadan and at other times.

Anyone who eats and drinks deliberately during the day in Ramadan with no valid excuse has

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ahuur is early morning meal taken by a fasting Muslim before fajr. And Iftar is meal taken to break the fast at sunset. Both the Sahuur and Iftar must be in conformity with the rule guiding table manner in Islam in order to achieve the full reward.

Sahuur should be taken in line with the instruction of the Prophet (s.a.w) that states: “Eat Sahuur, for in it, there is barakah”. (alBukhari) It is a blessed meal, which is not in sync with the action of People of the Book (the Jews and Christians).

And while taking the Sahuur, the Sunnah is to delay it till the third part of the night and should be a light food. On this the Prophet (s.a.w) says: “the best Sahuur for believer is dates”.

Although, it is allowed to take other types of food in moderate quantum and not in excess.

something that keeps us asking more questions, in this critical period of our lives as Muslims, I want to enjoin us to remain peaceful, relate with our neighbours irrespective of faith peacefully and be prayerful”.

Responding, the Celebrant, Engr. Afolayan noted that the lesson he derived from Nawar- Ud – Deen Society of Nigeria (NUDS) had been a propelling force behind his achievements, just as he lauded the society for associating with him.

...someone fasting 21must Cleric blames loss of values on western keep away from everything influences that may provoke his Mosque hall, Lagos, rate of divorce among

BY OLAYINKA L A T O N A Alhaji Agboola lamented couples in the country. emotion and sexual desire He further explained that that most Muslim HE Proprietor of families are at crossroads that if the family which is and he must repel any bad T Darul-Falah Islamic today as they allow the smallest unit of the thought Institutes, Alhaji Musa western world to society is at peace the

committed a major sin (kafaarah), and has to repent and make up for that fast later on (sixty days of fasting consecutively). “If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him to drink.”

(Reported by Bukhari).

If a Muslim breaks his fast with something haraam, it is not only a sin but it also vitiates the fast.

Those who need to break their fast in order to

Etiquette of sahuur

BY HARUN RAZAQ

save someone whose life is in danger, may break their fast and should make it up later on. This applies in cases where someone is drowning, or when fires need to be put out. May Allah save us from such circumstances.

Whoever vomits inadvertently does not

HAIRMAN of NawarUd- Deen Society of Nigeria (NUDS), Abuja Branch, Barrister Mustapha Adekola has called on Muslim faithfuls to remain peaceful and pray for the unity of the country, in the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Adekola gave the admonition during a Reception/Luncheon organised by the Society in honour of Alh. (Engr.)

Jamiu Afolayan, who was recently appointed, as the

Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, by the Federal Government.

“Although the happenings around the world, especially in the Arab nations called for concern, this is the critical period that we need to be more united irrespective of our religion and ethnic background, he admonished.

According to him, “We should remain peaceful and prayerful, what is happening in Arab nations and all over the world is

The Iftar is to be hastened. Break your fast before Salat Maghrib, breaking it with an odd number of ripe dates or dried dates or water according to the practice of the Prophet (s.a.w) as recorded in Hadith that: “the Prophet (s.a.w) breaks his fast before he pray (Salat Maghrib) with ripe dates.

If there were none, he would use dried ones and if there were none, he would have a few rips of water”. (Tirmidhi 3/ 79) The fasting Muslim should say the following while breaking the fast: “Dhahabaz zama’u wabtallatil ‘uruuqu, wathabatal ajru insha-a Allahhu -Thirst is gone, vein are moistened and the reward is certain, insha Allah” (Abu Dawud 2/760, Darul Qutni 21/ 185); “Allahumah laka sumtu wa ala riskika aftartum - O Allah, I ask of You, by Your mercy that encompasses everything, to forgive me”.

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have to make up the fast later on, but whoever does intentionally have to make up the fast.

Using siwaak, chewing stick or tooth brush does not break a fast but it must be done moderately so as not to gulp water or part of the siwaak during the process of washing the mouth. Again, it is also better not to use toothpaste and brush during the day, but to do it early in the morning.

Immersing oneself in water or bath-tub does not break fast. But swimming is disliked, because it might lead to gulping of water during swimming.

If a person breaks his fast, thinking that the sun has already set when it has not, he must make up the fast later on (according to the majority of scholars), because the principle is that it is still day, and a fact that is certain cannot be rejected in favour of something doubtful.

Essentially, a fasting person must keep away from everything that may provoke his emotion and sexual desire and he must repel any bad thought that crept on his mind such as backbiting, lustful gazing, playing games and other unholy activities.

And above all, your heart and mind must be fasting. Because fast in its real sense, will not be complete unless thoughts, emotions, actions and all aspects of our lives become pure, clean and free from blemish.

May Allah accept our fasting and reward us abundantly.

Agboola, has advised Muslim couples to hold on to the tenants of Islam in thier marriage relationship.

Speaking on the theme: “Causes of Broken Homes” during annual Ramadan lecture and Islamic award for excellence of As’hab-lYemin Society of Nigeria held at Iponri Muslim Community Central

infiltrate their homes explaining that western model has resulted in conjugal infidelity, large scale marriage breakdown, high rates of divorces separations amongst others.

The President of As’hab-L-Yemin Society of Nigeria, Abd Ganeey Folabi Yahya revealed that the topic was chosen because of the alarming

nation as a whole will have peace and tranquility.

He blamed loss of values in the society on parents’ abandonment of responsibilities towards their children; advising youths to imbibe moral values, avoid hooliganism, be responsible and live peacefully with one another.

Amuwo Odofin LG boss tasks muslims on Zakaat

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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HAIRMAN of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, has called on Muslims to see Zakaat as an important religious obligation, saying that nobody can claim to be successful until he or she impacts on others positively.

He also stated that Zakaat is a unique instrument for poverty

alleviation, as wealth is transferred from the rich to the poor.

Adewale said this in Lagos at a Ramadan lecture, entitled: Zakaat: A Comprehensive Approach convened by Fatima Charity Foundation in collaboration with Amuwo-Odofin.

“The Zakaat payment to the less-privileged will automatically lessen the burden of the government and indirectly reduce the rate

of crime in our community,” he said.

He however gave scholarship to a four-year old, Master Abdul Rahmon Aremu, for his brilliance in the recitation of the Holy Quran.

The guest speaker, Imam Abdullah Shuaib, Executive Director of Zakaat and Sadaqat Foundation said Nigeria is facing a lot of problems because people have failed to see the relevance of Zakaat in contemporary society.

RAMADAN LECTURE: From left: Guest speaker of the occasion, Hon. Kabiru Olajide, member, Surulere Constituency 1, Lagos State House of Assembly; guest lecturer, Alhaji Musa Agboola and President of As’hab-LYemin Society of Nigeria, Abd Ganeey Folabi Yahyah during Ramadan lecture and award for excellence.

44—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

NDRM backs Dafinone for Senate

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group, Niger Delta Revolution Movement, NDRM, has endorsed Chief Ede Dafinone to run for Senate, even as discussion intensifies among Urhobo leaders over a replacement candidate in the upper chamber of the National assembly.

In a statement by NDRM President, Mr. Patrick Akamovba, the group expressed shock over the death of Senator Pius Ewherido.

He also urged the people of Urhoboland to choose the right person by voting for Chief Ede Dafinone.

He said: “Dafinone is the only man that can position Urhoboland and help it take its rightful place in contemporary Nigeria.”

Burial

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GBUESHI Martin Onyetenu, ex-regent of Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, is dead.

Vigil mass and service of songs held yesterday at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Nnebisi Road, Asaba.

Requiem high mass will hold today at 10 a.m., followed by interment and reception. Thanksgiving mass and outing service will hold on Sunday.

He is survived by children, including Justice Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, many grandchildren and relatives.

Late Ogbueshi Onyetenu.

Ijaw attack: Itsekiri youths withdraw ultimatum to govts

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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APELE—ITSEKIRI youths, yesterday, withdrew the 30-day ultimatum issued to the local, state and Federal governments, with 20 days left.

The youths had threatened reprisal attacks over the recent attack by some Ijaw youths, who reportedly destroyed about seven Itsekiri villages.

Among their demands were the setting up of a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the mayhem, reset-

tlement of the displaced persons and bringing perpetrators of the arson to book or risk the blowing up of Chevron Nigeria Limited’s manifold in Olero creek.

Addressing newsmen in Sapele, Delta State, youths from the seven communities said they were rescinding their threat and ultimatum, following the intervention of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; foremost Warri chief, Emami

Ayirimi; member Representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyieneju; Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC. The youths were represented by their leaders: Mr. Orighomisan Omatsuli for Jakpa community; Mr. Augustine Dorsu, Aja-Amitan community; Mr. Taye Olekowe, Gbokoda; Mr. Godfrey Ofeyinor, Tebu; Mr. Augustine Fuludu, Obaghoro and Chairman, Olero Satellite

Community, Mr. Victor Awowo.

They said they were satisfied with the prompt responses in bringing succour to the displaced people and promises of rebuilding the burnt communities.

JTF repositions for crusade against illegal bunkering

Oshiomhole consoles First Lady

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commiserated with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on the death of her mother, describing the late Madam Charity Oba as a woman of character.

In a condolence letter to the First Lady, Governor Oshiomhole said: “It is with great shock that I received the report of the death of Mama,

Chief Oba, in a motor accident on Port Harcourt-Yenagoa Expressway.

“On behalf of myself, my family, government and people of Edo State, please accept our heartfelt condolences at this difficult moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

“Personally, I did not have the privilege of meeting her.

But from what I have heard and read about her, it is doubtless she was a matriarch of

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

character, the more reason her passing is painful.

“Mama, fondly called Mama Sisi, was obviously your own guardian angel.

Your Excellency, your life story speaks to exemplary fortitude, uncommon focus and stellar courage.

“Despite losing your biological mother in your teenage years, you pulled yourself by the bootstraps and rose above all odds to become who you are today.”

Crisis over new Oshodi family head worsens

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

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HE crisis rocking the Oshodi-Tapa chieftaincy family of Lagos has taken a turn for the worse, as a faction of the family has denied the election of a new head (Olori Ebi) for the family.

A faction of the family had elected Alhaji Sukurat Oshodi as the new Olori Ebi at a special meeting of the family on June 30, in Iga, Oshodi.

However, spokesperson of the Oshodi Descendants Family

Forum, Imam Uthman Oshodi in a statement, yesterday, said the election was a fluke as there was no vacancy in the family headship.

He added that the Olori Ebi of Oshodi-Tapa family remains Pa Fatai Oshodi.

The statement said: “The present holder is still alive. The only vacancy existing within the family is that of the Balogun Oshodi-Tapa stool for which the appropriate branch had refused to produce a candidate.

“Hence the next branch in

line had been asked to produce a candidate within the next 30 days in compliance with the family declaration agreement.”

It will be recalled that Alhaji Fatai Oshodi, as the family head, and a member of the family, Dr. Mustapha Oshodi, had filed contempt proceedings against some members of the family over alleged disregard to the consent judgment delivered by Justice T. Ojikutu Oshode (rtd.) two years ago.

ORT HARCOURT— JOINT Task Force, JTF, has intensified its crusade against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking, yesterday, while receiving 11 Hillux vehicles donated by Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, limited, Commander, 2 Brigade and Sector II Commander of JTF, Brigadier General Osasogie Uzamere, said that the vehicles would assist immensely in the anti-bunkering campaign in the region.

He said: “We will put the vehicles to good use to secure the pipelines.

The seven vehicles will help us carry out effective security patrol and put our men on the road.”

Area Manager of PPMC, Port Harcourt, Engr. Emmanuel Anam, who was flanked by other top management staff during the presentation, said it was to assist the security body in its operations.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

P

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

What's your take on early marriage? (3)

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UR girls should be allowed to de velop. If this resolution is implemented, it will hound girls below 18 years into marriages they know nothing about. This is only one dimension of this tragic resolution.

Who knows what is next?— Miss Lucina Appau, Student.

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HRISTIANITY abhors child mar riage. Christians also have Canon Law, which frowns at marriage of girls who are not of age. I do not see any sense in it and cannot subscribe to such because I am a father as well.— Pastor Nelson Azubuike.

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HAT guided the lawmakers into legalise child marriage when the constitution recognised those below 18 years as children? Where is the Child Rights Act? I think it is just a way of pricking the public to be at alert.— Mr. Osagie Ukpebor, Photographer.

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ARLY marriage terminates the fu ture of our girls. It is like living your future in the present. It stalls young girls opportunities, people we say are tomorrow’s leaders. So the public should say no to child marriage.— Mrs Agaga Stella, Businesswoman.

I

call on the House of Representatives to show progressive leadership by not agreeing with the Senate on this provision. It is barbaric and inhuman for little children to hear that they are being discussed as wife to somebody.— Mr. Emmanuel Maazi, Communicator.

I

S the Senate saying that a 13-year-old girl has the mental capacity to renounce her citizenship? That Senator ’s argument is a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the intention of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.— Mrs Ifeoma Ayambuba, Student.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 45

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46

— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Rivers crisis: Deputy Speaker accuses Police of bias over summon As Chief of Staff urges Obio-Akpor people to support Amaechi

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME &

P

YAFUGBORHI

ORT HARCOURT— DEPUTY Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, has faulted the Police Force Headquarters’, Abuja summons of the Leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd over recent fracas at the Assembly.

Lloyd who had turned himself in, is being investigated for attack on Mr. Michael Chinda, member representing Obio/Akpor constituency in the House, which left the lawmaker in critical condition in a London hospital.

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, has charged the people of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state to continue to support the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, adding that the government would always deliver on its promises.

Okocha, when the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Mr. Chikordi Dike and members of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, embarked on a meet-the-people tour to Ward 16 in the council also lashed at the five anti-Amaechi lawmakers over their failed bid to impeach the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

However, the Deputy Speaker, representing Khana II constituency, said that the summon of the House Leader was discriminatory as legislators involved in the brawl were walking freely in Port

400 youths for Delta SEEFOR project

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BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Kenneth Okpara, has said that the state government will engage 400 unemployed youths between 18 – 35 years of age in the World Bank assisted State Employment and Expenditure for Results, SEEFOR, project under his ministry.

Speaking, yesterday, during an interactive session with youth leaders in the state, he urged the beneficiaries to take the job seriously.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Youths, Mr. Ebifa Ijomah, said that his ministry had created a data base which involves comprehensive registration of unemployed youths in the state.

Project Coordinator of SEEFOR, Mr. Benson Ojoko said: “The scope of the project involved creation of employment for unemployed youths thorough value chain of activities in public works such as road and drainage maintenance, waste collection and disposal.”

C M Y K

Harcourt.

He said: “What would have been appropriate was for the Police to invite all involved in the fracas for questioning. If they want to do a thorough work, they should carry out an unbiased investigation.”

He added that the people of Rivers State see the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu as

being partial and that the invitation of Lloyd being selective, confirms that the Police were acting out a script.

Okocha, on his part charged Obio Akpor caretaker executive members to put in their best, said: “Let them come and tell us why they think, Amaechi’s government should be overthrown by civilian coup, which they failed.

What is the punishment for a coup that was aborted?”

Okocha who, presented a bus donated by the Caretaker Committee to students of Obio Akpor, said the essence of the tour was to interact with the people of the council to know how best government could affect their area.

MEETING: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, dances with market women, at a meeting with the women from the 18 local government areas of the state in Benin City, yesterday.

Why I gave N100m to market women —OSHIOMHOLE

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said that he gave N100 million to market women in the state because they have been crucial to the sustenance of democracy in the state.

The state government, Wednesday, gave N100 million revolving, interest-free and nonrefundable grant to market women in the state to boost their trade with a call on them to continue to defend democracy and good governance.

Oshiomhole during a reception organised for him by market women across the state also asked them to forward names of 20 candidates to government for board appointments.

The governor said: “Next month, the state government will give the market women N100 million and you people know how best to share it to support your businesses. This money should be rotated amongst yourselves and you do not have to pay back to the government. Also forward 20 names to the Chief of Staff, we will put them in various boards under

Edo State Government because this government is yours and you must participate in it.

“As our mothers and sisters, individually and collectively you carried our message of hope across the 192 wards, you canvassed for support, enlightened the people on what we are doing and even with the promise to do more and at the end of the day, the people listened, they voted and Action Congress Nigeria, ACN won 18 over 18. You did it before and you have done it again on the basis of what is good for the Edo people.”

Bayelsa, Delta communities threaten Mobil over oil spillage Delta.

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BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—TWENTY Delta and Bayelsa states communities affected by the Qua-Iboe, Eket, Akwa-Ibom State oil spill, which occurred on November 19, 2012 have issued Exxon Mobil a 21-day ultimatum to pay them compensation or face the wrath of the communities.

Speaking on behalf of the communities, Alhaji Babadetua Asaba, said the company should

also send relief materials to the people.

He noted that five of the affected communities are in Bayelsa State and 15 in Delta State, including Azamabiri, Orobiri, Agge palm Bush, Fishing settlement in Aghoro II, and Jafawei in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa and Kare-Epre, Belle, Okubou Zion, Okofa -Aka, Seleghangbene, Akpagro-fulboat, Youtu I, and II, Okia, Panya, Galiwei, Beneboye and others in Burutu Local Government Area,

He lamented that the spill had affected the means of livelihood of the people, adding “both farm lands and fishing activities had been disrupted by the pollution.

“We have written to Exxon/Mobile. We are asking for N54 billion to cushion the effect of the spill on our people. Since the incident till date, the company has not even carried out any clean up exercise. I urge the company to do so without further delay to avoid provoking us.”

JTF destroys illegal refineries in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADON-

Y

GHA

ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, said its operatives destroyed 32 illegal crude oil refining camps in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government areas of Bayelsa State.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement in Yenagoa, said the troops drawn from 343 Regiment and 5 Battalion of Sector 2 of the Task Force also destroyed five open wooden boats used by oil thieves in Lagosgbene, Sangana, Okigbene, Akamubugo, Forabagbene and Shigogbene communities in the said councils.

In a similar operation in Delta State, he said troops of 3 Battalion of Sector 1 of the JTF and NNS Delta (a maritime component of JTF) anti-oil theft patrol teams discovered and destroyed 29 illegal crude oil distillery camps.

According to him, 11 open boats used by oil thieves with 55 large steel surface tanks, 20 dug out pits, 10 plastic surface tanks filled with stolen crude oil and illegally distilled adulterated Automated Gas Oil, AGO, in Warri South West Local Government Area in Delta State were also destroyed.

BAHISCOOSA holds election

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APTIST High School Orerokpe Old Students Association, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, will on Sunday, July 28, conduct election into its national offices.

The association in a statement by the Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Solomon Osazuwa and Revd Excellence Miller respectively, said the election would be held at NPA, Guest House, Airport Road, Warri.

They appealed to members to attend promptly to facilitate the election of new officers that would run the affairs of the association in line with the association’s constitution.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—47

TRAINING: From left, President, Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP and Vice President of International Federation of Film Producers Associations, FIAPF, France, Comrade Alex Eyengho, receiving his certificate in 'Best Journalism Practices in the Digital Age,' from the United States Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, with Prof. Lucinda Fleeson of the University of Maryland, USA, during the training jointly organised in Lagos by the Pan-Atlantic University and the United States Consul-General, Lagos.

LAUNCH: From left: Pastor Jide Elugbaju, celebrant's father, Sister Taiwo Elugbaju, celebrant and her mother, Folashade Elugbaju, during the launch of JESU L'OBA Gospel Music album by Sister Taiwo Elugbaju, at Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Covenant Chapel, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez

GRADUATION: From left, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun, Administrator, Grace Schools; Prof.

Kayode Amund, Dean, Students Affairs, University of Lagos; Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and Ronald Cilliers, Principal, Grace High School, at the school's 15th Valedictory Service/Graduation Ceremony, Class 2013, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

VISIT: On'toko of Obantoko,HRH, Ganiyu Adesanu (2nd left); President of Rotary Club of Obantoko, Rotarian E.A.Dada Korede (2nd right); Vice President,Rotn E.O Kuyoro (left), and the Secretary, Rotn S.A Jinadu (right), during the On'toko's visit to Rotary Club of Obantoko.

PERFORMANCE: From left, Globacom’s Regional Director, Marketing Communications, Charles Jenarius; Publisher, Ovation International, Dele Momodu, and Co-Founder & Executive Director, Storm 360, Olisa Adibua, at the live performance, by top nine contestants in X-Factor singing reality TVshow, brought to Africa for the first time by Globacom.

GRADUATION: From left, Mrs. Abimbola Oladinni, proprietress, Diadem Institute of Advanced Studies, Lekki, presenting academic excellence award to a graduand, Miss Deboarh Ajayi, and her mother, Mrs. Victoria Ajayi, at the graduation ceremony of the Institute, in Lagos, yesterday.

GRADUATION: From left, Master Eniola Awe, with his dad, Mr. Sesan Joel Awe, during annual valedictary service, prize-giving day and graduation ceremony of Appollian Schools, at Ikorodu.

Photo: Shola Oyelese

VALEDICTORY SERVICE: From left, Mrs. Olusoji Cline,Executive Director, Krisbethel School; Chief Christiana Ojo,proprietress/Director of Education, Krisbethel Schools; Rev. Godspower Ugbo,West Africa Theological College, Ipaja; Alhaji Tajudeen Akinbami, Chairman, GRADUATION: Rev. Josephine Anunobi (right), proprietress, Divine Offspring InterPTA,Krisbethel College, and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Solarin,Principal, national School, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, addressing graduating pupils and parKrisbethel College, during the 10th Valedictory Service/Prize Giving Day ents, during 2012/2013 graduation and prize-giving ceremony of the school, in La(2013) of the college, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau gos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Court nullifies probe panel report on Bauchi ministries

JONATHAN 2015: Tsav blasts Clark, other Niger Delta elders

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—BAUCHI State High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Zango, has nullified the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the State Government to investigate the activities of government ministries and parastatals between 1999 to May 2007.

Justice Zango nullified the Commission report, yesterday, when he ruled in a suit filed by one Alhaji Lawal Baraza, who was asked by the commission to refund over 3.6billion.

Baraza was said to have challenged the decision of the commission and Bauchi State Government white paper that indicted him, asking the court to quash the government decision.

In his ruling, Justice Zango granted an order for certiorari and quashed the proceedings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the management of some ministries, Parastatals and extra ministerial departments of the Public service of Bauchi State, from May 1999 to May 2007.

Consolidated Breweries empowers consumers

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AGOS—CONSOLI DATED Breweries Plc, manufacturers of “33” Export lager has given out N3 million to three consumers in the on-going 33” Export crack the code promo.

The three friends: Vincent Nwawueze, Chibuike Oguamanam and Ahamaeze Ikechukwu in Owerri, Imo state penultimate week became the first group of friends to crack the code by combining their individual crown corks to win N3 million in the on-going National consumer promotion.

The national consumer promotion which commenced in June 2013 will have more groups of friends cracking the code and winning the grand prize of N3 million.

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BY CHARLES KUMOLU

PRESENTATION — Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara, making a remark during the flag-off of SURE-P in Warri South Local Government Council secretariat, while Delta State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Newworld Safugha (1st left); wife of CAN National President, Pastor Helen Oritsejafor (2nd left); Chief Emmanuel Okumagba (4th left), Mr. Amah Agbajor (2nd right), and Warri South Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Dr. Augustine Uroye (extreme right) and others watch at the event.

NAFDAC warns against eating processed rice seedlings D

UTSE—NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has warned the people in Jigawa against buying treated rice seedlings meant for planting for consumption.

The NAFDAC Director in the state, Malam Abduljalal Manzo, issued the warning during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, yesterday.

Manzo said NAFDAC had carried out a mop-up operation in the area following reports by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) on the processing and sale of treated rice seedlings in Kazaure Local Government Area.

He said that the mop-up revealed that some market women were processing rice seedlings and selling to the public for consumption.

Manzo said that two suspects involved in the activity were arrested and handed over to the agency by men of NSCDC, saying “the NAFDAC laboratory analysis proved that there is serious accumulation of pesticide used in the treatment of the rice since it was meant for sowing.

"NAFDAC is warning the people selling this treated rice to stop the act because it is very dangerous and poisonous to health; it can kill instantly or even have a long time effect on the people.

Lack of education is the main reason why most people are

ignorant of the dangers inherent in patronising and consuming such kind of food. The agency will not allow such people to operate in the society because they are merchants of death.”

Manzo said the agency

was collaborating with the police, local governments, health officials and the emirate councils to mop up the treated rice and other unwholesome products with a view to safeguarding the lives of the people.

VISIT TO IBB: Why Kwankwaso is unhappy with Presidency, PDP

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—THE face-off between the Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Abuja has been traced to surreptitious attempts by some influential forces in corridors of power to stop the governor from contesting the 2011 gubernatorial election even after winning the primary, Vanguard has learnt.

Kwankwaso, who is said to have transformed Kano and built a large network of followers in the last six years of his stewardship, was among the five PDP governors, who voiced concerns over what they termed ‘the leadership style of the Peoples Democratic Party ’, which was the platform on which they contested election and won.

On Monday, the five governors took their grievances to former military rulersIbrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar in

Minna and asked them to intervene in the crisis currently rocking the party.

They had earlier in the week met with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi apparently to give him some moral support over his political travails, which have split the state House of Assembly into two factions.

A top source close to the governor, told Vanguard, yesterday, that the three-time governor of the state was unhappy with the way he had been treated by some powerful elements at the highest level of the party and government since his decision to contest as governor and beyond.

The source, who spoke in confidence, noted that the governor had been made to feel that the dominant forces in Abuja did not want him to become governor of Kano State despite the overwhelming desire of the people of Kano to have him as their leader.

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A G O S — A FORMER Police Commissioner in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has said Niger Delta elders led by Chief Edwin Clark, who are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term, are saying so parochial interests.

He also lampooned elders from the geo-political zone for alleged silence, while Rivers State was being destablised by political crisis.

Tsav, in a statement, commended five Northern governors, for consulting two former Heads of State on the need for a solution to the multifaceted crises confronting the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. According to the statement, ‘’some are beating the drums of war that if the President is not reelected, Nigeria will go up in flames as though they alone voted for him in 2011 and as if they introduced the Doctrine of Necessity.

"Elders like Chief E.K Clark have allowed their parochial desires override national interests.

"Those who are encouraging violence do not know that they will be consumed by such violence. Where was chief Clark in 2011? I urge our politicians to learn from history and the Arab Spring. The nation and its people should come first."

"I commend the five governors for their foresight and patriotism by visiting former Heads of State and consulting with them on the state of the nation. The situation in River State is a real threat to democracy. Unfortunately the so called leaders of Niger Delta areas are silent and seem to be enjoying the show of shame stirred by opportunists."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 49

50—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Why Appeal Court freed Al-Mustapha & Co The lead judgment continues on how the prosecution failed to call necessary witnesses.

Continued from Wednesday

S

ECTION 198 of the Evidence Act has this to say “An accomplice shall be a competent witness against a Defendant, and a conviction is not illegal merely because it proceeds upon the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice Provided that in cases when the only proof against a person charged with a criminal offence is the evidence of an accomplice, uncorroborated in any material particular implicating the Defendant, the Court shall due it itself that it is unsafe to convict any person upon such evidence.”

Corroboration is not meant to give credence to evidence which is deficient, suspect, or incredible. It is required to support the evidence which is sufficient, satisfactory and credible.

A witness cannot corroborate himself. Evidence of a witness which requires corroboration cannot be used to corroborate the evidence of another witness.

It must be independent evidence outside what obtained from contested confessional statements- OBI V. STATE (1972) 1 S.C. 1 at page 11; JAMES GWANGWAN V. STATE (2012) Vol 1. WRN. 57 at 85.

Notably is that the learned trial judge observed, (wrongly in my view) that PW2 and PW3 as accomplices, their evidence substantially corroborate the evidence of PW1 (Dr. Ore Falomo) and PW1’s evidence that the bullet that was extracted from the head of the deceased was a special one that was not commonly seen corroborates the evidence of PW2, and that it was the Appellant that gave him (PW2) the gun that was used- pages 1839 and 1843 of the Record. This is the lower Court’s view.

With respect, the evidence of PW2

(3) The case against him had been fabricated to put him out of circulation because of his knowledge of certain secrets of National importance including the murder of M.K.O. Abiola.

Interestingly PW2 had confirmed that promises were made to him and his family which made him make the statements he did, but that when the promises were not fulfilled he had to speak out.

But, with respect, this Honourable Court is not interested in whatever politics is behind all these.

This does not remove from the Respondent the legal duty to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and he was obliged to so do.

I cannot see any common intention established against the Appellantl to conspire with another or others to murder the deceased. He did say that he had always maintained a cordial relationship with the Late Chief M.K.O. Abiolal husband to the deceased. He therefore had no reason to conspire to murder the deceased.

The Respondent has been unable to falter the evidence of the Appellant and DW2 as to how arms are moved from the Armoury.

Everywhere I look in the Prosecution/s easel same is

,

I cannot see any common intention established against the Appellantl to conspire with another or others to murder the deceased

and PW3 could not have constituted corroboration of evidence of PW1, whose evidence does not require corroboration. This is because PW1 has not been treated as an accomplice.

The Appellant had said that he was very close to the Abiola family, and indeed had helped late Chief M.K.O. Abiola when he was incarcerated.

The Appellant in his defence had denied conspiring to murder the deceased. He had put up a three tiered defence.

(1) He denied conspiring with the 2"d Appellant or any other person whatsoever to murder the deceased.

(2) That PW2 and PW3 had been induced with gifts and mouth watering promises to give false evidence against him by the authority and some influential Nigerians.

Late Kudirat Abiola

Major Al-Mustapha

,

fraughtiNith gaping loopholes which the Prosecution could not fill. There are more questions than answers! It is the law that where doubts obtain in the case of the Prosecutionl same shalll and must be resolved in favour of the accused.

I must reiterate that PW41 Ahmed Fari Yussuf testified from the 13th of October 2009 - page 854 of the Record of Appeal Vol. 2. He tendered Exhibit “A31J which is the 1st statement made by the Appellant and brought to him. It is dated 23rd September 1999. The statement from records was made at FCID Abuja. At page 855 of the Record of Appeal Volume 21 Exhibit A3 was tendered during Examination-in-Chief of PW4.

He also tendered Exhibit A4 statement of Lateef Shofolahan made at FCID of 21/9/99. Exhibit A51

Police Force Admission/Confession Form of 31d Defendant dated 12/10/ 99.

PW4 said he was aware that the Appellant was further interrogated by the SIP i.e. the team detailed to carry out further investigation and that he made further statements. The statements were brought and filed in the case file. These statements were never tendered by the Prosecution.

No explanation was given.

Disconnected documents According to the submission of the Appellant at page 7 of his brief of argument filed on the 15th of February 2013, he says that it is from these disjointed and disconnected documents that the trial Court admitted the following utterly tainted documents i.e. statement dated 23rd September 1999 made by the Defendant and admitted as Exhibit A3.

PW4 went through trial within trial from 11th October 2009 which lasted for 13 months. He never re-surfaced for cross-examination at the main trial. Indeed the Respondent failed to produce PW4 for cross-examination.

What is the effect of this in law? It is that this rendered (as argued by the Appellant) his evidence and the statements tendered by him for that matter, inconclusive, inchoate and ineffective. Moreso, failure to avail himself for purposes of cross-examination; deprived the Appellant of his constitutional right to fair hearing, as PW4 would have been subjected

Alhaji Lateef Shofola to cross-examination by the Appellant. This rendered PW4’s evidence and the attendant exhibits tendered by him of no relevance to the Court and same must be discountenanced. The necessary implication is that there was no evidence before Court of PW4. The exhibit which he tendered as Exhibit A3, A4 and A5 and indeed every other exhibits which he tendered are therefore of no moment.

The totality of the evidence led by the Prosecution in proof of the charge of conspiracy to murder is unreliable, and has been so discredited, and I so hold.

Issue No 1 couched by me is therefore answered in the negative and same is resolved in favour of the Appellant.

In Issue No 2.

The offence of murder, to be established, must possess these ingredients. (a) That the deceased is dead. (b) That the death of the deceased was the result of the ‘!ct or omission of the accused, and (c) That the act of omission of the accused which caused was intentional with full knowledge that death or grievous body harm as its probable consequence.

ILODIGINE V. STATE (2012) 18 NWLR Pt. 1331 page 1 @ 29.

Indeed a plethora of cases have supported this proposition of law. It is trite.

There are basically three ways by which the Prosecution proves its case against the accused. The Prosecution proves its case against an accused by all or any of the following means: (a) evidence of an eyewitnesses of the crime To be continued

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—51

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Executive Secretary of Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Mrs. Saudatu Mahdi and Mrs. Felicia Onibon from Change Managers International Network, addressing newsmen on constitutional amendment by the Senate

CHILD MARRIAGE:

We must stop getting our young girls pregnant A

T 13, Hafsat Auwalu was married. At 14, she became pregnant. When it was time for her to be delivered of her baby, Hafsat was taken to the nearby primary healthcare facility where she laboured for hours, but the baby would not come out. There was a problem. Hafsat is frail in stature with a small pelvis. Her pelvis was too narrow for the head of the baby to pass through. She pushed and pushed, but the baby’s head was lodged in the narrow birth canal. The pain was excruciating.

There was nothing the birth attendants could do. There was no doctor on call and no one in attendance had the skill or the equipment to perform an emergency Caesarean Section. They only urged her to push harder.

To worsen her plight the unskilled birth attendants simply cut through the birth canal to create passage for the baby.

Pressure against pelvis As she pushed, the pressure against her pelvis gradually cut off blood to the surrounding tissue. Eventually, the tissue around her birth canal and bladder died off, creating a fistula, or hole.

When the baby finally emerged, it was stillbirth.

The worst had happened. The would-be mother began to stink, urine trickling out of her unabated. Days passed and nothing changed. Hafsat had suffered an obstetric accident known as Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, VVF - one of the worst and most dreaded complications of childbirth. She is one of the millions of girls aged 11-18 in the country who become mothers early or through accidental pregnancy as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse.

Demeaning and degrading, the disorder is typified by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine from a woman’s bladder. A variant that occurs when there is uncontrolled passage of faeces is referred to as Recto-Vaginal Fistula, RVF. No thanks to the practice of early marriage, obstetric fistula, a serious medical condition eradicated in North America and Europe over a Century ago, is still around as thousands continue to live with it in countries such as Nigeria where at least 100,000 new cases occur every year.

Treatment at gynaecology clinics According to the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, in subSaharan Africa, where one in 10 girls becomes a mother by age 16, scores of girls and women suffering from one or both forms of fistulae are condemned to carry the brand of social outcasts and even though there is treatment at gynaecology clinics nationwide, most healthcare personnel are ill prepared to deal with the malady.

Dr. Ejike Orji, Country Representative, Ipas Nigeria. describes obstetric fistula as one of the most telling forms of maternal morbidity. “It usually occurs when a girl who is too young to get pregnant in the first place, suffers prolonged labour without timely access to emergency Caesarean Section. It is a debilitating condition that continues to leave hundreds of thousands of girls and women incontinent, suffering in solitude and shame.

Orji, a gynaecologist and obstetrician, points out that the key to ending complications of childbirth such as obstetric fistula is to prevent them from happening in the first place.

“Early marriage puts girls at

great risk for premature childbearing, disability and death.

When a girl is under-aged and is pregnant, the birth canal is not well developed. It is narrow and unable to carry the head of the baby. If the baby is forced to pass through the birth canal, two things can happen.

“The girl, who is a baby herself and has no business having babies, would either rupture her uterus, and both the girl and the baby will die. The other thing that can happen is that even if the girl succeeds in delivering the baby after several hours of labour, she will end up with VVF, or if it is in the rural area where there is no skilled attendants, she will develop RVF. VVF occurs as she is pushing; she is stressing the tissues of the birth canal, because the head of baby is bigger than the birth canal.”

Presenting a graphic illustration of VVF, also known as an ‘obstetric disaster’ in medical circles, Orji explained that with continuous

,

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

be smelling of urine and will be sent back to her parents. The final thing is that she will hate herself. This is a big issue,” he remarked.

Orji stated that there was a time Nigeria contributed 10 percent of all maternal deaths in the world, and though the Midwifery Service Scheme enabled the nation to reduce the maternal mortality incidence almost by 50 per cent, the contribution of Nigeria to global maternal mortality has actually increased by 15 percent.

“Six years ago, a study was conducted to find out which women were actually dying in terms of age that was why when it was painfully realised that 70 percent of maternal deaths are young girls of 18 and below. What is happening is that other countries’ maternal mortality control method is working faster. One of the key areas is that we keep making our young girls pregnant. If we eliminate teenage pregnancy, we will eliminate almost 50 percent

,

Early marriage puts girls at great risk for premature child-bearing, disability and death. When a girl is under-aged and is pregnant, the birth canal is not well developed

pushing, the baby’s head presses between the pubic bone and the urethra which takes urine from the bladder.

“When it presses for a long time usually 4-5 hours, the blood supply to that urethra will stop and that place will have what is called ischaemic death and fall off. So passage of urine will now be interrupted between the bladder and birth canal. The girl will no longer be able to hold or control urine anymore. Immediately urine comes in from the kidney, it pours into the birth canal. And what happens is that the husband will reject her because she will

of maternal deaths. If you look at abortion related deaths, 50-60 percent of theses deaths are among adolescents aged 10-24, the proportion that suffers that burden.

“If you marry a girl who is under 18, and start having sex with the girl and you say you will keep her till 18 before she gets pregnant, the girl will not die, but the consequences is that she would be out of school, and she would never, never get to her highest potential. It is only in rare cases that you see such girls reach their life potential. We do know that in a girl that is well educated the

outcome of the baby is better.”

Findings show that complications during pregnancy and childbirth are leading causes of death among adolescent girls aged 1519 resulting in thousands of deaths each year in low-resource and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Data from the UNFPA and Guttmacher Institute reveal that the risk of maternal mortality is higher for adolescent girls, especially those aged 15 and below, compared to older women. “Adolescent pregnancy brings detrimental social and economic consequences for a girl, her family, her community and her nation. Elimination of child marriage and meeting adolescents sexual and reproductive health needs would protect their rights and help prevent girls from having too many children too early in life.

Adolescent pregnancies “Adolescent pregnancies put newborns at risk. The risk of death during the first month of life is 50 percent higher among babies born to adolescent mothers. The younger the mother is, the higher the risk for the baby, says the WHO.” A 2011 Report from the UN General Assembly titled “The Girl Child – Report of The Secretary General” affirms that: “The younger a girl is when she becomes pregnant, whether she is married or not, the greater the risk to her health. Girls under the age of 15 are at more risk of dying in childbirth than women in their 20s,” the Report concludes.

Findings from the UNICEF State of the World’s Children’s Report 2011 show that young women make up 64 percent of all new infections among people worldwide. “This is not just because they are more physiologically susceptible but because they are also at higher risk for sexual violence and rape, both inside and outside of marriage. In a marriage, adolescent girls often have limited control over contraceptive use or whether sex takes place or not."

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—53

Tukur’s topsy-turvy peace mission THE Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last Monday, rolled out a list of 30 members under the name, ‘reconciliatory panel,’ with Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan, as chairman.

BY HENRY UMORU

manner named his new committee as “elders committee” which he gave the task of ensuring “deep commitment towards fostering and consolidating reconciliation within the party”.

The 14-member elders’ committee, which had former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, as chairman, was inaugurated on July 1, 2009 to among others ensure total reconciliation of members in states with crisis which then were Anambra, Kano, Bayelsa, Edo and Akwa Ibom among others.

Members of the Elders’ Committee were former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori; Prof. Jerry Gana; former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje; Alhaji Dahiru Manga Ignatius Ajuru; Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun; Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam; Senator Ayim Ude Chukwu; Hon. Dave Salako; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Mrs. Herberta Okonofia and the present Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina.

Former Acting National Secretary who was then the Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo served as the secretary.

Just as the Ekwueme committee, the Nwachukwu team after much traveling and talking also came out with a report which

Interests in the party

•Tukur:

Announcing the composition of the committee, the party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke said the reconciliation Committee was put up to ensure comprehensive reconciliation among members and interests in the party.

Other members of the panel are Dr. I. A. Obuzor, Alh. Salisu, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Niyi Fadimula, Chief Jerome Eke, AVM Chris O. Marizu, Hon. Tijani Ibrahim Kiyawa, Dr. Christy Silas, Barr.

Jangwe Yusuf, Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Yakubu Shehu, Mohammed Kuchazi, Mrs. Adedeji Otiti Olarenwaju, Chief Emma Iwuagwu, Sen. Umar Gada, Asiwaju Dosun Fatokun, Engr. Harold Eze, Hajiya Fati Sabo, Hon. Wakili Mohammed and Shittu Mohammed.

According to Okeke, the committee was set up to carry out a comprehensive reconciliation of

aggrieved members of the party.

Avalanche of reconciliation panels: Before now, the PDP had put in place a couple of reconciliation committees including one led by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

The Ekwueme’s 11-member reconciliation committee had some of the party’s founding fathers and grandees such as former Minister of Finance, Adamu Ciroma; former Deputy National Chairmen, Bode George and Shuaib Oyedokun, former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Tapgun and former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana among others.

The Ekwueme panel visited the six geo-political zones and raised the alarm that the party was in very bad shape, even as it discovered that only six out of the 34 founding members remained in the party at that time. The report of the Ekwueme committee as good as many thought it to be

was, however, thrown into the dustbin.

Ekwueme, understandably, was in the position to attest to the ill-health of the PDP given his age, experience and forthrightness.

Rather than carry out a holistic implementation of the Ekwueme report, Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor who became the new national chairman, set up another 18-member committee to review the report. It was headed by the former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed, the then deputy national chairman of the party.

Other members of the committee were Shuaibu Oyedokun, Shetima Mustafa, Ibrahim Ida, Martha Bodunrin, Hakims Agoda, Halim Idris, Frank Ogbuewu; Onyeabo Obi and Aminu Wali, who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to China.

Ogbulafor remarkably, did not give any reason for setting up a new panel but in a very tactical

,

THE idea of having a reconciliation committee to resolve the multiple crises bedeviling the PDP could have been a welcome development given that the party is preparing for the August 31 Special National Convention to correct the wrongs that were made in March 2012 when Tukur emerged as national chairman.

The issue of reconciliation also became imperative in the light of the approach of a tougher opposition in the form of the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress (APC) an amalgamation of opposition political parties including the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The Dickson panel, which was inaugurated, yesterday, has Alhaji Asheik Jarma as deputy chairman and Amb. Umar Damagun as secretary. The members include Secretary, Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin; former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; Senator Hope Uzodinma; Prince Arthur Eze and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.

Dickson is Jonathan’s governor, whom critics said would not go against the wishes of President Jonathan and Tukur because he would want to come back again as governor.

If reports of men like Ekwueme, Nwachukwu, Gana, Oyedokun, Babatope, Yahaya Kwande and Adamu Ciroma among others as assembled in the past were thrown into the dustbins and total reconciliation eluded the party, how far can Dickson’s committee go?

Needed muscle Will Dickson have the needed muscle to bring former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adamu Ciroma; Olusegun Agagu, Gbenga Daniel, Yayaha Kwande, Ayo Fayose, Caleb Olubolade, Christopher Alao- Akala, Rasheed Ladoja, Wole Oyelese, Chief Richard Akinjide, and the Ubas, Ukachukwu and Ulasi in Anambra, among others, together, and tell them the truth?

Will he have the same muscle that Ekwueme, Nwachukwu, Babatope, Gana and others had in the past?

Will Tukur’s men like Senator Umar Gada, Shittu Mohammed, and Ibrahim Mantu go contrary to his wishes? How will these men reconcile Wammako, Nyako, Lamido, Kwankwaso with others? How will Dickson

Dickson is Jonathan’s governor, whom critics said would not go against the wishes of President Jonathan and Tukur because he would want to come back again as governor

is lying fallow somewhere in the national secretariat of the party.

It is thus interesting that the party has again come up with another reconciliation move.

However, the thrust and components of the present trouble shooting move are being questioned.

There was also the move as disclosed by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State that President Goodluck Jonathan would lead a panel to resolve the multiple crises in the party, but it received attacks especially from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the idea died on arrival.

But the panel resurrected in another form, this time with Dickson as the chairman.

,

reconcile Amaechi with Jonathan and Tukur knowing what happened after the election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF when Dickson, Akpabio stormed out, rejected the results where Amaechi scored 19 as against the 16 votes of Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State?

Skepticism trails move: Since the emergence of the committee, criticisms, skepticism have continued to trail the reconciliation train.

Chief of Staff, Rivers Government House, Mr. Tony Okocha, feared that the Committee might not achieve anything because the chairman is an interested party. Also, a former governorship aspirant in Continued on page 54

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

We didn't vote on child marriage — Sen Abaribe SENATOR Enyinnaya Abaribe is the Chairman Senate Committee on Media. In this interview, he spoke on issues surrounding the widely condemned Child Marriage. Excerpts: sure that every interest is catered for within the Nigeria states, bends over backwards to accommodate things that are sad by members who represents a constituency.

When Senator Yerima raised that point-of-order, the presiding officer was bound to take it. And on taking it, those who voted against the position for us to leave it there where in the minority; it came to 60 to 35.

But the point really is that constitution stipulates that for every position to pass, there must be two third majority. And because that two third could not be gotten, that is how that particular section is still in our books as it is today.

Item 61, part 1 of the second schedule of the constitution talks about Customary law and Islamic law with respect to age of marriage, but bringing it in with respect to this one, people think that was able to happen because of the ambiguity of Section 29 (4a and 4b) and that if this is not deleted such things will always pass?

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

S

O can you tell us what really transpired at the senate, leading to the “Child Marriage” issue?

The committee that was set up by the Senate to amend the constitution looked at 4b of Section 29 and felt that because it makes specific mention of a married woman, which actually has nothing to do with 4a and renunciation of your citizenship, was not meant to be there.

This is because that subsection is in conflict with Section 42 of the Constitution, which talks about discrimination.

And so we could not have two sections that are against each other, because by bringing in 4b that has a specific mention of a woman, we felt that it was against Section 42. So the committee now brought it to us and said rather than continue to have a problem, let that particular Section 4b be deleted since 4a is there and it is gender neutral.

And that was what played out on the floor of the Senate because at that point we voted on it.

When we voted, the Section 4b actually passed to be deleted. But what now happened was that subsequently one of our distinguished senators, Senator Yerima, raised a point-of-order.

Renunciation of citizenship

•Abaribe: seeing there is against whatever he feels his own feelings, as epitomized by his constituency, is.

,

So, with respect to child marriage, the National Assembly has already done something about it, the question of this section, has nothing to do with child marriage

Now in parliamentary practice, you can raise a point-of-order either on the basis of the constitution or on the basis of our rules.

Now, he raised a constitutional point-of-order that under the second schedule of the constitution, Section 61 defines the area that you legislate on as the exclusive list. And Section 61 talks about Statutory Marriage.

And in Section 61, it says that we cannot go into Customary law or Islamic law as the case may be.

Now once you raise a point-oforder, it is bound to be taken by the presiding officer, the Senate President. And so he (Senate President) now looked at it and decided that in the interest of everyone of us that were in the chamber because everybody in that represents a constituency.

And once a point-of-order is raised, somebody from a constituency wants to point out that there is something that he is

,

So the Senate President had no option than to take it. It could not muster the required two third number that would be used to be able to delete it from the

constitution. And that is exactly what happened.

What really we see is that several commentators, several editorials and all manners of things have been put out to the public with respect to Section 29 and what we voted on was not child marriage.

When the point-of-order was raised, was it raised before the vote was taken or after the vote had been taken, and could the point-of-order be raised after the vote had been taken?

The point-of-order was taken after the vote. Usually every presiding officer, in other to make

That is not correct because this particular section is specific to renunciation of your citizenship and does not have anything to do with any other part of the constitution, with respect to either Islamic law or customary law.

And let me also say this, this same national assembly in 2003 had passed the Child Rights Act. And in Section 21 of the Child Rights Act, the age of marriage is specified there- 18 years. That means that we already have a subsidiary legislation on age of marriage.

Simply thinking that somebody is trying to go back to that section

and try to use it does not come in at all because that section is specific; it deals with the matter of renunciation of your citizenship or keeping your citizenship.

Now what we know today is that the age of marriage as passed by this national assembly, under the Child Rights Act is 18 years. But the Child Rights Act will need to be domesticated in each state. As at today, most states have passed the Child Rights Act or have adopted it. I think only 12 states are remaining.

What we have been doing is interfacing with Houses of Assembly of those particular 12 states and telling them to go ahead to adopt the Child Rights Act.

Maturity age So, with respect to child marriage, the National Assembly has already done something about it. The question of this section, has nothing to do with child marriage.

But why did the Senate wait this long to explain this to Nigerians because truly the 2003 Child Rights Act has states talking of so many issue relating to marriage age or maturity age, which most of them said is 21 years.

But in all of these, did anyone stampede the senate or deceive the senate into retaking that particular vote after it was done the very first time?

Nobody bullied the senate, nobody pushed the senate, nobody did anything to twist the hand of the senate. This is mainly a pragmatic approach that we normally take in legislation.

Legislation is done for all times.

And some of the times, somebody can get up and say we may have to revisit this section because we now have further information on that.

All that simply happened was that there was a point-of-order raised and usually anytime a point-of-order is raised on anything, we vote on it.

Tukur’s topsy turvy peace mission Continues from page 53 Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, described the panel as one that is dead on arrival. ‘’With all due respect, I write to respectfully urge the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and members of his National Working Committee, to kindly reconsider the appointment of Gov. Dickson of Bayelsa State as Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee of the party. ‘’Other than the fact that as a governor, Dickson would have

little time to devote to such an onerous and time-consuming task, I also think that he is eminently unqualified to handle such an assignment. In the first place Dickson lacks the national exposure and experience that such a task requires.

Secondly, Dickson himself is a subject of conflict within the party apparatus and membership. The way and manner in which he was brought in as governor, and the furor and controversy that it generated across the country, drain him of all moral standing

to undertake a reconciliatory mission. Also, as a governor of the president’s own state, Dickson cannot be objective and fair in his judgment. Given that one of the most central causes of the present disputes within the party is the inordinate ambition of the president for 2015, I cannot see how Governor Dickson can depart from this goal should it be imperative for the committee to do so in the course of its assignment. ‘’In fact, Dickson’s appointment will only be seen as an act of

nepotism aimed at satisfying the impulsive determination of the president to achieve his aspiration. This perception will automatically estrange most aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party. The committee will thus be dead on arrival.”

Given this view, which is shared by many members of the party it is not yet Uhuru for Bamanga Tukur. It is to be seen how far the Dickson’s panel will go.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—55

Anambra 2013: The battle of three senators THEY are three senators with a common streak of having been pushed out office by the courts. Now Senators Chris Ngige, Emma Anosike and Andy Uba are in the frontline in the battle to succeed the outgoing governor of Anambra State.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

Y

ESTERDAY, Senator Chris Ngige stole the show in the Senate chambers as the two of the three senators from Anambra State declared their intention to vie for the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

Senator Ngige, ACN, Anambra Central and Andy Uba, PDP, Anambra South in separate letters to the Senate informed the legislative house of their separate decisions to contest the election.

The acclamation of Onwa!

Onwa! that trailed Ngige’s letter was only characteristic of the charisma and camaraderie the former governor gathers in his public and private outings.

Remarkably, the two senators were former governors, and both of them remarkably, governed on illegal footing. Dr. Ngige governed the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP between 2003 and 2006 when the Court of Appeal ruled that Mr. Peter Obi and not him, was the winner of the 2003 gubernatorial election.

Mr. Obi had barely occupied the seat for one year when Uba, at that time, one of the most powerful men in Nigeria being the then president’s alter ego, sauntered majestically into the office of governor of Anambra

•Ngige: (Central) Three year governor State in May 2007.

However, the Supreme Court surprised him just 17 days after his inauguration with the ruling that he was occupying an office that rightfully belonged to Mr. Obi. Moments after that historic judgment, Uba’s associates tried to spin the story that the judgment suspended his governorship until after Obi’s first term. But that was not to be as Obi successfully fought off all other challengers, including Uba in the 2010 election. Uba who contested

•Uba: (South) 17 day governor

that election on the platform of Labour Party, a party many of his associates had long been associated with, trailed badly in the 2010 election despite winning the 2007 election conducted by Prof. Maurice Iwu. Both Ngige and Uba come to this year ’s contest with the hanging issue of zoning that is now stirring up. Ngige is from Anambra Central, the zone of the outgoing two term governor, Mr. Obi. Senator Uba is from Anambra South, a zone that produced

•Anosike: (North) Bidding his time

three former governors of the state: himself, Chinwoke Mbadiniju and Emeka Ezeife.

While Ngige is hailed for his historic accomplishments in office in the three years he governed the state and for changing the style and structure of governance as dictated by the godfathers, the looming question of equity that has recently been raised by Mr. Obi is a snare upon him. It is in this perspective that the approach of a third force, Senator Emma Anosike comes into play.

Remarkably, Senator Anosike like Uba and Ngige, was also removed from the Senate by the judicial decision which ruled that Senator Joy Emodi was the rightful occupant of the Anambra North seat in 2005.

Senator Anosike, however, comes with the advantage of coming from Anambra North, the only zone in the state that is yet to produce a governor for the state.

Senator Anosike was the PDP’s gubernatorial running mate in the 2010 contest.

2015: Our plans for Lagos — UPP state chairman DR Femi Ferguson, legal practitioner and Lagos State Chairman of the newly registered United Progressive Party (UPP), in this interview, he speaks on the philosophy of the new political party and what makes them different from the rest. Excerpts:

BY JACOB AJOM

Y

OUR party has been saying that UPP is a party for the voiceless, for non-indigenes.

How true is this?

Let me correct one impression.

The people who are regarded as non-indigenes. My leader, Prince Olusoa is from Ikorodu, because every Ikorodu man here is regarded as an Ijebu man.

But he cannot compare himself with me who was raised up in the palace of Oba Oyekan. How can you call me a non-indigene because my father is from the east?

So we are trying to abrogate that and make it possible for all Lagosians; whether you were born in Lagos you will be free to contest and win elections in Lagos.

Bill Clinton ended his tenure as President of the United States of America, went to New York

people the press have made into paper tigers. Ask them to bring 100 people and they can’t bring even twenty.

bought a house there. He had never lived there before and his wife, Hilary contested and won election as a Senator. That is what we want to see happen in Nigeria, and Lagos in particular.

I want to see someone like Babatunde Raji; Fashola who has done so well for Lagos go to Enugu at the end of his tenure, buy a house there and contest election there as a senator and represent Enugu. That is what we mean by non-indigenes having a say.

You speak so strongly, do you have the machinery to capture Lagos?

I am surprised you are saying this. The machinery is already on the ground. I mean we have people like Prince Olusola and other men of structure. These are men you call up anytime and they are there for you and they

•Ferguson: move along with their structure.

In politics, there are some

I want to believe UPP is an offshoot of APGA. How do you intend to guide against events that led to the disintegration of APGA? There is a Nigerian adage that says, when an old woman falls down twice, you are bound to count the contents of her basket.

And the Holy Bible says affliction does not run a second time, so our great party will not suffer that.

APGA is a party that was formed in a hurry in 2002 and entered into election in 2003.

And before you knew it they recorded a certain degree of success. recorded victory that had to go through a court of law.

They had no time to put the party together. But UPP was well planned, well articulated and

well structured. So that is exactly what happened.

We have not yet covered all the local governments because we are taking our time, planning and putting the relevant structures in place. We are taking our time and by the Grace of God, we will not suffer what we suffered in APGA. I was in APGA. I was in APGA from the beginning till I left.

So, what is UPP promising the people?

UPP is promising the people what has never been experienced in the Nigerian political space before. We are promising them prosperity, we are promising them peace, we are promising them tranquility and harmony, quality life and purpose; a new direction.

UPP will bring peace. It will serve like something coming from the outer world but it is true.

56—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

T

HERE is one thing many Nigerians agree upon without any dissent either in thought or action: that is that the country does not deserve the lowly place it is in today in view of its natural blessings.

God has provided Nigerians with a fertile land and the people, with abundant raw talents to be developed at will.

Many analysts often argue that there is little difference between a developing nation and a developed one. It all depends on the ability of one nation to master and control its environment by developing it to the best of its ability. The other nation is rooted to its environment, glorifying its inconsistencies and praying for its amelioration.

Thus the basic difference between the English person and his Nigerian counterpart is that while the English could master the dreary winter months by the provision of adequate mechanism, the Nigerian counterpart is yet to wake up in the morning from where the night has unfortunately left him. There is not always the supply of enough power to wake him from slumber.

The glorious sunshine in the Nigerian mind-set does not provoke a serious thought on the use of solar power for economic projects. Rather, there is that belief that the country‘s power problem could only be solved by attracting foreign loans, though cheap by local standard, but payable at the end of the period. The reasonable argument that all local sources, including abundant coal, should be adequately exploited might not appear to a non-innovative mind. The Nigerian Railway engines of those trying years were powered adequately from Enugu coal mines would make little or no difference to a nation that is flowing with black gold (crude oil). Even if pieces of economic history relate joyfully to the development of Japan and other nations (which had no oil) to the use of local materials, the pundits are not always impressed.

At the point of being misunderstood, I am not against the concept of foreign loan to develop local projects where domestic capital is not available. In an atmosphere where saving is inadequate and the available domestic capital is subject to conflicting demands, the availability of

07059197616

Politics and economics in immature society foreign capital would be a welcome relief.

However, it is the direction of foreign loan (howbeit cheap) and its application that matters most. It is essential that loans or foreign investments should go to new projects that would impact positively on the economic transformation of the country. The preference would be for Chinese loans (preferably investments) to be directed into new and fastly growing electronic and plastic industries. The idea of attracting Chinese loans into airports‘ modernization does not make much economic sense.

Perhaps, the proponents of Chinese loans often forget the timely warning of the Central Bank Governor that the Chinese, like other past colonialists would prefer to import our raw materials and exchange them for manufactured goods for our markets. At the moment, Chinese goods have so dominated the local markets that there is hardly any Nigerian home that Chinese products are not found.

Thus, Chinese aggression does not leave room for the growth of domestic manufacturing industry. It is remarkable that our hard-working Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance Minister touched on this aspect during President Jonathan’s recent visit to China.

There is a big problem with how the economy is run in many immature states.

First, the abundant minerals are

inadequately developed; revenues from the developed sectors are often wasted or grossly mismanaged. In Nigeria, observers believe that the handling of the oil industry does not exhibit a sense of maturity. Here is a country which is one of the biggest oil and gas producers in the world, but satisfied with exporting a part of its crude oil to import refined oil because its domestic refineries are inadequate.

At home, its production is often at the mercy of oil thieves, illegal bunkers and pipe-line vandals. The pity is that production is depleted by about 400,000 barrels per day and the revenue, (which is about 80 per cent of disposable income of all tiers of government), is in jeopardy.

It looks as if the local ghosts could easily determine that what is in the “pipe-line” is MONEY. Politics The other day, Port Harcourt (the garden city of the colonial era) witnessed political insanity reminiscent of the “wild wild West” of the 1960s when some legislators (devils) turned the Western House of Assembly into a war zone.

The head of a legislator (Hon Kessington Momoh) was used as a test for the durability and the effectiveness of the Mace. Although Kessington Momoh`s head was `bloodied`; yet it remained

`unbowed`.

The victim later became a Judge and his sound judgments in the courts over which he presided were testimonies that his brain was not damaged. By fate, the victim of the Rivers House of Assembly’s ugly scene might one day become the governor or the Head of State. Who knows?

In a mature State, the number 16 would not be construed to be greater than 19 or that five legislators mathematically be equivalent to two-thirds of thirty.

It is recognized that the bounty of Democracy is the ability to discuss, argue and come to a compromise with the majority having its way and the minority having its say. That would amount to good governance between the government and the responsible opposition. It is the same rule that should bind members within the same political party whether ruling or in opposition.

Some writers have blamed the Rivers State Governor for bringing woes on him by disagreeing with his party and expecting sympathy.

It is only in a primitive atmosphere that a leader becomes sacrosanct and could not be challenged; in principle, any leader could be challenged without molestation in any form.

In Britain, Harold Wilson once challenged his party leader, Gaitskell on party leadership election; Mrs. Margaret Thatcher a Minister of Education once defeated her leader (Prime Minister) in the Conservative party caucus election.

Both Harold Wilson (Labor) and Margaret Thatcher (Tory) became successful Prime Ministers later.

At present, politics is controlled by ethnic and religious considerations while partypolitics is rooted in favoritism and “winner takes all” attitude. Economics, in-spite of array of brilliant economists is yet to put off the toga of (classism) of the 1920s and 1930s.

Sweden exported its only products (Lumbers) and imported western technology for its economic development.

Nigeria however exports her crude to import luxury products like second-hand cars and jeeps, with our tyre manufacturing and battery plants virtually closed.

2015 PDP ticket: The one-horse race

BY HAMZA MAILAFIYA IBRAHIM

T

HE opinion, entitled “2015 Presidency: Atiku’s Narrowing Options” written by Remi Adelowo in The Nation newspaper of July 21, 2013 is a very interesting political analysis.

The picture of the politics and intrigues in the PDP is, however, bigger than it appears. In fact, the main concern should be whether the PDP can sustain its relevance and influence in 2015 if it continues on the path of destroying every component of democratic principles – freedom of choice inclusive.

Adelowo asked a very pertinent question, which in itself is an indictment of the ruling PDP. “But even if a primary is conducted, can Atiku defeat Jonathan with the party structures firmly in the latter’s (President Jonathan’s) hands?” he queried.

The question, however, should be the other way round: “can Atiku defeat Jonathan in a free and fair primary in which delegates are independent to elect any aspirant seeking the

party’s presidential ticket in 2015?” We can only know the extent of Atiku’s popularity if the contest is open to democratic process or when the President is not allowed to hijack the party.

Any arrangement where intimidation and blackmail are used to take over the party structure should not be a proper gauge to determine the chances of Atiku or anyone else.

There is a wide disconnect between a man’s commitment to democratic values and what he does in practice. In fact, the moment an incumbent’s ambition becomes more important than anything else, he doesn’t mind going for broke. According to one wise man, “Ambition is pitiless.

Any merit it cannot use, it finds despicable.”.

Winning fairly is the greatest psychological satisfaction for any competitor. He has the right to contest just like any other party member. But why does he need to hijack the PDP structures and put them in his pocket? Why is he allergic to free and fair contest?

If a man is sure of his popularity, why does he need to put obstacles

•Jonathan: on the path of democratic competition? These are the issues that should dominate any analysis of the realities within the PDP rather than dismissing Atiku out of hand.

A one-horse race destroys the credibility of the PDP. In fact, why should anybody make any pretence about commitment to

democracy? The PDP is deeply divided on account of his ambition to contest in 2015.

Which leader takes pleasure in leading a divided family?

Our focus of analysis should be on a President that rose to power on victimhood and not so much because the PDP has no other good materials to contest against him.

Can the PDP talk of reforms and return to the path of democratic practices when the ambition of one man is standing in the way of this reformation?

Currently, the Jerry Gana Convention Committee is having problems with the party Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on account of the desire to bend every rule and bend every party leader to his will.

The suggestion that Atiku doesn’t have a dog’s chance is diversionary. We should bother about the trend in the PDP where everyone is reduced to a yes man against their conviction of what is just or fair.

The Nigerian Governors Forum, a once united body of elected leaders, is today torn

apart on account of the ambition to foreclose free and fair competition. Any man desperate to this extent wouldn’t bother changing the PDP constitution to make himself an imperial president.

It is easier to dismiss Atiku than humbly acknowledge the charade going on in the party.

The reconciliation and reformation process recommended by Dr. Ekwueme’s and Gen. Nwachukwu’s committees is being undermined by these manoeuvres. The biggest issue is the president himself and not Atiku. The former Vice President is not the architect of these problems.

How do you determine someone’s political strength or weaknesses when you refuse to give him the chance to prove his popularity through transparent primaries? Manipulating events in advance is a form of rigging in disguise.

*Hamza Mailafiya Ibrahim wrote from 68, Katsina Road, Kaduna. hamzamailafiyaib@yahoo.com

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 57

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013—59

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Alade Odunewu dies @ 85

L

AGOS—VETERAN journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, popularly known as Allah De, is dead.

Alhaji Odunewu, an indigene of Ikorodu in Lagos State, died yesterday at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, at the age of 85.

He will be buried today at Vaults and Gardens Ikoyi, Lagos at 3 p.m.

Reacting to his death, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Sam Amuka said: “He was a fine fellow, we will miss him”.

Alade Odunewu, was a prominent Nigerian journalist who became famous for his satirical essays and his ‘Allah De’ columns written when he worked with the Daily Times of Nigeria. He later went on to publish a book, ‘Winner Takes All’, a compilation of some of his writings.

He once headed the Nigerian Guild of Editors, an association he co-founded and also served as the President of the National Press Council.

Educated St John’s School, Aroloya; St Cyprian, Port Harcourt; New Bethel College, Onitsha and the Regent Street Polytechnic, London, Odunewu began his journalism career in 1950 as a sub-editor with the Daily Service.

He later became an editor with the Service. In 1956, he became the managing director of the Nigerian Tribune and later worked with the Allied Newspapers of Nigeria as the editor-inchief. In 1964, he moved to the Times group where he became the editor of the Daily Times, and rose to become Editor-in-Chief of the Times Publications.

He served as a commissioner for tourism in Lagos State in 1973 and was later a member of the Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO.

Late Alade Odunewui

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Spain mourns 80 killed in train disaster T

HE Spanish government has decreed three days of official mourning after Wednesday’s train crash near Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, which left at least 80 people dead and 130 injured, 20 of them seriously.

Few of the 218 people on board escaped injury, although both drivers were unhurt.

As the investigation is ongoing there has been no official statement on the cause of the accident, but one of the drivers reportedly told local g o v e r n m e n t representatives that he was travelling at 190km/h on a curve with an 80km/h speed limit. According to El País, he said over the radio while still trapped in his cab: “I was doing 190.

I hope no one’s been killed because they’ll be on my conscience.”

The driver is in police custody and has been called to make a declaration before the judge investigating the tragedy. He has not been

charged.

Julio Gómez-Pomar, president of Renfe, Spain’s national train operator, said: “It won’t take long to determine the cause of the accident but it’s up to the judge to assess the case.”

It is not clear whether the excessive speed was a result of human error or a technical fault, but GómezPomar said the train had passed inspection on Wednesday morning and the stretch of line where the accident happened was fitted with a security system.

Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, a native of Santiago, said on a visit to the scene that two

investigations had been launched, “one judicial and the other by the ministry of works to find out exactly why this terrible train accident occurred”.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of the Galician government, declared seven days of mourning in the north-western province. A minute’s silence was observed across Spain at noon on Thursday.

Of those injured, 95 are still in hospital, with 32 critical. One Briton was among the injured, the Foreign Office confirmed.

The US state department said five Americans were hurt.

Tunisia opposition leader shot dead T

ODAY has been declared a day of national mourning in Tunisia after a leading opposition politician was shot dead.

Mohamed Brahmi, a nationalist and member of the secular Popular Party, was shot outside his home

in Ariana yesterday.

The gunmen, who fired approximately 11 shots, fled the scene on a motorbike. Brahmi’s family blamed the Islamist party Ennahda.

The 58-year-old was a strong critic of the government, having

U.S firm to assist 1.7m Nigerians

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

T

HE United States Consul General to Nigeria, Jeffery Hawkins has described Nigeria as one of the most important emerging economies in Africa and a place for the United States to significantly increase engagement in the future.

Hawkins, who spoke during a contract signing ceremony between Bayelsa State and Cardinal Resources, a United States company, to provide solar powered water filtration system to deliver clean water to the roughly 1.7 million residents of Bayelsa State, stated that. “Nigeria is one of the most important emerging economies in Africa and a place for the United States to significantly increase engagement in the future.

"As Cardinal Resources and other American businesses have demonstrated, there are growing economic opportunities for increased

Scene of the train derailment in Spain

trade and investment in Nigeria.

The implementation of sustainable solutions by Cardinal Resources would reduce Nigeria’s environmental crisis, in addition to eliminating or solving old problems.”

The contract, valued at approximately $65 million for Cardinal Resources, covers delivery of Cardinal Resources’ patented Red Bird Systems to correct, and or eradicate the concurrent flooding and contaminated water crisis in the State.

According to Director, Cardinal Resources, Kevin Jones, “ This is best thing ever in Nigeria, in West Africa. Although, it presents some unique challenges, we believe that it is absolutely critical to address the need for clean water in this part of the world, and to do so using sustainable solutions like our Red Bird Systems, to achieve new levels of growth while addressing some of our planet’s most acute health and environmental concerns.”

founded the Movement of the People Party after the Arab Spring in 2011 and holding a key position in the National Constituent Assembly charged with drawing up a new constitution for Tunisia.

Brahmi is the second secular politician to be

Mourners of slain Mohammed Brahmi yesterday

UK to deport Nigerian rapist student

C

ONVICTED rapist Ekene Anoliefo faces deportation to Nigeria after losing his appeal in Scotland yesterday during which he argued that removing him from Britain would breach his human rights.

Mr Anoliefo, 38, was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to nine, in May 2009 after he was convicted of the brutal rape of a 19-year-old, who he held captive in his car after pretending to help her. He was found guilty of driving the young woman to his Aberdeen flat and raping her in

what the sentencing judge described as particularly brutal and degrading circumstances.

A computer engineering student, Mr Anoliefo was ordered for deportation last December but decided to appeal the decision but yesterday, the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber ruled against him. Mr Justice Blake who delivered the judgement said the public interest in getting a dangerous sexual predator out of the country far outweighed his right to respect for his private life.

killed in the capital in the last six months, following the death of Chokri Belaid

in February, emphasising the volatile situation in the country.

Togo voters head to the polls in long-delayed elections

P

EOPLE in Togo are going to the polls in l o n g - d e l a y e d parliamentary elections.

The vote is seen as an indication of what will happen in the presidential elections next year.

Experts say it could expose weaknesses in the grip of the Gnassingbe family. which has ruled the West African country for more than four decades.

Opposition groups have held mass protests over the government’s last-minute

changes to the electoral code.

They say constituency boundaries were manipulated to benefit the ruling party.

Angry demonstrations caused the parliamentary vote to be postponed from October 2012.

The polls have been rescheduled twice since then, as mediators struggled to bring government and opposition into agreement.

BRIEFS

O.J. Simpson seeks cut in prison sentence

F

ORMER football star O.J. Simpson asked the Nevada parole board yesterday to reduce his

prison sentence of up to 33 years for his role in the robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers.

Pope slams the rich in Brazil slum visit

P

OPE Francis on Thursday issued the first social manifesto of his young pontificate, telling slum dwellers that the world’s rich must do much more to wipe out vast inequalities between the haves and the have-nots.

History ’s first Latin

American pope, who has rallied the Church on behalf of the poor and who lives more austerely than predecessors, called for a “culture solidarity” to replace the “selfishness and individualism” prevailing in modern society.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 61

Wres tler s ffall all tto o ne w rules as Delt a Oliha’s last kick restler tlers new Delta leads

BY SOLOMON NWOKE, Warri

B

AYELSA State Greco Roman Coach, Ebikebina Sunday yesterday said that many wrestlers and officials were yet to master the new rules in the event, adding that wrestlers especially those from his state were losing bouts here in Warri to their ignorance.

And with three gold medals, a silver and three bronze medals, Delta state, host of the Chief E K Clerk Wrestling championship maintains the lead in the Greco Roman style of wrestling event that was concluded last night at the Brown Hill Events Centre.

Edo state was second with two gold medals and a silver while Bayelsa state, who boasted of cleaning out all the available gold medals at stake, struggled to place third

with a gold medal, Four silver and two bronze medals. Lagos was fourth with a gold and two silver medals.

The most exciting aspects in the Greco Roman wrestling were in three weight categories; 55kg, 74kg and 120kg where the reigning champions were beaten.

In the 55kg weight class, the reigning champion, Nnalue Dominic of Delta was pushed to the third place by Lagos state’Segun Adebamwo who won it and Ibomo Seimiengha of Bayelsa who was second.

Emmanuel Nwori of Benue state was so

outstanding in his weight class 74kg. He solely sponsored himself to the competition to represent his state and beat all his contemporaries to the first position.

Olalekan Salami of Oyo state was second while Erekpo Adio of Good Luck Ebele Jonathan Club came third.

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN, Benin City

T

HE remains of Former Super Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha will today be interred at his Upper Sakpomba road residence in Benin City.

Disclosing this yesterday , the eldest son of the Oliha’ family, Ayo,

Uyo 2013: NWF assures on security A

THLETES, officials and fans coming to the Uyo 2013 National weightlifting championship has been assured of adequate security all through the event which runs from July 29 to August 3.

President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) Hon. Chibudom Nwuche said yesterday in Abuja that all arrangements have been put in place for a hitch free championship, adding that the federation is paying good attention to security the security of all

participants.

“We have contacted the security agencies and we are happy with the peaceful nature of Uyo and Akwa Ibom state

generally. Gov Godswill Akpabio is doing a wonderful job in the state and this informed why we took the championship there. We are going to Uyo

to enjoy the uncommon transforma-tion of the state by one of the best governors in the country,” Nwuche said.

Maigari Continues from BP counterparts in Abidjan on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles landed in Abidjan on Thursday morning, with a handy 41 lead from the first leg, and Maigari immediately charged the boys to go and conquer, and forget whatever antics the Ivorians have up their sleeves.

“You should be preoccupied with your own strategies and tactics to conquer, and not bother your heads about what pranks the opponents would play.

“It is also important to approach the match as if you have no advantage from the first leg here in Nigeria. If you start thinking that you have a handsome credit, that would be a poor approach and the Ivorians will gain strength from that.

“The NFF believes in you and this is why we have given Coach

Stephen Keshi all the support in his rebuilding plan, which has involved giving the home boys equal opportunities in the main team, alongside the overseas-based professionals.”

Maigari insisted that a professional approach to the game would be key to delivering the ticket that would see Nigeria playing in the African Nations Championship for the first time.

“Go in there with the mentality of a winning team and you would get the ticket. Nigerians are looking forward to your coming back with the ticket that will set the tone for another triumph for our country in South Africa early next year,” said the NFF President.

Saturday’s clash at the fabled Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the heart of Cote d’Ivoire’s commercial and economic capital will start at 3.30pm Ivorian team (4.30pm Nigeria time).

•Nigerian weightlifter in an international event.

Madagascar Continues from BP progress to the 10-team, final elimination round.

His compatriot, Velomanana Ferdinand Jinoro, a 32 year old who became an international assistant referee last year, will be Assistant Referee 1, with 42-year old Jean Thierry Djaonirina, four years as an international assistant referee, as Assistant Referee 2.

Seth Jaovanona, 37, and who became an international referee last year, is the Fourth Official.

FIFA also appointed Egyptian Abdul Hamid Radwan as the Referee Assessor while former Ghanaian international defender Anthony Baffoe is the Match Commissioner.

Patrick Beckles from Barbados, who was Security Officer for the Eagles’ last home game, against Kenya at the same venue in March, will repeat the role on 7th September.

The African champions, on nine points, only need avoid defeat against seven-pointer Flames at Canaan City, to be eligible for the 16 th September draw in Cairo that will set the group leaders against one another in a final knock-out race to Brazil 2014.

When both teams clashed at the Chichiri Stadium in Blantyre in June 2012, Malawi equalised with the last kick of the match for a 11 draw.

told Sports Vanguard that a lying-in-state at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will precede the burial of his brother, who died on June 30 in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“We would all gather at Time Mortuary at 8am, from where we would proceed to the stadium for the lying-in-state. At the conclusion of the activities at the stadium, Thompson’s body would be taken to his private residence at Uwa Lane, off Sakpomba road for the interment”, said the Ayo Oliha.

The late Oliha is survived by an aged mother, Mrs Alice Oliha, brothers and sister, comprising Ayo Oliha, Dupe Oliha, Esther Oliha, Evans Oliha, Victor Oliha, two kids, Jesus Aisosa Oliha and Paris Oliha and two wives.

The late Oliha made a total of 31 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring two goals. He made his international debut in 1990, in a game against Senegal and made his last appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in USA, as a late substitute in the second round match against Italy. Oliha retired at the age of 27.

Eagles Continues from BP General of the Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo and several other actors in the football fraternity.

The Air Afrique flight which conveyed the team from Lagos to Abidjan took about one hour, thirty minutes to land in smooth condition with showers of rain welcoming the team to the city. The flight landed at exactly 10:50 local time, which is 11:50am Nigerian time and was well received by members of the Ivoirien FA. The bus that took the team to its hotel in the heart of the city took about 30minutes to reach its destination at Ibis Hotel.

The team

promptly checked in and took its lunch immediately. The Eagles will have its first training session at 3:30pm local time which is 4:30 Nigerian time to coincide with the time the game will be played on Saturday.

On Arrival, Skipper of the side, Chigozie Agbim, sounded a note of warning to his teammates when he said that the good reception should not be translated to mean that vthe Elephents have given up. “We are wary and I have told my mates to take the game very serious because in football anything can happen. But we know we are here to pick the CHAN ticket and no team can stop us at this time”.

62 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

U

SAIN Bolt says recent drugs revelations involving Jamaican sprinters have set the sport back.

Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Usain Bolt says the recent doping scandals in sprinting have set the sport back but insisted he is not a cheat. Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are among a number of athletes to fail recent tests ahead of the world championships next month.

Bolt admitted “It’s going to set us back a bit,” adding that he hopes to “help people forget what has happened” with his own performances. But he stressed: “I am clean.”

He said: “If you were following me since 2002 you would know that I have been doing phenomenal things

‘I am clean’

Fight to join us, Wenger tells Suarez

A

RSENAL expect Luis Suarez to tell Liverpool he wants to leave and so force through a move to the Emirates.

Their audacious bid of £40million plus £1 for the striker was rejected by the Reds on Tuesday night.

And Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said yesterday: “If Arsenal want the player, then they have to produce the value for the player.”

But the Gunners are convinced Suarez is determined to leave for Champions League football.

•Bolt since I was 15.

“I was the youngest person to win the world junior title at 15, I ran the world junior record at 18, the world youth record at 17.

“I have broken every

record there is to break, in every event I have ever done. For me, I have proven myself since I was 15. “For me, I have shown I was always going to be great.”

He added: “I was made to inspire people and to run. I was given a gift and that’s what I do. I am confident in myself and my team, the people I work with. And I know I am clean.”

BY SOLOMON NWOKE, Warri

T

HE maiden Chief E K Clerk wrestling championship is living up to its billings as another champion was dethroned yesterday in the 72kg female category here in Warri, Delta state.

World number three in the 67kg weight class, Ifeoma Iheanacho representing Imo State was beaten by Private Philomena Nlemeofor from the Directorate of Army Physical Training (DAPT) Zaria attached to the 35 Batallion Nigeria Army.

Iheanacho, who is also a National and African Champion was beaten 30 and. Pinfall by Private Nlemeofor and by so beaten, Iheanacho was automatically eliminated from the championship.

Speaking on her defeat, Iheanacho told Sports Vanguard that it was a blunder on the part of her coach who did not tell her on time that she would be moving up from her normal weight category to

•Suarez

Fab talks ongoing D

AVID MOYES has c o n f i r m e d Manchester United are still locked in talks with Barcelona over the sale of Cesc Fabregas.

E.K.Clark Tourney: Defeated champion blames coach a higher one.

She said her normal weight category for the sport is 67kg while her body weight was 66kg, but was surprised that when she got to the competition venue, she was told to move up to a higher weight category which she did not train for. “ It was a very difficult moment for me, I am so confused. I did not prepare my mind for a higher weight category 72kg before coming here for the competition. I have been training under 67kg weight class while my body weight is 66kg.

It was really disappointing for me here”, she sobbed as she spoke to Sports Vanguard.

On the other hand, the solidly built Soldier, Nlemeofor was all smiles as she attribute her feat to the glory of God. She said,” I feel so great beating the World number three champion, I know it was by my power but God’s own at least for not training and still meet up. We did not even train for one day, they just called us up for the championship.''

And they believe their bid has triggered a £40m clause in the 26-yearold’s contract which gives them the right to talk to him. But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger ’s main concern is that the Uruguayan would prefer a move to Real Madrid.

Ifeoma Iheanacho of Nigeria competes against Emma Chalmers of Australia in the women’s 67kg during the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

United have made two offers for the former Arsenal midfielder so far this summer.

When asked whether there had been further developments, Moyes replied: “Talks are ongoing.”

Moyes also revealed Robin van Persie was taken off as a precaution in United’s 3-2 defeat to Yokohama on Tuesday.

The Dutchman will feature against Cerezo Osaka on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Scot wants to keep youngsters Adnan Januzaj and Jesse Lingard at the club, rather than send them out on loan.

Moyes said: “Both have done well. They have adapted well and made contributions to the team.

“Hopefully we can get both some playing time next season but both need to keep their levels up and keep making an impact in training and games.”

•Fabregas.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 — 63

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 26 , 2013

— Page 62

Eagles arrive Abidjan, ready for Elephants

Madagascar officials for Eagles, Malawi

•Agbim warns teammates

T

HE Super Eagles on Thursday afternoon landed safely in Abidjan, the Ivoirien capital ahead of the final leg, CHAN qualifier against host the Elephants scheduled for Saturday in the Ivoirien commercial capital.

The team of 18 playersand officials was led by NFF Vice President, Chief Mike Okeke Umeh and had on board, NFF Head, Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, President

W

ORLD footballgoverning body, FIFA, has appointed officials from Madagascar to take charge of the crunch 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Flames of Malawi, at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, 7th September.

Hamada el Moussa Nampiandraza, 29, and who became an international referee three years ago, will be centre referee for the cracker in which Nigeria Continues on Page 61

Continues on Page 61

You must fear no foe •Maigari tells Eagles

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has told players of the Super Eagles Team B to fear no foe and believe in themselves as they confront their Ivorian Continues on Page 61

•Keshi

•READY TO STRIKE: Sunday Mba raring to go.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Esteem (6) 5 Sage (6) 9 Bequeath (5) 10 Rush (6) 11 Mob (6) 12 Truck (5) 14 Bucket (4) 17 Ballad (3) 18 Eject (4) 20 Harmonised (5) 22 Display (5) 23 Reject (7) 24 Swell (5) 26 Lukewarm (5) 29 Loyal (4) 30 Sever (3) 32 Discourteous (4) 33 Foundation (5) 35 Seem (6) 36 Snuggle (6) 37 Anchor (5) 38 Pitched (6) 39 Emanate (6)

DOWN 1 Take (6) 2 Border (6) 3 Spool (4) 4 Enlist (5) 5 Apologetic (5) 6 Off (4) 7 Bower (6) 8 Pact (6) 13 Loud (7) 15 Seer (5) 16 Shelf (5) 18 Command (5) 19 Pleasant (5) 21 Expire (3) 22 Skill (3) 24 Channel (6) 25 Uproar (6) 27 Gambler (6) 28 Erase (6) 30 Nursed (5) 31 Tint (5) 33 Cook (4) 34 Appear (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Tether 9, Car 10, Tic 12, Funny 13, Evil 15, Fated 17, Pestle 19, Earl 20, Sweet 22, Cab 24, Resumed 27, Pal 28, Aisle 31, Thus 33, Garret 35, Crate 37, Tuft 38, Argue 39, End 41, Lap 42, Disown 43, Swell.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Stress 2, Stripe 3, Yet 4, Safe 5, Crude 6, Abnormal 8, Rift 11, Calculate 14, Leer 16, Team 18, Step 21, Withdraw 23, Bear 25, Saga 26, Diet 29, Stupor 30, Extent 32, Scull 34, Rend 36, Real 40, Dig.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

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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