PDP CRISIS: Why we are fighting Jonathan — Lamido, Aliyu

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61979

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

KILLING OF APO 10:

BOKO HARAM:

Who owns controversial building ? 8

Shekau resurfaces, claims responsibility for fresh Borno killings 11

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AGM— From left: Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO, Folaranmi Odunayo; Chairman, Oba Otudeko and Company Secretary, Oluwayemisi Busari, during the 4th Annual General Meeting of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, held at the Civic Centre, Lagos. photo: Akeem Salau.

PDP CRISIS

Why we are fighting Jonathan — Lamido, Aliyu

BY HENRY UMORU & WOLE MOSADOMI

•We'll fight our case to the last — Lamido •How G7 Govs were misled — Senator A •Blame external forces for PDP crisis— Aliyu

BUJA— THE end to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seems

not in sight, as the aggrieved seven governors

Continues on page 6

•P.25

KELVIN, DELTA KIDNAP LORD ARRESTED

COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu •P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA•P.19

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

ARRESTED—Men of the Joint Task Force besieged Kokori town, in Delta State, yesterday in search of collaborators of arrested kidnap kingpin, Kelvin. Soldiers dismantling road block mounted by youths in Kokori town. Inset: Kelvin (C) and his kidnap gang before the arrest. Photos: Akpokona Omafuaire. See story on Page 61.

C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

to make sure democracy in the nation does not die. We are fighting against the enemies of democracy and we don’t plan to give up on that struggle because what we are fighting for has not been actualized.

“I want to assure you that the group has come to stay until justice is restored in our party. I can see the banners of seven of us everywhere here in Sokoto. So we have come to stay.”

PROTEST—Protesters Under the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) were, yesterday, barred from gaining entrance into the University of Lagos by the students. The scene at UNILAG gate yesterday.

Why we are fighting Jonathan — Lamido, Aliyu Continues from page 1 operating on the platform of the new PDP (nPDP) are insisting that President Goodluck Jonathan must meet their demands presented at previous meetings they held with him (president).

One of the governors, Dr Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, however, blamed external forces for fueling the crisis be-

tween the presidency and the G7 governors and warned party members to be wary of those who are desperate to pull down the party.

Speaking for the seven governors, the deputy National Chairman of the Party, North West, Ambassador Ibrahim Musa Kazaure disclosed that up till now, there was no indication that the Tukur-led PDP

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Our problem is that inside us there’s a mind going, “Impossible, impossible, impossible. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” We have to banish that mind from this solar system. Anything is possible; everything is possible. Sometimes you feel that your dreams are impossible, but they’re not. Human beings have great potentials; they can do anything. The power of the mind is incredible, limitless – Yeshe

L

IFE has a perfect schedule for our spiritual unfoldment, and knowing all things, somehow weaves all of life’s seemingly fortuitous circumstances, attitudes, and actions into personal tapestries of rich yet uniquely individual symmetries. The timing of events eludes our fragile control; opportunities dart like trout from behind river boulders and never reappear, no matter how patiently we cast our line. We should never expect to get everything we want right now, knowing that life simply doesn’t work that way and that the fruit of impatience is frustration and bitterness. Daily living proves how often it is necessary to bear with disagreeable situations, even for extended periods. Faith teaches us likewise, but in addition, helps us understand the appropriateness of forbearance.

Persistence is especially important in our prayers and contemplations. Most of the problems about which we pray admit of no easy solution, but we must keep heart. We will receive answers, delayed, perhaps, because a better answer than any we had contemplated is in prospect. Take Heart and have faith in life. -Ella Randle

was prepared to accept the terms of reconciliation the governors had listed.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido had earlier vowed that the G7 governors would continue to fight on and would never back down, inisting that their cause is just and pro-masses.

Lamido told a crowd in Sokoto where he went to commission projects, that the G7 had saddled themselves with the task of rescuing the Nigerian democracy and the need to re-organise the PDP to make the party comply with the yearnings and aspiration of ordinary members.

Lamido, who noted that the governors have only been fighting on the side of the masses of Nigeria whom he said have had a raw deal, stressed that the struggle by the G7 was also to ensure that no one, either at the federal or state levels would be able to stand in the way of the down trodden, adding that the struggle was to ensure the return of Nigeria to the path of the truth, justice, equity, fair play and stability of Nigeria.

He said: “The media had referred to us as rebels. But we are not rebels at all. We are the true democrats. We are the custodians of democracy in the land. We are not for any ethnic or religious bias but fighting

It is not yet over — Kazaure Speaking further, Kazaure said: “Anybody who tells you the differences have been settled is not saying the truth.

If you call it war, I then will tell you that the war is still on because the offending group that decided to run the party against the constitution has not relented in its bid to remain lawless.

“We can only reconcile when the leadership of PDP accept that our party operates within its laws. We formed the party when most of them were not there and we won’t allow them hijack it and ruin our efforts.”

Kazaure who noted that his group had insisted that the law won’t be followed, said that the Tukur-led PDP sack and suspend leaders and members arbitrarily, adding, “They manage the party without recourse to the rules and constitution and we said no to that. That is the cause of the problem. So we have to insist that things be done lawfully and orderly.”

How G7 Govs were misled — Senator However, a stakeholder of the PDP in Adamawa, Senator Grace Folashade Bent who dismissed claims by the G7 governors, said that they were rather undemocratic by allowing the issue of only one of them, Admiral Murtala Nyako to rule their conduct, adding that the PDP stakeholders in Adamawa could not understand the basis they allowed Nyako to lure them into a fight against the President of Nigeria and the Party which she said gave them the tick-

ets to be governors.

According to her, the G7 had portrayed itself as undemocratic by failing to investigate what she termed the root of Nyako’s grievances with the PDP National Chairman, while they equally failed to give the PDP members in Adamawa fair hearing on the crises in the state which she stressed had snow balled into the current crisis within the PDP. Bent blamed the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi for the escalation of the crises in PDP, stating that as the Chairman of the Governors Forum, he had always been biased in his assessment of the issues within the party in respect of the interest of the governor of Adamawa state rather than being fair minded.

Both President Jonathan and the G7 Governors are expected to hold the second round of their reconciliation meeting on October 7, following which the two sides would decide whether or not to stay together under one umbrella.

Blame external forces for PDP crsis— Aliyu Meanwhile, Niger state governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu yesterday blamed external forces for fueling the crisis between the presidency and the G7 governors and warned party members to be wary of those who are desperate to pull down the party.

Speaking when the commander of Nigeria Army Corps Artillery, Kontagora Major General Hussaini Salihu paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Minna yesterday, the governor said, “there is a signal that some external forces are fully behind the crisis in the PDP especially as it concerns the deadlocked

reconciliation moves.

“What is happening in PDP is an internal affair but I am beginning to see a sign that some people don’t want the reconciliation to be successful because the type of articles you see in the newspapersare like some people are out there trying to ensure that there is no reconciliation,” he observed.

He described the disagreement in the PDP as a“Struggle for democracy and morality” which according to him is “keeping the promised made either in secret or public”.

Dr Aliyu said, “the struggle we are witnessing is that of Democracy and morality. Morality meaning that if you make an agreement whether in private or public, we must learn to keep such promise which include promise that if you do this I will do that. We must therefore not allow those people outside the party to get enmeshed in the problem that is not their own and in the process they are really pulling down what we are trying to build”.

Dr. Aliyu who also spoke on internal security insisted that rather than scrap the National Youth Service Scheme, it should be extended to one and a half years of which the first six months should be for military training for all participants.

According to him, “any disciplined person will create a disciplined environment and a disciplined environment will give you a disciplined people and disciplined nation and that is what we need in our country.”

The Artillery commander, Gen. Salihu said he was in Minna to inspect Army formations within the state and to assess the security challenges facing the country for now and how to tackle them for peace to reign in the entire country.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—7

Navy nabs 6 suspected oil thieves

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— SIX oil thieves have been arrested by Nigerian Navy in the Niger Delta region.

Information Officer of NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Lieutenant Commander Abdulsalam Sani, made this known in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Sani also said that the suspected oil thieves were arrested around Mgbuoshimini area of Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He said: “NNS Pathfinder smashed a syndicate of oil thieves, who were trailed to Mgbuoshimini Village, opposite the Liquid Bulk Company at Aker Base Rumuolumeni.

“Items recovered from the crime scene include a 33,000 litres capacity tanker, with number plate GGE 934 XS, two pumping machines, a hose and two large wooden boats carrying kerosene.”

Robbers raid Bauchi filling station, kill one

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—THERE was commotion in Bauchi State, yesterday, when gunmen launched an attack on a filling station near Federal LowCost Housing Estate in Bauchi metropolis, killing a member of a vigilante group and injuring three policemen.

It was gathered that two vigilante men were guarding the filling station when the armed bandits launched the attack.

One escape unhurt.

Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, who confirmed the incident, told newsmen that the policemen were injured during a gun battle with the bandits.

He said: “The hoodlums attacked the filling station, where they killed the vigilante.

“Three policemen sustained minor injuries in the encounter.”

TEACHER: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and students of Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu Secondary School, Sarkin Pawa, Munya Local Government Area of the state, during the governor's visit.

26-yr-old to hang for robbery, rape

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—FOR robbing a couple at gunpoint and raping their teenage daughter, a Delta High Court sitting in Warri, yesterday, sentenced a 26-year-old furniture maker, Chijioke Ede, to death by hanging.

The condemned armed robber and rapist was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and rape before the court presided over by Justice Marshall Mukoro.

He was found guilty on all the charges and sentenced to death on count one and two, while he got life imprisonment on the charge of rape.

Prosecution from Delta State Ministry of Justice had told the court that Chijioke, from Enugu State, with another person still at large, on or about October 12, 2009, at Okoro Street, Warri, off Marine Gate, within the Warri Judicial Division, robbed his victims of a DVD player, a laptop computer, cash, jewelries and other valuables at gunpoint and also raped their teenage daughter.

The convict was arrested by the vigilante group in the area as his gang made to escape with their loot.

Justice Mukoro held: “With the avalanche of facts and evidences before this court, for the accused to say he was not involved in the crime is laughable and an afterthought.

“For the court to hold the evidence of the accused will amount to denial of justice, thereby bringing the bar and

the bench to disrepute.

“I hereby uphold the evidence of prosecution as all the ingredients of the offence

have been proved beyond reasonable doubt and sentence the accused to death by hanging on count one and two.”

FAAN official remanded in prison for obstructing Edo tax collectors

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—A Benin High Court, yesterday, remanded an official of Federal Airport Authorities of Nigeria, FAAN, in prison custody for allegedly obstructing officials of Edo State Internal Revenue Service from carrying out their duties.

The FAAN official, identified as Mr. O. F. Adeboye and two of his colleagues, Messrs Ayodele Sunday and Aliu Ismhaipe, were said to have

prevented the tax collectors from enforcing the payment of taxes as and when due as well as refusing them the opportunity to effect an order issued by a state High Court against FAAN. He was said to have been remanded in prison pending when he would perfect his bail conditions.

The accused persons were brought before the court on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, assault, molestation and hindering the efforts of the officers of the state IRS

from performing their lawful duties.

However, they were granted bail by the court. But Adeboye could not meet all the bail conditions, prompting the presiding judge, Justice Joseph Acha, to vary some of the bail conditions for him to go home.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Justice Acha revoked the concession granted the accused person after he was informed by his counsel, Emmanuel Akhigbe, that the bail conditions were not ‘technically’ perfected.

‘I became a Policeman because of free transportation’

BY EVELYN USMAN

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mild drama unfolded at the Ikotun Police Division after a 48-year-old fake policeman rolled on the floor and cried, begging to be released.

The suspect, identified as Felix Braimoh, who was arrested in Ejigbo area of Lagos, said he was forced to impersonate a policeman to feed his children and also enjoy free transportation around Lagos.

Clad in a Mobile Police trousers and a beret, the father of five reportedly boarded a motorcycle from Cele Bus Stop, along Oshodi/Apapa expressway, to Ikotun.

However, on reaching Ejigbo the motorcycle rider, a Police Corporal, engaged Briamoh in a conversation about his division.

His inability to give a proper response aroused the suspicion of the rider, who reportedly stopped the motorbike and confronted Braimoh.

Just then, a Police patrol team from Ikotun Division stopped to question both men and took them to the station.

During interrogation, Braimoh reportedly disclosed that he was not a policeman.

Asked where he got the police uniform from, Braimoh said: “A friend gave them to me.

“The pair of trousers is a mobile Police’s, the boots belong to a Man O’ War official, while I bought the beret from the market.”

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

PSC promotes 4 AIGs, 9 CPs, 29 senior officers

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—THE Police Service Commission, PSC, disclosed yesterday that it has approved the promotion of four Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIG’s, nine Commissioners of Police, nine Deputy Commissioners of Police and 20 Assistant Commissioners of Police.

Speaking through a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekpe, Spokesman for the Commission, it said the promotions were based on the recommendations of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and that merit, as well as vacancies in the force were the benchmark.

Disclosing that all the promotions are to take effect from September 24, 2013, the commission pointed out that it would regularly elevate hard-working officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force; while those who abandoned their responsibilities will be appropriately sanctioned.

The statement reads: “The PSC under the leadership of Dr. Mike Okiro, held its second plenary meeting on Tuesday September 24, 2013 and various issues bordering on the repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force for effective service delivery in line with Mr. President’s transformation agenda were discussed.

“During the plenary, the Commission on the recommendations of the Inspector-General of Police considered and approved the promotion of four Commissioners of Police to the rank of the above number officers.

Chairman of the Commission in his advice noted that the promotions were based on merit and existing vacancies. He congratulated the newly promoted officers and enjoined them to live up to the additional responsibility attached to their new ranks.

“Furthermore, he pointed out that the Commission would regularly elevate hard-working officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force."

Who owns controversial building? zWhere Apo 10 were shot to death

BY SONI DANIEL, KINGSLEY OMONOBI & HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—CONTROVERSY now trails the uncompleted one-storey building in Apo, where 10 persons, mostly artisans, were shot dead last Friday by security agents on the suspicion of being terrorists. An online news media linked the building to a former president’s sister but a security source said the building actually belongs to a serving Major General in the Nigerian Army.

According to the online publication, documents from the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, AGIS, shows that the property, located at No. 8 Bamanga Tukur Street, Gudu District, near the Gudu cemetery, belongs to the former president’s sister.

The security source, which did not want to be quoted because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, pointed out that the identity of the owner of the building was not in doubt and would be made public at the appropriate time.

“The identity of the owner of the building is not in doubt at all. What happened that Friday had nothing to do with the ownership of the building,” the source said in response to Vanguard enquiry yesterday.

But effort to unveil the identity of the owner of the building from the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, proved abortive, as officials of the authority declined to comment on the issue.

The Director of Development Control in the FCDA, Mr. Yahaya Yusuf, who was contacted by Vanguard, had initially promised to get in touch with one of our correspondents after verifying the ownership with officials in charge of the Gudu District.

But an hour later when our correspondent called back the director, whose office approves the construction of structures in the FCT, his phone rang and he did not respond to the enquiry as at the time of going to the press.

Similarly, no official of the Abuja Geographic Information Service, AGIS, was willing to speak on the matter despite several calls made to the agency last night.

“But a staff, who spoke in confidence, pointed out that it would not be possible to ascertain from AGIS who actually owns the house, since allocation paper could easily be changed as soon as a new buyer acquires a house or piece of land from the original allottee.

“You can have one name as the original allottee in our system but another person actually owns the plot or building and may not be conscious of the need to come forward and change the ownership to reflect the current owner,” the

AGIS staff explained.

Also yesterday, the Nigerian Army washed off its hands from the building, saying that it had nothing to do with its ownership.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-General Ibrahim Attahiru told one of our

correspondents that the Army was neither aware that the house belonged to one Mrs. Adunnu Oluwole Salisu, said to be a sister to former President Olusegun Obasanjo nor an officer of the Nigerian Army.

“The Nigerian Army does not have anything to do with that

house. Equally, the story about the house belonging to a Colonel is unfounded."

He added that in the first place, the Army had nothing to do with last Friday’s operation which resulted in the death of many persons since it was carried out by a sister security agency.

JONATHAN @ UN HEADQUARTERS—UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban ki-Moon (right), welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

CJN decries indiscipline, corruption among lawyers

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—IN a renewed bid to purge the judiciary of corruption, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, has directed the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, to hand stiffer sanction to any legal practitioner found culpable in any act of judicial impropriety.

Handing the order to the Chairman of the LPDC and immediate past National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, while receiving copies of “Directions and Rulings of the LPDC of the Body of Benchers from January to May 2013”, at the Supreme Court yesterday, the CJN, decried what she described as high rate of in-discipline among legal practitioners in the country, insisting that most of them are corrupt.

The CJN maintained that for the on-going judiciary reform to meet the desired result, lawyers in the country must conduct their affairs within the confine of the ethics of legal profession.

Commending the LPDC chairman, Daudu, for collaborating with the National Judicial Council, NJC, towards not only ferreting out corrupt Judges, but equally identify lawyers fanning the embers of bribery and corruption within the Justice sector.

The CJN said there were many petitions involving some lawyers that came to her office, she asked the LPDC to forthwith investigate the allegations which she said were thought provoking and mind bungling, stressing that “the present Bar is highly infested with questionable characters.”

She said notwithstanding the number of petitions the LPDC has treated within the short time it came on board, the committee members need to double their

efforts with a view to curbing the number of lawyers engaging in unwholesome judicial practices.

She said: "I thank you for presenting this book to me today.

For quite sometimes, I have been seeing the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee proceedings on the television networks, but I have never observed the zeal and result with which you are carrying out this job now. ‘’It seems LPDC is assiduously competing with the NJC, as the two bodies are now running side by side to cleanse the judiciary. ‘’I believe that, for the judiciary to be reformed, lawyers must be disciplined. With the number of reports we are now receiving, you just have to work harder. Some petitions came to me which I sent to you, and some them were quite thought provoking.

"This is a very nice document which would be useful to many lawyers and judges, including those of us at the Supreme Court since appeals against your decisions will lie at the apex court."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—9

SWF invests $200m as oil price cushion

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EW YORK—THE Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, on Monday completed investment allocations for the 20 percent of the $1 billion it is setting aside to guard against commodity price shocks, its chief executive said.

Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, established the Sovereign Investment Authority (SIA) in 2011 in an effort to manage resources that economists said have often been squandered in the past.

“The key to sovereign wealth funds is in the consistent contribution going forward,” Uche Orji, the SIA’s chief executive officer, said on the sidelines of the Africa Investor conference in New York.

The SIA is dwarfed by Norway’s fund of $737 billion and Saudi Arabia’s fund of $676 billion, according to data collected by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

Of the $200 million, 25 percent was allocated to U.S. treasuries and 75 percent to investment grade corporate bonds, he said. Credit Suisse Asset Management, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and UBS are managing the money in what the SIA calls the ‘Stabilization Fund.’

Orji, who left a job as a managing director in UBS’ equities division in New York a year ago to move back to Lagos to head up the SIA, said the stabilization segment is fully funded.

Twice delayed in its launch, the SIA has faced political opposition from powerful state governors who want oil savings distributed for spend ing on projects rather than kept by the federal government, a move they consider unconstitutional.

In addition to the stabilization fund, Nigeria is placing 32.5 percent of the overall $1 billion fund into what the SIA calls a ‘Future Generations Fund’ and 32.5 percent into a ‘Nigeria Infrastructure Fund.’ The remaining 15 percent of assets are unallocated.

By the second quarter of 2014, Orji expected to have both chosen the asset managers for the Future Generations Fund and have it fully allocated.

FORUM ON NIGERIA—From left: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President, African Business Roundtable/ Chairman, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshimhole, and Supervising Minister of National Planning and Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, after the Forum on Nigeria’s Investment Climate and Market organised by ABR and the Federal Government… in New York, USA on Tuesday.

Tension in House of Reps over Presidency, Tambuwal's face-off zAs Reps set up reconciliation committee

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—AS the face-off between the Presidency and the leadership of the House of Representatives deepens following last week’s visit by leaders of the breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the House, members have been thrown into confusion over the next line of action by the Presidency.

The Presidency is said to have been deeply upset by the elaborate reception and undue attention given the ‘rebels’ by the leadership of the House, led by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

A source, who is privy to the development, told Vanguard yesterday that the Presidency was angry that Tambuwal allowed the Abubakar Baraje-led faction an unfettered access to the hallowed chambers of the House, thereby conferring more status on them to heap insults on the leaders of the mainstream PDP. The Presidency is said to have come to inescapable conclusion that Tambuwal was hobnobbing with the ‘opposition’ at the expense of the PDP and the Presidency when he granted audience to the rebel governors and the leadership of the nPDP. The source, who is a lawmaker from one of the Southern states, noted that the Presidency had initially opted to vent its anger on Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, by mobilising its supporters in the House to move against them but tactically dropped the idea when it discovered to its dismay that the plot would not sail through.

It was learnt that those in favour of Tambuwal in the House were found to be more in number than

those backing the President, thereby forcing his strategists to change course and opt for peace.

But it also emerged that the Presidency was still trying to woo more members of the House to its side with a view to changing the leadership of the House of Representatives, which is suspected to have more active alliance with the nPDP and the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, than the Senate.

Vanguard learnt that strategists of the President had withdrawn to the drawing board on how to ‘punish’ the Speaker and his deputy for the role they played in promoting the cause of the rebel to visit the House and cause more crisis in the mainstream PDP. While the Presidency cannot easily get at Tambuwal because of the solid support he is enjoying from members, which cuts across party lines, it is said to be mulling withdrawing its tacit support for Ihedioha’s ambition to become the governor of Imo State in 2015.

A source close to the Presidency said, “Ihedioha’s offence is that he is seen as not being very loyal to the Jonathan’s camp, having supported Tambuwal in all the anti-party actions he has been taking over time.

“That is why the Presidency appears to be shifting its support to another politician from Imo State, Bethel Amadi, who is seen as more supportive of the President and his wife than Ihedioha.

“When they needed someone they could trust in the wake of the crisis, they relied

on Amadi and almost wrote off Ihedioha,” the lawmaker said.

The lawmaker explained that although the Presidency could not remove the Speaker at the moment, his support base was however not as solid as before, thereby leaving him at the mercy of members.

But one of the seven governors in the Baraje camp told Vanguard that Tambuwal was doing his job as a detribalised Nigerian politician, who should be supported by all Nigerians to move the legislature forward.

The governor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, pledged to mobilise their representatives to stand solidly behind the Speaker to ensure that forces loyal to the President did not remove him.

“Nigerians need more straightforward and honest politicians like Tambuwal and David Mark to move the country forward.

“We believe that the forces of retrogression will not be able to supplant them,” the governor stated.

As the crisis persist, most of the members in the House of Representatives are now left to do the bidding of their governors, who are either in support or against the President’s second term bid.

The members, particularly first timers, are said to be working hard to be seen as loyal to the Presidency and their governors in the old PDP so as to be given a second term tickets in 2015.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the House has set up a mediatory committee to help iron out the differences between

the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, and the old bloc PDP. Vanguard reliably gathered that the essence of setting up the committee is to ensure that both the old and the new PDP worked in harmony.

The source also confirmed that the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, was expected to chair the committee, being an experienced member of the House.

He said: “But there are pockets of complaints from members who felt that the deputy leader may not deliver the much needed peace in this 7th Assembly.

"He is a partisan member and that is why most of our members are kicking against his chairmanship.

Older members of the House could chair the committee, not necessarily the deputy leader that we know is actively involved in the old PDP activities in the House.”

Another source, however, countered him, saying”the leadership did not make any mistake because Ogor is very capable in terms of mobilising both blocs into accepting a truce.

"As we speak, the committee is already meeting to fashion ways and means out of this debacle. So choosing Ogor was the best thing that ever happened for now.”

A source also close to the House leadership told Vanguard that”if we do not reconcile now, then be rest assured that no old PDP member bill will ever sail through.

"What you guys saw before the break is a child’s play because this time around, we will turn the floor into a battle arena.

"The old PDP offended our leaders by disrupting the Kawu Baraje-led PDP meeting with us and we may not be in a hurry to forget that terrible incident.”

10—Vanguard THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Graceville Chapel celebrates annual convention GRACEVILLE CHAPEL, a fast-growing new generation church in Lagos, will be celebrating her 2013 Festival of the Word conference from Thursday, September 26 through Sunday, September 29.

The conference will end with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday.

The theme for this year ’s festival is, ‘And God said…” (Gen.1:3).

Four anointed ministers of the gospel have been invited to speak at the conference. Rev Tope Popoola of Heritage in Salvation Ministries and The Business Church, Ibadan, will kick off the conference on Thursday, by 5p.m.

On Friday, by 5p.m. also, Pastor Femi Emmanuel of Livingspring Chapel International, Lagos will be ministering.

Also, on Saturday, by 11a.m., Archbishop John Osa-Oni of Vineyard Christian Centre will be the guest minister.

Lagos Chief Judge frees 119 prisoners

CONFERENCE: From left, General Manager, Communications and External Affairs, GTBank, Mrs. Lola Odedina; Founder and Creative Director, Lagos Fashion and Design Week, Mrs. Omoyeni Akerele; Masterbrand Specialist, Marketing and Strategy Division, MTN, Mr. Dapo Olawale and Marketing Manager, L’Oreal Nigeria, Ms Bukola Balogun, during a press conference on the 2013 GTB Lagos Fashion and Design Week, in Lagos.

TERMINAL BENEFITS: PHCN workers vow to stop new investors

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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AGOS — WORKERS of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, have begun massive mobilisation to stop any discreet hand-over of the assets of PHCN by the Federal Government to private sector individuals without settling labour issues especially full payment of terminal benefits.

Under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, the workers faulted Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo’s claim that 70 per cent of staff had been

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far received part of their exit benefits while others were yet to receive anything, warning that any move by government to hand over PHCN to the intended investors would be resisted by the workers, unless full payments and other issues were fully resolved.

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has fixed October 10, 2013, for the hearing of its ruling on the preliminary objection filed by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by a faction of the party.

Justice Oludotun AdefopeOkojie, yesterday, fixed the date after hearing the arguments from both parties in the suit

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HE GRASSROOTS Politicians of Nigeria, GPN, has frowned against the attack on the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro, by the former Chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu in a London court,

weekend.

The group alleged that Ribadu was a pretender who was worse than some of the people he ‘’tried to hound or blackmail’’ in the country.

Ribadu had said while giving evidence at the trial of the

which was filed by the Alhaji Kawu Baraje’s faction of the PDP. The other claimants in the suit are Dr. Sam Jaja and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

The faction had asked the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining Tukur and three others, from parading themselves as PDP National Executive Committee members.

Joined alongside Tukur as defendants are Mr. Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman; Dr. Kema Chikwe,

Women Leader and Mr. Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary.

Tukur and the other defendants had on September 18, 2013, asked the court to strike out the suit on the issue of jurisdiction.

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AGOS — THE Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos was, yesterday, thrown into confusion as an underground armoured cable generating power to some parts of the terminals developed faults, leading to power outage at the airport.

Vanguard gathered that the power outage which affected the ‘E’ Wing of the airport led

to billowing smoke in the affected area.

When contacted, General Manager, Corporate Communication, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati said the power outage did not affect operations at the terminal building but that some services were temporarily shut down to enable the agency’s engineers effect repairs.

According to Mr. Dati, “FAAN regrets any inconvenience the brief power outage

former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori in London that Okiro was one of the most corrupt Nigerian police officers he had come across.

However, the GPN, in a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, Hon. Onimim Quakers and John Fiwarigoma respectively faulted the former EFCC boss, saying that his accounts of alleged people’s misdeeds were not always correct.

They alleged that the ‘’catalogue of prominent Nigerians whom Ribadu tried to hound or blackmail is endless.

“He is worse than some of the people he investigated, haunted and demonised. There are many unanswered questions with regards to Ribadu’s probity,” the group alleged.

Jehovah’s Witnesses conventions kick off

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HE 2013 Annual Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses kicked off Friday in La-

Power outage hits Lagos international airport

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

The statement by Gabriel Egbadekwu, Vice President (Professionals), said, “We have been irked by the claim of the Minister of Power (Prof. Nebo) that seventy per cent of PHCN staff have been paid their exit package.

Group flays Ribadu for hounding Okiro

Lagos High Court to rule on Tukur’s objection to PDP faction’s suit Oct 10

BY ONOZURE DANIA & OLAYINKA LATONA

AGOS — NO fewer than 119 inmates of the Kirikri Prisons were, yesterday, set free by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, who was on a visit as part of activities marking the commencement of the 2013/2014 Legal Year of the Lagos State Judiciary.

The inmates were detainees of both the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison and the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.

Justice Philips, who arrived the prisons with top members of the judiciary, freed 99 inmates at the medium prison while 20 were freed at the Maximum Prison.

Eighty-one of the inmates were said to committed major offences while 18 were minor offences.

paid exit package, on which basis he allegedly commenced clandestine moves to hand over PHCN facilities to successor investors.

NUEE in a statement in Lagos by its professionals group, insisted that less than 50 per cent of PHCN workers had so

caused airlines, passengers as well as operators at the terminal buildings of the airport.”

He assured that the agency would ensure that there was no more issue of power outage, saying “it will soon become a thing of the past when the power improvement project at the airport, involving the installation of six ultra modern generators, is commissioned.”

gos and Ogun states.

A statement from the convention committee by Mr. Paul Baba, spokesman for the 2013 Convention series, said the theme of the three-day convention is “God’s Word is Truth.”

The statement said the threeday District Conventions would hold at the Assembly Ground of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Otta and Daluwon, Ogun State, Badagry and Lekki in Lagos State.

The convention series at the Ota Assembly Ground, Idi Iroko Road, Ogun State, would commence on Friday, September 27, 2013 with the last in the series ending on Sunday, December 22, 2013.

Vanguard THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—11

Agbakoba writes Senate President on National Conference

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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GRADUATION: From left, the founder, Peter Akinola; General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd), Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to the State Government, and Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, at the 2013 Graduation Ceremony of Peter Akinola Foundation, Youth Centre for Industrial Training, at Km 10, Abeokuta-Lagos Express Road, Abeokuta. Photo: Wumi Akinola

Danjuma blames nation’s worsening insecurity on youth unemployment

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — FORMER Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma, yesterday, blamed the worsening insecurity in the country to the high rate of unemployment plaguing the nation.

Danjuma, who spoke at the second graduation ceremony of the ‘Youth Centre for Industrial Training,’ in Abeokuta, Ogun State, urged all levels of governments to take urgent steps to reverse the problem to avoid a catastrophe.

He lamented that it was regrettable that unemployment and insecurity had now become the foremost challenges confronting Nigeria.

According to him: “Is it not sad to see teeming youths roaming the streets aimlessly on daily basis because they have no jobs?”

Danjuma donated N500million to the centre to meet its pressing demands as well as expand its facilities. and promised to donate N100million each year to support the project.

The multi-million naira Centre was set up by the retired Primate of the Anglican Church, Most Rev. Peter Akinola, under the “Pe-

ter Akinola Foundation, PAF, ”to train unemployed youths to acquire skills in various vocations such as welding, electrical installation, tailoring, hairdressing, mechanic, vulcanising and masonry, among

others, to be self-sustaining.

Also speaking, the Anglican Bishop of Asaba, Delta State, Rev. Emeka Mogekwu, who was a special guest, expressed concern about the unemployment situation in the country.

He said: “Unemployment is creating young men and women whose minds are poisoned against the society. This fact has become the greatest cause of insecurity, a situation demanding close attention to the issue of job creation.”

I am alive, says Shekau in new video

By NDAHI MARAMA, UDUMA KALU, DAYO ADESULU

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EADER of the Islamic sect Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, who was reported to have been killed by security forces reportedly made an appearance in a new video, yesterday, saying the military should bury itself in shame because he is alive.

Shekau also claimed responsibility for September 17, 2013 attacks in Benisheik, Borno State, where about 160 people were either shot dead or slaughtered and hundreds of houses burnt.

In the video, Shekau was sitting in a jungle environment surrounded by dozens of lieutenants dressed in fatigues.

He said Boko Haram was celebrating victories in Benisheik, where more than 143 civilians were killed, in

Monguno and surrounding northern villages where more than a dozen civilians have been killed this month.

Last August 19, the Joint Task Force, JTF, spokesman in Borno State, Lt Col Sagir Musa, had issued a statement, saying, “Intelligence report available to the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Order revealed that Abubakar Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted terrorist leader may have died.

He died of gunshots wounds received in an encounter with the JTF in one of their camps in Sambisa Forest on June 30, 2013. Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide-a border community in Cameroon for treatment from which he never r e c o v e r e d . ” But in the latest video, Shekau who appeared in military camouflage uniform, seated and

surrounded by hooded insurgents said, “Here I am, alive, hale and hearty. Sagir Musa should bury himself in shame, President Jonathan (of Nigeria) should bury himself in shame, President Obama (of United States of America) should bury himself in shame, and President Francois Hollande (of France) should bury himself in shame, Queen Elizabeth (of England) should bury herself in shame.

“They said I am dead, but here I am. The world should know that I am alive and will only die at the appointed time.

Everybody should be judged according to the dictates of his conscience. What I am doing is written in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith and I will not stop.

I challenge all the clerics of the world to question my deeds.

Those underrating my capacity should have a re-think.”

ORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba has written to the Senate President, Senator David Mark on the importance of convening a Sovereign National Conference, SNC. He also said the conference should be convened by President Goodluck Jonathan. Agbakoba, in a statement, frowned at the refusal by previous governments to hold the conference saying it would afford Nigerians a new constitution. He noted that civil society groups had consistently been in the forefront for the agitation of a national conference.

While he faulted claims that SNC might lead to the disintegration of the country, he appealed to the Senate President to take up the challenge of convening the conference.

FG okays N29bn projects

By BEN AGANDE

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EDERAL Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, approved various projects in the sum of N29.7bn. The projects included road construction and provision of water to some districts in the Federal Capital Territory.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, who disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting, said the projects which are part of the Lower Usman Dam project part 11, will run through Bwari to Gurara, having earlier completed the first phase of the project at the cost of N13bn.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Police disperse gathering of newly recruited teachers in Rivers ...say it’s against Jonathan

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT—A GATHERING of 13,000 newly recruited teachers, convened by their employer, the Rivers State Government, for collection of letters of posting was, yesterday, dispersed by the Police in the state alleging that it was yet another sponsored move to stage a protest against President Goodluck Jonathan in the state.

The teachers, who were streaming into the Liberation Stadium at Elekahia, in Port Harcourt, as early as 7.30am, yesterday, on the orders of the state Education Ministry, were reportedly dispersed with tear-gas canisters thrown by the policemen, who rushed in and ordered them to leave immediately.

One of the teachers said: “Some of us got here very early, hoping to finally collect our appointment letters and close what has been a tedious and suspense filled recruitment exercise. But the police came and ordered us to leave immediately, saying that our gathering had political undertone.”

The armed policemen who arrived in 11 patrol vans and two other vehicles, took over the area, threatening to deal ruthlessly with anyone, among the teachers who was defiant of the evacuation order after allegedly dispersing the crowd with tear-gas canisters.

In a statement, the Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State also claimed that “Wednesday’s gathering of the 13,000 teachers at the stadium was a ploy by Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s administration to use frustrated youths as protesters on the streets of Port Harcourt against President Jonathan.”

Reacting to the development, Richard Ofuru, Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education, which summoned the teachers, said: “It was simply an administrative matter. We didn’t think it was necessary to inform the police.

“Remember, during the interview session in the recruitment process, this stadium was also used because of the number of applicants involved. We did not inform the police then and we did not have

any problem.”

In his reaction, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Tony Okocha, said: “It is crass display of naked power.

The government and people of Rivers State now live under the siege of the police force. You are aware Rivers State recently engaged 13,000 teachers for its primary and secondary schools and they were invited to collect their posting letters today at the stadium and Mbu Joseph deployed his men to despise them on suspicion that they were to demonstrate against the President.”

Efforts to get the newly appointed Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Muhammad, to comment on the situation were fruitless as he did not respond to repeated phone calls.

Benin monarch tasks South-South leaders on unity

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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HE Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, has charged the leadership of South-South Consolidated Forum, SSCF, to unite the different ethnic groups in the region, to speak with one voice.

The Oba gave the advice when the national executive of the sociopolitical organisation, paid him a visit to brief him on the activities of

the body at his palace.

The Oba said this was necessary to assist the region and its people to engender development of the area. He prayed for the success of the forum.

President of the group, Chief Dick Harry, accompanied to the Oba’s palace by the Edo State Chairman of the body, Dr Rowland Edosa, said that the forum was gaining more support in its bid to rebuild the lost glory of the South-South people.

Deltans hail outcome of PDP Delta Central senatorial primaries

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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APELE—DELTANS have reacted to the just concluded primaries of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at Sapele Township Stadium, Delta State, during which former Managing Director of NigerDelta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, emerged flag bearer for the October 5 bye-election in Delta Central senatorial district.

Chief John Oguma, a PDP stalwart in the

state, said Aguariavwodo was the best among the aspirants who contested the election, adding that he was not surprised that Aguariavwodo won the primaries.

He assured the people

by Delta Central senatorial district that Chief Awariavwodo will perform excellently at the National Assembly if elected at the bye-election on October 5.

Chief Onoriode Sunday, who is the Transition Committee Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area, said that he was happy with the outcome of the

primaries, adding that Aguariavwodo was the popular aspirant at the primaries, who almost all the delegates cast their votes for.

He that said Chief Aguariavwodo had always done the people of Urhobo well in all his political activities, adding that Aguariavwodo will surely emerge winner at the bye-election.

Chairman of PDP in Delta Central senatorial district, Chief Tom Amioku, also welcomed the party ’s choice, added that with Aguariavwodo, the party will surely win the bye-election.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—13

Clark calls for implementation of 18% derivation formula

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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LDER statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the Federal Government to implement the 18 per cent derivation formula agreed upon by over 400 delegates at the 2005 National Political Reforms Conference.

Speaking at the Upstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference, organised by West Africa Exhibitions and Conferences, in Abuja, Clark berated governors calling for the reduction in the derivation fund for oil

producing states, saying that the governors should instead focus on boosting their Internally Generated Revenue.

He also described as falsehood, a situation where the spills in the region are blamed on the youths, saying that the oil companies should be blamed for the spills, due to their aged pipeline network and their refusal to abide by strict international standards, requiring that pipes carrying crude oil are changed after a specified period of time.

He said: “It is insulting for some governors to sit in their states to vent their anger on

the people of the Niger Delta oil producing communities, with accusations that the communities are already receiving too much money from the Federal Government, referring also to the 13 per cent derivation formula and the establishment of Niger Delta Development Commission, to the detriment of non-oil producing communities and therefore, demanding a reversal of the revenue allocation formula.”

Clark said oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta had negatively affected the lives of the people, as they

have become hopeless, lost their traditional sources of livelihood such as fishing, canoe-building, logging and farming due to the pollution of the rivers and forests.

“The Niger Delta people are now agitating for the derivation formula to be increased to 18 per cent in line with the recommendations of the conference, since such an increase does not require the amendment of the Nigerian constitution which put down 13 per cent as the minimum percentage for derivation.

“The present exercise being carried out by the National

Assembly for the amendment of the constitution should also reflect the demands of the Niger Delta people for a revision of the derivation formula to 50 per cent, which is in line with the practice during the first republic,” Clark noted.

He added that it was insulting and an act of provocation for the governors and other individuals to argue that the oil and gas produced in the Niger Delta was a natural gift to all Nigerians and that the region does not own the resources despite the fact that the resource was produced in the region.

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

VISIT: Mr. Adeleke Olarenwaju, Project Engineer, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Mr. Victor Ochei, Speaker, DTHA and some members of Delta State House of Assembly, during the governor's appraisal visit to the Assembly complex.

Senate suspends debate on 2014-2016 medium term expenditure

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—THE Sen ate yesterday, suspended its scheduled debate on the 2014-2016 Medium Term Fiscal Expenditure,MTFE, for two weeks,saying the action was to allow relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies,MDAs, to make useful inputs to the document.

To this end, it directed its committees on Finance and Appropriation to analyse the document and submit back within two weeks before lawmakers begin debate on it.

The development which came during plenary,was sequel to argument raised by some senators that the document was critical to the 2014 budget and so,

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needed thorough scrutiny.

Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba,PDP, Cross River Central,who led the debate on the issue,said the MTFF formed the fiscal foundation and basis for the 2014 budget.

He appealed to his colleagues to approve the document,saying such was necessary in order to enable the executive make good preparation for the 2014 budget.

Contributing to the matter,Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe,PDP,Abia South, suggested that the document be forwarded to the relevant committees to study,saying analyses of the committees would guide the debates.

Senator Abaribe observed that it would not be proper for the Senate to rely solely on the figures presented by the ex-

ecutive.

He said: “I am of the view that our committee on finance should have looked at this document and give us their own insight into these figures.”

“We cannot just rely on the statistics coming from the executive.”

Also speaking, Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, APC, Benue North West, said the document was flawed because it did not contain inputs by relevant agencies as required by provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act,FRA. Akume argued that his colleagues must have a good understanding of the fiscal issues raised in the MTFF, saying such was necessary to ensure that a robust debate was carried out on it.

Ex-Biafran soldiers plan Abuja protest over unpaid entitlements

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—HUN DREDS of ex-Biafran soldiers, yesterday, vowed to engage in a showdown with the federal government over the non-release of their entitlements more than forty years after the war, despite repeated promises.

Apparently to show their seriousness, the war veterans threatened to embark on a street-wide protest in Abuja in a few

weeks, if government refused to meet their demand within a reasonable time frame, expressing dismay that most of their members had lost their lives because of the absence of reasonable sources of livelihood.

Rising from an emergency meeting in Enugu, the ex-soldiers, led by Col. Victor Onah (rtd) and Ibe Nwachukwunta, national coordinator and attorney respectively, condemned the nonchalance of the Federal Gov-

ernment towards their plight, in spite of their contributions to the nation.

Apart from demanding that urgent attention, rehabilitation, settlement, payment of their emoluments/entitlements and any other money be given to them, the veterans also asked for their reintegration and assimilation into the nation’s armed forces in order to facilitate the payment of their pensions.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—15

FAAN faults Amaechi on PH airport upgrade

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL

EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—ACCUSATIONS of asset stripping at the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria re-echoed, yesterday, following the discovery of a 50,000-litre oil tank belonging to the company in nearby Ibom Power Company, which is owned by Akwa Ibom State Government.

The report is coming barely a month after BFIG, the American firm that the court vested the ownership of the company with, cried out that the Russian firm, RUSAL, that was still laying claims to ownership after being sacked by the Supreme Court, was actively looting the assets of the firm, with a view to stifling the reopening of the plant by the real owners.

Although RUSAL laid off many of its workers and shut the plants early this year, on the grounds that it did not have steady gas supply, coupled with the uncertainty over the ownership, it had, nonetheless, continued to play with the assets of the firm.

BFIG returns to Supreme Court BFIG has already returned to the Supreme Court pleading the apex court to compel the Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE, on whose back RUSAL rode to the occupation of te premises of the firm, to comply with the order dismissing it from the plant.

The missing tank is said to have been traced to Ibom Power Plant through some eagled-eyed community leaders and staff of ALSCON who raised the alarm that it was wrong to illegally transfer the asset of the company to another at a time the Russian company claimed it had ceased production and waiting for the court to determine who owned the firm.

Executive Vice President (Media Relations) of BFIG, Frank Scherer, described the continued looting of the company assets as criminal and unbecoming of a company.

Scherer expressed concern that it was still unclear under what condition RUSAL transferred the oil tank to Ibom Power and asked the Federal Government to take action against such atrocity to stem the tide of looting at the premises of the aluminium firm.

Tank transferred

by RUSAL He revealed also that that a top official of Ibom Power had admitted on enquiry that the facility was transferred to them by RUSAL last week but did not say why the action was taken.

Scherer noted: “Even after

BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

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SEND FORTH: Vice President Namadi Sambo (right), congratulating former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, during his send forth dinner, at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

ALSCON missing tank traced to Ibom power plant zWe loaned it to them—RUSAL zBFIG kicks the Supreme Court, the highest court in Nigeria, in its ruling of July 6, 2012 ordered the BPE to take over the plant and prepare to hand over to the preferred bidder that emerged at the end of the bid exercise in 2004,the privatization agency has always neglected to do its job.

“Reports of massive asset striping and illegal removal of critical assets of ALSCON have always been reported to BPE against UC RUSAL. But, it is a shame that BPE has always shown that it has other selfish interests to protect over this national asset.

“This is a disturbing development when BPE keeps denying and deceiving Nigerians and the Presidency about the serial pillage at the company.”

BFIG boss writes Ibom Power Angered by the development, the Chief Executive Officer of BFIGroup, Dr.Reuben Jaja, wrote to the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Gareth Wilcox, to demand some explanations over the transaction.

Jaja said: “On Wednesday, September 18, 2013, or thereabouts, a 50,000 Transformer Oil Tank and other equipment were illegally stripped and removed from the ALSCON’s premises and discreetly transferred to Ibom Power, “As you may be aware, the

legal proceedings, with regard to the transfer of ALSCON ownership to BFIGroup Corporation USA, are now before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Despite the order of injunc-

tion placed by the apex court, we have received information from the public and media with regards to the widespread asset striping, criminal vandalization and outright sale of ALSCON property."

ORT HARCOURT — THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has refuted claims

by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State that the remodeling of the Port Harcourt International Airport, has been suspended by the Federal Government over the political face off between President Goodluck Jonathan and the governor.

The governor was quoted aa making the allegation last Saturday, while being a host on a television programme.

Speaking after ascertaining the progress of work on the airport upgrade project, FAAN’s General Manager, Public Communications, Mr Yakubu Datti, said that the level of the project covered does not suggest such allegations.

He said: “Work at the International Airport has been 90 percent completed. You can see the lights powered and water running. This is facility that is very dear to government because it is the window to the oil industry and it is strategic because it is in the heart of the South South.”

Apo 10: FG pleads for time to probe killings

BY LEVI NWABUGHIOGU &

EMMANUELELEBEKE

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BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment has appealed to all the aggrieved parties in the killing of nine people at Apo village by security operatives last weekend to give it time to set up a probe panel to unravel the circumstances that surrounded the incident.

This came as a member of the House of Representatives, Amiru Tukur Idris, said four of those killed by the security men hailed from his constituency in Katsina State.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. John Chukwu, made the appeal on behalf of federal government, when the a delegation of Nigerian Youth Consultative Forum, led by Mustapha Nurudeen, met with him at the palace of the Emir of Garki District, in company of members of the National Union of Keke NAPEP Riders, FCT branch.

Chukwu appealed to the youths to give government time to look into the matter and come out with

facts.

He said the circumstances behind the incident did not call for hasty investigation but required time to enable government arrive at the truth of the matter.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Youth Consultative Forum has issued a week ultimatum to the federal government to institute an independent probe panel to unravel the facts behind the incident and subsequently bring the perpetrators of the act to book or face a nationwide protests by its members.

President of the group, Comrade Mustapha Nurudeen, who made the position known at the meeting, said the youths decided to shelve their proposed protest against the killing of their members to enable government set up the probe panel as promised by it representative.

He said: “After the deliberation, we decided to give the government and the security agencies one week to set up an independent probe panel and to prosecute all the perpetrators of the Apo extra-judicial act, failure to do so after a week, we would mobilize youths through-

out Nigeria to protest against the injustice meted at innocent youths, who were killed in cold blood for committing no offense.

“We believe that this kind of dastardly and senseless act by the security men must stop this time before it gets out of hands. we, the youth expect federal government to leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of this matter.

“We also want to appreciate and thank all human rights activists, especially Mr. Shehu Sani, for their patriotism and standing with us on the course to a just society.

Nigerian youths assembly has spoken.”

On his part, the chief mediator and Emir of Garki District, Alhaji Usman Nga, condemned the attack and called on government to commence full investigation into the matter.

He commended the youths for their calm disposition since the incident occurred and also appealed to them to give government time to set up an independent panel that would investigate the remote and immediate causes of the attack.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 —17

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HEN news broke last weekend of the killing of nine individuals by the State Security Service, Marilyn Ogar, the Deputy Director, Information, DSS, carefully couched her narrative in classic anti-terrorist speak. Ogar, very much like a disciple of Joseph Goebbels, the notorious propaganda chief of Hitler’s Third Reich, told how two alleged Boko Haram “elements”, Kamal Abdullahi and Mohammed Adamu, earlier arrested “for terrorist activities”, led security operatives to uncompleted buildings, “where arms were purported to have been buried underground”.

Ogar took the drama further: “No sooner had the team commenced digging for the arms, than they came under heavy gunfire attack by other Boko Haram elements within the area”. Ogar’s “combined security team”, Rambo-like than the Hollywood star himself, did what they knew best.

Having come “under heavy fire”, promptly responded!

Ogar added: “As a result (of the prompt ‘heroic’ response of her agency ’s operatives) some persons were injured and 12 others have been arrested in connection with the incident, and are

Gudu killings: Sorrow, tears and blood cious activities to security agencies. Our national security must remain the collective responsibility of all Nigerians”.

We might have responded with deafening applauses, and even requested Marilyn Ogar to step forward under a neon-lit evening, to take a bow for a very wonderful performance. Except for a troubling counter-narrative which tears at the heart of our citizenship. Ogar’s histrionics took place against the backdrop of extrajudicial killing of nine innocent Nigerians, a figure which rose to

,

We must sustain outrage and interrogate the operations of institutions hiding behind walls of delusion of securing our lives to kill citizens with disdain

making useful statements (under the well-worn tactics often used to extract such ‘useful statements’ obviously!)”. The “heroic” narrative arrived at a sanitized conclusion, as Ogar re-assured citizens: “Normalcy has returned to the area.

Members of the public are advised to go about their normal businesses as appropriate security measures have been emplaced to ensure the safety of citizens in the FCT”. The joke went a wee bit further, when she lectured: “We want to reiterate the need for all Nigerians to be vigilant of their immediate environment and promptly report suspi-

,

ten during the week when NasiruAdamu died from gunshot wounds at the Asokoro General Hospital on Monday morning.

He was a 30-year-old father of a two-year-old daughter and was the husband of young Mayya (that Ogar’s colleagues have turned into a widow), from Zamfara State. Soon after Ogar’s ridiculous narrative, it came to the public domain, that the scene of her ‘joint security operation’ was actually an uncompleted duplex, where migrant workers of various trades paid N200 per night to security guards to spend the night.

Given the accommodation situation in the FCT, the story was far

more plausible that it was the abode of migrant working people, than the den of “terrorists” Ogar attempted to hoodwink us with.

But far more important in the tragic narrative are two issues long-buried in the “heroic” story of a security complex somehow working tirelessly on our behalf.

The first is that the poor and working people are the greatest culprits of the class-based, security operations of the “anti-terror” war; and second, is the persistent profiling of young men of Northern Nigerian origin in this war.

These two issues were central to the Gudu killings last week.

The DSS narrative has become increasingly discredited and Nigerians are outraged at the coldblooded killings. The National Assembly weighed in, while the National Human Rights Commission launched an investigation.

Former Vice President, AtikuAbubakar, called for an independent investigation.

The Nigerian security complex was caught pants down and thoroughly exposed in the Gudu killing. We must sustain outrage and interrogate the operations of institutions hiding behind walls of delusion of securing our lives, not only to take huge sums of money under their wings, but can kill citizens with disdain. Since the Bush administration in the USA launched a “war on terror”, in the aftermath of the 9/11

terrorist attacks, security complexes nudged in copycat manners around the world.

Nigeria’s version came with the Boko Haram insurgency. Billions of naira fed a security bureaucracy that has become fabulously rich, creaming off huge sums of money, as AFRICA CONFIDENTIAL magazine has reported.

This security complex needs acontinuation of terror scenarios to sustain its riches. But from a citizen’s perspective, there is the danger that the systematic profiling of Northern Muslim youth has also been woven into this complex security tapestry.

Since most of these young people are often from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds, there is an added issue of class embedded in the dialectic.

Nigeria is one of the most unequal, unjust and class-divided countries in the world today.

Our ruling class foisted a socio-economic system that allows a tiny elite of private jets-owning individuals to exist in an ocean of poverty and hopelessness, for the majority.

Anti state acts of violence Official statistics say over 60% of the urban population lives in slums and as most of the population of our country is under the age of 30, the socio-economic

Nuhu Ribadu: Passion cannot trump intellect N O one can take away Nuhu Ribadu’s genuine sense of outrage against corruption in Nigeria. He fought with tremendous passion, as the anti-corruption Czar at the EFCC, under the Obasanjo administration. But unfortunately, passion is never enough, in the complex issues associated with societal development. Far more useful is intellect and a measured attitude to build lasting institutions and the ability to sustain work in a methodical manner.

These are Nuhu Ribadu’s deficiencies. They are in fact the reason why it became easy, in the long run, to isolate him and eliminate his effectiveness.

Nuhu did a lot that was very remarkable in the anti-corruption struggle and he was a darling, particularly of the intellectual and media nomenclatura in Southern Nigeria. They lion-

Nuhu Ribadu ized him and he soaked up the adulations.

But bluster and emotional outburst leave gaping holes in the activities of the individual.

Ribadu exposed his frailties last week in a London court, where he appeared in the Ibori assets seizure case. Under cross examination, Ribadu told the court that neither he nor the EFCC had an investigation file,

notes of calls, meetings, briefings or records detailing the offer of alleged bribes between him (Nuhu) and James Ibori, said to have offered Nuhu $15million bribe.Ribadu said the only notes he had were “personal notes”, which got lost while being persecuted after his removal as EFCC chief! Was that the way the EFCC was run?

Can such a serious allegation of bribes be so sloppily handled? Ribadu was a senior police officer, for crying out loud! With hindsight, especially for those who see only a hero in Ribadu, there were too many inconsistencies that made sustenance of the heroic narrative very difficult.

Ribadu owes us all a more sustained explanation of the way he seemed willing to be an instrument of fighting Obasanjo’s political enemies (he had

told interviewers on AIT on May 29, 2006, that Obasanjo was a “Saint”!). The same Obasanjo’s government that he then described to American Ambassador, Robin Sanders in December 2007, as being far more corrupt than Abacha’s. Adding that Obasanjo only knew how to cover his steps and deceive the international community.

Ribadu indicted Madame Patience Jonathan of money laundering in 2006 and returned in 2010 to deny his 2006 position.

He listed corrupt governors as including then governors Jonathan and Bola Tinubu, but returned to become a Tinubu sidekick! Clearly, emotions are not enough and Ribadu possesses anti-corruption emotions in abundance; but they never could trump intellect and in that department, he seemed to have always been rather deficient!

project leaves this national majority of young people, out of the loop of prosperity. All over Nigeria, there are manifestations of rejection of the class-based project that gives most of the nation’s resources to a tiny elite of bandits; while there has emerged a new phenomenon, of individuals who wielded political power becoming richer than the states they ruled.

Anti-state acts of violence, banditry, and terror have multiplied since 1999, with the Boko Haram insurgency becoming the most serious. Unfortunately, a security complex cannot escape the historic contradictions associated with the class nature of the society it sets out to secure; and the Nigerian security complex has historically been configured as anti-poor, anti-working people. The Boko Haram crisis has given it an extra ounce of notoriety, becoming increasingly sucked into the profiling of Muslim youth.

These historical patterns played out in the Gudu killings last week; they were what Ogar tried to prettify, with her puny attempts at playing the Nazi propaganda card of Joseph Goebbels. It fell flat on the face and her agency was exposed!

Democratic control Far more important is the need to increase democratic control of the security complex because it is increasingly alienating the ruling class project that it is defending.

Profiling a huge swathe of Nigerian society that happens to be young, Northern and Muslim, will not assist the search for national harmonyandconcord.Similarly,the ruling class project of building a heartless,kleptocracy masquerading as capitalism, cannot be sustained.

Too many citizens are left on the desperate margins of Nigerian society; these are the people trying to make an honest living as KekeNapep drivers; scratch cards vendors; water vendors and sundry lumpen existence. They sleep rough in uncompleted buildings in urban cities, but especially in Abuja, where the divide between the rich and poor is more magnified in its obscenities, than at any other location in the country.

This is where the security complex is more hyperactive. It does not want ruling class feathers ruffled and the “international (imperialist) community” must be kept believing, that capitalism will not be disturbed in the Nigerian version of its exploitative proclivities. A more triggerhappy tendency is therefore central to the security project here.

That is why the SSS killed poor citizens in an extra-judicial manner in the dead of night and Marilyn Ogar’s pretty face used to justify the lies of a successful anti-terror project. Nigeria’s greatest musician, FelaAnikulapo-Kuti, sang over two decades ago, that Nigeria’s security forces often leave tears, sorrow and blood in the wake of their brutalities against the Nigerian people; we saw an example of that last week, in the killings in the Gudu District of the FCT!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FOR the umpteenth time, the nation was again, told that Nigeria holds the dismal record of having the highest paid legislators globally.

Had this report not emanated from The Economist of London Magazine, it would have been dismissed as a none issue since the matter has been in the public domain and Nigerians seemed helpless about the situation.

The report said that federal legislators with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (N30.6m) were the highest paid lawmakers in the world.

Quoting data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The Economist of London, the study looked at the law makers’ basic salary as a ratio of the Gross Domestic Product per person across countries of the world.

It further suggested that the lowest paid legislator in Nigeria earns N30.6 million ($189.5,000) per annum which was put at 116 times the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, per person. As a ratio to GDP per person, Kenya was second with 76 times, Ghana 30 times and Indonesia 18 times.

While the report did not add anything new to the debate on the take home of our lawmakers, it however, reactivated public consciousness about the issue.

Continued Secrecy On Jumbo Pay The actual take home of the federal legislators has continued to remain in the dark, for reasons best known to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC).

However, the RMAFC report of 2007, said the subsisting approved packages for National Assembly (NASS) members include accommodation: (Senator N4m, Rep N3.97m), vehicle loan (Senator N8m, Rep N6.948m), furniture (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m) and severance gratuity (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m), which are due once in four years.

Other allowances, payable annually, are car maintenance (Senator N1.52m, Rep N595,563), constituency (Senator N5m, Rep N1.687m), domestic staff (Senator N1.5m, Rep N1.488m), personal assistant (Senator N506,600; Rep N496,303), entertainment

(Senator N202,640, Rep N198,521), recess (Senator N202,640; Rep N198,521), utilities (Senator N607,920; Rep N397,042), newspaper/periodicals (Senator N303,960; Rep N297,781), house maintenance (Senator N101,320; Rep N99,260) and wardrobe (Senator N405,280; Rep N397,4020).

The Senate and the House of Representatives, through their spokesmen, have alleged mischief in the report, saying it was a figment of imagination of the authors.

Civil society activists have denounced the legislators, saying they could bankrupt the economy, a sentiment that Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, once voiced.

Against this backdrop, we call on the RMAFC to make public the actual take home of our law makers. There is need for adjustment of the wages of the legislators to reflect the pay structure in a country where the minimum wage is N18,000. The Nigerian public also has the right to know the actual earnings of those elected to represent them in the legislature.

We frown on any act of impunity whereby legislators, simply because they are in charge of the public purse, help themselves to jumbo packages without resort to constitutional checks and balances.

OPINION Continued from Wednesday viewpoints

BY GERALD AZIKE

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S Thomas Aquinas stated “nihil in tellectu est, quod prius in sensu fu erit”, there is nothing in the mind that has not first been felt in the senses. In other words, what we put down in our writings are somehow what we believe. So the facts in his articles are speaking out for themselves.

Again as a Christian, I am a little bit worried about the arguments he has supplied to defuse the tension and unyoke the tribal toga that is being placed on him. Among them he wrote: “I was not a tribalist when many years ago I attended and gave my life to Christ in a Church called TREM which was established by a great Igbo man by the name of Bishop Mike Okonkwo”. Did Femi really write this? Did he say that he gave his life to Christ or Bishop Okonkwo, an Igbo man?

As a learned man, did he not see the contradiction contained in his write-up. Has Christ been incarnated in Bishop Okonkwo or has Christ been “Igbonised”. If he gave his life to Christ how has that turned him a patroniser of the Igbo race. Please, when has religion become an avenue to patronise a race? When has being a Protestant turned one into a patroniser of England or being a Lutheran into a patroniser of Deutschland? Like Christ, I will ask him, who did you go to TREM to look for? Honestly, it is disturbing reading something like this from someone who went to Cambridge. I thought he would have known better? Did he not think that his lecturers in Cambridge will be wondering what has gone wrong with their learned Alum-

Femi Fani-Kayode’s nationality question and his views on the Igbo race(2) nus. I thought he bagged a diploma at Christian Action Faith Bible Seminary in Accra, Ghana in 1985. Did they teach him that religion is no more about God but about individuals and patronisation of a race? The reasoning that led to this conclusion is really disturbing.

As if the above intellectual tragedy is not enough, he went further to list the names of Igbo girls he has had intimate relationship with as a way to show his detribalised nature and his openness to the Igbo race. Haba! He is really a genius to be attempting to turn his selfish youthful philandering into a favour for a race. I will suggest that his name be put in the Guinness Book of Record as the only one whose selfishness in giving free reign to “the dark god in his blood”, as CS Lewis described instinct, also performed an honorable act. As a Christian, I thought he would have known better. How is it that he is not able to make a distinction between the animal instinct which from his write-up was playing out in those relationships from a moralrational decision that one makes when he wants to live out the universal brotherhood of humanity. Did he really write this himself?

Where lies the Christian dignity which he attributed to himself in the last write-up?

Since the article is based on the mantra of truth, as he argued, whether the historical content which he presented in them are the “sacred truth” of the Nigerian history or not,

it must be noted that truth is not an independent reality. Correspondency theory argues that the truth expressed must tarry with the facts. But reading through his articles, one sees that the truth which is the mantra he is holding on to is deficient. It is so because the premise for his unjustified pronunciation of a race as uncouth and uneducated and money driven lot is not true and can never support his conclusion. The untruthfulness of his article is based on the fact that his article by its own judgement cannot sustain its argument. It only provided examples with the actions of less than 100 concrete individuals out of more than 50, 000, 000 groups and from there, made a general judgement over the group.

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and foremost a Yoruba and I will live and die for the Yoruba and indeed for my nation Nigeria if need be.” So based on the altar of truth which he has pontificated upon, it is very clear that the first statement and the second statement can never be true under the principle of contradiction unless both objects of love are loved under different circumstances which in this case is not so.

It is clear that from his articles he is presenting these two objects of love in relation to the other. This simply means that the truthfulness of any of the statements excludes the other. But of course, I know that each statement is driven by the group he was trying to address and the facts he was trying to contest.

The analysis above, therefore, is not meant to argue which one he really loved before the other but only to show him that truth, even in his own articles, are only presented as much as it soothes his own taste, driven by the audience he wants to address. So please, would it not be better if he were more honest and humbler than taking the Socratic posture of truthupholder when his articles do not substantiate that. Nigeria is in dire need of nationality discussion as a veritable tool for harmonious existence among different ethnic groups but Femi Fani Kayode’s method is a disaster in that regard. God bless you all.

gain, he should remember that what one calls truth in history is only interest-oriented and not a dogma. Each historian presents a story from his own perspective as it appeals to him. A history provided by Professor Kenneth Dike cannot be exactly the same provided by a Yoruba historian.

A look at his articles can even authenticate this argument. In his write-up, for example, he said in the first article: “I have nothing against my fellow Nigerians from other parts of country and I have proved over and over Concluded again that I love Nigeria and that I am a Nigerian before anything else. Yet, he went further in the last article to write: “I am first *Azike, a Catholic priest, wrote from Rome

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013— 19

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N Friday, September 20, 2013, I was just rounding off my Monday page when a friend from Silverbird media group called me and disclosed that security operatives were engaged with Boko Haram members in a shootout at Apo Village, near the Legislators Quarters, Abuja. There was this impulse to commend the security agencies for a job well done in sniffing out Boko Haram militants in Abuja before they struck. I support our security and military officers in the fight against terror one hundred per cent and I will spare no effort to encourage them because they are putting their lives on the line to save our country from a wicked enemy.

However, details that came out of the encounter indicated that there are now two sides to the story.

The Directorate of State Services, DSS, has a version which maintains that the people they confront-

ed at some uncompleted buildings in Apo Village were Boko Haram members. Their story has it that these suspected terror merchants had been mustering in these uncompleted building for some time.

Two lads whom operators of the Service arrested (who were paraded on television) “confessed” that occupants of these buildings were terrorists, and that some arms were buried somewhere within.

The Service further claimed that when a detachment of security operatives arrived at the scene and started digging up the buried arms they came under fire by Boko Haram gunmen and in the ensuing confusion, seven of the alleged terrorist lost their lives while more people sustained injuries. Lots of arrests were also made.

The media were able to get a contrary view of what happened.

Some of the hospitalised youth said they were all law-abiding artisans and menial jobbers from all parts

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of the North. According to an account, the watchmen in charge of the uncompleted building collected N200 from each of them every week to give them permission to stay there. They had been there for more than two years. They also alleged that the owner of the building ordered them to vacate the site and followed up with the invitation of the security officers to clear the building of “Boko Haram” members.

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HE only reasonable thing to do now is to call in a third, independent authority to investigate this matter to ascertain exactly what happened. Were these people truly members of Boko Haram or did the security operatives act hastily or out of malice? By malice, I mean, was there a deliberate design to gun after those chaps because they were from a particular part of the country as some commentators are insinuating?

This should not be dismissed because the case of the Apo Six is yet to be solved. Seven years ago, a group of Igbo traders and their

Ostentation and reward of corruption

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan should have realised that because he wears this big crown, there are many people out there wanting to do things his way, particularly because our society remains largely one of monkey see, monkey do. The war commander must remain resilient and courageous even at the edge of doom because in him lies the strength of the entire army. As soon as the protagonist (known in local parlance as the actor) dies, the movie must grind to a halt.

Our President made a point at the 54th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society when he opined that corruption is all-pervasive as it spreads across the public and private sectors as well as individuals and communities. He accused society of celebrating corruption and corrupt persons. According to him: “If a young man who just started a job and within six months or a year comes up with a car of N7 million to N15 million and you clap for him, then you are rewarding corruption.”

He spoke further: “So for us as a nation to bring corruption down in Nigeria, it is not just blaming government and blaming police, but individuals must frown at people who have what they are not supposed to have; who live in houses they are not supposed to live in; who drive cars they are not supposed to drive; and who wear suits more expensive than they can afford.”

We agree essentially with the President that society has its due share of the fault in encouraging corruption. At the point of arrival, national honours and various chieftaincy titles await the Nigerian who has made it. His address is immediately

available to those who hawk those bogus degrees from universities without walls and churches do not even care to find out the sources of the wealth before admitting the successful one to the front pew and sometimes, to the highest point at the altar.

Some people make a good living out of sniffing around for the nouveau riche. They are paid handsome commission for every client introduced.

Jonathan started well but missed the point mid-way. He has an eye on the merchants of corruption but maintains: “I wouldn’t want to mention names so that I will not be attacked.” This stance is most unpresidential. Cowardice is not the stuff of which leaders are made. We are reminded of the early warning: “If you can’t stand the smoke, you should get out of the kitchen.”

No one ever solves a problem by running away from it.

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ORRUPTION must be properly situated. The President may try but there is no way he can convince anyone that the offence of clapping for a thief can ever be higher than that of the actual thievery.

Jonathan’s frustration in the fight against corruption is pathetic. We can understand the frustration of a man who presides over the affairs of a country whose former boss once invited President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania to come and have a feel of his wealth.

After moving round the man’s estate, Nyerere surmised: “All this cannot be for one man in one life time.” And the Nigerians in this category are many.

Whichever way one looks at it, the issue at

lady friends went for a night rendezvous and were accosted by a team of patrolling policemen in Garki, Abuja. On ascertaining that they were from the Eastern part of the country, the officer in charge of the patrol, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Danjuma, gunned them all down and bolted. Danjuma claimed he thought they were armed robbers!

Till date, he is still on the run, while the bodies of his victims are rotting away in their untimely graves.

We must find out whether the war on terrorism has put the shoe on the other foot. Half-baked security officers with an axe to grind often resort to criminal profiling to live out their bloody, phobic fantasies.

The mere fact that hundreds of youth of Muslim North extraction were crowding in an uncompleted building so near the dwelling quarters of our federal legislators could trigger this mentality of drawing automatic conclusion, without concrete proof, that they are members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

An independent investigation will provide useful answers to some nagging questions. For instance, what were scores of young men doing in those uncompleted highprofile luxury duplexes, in a city severally scarred by terror attacks?

No responsible security system will allow that to go unchecked, but it has to be professionally handled to avoid victimising harmless citizens.

An investigation will determine whether, indeed, the security men on duty came under gun attack. It will also verify whether there were buried arms. The two young men shown on television will also say more about their allegation that the illegal occupants of the houses were terrorists. At the same time, care must be taken not to make a

hand is ostentation, which resides permanently at the official level. It begins at the top and permeates through the entire system.

Who will not be disillusioned to hear that Nigeria has the largest Presidential Air Fleet, PAF, of 10 aircraft for which it spends around N9.08 billion annually in running cost when most of the wealthy coun-

,

Apo shootings: Questions arising

Just as it is wrong for Northern Muslims to assume that Boko Haram is fighting for the cause of their religion, it is also incorrect to assume that every Northern Muslim is a terrorist

Any attempt to trivialise the crime of corruption by equating it with the moral action of clapping for the corrupt merely begs the question and admits of chasing the shadow

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tries of the world have a PAF of not more than two aircraft? Even in England, only the Queen and the Prime Minister are entitled to British Airways chartered flights for long distance trips. Ghana, Algeria and many European countries maintain only one aircraft in their PAF. We know it must be extremely hot at the top. But as advised by Joseph Campbell (1904-1987): “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” After a leader sermonises all day on the need for probity in the fight against corruption, it becomes the more frustrating for him to return home to a wife who has an unquenchable appetite

political issue out of this matter. If the security agents made a costly mistake it must be treated according to the law.

Talking about criminal profiling, it is very counter-productive. While it pays to remain vigilant always, it will neither promote the goals of the war on terror nor will it enhance nation building. Just as it is wrong for Northern Muslims to assume that Boko Haram is fighting for the cause of their religion or the political interests of their region, it is also incorrect to assume that every Northern Muslim is a terrorist.

I have always maintained that the best way to win the war on terror is for all good Nigerians to close ranks, irrespective of religion, region or political persuasions, to face this common enemy called Boko Haram. It is an enemy that wants to destroy this country and impose an idea or system which people like me will never accept. This enemy may take many with him but he will lose with ignominy in the end. It is up to those who are sensible to do the right thing or join the losing side and go down with it.

We have also seen that since the local people in Borno State, especially the youth which pride themselves as the “CIVILIAN JTF” joined hands in the war against Boko Haram, the emergency measures imposed in the North East took a turn for the better. A war that could have lasted for years with crippling consequences for the local economy might be over (or largely so) in a matter of months.

That is the magic of people joining hands with the government to fight a common enemy. The Apo shootings should be handled so as to restore the people’s confidence in our security agencies.

for wealth accumulation. The issue here is that no matter how deafening the applause gets, the point of corruption still resides with the corrupt official, not with the applauding public.

Applauds are not necessarily always bad.

They sometimes come with good deeds. Our President cannot deny acknowledging the applauds that greeted the church he singlehandedly caused to be donated to the Otuoke community, even where the conflict of interest situation generated by that donation still lingers on.

In any case, it is naive to expect that corrupt practices would come to an end the moment we stopped clapping for corrupt people. Any attempt to trivialise the crime of corruption by equating it with the moral action of clapping for the corrupt merely begs the question and admits of chasing the shadow while the substance eludes us.

By talking glibly about corruption, Jonathan only succeeds in insulting our collective sensibilities. He lacks all it takes to win the fight. Elsewhere, the war is raging.

Associated Press has just made a single entry that captures the total essence of this discussion (Sunday, September 22, 2013): A Chinese leader, Bo Xilia, has been sentenced to life in prison for corruption, after confiscating all his personal assets.

The judgement was neither based on what the Yoruba call “pele omo mi” nor on “Do as I say not as I do”, the Nigerian style. Instead of this hide and seek game, shouldn’t Nigerians really give up on this fight and let the spoilt world spoil?

20— Vanguard ,

THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Is it a crime to be fat?

BY EBELE ORAKPO ADAM abeg dress,” shouted “theM bus conductor this

*Street sweepers on duty in the new-look Aba

Aba: When a dirt-prone city begins to wear a clean look F

OR many years Aba, the com mercial nerve centre of Abia State, was a byword for a dirty city on account of the mountains of waste from both industrial and domestic concerns that became signposts in different parts of the city. Indeed, any visitor to Aba then was sure to be confronted by heaps of wastes that not only assault the nose with their putrefying stench, but also block almost all the roads in the city. The situation was also worsened by the ever-present deplorable roads, with stores and shanties built on top of drainage channels causing blockages and overflow of water especially during rainy seasons.

Some roads like Omuma, Ohanku, Obiohia, Ariaria, among others, were completely overtaken by wastes, making them impassable, especially during the rainy seasons. It was a problem the Chief Theodore Orji administration regarded with great concern and was desperate to address, at least to wipe away the unenviable toga that Aba is one of the dirtiest cities in the country.

The government had during its first term engaged the services of a foreign firm to undertake the task of remedying the environmental problems of Aba. But the company reportedly failed in this task and had its contract terminated.

The state government had also employed other strategies like desilting and regular scooping of drainage channels, and the reconstruction of some of the roads for easy access of disposal vehicles within the city, but the impact was hardly felt as they also failed to arrest this problem.

But the good news is that today, the story has changed for the better, a development that coincided with the appointment of a Deputy Gen-

eral Manager for the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, in the person of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to be in charge of the environmental problems of Aba and its environs.

Within three months of Dr. Ikpeazu’s assignment, many residents of Aba have continued to express delight with the zeal and efforts of ASEPA to have made the major roads of Aba metropolis to wear a new look. The heaps of refuse found in virtually every part of the city, especially within the Asa, Port Harcourt, Aba-Owerri, Ogbor Hill roads of Aba have all disappeared and the evacuation of waste from these roads has remained consistent.

Aba is said to produce about 750 metric tonnes of domestic waste on daily basis, and when what comes from Port Harcourt express and fringes of the city is factored in, it rises to over 1000 metric tonnes of waste generated.

Mr. Mbadiwe Okoronkwo, a businessman along Asa Road in Aba told Vanguard Metro that: “ At least

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are not pigs, we should learn to live clean; they should learn to use the designated dump receptacles instead of dumping refuse indiscriminately along the gutters and roads”.

A prominent traditional ruler in Obingwa Local Government Area of the State, Eze Eberechi Dick who resides in Aba commended the State Governor for the appointment of Dr. Ikpeazu at ASEPA, saying that his presence has already been felt in changing the face of the city for the better.

But Dr. Ikpeazu stated that there are two strong monitoring teams that go about to make sure that people don’t litter the city during days and in the evenings, adding: “We manned the buckets all through the night to ensure that people comply to the new rules of sanitation programmes in the City”.

Dr. Ikpeazu disclosed that on assumption of office that he inherited 68 refuse heaps in the city of which one of the heaps took almost 112 trucks to remove, while Ngwa road was completely a no go area but stated that ASEPA has since intervened and

We should learn to live clean; to use the designated dump receptacles instead of dumping refuse indiscriminately along the gutters and roads

there is no day within the past three months that you wake up to see heaps along the major roads of the city, but we need to watch and see how they sustain this effort even to the hinterlands of the city”.

Chief Mike Nwamuo, a member of the executive of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Aba praised the efforts of ASEPA,but stressed that: “ASEPA should work on the habits and culture of Aba residents. They should be made to imbibe cleanliness; we

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BY ERIC UGBOR

evacuated all the refuse in the entire Aba metropolis.

He explained that: “To keep the city clean requires the deployment of equipment and manpower. So we had to double the number of people working in the express with 32 bucket minders, while adopting the strategy of carting away rubbish only in the evening. Before I came there was no policy on refuse management and that was what accounted for the lapses we inherited”.

bright Monday afternoon in Enugu, the Coal City as the commuter bus made its way from the suburb to the city centre.

He was talking to a female passenger in the bus who he felt had taken up more than her fair share of space to the detriment of others!

Replied the woman calmly: “But I have gotten to the end of the seat, you can come and see for yourself.”

This seemed to infuriate the conductor who shot back: “That seat is meant for four people but you have taken the space meant for two people. You should pay for two.”

“Is it her fault that she is big? Will you now query God for making her the way she is?” asked another commuter by name Emeka.

“Don’t mind him. He is almost as big as the woman,” said Mark.

Retorted the conductor; “God forbid! How can I allow myself to be as big as that? It’s too much food.”

Terrible creatures “I don’t blame you. Na me enter your motor so you can insult me all you want,” said the woman.

“Conductor, I am sure your wife is even bigger than this madam here,” said Emeka, to which the conductor retorted thus: “Wife? Abeg, I am not married and I will not marry. Getting married is sentencing yourself to life imprisonment, women are terrible creatures.”

“You are a foolish man to say such a thing. Ah, women don suffer! What woman will condescend to marry a balloon like you? hissed Chioma.

“No mind him. So at your age, you are not married?” asked Ada. Replied the conductor: “What do I need a wife for? If I need to be with a woman, prostitutes are

everywhere. With N300, I get what I want.”

“Shame on you. You still patronise prostitutes in this time and age with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections on the prowl?” queried Ada.“On a more serious note, are there still prostitutes in Nigeria?”

Ify asked.

“They are everywhere.

In fact, they are becoming bolder by the day. Not too long ago, they demanded to be recognised as genuine business people with identity and business cards,” reported Chioma.

“They have an association now. Prostitutes Association of Nigeria, PAN, complete with administrative staff. In fact, I read somewhere that from last month (August), no prostitute in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja would be allowed to collect anything less than N15,000 from customers,” said Ada. Continuing, she said: “I heard of a White prostitute who got married along the line but continued with her job. She said her husband did not mind and she was coping quite well.

At home, she is a loving wife and at work, she is a professional to the core with the feelings for her clients.”

“Hmm, I no dey house oo. Na only Oyibo man go tolerate that,” said Emeka.

“Conductor, as you can see, it is obvious they are going beyond your reach, so go and marry, it’s cheaper,” advised Mark.

The quick witted conductor replied: “It doesn’t matter. After all, you said Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos. I am in Enugu so I will still get cheap ones here.” Turning to the driver, he said: “Driver, please next time you see fat women, press down your accelerator; don’t even look at their direction and if they flag you down, tell them you are not heading their direction, especially if you want to succeed in this business.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 — 21

From Right: Chief Exécutive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya; Ogub State governor , Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Biodun Ajiboye, during a development lecture organiséd by Nigerian Telecom, at Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos.

Anxiety at ports over Customs irregular tariff regime BYGODWINORITSE

T

HERE are indications that Customs agents in Lagos ports may down tools tp protest the irregular Customs tariffs classification on cargoes which operators said they received from the Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) in Abuja.

It was gathered that the alert usually comes under different nomenclatures such as, ‘Abuja alert’, ‘CPC alert’, ‘jack alert’, and ‘committee alert’, among others.

Sources at the Tin Can Island Port told Vanguard that tension is already high and that any moment from now, a protest by customs and freight forwarders may ensue. Freight forwarders who spoke to Vanguard at the PTML custom command also alleged that after valuation officer issues value to be paid on a cargo and after the money has been paid, the customs still go ahead to issue alerts on the same cargo, thereby subjecting the importer to another round of payments.

It was gathered that the executives of the freight forwarding associations have detached themselves from the complaints and that agents may take the law into their

hands any moment from now. ”The chairmen may not be able to curtail it if anything that happens here, we will not be held responsible because right now it is getting out of hand” the source said.

“Valuation is the area we are having problems, whatever you do here, you will get headquarters alert, valuation alert, CPC alert and jack alert and you will not know which one you are facing” It was also gathered that a meeting was held at the PTML custom command last week with the Custom Area Controller; Mr. Tajudeen Olanrewaju and all sectional heads of the command where they promised to look into the issue.

Also confirming the trend at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) National Treasurer of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Simeon Olua said the alert problem has become the topic of the day, even as he alleged that the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Nde Dikko cannot feign ignorance on the matter.

Olua said that apart from the alerts, the assessment that should be issued to correct the valuation problem is not always issued to the agent on time.”How can it be that in a system you will have ‘headquarters alert’, ‘CPC alert’, ‘Committee alert’ on almost every job there is an alert, and the greatest problem is that they don’t even have sufficient officers to manage the printing of assessment for the payment.’

“At TICT , only one person is handling the issue of alert and printing the assessment which is not acceptable, some of us stay five to six days in the process of printing assessment for the alert.

Tthis means you are begging government to give you assessment for you to pay duty.” He alleged further that it costs between N10, 000 and N20, 000 to print assessment in order to pay for the generated alerts.

However, the image maker of the PTML Custom Command, Mr. Steve Okonmah explained that the customs have a new valuation regime which all commands are using.

He explained that an audit system alerts is issued on a cargo from customs headquarters if the value paid on the cargo is below what the importer ought to have paid.

“By the time you go to release your job and it is lower than the new tariff regime, no matter how you punch it, it must show. When this is detected they send you back to the valuation” he clarified.

BOG approves take-over of ICB by First Bank of Nigeria

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HE Bank of Ghana (BOG) has approved the acquisition of Ghana’s International Commercial Bank (ICB) by the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN). A statement by the BOG yesterday,stated that the terms of the approval required the FBN to offload at least 40 per cent of the shares to Ghanaians through private placement or the Ghana Stock Exchange.

According to the statement, at least 25 per cent of the shares are expected to be off-loaded latest by Dec. 31, 2014, while the balance should be off loaded not later than Dec. 2016. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the take-over also includes ICB’s subsidiaries in Gam-

bia, Guinea, Senegal and Sierra-Leone.

ICB is part of a group comprising a network of 12 banks spread through Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.

The bank commenced operation in Ghana in 1996 with a focus on providing financial services to Small and Medium Scale enterprises.

Analysts say that the ICB’s acquisition by FBN is expected to give birth to one of the biggest SME- friendly banks in Ghana.

The FBN was two years ago rated the most valuable Nigerian bank and in 2012 the Brand Finance Banking League Tables rated it in the top 500 most valuable banking brands worldwide.

KPMG advises on tax management to improve efficiency

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

K

PMG Nigeria’s Partner in Tax, Regulatory and People services, Ajibola Olomola has said that every business organisation needs to adopt strategies to mitigate tax risks by setting up tax departments and putting up measures to handle tax risks in the most cost efficient manner.

Olomola, who was speaking on ‘Creating Tax Efficient Operations’ at a KPMG Cost Optimisation Breakfast Seminar held in Lagos, noted that tax efficient operations serve as means to reduce business cost associated with operating in Nigerian economy.

“Tax efficient supply chain management is the one that maximizes before and after tax for the corporation,” he said.

“All businesses need to consider the tax efficiency of their supply chains particularly where their footprints cut across multiple tax operating frameworks and jurisdiction,” he added.

He further noted that pursuing lower cost in supply does not necessarily translate into lower tax , stressing that business organisations need to approach tax issues from strategic and operational levels.

Business organisations, he said, should consider among other things at strategic levels, whether there are considerations for potential transfer pricing risks that exists in intercompany transaction costs, and at operational levels, if there is a purchasing framework that considers tax costs and opportunities prior to making supply decisions, adding that purchasing team in every organization should be made aware of tax implications of purchasing decisions.

“The bottom line is that tax directors need to be fully made aware of and engaged in what is happening - within the company and in the broader tax environment.

That way, you can ensure that tax issues are considered in conjunction with any supply issue change,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Partner, Management Consulting, KPMG UK, Andrew Williams, said that recent global business trends show that the business world is no longer driven by economics but by cultures and customs.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

ICAN, tertiary institutions cooperate to enhance accounting profession

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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L-R, Jibril Aku, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Nigeria Plc with Patrick Akinwuutan, Group Executive Director, Domestic Bank, Ecobank Plc and Felix Bikpo, Chief Executive Officer ,The African Guarantee Fund, at the signing agreement between Ecobank Plc and African Guarantee Fund, on SME funding, in lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) said it is set to enter into a Mutual Cooperation Agreement with Tertiary Institutions (MCATI) in order enhance ethical standard and technical competence among chattered accountants in Nigeria.

The Institute said in a statement that the agreement is in keeping with its mandate of producing world-class chartered accountants.

It noted that the MCATI would be based on the Institute’s new Professional Examinations syllabus which is being reviewed in line with international best practices and

Legal, regulatory barriers to women’s economic inclusion declines — World Bank

By PETER EGWUATU

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ORLD Bank and International Finance Corporation, IFC have disclosed that legal and regulatory barriers to women’s economic inclusion have decreased over the past 50 years globally.

They also noted that many laws in some countries still hinder women’s participation in the economy. Laws restricting women’s economic activity are currently most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa , SubSaharan Africa and South Asia. “The ideal of equality before the law and equality of economic opportunity isn’t just wise social policy: It’s smart economic policy,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “When women and men participate in economic life on an equal footing, they can contribute

their energies to building a more cohesive society and a more resilient economy. The surest way to help enrich the lives of families, communities and economies is to allow every individual to live up to her or his fullest creative potential” he added.

“Our latest edition of Women, Business and the Law shows that many societies have made progress, gradually moving to dismantle ingrained forms of discrimination against women,” said Kim. “Yet a great deal remains to be done.” The report, according to World Bank also finds out that 44 economies have made 48 legal changes, thus increasing women’s economic opportunities over the past two years..

Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Philippines and the Slovak Republic had the most reforms. Among the reforms,

husbands can no longer unilaterally stop their wives from working in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, the Philippines has lifted restrictions on night work for women, and the Slovak Republic increased the percentage of wages paid during maternity leave.

The report stated that economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have the most extensive lists of jobs women cannot do. “ For example, in the Russian Federation women cannot drive trucks in the

Ecobank, AGF sign portfolio guarantee agreement to support SMEs

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COBANK Transnational Incorporated and the African Guarantee Fund (“AGF”) have signed a cooperation agreement to

Diamond Bank unveils initiative to promote educational development

By NKIRUKA NNORO

I

N pursuit of the desire to support educational development in the country, Diamond Bank has launched a school banking proposition to cater for the financial needs of all school levels from crèche, primary to secondary institutions. The proposition, called Banking-in-a-Box, is aimed at providing a solution to the needs of various stakeholders within the school value chain, which includes

schools, students, parents, staff and proprietors.

According to the Head of Corporate Communication of the bank, Mrs. Ayo na Trim nell, the initiative comprises many components that will be released in phases. The components, she further revealed includes school fees loans for parents, low cost transaction al and collections solution and Current Account for schools. ’’Diamond Bank feels strongly that if your bank does not support your

agricultural sector, in Belarus they cannot be carpenters and in Kazakhstan they cannot be welders. These restrictions may have arisen from a desire to protect women, but can limit their employment options. The report shows economies with the most job restrictions on women have lower female participation in the formal labor force.”

“Progress on gender equality under the law is accelerating,” said Augusto Lopez - Claros, Director, Global Indicators and Analysis, World Bank Group.

is expected to take effect from November 2014 professional examinations.

“Under the arrangement, accounting programmes of the partnering institutions from entry level to graduation will be jointly moderated by ICAN and its partners. On graduation, candidates will be granted appropriate exemptions and will be eligible to sit for the Institute’s professional examinations. The candidates shall also undergo a thirty-six month period of attachment and pass the qualifying examinations of the Institute before being inducted as full members,” ICAN said in the statement.

This new arrangement was part of the deliberation of the Governing Council of the Institute at its August 2013 meeting.

According to the 49th President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Alhaji Kabir A. Mohammed, mni, FCA, “When the programme is fully embraced by tertiary institutions, the Institute would have found a solution to the challenge of inadequate preparation of candidates for the ICAN examinations” He explained that “the mutual cooperation agreement with the tertiary institutions is one of the proactive measures

by ICAN to ensure that individuals seeking to become chartered accountants acquire the knowledge, professional skills and competence required to protect the public interest in a rapidly changing business environment.

education, then you need a new bank. At Diamond Bank , we put action to our promises and our Banking -in -a- Box initiative is our way of supporting education in Nigeria, ‘’She said.

Part of the product offerings in the new proposition is The Diamond School Press Account (DSXA), a zero COT Current Account that allows schools carry out their business transactions at an affordable fixed fee per term irrespective of volume of transactions.

promote and support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Under the terms of this USD 50 million agreement, the two institutions will work together to unlock the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the DRC, Kenya and Nigeria to deliver inclusive growth. The inaccessibility of finance is a major obstacle to small business growth and development, with only 20 percent of African SMEs receiving a credit line from a financial institution. This agreement aims to assist viable SMEs by providing an AGFbacked partial guarantee for 50 percent of net losses of principal under the loan facilities extended to customers in the value chain of SME financing programs, including

Contract & Receivables Finance, Distributorship Finance and Asset Finance.

Commenting on this transaction, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer, Thierry Tanoh said: “This agreement reaffirms Ecobank’s commitment to support small and medium-sized businesses and our collaboration with Africa Guarantee Fund will further enable the SME sector play a critical role in the socioeconomic development of Africa.”

Also commenting at the signing ceremony, the Group Executive Director, Domestic Bank, Patrick Akinwuntan said, “Ecobank recognizes that the SME and Medium sized enterprises sector has significant growth potential, represents Africa’s ‘rising middle’ and provides the largest employment pool for our vibrant population.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—23

plans EKOCENTER Why manufacturers must embrace TIN Coca-Cola in 20 countries — JTB T

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

M

ANUFACTURING industries in the country have a lot to gain from the newly introduced Tax Identification Number (TIN) by the Joint Tax Board, JTB. The Acting Chairman of the board, Alhaji Kabir uhammad Mashi, who disclosed this , said that TIN was the board’s response to complaints by the business community against double taxations from the federal, states and local governments .

According to him, TIN is one of the strategic pillars aimed at bringing to an end the issue of multiple taxation in the country, and also bringing as many Nigerians as possible into the tax net.

“Several respectable bodies in Nigeria have repeatedly cried out against multiple taxation in Nigeria. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Directors, various Chambers of Commerce and many other industry groups have repeatedly called for a harmonisation of Nigeria’s tax regime.

“We believe that TIN is a more convenient and cost effective means of achieving these goals. It is also in the overall interest of all Nigerians both in the short term and in the long term.

For example, once a Taxpayer has a TIN, he can use this unique number to gain access and manage his records from any state.

“This Tax registration process ensures that each taxpayer has a unique number to give him and the authorities concerned easy access to information about his tax status anywhere around the country, thus avoiding incidence of double or mul-

From left: Ms Ginni Rometty, IBM President and CEO with Austin Okere, Founder and CEO of Computer Warehouse Group during her visit to Nigeria, recently. tiple taxation among other things. TIN is unique to each tax payer and may be quoted for all Tax purposes nationwide,” he said.

Corroborating, the past president of ICAN, Prince Razak Quadri, said that multiplicity of taxes would be reduced to

the barest minimum with the adoption of TIN. He observed that as presently constituted, the board cannot force any tier of government to implement agreements reached at the level of JBT because States and Local Government represented on the board are desper-

Dangote trains 8,000 bricklayers on cement usage

BY KOSISO UDEMBA

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ANGOTE Cement Plc has trained more than 8,000 bricklayers across the country on cement usage.

This was made known

by Dangote Cement’s Regional Manager Marketing Services, Johnson Olaniyi during the 43rd annual general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) with the theme: Transformation of the Building Industry: Possibilities and Realities.

He said: “Over the years, Dangote has been partnering with stakeholders in the country on how best to make use of

the product. We have given out tools and other equipment to aid their operations.

Already, over 8,000 bricklayers have been trained and the retraining process is on-going to enhance their capacity. The interest of the end-users is important to us and we have decided to develop these initiatives to address the needs. The move would thus help restore consumers’ confidence in the company’s brand.”

According to him, the company has begun a series of sensitisation campaign for block molders and other major players in the sector on the

NACCIMA plans trade mission to Japan

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N furtherance to its efforts in promoting bilateral trade relations, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has concluded plans to embark on reciprocal trade mission to Tokyo, Japan.

The 35 man delegation drawn from member chambers Commerce across the country will be led by the Associations National President, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar The main focus of the trade mission will be

ate to raise Internally Generated Revenue and as such were not complying with relevant tax laws.

He advocated that government should give JTB more power to enforce agreements reached by its members as a way of curbing the menace of multiple taxations.

amongst others on Agriculture and equipment, manufacturing, construction, partnership and joint venture.

Activities scheduled for the programme are: Business meeting (B2B), factory visits and presentation “Nigerian Economy and business trends from private section’s perspective” “ while the high point will be the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NACCIMA and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) The proposed MoU is to

foster closer cooperation between members of the two organisations and private sector operators of both countries at large.

It will be recalled that not less than 24 firms from Japan visited Nigeria recently on trade mission and with a view to harness investment opportunities in the country.

The delegation is scheduled to leave the shores of the country on October 6, 2013 and will be hosted by the Nigerian Embassy in Tokyo and Japan Chamber of commerce & Industry (JCCI).

need to arrest the growing incidence of building collapse across the country.

“This has taken place in Abuja, Calabar, and Lagos in association with Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),” he said.

“A bag of cement should be mixed with not more than four wheel barrows of sand in order to ensure firmness of the structure but most greedy persons and contractors do not adhere to these, in an attempt to minimise cost and at the expense of destruction of lives and properties.”

“The incidence of building collapse is of serious concern to Dangote Cement and that the company would always be ready to partner like minds to reduce the occurrence,” he added.

Chairman of NIOB, Musa Yakubu, said, “We are very happy that the Dangote Cement has agreed to partner like minds towards the overall development of the building industry because they are very central to it. We hope to collaborate with Dangote Cement in such a way that we can tap directly from them. As end users, we want Dangote Cement to deal with us directly.”

HE Coca-Cola Com pany says it is establishing EKOCENTER, a kiosk designed to improve the well-being of rural communities in 20 countries (Africa, Asia and Latin America) by the end of 2015.

In an online statement, Tuesday, the company said it is working together with DEKA R&D, IBM, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, McCann Health, NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and UPS to implement the project.

“Currently, one EKOCENTER test site has been launched in Heidelberg, South Africa, and there are plans to install one additional EKOCENTER pilot by the end of 2013.

“Coca -Cola and its bottling partners will lead the project, managing the site selection, installation and maintenance

of each EKOCENTER. They also will utilise their local operations to spport on-the-ground neds and serve as a distibution channel for EKCENTER placements,” said the statement.

Each EKOCENTER will offer a locally tailored mix of poducts, services and resorces that may include safe drinking water, sustainable energy, wireless communications, refrigerated vaccination storage, health education, and other functionality to jump-start entrepreneurship opportunities and community development.

Women and entrepreneurs from local communities will be recruited to operate each EKOCENTER, creating new opportunities for employment in the communities where we install and operate EKOCENTER.

Lagos Assembly charges manufacturers on traffic law

BY EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS State House of Assembly has challenged the manufacturing companies operating within the state to ensure strict compliance with the traffic law or face the consequences.

Speaking through its chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Bisi Yusuf, during the committee’s visit to Mikano, makers of generating set, the lawmaker expressed displeasure over the indiscriminate parking of the company’s trucks along the way, which eventually caused traffic gridlock in the area.

According to him “the state government would

not allow any company operating within the State to cause unnecessary traffic gridlock”.

The lawmaker, who represents Alimosho Constituency I, warned that the state government would soon enforce the traffic law which states that trucks can be only allowed to move between 10pm to 6am.

He added that manufacturing companies should create a conducive environment for effective work performance for staff.

Another lawmaker, Lanre Ogunyemi implored the manufacturing company to ensure that they produce quality and genuine product that would boost the Nation’s economy.

Judges pick 3 finalists for IIDA award

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S the countdown to this year’s editions of Indomie Independence Day Award (IIDA) for Heroes of Nigeria, draws near, three finalists have emerged following a judges’ seating which held in Lagos.

The final three stories were picked after a thorough brainstorming session, which saw a select panel of Judges whose roles were to pick three finalists in the first, second and third position to deliberate on stories totaling over 100 after which the eventual identified stories that came tops after

the session will be made public on October 5, 2013 - the award day proper.

Judges who sat for this year’s heroes of Nigeria award selection are: Mr. Martin Ayankola, Editor, Punch Newspapers; Professor Kabiru Akinyemi, Dean of student Affairs, Lagos State University; Mr. Graham Stothhard, Principal, Lagos Preparatory School; Mrs. Laja Adedoyin, Founder, Heart of Gold Children Hospice; Mr. Kunle Soriyan, Managing Director, ST Consulting and Mr. Bimbo Manuel, a renowned actor.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 — 25

ASUU/FG fface-of ace-of f: ace-off: Priv at ar sities’ Privat atee vvar arsities’ VCs call for truce — Page 27

UBA releases N2.3m for best essay writers

— Page 28

We are into energy management, home automation — Adoghe Anthony — Page 39

FG has 60 days to meet our demands or else … — COEASU

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

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HE Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has given the Federal Government a 60-day ultimatum to meet its demands. The President of the Union, Mr. Asagha Okoro, said “the nation would regret looking down on the teaching education sector if concrete steps are not taken to address COEASU’s grievances.”

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard Learning, Okoro said: “we have packaged all the issues facing the teaching education sector.

If we do not see concrete action within 60 days, we will employ non conventional industrial methods to make our voice heard. What we are asking for is not much; most of these demands can be met with as little as N26bn. After a one week warning strike, the Union met with government representatives at the office of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, last Thursday.

Outome of meeting Okoro, speaking on the outcome of the meeting said: “We were told that our concerns were germane and will be addressed. However, the issues discussed were forwarded to the Minister of State for Education and we were told that a meeting would be scheduled with him as soon as possible.”

The union had pointed out 17 issues to be addressed by the government. They include: “the suspicious delay in the release of the 2012 visitation white paper; the refusal of colleges managements to recruit commensurate academic manpower to cater for the high dearth of academic staff to meet the contemporary challenges engendered by the rising population of students; the nonharmonization of conditions of service for academic staff of all Continues on page 26 C M Y K

Comprehensive Junior High School, Agidi Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, during their first day in school at the resumption of new session on Monday 23-9-2013. PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi

Restore sound education or jeopardize the sector says, ICPC boss

BY DAYO ADESULU

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O nation can aspire to achieve her full potentials without human capital development, and human capital development cannot be realised if the institutions charged to do so are crippled by maladministration, weak leadership structure and corruption.

This was the assertion of the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Barr. Ekpo Nta during the third national transparency summit of Heads of institutions of higher learning held in Abuja.

The theme of the summit was

Restoring All Round Soundness to Higher Education in Nigeria.

He said, “the theme of the summit suggested that all is not well with our higher educational system and needs some kind of restoration which if not done, could jeopardize the sector. It is a known fact that Nigeria is experiencing huge challenges of access and quality, most especially at its tertiary education level. It portends danger and a bleak future for the generation unborn if not attended to urgently.

“The solution to Nigeria’s socio-political problems lies in a high quality and sustainable education system. Nigeria can do with better curricular, infrastructure

and closer ties of its educational system with the industry.

"Any investment in this sector is an investment in the future of Nigeria.

Quality and sustainable education sector, especially higher education, have the potential to create employment, improve wellness, create a well-informed or politically informed citizenry, and effectively tackle corruption and impunity in our body politics. "Our best brains reside within its walls and ICPC is proud to be associated with them but will come down hard on those who wish to tarnish their hard-won international Continues on page 26

26— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

FG has 60 days to meet our demands or else …

Continues from page 25 tertiary institutions to stem brain drain from the colleges of education to the universities; the proposed selective imposition of IPPIS in the CoE and the polytechnics; the truncation of a hitherto functional and innovative Tertiary Education Trust Fund leading to obvious regrettable gaps that compromises the critical need for the consolidation of the gains recorded during the past five years; non implementation of CONPCASS, 65years retirement age and Migration to CONTISS 15 in some state CoE; the non conduct of Needs Assessment for CoE to address students and staff needs for the enhancement of quality teaching and learning.”

Others are: the refusal of government to approve an Independent degree awarding status for all CoE certified by NUC as being qualified to award degrees in Teacher Education; illegal imposition of Group Life Insurance underwriters and the non payment of death benefits to our deceased colleague’s families between 2000 and 2013; non budgetary allocations for outsourced services and the refusal of government to heed the call for the abrogation of outsourced services and the offer of regular employment to all those in the outsourced cadre and the payment of out-standing arrears

to the tune of N2,443,278,543.96; the non allocation/release of funds (N2,344,765,841) for crucial academic activities like accreditation programmes, among others.

Meanwhile, in its bid to forestall another strike action by COEASU, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Wogu, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with COEASU which charged the Federal Ministry of Education to, as a matter of urgency, meet with the Union to determine some of the issues at stake.

At the end of the Thursday meeting aimed at reassessing the extent of the implementation of the agreement reached on the 30th of August 2013 between the Ministry of Education and COEASU, the MoU states that all new issues tabled at the mediatory meeting will also be sent to the Supervising Minister of Education as they are specific administrative issues within the Sector which require tackling; That the Federal Government appreciates the suspension of the seven days working strike

Continues from page 25

Dr Ayo Ogunsan, Chairman Executive Trainers, Prof William QURIX, VC Kaduna State University, Prof Vincent Tenebe, VC National Open University, Prof Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Harvard Business School, Mrs Ajoke Ogunsan, CEO, Executive Trainers, Prof James Ayatse, VC Federal University Dutsima Kastina State, and Prof Isah Hassan VC Kogi State University at the ETL ongoing Leadership Training in Harvard Business School, Boston USA.

embarked upon by the Union due to the intervention of the Federal Ministries of Labour and Productivity and Education on 30th August 2013; That the Office of the

Accountant General of the Federation will demonstrate the workings of the IPPIS platform to the Executive of COEASU on October 29,2013; That in consideration of the above conciliatory meeting which is at the

Restore sound education

image and repute.”

He noted that the Commission especially focuses on the youths through its interventions in the education sector in order to improve the sector’s integrity profile which has been having some ethical challenges.

According to him, the ICPC believes that education in pivotal in the national development plan of a nation, as the socio-political and economic development of any nation is, in many ways, determined by the quality and level of educational attainment of the citizens.

Nta pointed out that it is on this premise that the Commission is directly intervening in the higher education sector, starting with the universities to help the sector check corruption-prone practices prevalent therein and prevent future occurrences.

He maintained that in Nigeria, a number of existing universities lack the required quality, thereby exacerbating the problems of unemployment, youth restiveness, corruption and other social vices.

“The number of foreign universities, most of them of questionable quality, offering admissions to Nigerian students is on an alarming increase. It was reported that Ghana realises about $1bn yearly on account of education tourism,

made possible because the country plans for, and actually has good quality educational system, steady academic calendar, better funding and improved infrastructure.

“Nigeria had once enjoyed that pride of place especially in the Commonwealth and with proper investments and solid ethical conduct, she can regain that lost glory. Following the deluge of petitions in respect of assumed or real incidents of corruption in the Nigerian higher education sector, which is depicted by dilapidation, low institutional esteem and poor quality products, the Commission decided to intervene in this crucial sector.

"Though our intervention is holistic, cutting across the basic, post-basic and the tertiary levels, the interventions in the tertiary level have been done through the following: a pilot University System Study and Review (USSR) exercise; closure of illegal degree awarding mills; establishment of students anticorruption vanguards;

instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the meeting shall reconvene after 60 days to consider progress made in respect of the outstanding issues now referred back to the Federal Ministry of Education.

regular interactive sessions held in universities for staff and students by top echelon of ICPC; and NYSC partnerships.”

According to him, since the professional treatment of any ailment starts with diagnosis, the Commission took the gauntlet by taking a decisive step to invoke Section 6(b-d) of its enabling law, to undertake a comprehensive study and review of the corruption-prone processes in the Nigerian University System.

He explained that this was to ensure that the university system meets the basics of transparency and ethical conduct in higher education management in conformity with international best practices. The pilot study, tagged ‘USSR’, was carried out in three universities. The universities (University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Salem University, Lokoja) were randomly selected on the basis of proprietorship and geography and comprehensively studied by a 12-man team assembled from various sections of ICPC.

Flour Mills supports children summer camp

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LOUR Mills of Nige ria Plc, producers of the iconic Golden Penny range of products continues to support the growth and development of Nigerian kids as they recently sponsored one of Nigeria’s first full fledge residential summer camp for children between the ages of 9 and 15 years.

Camp Hype which was organized by Mirror En-

tertainment Events and Marketing Company Limited in conjunction with Eko Tourist Beach Resort, Akodo and held recently was a great experience for thirty campers who participated. There were many educational, social and moral elevating activities during the Camp HYPE which included a 4 day boot camp, indoor and outdoor adventure, arts,

crafts and music, sporting activities, life skill program and cultural heritage enrichment. Campers also had a Bon-fire night; a cinema outing to the Palms Lekki and motivational talks from various guest speakers.

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC is passionate about developing and improving the new generation and strongly believes that such activities go a long way in

enhancing our children not just academically but culturally, socially and physically. Camp hype exposed the campers to new ideas and experiences and afforded them the opportunity to relate with other kids from different tribes, backgrounds and cultures. With such experiences and activities, our kids are better equipped for the challenges of the future.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—27

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

W

ORRIED by the protracted industrial action embarked upon by public university lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Vice-Chancellors of private universities have expressed concern and sympathy for the affected students, noting that there was need to end the threemonth-old impasse between the Federal Government and the striking lecturers.

The VCs of Bells University of Technology (BELLSTECH), Prof.

Isaac Adeyemi; Redeemer’s University, Prof.

Zachariah Adeyewa; Covenant University, Prof.

Charles Ayo; and Caleb University, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, while expressing their discomfort, noted that Nigeria’s educational system needs strategic planning and restructuring to regain its lost glory The VC, Redeemer ’s University, Prof. Adeyewa, said “some of my children are also affected by the strike and have been pleading with me to send them to private varsities because they are tired of staying at home. In fact, I want to appreciate parents who are sending their children to private varsities because they are making a lot of sacrifices. I would have loved all my children to attend private varsities but I can’t afford the tuition fees.

“We are not happy that some of our children are becoming grand-parents at home because of the ongoing imbroglio between government and ASUU. The truth is that government and the citizens are not totally committed as the average parent will want to send his wards to smaller African countries to acquire education, where they may be lost to foreign cultures.”

Lamenting the unending industrial action by unions in

ASUU/FG face-off: Private varsities’ VCs call for truce the country’s public tertiary institutions, BELLSTECH VC, Adeyemi, said parties going into an agreement, especially between government and staff unions, should put up an implementation strategy that must be acknowledged by the parties.

“This way, if there are changes in the agreement due to the evolving realities of life, both parties must be carried along and be willing to re-negotiate. We need to have a holistic view of the project called Nigeria and agreement should be based on current realities of life because no situation is static.

But I insist that there must be

reiterated the need for a state of emergency to be declared in the education sector.

“It’s unfortunate that public varsities have been shutdown for over two months, especially at a time when access to and quality of education in the country are low. ASUU should not be totally blamed for standing their grounds, because government needs to show more commitment to education.

“The pertinent question we should ask is- are we able to separate adequate funding of education and quality because with our paltry percentage of annual

budgetary allocation less than 10 per cent compared to countries like Ghana, SouthAfrica, our standards will continue to dwindle. This calls for the need for a state of emergency in the nation’s educational system.”

On his part, the VC, Caleb University, Professor Olukoju, charged government to prioritize funding of education, which is a critical sector of the economy.

“Funding of education is the core issue here but government isn’t keeping an agreement that wasn’t signed under duress. This whole situation is like when someone buys goods on credit and can’t pay on the date he promised to pay.

“I will suggest that government focuses on funding education rather than spending frivolously of things that don’t contribute to the economy as education.

On the way forward BELLSTECH VC called on FG/ASUU to device a way to end this protracted impasse, saying “if government can’t sustain education at tertiary level, it must declare its position without wasting time because it takes more than just giving peanuts as funds to education.”

Covenant University VC urged ASUU and government to arrive at a compromise and see how they can utilize the available funds disbursed to the sector. If the desirable is not available, the available becomes desirable.

Cross section of graduands of the Dominion Faith Church Empowerment Programme

Frequently Confused W or ds Wor ords See (somebody) out See (somebody) off

See ...out and see...off are phrasal verbs that denote ‘say good bye’ but they are not used in the same context. To see somebody out is ‘to go to the door with

constant interaction and mutual agreement between both parties.

“If government says this is what she can afford now, the next thing is to agree on an implementation strategy for the balance. However, we shouldn’t wish away the fact that those in government are also Nigerians and the good of our education system is their concern. It takes a lot to fund education and these funds can’t be reared overnight, making strategic planning necessary to restructure our education system.

Similarly, the VC, Covenant University, Prof.

Ayo

someone to say good bye to them when they leave’. In other words, it means ‘to go with someone to the door when they are leaving in order to say good bye to

them’. To see somebody off is ‘to go to a station, an airport etc to say good bye to somebody who is starting a journey’. It’s easy to confuse the two phrasal verbs. Let’s take note of the difference: to see...out is ‘to go to the door with somebody who is leaving’ while to see... off is ‘to go to the airport, station etc with somebody who is going on a trip’.

Examples: My secretary will see you out.

Wait just a second, I’ll see you out.

My wife saw me off at the airport when I was travelling to Canada.

They have gone to the airport to see their mother off .

‘See someone out ‘ can be used in another sense to mean ‘to last longer than the rest of somebody ‘s life’ e.g. ‘I’ve a pair of strong shoes that will probably see me out’.

Running – Runny The two words - running and runny are almost similar in sound but not in meaning. To avoid confusing the two words, take note of the following: Running does

not go together with ‘nose’ or ‘eyes’. It is incorrect to write ‘running nose’ or ‘running eyes’. Runny is the word that keeps company with ‘nose’ or ‘eyes’. Runny means ‘producing a lot of liquid, for example when you have a cold’. Thus, you can have runny nose or runny eyes (as when your nose and eyes produce liquid as a result of a cold), NOT running nose or running eyes. For running, you can have running sore, running battle, running mate, running water and running commentary.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

UBA releases N2.3m for best essay writers

BY DAYO ADESULU

S

ENIOR secondary students who are good at essay writing could be millionaires as UBA Foundation announces a whopping sum of N2.3m for winners of 2013 National Essay Competition.

Ijeoma Aso, Managing Director/CEO, UBA Foundation, announced the call for entries at a press conference held on Thursday at the bank’s head office in Lagos.

She said that all senior secondary school students

across the country are eligible to participate in the competition.

“The three best essayists are selected as the overall winners from 12 finalists that will emerge from the first round of the competition. The first, second and third prize winners will receive N1 million, N750,000 and N500,000 respectively in educational grants.”

“The essay contest is aimed at complementing UBA Foundation’s Read Africa Initiative which is also part of the

Foundation’s efforts in arresting the falling standard of education on the continent.

“The essay is to encourage healthy and intellectual competition among secondary school students in Nigeria.”

Aso who noted that the initiative which started in 2011 with 719 entries, increased in 2012 having 2,281 said “this year, we expect to receive more than 4000 entries for the competition.”

Entries close by November 1, 2013 and no

late entry will be accepted.

The CEO explained that eligible senior secondary students are expected to send in handwritten entries on the topic How Reading has Impacted my Knowledge to the UBA Foundation’s office in Lagos till the end of October, 2013 when entries close.

The Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations, UBA Plc, Mr. Charles Aigbe said the essay competition falls within the four focus areas of the Foundation;

education, economic empowerment, environment and special project.

According to him, the Bank’s CSR projects are geared towards promoting sustainable development in communities where UBA operates across Africa.

“The competition is a key aspect of our investment drive in human capital and we will continue to sustain the exercise. Education is very strategic to us as an institution. Each year, we also donate books to

students in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, under the Read Africa initiative to encourage and promote the reading culture in secondary schools,” he stated. Representative of the judges’ panel and Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye noted that the essay competition demonstrates UBA Plc’s commitment to develop-ment of Nigeria’s educational sector.

LASTVEB collaborate with IOE to train teachers

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

D

etermined to give the best training to teachers, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) has collaborated with the Institute of Entrepreneurs (IOE) to train teachers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fiveday workshop held at the IOE office, Ojodu, Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the Institute, Dr Rotimi Oladele disclosed that the institute partnered LASTVEB to produce professional entrepreneurs who will create wealth for the country.

Rotimi who enjoined LASTVEB to build on the relationship of the collaboration to transform vocational education said it will not only help the recipients to be self-reliant but to also be job creators.

“Let me assure you that we have a crack team that spearheaded entrepreneurship education since 2001 in this nation before everybody caught the fire and our impact on the education sector has been tremendous.”

On his part, Executive Secretary of LASTVEB, Engr. Olawumi Gasper charged participants to seize the opportunity offered by the state government by putting to good use all that they would learn at the workshop.

“LASTVEB is determined to convert all the youths in the state to entrepreneurs. I, therefore urge the teachers in the technical colleges to team up with their students especially those with skills, and make good entrepreneurs out of them.”

Caleb Varsity renews Olukoju’s appointment as VC

C

aleb University, Imota, Lagos State, has renewed the appointment of Professor Ayodeji Olukoju as the Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Olukoju’s renewal of appointment, which takes effect from October 18, 2013, was made by the University ’s Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Governing Council.

A Professor of History and Strategic Studies and a regular Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Olukoju, who was the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, (UNILAG) between 2005 and 2009, was first appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University on October 18, 2010 for an initial three-year tenure.

Born on June 9, 1959 and married with four children, Olukoju had taught at the University level for 29 years at the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) between 1984 and 1987 and in UNILAG from 1987 till his first appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University in 2010.

Olukoju, a scholar, researcher, administrator and consultant, was appointed Professor of History on October 1, 1998 at UNILAG.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2013 — 29 ifychimexs@yahoo.com

Vol 01

No. 19

SEPTEMBER, 2013

www.vanguardngr.com

Customs arrest 7 for falsifying clearing documents Some of the seized items from the suspects

•CGC Dikko

T

HE Nigerian Custom Service, NCS, has said that it has arrested seven suspects specializing in forging and falsifying of Customs documents.

According to Customs Comptroller, Federal Operation Unit A, Nuhu I.M, the raid was as a result of directives by the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs who has expressed concern over the nefarious activities of web scamers, internet fraudsters and experts who who engage in forging Customs

,

Stories by Ifeyinwa Obi

The public should desist from patronizing or collaborating with these criminal elements in our society as their activities are not only damaging to the image of the Nigerian Customs but also the entire Nigerian economy

,

documents which has negative impact on the economy.

The suspects were arrested at 5a Railway, Apapa Lagos by the Customs operatives following a tip off. This resulted in the recovery of exhibits including two fake

stamps for serial numbering, two fake stamps of the Comptroller-General of Customs, blank original copies of auction sales, and fake sales of the custom area controller tin-can island port.

Other exhibits recovered were, Olodi-Apapa

Secondary School stamp, Wema Bank stamp, Idiroko Branch, fake stamp of vehicle seat Idiroko (a total of 18 stamps) photocopies of original documents used in faking Customs controlled documents, various blank tellers of different banks, shipping tags with inscription (Lagos)blank Customs vehicles duty certificates among others.

The suspects also occupied an office at the said location where they carried out their

Smuggling: Dikko condemns activities of FTZs T HE Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, CFR has described as unacceptable activities operators of the nation’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs) for arm twisting and circumventing the laws of the land through smuggling and evasion of duty payment.

He said that the Federal Government has placed restriction on importation of goods such as textile, rice and soaps among others to encourage local production and boost national economy.

According to him, the increase on duty rate to 100% and levy and restriction of rice importation to only through the sea ports by Government was aimed at encouraging local production.

He lamented that while a sustained clamp down on rice smugglers at land

borders was on-going, some FTZ traders were importing rice, motor batteries, wines, textiles, e.t.c. under the guise of FTZ without payment of duty only to smuggle same into the country and make astronomical profit to the detriment of the nation.

Security consequences He said that his earlier directive for stricter measures was aimed at sanitizing the process especially to ensure that nobody hids under loose process to import things that might be of security consequences.

While reminding such traders that the law setting up FTZ did not exempt them

from paying duty on items that will be brought into the Customs territory (into Nigeria for home consumption). The CGC directed that all such traders should ensure that they paid appropriate duty within two weeks or the Service would be left with no option than to invoke the law.

“How can we be fighting smugglers of rice through the land borders while some FTZ traders continue to use it as a conduit for smuggling same?” , he asked, adding that, “All Customs Area Controllers in-charge of FTZs have, therefore, been directed to strictly enforce the laws governing the operations of Free Trade Zones in the interest of national security and economic well being of the nation”

criminal activities.

Worried by the ugly trend, he said that ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigerian Customs, Abdullahi Dikko had to create the Forensic Unit charged with the responsibility of investigating and tracking al persons associated with all forms of cyber crimes and related activities.

He said that the Nigerian Customs Service had earlier in the year paraded some suspects who specialized in internet frauds adding that they have been charged to court accordingly.

Nuhu listed names of the suspects as Mrs. Ngozi Ibeh, Sunday Nweke, Uche Mike, Charles Ali, Emmanuel Ihedioha, Biodun Ojo and Emmanuel Abutu. He said that Customs preliminary investigation revealed that three of the suspects: Charles Ali, Emmanuel Abutu, and Biodun Ojo specialized in issuing fake customer documents.

He disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that three suspects out of the number including Charles T Ali, Emmaneul Abutu and Biodun Ojo specializes in issuing fake Customs documents.

Continues on page 35

30 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2013

WHILE taking stock of improved performance in the Command within the period under review, the Customs Area Comptroller, Tincan Island Port, Zakari Jubril has disclosed that the Command has raked in N151.020billion for the third quarter of the current year. This surpassed last year ’s collection by N11 billion.

This is even as a total of 159 containers valued at N481,356,000 were seized for the month of August, 2013.

Accordingly, a comparative analysis of the Command’s revenue profile showed that while a total of N139.4billion was collected for 2012, more than N150billion was collected during the period under review.

However, a break down of the figure showed that N23.6 billion was realized in the month of August this financial year as against N18.4billion in the corresponding year.

Similarly, in the months of January and February 2013, respectively, N16.3 billion and N16.2 billion were collected while N14.5billion and N19.2billion were collected the previous year.

While N19billion was collected in the month of March 2012, N17.5billion was collected for 2013, as against N15.2billion for April 2012 and N19.1billion for 2013.

For May and June 2012, N17.1 billion and N 18.3 billion were realized while N19.9billion and N17.6 billion were also realized in 2013.

but they lack space to accommodate the cargo. This is the first reason.

“The second one is that they don’t have enough trucks to transport the containers to be scanned to the scanning site. The terminal has only twelve trucks.

“The scanning company Cotecna said it has the capacity of scanning 400 containers per a day but what the terminal could be able to take to the scanning site for a day is 200 containers, which barely 50% thereby leaving half of the containers that should have been scanned for the day not scanned and still occupying space in their terminal.

Cause congestion:

Revenue target:

With optimism, he said that his command would meet its revenue target and surpass it.

He said, “My observation is that we have a lot of cargoes and am sure more is even coming because we are in this period of the year when there are lots of imported goods coming into the country and once you have cargo you put adequate control you must definitely get what you want.

“The goods to collect duty on is here and we have the control measure to put in place and I assure you that we must definitely have a positive result.”

“ This actually is the main cause of the congestion .I have

•Customs Area Comptroller, Tincan Island Port, Zakari Jubril

Tin can Island Command rakes N151.020bn in 3rd quarter •seizes 159 containers valued at N481,356, 000

Seized items:

,

Some of the seized items will include tissue paper, furniture, soaps, vegetable oil used clothes, television stands used tyres, lace materials, used shoes, and cartons of whisky, among others.

From the above statistics, he said the Command has performed credibily well in all spheres of its statutory responsibilities.

On revenue generation, he said the Command has succeeded in sustaining its unprecedented revenue profile since he assumed duty as the Area Comptroller.

“We are making frantic

of

taken measures at the moment to help ease the congestion. I have directed the Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) to carry all their consignment and excesses in the port to their off dock terminal and not only to their off terminal under their jurisdiction but to other dock terminals. I believe this will reduce the congestion.”

efforts to re-orient officers and stakeholders on the importance of integrity.

Hence, ours can be said to be integrity driven administration which is yielding tremendous positive and unprecedented results as can be seen in the records of our performance” he explained.

They don’t have enough trucks to transport the containers to be scanned to the scanning site. The terminal has only twelve trucks

Congestion in the port

According to him, the problem of congestion at the TICT is because they have a lot of cargo and they have a lot of shipping companies supplying them with cargo,

•Seized containers

,

I will sack any officer found doing clearing job — Dikko

T

HE Comptroller-General of Customs Dikko Inde Abdullahi, has threatened to sack or redeploy officers found to be doing clearing jobs.

The Customs boss issued the threat during his visit to the Command recently.

Abdullahi said that, due to the large number of officers there were many who were now concentrating on doing clearing jobs, rather than facing their

core statutory responsibilities.

He said that he was not happy with the many complaints reaching his office, especially on the hacking of the Customs server.

The Customs boss lamented the huge revenue loss as a result of the illegal release of consignment by so-called camp boys employed by the officers, pointing out that investigations carried out revealed that the passwords were issued out willingly

and not based on carelessness.

Consequently, the number of officers currently operating at the Command, according to the Customs chief, will be reduced to one quarter and redeployed to Commands in the far north, adding that officers found, upon investigation, to be involved on issues bordering on password theft be ready to leave the Service.

Abdullahi said,”If you have any case of password, pack your load, you are

leaving the Service. If you feel you can be employing the service of touts and camp boys and causing revenue leakages for government, then you are cursed.

“If you say the allegations are false, let me see your revenue for this month; if you exceed your target then I will know it is not true, but if you do not, then it means some of you are having licence.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 — 31

C M Y K

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34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2013 — 35

Customs hands-over N10.2 million worth of impounded consignment to NAFDAC T

HE Nigerian Customs Service, eagle-eyed officers discovered that the NCS, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal products don’t have approved Command (KLTC), Kirikiri, Lagos, NAFDAC number. Therefore, in Tuesday, handed-over an impounded accordance with the import guidelines 1x20 feet container of gel consignment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of container with Duty Paid Value of N10.24 million to the National Agency N10.24 million was detained for Food and Drug Administration and accordingly and is today handed-over to NAFDAC for further action.” Okoli, Control (NAFDAC).

The container marked CCLU 349628- however, expressed commitment to 3, upon physical examination at the continue to collaborate with other Command’s Phase 3 Terminal was found to contain 600 cartons of New Cocoderm Cream and Labidjanaise Gel products, that have no approved NAFDAC n u m b e r .

According to Compt.

Onyebuchi Okoli, CAC KLTC, “Last July, this 1x20 feet container with number CCLU 3496283 was found to contain 600 cartons of two hair gel products, New Cocoderm Cream and Labidjanaise Gel, during a joint examination by my officers and other agencies at the Phase 3 Terminal of the Command. In the course of examination, my •CAC KLTC Command Compt. Onyebuchi Okoli

relevant agencies to ensure that imported products dangerous to the human health don’t gain entry into the Nigerian market.

Mr. Saley Yavala, a NAFDAC consultant, who received the impounded consignment on the agency’s behalf said further laboratory analysis would be carried out and necessary action taken subsequently.

Lagos industrial area generates N518.6m in August T

HE Controller of Lagos Industrial Area Command, Comptroller Winifred Okon, has said that the command recorded N518.6 million revenue in August.

Okon stated in Festac Town, Lagos that the amount was far lower than the N1.3 billion recorded in July.

She said that the command was, however, making efforts to improve on its revenue drive.

Comptroller Okon said that several products had been removed from the Excise List of the Customs by the Federal Government as a strategy to encourage local manufacturers.

The Customs chief said that excise duty collections were limited to beer, stout and spirits. She said, “Excise duty has been limited to just spirits, beer, stout and tobacco. Tobacco is not here in Lagos, so we only have beer, stout and small-scale businesses that produce spirits.”

She noted that the de-excising of the products was done through gradual process.

The controller said that the unit was not necessarily looking at revenue targets as it was using trade facilitation strategy to improve its revenue.

“We now encourage these indigenous entrepreneurs through our forum. We encourage them to register with appropriate government agencies to enable them operate without fear. It is yielding results because when their businesses succeed they are able to pay their duties without trouble and that is a

plus for our revenue drive,” the comptroller said.

She said the command’s interactive sessions with business owners revealed the challenges the business owners were facing, adding that it was only reasonable to encourage them.

“We found out that lately, the production level was low and the business owners ascribed it to challenges of getting ethanol, a major raw material they use. We cared to know because it is when the businesses

operate that we can talk of revenue collection.

She said the command still carried out intensive monitoring to ensure that government obtained revenue from businesses on the excise list under the command.

Okon said that 16 excise traders were registered under the command, adding that offi cials of the command were still scouting for those hiding to brew.

FOU Zone C intensifies checks on eastern roads

T

HE Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘C’, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with headquarters in Owerri, Imo State, has said that transporters plying from Lagos to the eastern zone of the country are being placed on intense surveillance to check conveyancne of contraband.

The FOU Zone ‘C’ Controller, Deputy Comptroller Victor David Dimka, stated this while taking journalists round the zone on inspection of seized contraband goods. These included 22 vehicles, refrigerators, fabrics, used clothing and frozen turkey, among others, worth N317 million allegedly smuggled into the country.

Dimka said that, henceforth, any vehicle that was arrested three consecutive times would be placed on 100 per cent check, adding that any driver caught has labeled himself a smuggler.

He warned transport company owners to either desist from using their vehicles to perpetrate smuggling, or educate their drivers, as Customs officers were set to carry out their obligations of reducing smuggling in the zone.

Describing smuggling as injurious to both human health and to the economy of the country, Dimka advised smugglers and intending ones to beware and avoid the wrath of the law.

Customs arrest 7 for falsifying clearing documents

From: (r) CAC Zone A Ikeja Compt. Isa Nuhu and Custom PRO DC Wale Adeniyi during the press briefing at FOU Ikeja

Continues from page 29 According to him, the suspects occupied an office at the said location where they carried out the criminal activities He assured that Dikko was committed to ensuring total eradication of all forms of criminal activities that pose serious threats to Customs operations across the nation.

The Service, he said will continue to monitor activities of these unpatriotic elements in the society, even as he requested for information that will help in tracking the criminals.

“The public should desist from patronizing or collaborating with these criminal elements in our society as their activities are not only damaging to the image of the Nigerian Customs but also the entire Nigerian economy. The public is also enjoined to please report to the Service the activities of other similar criminal groups who specializes in perpetrating this economic sabotage

36 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2013

Seme command generates N623m revenue in August

Normalcy returns to Seme border F

OLLOWING the recent attack on officers of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, by persons suspected to be smugglers and the killing of a Customs Officer,the Customs Area Controller,Abdu Saleh Othman has assured all members of the business community to continue going about their normal businesses.

While reassuring genuine business men and travellers to disregard rumours and fake stories of insecurity at the border, he said that l government security agencies have been mobilized around there to ensure the safety of lives and property at the Nigeria frontier with the Republic of Benin. ‘’All our law abiding citizens, travellers and members of the border trading community have nothing to fear or worry about. “They should go about their normal businesses and disregard rumours of insecurity at the border as the security agencies are cooperating as usual to ensure the safety of lives and property. The

T

Seme border supreme price paid by our colleague in the service to our fatherland, has further strengthened our resolve to give in our best. The gentleman officer we lost recently did not die in vain.

“Those behind this act will pay for it. The destruction of government vehicle and arson against commercial goods being imported is a thing we condemn in strong terms’’, he added. Before now, he had

urged all officers and men of the command to keep up the fight against smuggling and keep to their statutory rules of engagement in the discharge of their duties.

Dikko pledges support to the widow of late Motojehi

T

HE Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Dikko Inde Abdullahi has assured the wife of Late Superintendent of Customs, John Motojehi of the Customs management support for the family of the deceased.

Abdullahi who was represented by Mr. Victor Gbemudu, an Assistant Comptroller General and Zonal Coordinator in charge of zone A, Lagos expressed shock during the visit.

He pledged to sponsor children of the deceased in the area of their education at all levels.

The CGC said these at a condolence visit to the immediate family home of the customs officer in Badagry .

He also said the killing would not deter customs officers from discharging the official responsibilities to the nation stressing that it will rather cause them to redouble their efforts.

He described the service as a system that ensures welfare of its personnel noting that everyone is his brother ’s keeper. ‘’I am here on behalf of the Comptroller General who is not around and attaches importance to the welfare and lives of all our officers and men.

We want to assure you that you are not alone in this and we are with you all the way” Gbemudu told the widow and members

of the deceased family.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the visit, ACG Gbemudu said the service was taken aback by the incident as some persons chose to defy the various counsel they receive from the Customs Community He said,”I know the Controller have this Customs community parley with the people every month, I don’t know this happened. As you can see the officer lives within their midst and this is why we advise people who live in glass houses not to throw stones. ‘’Because of our existing relationship, our officers live and even build houses within the area. We are like part of the community where we work. I

know the community will be regretting this. It calls for more holistic review of our relationship. ‘’Some arrests have been made and in due to course, I think those behind this will be prosecuted. Our officers are not alone; the service will always stand by its men. You will agree with me that the Controller General is a very humane fellow and will never abandon our personnel.”

Gbemudu added that the service was still working on the housing needs of its officers as it was trying to get barracks accommodation at Okokomaiko area of Lagos where officers serving at Seme and other Commands within Lagos can

be accommodated.

The representative of the CGC was led to the deceased home by Abdu Saleh Othman, Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme Border who was also accompanied by other senior officers of the command.

Also commenting on the death of the officer, His Royal Majesty, Oba Israel Okoya,Oba of Ibereko described Motojehi as a gentle officer who had spent years in the community and was not known to be troublesome. He said that the deceased was committed to his job and was one of his very reliable non indigent resident “I was speechless for thirty minutes on hearing about the

HE Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recorded N623.9 million revenue in August, lower than the figure recorded in July.

The Command’s spokesman, Mr Ernest Olottah, stated that the total revenue recorded in July was about N96 million higher than that of August.

He said,“The revenue for the month of August is lower than that of July because trading activities during the month were quite low.

“With time, trading activities will increase, because the year is coming to an end soon.”

Olotta said the command made 97 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N27.27 million.

He said the seizures included cars, rice, vegetable oil, second-hand clothes, frozen poultry products and general goods.

The spokesman also stated that two suspects were arrested for various offences during the period.

He urged Nigerians to desist from smuggling due to its danger to the economy.

“We need to come together to save our economy by avoiding smuggling and embracing legitimate trade.

“In the course of importing and exporting any product, all protocols must be followed and that includes paying levies and duties to the customs,” he added.

death of the officer, This made me to pay a condolence visit to the Customs Area Controller of Seme customs and his officers over the loss. I pray that God should strengthen his family and colleagues at this trying time and grant us all the fortitude to bear the loss,” the Oba said.

Customs bids Nwagwu, Taylor, others farewell

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently formally bade farewell to its recently-retired officers.

At a send-forth ceremony organised for a retired Deputy ComptrollerGeneral (DCG) and Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs), including the former DCG, Trade and Tariff, Julius Nwagwu; a former Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, ACG Mohammed Othman; ACG Olufemi Taylor; and ACG Sunny Okpureh, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Dikkko Inde Abdullahi, commended the retiring officers for their commitment to duty, noting that

notable contributions had been recorded by the Service. Abdullahi urged those still in service to continues to support the efforts of the Customs Management, by rededicating themselves to serving the nation through the Service.

Also speaking, the National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, thanked all the retiring officers for their understanding and support for ANLCA when they were active in service, hoping that in no distant time some of them will be appointed as

advisers to ANLCA. NAGAFF National President, Chief Eugene Nweke, in his remarks suggested the setting up of an alternative dispute resolution team comprising retired officers to intervene when there are differences in the cargo delivery process.

Responding on behalf of other retiring officers, Nwagwu thanked the CGC, and other officers and men of the Service for their support, during their sojourn in the Customs, noting that, through the organisation, they were able to contribute their bit to the development of Nigeria.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012—37

Diamond Bank supports education with ‘banking in a Box’

From the middle: Prof Raph Akinfeleye, Chairman, National Essay Compeetition, the MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso, UBA, DH, Marketing and Corporate Relations, Mr Charles Aigbe and students of Kings College, Lagos at the press launch of 2013 essay contest held at UBA House, Lagos.

We respect traditional, religious, cultural heritage – AUN President ••university wins award

BY EBELE ORAKPO

P

ROFESSOR Margee Ensign, President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), has said that respect for traditional, religious, and cultural heritage of students has brought AUN to its enviable position.

She said this while speaking at the annual national management conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“A commitment to helping our community and society achieve equitable and sustainable prosperity, where all have the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams in peace, is based on respect for the traditional, religious, and cultural heritage of its students.”

The university, she said, prides itself on having a faculty “who are comfortable connecting and applying their theoretical knowledge with the aim of solving social and economic problems. A development university trains students to understand and solve problems in accordance with their deepest values and beliefs using an interdisciplinary approach to education. “Cutting-edge universities, she argued, have increasingly realised that the traditional division of learning into airtight, narrow academic specialties is not the best training for the modern world. This lack of conversation between specialists in most universities has severely limited the understanding of change and the approaches needed to solve development problems.

“Such development education C M Y K

entails working with people in your local community. For example, AUN has an ongoing sustainability initiative that provides handson training for local people while protecting and enhancing the natural environment, to preserve it for future generations,” she said.

Meanwhile, US-based African Leadership Development Foundation Inc., in conjunction

the 2nd US-Africa Trade, Investment and Exchange Forum in New York City, according to a release by the organisers.

This is the third time AUN will be recognised by the Londonbased magazine. In 2011, Prof.

Margee Ensign won the Distinguished Leadership Award in Personal Excellence, and in 2012, AUN won the African Leading University of the Year Award.

with the pan-African magazine, African Leadership, which reaches an audience of international business and governmental leaders concerned with Africa’s many under-reported success stories, has named the AUN winner of the African Leading Development Institute award for its leadership among Nigerian institutions of higher learning.

The award comes up as part of

Pearson collaborates LESEP to boost teachers’ competence

BY DAYO ADESULU

P

earson, in collaboration with the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project, is supporting the professional development of Lagos State secondary school teachers through hands-on-training and field observations.

According to Pearson Nigeria’s Managing Director, Muhtar Bakare, the programme is designed to support Lagos EKO Project in improving learning outcomes in secondary schools by enhancing teacher performance, raising teachers’ confidence, competency, and fostering increased and ongoing collaboration among teachers.

The trained teachers have received internationally recognised certification for teacher mentoring through Pearson’s Teacher Education and Leadership Academy (TELA), accredited by

Edexcel, UK’s largest awarding body.

So far, over 180 teachers with teaching specialization in English, mathematics and science were selected from across the six education districts in the state and trained in Models of Effective Learning and Teaching as well as coaching and mentoring skills.

From this group, 25 were selected and trained as Master

Mentors who would coordinate the mentoring program at the district level, and ensure that the program cascades by training new teacher mentors.

Ms. Ronke Azeez, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Lagos Eko Project expressed satisfaction with the program and its capacitybuilding potential for Lagos State teachers.

IN keeping with its promise to support education, Diamond Bank has launched a school banking proposition to cater for the financial needs of all school levels from crèche, primary to secondary institutions.

Tagged ‘Banking-in-a-Box’, it is aimed at providing solutions to the needs of students, parents, staff and school proprietors.

According to the Head of Corporate Communication of the Bank, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell, the initiative comprises many components such as school fees loans for parents, low cost transactional and collections solution and current account for schools, which will be released in phases.

“Diamond Bank feels strongly that if your bank does not support your education, then you need a new bank. At Diamond Bank, we put action to our promises and this initiative is our way of supporting education in Nigeria.”

Part of the product offerings in the new proposition is The Diamond School Xpress Account (DSXA), a zero COT Current Account that allows schools carry out their business transactions at an affordable fixed fee per term irrespective of volume of transactions.

Trimnell listed benefits of running the DSXA to include free cheque books for the Schools, free online banking, zero COT charges, access to loans for the schools, access to school fees loans for parents, among other benefits.

On what qualifies parents to access the school fee loans, Trimnell explained that their children/wards must attend a school that banks or is willing to bank with Diamond Bank, they must have or be willing to open a current account with the bank and they must have a verifiable source of income either salaried or selfemployed with evidence of proof of income.

FG should stop establishing more varsities —Expert

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

T

he Federal Government has been advised to shelve plans of establishing more universities across the country at the expense of the existing ones which are suffering from infrastructural decay.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of Ositelu Memorial College, Ogere-Remo, Ogun State, organised by the Old Students Association, an expert, Dr. Susan Sobayo, urged government to rather develop existing varsities to global standards.

In his key note lecture on ‘Public Private Partnership as Panacea to Education Underdevelopment’ Sobayo described the plans by government to establish more varsities as unnecessary.

Commenting on the on-going strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sobayo blamed government for allegedly reneging on the promised made in 2009, adding that government is nonchalant to the strike as most government officials enrolled their wards in foreign varsities.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

BRIEFS:

UNIVERSIT ATION: TAKE YOUR CHOICE UNIVERSITYY EDUC EDUCA “We have lost the university idea”, Professor Adesanmi, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, in SUNDAY PUNCH, September 22, 2013.

By DELE SOBOWALE

THE interview with the Professor on Nigerian university education makes very interesting reading for anyone deeply concerned by the growing knowledge gap between Nigerian university graduates and the rest of the advanced world. When asked “What is the difference between education in Nigeria and Canada?” the professor’s answer was hardly surprising.

According to him: “Well, there are the obvious differences between the first world environment of Canada and the tenth world environment of Nigeria. These differences have two names: facilities and resources. Obviously, facilities and resources in Canada are vastly superior to what we have in Nigeria.

But, be careful, superior resources do not necessarily make for superior students.

First world excesses tend to breed indolence and laziness”.

Professor Adesanmi graduated from the University of Ilorin in the late 1980s, with a First Class, and had moved abroad since then. He met a Canadian university system which was, at least, 200 years old, and a nation, built largely on the strength of the ingenuity of its people and some early immigrants.

I also studied in the United States, with the ASPAU Scholarship Programme, from 1964-1968; then went on to undertake post-graduate courses. I left the USA, on my own, in 1974, determined to live in Nigeria and help my country become as great as the USA. Granted, we have made very little progress in the direction of becoming a great nation which is universally respected; but we must keep trying. I have no intention of going anywhere else in the world – even if an offer is made.

Perhaps if Professor Adesanmi had reflected on the fact that, the first Nigerian university, University College Ibadan, was established in 1948, while the American Ivy League varsities listed below were started centuries ago, he would be less impatient with us while lovingly urging Nigerians to make greater efforts.

Below are selected American Universities and when they started: Harvard University 1636; Columbia

University 1745; Princeton University 1746; Cornell University 1865.

Canadian varsities were not far behind the American varsities, as the following will show: University of New Brunswick 1785; King College University 1789; St Mary’s University 1841; St Dustans 1855.

Virtually all the varsities mentioned above, and most of the others, which cannot be accommodated, were established by the private sector – not by governments. Some even preceded the creation of the two countries – America and Canada.

By contrast Nigeria’s venture into varsity education started three hundred and twelve years after Harvard and 163 years after University of New Brunswick.

Furthermore, Nigeria’s adventure into private varsities did not begin until 1999, when three varsities were given permission to operate. Listed in alphabetical order the nation’s first three private universities were: Babcock (Southwest), Igbiniedon (Southsouth) and Madonna (Southeast). That means that this nation is, at least, 363 calendar years behind the USA and 219 years behind Canada.

Casting of aspersions One needs not remind our readers, as well as those casting aspersions, mostly justified, at our inadequate efforts, that we were not in charge of our own fate – until 1960. Furthermore, we started with the wrong template for varsity education development. We were over-reliant on government.

The private sector, until 14 years ago, had played no role in educating Nigerian youth at the tertiary level. For too long, we left it all to governments. Interestingly, the US government does not own any university; except the military institutions – West Point and Annapolis – which now grant university degrees.

By contrast, the Federal Government of Nigeria is saddled with 40 varsities and the states own 38. Apart from the staff of West Point and Annapolis, Obama is under no obligation to pay a single staff of any of America’s varsities; neither is the Prime Minister of Canada owing the staff of most of the numerous Canadian varsities one dollar.

There is no ASUU, and there can be no general strike, shutting the gates of 77

varsities, at once, in both countries, because each employee signs a contract with the institution employing him/her.

When the point is made about the percentage of national budget or GDP, spent on education, any economist can spot the difference. There is a distinct difference between budget, which is what the federal government proposes to spend and GDP – the latter being a measure of our collective economic productivity and it is usually larger than budget.

Countries like the USA and Canada achieve 25% of budget expenditure on education because their thriving and huge private sector had relieved the governments (federal and states) from the burden of funding varsity education.

By contrast, Nigeria’s private sector, like the rest of us, is largely dependent on government patronage and concessions.

Only a few people generate the sort of surplus to venture into varsity education – which is capital intensive and needs patient capital. It is possible that nobody will make a kobo of profit in his life time.

Obviously, the comparisons being made are, to some extent, unfair to Nigeria.

Instead of repeating ourselves, advancing the same arguments, offering the same examples from foreign lands, what is most urgently required are ideas, for Nigeria to consider, in order to help Nigeria bridge the education gap, at the earliest possible time and at affordable costs.

So, let me start with one idea – recognition of efforts being made and encouragement of education entrepreneurs. Varsity education exploded in the US on account of the land grant policy of most states during the 18th century. Once an individual or a group, especially religious organization, embarks on establishing a university, the state was there to grant the land – providing the land was used for the purpose intended.

By contrast, every single private varsity in Nigeria had been forced to purchase its land – usually at Shylock amounts from the “indigenes” whose kids will later benefit from the venture.

Roads and other infrastructure are also provided to the varsity site. My recent visits to two private varsities, and proposed visits to others, was heart-breaking in one respect – the amount of money spent each year providing power 24/7, all year round

by ELIZADE and American University.

To be continued

From left: Laolu Oguntuyi, Director LASTVEB; Mrs. Rosana Forsuelo,Provost WaveCrest College; Dr. (Mrs.) KudiratLadipo, Rector, Yaba College of Technology,Lagos; Mr. Innocent Akhuemonkhan, Deputy Rector; Mrs. Ify Marinze, Director, UNEVOC Centre; and Engr. Samuel Adelana, Coordinator UNEVOC Centre, Yaba Tech during a conference in Abuja.

Lawmaker sponsors 10 on UK PG studies

1

0 graduates of Andoni, Npobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency have gained scholarships to pursue post graduates studies in various engineering fields in the United Kingdom (UK) with expectation to return and give back to the growth of the constituency.

The scholarship is being instituted as an annual outreach by member, representing the constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Dakuku Adol Peterside, under the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation, which he convened last year to lead a homedetermined economic transformation in his locality.

Four of the recipients who emerged from a qualifying examination sat by 400 applicants, were admitted into the University of Bedfordshire, UK, while six others are to study at the University of Aberdeen and Kingston University also in UK. Peterside clarified at the scholarship award ceremony in Port Harcourt that, “This is not a constituency project. We are meeting this challenge from our private concerns among the team leading the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation.

Community leaders get students’ Awards

BY SIMON ADEWALE.

T

he Chairman of Okirighwre Community, Chief John Eritobor; an ex-officio of the community ’s Executive Committee, Hon. Venture Kagbude; and the President General of Amukpe community, Mr Williams Ojo; all in Sapele Local Government area of Delta State, have bagged the 2013 Honorary Award of the National Association of South South Student’s Assembly, (NASSA), for what the students’ body describe as “their selfless service to humanity.”

The students’ body further said, the awards were as a result of their “exemplary community leadership qualities, particularly in the area of youth empowerment in local government council” National president of the association, Comrade A.O. Martins, who presented the awards to the recipients said, Chief John Eritabor was honored with the awards of “Distinguished Leader of Inestimable value,” while Hon Venture Kabgude as the “Most outstanding youth Empowerment Personality of the year.” He also said Mr. Williams Ojo as awarded with “Distinguished Delta State Personality in Diligent Service to Fatherland”.

The students who praised parents for their effort at giving their awards academics training aimed at the speedy socio-economic development of the nation have also called on Federal Government to do everything humanly possible to stop the protracted ASUU strike that has currently crippled academics activities in higher school across the country.

While appreciating the over sight function of the students in identifying and honoring deserving parents, the recipients pledged to co-operate and assist the students in whichever way they can in order to ensure that the students are given qualitative training in their various schools.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—39

I

BY EBELE ORAKPO

N these days of insecurity and talks of energy efficiency, , a lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, School of Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Dr. Adoghe Anthony, has come up with solutions. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in his office, Adoghe speaks on his current works and says they are poised to make life easier for people through research and innovation.

Excerpts: According to Adoghe; he is into so many research areas such as energy management, home automation and network operation optimisation.

GSM-based surveillance:

“We have the automated security operations. It is an already existing technology but we tried to modify it. There is the door access control system using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology so you can always access its usage via RFID card.

Any person that has access to that particular environment will have an RFID card. If you enter the wrong code three times, it will send off an alarm and also send text message to the owner of the house that there is an intruder in the environment,” he stated.

Speaking on the second surveillance machine, Adoghe said it is also GSMbased. “It surveys the environment so if peradventure you try to break through the security, it immediately sets off alarm and at the same time send a text message to the owner saying there is an intruder in that environment. It will also send an alert to any security post in that environment.”

Generator:

Dr Adoghe and his team also worked on the control aspect of the generator, the operation, regulation etc just to make life easy for the user.

“You can start the generator manually if you are close to it but if not, you can start it remotely. If there is no power from the utility company, PHCN, the system can send text message to the owner and the generator that there is power failure, it is now left for you to either start the generator or leave it.

But if you want to start the generator, you can send text message to the generator and once it receives the text message, it comes on. When power from PHCN is restored, it will automatically switch off the generator, a text message will be sent to you to alert you that PHCN is back, then the generator will go off. You can also send text messages to be able to monitor the parameters of the generator, whether there is oil, whether the battery is charged, etc.

We are now looking at coming up with fuel-less generator.”

C M Y K

We are into energy management, home automation — Adoghe Anthony Developing a smart grid: “In Nigeria, so many people are using small generators like the 5KVA, 3KVA generators. In some buildings with so many flats, every flat has its own generator and those who live in single rooms, may be about 15 rooms in the building occupied by 15 different families, each has a generator so when there is power outage, you see everyone dragging out their generators. We try to look at that system and see how we can harness those generators that are already in people’s homes. We are trying to

connect the generators together and monitor them in a particular location so that all those homes will now be connected. So instead of connecting about five generators to serve five different flats, we can connect about two or three of these generators to serve those flats. We have come up with a proposal to be able to develop a smart grid to connect all these small generators so that from one particular control box (which we call magic box), each of the flats can just connect to the box and that will determine how many generators we can switch on to

be able to serve all the homes.”

He noted that research is always costly, and one can do nothing without money “so that is why we are always looking for grants to be able to perfect some of our ideas and make a prototype before we can turn them into products. We are looking for grant to be able to build a prototype of the magic box. It will have so many power electronic configurations to be able to power these dissimilar generators together and power our small homes.

It will be independent of PHCN. We call it autonomous grid operation.”

Lagos test-runs CBE in 10 schools

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

he Lagos State government has selected 10 public schools to testrun the commencement of computerbased examinations in public secondary schools in the state.

Speaking at an interactive session with principals and vice principals of public secondary schools in Lagos, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the pilot scheme was necessitated by the introduction of the Computer Based Testing (CBT) by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), with other examining bodies such as WAEC and NECO signifying their intention

to follow suit.

The 10 schools are Agidingbi Senior Secondary School, Ikeja; Oregun Senior High School, Ikeja; Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Senior High School, Maryland; Ebute Elefun Senior High School, Lagos, Araromi/ IIogbo Senior Secondary School; State Senior High School, Oyewole, Agege; Aguda Senior Grammar School, Aguda; Oke-Afa Senior Secondary School, Isolo; and St Joseph Senior Secondary School, Mushin.

“For Lagos State not to be left behind there is the need for us to pilot the scheme, hence we are providing ICT facilities in schools, training teachers

and exposing our students to the CBT through internal examinations such as mock examinations to prepare them for the external examinations.

“The training will be continuous to ensure that all the state’s senior secondary schools are covered and the trained teachers will in turn train the students in their respective schools”, Oladunjoye said.

Commending the principal, vice principals and teachers for their efforts in the success recorded at the last WASSCE, the Commissioner charged them to take ownership of their various schools so as to excel both in academics and morals.

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

I N S I D E

Highlighting the plight of pregnant women and babies in Nigerian prisons — P.42

A Tribute to Hon. Justice Regina Obiageli Nwodo — P. 42

Nigeria should not be afraid of being true federation — Imoke the courts. They award their contracts (which I don’t mind), but we also need them to work with the competent departments in government that are responsible for them. With regards to the infrastructure of the courts, Cross River State was the model for the application of the new court systems where you now have verbatim reporting and where the judges also record their court proceedings.

Despite the infrastructural development that had taken place, the judiciary has nonetheless, remained the most conservative and slow to accept these changes. But that I think is important that this arm of government continues to be strengthened.

Do you think the on-going projects in the state would be completed before the end of your tenure?

We are not at all concerned about the non-completion of projects. We have discussed with our banks, agreed on the funding structure for key projects like the Convention centre, the Golf course, and the entire new development area. The funding for these key projects is in place.

We may not complete all projects at 100 percent but with our road projects, our electrification, and other social projects, we should be able to achieve fully on these.

It is noticed that there is low crime rate in the state. How has Cross River State been able to maintain this level of security and what can other governors learn from these?

What we have done on security in Cross River state is that we have been proactive. On any security report that comes in, we try to address it upfront. We have tracking systems and we have vehicles that are equipped with tracking systems anywhere in the state. Before the conferences we had extensive meeting with the

BY DAYO BENSON

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State is one of the few privilleged Nigerians who have held prominent positions of responsibilities in the country.A one time senator and a formal minister, he is also a lawyer by profession.In this Interview, he spoke on some national issues such as calls for state police,independence of the judiciary, constitution ammendment, Taraba political debacle, as well as the legacy he is leaving behind in the State.

Excerpts.

T

HERE have been renewed calls for establishment of state police in the country, do you support it?

Of course. Why shouldn’t I? Why would anyone want to contest that? I read in the newspapers that the reason you should not have State Police is that politicians would abuse it. Can we as a country and as a people use that as a reason not to have security? And everyone has bought that theory, which brings me back to the issue of awareness and getting the people to understand. Let us even assume that there are bad politicians that manipulate the police, is that the reason we are unable to sufficiently deal with crime in our society. Is that the reason for insecurity across the country?

I won’t even be governor, when (and if) the legislation for State police is eventually passed, but for me, these are some of the fundamental issues we must address if we truly want to be a federation - as I have mentioned earlier.

Constitutional amendments True, a politician may abuse the police, so does that mean the people in that community, state, or location should be without the police or the security? It just does not make sense.

What is your view on amendment of our laws, including the Constitution?

The first question I ask to the amendment of our laws is: What benefits accrue to the people and to the economy from these amendments? And if I can’t see those benefits, then I’ll put it on the second list of amendments. I would rather prioritise.

I do not think we are doing enough of that at present. I believe that as our democracy evolves, it is important that we build on our constitutional amendments, that we strengthen our legislations, while we also strengthen and build the capacity to enforce the laws. Therefore, all the stakeholders, the civil societies, the bar, the bench

•Governor Liyel Imoke and of course the government have significant roles to play.

Having made the laws, it is therefore, the responsibility of those at the bar to ensure compliance with these laws. While it is also the responsibility of those at the bench to ensure, that those laws are interpreted and enforced. These are some of the responsibilities we need to develop alongside our evolving democracy.

There are a number of issues that arise, when we talk about the federation and federating units. For instance, we have what we call the State High Courts, which are truly not state high courts. They are located in the states, but the judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council (NJC). I, as a governor cannot even

appoint a judge. I cannot even appoint a Chief Judge. I can make recommendations, but the NJC can reject that recommendation. The depth of our understanding of our constitution is something we must all begin to appreciate.

Looking at all of this, we must begin to ask ourselves, are we afraid of being a true federation? The technical competencies for government are domiciled in the ministries. Its either we are creating new bureaucracies or inefficiencies. For us, we don’t pay the judicial officers, we pay the junior staff. However, everyone benefits from our minimum wage.

What is the state of infrastructure in the courts in Cross River?

As I mentioned earlier, we merely provide some support for the infrastructure of

Continues on page 41

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—41

Nigeria should not be afraid of being true federation security agencies and examined the entire crime situation in the state.

What do you mean by this proactive approach to security?

We try to be proactive with security because of our commitment to tourism and we cannot afford to take chances. We fight crime and we don’t take things for granted. You would have noticed that we have banned commercial motorcyclist. We are the first state to do that and today, the benefits; in terms of crime rates are quite evident. We have a total commitment to fighting crime and we don’t take it lightly. Most importantly, the average Cross Riverian is very hospitable and accommodating; therefore, visitors and all residents have nothing to worry about in terms of crime.

The only possible crime you may find in the state is petty stealing and a few minor misdemeanors which of course we know cannot be totally eliminated.

Nigeria lost Bakassi to Cameroon, how has your government been able to cope with catering for the citizens of Bakassi?

It is a very unfortunate situation which we found ourselves. It is unfortunate that we lost Bakassi to Cameroon and it is more unfortunate that today, Cross River state is bearing the burden of that loss. Our losses are significant and it is worse on the people of Cross River more than any other. As you know, Bakassi had oil wells which were resources from which Cross River State drew from. We had our budgets based on those projected earnings and when we lost Bakassi, the impact on our revenue

was devastating. Then the citizens of Bakassi had to be catered for and we didn’t find anyone helping out in that situation. The Cross River State government had to bear that entire burden alone. You can therefore, imagine what we have been through. The consequence of the Bakassi judgment, the non ratification of the judgment by the National Assembly has been devastating on us as a state. There are other consequences of the judgment, not just the socioeconomic consequences.

We had to scale down on a number of our capital projects and the judgment came at the peak of the agitation for minimum wage to which we had given our commitment. It has been quite challenging and anybody who means well for the state will easily see the grave consequences.

Cross River state lost almost all its oil wells to Akwa Ibom State in a judgment by the Supreme Court. There have been suggestions of political solutions to make up for

,

Continues from page 40

•Governor Liyel Imoke State?

Unfortunately, I haven’t spoken with the Taraba State governor since his return. So, I cannot say with certainty what his state of health is. But there are very clear provisions in our constitutions which we must be

It is unfortunate that we lost Bakassi to Cameroon and it is more unfortunate that today, Cross River state is bearing the burden of that loss

the loss. Has that been explored with your brother governor, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State?

Let me say that I believe that a political solution is still possible with regard to our loss of wells to Akwa Ibom State and we have not shut our doors to that.

What do you consider to be the way out of the leadership crisis in Taraba

,

very careful about. I am sometimes amused by how sentimental people can be when they comment on such matters. It is only the medical board that can make a clear and precise pronouncement on Governor Suntai’s state of health and that board can only be set up by the state’s Executive Council to determine his state of health.

What is your take on the recently concluded NBA conference that you played host to in Calabar?

A lot has been said in the course of the conference about leadership and the challenges of nationhood.

In deed, you cannot build a nation without the laws.

When we talk about rule of law it is based on the presumption that there is a law in place and that is where the rule comes in, which stipulates that we obey the law and that no one is above the law. Therefore, we must first put the laws in place, and these laws may be in different forms.

It may be in the form of legislations, practices or cultural, but significantly they must exist. We do not create laws for the time; neither do we update our laws for the time. These are not good laws. What I think we see now, is an evolution of legislations and legislative

processes that we have never seen and or haven’t paid much attention to. If you take a look at this quantum of legislations that h a s evolved over the last 14 years of o u r democracy, we see the significance of this. For us in Cross Rivers State, we have several legislations that have helped us.

You are one of the few Nigerian that have been priviledged to be saddled with some sort of strategic responsibilities at both the state and federal levels, and so, in the spirit of the theme of the NBA conference, what would you say has been the challenges of steering the machinery of the Cross River State government?

Like you said, I’m grateful to God for the privilege to have been in public service for a very long time.

I have come to understand that the biggest challenge in governance is our processes – be it in civil service or in our political offices.

Projects or assignments that should ordinarily take 90days or less would be done in 120 days or more, in the guise of ‘due process’. They accuse the system saying….”because you introduced due process,

then achieving this assignment would take longer,” whereas this should not be so. If we understood due process, we will not use due process as an excuse for delays.

The second greatest challenge is the limitation of resources. The first challenge faced in governance is being able to define your programmes and implement these programmes that are beneficial to the majority of the public. I always tell my people that government should serve those who need government the most, as against serving those who make the most noise.

This is a very big challenge in a developing economy.

As a government, we really have a duty and a responsibility to understand and appreciate that Cross Rivers State no matter how beautiful it is, is only as good as the poorest person in the state.

Therefore, if we do not continuously pay attention to social reforms and social welfare, then of course, we are going to continuously glorify ourselves in our own infrastructure and nice environment without necessarily having an impact on our people. So, while we continue to build nice school ‘buildings’, education remains a disaster in Nigeria, and we get glory for the school buildings.

Bigger challenge I do not think there is any government that built schools and was not well celebrated. I’m not saying this is not good, but for me this is not what government should be about. And even getting the public to understand this, is a bigger challenge.

If we cannot do something to meet the MDGs by 2015, then as a nation, I think we should query ourselves, when smaller African countries have got it right. These are basic human development indicators, and this is what government should be about.

It is therefore, important that the public that we serve understands this, even as we try to implement our initiatives.

One of the critical things that we need is the law. To be able to do what needs to be done and make great impact on the lowest class of citizens (those who may never have access to a commissioner or a governor), we must have extensive social reforms.

42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

From silver spoon to silver spoon [A Tribute to Justice Regina Nwodo]

BY AWA KALU, SAN

A

CCORDING to Voltaire [FrancoisMarie Arouet; 1694-1778] French writer and philosopher, The Oxford Book of Death (D.J. Enaight) ‘the human race is the only one that knows it must die, and it knows this only through its experience. A child brought up alone and transported to a desert island would have no more idea of death than a cat or a plant’. Fairly interpreted, Voltaire is certain that you must be human to know that another human being has died. What then was the ‘breaking news’ on the 6th of August, 2013? You do know of course that Justice Obiageli Regina Nwodo, (now to be remembered as a Justice of the Court of Appeal) departed this sinful world on that date!

Please answer a simple question, what was she to you? Was she ‘My Lord”, ‘Oby’, ‘Obiageli’, ‘Mummy’, ‘Darling’, Obidia of

Thus would we pass from this earth and its tiding, Only remembered for what we have done’. The hymn reminds us that only the truth we have spoken, only the seed that in life we have sown, these shall pass onwards when we are forgotten, only remembered for what we have done’. Then, the hymn further questions us – ‘who‘ll sing the anthem and who’ll tell the story, will the line hold will it scatter and run, shall we at last be united in glory, only remembered for what we have done’.

All those who mourn will tell the story of our sister, our wife, our colleague, our mother who has gone. Her story is one that must be told because there are people who remember her resounding educational background; her illustrious parentage having been born with a silver spoon; and her transition to a silver spoon family. Her LL.B class of 1982, her Law School class of 1983, her colleagues as

,

The hymn reminds us that only the truth we have spoken, only the seed that in life we have sown, these shall pass onwards when we are forgotten, only remembered for what we have done

,

Ukehe’, ‘Ezinne 1 of Nsukka’ or did you identify her by any other epithet nor title ? Calm down, for she has run the good race and has passed the baton to her survivors.

It is this stark reality that compelled yet another philosopher, also French, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, to caution that ‘He who pretends to look on death without fear lies. All men are afraid of dying, this is the law of sentient beings, without which the entire human species would soon be destroyed’. Jean JacquesRousseau did not last too long himself and lived for 66 years only (1712-78) but his words ring true till today. But if we forget those words, we cannot, as Christians forget the abiding lyrics of the celebrated Hymn, “Only Remembered’ by Sankey Ars. J. Tams & H Brough to the effect that ‘faded away like the stars in the morning, losing their light in the glorious sun-

State Counsel, as Magistrate, and as a Judge both of the High Court of Enugu State and the Federal High Court must join in telling the story. For us as Lawyers, the story of a judicial officer especially at appellate level where she last served, is best told by the officer’s word indelibly bound in the Law Reports.

In that regard, when I read John’s letter breaking the official news of his wife’s departure, I summoned counsel to my office and asked randomly for Her Lordship’s judgements backwards to 2011 only. No matter how boring you find this short tribute, please note that her footsteps are firmly embedded in Olawepo v. Securities and Exchange Commission (2011) 16 N.W.L.R (pt.1272) 122 [lead judgement]; Babalola Borishade v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2012) 18 NWLR (pt.1332) 347 (lead judgment); T.A. Dairo v.

Federal Republic of Nigeria & Others (lead judg-

•Justice Nwodo ment); Malachi Brown v.

The State, (2012) 3 N.W.L.R (pt.1287) 207 (lead judgment); George Abi v. Central Bank of Nigeria (2012) 3 N.W.R.L (pt.1286) 1 (lead judgment); Prudent Bank Plc. & Others v. Abdul Malik Obadaki (2012) 2 N.W.L.R (pt.1285) 504 (lead ruling); Incorporated Trustees of Nigeria Association of General Practice Pharmacists Employers v. Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (2012) 2 N.W.L.R (pt.1284) 262 (lead Ruling); Dr. Muhammed Onujabe & Anor v. Fatimah Idris (2012) 2 NWLR (pt.1284) 285 (lead Ruling); Anambra State Govt. & Anor v. Gemax Int. Ltd. (2012) 1 NWLR (pt.1281) 333 (concurring); British Airways Plc. v.

Michael Amadi (2012) 2

NWLR (pt.1283) 21 (lead Ruling); National Democratic Party v. INEC (2012) 14 NWLR (pt.1319) 176; (lead judgment); Hon. Ned Nwoko v. Jude Azekwo & Others (2012) 12 NWLR (pt.1313) 151 (lead judgment); Hon. James Biotech & Anor v. Hon. Salihu Shadafi & Others (2012) 13 NWLR (pt.1317) 396 (lead judgment); Ahlaji Sani Dododo v. E.F.C.C. & Others (2013) 1 NWLR (pt. 1336) 468 (lead judgment); and John Shoy International Ltd & Anor v.

A.E.P.B & Others (2013) 8 NWLR (pt.1357) 625 (lead judgment) etc. A decent count will show that in a preponderance of the appeals on which she sat, it was her lot to anchor the judgment of the court. In

legal circles, it cannot be doubted that this fact alone testifies either to her erudition or her industry or indeed, both. Having been born on the 1st of November, 1958 and departed in the month of August this year, she died a little short of the age of 55. Had she lived, she would have served this nation’s judiciary for another 15 years before bowing out in retirement. What a loss!

The story of the late Justice of the Court of Appeal was resoundingly told at a special valedictory court session held in her honour at the Court of Appeal headquarters, Abuja, on September 24, 2013. The court session was presided over by the acting President of the Court, Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhlar, as well as several Justices of the Supreme Court, serving and retired, and of the Court of Appeal, were in attendance. Chief Judges of various High Courts, the President of the National Industrial Court and Judges of several jurisdictions thronged the ceremony. The attendance of Senior Advocates in large numbers was a fitting testimony to the standing of the deceased in her lifetime.

After receiving speeches from the Court of Appeal Acting President, the Attorney-General of the Feder-

ation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the Acting President of the court, with the concurrence of four of her learned Brethren granted a motion praying for leave to remove the remains of the deceased from the well of the court for interment. The widower of the late Justice Nwodo, Chief Nnia John Nwodo, made a moving response that brought many to tears. She was known as ‘humble, unassuming, prayerful, generous, compassionate and forgiving’. Her capacity for hard work has already been demonstrated and her ability to apply herself selflessly either as wife, mother, friend or Judge is beyond question. What else can be said except to remind ourselves that a tribute is a speech given as an expression of praise, thanks, admiration, affection, etc., a sign or evidence of something valuable, effective, worthy of praise, a testimony, a grateful, affectionate or admiring acknowledgement made to a person. Yes, this is a tribute to My Lord, Oby in a fitting acknowledgment of her sterling qualities. Her dear Husband John, her children and all those who are mourning WILL REMEMBER You By ALL YOU HAVE DONE. Hon. Justice Regina Obiageli Nwodo, Adieu.

Highlighting the plight of pregnant women and babies in Nigerian prisons

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OMEN and children in the Nigerian prisons across the country are plagued with several concerns. These issues range from minors serving time or awaiting trial alongside adult detainees in the same prison facility, pregnant women serving time in prisons, to the more disturbing reality of nursing mothers incarcerated alongside their babies in the prisons.

Most recently in early August 2013, two female detainees who are awaiting trial in Kirikiri prisons for capital offences had their babies in prisons. These inmates are being represented in court by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers without Borders France).

Yet in another case being

handled by Avocats sans has been on death row Frontières France in Katsi- alongside her infant child na state, a female detainee for two years. It is notewor-

•Nigerian prison

thy that she was sentenced to death for an offence she

Continues on page 43

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—43

Required proof for criminal allegations in election petition (5) sophisticated infrastructure needed for arrests, investigation, confiscation, legitimate violence e.t.c; in quests to unravel the thorough details of socalled crimes. This is a domain exclusive to the State and it is such exclusivity that makes it easier for the State to unravel and prove the commission of crimes beyond reasonable doubt, for the purpose of securing convictions of persons responsible. The private entity can hardly access the infrastructure of that exclusivity without daunting fetters. Therefore,

BY AKINTAYO IWILADE HE concept of Tseverance still retains

the requirement of proving criminal allegations in civil proceedings beyond reasonable doubt because, the ‘severed’ pleadings, with criminal imputations, must still be proved beyond reasonable doubt else the claims founded on them will inevitably fail.

Severance seems useful only where there are other pleadings devoid of criminal imputations and which have the suit’s main justiciable claims attached to them.

To therefore argue, that the concept of severance of pleadings has cured whatever injustice the proof beyond reasonable doubt doctrine introduced into Election Petitions, would be another fatal misconception.

As we have argued and for the reasons adduced, there is absolutely no basis to require that the standard of proof, for convictionseeking proceedings, be introduced into

the Law ought not to be mischievously blind to these contradictions?

Private entities, lacking the exclusive prosecutorial infrastructure of the State, should be allowed to pursue their claims within the limits of the feeble powers conceded to them by the State. The Law should accordingly stop the treacherous assumptions of an equality of strength between the State and its subjects. Such treacherous assumptions are amplified through the incongruous insistence that private entities prove crime with the same dexterity expected

was alleged to have committed as a minor. Recall that it is trite in law that the relevant time and age in criminal jurisprudence and trial is the age of the offender at the time of commission of the crime and not the age at the time of conviction. This important principle of law was clearly ignored by the trial judge who convicted and sentenced her to death in violation of several regional and international human rights instruments.

The African Union on the rights and welfare of the Nigerian Child stated in a recent report that Nigeria had an estimated number of 6,000 children within its prisons facilities across the country. An allegation that the Nigerian prisons authority vehemently denied stating that such an outrageous figure could not have been based on empirical evidence. In a bid to counter the figure in the AU report, the Nigerian Prisons Service, released official figures of children in Prisons through its public relations office. The statement asserted that there were 69 babies and 847 juveniles in the Prisons system in Nigeria as at March

•Akintayo IwiladeLagos-based Legal Practitioner ( e mail:iwilord@yahoo.co.uk)

IBA, set to hold M & A conference in Nigeria

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•Akintayo Iwilade proceedings seeking different outcomes such as compensatory damages, injunctive/restorative reliefs, declarations etc; such as are often sought in civil and Election Petition proceedings respectively.

To demand that a private entity prove the

commission of a crime (and the personages actually responsible), beyond reasonable doubt, is tantamount to making the Law operate in denial of the limitations imposed, on lawful private entities, against the possession and deployment of the

REPARATIONS for the IBA Mergers & Acquisition (M&A) conference slated for Nigeria in on top gear. Scheduled for Novembe 6 to 8, , the three-day event will take place in Lagos.

The conference tagged “Mergers Acquisitions & Inward Investments in Africa,” is organised by IBA African Regional

Forum and the IBA Corporate M & A Law Committee with the support of the IBA Arbitration Committee and the Asia Pacific Region committee.

Speaking on preparations for the event, which has kicked off, far ahead of the annual conference in October, the Chair of the conference host com-

Highlighting the plight of pregnant women and babies in Nigerian prisons Continues from page 42

from the State when it is obvious there is unequal power between the State and the private entities competing for claims within it. More beffuddling is that it is obvious that the outcomes sought, when private entities compete for claims, are often fundamentally parallel and different from what the State seeks when it conducts a criminal trial against its subject(s).

31, 2013, making a total of 916 children in Nigerian prisons. It is noteworthy that whatever the real figures are: 916 or 6000, it is an anomaly for children to be incarcerated alongside their mothers in unsanitary conditions given the deplorable and unhygienic conditions of detention facilities in Nigerian prisons.

These children are at best denied the chances of having a normal childhood with no provision by the government to ensure that those within school age have access to education.

Although it is generally argued that most infants accompany their mother to the prisons because it is not advisable to separate a sucking child from the mother. The same reasoning is adopted for babies born in prison to female detainees. The fact remains that this special class of inmates: pregnant detainees and nursing mothers in prisons must be given special consideration in the penal system.

The Nigerian government must begin to consider alternatives and specific institutional strategies in handling these special classes of inmates who are vulnerable due to their spe-

•Nigerian prison cial circumstances. While the practise of allowing female nursing detainees to keep their babies with them for up to 18 months gives room for bonding of mother and child, the infants are arguably exposed to higher medical risks due to the unhygienic and unhealthy prisons environment which compromises the health of adult prisoners let alone babies in Prisons. Nigerian prisons have acquired notoriety for infrastructural decay, overcrowding and the harsh and poor sanitary conditions detainees are forced to live by, conditions which pose a real threat to the life of inmates, majority

of who are still awaiting trial.

In an interview granted to the Guardian newspaper in 2012, Dr. Okosun, a psychologist with a doctorate degree from the University of Ibadan while speaking on the negative impacts of having children in prison stressed that “the child’s performance in life’s affairs will be faced with several mental challenges, which will lead to something similar to a split personality with positive and negative sides. If not well managed, a confused thinking emerges and stress levels heighten in him”.

Article 30 of the African

Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child specifically provides that “state parties to the charter shall undertake to provide special treatment to expectant mothers and to mothers of infants and young children who have been accused or found guilty of infringing the penal law and shall in particular: ensure that a non custodial sentence will always be first considered when sentencing such mothers; establish and promote measures alternative to institutional confinement for the treatment of such mothers; establish special alternative institutions for holding such mothers.

President of the International Bar Association, Michael Reynolds mittee; and former Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN, explained that the IBA conferences are world class conferences and as such host countries are required to meet with certain standards, which he said, can only be achieved with adequate preparation.

“As we speak, the sessions have been fixed, topics chosen, speakers confirmed and panellists selected,” he said.

Confirming the level of preparedness of the organisers and the host committee, Shasore, listed a number of sessions and topics to be discussed at the conference.

“Amongst the issues up for discussions are, “Investing in Africa: Investors, Protection and General Issues,” “Transactional Issues in African Cross Border M&A,” “Capital Markets in Africa,” “Chinese Investment in Africa,” “Oil & Gas Industry Law in Africa”, and “Alternative Dispute Resolution in Africa,” he said.

Resources persons and facilitators are drawn from various jurisdictions and different parts of the world, including Africa, Europe and Asia.

44—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

BANGOF flays Bayelsa govt

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Non-Governmental Organisations’ Forum, BANGOF, yesterday, said that the state government recorded poor performance in the delivery of social services and provision of utilities to its citizenry between 2009 and 2011.

Their findings, which were contained in a report released in Yenagoa, stated that the state government provided insufficient budgetary allocations to education, health, water, sanitation and electricity.

According to the report, the state government allocated only 12 percent annual revenues for developmental projects in the social sectors, during the period under review.

Chairman of BANGOF, Torki Dauseye, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the report was an outcome of the forum’s Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Revenue Management in Bayelsa State, STARMS, project.

Festival

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HE Igwe-in-Council, in collaboration with Nawfija Progrssive Union, has concluded plans for this year’s new yam festival holding September 28.

The event, tagged New Yam Day Celebration 2013, will start from 10am at the Central School Field, Nawfija in Orumba LGA, Anambra State.

DELTA CENTRAL BY-ELECTION: Dafinone emerges DPP candidate

BY FESTUS AHON

Garshom, said that the other contestants, Chief Napoleon Gbinije and Mr. Abel Oharume polled 229 and 56 votes, respectively.

Dafinone lost the party’s primaries to late Senator Pius Ewherido in 2011 with 17 votes.

Reacting to his victory, Dafinone expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the party’s primary election.

He said: “It is a great day for the party and a great day for democracy as the exercise

was free and fair. It is a testimony to the fact that DPP stands for justice and democratic ideals.”

Speaking with newsmen moments after, member representing Ethiope East Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Joseph Oshevire, said that the election was free and fair.

According to him, “the winner won freely and fairly. I advise the other contestants to support him for victory in the by-election.”

Road construction continues after rains — Uduaghan going road projects in the He said: “No road construc-

FG tasked on environment

ing Officer, Mr. Benson

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GHELLI—CHIEF Ede Dafinone has emerged the flag bearer of Democratic Peoples’ Party, DPP, in the October 5 by-election in Delta Central senatorial district.

At the party’s primaries held in Ughelli, Tuesday, Dafinone polled 872 votes to beat his closest rival, Sir. Richard Odibo, who secured 352 votes.

Announcing the result, the party ’s National Deputy Chairman and Chief Return-

BY EMMA AMAIZE

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said that on-

Chief Ede Dafinone.

state will commence fully after the rainy season. He urged the people to be patient.

He stated this in Asaba, while inspecting road and school projects in Asaba.

Abe blames PDP crisis on Tukur

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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HE Senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has described the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, as the major problem of the party.

Abe stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, adding that the current crisis rocking PDP was self-inflicted by the party’s leadership, following the refusal to adhere to laiddown guidelines.

He said: “The division started because members don’t like what Tukur is doing in the party.

“His disregard for party

rules, execution of party programmes and actions and injecting of clauses into the party constitution without due consultation are unacceptable impunity.”

Abe, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), also said that senators were not thinking of anything like impeachment as there was no justification for such action, and that the Senate remains a united house under its President, Senator David Mark.

He said that the division in the party might affect contributions of PDP members in the National Assembly and their voting on certain issues, if the crisis rocking the party was not resolved.

tion work can take place during the rains. I promise you that work will continue on all ongoing roads in the state after the rains.

“I can assure you that by December, this Direct Labour Agency Road, Asaba, will be completed. We have tried. The walkways and drainage on the road have been completed.

“The state government will be connecting DLA Road to the Asaba-Onitsha expressway to help decongest traffic on the expressway,” adding that adjoining link roads were being tarred to achieve this goal.

During the governor’s interaction with residents of the area, Mrs. Mercy Chigbo, thanked Governor Uduaghan for his administration’s good work, but pleaded that the road be completed on time to stop flooding in the area and to boost economic activities.

Uduaghan also inspected construction work at the New Central Hospital on Debe Crescent, and expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on the project.

HE NATIONAL Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Sheriff Mulade, has urged Federal Government to take proactive steps and intensify efforts to carry out environmental remediation to restore spill-impacted environments in Niger Delta.

Mulade, during a peace and environment seminar organised by CEPEJ and Bayelsa State Government, said that the ecological threats and piracy challenges in Nigeria have become a source of concern to all.

He said CEPEJ was poised to address the problems of illegal mining, crude oil theft and illegal refineries, which had continued to destroy the ecosystem.

He added that piracy in the coastline of Africa has hindered investment opportunities and threatened public peace.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

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(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On 2015 elections

F we mean well for this country, old men from 70 years and above should stop dictating what happens in the country. They cause our political and economic problems. I think it is time for young people to lead this country.— Mrs Nekky Phina, Businesswoman.

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RESIDENT Jonathan got power with little struggle. God brought him to take Nigeria to the Promised Land. Even if we are yet to arrive there, we will get there in 2015. Let Nigerians still give him another chance to perform.— Miss Esther Adichie, Student.

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HE North says power must return to them in 2015 or there will be division, South insists power must surely remain in their domain beyond 2015 or there will be bloodshed.

These are lugubrious and ignominious statements.— Miss Fayire Ruth, Worker.

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O say that Nigeria’s democracy will be tested in 2015 sounds true. The year is, more or less, the most anticipated one in the history of Nigeria’s politics since the transition to democracy in May 29, 1999. Let us pray.— Miss Alice Udoh, Undergraduate.

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HE President may contest if eligible or call for a conference where Nigerians will be able to decide how they want to be governed and relate with their African brothers.

Our strength lies in our population and diversity.— Miss Judith Ekwu, Student.

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HE onus of moving Nigeria forward rests with those who have solutions to the problems confronting and oscillating the nation and not those who are drunk in the Bermuda Triangle of ethno-religious idiosyncrasies.— Miss Akinyokun Comfort, Graduate.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—45

15 Edo state civil servants arraigned over tax evasion

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN CITY—NO fewer than 15 employees of the Edo State Government in various establishments have been arraigned before a revenue mobile court sitting in Benin City, for failing to comply with the relevant tax laws as applicable in the state.

They were arraigned for offences ranging from failure to submit tax returns of all emoluments paid to them Vanguard gathered that under the amended personal Income Tax Act PITA, “every employer is expected to file returns of its employees in the preceding year to the appropriate tax authority not later than January 31 of every year.”

According to the charges against them, “the employees have failed to file in their returns for the period between January 2012 September 2013, an offence contrary to section 81 (2) and punishable under section 81 (3) of the Personal

Income Tax Act 2004 as amended.”

Meanwhile, the court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of five of the employees, who were absent in court while

those present took their pleas.

Four others were, however, granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with a surety each, who must be

resident within the jurisdiction of the court, while further hearing in the case was adjourned till October 4 and 11, 2013.

VISIT—Godswill Akpabio, Governor, Akwa Ibom State, surrounded by Gulder Ultimate Search 10 contestants and some officials of Nigerian Breweries Plc and the Akwa Ibom State Government, when the Gulder Ultimate Search 10 contestants paid him a courtesy visit in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Court sacks another monarch in Cross River

BY EMMA UNA

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ALABAR—TWO months after the Appeal Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State upheld the ruling of a Cross River State High Court, sacking the Obong of Calabar, who was subsequently reintalled by the kingmakers, another paramount king in Calabar, the Muri Munene of Efut has been removed by another state high court.

The state high court, held that for failing to submit himself for another selection process ordered by the Cross River State Government on September 21, 2012, after the Efut Combined Assembly had elected him as the Muri Munene- elect of the Efut, Muri Mbukpa, had excluded himself from the position of the King of Efut.

Justice Elias Abua held that “By the Traditional Rulers Law of Cross River State, a person can only lay claim to being a chief, paramount ruler or king after being given a staff of office by the state and if somebody fails to comply with the directives of the state, the selection of such a person cannot be upheld.”

According to Justice Abua, the state has a duty to intervene in the dispute in Efut by calling for another selection process, which Murnee Efiong Mbukpa failed to attend and

therefore, his request to have the selection process quashed cannot be granted.

“The first selection conducted was not the selection proper, so government had to give a directive for another selection,

which had to be obeyed, so what the applicant had asked for cannot be granted,” Justice Abua said.

The court in its ruling, said that the directive of government for the selection

of Muri Munene was in order and that directive was not a decision but a directive for the right thing to be done and same cannot be quashed by the court.

DPP chairmaship aspirant, son, others escape death

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—OKPE Local Government Area chairmanship aspirant on the platform of the Democratic Peoples’ Party, DPP, Delta State, Mr Blessing Oborevwori, his child, three brothers, escaped death by the whiskers.

According to a source, suspected assassins numbering over 10 stormed the Osubi residence of Mr Oborevwori at 7p.m., with sophisticated weapons.

Narrating his odeal, Oborevwori, said “at 7p.m., l was in my bedroom after taking my dinner when my children came that l had some visitors. Before I could say usher them in, I heard gunshots. By the time I got to the living room to find out what was happening, my child and my brothers were already on the ground with matchet cuts.

“As soon as they saw me, they said this is the man we have been looking for and before l could ask what was going on, l was already on the ground with matchet cuts.

When they were attacking me, I asked what I did, they said that they were asked to kill me and they were about 11 in number and as luck would have it, l identified about three of them that l cannot mention to you as l speak, but the way they came, l know it was God that saved us.

“I never thought we could survive the attack until we were rushed to Orerokpe hospital after we had reported the incident at the Orerokpe Police Division, but was later referred to another hospital (name withheld) in Warri, where l am presently receiving treatment."

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2015 Akwa Ibom guber slot 'll move to Eket district—AKPABIO

BY TONY NYONG

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YO—GOVERNOR Godwill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has said that the governorship seat will move to Eket senatorial district come 2015.

He added that his commitment to ensure that the governorship seat moves to Eket senatorial district in 2015 was for the unity and peace of the state.

He spoke when the newly sworn in Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, Obong Victor Umoh and some paramount rulers paid him a courtesy visit at Governor ’s Office, Uyo. “I am committed to ensure that Eket senatorial district takes over the governorship seat in 2015 because the district needs to be carried along for the unity and peace of the state.”

Welcoming the Chairman, council of chiefs and other royals father to his office, he said “the royal fathers have also

contributed to the unity of the state, because what is paramount in the minds of our royal fathers is peace and progress. “ I applaud all of you for ensuring security in your various domains. Be assured that this administration will continue to partner the traditional institution to bring peace, progress and development to the state.”

Congratulating the newly elected Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, he said that his leadership would redirect the children of Akwa Ibom State morally by preaching peace to them.

The state Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Obong Umoh, thanked the governor for transforming the state through development, especially the lives of royal fathers and also thanked him for the recent commissioning of projects

marking the 26th anniversary celebration of the state creation, pointing

out that Governor Akpabio has now made the state a mirror to the country.

Fashola engages Lagosians on energy conservation

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OLLOWING the declaration of October 2013 as Energy Conservation month by the Lagos State Government, the state governor, Mr Babtunde Fashola, SAN, is to host a Google hangout with popular musician MI and Lagos residents to discuss energy conservation and the energy initiatives undertaken by the state government on September 27, 2013.

Fashola, who will be the first governor in West Africa to use this platform to sensitise citizens on energy

conservation behaviour and thus re-affirming the state’s position as the “centre for excellence,” is to utilise the platform to engage the youth in the state.

Lagosians were encouraged to participate at the Google Hangout with the state governor and to also follow the governor on his Google+ Page.

There will also be a process which will allow citizens to win a variety of energy conservation materials, such as energy saving bulbs, solar lamps, branded pen-drives and emblems to emphasise the importance of energy conservation behaviours.

46—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Anambra to spend N6bn on health facilities

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—ANAMBRA State Government plans to spend N6 billion before the end of this year to improve infrastructure in the health sector.

Addressing stakeholders in the state during which he flagged off the final push towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, in the health sector in Awka, yesterday, Governor Peter Obi said N3 billion would be spent in the sector before the end of next month.

On the occasion, 51 missionary hospitals received grant-in-aid to enable them upgrade their facilities, while 11 selected general hospitals in the state got N500 million for the same purpose.

Other hospitals that received monies yesterday included Waterside Maternity, Onitsha – N150 million, Borromew Hospital, Onitsha –N200 million, Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi – N200 million, Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala – N200 million and the newly established Diocesan Hospital, Amichi – N50 million.

‘North should forget Presidency for another 20yrs’

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—PEO PLES Democratic Party, PDP, youth leader in Ebonyi State, Mr. Chinedu Ogah, yesterday, called on politicians in the North to forget about producing a candidate for the 2015 presidential election till after another 20 years.

Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki after his two weeks tour of China and Vietnam on possible ways of improving agriculture in the state, Ogah said it was a selfish venture for the North to attempt to rule the country again after occupying the seat of power for over a decade against the wish of Nigerians.

He said the issue of who and which geopolitical zone will occupy the office of the President will be laid to rest, when a rotational system involving all the six zones of the country is enshrined into the constitution of the country.

AIG warns against extra-judicial killings

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—ASSISTANT In spector General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Mr. Tambari Mohammed, has warned officers and men of the of the police in the zone against the use of force in extracting information from suspects and extra-judicial killing.

He gave the warning while addressing newsmen at the end of a close-door meeting with police officers in Owerri.

Mohammed, who urged officers and men in the zone to be more proactive in the fight against crime and criminality, implored them to concentrate more on use of intelligence to extract information from suspects.

The AIG said: “In the current fight against crime criminals, our officers and men ought to be more proactive in line with best practices of modern day policing.

“I expect officers and men of Imo State Command to concentrate more on te use of intelligence in extracting information from suspects rather than engaging in brutality and extra-judicial killing.”

Mohammed charged police officers to resist the temptation of doing anything that would tarnish the image of the po-

lice.

He said: “There is the need for the force to rebuild its image and win back public confidence, especially as we need credible information from members of the public to succeed in

our constitutional duties.”

He also challenged the officers and men of the command to be more honest in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr.

Mohammed Katsina, attributed the drastic but relative reduction in crime in the state to the cordial relationship between the police and members of the public.

VISIT: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State (right) and Mr. Eziuche Ubani, representing Ugwunagbo/Obingwa federal constituency, when he led a team of the management and staff of Magic FM on a visit to the governor in Umuahia.

Groups kick against creating office of Mayor for FCT

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IGBO National council, INC, and South East Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, have kicked against the amendment of Section 299 of the constitution which seeks to create the office of a mayor and deputy mayor for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, and increase the number of states in the North Central zone to seven.

This formed part of a sevenparagraph communique issued at the end of their meeting in Owerri.

The communique signed by the INC National President, Mr. Chilos Godsent, read: “The conference noted with dismay, the indirect upgrading of FCT, Abuja, to a state status.

“By virtue of this development, the two positions will be contested for as in the case of governor and deputy governor, in an election conducted

by Independent National Electoral Commission.”

The groups argued that if the proposed amendment

sailed through, it would mean an indirect creation of additional state for the North Central Zone.

“If this is allowed to sail through, North Central Zone would have had seven states like North West Zone, as against five states in the South East Zone that has the largest

actual human population in Nigeria.”

While appealing to members of the National Assembly to immediately delete the proposed section, the groups equally urged the lawmakers to create additional two states for the South East zone to address some of the palpable

imbalance orchestrated to further the marginalisation of the zone.

The groups also called for the amendment of the sections that had to do with local government administration ,with a view to giving it fiscal autonomy.

European firm moves to boost business aviation in Nigeria

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR AGOS—THE Federal Gov ernment’s call for foreign investments in the aviation sector appears to be paying off as a German firm, Spherus Aviation, has scheduled a follow up mission to Nigeria to meet and encourage Nigerian clients on the importance, benefits and comfort of developing business aviation in the country, especially in the areas of ownership, charter and management of private business jets.

The company, which is a leading business aviation firm at Hannover Airport, Germany,

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had been showcasing world class Business jets in Nigeria within the past few years, following the successful static display demonstration tours with Dassault Falcon and Cessna in Abuja and Lagos last year.

Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Sebastian Kester, said the company was in partnership with a Nigerian company, CITA-TRIAX Aviation, adding that both companies were fully committed to the improvement of Nigeria’s aviation industry through training and manpower de-

velopment.

He said: “On this trip, we are participating in the Oil & Gas expo in Abuja and will be offering advice and support to clients at the Cessna/Bell stand with Robert Prentise of Africaair Inc. “We will present our latest Special Management Model Turnkey solution to Potential Nigerian business aviation clients who may be government officials, business leaders and high net worth individuals that value their time in meeting up with their appointments using a private long range shuttle.”

Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 —47

AWARD: From left, Mr. Bola Audu, Creating Shared Value, CSV, Field Officer; Dr. Samuel Adenekan, Corporate Communications, and Public Affairs Manager; Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, all of NestlĂŠ Nigeria Plc, and Mrs. Nkechi Alli-Balogun, Principal Consultant, NECCI Consulting, at the 7th Annual SERA, Social Enterprise Reports and Award, in Lagos.

DINNER: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Olusegun Aganga (middle), flanked by Chairman, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, Mr. Jacobs Moyo-Ajekigbe (left), and Managing Director, Mr. Peter Eshikena, at a dinner, in Lagos, in honour of visiting Supervisory Board members of the Royal FrieslandCampina, The Netherlands.

BRIEFING: From left, Mr. Charles Aigbe, Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations, UBA; Anne Omezi, Group Managing Director, Signature Group, and Zandiley Blay, Editor in Chief, True Tales Publications, at the media briefing by True Tales Publications, in Lagos, yesterday.

CONFERENCE: From left, Keynote Speaker, Managing Director, Jawa Group of Companies, Mr. Varkey Verghese; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Pat Utomi, and Chairman, National Association of Industrial Pharmacists, NAIP, Dr. Lolu Ojo, during the 16th Annual National Conference on 'Sustaining the Pharma Business in Nigeria: Challenges and Future Prospects,' at Welcome Centre, Lagos.

DINNER:From left, Yemi Owolabi, Executive Director for Finance, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria; Sir Oluremi Omotosho, new Chairman, Diana Layfield, CEO for Africa; a guest; Chief & Mrs. Joseph Sanusi, (celebrant & wife); Bola Adesola, MD/CEO, Standard Chartered Bank; Alhaji Muhammed Yahaya, Non-Executive Director, and Mr. Olusegun Ajayi, Non-Executive Director, during a farewell dinner in honour of the out-going chairman, Chief Sanusi, in Lagos

VOTING: Ede Dafinone, a Delta Central senatorial aspirant, thumb-printing to cast his vote, during the DPP primaries at Ughelli kingdom hall, Tuesday.

CONFERENCE: From left, Mrs. Ade Ozoemena, Secretary, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC; Mr. Nuhu Sada, Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Power; Engr. Saliu Oshone, Deputy General Manager, Nigerian Independent Power Project, NIPP, and Mr. Reginald Odiah, Chairman, Infrastructure Committee, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, at the 3rd Worldstage National Electricity Power Conference, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

CONFERENCE: From left, Managing Director, Sony Middle East and Africa, Hiroyusa Sugiyama; Managing Director, Infinity Ventures, Lagos, Anah Ifeoma, and Director, Area Management, Sony, Shingy Mukaida, at the Dealers' Conference and unveiling of new home audio system 'Shake 7'.

MEETING: Mr. Mike Abisini, member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN (3rd left), receiving an award of excellence from the President, NIMN, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye (2nd right); 1st Vice President, Mr. Rotimi Olaniyan (right), Dr. Uche Ezeokafor, council member (3rd right); Registrar, Rev. Deji Olokesusi, and Mrs. Ifeoma Emesiana Dike (left), during the NIMN inaugural meeting, at NIMN Headquarters, Niger House, Anthony Village, Lagos.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Lawal urges Borno Govt to upgrade zoological garden

Zamfara First Lady leads attack on Malaria

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USAU—THE wife of the Zamfara Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Yari, yesterday said that malaria accounted for 30 per cent of maternal deaths in the state.

The governor ’s wife, who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Shafa’atu Wakkala, announced this during the distribution of treated nets to community based organisations by the state Ministry of Health.

The distribution was in collaboration with Malaria Action Programme for the States (MAPS) at the Emir’s palace in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.

She said the aim of the programme was to eradicate malaria in the state and make the society malaria free.

She further said that the state government, in collaboration with a non governmental organisation, is making arrangements towards ensuring contraceptives were provided to pregnant women.

Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos holds faith convention

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AGOS—THE Catholic Men Organisation has concluded plans to hold a three-day faith convention from 35th, October, 2013 at St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

The President of the organisation, Chief Emeka Asoegwu revealed that the faith convention is meant to reawaken spiritual life of members as it will address family, economic and business issues affecting members and non-members that will be attending the programme.

He said; issues to be addressed include “homosexual practices, Gay marriage, abortion, religious fanaticism and corruption” Ministers expected at the event include the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Martins Adewale; Rev. Fr. Maria Ozele, Rev Fr. Joseph Atado, Monsignor John Aniagwu, among others.

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PEACE DAY—Governor Muktar of Kaduna State (R) with Chief Lecturer, Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Asma'u Maikudi at the International Day of Peace organized by Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development at the Women Multipurpose Centre, Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Taraba Acting Gov pledges loyalty to Suntai

BY EMEKA MAMAH, WITH AGENCY REPORT

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ALINGO—ALHAJI Garba Umar, the Acting Governor of Taraba, has reaffirmed his complete loyalty to ailing Gov. Danbaba Suntai.

Umar made the declaration during his meeting with traditional rulers and local government chairmen in Jalingo, Tuesday.

He spoke as the former Military Governor of the state, Dr Amen Oyakhire, blamed the political quagmire in Taraba on indiscipline among the political gladiators in the state.

According to Oyakhire, it was wrong for Suntai to have flown the plane that crashed in Adamawa State, resulting in the injuries he sustained in the accident.

"Currently, what is happening in Taraba is disheartening.

There is indiscipline in the polity. It is wrong for a governor to be seen flying an aero plane. It is against protocol. We must learn to obey laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.

"It is also wrong for the House of Assembly to say that he must not govern. He is still the governor of the state, his poor health notwithstanding. Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution are very clear as to how a Governor is produced and how he can be removed from office.

"In the circumstance, only a Medical Panel of five distinguished medical practitioners in Nigeria, one of which must be his personal physician can sit down and analyse his health condition before he can be

stopped from performing his duties.

"However, it is also wrong to force the governor to govern with his ill-health. Candidly, he still needs continuous medication. The acting Governor is his deputy.

There is the need for understanding of the peculiarity of the situation and there should be no need to quarrel. He should in the circumstance be consulted, since he is at home; when major decisions are to be taken in public interest.

"Right now, the citizens in Taraba State are suffering because of the quagmire.

This situation is not pleasant for the public. It must be quickly and sensibly resolved," he told Vanguard in an interview in Benin City.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor stressed that there was no division in the structure of government in the state.

“Let me restate the fact that

there is no division in the structure of government in the state.

“This government remains the Suntai-administration and we are all aware of the circumstances that necessitated my being designated as acting governor.

“I am happy to note that the medical condition of Gov. Suntai is improving by the day,” he said.

Umar urged the people of the state to support the good programmes of the Suntaiadministration, which he was carrying on with to ensure the rapid development of the state.

Mr Abershi Musa, the Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, noted that the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to look into how to move Taraba forward after the political crisis which engulfed the state over Suntai’s health condition.

AIDUGURI—THE management of the Sanda Kyarimi Zoological Garden, Maiduguri, yesterday appealed to the Borno State Government to upgrade the facilities at the park to enhance tourism in the state.

The garden’s manager, Malam Usman Lawal, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Maiduguri.

He also appealed to the state government to help restock the garden with new animal species.

The garden manager said the appeal became imperative to address the shortages of animals and enhance a good centre to attract tourists from other parts of the country.

"The garden used to be a place where people from other parts of the world were coming to for relaxation with their families. But now people are no longer fascinated by it,” he said.

Lawal said the visitors used to complain that they kept seeing the same animals in the zoo and that the animals needed to be replaced with new ones.

"The elephant you are seeing has been here since 1970, the second one was brought here in 1984, while the chimpanzee was brought in 1970 also,” he said.

The manager also called on the state government to rehabilitate and upgrade the facilities in the zoo, adding that most of the buildings had dilapidated due to prolonged use.

He, however, commended Gov. Kashim Shettima for increasing the imprest for the feeding of animals in the zoo from N100,000 to N500,000.

“This has really improved the living standard of the animals,” the garden manager said.

Lawal said most of the animals were now being fed well, as a result of the increase.

Benue Govt to construct 300 housing units

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AKURDI—THE Benue State Government has said that it has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of 300 housing units to meet accommodation challenges of its citizens in the state.

The Commissioner for Housing, Mr Alexander Akpera, stated this at a press briefing yesterday in Makurdi.

Akpera said that govern-

ment had completed the survey of potential buyers before embarking on the project.

He said Gov. Gabriel Suswam had approved the appointment of a real estate consultant, ‘Messrs Sears Investment Limited’, to document all property owned by the state across the country.

According to the commissioner, the consultant also has the mandate to generate revenue by collecting rents on such property, add-

ing that government has already generated N6.95 million from such charges.

Akpera said that the state government was also negotiating with some financial institutions for the purpose of privatising its financial house, ‘Ben House Building Society’, to make it a full-fledged financial institution.

He said that the government would retain 10 per cent equity shares totalling N750 million in the arrangement.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 —49

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50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 —51

Re: Much ado about child marriage (2)

Dear Yetunde, OUR article on the above subject matter, was both interesting and thought provoking indeed. There is no doubt that some of the religious extremists here in Nigeria are mere hypocrites, who seem to interpret the holy books upside down, to suit their selfish interests.

These holier than thou selfacclaimed Muslim or Christian leaders are the type our late Prof Achebe would describe as “the outsiders that weep louder than the bereaved.’’

For the very fact that Senator Ahmed Yerima had succeeded in marrying an under-aged Egyptian girl amidst nation-

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wide protests and condemnation, should not warrant this kind of fragrant impetus and audacity he demonstrated to further flout the moral code of our land with impunity, to the extent of attempting to manipulate his colleagues in the Senate into voting for the institutionalization of Child Marriage in this very God’s own country, Nigeria.

The Nigerian girl-child has already been unduly traumatised and unjustly exposed to various societal vices, emanating from the harsh economic realities and social maladjustments of our country today. In their desperate struggle to survive in the midst of these challenges, some of these innocent girls often fall victim of child trafficking, child hire, forced prostitution, forced marriage, child labour and their associated risks.

So, it would amount to adding salt to injury to fold our hands and watch any form of paedophiles, under any guise, to further inflict deeper wounds on the Nigerian girl-child through constitutional legalization of pre-mature marriage in this country.

Whenever our Christian pilgrims travel to Israel or our Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, they are bound to marvel at the level of modesty with which their hosts perform their own religious obligations under congenial atmosphere; which is in sharp contrast with the religious extremism characterised by inordinate intolerance, violence, blind dogmatism and hypocrit-

ical fanaticism here in Nigeria.

Can you imagine a condolence visitor weeping louder and more bitterly than the bereaved! We should emulate the harmony and sincerity of the worshipers in the Holy-lands where thousands of our worshipers spend millions of Naira

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Hi, The letters you will be reading today, concludes the first batch of contributions from our readers. As I stated yesterday, we cannot afford to go to sleep even for a moment on this issue. We must articulate our position and argument and continue to give it the publicity it deserves until our demands are met. So, if you have sent in a contribution and are yet to read it here, just relax, your’s might be in the next batch to be published soon.

And if you have not and are wondering if you can still send one in, please note that there is no time frame for which contributions must be sent in. Our address remains: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com we look forward to reading from you. Thank you!

protected from exploitation; that the Child must be protected from all forms of sexual molestation and sexual abuse.’’

As a signatory to the Child Rights Convention, the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, prevail on the non-complying Governors to implement the Child Right Law without further delay.

I strongly believe that no Senator who had invested or sincerely has the intention of investing part of his or her jumbo earnings in promoting the girl-child education would have voted in favour of Child Marriage on that fateful day.

May God bless Nigeria.

Mr Collins Obodo, FCT Abuja,

SenatorYerima, Please forget your excuse with Islam. Many of your fellow

The Nigerian girl-child has already been unduly traumatised and unjustly exposed to various societal vices, emanating from the harsh economic realities and social maladjustments

annually, rather than importing negative doctrines that are alien to our land and which have continued to cripple the development of this country.

Yetunde, why on earth would our highly respected Senators allow themselves to be manipulated or dragged into voting or attempting to vote on an unethical issue like Child Marriage, when there are legions of relevant national challenges begging for legislative attention in this country? Why would Child Marriage, in the first place, give our Senators sleepless nights in a country like Nigeria that is richly endowed with over 30 million able bodied girls of ripe marriage age at any given time in history?

Nigeria had, in 1991, adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Articles contain, among others, the following provisions: “That the best interest of the Child shall be of primary concern; that the Right of the Child has to be

,

Muslims have come out to condemn your use of the name of Prophet Mohammed in justifying serial rape of little children.

It only makes it worse that they prey on children of the poor.

All discerning adults Christians, Hindus, Traditionalists, Muslims and pagans know that sexual activities with children is nothing else but paedophilia. I am sure deep in your heart you know this too but instead of seeking help you attempt to use your religion to hoodwink the world.

Now listen to this. If these people have used their influence to escape prosecution here on earth for statutory rape of children, note this, they will never use their influence to avoid God’s punishment for preying on children of the poor.

Truth.

Dear Yetunde, The Yarimas are not ignorant of those facts, but they choose not to be rehabilitated because

they have truly found sanctuary in religion that harbors those who commit ill treatment to the vulnerable. What a shame!

Ok, even if girls are to marry at such age, have the Yarimas not thought, that it could have been more tolerable and logical, should they marry boys of same age grade? How do you explain a 50 years old man of Yerima’s age, being married to a 13 year old girl? this is just one word, RAPE! If Yerima has anyone to slap the "devil" out of his head, he must go to the mirror to see the person staring right to his face and start the casting from there.

Clifford Aussieyerima

Dear Yetunde, I recently read an interview granted by Senator Yerima that he will be giving his 16 years old daughter, who is a University undergraduate out in marriage later this year.

My question is, is 16 the same thing as 6 or 8 or 10 or even 13 which was the age of his controversial child bride? By my reasoning, his daughter ought to be a grandmother by now if indeed the Senator practices what he preaches to other parents on his own household.

There is a saying that the wicked will never maltreat his own, and this is exactly applicable in this case.

Nigerians want to see him give out his own 13 year old daughter to a poor, old farmer tucked away somewhere in rural Zamfara. Or, poor people are not allowed to take part in the game of the rich and influencial? Until we see this happen, the Senator is merely looking for excuses and Nigerians are watching!

Ajoke Adewunmi Lagos Nigeria Well put writer, The Senator is a Peadophile period. He would have been in jail by now if he lives in a Western country.

He should be put on a sex offender register if there is one.

No other name for his like but Peadophiles.

Ralph Gbenga. UK End of Part One

How to be nice and loved by all

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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EING nice does have its advantages, everyone talks to you. You get more favours. You have more friends and everyone loves you. But learning to be nice and likeable is a trait that few people have mastered. Have you ever met a warm person who made you feel comfortable and relaxed within a few minutes of meeting them?

You may have felt nervous or uncomfortable to start with, but all it took was a few lines to enjoy a great conversation with this nice person.

They are charming and great to be friends with, aren’t they? So what makes someone nice and one a bore? Be nice and you will definitely be liked and adored by all.

Smile and be warm to people, because this is a perfect start on your journey to becoming a nicer and more likeable person.

Don’t be grumpy and plaster a frown on your face all the time.

When you are happy in your own shoes, the world will start to love you for your infectious happiness. Communicate well with people, have interesting conversations with others without getting personal or intrusive.

Don’t talk only about what you

want to talk or what you know of, be willing to listen and indulge in conversations that others around you can relate to.

Think from the other person’s point of view. Most of us are so full of ourselves that we forget to think from someone else’s perspective.

If you are with a friend who is having lobsters for the first time, empathize with that person instead of laughing while watching them fight with a hard shell.

Talk about the first time you had to crack a lobster and how it ended up falling off your table. When you make someone feel better, they will be grateful to you and like you more.

Don’t be sharp, avoid being rude or snappy in your retorts

and responses. Don’t hurt people just because you can, many people take pleasure in making someone else feel weak or humiliated. Don’t be that person.

Be confident, but not egoistic, you may be confident and egoistic about yourself. You may take pride in your achievements or how much you make in a year. But when you are interacting with others, don’t bring your ego out in the open for all to see. People who are less fortunate than you in some way or the other will always think you are bragging.

Be egoistic and proud on the inside, but don’t reveal it unless there is a need to.

Have a positive outlook, be happy. Don’t obsess about the bad

things in life. Enjoy every moment of life and share your happiness with people around you.

Positive people always have a sparkle in their eyes, and draw friends and admirers closer all the time.

Respect is said to be reciprocal, respect everyone, as long as they respect you.

If you want to know how to be nice and loved by all, you need to treat everyone around you with respect. You have to remember that there’s always someone watching you at all times.

Don’t favour a few people and be nice to them, and snap at everyone else. Unless you are a genuinely nice person, it’s easy for people to see through your act.

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

application of International Labour Organizations core standards and Nigeria Labour Legislations, Classification of the Business of the Company into core and non-core, Migration of employees from Contract to Permanent Employment, Unionism, Collective Bargaining, Job Security and Capacity building for contract staff, Vicarious Liability and Dispute Resolution”.

Her demands include "Addressing the issue of the problems of contract staff such as poor remuneration, employers firing without From left, HuCaPan President, Mr. Oritseneye Enemigin, representative of Labour minister, Mrs. due process, and preventNofisat Arogundade and the representative of the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association ( NECA), Mrs. Florence Osuji at the 3rd Annual General Meeting of HuCaPan ing such employees from held at NECA house, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.- Pic- Funmi Komolafe unionization and other benefits". Mrs. Arogundade urged members to be concerned about “ complaints of unfair labour practices arising from contract staffing or outsourcing of employment in some companies which have brough about serious concerns”.

She said “ the ministry of labour has been responsive with strengthening of monitoring and enforcement also issuance of drafting GuideC M lines on outsourcing in various industriRECENTLY, a bank ‘employee’ engaged on contract basis indeed Y an outsourced worker was engaged in momumental fraud in a bank . K al sectors”.

•Ministry to promote fair labour pracHis arrest once more brought to the fore the issue of who should be tices: Mrs. Arogundade who representengaged and which section of the an industry as sensitive as the ed labour minister, Chief Emeka Wogu banking industry should depend on outsourced employees. urged all service providers to render quarterly reports to the ministry of labour which includes the names of workers emEnemigin said “ should be extended from ployed and recruited, where work is

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE one year to at least four or five years . being performed and the nature of work.

HE 3rd Annual General Meeting This will free the ministry valuable time She said once this is done, the proof the Human Capital Providers which can be channeled into administer- cess of renewal of recruiters licence would Association of Nigeria (HuCaPan) pro- ing the scheme”. He described the pro- be easier for both the Recruiter and the vided an opportunity for professionals cess as “ cumbersome and demanding”. ministry of labour and gave an assurance The Association’s President also called that “ the ministry is irrevocably committo discuss this issue.

HuCaPan is an association of profes- on the state controllers of the federal ted to the best labour practice as providsionals who are engaged in the busi- ministry of labour and productivity to “ ed for in our labour laws, international ness of outsourcing as employment develop and ensure closer working rela- standards and your Code of Conduct”. agencies and Labour contractors. They tionship with HuCaPan with a view to On his part, the labour controller for are registered by the federal ministry of rid our industry of quacks and check- Ogun state, Mr. Anthony Olawuni while labour and producitivuty. congratulating The ministry of labour has been Early this year, HuCaPan launched a HuCaPan for Code of Conduct for its members. holding its 3rd responsive with strengthening of The President of the Association , Mr. Annual General monitoring and enforcement also Neye Enemigin said his members Meeting when ensure that employers keep to the best due, said, “ the issuance of drafting Guidelines on practices while engaging outsourced fact is incontestoutsourcing in various industrial sectors employees and also ensure that the able that of all employee is not denied his or her benethe factors of fit. For instance he said, his organizamate some unscrupulous employers production, human capital remains the tion insists on compliance with the nawho continue to exploit workers and are most dynamic as it is the factor that cotion’s labour laws. He however said not prepared to comply with minimum ordinates, controls and puts all other facthere are other issues which they would labour and employment requirements”. tors to work in the quest to having the like the federal ministry of labour to adLabour Ministry tasks HuCaPan: The desired productivity in any nation and dress . ministry of labour proved that the trade this is why your association is central and HuCaPan demands: “ The need for unions or associations of employers do very relevant in achieving the transforNigeria to ratify International Labour not have a monopoly of making de- mation agenda of the present adminisConvention( ILO) 181- Private Employmands. The Controller of Labour in fed- tration “. ment Agencies Convention , 1997 which eral ministry of labour and producitivity, He said the ministry will continue to colcame to force in 2000”. His explanation, Lagos office, Mrs. Nofisat Arogun- laborate with HuCaPan in its effort to “ “ This Convention has been ratified by dadade told the Association members “ standardize the business of out sourcing 27 countries including 3 African of To ensure effective management of out- in Nigeria by getting rid of quacks who Algeria, Morocco and Ethiopia. With sourcing, stakeholders in the business go around assisting the employers who the ratification, HuCaPan can better coni.e. Recruiter, the Principal, Trade Union, are of the opinion that out sourcing is tribute to decent jobs and social justice”.

Human Resources Practioners inclusive another name for workers causalisation An issue that HuCaPan wants the should address the following critical ar- and who are poised to frustrate the helpministry of Labour to adjust is the duraeas of concern”. less Nigerian worker through its introtion of the Recruiter’s License. This, Mr. She listed them as “ Knowledge of the duction”.

Contract employees must get their dues

—HuCaPan, Labour ministry

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Bits National Policy on Productivity for launch THE National Policy on Productivity is to be launched in Abuja today. The event will also feature the inaguration of the National Council on Productivity. Chief host for the event is the minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

The ceremony which is being organised by the National Productivity Centre in collaboration with the supervising ministry; the ministry of labour and productivity, is scheduled to hold at Merit House, Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Time is 10.00 am.

ILO records decline in Child Labour THE international Labour Organisation ( ILO) has recorded a decline in child labour with a record drop from 246 million to 168 million since 2000. This could be attributed to the ILO’s efforts in eliminating the worst forms of child labour through its International Programme for Elimination of Child Labour ( IPEC).

However, the ILO report indicates that the decline is not sufficient enough to attain the main objective of eliminating the worst forms of Child Labour by 2016.

The director –general of ILO Mr. Guy Ryder said, “ are moving in the right direction but progress is still too slow. If we are serious about ending the scourge of child labour in the foreseeable future, then we need a substantial stepping-up of efforts at all levels. There are 168 million good reasons to do so.”

UN boss under pressure over union rights A SILENT war is brewing over union rights is brewing at the secretariat of the United Nations secretariat in New York, United States of America.

UN Secretary- General, Ban Ki- moon is said to be “ derecognizing” the UN employees staff unions which represents about 65,000 employees.

Ban Ki-moon according to Labour Start report said “ he will no longer negotiate with unions over issues like safety and security, welfare and conditions of service”.

Not a few employees of the UN are engaged in risky jobs .

Labour Start noted that “ in the last decade 555 staff have been attacked and 200 killed.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 —53 THURSDA

How healthy lifestyle reverses ageing S

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

WITCHING to a healthier lifestyle may reverse the signs of ageing at the genetic level in men with low-risk prostate cancer.

The length of telomeres - caps that protect the stability of chromosomes - grew longer in men who adopted a healthy lifestyle, whereas they became shorter in men who made no lifestyle changes. Telomeres shorten naturally with each cell division; short telomeres are linked to ageing and earlier onset of illnesses such as heart disease and some cancers, including prostate cancer.

Professor Dean Ornish, at the Preventive Medicine Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco, said: “The implications of this relatively small pilot study may go beyond men with prostate cancer. If validated by largescale randomised controlled trials, these comprehensive lifestyle changes may significantly reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases and premature mortality. Our genes, and our telomeres, are a predisposition, but they are not necessarily our fate.”

The study, published in Oncology, followed 35 men with low-risk prostate cancer over five years: 10 men who

Tip of the week

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AKE your own hair growth mix at home with the help of ginger. All you need is a tablespoon of grated ginger. Mix it with one tablespoon of jojoba or olive oil.

Apply mixture into scalp, massaging it in circular motions to improve blood flow even further. After massaging mixture, leave on for 30 minutes. You shall experience a warm sensation in your scalp, an indicator that the mix is actually working. Rinse off. Use shampoo afterwards if desired.

Oct 1 Cancer lecture • Simple lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, stress management and social support make big impact on ageing and longevity. PHOTO: Courtesy UNFPA. undertook major changes to their diet, exercise, stress management and social support, and 25 men who were not given lifestyle advice.

Researchers measured the telomere length of the participants at the beginning of the study and five years later.

They found that telomeres had increased in relative length in the group that had adopted a healthy lifestyle, but had decreased in length in the group that did not. The researchers concluded that

improvements in lifestyle were statistically associated with increases in telomere length.

There was no difference seen in levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), or in activity of telomerase (enzyme involved in telomere lengthening) between the two groups.

Overall, the findings indicate that changes in lifestyle can have a positive effect on markers of ageing support the calls for adoption of and adherence to healthier lifestyles. The lifestyle changes

that the men made included adopting a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and sugar; walking 30 minutes per day on six days of the week; one hour of meditation and yoga per day; one hour of social support per week; and training from dieticians and stress management specialists.

Telomeres are repeating DNA sequences that enhance stability of chromosomes and protect against their degradation during cell division.

A

S part of activities to mark October as the International Cancer Awareness Month, ICAM, and National Pink Day, NPD, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, CECP-Nigeria, is holding free cancer lecture, counseling and screening as well as general health screening for females from the age of 14 years and above.

The event which is in collaboration with Lekki Women Fellowship, holds at the Greater Scholars School Hall, Rd 401 Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah, Lagos on Independence Day, October 1.

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54—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

INEC’s list raises dust •Nwoye urges supporters to remain calm

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

T

HE list of candidates for the November 16 governorship election published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is causing tension in Anambra State with Chief Tony Nwoye whose name was dropped for that of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu appealing to his supporters to remain calm, assuring that the issue would soon be sorted out.

Director General of Tony Nwoye Campaign Organization, Prince Okey Ezenwa who spoke on behalf of Chief Tony Nwoye at a news briefing in Awka, urged PDP supporters to continue to mobilize in their respective wards to maintain the party’s hold at the grassroots level.

He said: “INEC published the names of candidates eligible to contest the governorship election and surprisingly the candidate who was elected by PDP at the primaries did no appear. We

were made to understand that INEC was merely obeying court order. To us that is no problem and we are only asking our supporters not to be disillusioned.

“It is not for me to predict what will happen as that lies with INEC. But we are grateful to our supporters for taking this development calmly.”

He said that as at 3 -00 am on Tuesday, national leaders of PDP were still at INEC headquarters

MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO RULE ANAMBRA STATE

NAME OF CANDIDATE

Governor Deputy Gov

Okeke Chika Jerry Onyeka Susan E.

Governor Deputy Gov

Chukwuemeka Nwankwo Gabriel Obi Anikpeh

Governor Deputy Gov

SEX M F

PARTY

AGE

QUALIFICATION

AA AA

39 55

B.SC B.Ed

M M

ACCORD ACCORD

38 56

B.SC MBA

Dr Ifeanyi Ekelem Christian Madiebo

M M

ACD ACD

59 59

MSPH WASC

Governor Deputy Gov

Engr Anthony Anene Ikechukwu Okagbue

M M

ACPN ACPN

49 59

M.Eng WASC

Governor Deputy Gov

Chief Aaron Igweze Ebo K. Chukwuemeka

M M

AD AD

63 49

Diploma GCE

Governor Deputy Gov

Chief Anayo Arinze Pastor Donatus Attah

M M

ADC ADC

53 54

HND, PGD Diploma

Governor Deputy Gov

Patrick C. Ibeziako Anadi C.Gabriel

M M

APA APA

49 33

BSC Diploma

Governor Deputy Gov

Sen Chris Ngige Dr Mike Aghadiuno

M M

APC APC

61 61

Governor Deputy Gov

Chief Willie M. Obiano Dr Nkemakonam Okeke

M M

APGA APGA

58 53

MBA Ph.D

Governor Deputy Gov

Chief Austin Nwangwu Barr Chinenye Okongwu

M F

CPP CPP

57 36

BDC LLB, BL

Governor Deputy Gov

Chijioke G. Ndubuisi M Michaelson Patrick Arima M

DPP DPP

52 35

LLB GCE

Governor Deputy Gov

Christian I. Otti Ndife Franklin Ikenna

47 35

HND BSC

Governor Deputy Gov

Chief Dennis Oguge Rev Canon Okeke SE

M M

KOWA KOWA

49 49

WASC BA.Ed

Governor Deputy Gov

Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah Prince Dr Emeka Eze

M M

LP LP

42 47

NECO MBBS

Governor Deputy Gov

Pastor Simon Chinweuba Rev Eze C Miracle

M M

MPPP MPPP

44 49

NABTEB WASC

Governor Deputy Gov

Okonkwo Emeka Webstar M Ikwuemesi T. James M

NCP NCP

43 35

DVM BSC

Governor Deputy Gov

Prince Leonard Uchendu M Barr Anthony Anazor M

NNPP NNPP

44 34

WASC LLB,LB, BL

Governor Deputy Gov

Nicholas Ukachukwu —

Governor Deputy Gov

Ezeemo G. Chukwunenye M Chikwenze A. Raphael M

PPA PPA

59 55

HND Ph.D

Governor Deputy Gov

Hon. Basil I. Ijedimna Okoye Chijioke Jacinta

PPN PPN

49 39

BSC HND

Governor Deputy Gov

Onuarah B. Onyeachonam M Ezema Obiageli Leticia F

SDP SDP

36 47

LLB BA,MPA

Governor Deputy Gov

Barr Okoye G. Ohaenyem M Nebe Chinedum Onyibo M

UDP UDP

50 44

LLB,BL BSC

Governor Deputy Gov

Akaneebu Ogochukwu Chuba S. Nwachukwu

UPP UPP

61 54

BSC BSC,MBA

M M

M

M F

M M

ID ID

PDP PDP

BM,BSC, DIPLOMA Ph.D, MSC

insisting that Tony Nwoye is the party’s candidate, adding that for the fact that INEC simply said court order on the column for PDP showed that the matter was yet to be resolved.

According to him, there has been a plethora of court cases concerning the PDP ticket, but assured that the issue would soon come to an end.

•Jega

Nsukka indigenes, others back Ngige

BY EMEKA MAMAH & DAPO AKINREFON

N

SUKKA people living in Nnewi, Anambra State have pledged to support Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his quest to succeed Governor Peter Obi. They made the pledge after a stakeholders’ meeting in Nnewi.

Chairman of Enugu-Ezike Improvement Union, EEIPU, Mr Sunday Odo, who attended the meeting told Vanguard that Ngige had been a friend of "Nsukka people since his days at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, hence we will mobilise our people to vote for him in the November 16 governorship election in the state.’’

According to Odo, apart from being a friend of Nsukka people, Ngige worked hard to open up most parts of the state during his stay as governor despite the crises he faced from his former party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, before the court annulled his election in 2006.

His words:’’The Igbo say that it is where you live that you belong to. Most of us have been living in Anambra State from childhood. We have been doing our businesses here but we had never enjoyed good governance until Ngige became the governor. Before Ngige became

Court Order

•Ngige

governor the average person in the state never knew that the government could construct roads or provide water, health facilities and electricity among others.

"It was his hard work and dedication to duty that caused problems for him. Some top members of his party wanted him to share the commonwealth of the people with him and forget the electorate. This led to all types of confusion but we, the voters are the better judge.

Centre of Ndigbo "Anambra State is the centre of Ndigbo and the Igbo will not develop if the centre is not developing; that is why we support him. The out-going Governor Peter Obi has done his best to improve on the foundations laid by Ngige but we as stakeholders would also wish that the former governor should come back and complete his assignment for the people,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, concerned youths, under the auspices of Youth Alliance For Chris Ngige, have been mobilizing the people of Anambra state to support and vote for him.

Co-ordinator of the group, Mr Udochukwu Aghaeri-Okpon, said they are out to support Ngige all the way into the Government House because they believe in him.

He said “We believe in you, because you have been tested and trusted and you are a man of your words”.

Udochukwu , added that the youth alliance comprises of youths, artisans, students, traders and as well people dwelling in rural areas, saying “we are championing the cause for good governance”.

He said as far as they are concerned, they have established a covenant with themselves that Ngige must return to Government House"

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 — 55

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 —57

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

of religion.

For Dagga Tola, former Lagos ANA chairman, who was visibly angered by Awoonor's death, found voice through a poem; Who dare to flute an elegy for the master dirge maker.

Awonoor’s Song of Sorrow is made into a Song of bomb blast, extinguishing life out of the Poet.

Africa’s desecration goes on nonstop, the strangers are still with us, with all of their creed for profit and greed, and doctrines of God and killing in the many names of one God, of unknown innocent fellow victims, be a way of making a system in rot decree itself out of rottenness.

Where else can anyone be safe, if the Poet in the delivery of words is silenced by the sound of a bomb.

Literati remember Kofi Awoonor

BY JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

A

S the world and entire lit erary community mourn the death of one of Ghana’s most prominent men of letters, Kofi Awoonor, the organisers of The Storymoja Hay Festival, an event put together to celebrate writing and storytelling in Nairobi, which the Poet attended and was due to perform last Saturday evening as part of a pan-African poetry showcase before his death, organised a special tribute in his memory.

After his death was confirmed, The Storymoja Hay Festival in Nairobi was shut down early on Saturday in the wake of the Westgate Mall attack. However, organisers and members of Nairobi’s literary community, as well as Occupy Nairobi poets, came together on the festival’s site on Monday and paid a glowing tribute to Professor Kofi Awoonor, the Ghanaian poet

died as a result of injuries he sustained during the terrorist attack at the Westgate shopping mall, in Nairobi.

While the hostage situation developed at the Westgate Mall two miles away, writers, 150 fans and friends of Awoonor gathered at the National Museums of Kenya’s Louis Leakey Hall. Remembrances and readings of his works were performed for more than two hours. “A climate of fear permeates the air, but [...] love and respect were palpable in the room”, the festival posted on its Facebook page.

Awoonor’s poetry, both wellknown and unpublished works, were read by people including American PEN President Peter Godwin, Nairobian poet Michael Onsando and Kenyan writer and actor John Sibi-Okumu, who passed on condolences from English-Kenyan author Marjorie Mcgoye-Oludhe, who was indisposed to attend in

,

Professor Kofi Awoonor was one of the most outstanding pioneering figures of Modern African Literature

and diplomat who was among the 68 killed in the attack.

Storymoja founder Muthoni Garland announced the event on Sunday evening, saying “we are devastated by the loss of Professor Awoonor, but hope must prevail.” She added that Storymoja “is committed to find ways to honor the work and spirit of this great African author and intellectual.” Members of the public were encouraged to share their thoughts and tributes under a blog post on the Storymoja website.

Awoonor, who was 78, was due to perform at the literary festival on Saturday and Sunday alongside poets from Ghana and other African countries

,

person. Sibi-Okumu said, “I never met Kofi Awoonor personally, but he was my friend nonetheless because he lived in my house with every book I read”.

And here in Nigeria, reactions have continued to pour in. Playwright, author and former Deputy Editor Guardian Newspaper, Ben Tomoloju said, “The death of Professor Kofi Awoonor in the Nairobi mall shooting is a terrible shock. I mean a shock not only in the sense of an individual, but a real cultureshock. I join all peoples across the world to sympathise deeply with all the bereaved for this irreparable loss. I also condemn terrorists and terrorism

Book Presentation

C

H R I S T A B E L Communications will on the 1st of October 2013, play host to Nigerians who will gather to witness the public presentation of a new book titled “Art Delight: The Classic Collection”.

The presentation of the book written by a young creative C M Y K

writer Julie Agnes Omeike who has interest in reshaping the moral standard of African society through her art works, will take place by 11am at Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, Yaba.

Art Delight is a compilation of interesting poems, plays and short stories which focuses on Nigeria business ideas.

Time in detention •Late Prof. Kofi Awoonor anywhere. Along this line, it is a rude blow on our civilisation to have an African literary titan and cultural institution wasted by these bandits of the most depraved character.”

He described Professor Kofi Awoonor as one of the most outstanding pioneering figures of Modern African Literature. “I read some of his works in the secondary school when he was writing under the name Awoonor Williams.

His works in the area of African oral literature influenced some of my plays, especially those in which I experiment on the dramatic elements of oral performance. I am talking about those three old oral poets featured in his anthology,

“Guardians of the Sacred Word”. He was a citizen of the world with a great passion and love for Africa. Hence his feeling more comfortable with the ancestral name, Kofi Awoonor.”

In his research, he also highlighted the historical connection between his Ewe ethnic nationality in Ghana and the Yoruba of western Nigeria.

So, you can see why his works inspire on a pan-African scale and beyond. I know he has written his way into immortality, but the nature of his death in the hands of the bigoted AlShabaab brutes is a rude shock. But it should strengthen our collective will to wipe out the savagery represented by these terrorists in the name

Kofi Awoonor was born in Ghana 1935, and after his first book of poems in 1964, he went on to publish several books of poems including, “The House by the Sea“ which chronicled his time in detention in Ghana on death row in the 1970s. He is often best known for his novel, “This Earth My Brother,” and for many, he is known as the other great African diplomat.

Until very recently, he has never stopped holding a university post in Ghana or outside of Ghana. He is called affectionately, “Prof ” by Ghanaian friends and writers. His new book, “Promise of Hope: New and Selected Poems,” is supposed to be the lead book of the new African Poetry Book Series to appear early next year.

Cultural ties: China charges FG on implementation of 2011-14 action plans

By CALEB AYANSINA

T

HE Chinese Authorities has challenged its Nigeria counterpart to ensure total implementation of the 2011-14 joint action plans on cultural-bilateral relation between the two countries.

The Vice Minister of Culture, the People Republic of China, Mr Ding Wei, who gave the charge while leading a delegation to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, in Abuja, said that the implementation would advance the relationship between the two parties.

Wei noted that although the appointment of Edem Duke as minister of culture had brought tremendous improvement in the Nigeria’s cultural industry, more still need to be done to consolidate on the existing relationship between the two countries.

He also proposed the joint effort of the

Nigeria/China in promoting cultural products produced by the two countries in their cultural centres both in Nigeria and China, as well as using the centre to educate the people of the two countries about their cultural tradition.

Responding, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to grow the relationship it had with the China.

“We are equivocally committed to the action plans, because our relationship with the china will give a good direction that we need,” he said.

Duke noted that Nigeria had a lot of cultural products to showcase to the world, but the problem she was facing has to do with quality control and standardization, seeking china’s assistance in developing the country’s cultural market.

V anguard ,THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 — 59 anguard,THURSDAY

No Nigerian casualty in mall attack — Envoy Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Kenya Akin Oyataru said on yesterday that there were no Nigerian casualties in the attack at the Nairobi city mall which claimed the lives of at least 72 people.

Addressing journalists in Abuja via a video-conference from the Nigeria mission in Nairobi, Oyetaru condemned the terrorist attack that injured more than 200 people.

“I can confirm to you that we are all safe and fine in Nairobi and its environs and fortunately no Nigerian national was affected by this.

“But our heart goes to the families of those who are bereaved and to the injured, who we wish a very quick recovery.

“Ever since then, we have advised the Nigerian community all through the crisis and after for them to take caution and safety measures.”

Oyataru reiterated Nigeria’s solidarity with Kenya in the aftermath of the attack at Nairobi’s renowned Westgate shopping mall, for which the terrorist organisation, Al-Shabab, had claimed responsibility.

The group reportedly said the attack was to avenge Kenya’s military intervention in southern Somalia in October 2011 against the militant group. The envoy said Nigeria, which has a police contingent in Somalia under an AU and UN backed peacekeeping mission, would not with-

“These are people perpetrating a lot of mindless and needless deaths of innocent citizens; they are just people feeding on the orgy of violence and this should be condemned

Pakistan's quake kill 328

A

President UhuruKenyatta draw its troops from the war-torn country.

“Neither the Kenyan government nor the Nigerian government nor

T

T

HOUSANDS of Syr ian rebels have broken with the Western-

set of goals that will capture the imagination and mobilise the world, just as the MDGs have done.

The goals should promote peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, gender equality and human rights for all, it added.

Ban Ki-moon and capacities of individual countries.

“It needs to be rightsbased, with particular emphasis on women, young people and marginalised groups. And it must protect the planet’s resources, emphasise sustainable consumption and production and support action to address climate change. Guided by this far-reaching vision, we can define a concise

any government for that matter should succumb to the intimidation or blackmail from these people.

for a new Islamist front, undermining international efforts to build up a pro-Western military force to replace President Bashar al-Assad.

Ever more divided on a battlefield where Assad’s better armed troops have been gaining ground, allies of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) were among 13 disparate rebel factions to disown the exile leadership and build an Islamic alliance that includes the al Qaeda-

Briton arrested for role in Kenyan attack

T

HE British Foreign Office has confirmed that a Briton was arrested in Kenya for his role in the terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall attack.

The agency said in a statement on yesterday that British officials were ready to provide assistance to the man. Officials

would not provide his name or details. He is believed to be in his 30s.

Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper said he was arrested on Monday as he tried to board a flight from Nairobi to Turkey.

The newspaper said his face was bruised and he was acting suspiciously.

US senate votes to fund Obamacare T

HE Democratic-con trolled Senate is on a path toward defeating tea party attempts to dismantle President Barack Obama’s health care law, despite an overnight talkathon on the chamber’s floor led by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The freshman Cruz and other conservative Republicans were trying to delay

a must-pass spending bill, but were virtually sure to lose a test vote on that legislation planned for later Wednesday.

Since Tuesday afternoon, Cruz — with occasional remarks by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and other GOP conservatives — has controlled the Senate floor and railed against Obamacare.

By 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday,

POWERFUL earth quake has killed at least 328 people and wounded hundreds more in Pakistan’s remote south-west province of Balochistan.

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Tuesday afternoon at a depth of

20km (13 miles) northeast of Awaran, the US Geological Survey said.

Many houses were flattened and thousands of people have spent the night in the open.

After the quake, an island appeared off the coast near the port of Gwadar.

Syria rebels reject Western intiative, call for Islamic leadership backed coalition, calling linked Nusra Front, com- National Coalition (SNC)

UN sets new development goals HE UN general sec retary, Ban Ki-moon, has announced a new development goal anchored on the principles of human rights, gender equality and the rule of law.

This was one of the high points of the decisions of the UN General Assembly in New York. Moon said the post-2015 goals should particularly focus on improving the lives of marginalised groups, and empowering women, protecction of the environment and reduction of poverty. According to the IN Scribe, the framework “must be bold in ambition yet simple in design, supported by a new partnership for development …

It must be universal in nature yet responsive to the complexities, needs

by all peace-loving people,” he said. He said that the attack by Al-shabab was an “international crime” that needed joint collaboration and cooperation between all nations.

Cruz and his allies had spoken for more than 17 hours, the fifth longest Senate speech since precise record-keeping began in 1900.That surpassed March’s 12-hour, 52minute speech by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., like Cruz a tea party lawmaker and potential 2016 presidential contender, and filibusters by such Senate icons as Huey Long of Lou-

isiana and Robert Byrd of West Virginia.

Republican leaders and several rank-and-file GOP lawmakers had opposed Cruz’s time-consuming effort with the end of the fiscal year looming. They fear that Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans won’t have enough time to respond to the Senate’s eventual action.

manders said on Tuesday. Details of the numbers of fighters involved and of how they would cooperate remained unclear. But, in an online video, a leader of the Islamist Tawheed Brigade said the bloc rejected the authority of the Syrian

and the Western- and Saudi-backed exile administration of Ahmad Tumeh. A spokesman for Coalition president Ahmed Jarba, who was attending the United Nations general assembly in New York.

Iran ready to talk nuclear with US region,” and that U.S. and

I

RANIAN President Hasan Rowhani said that his country was poised to negotiate with the U.S. over the country’s disputed nuclear enrichment effort but insisted on continuing the peaceful nature of the programme.

In his first address at the UN to the annual General Assemly, Rowhani said that Iran “poses absolutely no threat to the world or the

EU sanctions that have crippled the country’s economy “are violent, pure and simple.

“I declare here, openly and unambiguously. Nuclear weapon and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran’s security and defence doctrine and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions.”

Jesus was world’s first tweeter — Vatican

J

ESUS Christ was the world’s first tweeter because his pronouncements were “brief and full of meaning”, Vatican cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said yesterday. Christ “used tweets before everyone else, with elementary phrases made up of fewer than 45 characters like ‘Love one another’”, said Ravasi, the Vatican’s equivalent of a culture minister. “A bit like in television today, he delivered a message through a story or a symbol,” Ravasi said at a

conference with Italy’s leading newspaper editors. The cardinal emphasised the importance of clergy making full use of modern-day computer technology. “If a cleric, a pastor is not interested in communication, they are defying their duty,” he said.

The Vatican has stepped up its presence on the Internet in recent years, initially under Benedict XVI and now under Pope Francis, who has more than three million followers on Twitter in English alone.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Vanguard, THURSNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013—61 change of gunfire between them and the youths, supposedly Kelvin boys.

A security chief, who deconstructed the Kelvin phenomenon to Vanguard said, “Kelvin was regarded as just one of the brigands in Delta State in top security circles and though the police had been unable to pin him down, it was assumed that one day, he would be arrested. But he shot himself on the leg when he came to Kokori on September 17 to issue ultimatum to the Federal Government. We were not happy with the insult. How can he be giving ultimatum to government, is it because some security agents were playing with him or what?

Intelligence report

•Military men on the streets of Kokori, Delta State, yesterday

Army, DSS nab Delta kidnap kingpin, Kelvin •In a Port Harcourt hotel

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South, JIMITOTA ONOYUME, FESTUS AHON & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

PORT HARCOURT—A combined team of Army and Department of State Services, DSS, operatives, in a coded military operation, seized, in the early hours of yesterday, the most wanted kidnapper/armed robbery kingpin in Delta State, Kelvin Oniarah, and five of his gang members, in an undisclosed hotel in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

There was, however, a shootout, yesterday afternoon, between Kelvin’s ‘boys’ in his country home, Kokori, Ethiope-East Local Government Area, Delta State, and soldiers, who arrested the chief priest (Ose Igba), said to have provided native charms for Kelvin and his gang to evade arrest, over the years. The diminutive kidnap kingpin, rounded up in the hotel, where he was hibernating with his gang had been terrorizing the state and other states in the South-South, SouthEast and South-West for some years running.

The gangster who is likened to the notorious robbery kingpin, Lawrence Nomanyagbon Anini, dreadfully called ‘The Law’ in the defunct Bendel State, was allegedly “picked up like an ant’ with his lieutenants, according to an informed security source. Two members of the gang reportedly escaped arrest. Vanguard gathered that Kelvin and five others arrested with him were flown to Abuja by the DSS, for further interrogation.

“Kelvin knew he was being monitored, but did not know his end was so near. He lived like a big boy, traversing Delta, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Ibadan and Lagos, where he has tentacles and business interest,” a source added. It was learnt the police were sidetracked in the operation by the army and DSS, as neither the police in Rivers and Delta states were aware of the operation until it was concluded.

Trapped one week after issuing threat to FG: He was

rounded up exactly one week after he surfaced in his country home, Kokori, in Ethiope-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Tuesday, September 17, and issued a 60-day ultimatum to the State and Federal Governments to develop the oil community or his group would blow up oil facilities in the area.

Challenge to security operatives The hoodlum, who described himself as leader of the newlyfound Liberation Movement of the Urhobo People, LIMUP, said he had become a freedom fighter and vowed to carry out his threat if the ultimatum was not complied with.

Vanguard gathered that the security agencies in the country were infuriated by the impudence displayed by Kelvin in issuing a 60-day ultimatum to Federal Government and even challenging security operatives to a combat. It was learnt that the top echelon of the army and DSS strategized and mapped out a ‘battle plan”on how

to arrest Kelvin. DSS operatives did the intelligence part of the work by tracking the kingpin to the hotel, where he fled to in PortHarcourt after breaching security in Delta State, last week.

Sources told our reporters that soldiers gave the DSS the needed back up and as soon as it was established that he was in the hotel, the soldiers moved into the hotel and “the rest is history."

“Unknown to Kelvin, who thought the hotel was safe for him, security operatives got information about his presence in the lodge and carefully monitored him before they struck at the crack of dawn.” His hometown, Kokori, has been taken over by soldiers, said to be on internal military operation, since Monday.

How police arrested 2, rescued 3 kids in Delta: In a related development, the police in Delta State, also put up a sterling performance when a crack team of detectives attached to ‘B’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Ughelli, acting on information, swooped on a set of Kelvin’s boys and effected the rescue of three secondary school children, earlier kidnapped, along Agbarho Otor Awuhire road, Ughelli, at about 1605 hours, on Monday, September 23. The suspects arrested were Oke Felix ‘m’ 23 years and Eruna Ebiode ‘m’ 27 years with one double barrel short gun, 10 cartridges and one Toyota Siena Estate Wagon vehicle with number plate, LEH 196 AA. Delta State Police Command in a statement by Onyire Kaneneolisa, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, for the Commis-

,

7 DAYS AFTER ULTIMATUM TO FG:

sioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said, “Efforts are on to effect the arrest of one of the kidnappers who escaped in the course of the arrest.”

Arrest‘ll lessen on-going battle against kidnappers – police The police said, “The arrested two hoodlums have made useful statements touching on their criminal exploits, including the fact that they are part of the gang of the criminal kingpin – Kelvin Oniarah whose arrest was affected at the early hours of Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at a hotel in Port-Harcourt by a combined team of the military and DSS operatives. The arrest of the kingpin will greatly mellow the ongoing battle against kidnappers in the state.

At the Rivers State Command of DSS, mum was the word when Vanguard visited as the officer, who one of our reporters met at

“However, some of us were not comfortable with the position of the police that Kelvin did not appear in Kokori to issue his threat, intelligence report indicated so.

That was why the police, I must confess, was not taken into confidence. Because as it were, they sounded as if they did believe the Kelvin ultimatum. The reason Kelvin was not arrested all this while was because he was not really taken very seriously. The job was left for the police alone, but when he issued his 60-day ultimatum, we read in the newspapers and we have been following the special report in Vanguard newspapers, so we knew we had to put him away before he begins to think that he is a hero.”

According to the source, “Kelvin is really a pain in the neck; he was the one in-charge of the major kidnap operations in Delta, Edo and other states. He made the Auchi sector in Edo state very dangerous. I know his gang was responsible for the recent kidnap of Chief Ozekhome, SAN. He has kidnapped top officials in Delta

He shot himself on the leg when he came to Kokori on September 17 to issue ultimatum to the Federal Government. We were not happy with the insult. How can he be giving ultimatum to government, is it because some security agents were playing with him or what? the gate refused him entry. He did not confirm the arrest, but simply said the state Director had no mandate to speak on the matter without directives from Abuja. The official subsequently directed our reporter to reach out to the headquarters in Abuja for any media enquiry.

Commanding Officer of the 222 battalion, Ughelli, Lt Col Ibeh, told Vanguard when contacted said men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, have been on ground in Kokori, in the last few days. On the reported arrest of Kelvin, he said, “That is what we are hearing but there is no official confirmation yet. All I can tell you is that our men are ground.”

At 10.47 am when Vanguard reporters visited Kokori, Wednesday, soldiers were seen at strategic locations in the community and there was anxious tranquility. Few hours later, there was ex-

,

State and the son of a top official of the Delta State Government and collected huge ransoms before his victims were released. He is known to some policemen and because of his monetary power; he gets away and enjoys his loot in Ibadan, Port-Harcourt and Lagos. That he frequents Port-Harcourt is known by some top security persons in Delta State, but I think the problem was mustering the courage to confront him.”

The kidnap kingpin shocked security operatives when he pulled a daring mission in Warri, some months ago, killing a number of prisons officials, as his gang ambushed warders and snatched two of its men being taken to court for trial. Kelvin, whose gang had allegedly killed many soldiers and police officers in the past, became a principal target when his gang purportedly killed some soldiers.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Luiz: I have no point to prove D

AVID Luiz feels he has no point to prove at Chelsea and admits he respects Jose Mourinho’s rotation policy.

The Brazilian centreback attracted the headlines last weekend when, along with Juan Mata, he was omitted altogether from Mourinho’s match day 18 for the Barclays Premier League victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

The pair returned to the Portuguese’s starting XI for Tuesday night’s 2-0 Capital One Cup win at Swindon, with Luiz playing the first half in central defence before being pushed into a defensive midfield role for the second period following injuries to Marco van Ginkel and Ramires.

And the 26-year-old, seen by some as a defensive liability but nevertheless linked with a summer move to Barcelona, insists he was happy to be involved again.

Asked how he had been affected after being left out against Fulham, Luiz said: “It was just one game. Sometimes when other players go out of the team, people don’t say anything.

B

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IONEL Messi has rejected suggestions he made a disrespectful gesture towards Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino after being substituted in the Catalan club’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday night.

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ORUSSIA Dort mund striker Robert Lewandowski has told the German media that he expects to confirm a switch to Bayern Munich in January.

The 25-year-old has long been one of the most coveted frontmen in world football, but Bayern have always been in pole position to sign him.

Reports that a fouryear deal with Bayern - to begin next summer - were already in place emerged on Tuesday and after Dortmund’s 20 extra-time win over TSV 1860 Munich in the DFB -Pokal that evening, he was quizzed by the waiting media.

When asked if he would confirm a move to Bayern in January, Lewandowski told Sport 1: “Yes, because I can officially sign the new contract in January.”

He then explained to Sky Deutschland that he believes he could even leave before the summer.

“Right now, I can’t say anything,” added the Poland international.

“Normally, I can only reveal it officially in

•Luiz

Messi denies making disrespectful gesture

•Messi

Lewandowski confirms move to Bayern in January

The talismanic forward continued his blistering form, taking his tally to 10 goals in all competitions this season with a diving header in the eighth minute of the Primera Division encounter at the Nou Camp.

Messi also added an assist for Barca’s fourth goal before being hauled off nine minutes from the end in place of Sergi Roberto.

The Argentina winger admitted he was unhappy at his substitution, but refutes media suggestions that he deliberately snubbed Martino whilst being withdrawn.

“At no point did I make any gesture when Martino took me off,” Messi said on his official Facebook page.

January.

“At this moment, it is still too early and we’ll have to wait a bit. But I think, I can leave in January.”

•Lewandowski

Pellegrini: Toure's at his best M

•Toure

ANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes Yaya Toure is in prime form and earning reward for his hard work in training.

Toure’s fine start to the season continued as he struck his fifth goal in seven games in a 5-0 Capital One Cup thrashing of Championship side Wigan at the Etihad Stadium.

It came direct from a freekick in almost identical fashion to the midfielder’s

Chelsea fear worst for Van Ginkel

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HELSEA will to day count the cost of their Capital One Cup triumph over Swindon as they assess a potentially serious knee injury to Marco van Ginkel and also a hip problem for Ramires.

Jose Mourinho’s side overcame their Sky Bet League One hosts 2-0 at the County Ground but the night was tinged with disappointment.

Van Ginkel - making only his second Blues

start following a summer switch from Vitesse Arnhem - went down after an early challenge from Town midfielder Alex Pritchard and, despite briefly trying to carry on, soon hobbled off in the 10th minute.

set-piece strikes against Newcastle and Hull last month.

In addition the Ivorian scored a fine long-range effort against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League a week ago and added another from inside the box in last Sunday’s derby destruction of Manchester United.

Toure, 30, was not at his most influential as City mounted an underwhelming title challenge last season but he appears revitalised as Pellegrini’s input starts to take hold.

Pellegrini said: “He is a very important player for the team.

“I don’t know what happened last year but all the players are playing with trust and a goal always give them trust. I think it is very important.

Vanguard, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 — 63

N97m re-grassing cost for Abuja stadium Okagbare leads 400 athletes to Awoture’s tourney pitch doubtful — Gaiya O T HE House of Rep resentatives Committee on Sports on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the renovated Abuja stadium pitch.

Rep. Godfrey Gaiya, who led his committee members on oversight function to the Abuja Stadium on Tuesday, described the N96.6 million used for the re-grassing of the pitch as “doubtful”.

He told newsmen that as a legislator, he was disappointed with the level of work carried out by Julius Berger PLC as there was not enough drainage to drain the water after the rain.

“The re-grassing is just an aspect of the renovation and they said today that it cost them N96.6 million to do.

“My verdict is that I am not comfortable with the level of water logged on the pitch.

“I was in Calabar and it rained for three days non-stop before the match and you cannot compare Calabar that is in tropical environment to Abuja that is in the Savannah where rain is lighter.

“So, if it rained in Calabar for three days when Nigeria played Malawi and I never saw anything like waterlogged spot, why should ordinary drizzling cause water ponds on the renovated Abuja pitch,” Gaiya asked.

The legislator vowed that the National Sports Commission (NSC) must give detailed account of all their spending for the renovation of the stadium.

Gaiya regretted that he had no powers to summon the contractors, Julius Berger PLC, to explain but maintained that the NSC would be held responsible for any poor job done.

PARLEY . . . Chairman House Committee on Sports Godfrey Gaiya (M), NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari (L) and Secretary General of NFF Musa Ahmadu after their meeting yesterday in Abuja. Photo Gbeniga Olamikan “We never entered into a contractual agreement with Julius Berger. Our oversight function rests on the NSC. “It is the NSC that will bring its client to order

that they would beat Nigeria in their home and come to Nigeria to fight for an upset.

This then means that Nigeria will fly out of Abuja on a chartered flight on Saturday, October 12, so as to beat the effects of the high alti-

Rep. Gaiya further described as “uncalled for” the ceremony which followed the renovation, noting that it was not a norm in the country to celebrate renovation of projects.

A

n unprecedented 419 Scrabble players are now in Uyo even as the Akpabio International Classics enters day two.

Yesterday was a beehive of activities at the Uyo airport and designated hotels in the Akwa Ibom State capital as reception of guests and hotel allocations occupied most of the day.

A review of the players already in town shows that 86 of them are in for the Masters category, 89 for intermediate category and 171 are registered for the Open category.

The Veterans category is not also left out with 53 players , while

tude in Addis Ababa.

Nigeria have picked Saturday, November 16 as the date for the return leg match at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The overall winners of this playoff matches will qualify for next year ’s World Cup in Brazil.

Mr Larry Ojoko leads a 20 man team of Nigeria Scrabble Federation Technical Officials made up of Adjudicators, Annotators, commentators and web masters.

Speaking on the record entry this year the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Scrabble Association Pastor Umoh Bassey said he is grateful to the National body for preparing him for the influx of players this year. “….if we had planned based on the figures last year, we would have run into

•Akpabio logistic problems as we have over eighty players more than last year. The Gover nor Godswill Akpabio Classics has beome so popular that no Scrab-

Egypt Continues from BP And it was also confirmed that fans will be allowed to attend the game.

Supporters have largely been banned from matches in Egypt since the Port Said riots at a match between Al Ahly and Al Masry that claimed the lives of more than 70 people.

Domestic football was also suspended in the

country and although it resumed after a year ’s absence the league was again stopped in July after the military overthrow of president Muhamed Mursi’s government and subsequent violence.

Ghana had already announced that the first leg of the tie will be played at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi on 15 October.

okagbari who are from Isoko north and Sapele local government areas of Delta state respectively.

Speaking about the readiness of the local organizing committee, the chair man of the L.O.C, Honorable Gabriel Okpunor said the championship will avail the world the opportunity to see the international standard newly constructed Sapele stadium by the state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduanghan as the championship will be shown live on television. He charged Deltans to come out en mass to celebrate the athletes that will be competing in the event, Athletes for the two days sporting fiesta are expected to arrive Sapele on Friday 26th sept .

Arik Air partners IBB Golf Club for Independence Cup

A

RIK Air, West and Central Africa’s largest commercial airline is partnering IBB Interna-

419 players storm Uyo for Akpabio scrabble

Ethiopia

Continues from BP

when our observations are made known to them.

“We hope if they can relay the message to Julius Berger to get it done the way every Nigerian will be comfortable with,” he said.

VER four hundred Athletes from the three senatorial districts of Delta state will converge tomorrow at the newly constructed 16,000 capacity Sapele stadium to participate at the 1st Awoture athletes championship.

The championship which is put together by the Delta state government through the state sports commission is aimed at harmonizing, discovering, and exposing young and talented athletes from Delta state as they will be competing in various categories in different track and field events. Expected to represent their various Senatorial districts are the likes of Nigeria’s fastest man and woman in the persons of Ogor ogene Egwero and Blessing

ble player all over the world wants to miss out” the chairman said.

Af t e r y e s t e r d a y ’ s stress of registration and accreditation, the players and officials will today be taken on a tour of development projects in a state that is known for its “uncommon transformation agenda” Also planned for today are courtesy calls, a world press conference and official opening ceremony later in the evening to be presided over by His Excellency Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Top on the list of those expected to unleash a firework of words is the world Champion Nigel Richards who will be hotly challenged by Pakorn Nemitrmansuk, Komol Panyasoponlert, Thacha Koowirat, Sammy Okosagah, Charles Tachie Menson and Alan Oyende in the Masters category.

Okoye Charles, Isong Williams and Chris Akraka lead the Intermediate

tional Golf and Country, Abuja in staging the 2013 Independence Day golf and Nigeria Vs Ghana International golf match play to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary.

Arik is the lead sponsor for the two tournaments which are the most prestigious held at the IBB International Golf and Country Club Abuja. The annual Nigeria Vs Ghana international golf match play will be held at the Club on September 28 and 29 while the Independence Cup will be staged on October 1.

Arik Air Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue said the airline has been a great supporter of Nigerian sports and that the sponsorship of the golf tourney is the airline’s little way of identifying with a group of people whose patronage has been a great boost to the business.

“As a socially responsible airline, we strive to impact positively on our operating environment through sponsorship of events such as the Independence Cup,” Ndulue stressed.

Arik Air thanked the Management of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja for giving the airline the opportunity to sponsor this year’s Independence Cup and thus identify with its valued guests.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2013

Egypt to battle Ghana at Military stadium

E

2014 World Cup play-off

We’ll cage Eagles on Sunday, Oct 13 — Ethiopia E

THIOPIA have confirmed they will host Nigeria in a 2014 World Cup playoff on Sunday, October 13, in Addis Ababa.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier raised alarm that Ethiopia are yet to confirm the match day.

General secretary of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) Yigsaw Bezuayehu disclosed that the match will be played on October 13.

“We have played our home games on Sundays and the match against Nigeria will not be an exception,” said the EFF top official. Defender Alulu Girma had boasted Continues on Page 63

OUT OF REACH•••Super Eagles Kenneth Omeruo controls the ball as Saladin Seid of Ethiopia attacks.

PUZZLE

the 30,000-capacity 30 June Air Defence Stadium for the crucial match against Ghana.

It will be played on 19 November, with kick-off set for 1900 (local time).

The two-legged tie one of five in the final African qualifying round will decide who makes it through to next year ’s finals in Brazil.

Egypt’s Minister of Sports Taher Abu Zeid announced the decision for the venue on Tuesday.

Continues on Page 63

Palermo sack Gattuso

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ALERMO Have sacked Gennaro Gattuso and replaced the former Rangers and AC Milan midfielder with Giuseppe Iachini, the Serie B side announced on Wednesday.

Gattuso had been apContinues on Page 63

•Gattuso

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

GYPT have re vealed they will use a military stadium in Cairo to host Ghana in the second leg of the sides’ 2014 World Cup play-off.

It will be the first time Egypt have played in the capital since October 2011, following the Port Said tragedy and civil unrest in the country.

The Pharaohs’ recent home matches have been in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna.

But they have chosen

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Prompt (5) 7 Trite (5) 8 Call (5) 10 Clod (5) 12 Observe (3) 13 Subject (5) 15 Missive (7) 17 Epic (6) 19 Regret (3) 20 Flood (7) 23 Melt (4) 25 Loyal (4) 26 Suffocate (7) 30 Anger (3) 31 Live (6) 34 Demur (7) 37 Divide (5) 38 Skill (3) 39 Teacher (5) 40 Colour (5) 41 Scope (5) 42 Irritable (5)

DOWN 1 Boat (5) 2 Wireless (5) 3 Evoke (6) 4 Fate (4) 5 Disagree (7) 6 Blockade (5) 9 Ocean (3) 11 Dog (7) 13 Robbery (5) 14 Iron (5) 16 Prosecute (3) 18 Fight (7) 21 Track (5) 22 Cap (5) 24 Discharged (7) 27 Mineral (3) 28 Spa (6) 29 Structure (5) 32 Spring (5) 33 Lament (5) 35 Sphere (3) 36 Air (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Brief 7, Fine 8, Recipe 9, Delay 11, Pit 13, Vim 15, Rare 16, Dig 18, Sole 19, Modesty 20, Yarn 23, Bargain 25, Cold 27, Eke 28, Lean 30, Tie 31, Rig 33, Known 36, Deface 37, Over 38, Yield.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Tibia 2, Bed 3, Ill 4, Fry 5, Act 6, Spoil 10, Arid 11, Predict 12, Trouble 13, Voyager 14, Meaning 16, Dodge 17, Genie 18, Sty 21, Bad 24, Akin 26, Oiled 29, Aided 32, Mad 33, Key 34, Ode 35, Nod.

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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