Subsidy fraud suspectsdocked, granted bail

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61675

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Gunmen kill four, raze police station in Borno •P 6

BROADBAND—The Nigeria Broadband Forum organized by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC held in Lagos yesterday. From left: SecGen of the African Telecommunications Union, Mr. Abdoulkarim Soumaila; Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah; Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, and Mr. Desire Karyabwite of ITU at the event.

Subsidy fraud suspects docked, granted bail •Arisekola Alao's son, Abdulahi remains in EFCC custody •Court adjourns cases till Oct 30 and Nov 13

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, HENRY UMORU & ONOZURE DANIA

•Bamanga Tukur's son is on his own — PDP

AGOS—THE long awaited prosecution of oil marketers who allegedly defrauded the Federal Government of N304 billion in the oil subsidy scam commenced, yesterday, at the Ikeja judicial division of Lagos State High Court. Five directors of the affected oil companies were arraigned.

Those who were docked include

L

Continues on Page 5

DONU KOGBARA: Why? •P.17

Mr & Mrs

SUSPECTS—From right: Fuel subsidy scam suspects, Mahmud Tukur, Abdulahi Alao, Mamman Nassir Ali and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) official, during the suspects' arraignment at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Salami, Oyinlola saga: We did not recant — MTN •P.7 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRID AY, JUL Y 27, 2012—5 FRIDA JULY

POCKET CARTOON

Subsidy fraud suspects docked, granted bail Continues from Page 1 Mahmud Tukur, son of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the incumbent chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Maman Nasir Ali, son of Ahmadu Ali, former chairman of PDP, and Abdulahi Alao, son of Ibadan-based business man, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao. The three of them were granted bail but Arisekola-Alao’s son, Abdulahi will not enjoy his freedom until he is granted bail in his second case before another judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru.

Two others who were also arraigned were Ochonogor Alex and Christian Taylor.

While one of the charges came up before Justice Habeeb Abiru, two other charges were entertained by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, also of the Ikeja High Court.

Contrary to expectation, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, in whose instance the arraignment of the accused was delayed till yesterday to enable him personally handle the cases, was not in court to lead the prosecution team.

EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs said the minister was away on official matters.

Just as it happened , Wednesday, the EFCC claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of the first defendant, Wagbatsoma, who was not in court.

His lawyer, however, told the court that his client travelled outside

the country but promised he would be available next Wednesday.

In the first case before Justice Habeeb Abiru, Arisekola-Alao’s son, Abdulahi and his company, Axenergy were arraigned on a sevencount charge of conspiracy, obtaining over N5 billion under false pretence and forgery of documents. After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty, while his counsel, Mr. Babajide Koku, SAN, applied for his bail.

The EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, however, opposed the bail application arguing that he needed to reply on point of law to the motion for bail. Abdulahi Alao’s bail application was therefore adjourned till August 1.

In Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo’s court, where Mahmud Tukur, Mamman Nasir, Abdulahi Alao, Christian Taylor and Eterna Oil and Gas PLC. had their day, they were all accused of obtaining different sums of money running into over six billion naira under false pretence.

They were also accused of forging several importation and shipping documents to allegedly commit fraud.

The prosecution alleged that the accused had between January and April 2011 in Lagos, fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.8 billion from the Federal Government.

They were accused of obtaining the money from the Petroleum Support Fund for the pur-

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person—C. Palahniuk

A

LL living things require love to survive, in cluding ourselves. We must first attend to our own needs for love before we can love others. When we neglect ourselves emotionally, we become emotionally toxic and are not whole enough to give love to others. When we change the inner dialogue from the inner critic to that of the inner companion, we bolster our self-esteem and self-respect. Then we are free to nurture all individuals by being the caring, compassionate, thoughtful and kind beings we truly are.

When we choose moderation in all aspects, we bring balance into our lives and maintain our connection with our inner peace and true reality.

Wholeness is not realized in a moment. Throughout a lifetime, there must be constant effort and striving toward self-perfection. In order to accomplish this, we need the confidence to endure all situations to reach our goal.

ported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The accused persons were also alleged to have forged a Bill of lading dated April 28, 2011, which they used in facilitating the fraud and therefore contravened Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and then proceeded to argue their application for bail.

In spite of the strong opposition from the EFCC, Justice Onigbanjo released them on bail in the sum of N20 million with two Sureties in like sum.

According to the court, one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused.

He said: “The other surety must be a level 16 officer in the Lagos State or Federal Civil Service.

“The sureties must produce three years tax clearance and they must be verified by the chief registrar of the high court. The accused persons are to deposit their international passports with the EFCC which must not be released without the express permission of the court”.

Beside, one of the sureties is also expected to own a property worth two hundred million naira in Lagos.

The judge, however, adjourned the case involving Tukur, Alex, Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas till November 13 while that of Nasaman Oil Services, Ali and Taylor was adjourned till October 30, 2012.

You are on your own, PDP to Tukur’s son Meanwhile the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday distanced itself from Mahmud Tukur, the embattled son of its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over fuel subsidy fraud.

Addressing Journalists, yesterday, on the outcome of the meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja

who cleared the name of the PDP National Chairman from the oil subsidy scandal, stressed that his son was old enough to carry his cross.

Flanked by the PDP National Treasurer, Bala Kaoje; the Deputy National Chairman noted that the subsidy scandal as it relates to Mahmud Tukur, was not a party issue and as such, the law should take its course.

He said: “On the issue of some PDP members being involved in oil subsidy, these are individuals, everybody bears his own cross. There are governors who are now facing prosecution as a result of their actions and inactions, so it is not a party thing.

“PDP did not send anybody to go and misbehave. Even if you mention my Chairman’s

son, he is up to age, assuming he is to go to jail they will not come and jail the National Chairman, because he did not send him. He is a man of age and he has his household; he has his family, everybody accounts for his own position and, of course, it has been mentioned, until they are proved guilty they still remain innocent.

“The party cannot just get out and breathe down on them and begin to condemn them, they will be given equal opportunity to defend themselves in competent courts of law, and until they are found guilty, then the party will come out and take a position.

For the party now to begin to condemn them is absolutely premature and prejudicial.”

Babalola flays opponents of Sovereign National Confrence

BY DAPO AKINREFON

L

AGOS—A SEN IOR member of the inner bar Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has flayed opponents, especially within the National Assembly, to the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, saying sovereignty resides in the people.

Chief Babalola said this yesterday at the 5th annual MOB lecture series in commemoration of the 49th birthday anniversary of Mr Michael Opeyemi Bamidele. The lecture entitled: “Legislating in troubled times: National Assembly and challenges of legislating for good governance in Nigeria”, held at the Alunmi hall, Christ School in Ado-Ekiti.

While attributing the problems of the country to defects in the 1999 Constitution, he noted that the process of constitution making is allencompassing.

He said: “I have remained resolute in the belief that many of the problems currently facing the country are a direct result of the lopsidedness of the 1999 constitution. This is itself traceable to the fact that

the 1999 Constitution on which our democratic government is hinged, was imposed on us by the military without any input by any of us”.

Babalola, who was chairman of the occasion, argued that “as a result of this diversity, it was and is still necessary that the constitution making process should take into recognition all factors aimed at bringing about a true peoples constitution”.

Backing his claim with Section 14 (2) of the 1999 constitution, the legal luminary said “the sovereign rights of Nigerians entitle them to amend the existing constitution or substitute a new one for the existing constitution”.

Speaking further, he maintained that “it is not for those who were elected under the existing constitution and empowered to govern, rule or make laws and regulations under the existing constitution to deny the people of Nigeria their sovereign right to jettison the old constitution or substitute a new one for the existing constitution. The sovereign right belongs to the people and not to their delegates”.

He disagreed with the Senate President, Senator David Mark for opposing the idea of convening a conference saying, “I consider the statement of the President of the Senate as preemptory. I believe that Nigerians should have the ultimate say as to whether a sovereign national conference is necessary or not. Again, I must emphasize that sovereignty does not reside in the presidency or the executive, the National Assembly or the judiciary but in the people”.

The guest lecturer, Professor Kunle Ajayi, in his address, said government at all levels have failed to perform in their respective constitutional responsibilities.

Professor Ajayi, who is also the head, Department of Political Science, Ekiti State University, blamed the present crop of politicians for failing to provide good governance.

His words: “Bad governance rather than good governance is what governments are rewarding us for voting them into power.”

He called on the electorate to hold public officials accountable.

6—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Gunmen kill four, set police station ablaze in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI — FOUR people were killed while several others were injured when gunmen, suspected to be members of the Jamatul ahlis Sunnah lid Daawa wal Jihad aka Boko

Haram, attacked a police station in Gubio, the headquarters of Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

A resident, Mallam Usman Gubio, said the attackers also burnt down a police station and the local government secretariat.

According to him, “many people ran away from their houses and took refuge in safer places. We have never experienced such in this local government, but I do not know if any civilian was killed. However, I saw about four corpses of police officers being conveyed in a vehicle. Security is now

beefed up around the local government and we also learnt that the police have made some arrests.”

Gubio said when they heard gun shots, they all rushed into their houses and locked the doors but later they had to leave their houses when some of their relatives asked them to

leave the area, as it was no longer safe.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Commissioner Bala Hassan said "two policemen and one civilian were killed in the attack in Gubio local government.”

The Commissioner of Police did not give further

clarification as his phone went off after he confirmed the killings.

When newsmen contacted spokesman of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Order in Borno, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, he said the situation in Gubio was purely a police affair.

Jonathan challenges African first ladies to speak against abuses

BY BEN AGANDE

A

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle); Special Adviser/Project Coordinator, Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project, Ms. Ronke Azeez (right) in the symbolic presentation of a giant cheque of N256 million to pupils of award winning Junior Secondary Schools during the Second Edition of the Governor’s Education Award and Secondary Schools Performance Award 2012, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

IMF to CBN: Leave Naira to market forces

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

A

BUJA — THE International Monetary Fund, IMF, yesterday, released the report of its 2011 Article IV Consultation with Federal Government officials, suggesting an adjustment to the Naira exchange rate in line with market forces.

According to the report, “staff recommended focusing on a clear inflation objective and allowing gradual adjustment of the naira over time in response to market conditions.”

The Breton Woods Institution, however, carefully avoided a definitive position on asking that the Naira be devalued as it said that the result of its exchange rate assessment was mixed.

It said: “The three methodologies provide complementary perspectives on the exchange rate assessment for Nigeria, but the results must be treated with caution.”

Differences, it said, arose due to the difficulty of properly modelling the underlying macroeconomic links and the inherent difficulty of incorporating critical country specific information into crosscountry approaches.

“These differences are

most prominent for lowincome countries and for oil exporters, which complicates the assessment for Nigeria. Defining a current account norm is complex also because of the relatively poor data quality,” the multilateral orgainsation said.

According to the fund, there was nothing in the result of the assessment suggesting any fundamental misalignment of the nation’s exchange rate.

Naira is in line with equilibrium It said: “One method — relating the value of the naira to its fundamental determinants — suggests that the naira is in line with equilibrium.

“Two other methods give mixed results: the macroeconomic balance approach suggests an undervaluation of 10¼ per cent, reflecting projected current account balance that is stronger than the norm; while the external sustainability approach, comparing the projected current account surplus with the level needed to stabilize net foreign assets, suggests that the naira is overvalued by 8½ percent.”

Fuel subsidy

The IMF disclosed that Federal Government officials anticipated that the elimination of the subsidy would be unpopular but viewed the subsidy as fiscally unsustainable and highly distortionary.

It maintained: “Subsidy in Nigeria discouraged private investment in domestic refining capacity, resulting in a drain on foreign reserves through the importation of petroleum products. Moreover, given rampant rent-seeking behaviour and smuggling, a significant portion of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy benefits accrue to people in neighbouring countries.”

The Fund recommended that the authorities should come up with additional measures to offset at least half of this cost of the 2012 subsidy in order not to jeopardize the buildup of reserves in the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which it identified as the likely source of funding for the subsidy.

Sovereign Wealth Fund It welcomed the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund last year, given its stronger legal framework compared with that of the Excess Crude Account.

In November 2011, the SWF was capitalized with a transfer of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account, which will be gradually wound down.

AMCON Although the operations of Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, received a nod from the IMF, the organisation said there was need to minimize fiscal and moral hazard risks and that the operational capabilities of AMCON should continue to be strengthened to maximize asset recoveries.

“AMCON should aim to wind up all operations associated with the recent crisis within the envisaged 12-year period. At the same time, staff sees merit in mothballing AMCON, to have it as a readily available tool to respond quickly to future eventual banking crises,” the Fund suggested.

On the nation’s debt profile, it said: “Based on the joint World Bank-IMF low-income country debt sustainability analysis, DSA, Nigeria remains at a low risk of debt distress. In the baseline scenario and in the case of the standardized stress tests, Nigeria’s debt outlook remains robust.”

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has challenged African First Ladies to summon courage to speak out against abuses in the continent to promote peace and stability.

President Jonathan, who declared open the African First Ladies Peace Mission, AFLPM, in Abuja, yesterday, expressed optimism that soon, Nigeria will produce its first set of female service chiefs.

According to him, the recent re-admittance of women into the Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA, to train to become combatant soldiers was an indication of the Federal Government's commitment to uplifting the fortunes of women.

According to him, “for the first time, we admitted women into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy

to prepare women as full combatants in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

“We have admitted women now into NDA and we are hopeful that in few years to come, a woman could be Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff or even Chief of Defence Staff.

“We have commenced the journey and we’ll get there.

I just listened to my sister, Banda, who advocated women to grow to be heads of their armed forces."

He said as women and mothers, women had the power “to control the gladiators that cause conflict in Africa and being mothers can control the youth used for violence”.

He pledged that his administration remained resolute in the implementation of policies on effective representation of women in all aspects of governance.

PDP moves to broker peace between Jonathan, Reps

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said yesterday that it has put in place machinery to look into the impeachment threat of President Goodluck Jonathan by the House of Representatives and the position of the President as part of moves to resolve the logjam for the interest of democracy.

Addressing journalists on the outcome of the meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, who noted that it was not the first time any President would be threatened with impeachment, noted that in America, several presidents had been threatened with impeachment.

He said: “The party is taking up the process

because there is a process with which party meets the people. Many of them are PDP people, but they have their grievances.

“We will not also say that they are PDP people and of course we will lord it over them. This thing must be attended to diplomatically, so that wherever anybody has gone wrong, it will be sorted out and eventually this storm will definitely die down.

“The party has set up machinery to look into all the grievances of members of the National Assembly and what is the position of the President. There must be an area for the two parties to meet and this thing should be resolved for the interest of democracy in this country. So, there is no threat actually, as it were, it is the usual thing that happens in any democratic process.”

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—7

Salami vs Oyinlola: We did not recant — MTN

L

CAR STOPPER: Director of Policy, Army Headquarters, Major General Ekwenugo Chioba (middle) demonstrating the use of vehicle stoppers to religious leader while Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Army Headquarters, Major General Bitrus Kwaji (right) watches during the presentation of some vehicle stoppers produced by the Army to stop car with bomb, at Army Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Killing of 2 Indians: Indian govt demands thorough investigation

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — THE government of India, yesterday, demanded thorough investigation into the shooting of three of its nationals by unknown gunmen in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Wednesday.

Two victims of the shooting reportedly died on the spot, while the third is in critical condition at the Maiduguri University Teaching Hopsital.

The Indian High Commission in Nigeria, in statement in Abuja said, Mr Shanker Saha, 35 years; Mr Bokull Chander Mondal, 35 years, died in the shooting, while Mr Biresh Yadav, 43 years, was seriously injured in the attack on the premises of M/ S Adebar Trades and Industries Limited, a company involved in the processing and export of Gum Arabic.

The victims, according to the statement, worked in the company and had been in Nigeria since 2007.

The statement said: “ The High Commission of India to Nigeria was shocked to learn of an unprovoked armed attack on the premises of M/S Adebar Trades and Industries Limited in Maiduguri, Borno State on the morning of July 25.

“The attackers brutally murdered Mr Shanker Saha, 35, and Mr Bokull Chander Mondal, 35, and seriously wounded Mr

Biresh Yadav, 43, who is currently battling for his life at the Maiduguri University Teaching Hospital. The attackers also took away some money before leaving.

“High Commission has already contacted concerned Nigerian authorities to seek an official report on this gruesome incident. The High Commission has also

sought a thorough investigation by the concerned Nigerian authorities to establish the precise motive of this heinous crime and the perpetrators brought to book.”

The Indian High Commission in the statement further regretted the shooting of its nationals, moreso when they were actively involved in

providing employment to over 100 Nigerians.

The High Commission condoled with families of victims of the attack, adding: “Families of all three affected Indians were living in Maiduguri despite its current condition.

The High Commission also expressed solidarity with the management of the company and other Indians residing in the area.

Atta Mills was great patriot, true African leader —Fashola, Saraki

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & DEMOLA AKINYEMI

L

AGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, and the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, have described the late President of Ghana, Prof. John Atta Mills, as a great patriot, and a true African leader.

In their separate statements, Fashola and Saraki noted that the late Atta Mills succeeded, during his reign, to make Ghana a reference point not only in the West African sub-region but on the African continent.

Fashola said: “He built on the achievements of his predecessors with his wise and pragmatic approach to governance and succeeded in making Ghana a reference point in West Africa and, indeed, the continent. Without doubt,

this generation will continue to draw inspiration from his life and times and celebrate his exemplary life of service to the Ghanaian nation and Africa.”

Extending the goodwill of the government and people of Lagos State to the new President, the governor said: “As you assume the high office of President of your country to fill the vacuum created by the demise of President Mills, our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you lead your country in mourning the loss of a patriot and in building on the legacies of your late President”.

In his statement, Senator Saraki, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Bamikole Omishore, said the late Ghanaian president “will forever remain in the memory of his people and

all those who knew him closely as a true patriot of his native land, having devoted his life to the struggle and good governance in Ghana.”

According to the statement, “he was loved by Nigerians with his invaluable contribution to the smooth bilateral relationship between both countries. His death is a huge loss to Africa and its allies. I express my deepest sympathy and profound condolences to the entire nation of Ghana, most especially his relatives and close associates “I also use this opportunity to wish President John Dramani Mahama, the new president, all the best as he takes up the enormous task of leading Ghana and we look forward to continue to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana.”

AGOS— A MOBILE telecommunication company in Nigeria, MTN, has denied media reports which alleged that its officials recanted their position on the ownership of two lines linked to the election dispute in Osun State.

In a statement in Lagos, Corporate Services Executive, MTN, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, said the reports were a d e l i b e r a t e misrepresentation of the information given to the Police by MTN officials in Abuja on Tuesday, in respect of a petition filed against the company by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

He said: “We would like to state categorically that our officials did not recant earlier information given in respect of the ownership of the two phone lines for which details of ownership and call records were requested from MTN. "We have provided consistent information to the authorities as contained in our records at every stage that the information has been requested. For the avoidance of doubt, we explained to the Police that since the SIM registration exercise, the ownership of the lines for which information was requested has changed and we gave the Police the most recent records of the individuals to which those lines are currently registered. We

are not required by law to verify documents presented to us as proof of identity by those who register their SIMs. We do not have the expertise to do so.”

He stated that the harmonization exercise between the NCC’s SIM registration records and those of operators had not been concluded and as such information held by operators was technically incomplete. He explained that it was for all the aforementioned reasons that any information given to authorized security organisations by MTN, all carry bold disclaimers, clearly stating that MTN cannot confirm the authenticity of the information provided.

Goodluck said the MTN officials who honoured the invitation of the Police to provide further information and perspective on the matter did not make any statement that differed from their previous statements at all material times.

He said the company was apolitical and non-partisan, and as such has no reason to act in any unethical manner as being alleged by the politician.

He noted that MTN had made strenuous effort to explain the processes and procedure of their business and the reasons why all customer information and records are routinely presented in a particular way.

Women are own greatest set back to empowerment —Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, warned that if women must be in the vanguard of policy making in the country, they must at all times support themselves to get to the top.

According to him, women are own greatest set back to achieving political relevance and positions.

Speaking yesterday at an E-Women conference organised by the office of PDP National Woman Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Tukur however, noted that women in the PDP were taking the advantage provided by the party to leverage with men in party politics.

Represented by the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, the PDP national chairman, however, hailed the initiative of Kema Chikwe for putting in place

a programme that would ensure that more women were empowered to take their rightful place in politics.

According to Tukur, “the greatest setback to women empowerment is women themselves. They will rather support a man in an election than support one of their own. But things are changing, they are now coming out in droves to challenge the men for political offices.

"Our party, the PDP, is the only political party that has ensured that women are entitled to nomination forms, free of charge. By 2015, women will occupy nothing less than 50 per cent in political positions in this country.”

Earlier in her remarks, the PDP national woman leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe, appealed to PDP women from across the country to avail themselves of the opportunity being provided by the E- Women Conference.

8—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

7th Summit of the African First Ladies Peace Mission in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida.

Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku (right) and Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) welcoming wife of the Central Africa Republic President, Mrs. Francois Bozize, (2nd left), wife of Malawian President, Mrs. Joyce Banda (2nd right), Chairperson, African First Ladies Peace Mission, Dame Patience Jonathan (left),wife of Congolese President, Mrs. Antoinette Sassou Nguesso (3rd right) and others.

Dame Patience Jonathan (left) and wife of South African President, Mrs. Jacob Zuma.

Wife of Ivorien President, Mrs. Alassane Ouattara (left) and Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Dame Patience Jonathan (left) and wife of SenJoan Ayo. egalese President, Mrs. Macky Sall.

Dame Patience Jonathan (right) wife of Congolese President, Mrs. Antoinette Sassou Nguesso (left) and wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark.

Female Police Mobile Force memDame Patience Jonathan (right) and bers keeping watch. wife of King Mswati III of Swaziland.

A cross-section of participants at the summit.

C M Y K

Dame Patience Jonathan (right) and wife of Sierra Leonean President, Mrs. Ernest Bai Koroma.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—9

Woman, 67, dies in dawn fire

Briefly

Lagos to confiscate erring okada

zContainer crushes another

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Government has said any motorcyclists, particularly commercial ones, apprehended for flouting the state traffic laws would henceforth have his cycle confiscated without option of fine.

General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, said this, yesterday, adding that the measure became necessary to curb increasing rate of flagrant disobedience to traffic laws and danger to public safety.

He said: ''Okada riders are fond of flouting traffic laws with little or no respect for other road-users.”

NAFDAC nabs Cameroonian fake doctor

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

L

AGOS—NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, nabbed a Cameroonian, who allegedly specialised in prescribing, selling and administering unregistered Chinese products to unsuspecting members of the public.

The man, Justin Sitamze, who claimed to be a medical doctor, was arrested at his illegal clinic within the Central Mosque premises in Ajegunle area of Lagos by a team of operatives from Enforcement Directorate of the agency.

Acting on a tip-off, the officials swooped on the premises where the suspect was caught along with three of his staff.

Harvest

L

AGOS—THE Annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service of Celestial Church of Christ, Iyanu Oluwa Parish, holds July 29 on the church premises, Powerline Street, Ikotun.

According to the Shepherd-in-Charge, Sup/ Evan. Dr. S.O. Olajide, the harvest would be chaired by Most Evang.

Akinrodoye.

C M Y K

L

From left: Director-General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri; Minister of Interior, Mr. Patrick Moro and Minister of Culture,Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, sharing a joke at the host of Ethics First Programme of Do the Right Thing” by NOA in collaboration with Global Priority, USA, in Abuja.

Dana: Coroner threatens to arrest adamant firms, agencies

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS—A Lagos Coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, yesterday, said the court will issue bench warrant against some oil companies and emergency relief agencies who failed to appear before it.

The Coroner which is probing the ill-fated Dana airline crash on June 3 at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, was at the instance of the chambers of Falana & Falana and Olisa Agbakoba.

Komolafe issued the threat while responding to Mr. Femi Falana’s submission that some oil companies and agencies served with summons were yet to appear before it.

Expected to be issued with bench warrant are Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Conoil Plc, and Total Nigeria Limited.

Aside, Falana said it was not the responsibility of the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, to investigate cases of people who died on the ground, charging the court to order the police to carry out the investigation.

He said AIB was only to investigate the cause of the accident.

Komolafe also directed that any witness who is submitting deposition should forward it to the

court two days before the day they would give evidence.

Following the submission of the counsel to Nigerian Airspace Management, Mr. Obi Okwusogu, SAN, parties also agreed to schedule appearance of witnesses.

According to the schedule, Channels Television

and AIT, which were requested to show clips of the scene of the accident are to appear on Monday.

Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, and Julius Berger which had earlier been summoned but failed to show up, were scheduled for Tuesday along with National

Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. AIB which was represented by a counsel, Maureen Tsenongo, also told the coroner that she intended to submit a written deposition and requested to make appearance on August 1, to enable her bring its witness.

NUJ condemns attack on The Sun editor

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, has condemned the robbery attack on editor of The Sun newspaper, Mr Steve Nwosu.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, the council chairman, Mr. Deji Elumoye, lamented that the country, especially the Lagos area was gradually becoming a safe haven for men of the underworld.

He noted that the attack carried out in Lagos on Wednesday evening was not limited to Nwosu, explaining that an official of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, was also attacked in AbuleEgba about the same time.

The chairman urged the police to do all within its powers to find Nwosu's attackers as well as rid the state of criminals.

He also enjoined the government at all levels to put in place security measures that would make the state very safe

for residents.

He thanked God that the bullet of the criminals did not fall Nwosu, and

charged the state government not to allow Lagos which is the investors hub to slide into lawlessness.

AGOS—A 67-year-old woman was burnt to death in an early morning fire at a wing of a twinduplex on 511 Road, Festac Town, Lagos, yesterday.

The Commander, Festac Fire Station, Chinyere Azubuike, who confirmed the incident, said the remains of the deceased had been handed over to the police.

The Divisional Police Officer in Festac, Muhammed Muazu, who also confirmed the death, said the woman’s husband, who is responding to treatment in an hospital, also sustained injuries in the inferno.

An eye-witness said the cause of the fire remained unknown as there was no public power supply in the area at the time of the incident, and the kitchen of the house was unaffected.

The entire duplex, with wooden partitioning and floor, was said to have been completely burnt, while the second duplex was only slightly affected.

Meantime, a container also, yesterday, crushed a female pedestrian at Berger area of Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway.

The trailer which was heading out of Lagos about 7a.m lost a tyre and swerved out of control, before the container tipped over landing on the woman, who died instantly.

Lagos recruits non-education graduates for schools zRaises pass mark in schools to 50%

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS—THE Lagos State Government has recruited graduates without teaching qualifications to teach core subjects in its secondary schools, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, said, yesterday In a statement, the commissioner declared that the recruitment of singlesubject graduates was aimed at providing jobs for unemployed youths and repositioning education standard in the state.

She said the teachers

would teach core-subjects such as Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The commissioner expressed the hope that the recruits would become better teachers in the classrooms, after some training.

Oladunjoye said: “I charge those who got the job to be committed and productive so as to prove that the state government has put the right teachers to teach in its schools.

Meantime, Governor Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, said the state had raised promotion marks for pupils in public schools

to 50 per cent, a measure aimed at improving the standard of education in the state schools.

Fashola also splashed N256 million on 128 public junior and senior secondary schools in the state under the Lagos Eko project.

The governor, who made this remark at the second Governor’s Education Award in Ikeja, said any student who does not score a minimum of 50 per cent in each of their subject coupled with 50 per cent aggregate score in their exams, will not be promoted henceforth.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

I

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—PEOPLES Democratic Party,PDP, in the South-West has given House of Representatives' Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, 14 days ultimatum to resign following alleged admission that he was sanctioned by Georgia Supreme Court.

In a statement by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, the party said: “Since he has admitted that he was sanctioned by Georgia Supreme Court for professional misconduct and negligence, the most honourable thing to do is to

Agunloye tackles Akande

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—FORMER Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Olu Agunloye, yesterday, reacted to comments by National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, that he was a mole in the party.

Agunloye, who just defected to Labour Party, described Akande's comment as unfortunate and disappointing. He said ACN was full of deceit.

Speaking at the second term declaration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Akure, Wednesday, Agunloye said he left the party in protest over the imposition of the party's candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu.

Also, spokesperson, Mr. Wemi Ajegbemiga, Agunloye’s Omoluabi Campaign Organisation said: “If Agunloye was a mole, why did leaders of the party including Bola Tinubu beg him not to leave their party.''

S-West PDP asks Femi Gbajabiamila to resign vacate his seat in the House of Representatives.”

The Supreme Court of Georgia had on February 26, 2007 allegedly suspended Gbajabiamila from practising law for 36 months.

According to the party, Gbajabiamila, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, allegedly admitted violating Rule 1.15(I) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct set forth in Bar Rule 4-102(d).

PDP claimed that he accepted payment of $25,000 as settlement of a client’s personal injury claims, deposited those funds in his attorney trust account in January 2003, failed to promptly disburse those funds to his client, withdrew those funds for his own use, closed his practice and moved out of the country.

The party said although he ultimately paid the $25,000 to his client in 2006, three years after he collected the fund, his conduct violated Rule 1.15(I), which is punishable by disbarment.

PDP added that said it was ridiculous that Gbajabiamila could be using the House of Representatives impeachment plot against President Goodluck Jonathan as a defence for his shady past, saying; “In a saner clime, what he (Gbajabiamila) would have done was to vacate his seat and apologise to Nigerians.

“Or does it now mean that a man who admitted that he committed an offence and that he was sanctioned for it can justify same by simply claiming that he was championing good governance and impeachment of the president?”

Oro festival: Policemen now in Remo trouble-prone area

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—FOL LOWING the looming clash between Islamic and Oro cult groups in Remo area of Ogun State, the state government has ordered the deployment of policemen in the area to enforce peace.

The government also ordered the Oro cult group to limit the observance of its scheduled festivals and rites to its immediate communities.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr.

Muyiwa Oladipo, said this after an emergency peace meeting in Abeokuta with leaders of the two groups, warning them against flouting the order.

FIDAU PRAYER FOR AJIMOBI'S MOTHER...

From left: former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Justice Badejo Adeniji, Chief Judge of Oyo State, at the eighth-day Fidau prayer for Alhaja Sikirat Ajimobi, mother of Gov. Ajimobi, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube

Lagos flays attack on The Sun editor

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Government has condemned the armed robbery attack on the editor of The Sun newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu, describing it as barbaric.

Meantime, residents of Makoko community in the Yaba Local Council Development Area, yesterday, shunned the meeting called by thegovernment

to dialogue over the ongoing demolition of shanties in the Makoko waterfront.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, lamented that journalists whose work were expected to be appreciated by all were now the subject of attack in the country.

He said: “Journalists should be the least prone to attack in this country.

This is because they are

recognised as the protectors of the masses.”

While assuring residents of thorough investigation into the matter, Ibirogba reiterated government’s determination to protect life and property of all citizens irrespective of class, religion or ethnicity. On the meeting with Makoko residents, he said they shunned the meeting which was slated for 4 p.m. at the state secretariat, Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure.

Industrialists threaten to quit Ogun over decaying facilities, graft

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—SOME key industrialists in Ogun State, yesterday, threatened to fold up their companies over alleged infrastructure decay and corruption tendencies in the state’s bureaucracy confronting them.

They lamented that despite their regular payment of taxes to government’s coffer and employment of indigenes, the government had neglected them in the provision of good roads, water and power.

The industrialists, who own companies located in the state’s industrial axis of Ogijo, near Sagamu, Igbesa and Agbara in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Areas expressed their disappointment during a facility tour by Ogun

State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, OGUNCCIMA, to their sites.

Addressing the leadership of the Chamber led

by President, President of Ota-Agbara Chamber of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture, OTAGCCIMA, Bayo Ikujenyo, the Chief Executive Officer of African Fertiliser and Chemical Limited, Nara Yanan, emphasised the body ’s disposition to leave the state.

He said: “We will soon leave and allow Nigerians to take over the companies. We have water problems and we are afraid of water-borne diseases that could result. from this

'Government must

do something' “We have over 10,000 Nigerias in our employment. I don’t see any state that has the number of companies as Ogun. We expect government to do something to checkmate our plans.”

Also speaking in his office during the tour, representative of OgunGuandon Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, Mr. Omotayo OduntanHiske, lamented deplorable condition of roads, high level of corruption, inadequate power supply, Customs and Immigration problems.

Reacting to the complaints, Ikujenyo, who expressed worry over the situation of infrastructure in the areas,

promised to pass the information to the state government.

According to Ikujenyo, ''the challenges were basically infrastructure. Some of the roads were in deplorable conditions. You find trucks breaking down on the roads because of potholes.

“Some are even involved in accidents.

On inadequate power supply, of course, recently there was an improvement in power.

But, we believe government can still do better.”

Ikujenyo explained the rationale behind the tour, saying that it was designed by OTAGCCIMA to allow its members to table their challenges in the state.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 —11

Bayelsa wades into oil firm, community row

Y

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right) and Group President, SKIPPERS (Middle East FZE), Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, presenting a document to the Governor shortly after signing an MoU with the State Government in Yenagoa.

BY EMMAAMAIZE

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State Government has intervened in the feud between Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPECo, and Gbarian community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state over alleged neglect of the community by the oil company.

A group of women from the community, early in the week, laid siege to the company, to drive home their demands for development infrastructures and social amenities.

A source told Vanguard,

3 killed in renewed cult war in Benin

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM &GABRIELENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE relative peace that had hitherto been enjoyed by residents of Benin –City, Edo State, before and after the governorship election in the state, was, yesterday, disrupted, when cult groups unleashed terror among themselves in the City, leaving three persons dead.

Vanguard gathered that no fewer than three persons were reportedly killed while several others were seriously injured in a renewed cult-clash in three different locations in the city between two rival cult groups, the Air Lords, aka Eiye and Black Axe. It was learnt that some of the victims were killed when an argument ensued among them over the sharing of money allegedly given to them by politicians.

It was also gathered that two men riding on a motorcycle suspected to be members of the Eiye confraternity shot a member of a rival Black Axe cult group, whose name could not be ascertained at press time.

As soon as this happened, the Black Axe members were alleged to have stormed the Okhoro Road

area apparently on a reprisal mission and swooped on two rival members, killing them in the process.

The death on Zabayo Road was said to have occurred at 11p.m., on Wednesday, shortly before the arrival of joint security patrol team, Operation Thunderstorm got to the scene in response to a distress call from an unidentified resident.

One of the victims, identified as Nosa Ebohon aka Biggy, lived on Ojo Street at Ugbowo axis of the City.

Biggy who just graduated from the University of Benin and waiting call up letter from the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, it was gathered, was killed at 9a.m., after dropping his mother off at her office, yesterday.

He was said to have parked his car at a drinking joint on Uwasota Road, Ugbowo where he was having some drinks with his friends, when two unidentified men, in commando style on a motor bike shot

him at close range.

He died on the spot and his body was deposited at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH mortuary.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olayinka Balogun, who could not confirm the incidents, said he had just resumed at his office after being away from the state following his deployment during the election.

Kidnapped doctors freed zAs Police nab suspected kidnapper of DELSU lecturer

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—TWO medi cal doctors, kidnapped in Delta State, last weekend, which forced their colleagues to down tools for two days have been released.

State police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the release, said “the doctors escaped from the kidnappers as our crack team closed in on their hideout in a Hilux patrol van.”

The two medical doctors, who regained their

freedom in the early hours of yesterday, were Dr. Otobo Ugege, who was kidnapped in front of his house at Ekettee Waterside, Warri and Dr. A.C. Ojumah, abducted in front of Government Hospital, Abraka.

Meanwhile, on the foiled kidnap attempt of the state Head of Service, the PPRO said, “he is still in the hospital recuperating and we are also searching for those, who attempted to kidnap him.

Also, men of the state Police Command have

arrested a suspected kidnapper over the kidnap of a lecturer with Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka.

Details of the kidnap of the lecturer were still sketchy but Muka told Vanguard, yesterday, that “we have arrested a suspect in connection with the kidnap of the lecturer with the assistance of the local vigilante group and also recovered the lecturer ’s laptop. Efforts are on to track down the fleeing kidnappers.”

Group alleges extortion by pipeline surveillance personnel

BY EMMAARUBI

W

ARRI—NIGER Delta Youths Against Oppression, NDYAO, based in Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, has called on the federal and state governments to check the alleged illegal activities of the pipeline surveillance and maritime security personnel on the Oporaza axis of the waterways.

The group, in a statement by its President, Mr. Ofe Nene, alleged that personnel of the security outfit were engaging in vices of all kinds in the pretence of discharging their functions.

He argued that the actions of these workers were capable of threatening the existing peace on the waterways on the WarriEscravos axis of Delta State and called for a stop to the

unwarranted activities.

He said: “It has come to our notice that personnel of the security outfit engaged in “illicit and illegal acts of extortion, intimidation, stealing and deadly threat to lives of community dwellers in Escravos on the Oporaza community area.

“They impede free movement on the waterways by stopping all boats heading to Escravos and forcefully

collect money and other valuables from passengers with a threat to sink their boats and throw them into the water if they do not comply, thereby breeding fear, apprehension and undue tension in the area.”

He called for the quick intervention of the relevant authorities to prevent another round of crisis in the state.

yesterday, “The Bayelsa State Government is leading discussions between Shell and Koroama community in Gbarain Kingdom over their demands for social amenities.”

Corporate Media Relations Manager, SNEPCo, Mr. Tony Okonedo, how-

ever, said “Shell has implemented several projects in Koroama, including provision of potable water, construction of internal road, award of bursaries to students and undergraduates and training of youths and women in an effort to develop human capital.

Delta LG shuts down over NULGE election

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—UGHELLI South Local Government Secretariat, Delta State, has been shut by the workers, who are protesting the swearing in of Mr Emmanuel Uwadewhe by the state executive of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, as chairman of the council’s branch of the union for a second term in office.

The council’s staff have also demanded that all deductions from their salaries and remittance to NULGE as check-up dues be suspended pending the conduct of credible election in the council.

The strike was sequel to

what the workers described imposition of Uwadewhe as chairman of the union in the council.

When our correspondent visited the council secretariat, yesterday, offices of the various departments were under lock and key as the workers were seen in clusters, discussing the situation of things in the union.

The aggrieved workers in a communiqué at the end of their congress, described the swearing in of Uwadewhe as illegal and unconstitutional, adding that the directive on Uwadewhe “to in turn swear in members of his defunct executive whose tenure elapsed on June 10, 2012 was also unacceptable and will be strongly resisted.”

Ogodor residents bemoan abandoned road project

W

ARRI—RESI DENTS of Ogodor layout, Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, said they “are suffering untold hardship following the abandonment of a 1.2 kilometre road project by a construction company two years after mobilisation to site.”

The road, which is off NPA Expressway, linking another construction company, was allegedly awarded for N81 million and was abandoned by the company which the construction company sub-let the contract to.

A property owner, Mr. John Eyeshenetan, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of property owners and residents of the area, said efforts to Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, was yet to yield any result as the SSG only told the delegation that “he will do something about it.”

According to Eyeshenetan, “people are leaving the area as a result of the worsening situation of the road which is damaging their cars.”

Investigations revealled that the construction com-

pany allegedly abandoned the project after an estimated millions had been spent by the company to sand-fill and prime the road was not paid for.

Passage

P

A ADOLPHUS Okwunodu Nwaokolobia, 92, of Obior, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, is dead.

Therewill be ServiceofSongs at his residence, Ogbe-Agidi village,Obior on Thursday, August 2, to be followed next day with a Requiem Mass at St Theresa's of Avila Catholic Church, Obior and thereafter interment.

Traditional rites and outing/ thanksgiving service will take place on Saturday and Sunday respectively.He is survived by a widow, children, grandchildren and relations.

Late A. Nwaokolobia

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

From right: Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Director of Finance, LAMATA, Mr. Iyiola Adegboye and Mrs. Toun Alawiye, AGM/ Head, Lekki Branch during Mr. Emefiele’s visit to LAMATA, yesterday.

Edo PDP crisis worsens

BY SIMONEBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—THE fac tional crisis in Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,has worsened, as a group in the party, under the aegis of Stakeholders Forum, yesterday, urgedthepresidencyandthenational leadership of the party to disregard any list presented to it by the current leadership of the state PDP led by Chief Dan Orbih.

The group in a statement by Mr Kaseem Asunogie, said that it has passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the party in the state, and urged it to resign, following the recent defeat suffered by the party in the justconcludedgovernorshipelection in the state.

It will be recalled that the state executive of the party had passed a vote of confidence on Chief Orbih, last Monday.

However, PDP Stakeholders Forum lamented that “our party recordedthemostscandalousand humiliating defeat in the history of the country in the just concluded governorship election.

Theforumdidacriticalreappraisal of all the electoral contest in Edo State since 2007 and resolved that Edo PDP, its executive and leadership do not have the capacityandvisiontoleadourgreat party to any electoral victory, which is the goal of any political party.

“The Forum has passed a vote of no confidence on the Dan Orbih led executive. The forum calls for immediate resignation of the party’s executive. The na-

tional body of the party should institute a probe panel to investigate the funding and finances of the party in the past four years.

The statement added: “An interim body should be constituted to oversee the running of the party in the state pending when congresswillbeheldtoelectnew officers. The Federal Govern-

PDP chieftain lauds Uduaghan on building of Health Centre in the health project community,notingthatsuchges-

U

GHELLI—A Peo ple’s Democratic Party, PDP, chairmanship hopeful for Ughelli North Local Government Area, Olorogun Isaac Akpoveta, has commended the Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for approving the building of an health care centre in Ofuoma community in Ughelli North.

Akpoveta, who made the commendation in a chat with newsmenatOfuoma, yesterday, said the people appreciate the Governor’s approval for the

L

AGOS—URHOBO So cial Club, Lagos, has congratulatedMrAdamsOshiomhole on his re-election in the recent governorship election in Edo State.

The Club said Oshiomhole's electionforasecondterminoffice brought hope for Nigeria’s fledglingdemocracy.

In a statement by its President, Emmanuel Evue, the Club said, “Edo State under the leadership

ture was worth commending.

He maintained that Uduaghandeservescommendation because it was himself as, CommissionerofHealth,thatlaid the foundation stone of the School ofHealthTechnology,addingthatGovernorUduaghanhas been committed to development of the School and the community.

Meanwhile, a youth leader in the community, Mr. Chris Eriyamremu yesterday also thankedGovernorUduaghanfor approving the project, and maintained that the people of Ofuoma have been supportive of the present administration of Governor Uduaghan.

Warri North NULGE assures workers on welfare

BY BOSEADELAJA

K

OKO—WARRI North chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE, Delta State, has promised to run an open door policy,

Urhobo community congratulates Oshiomhole

BY LAZARUSIBEABUCHI

ment and the national leadership of the party should disregard any listofnominationforfederalboards or nomination from the current leadershipofthepartyinthestate.

The forum is committed to total restructuring, hence we appeal to members of the party that have decamped to come back so that we can rebuild our great party.”

of Oshiomhole has given the entire country a demonstration of what election should be if all the entire processes are correctly observedandpracticed.

“WecongratulateOshiomhole for a well-deserved victory at the gubernatorial poll on July 14, 2012. The Edo State people indeed spoke and with the peaceful atmosphere during the election,theydidnothesitatetodemonstrate the basic principle on whichafree,fairandcrediblepoll is based, one man one vote."

even as it assured workers of better days ahead.

The newly elected chairman of the branch, Mr Bodor Johnson, said after being sworn in, that members should desist from acts of rivalry, insubordination, over zealousness and greed as these will dampen the spirit of true unionism and good leadership.

During the ceremony at the Legislative Chambers of the council in Koko, the administrative headquarters, Bodor charged members to submit to higher authorities, adding, “in any ship, there can only be one captain.”

Bodor, who was sworn in alongside 24 other branch chairmen in Asaba, the state capital called for prayers and support from members to enable him and his team succeed in their new task.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—13

How Yar' Ádua saved my life — Alamieyeseigha

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

ROTARY—From left; Mr Jacques Delmoitiez, President of BASF, Europe MEA; Prof. Dolapo Lufadeju; Mr. Dipo Bailey, both Past District Governors of Rotary International in Nigeria and Mr. Ayo Faroun, Past President, Rotary Club of Ikoyi at the handing over of 20,000 mosquito nets to Rotary in Nigeria by BASF in Lagos.

Court restrains Umeh as APGA chairman ...stops him from expelling, suspending any member

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—AN Enugu State High Court, yesterday, restrained the embattled National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Vic-

tor Umeh from “taking steps to convoke a national, state, or local government executive committee meeting of the party.”

Trial judge and Chief Judge of the state, Justice Innocent Umezulike, who

granted the injunction, restrained Umeh from expelling any member of APGA pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice fixed for hearing on July 31, 2012.

It ordered that a substi-

tuted service of all originating processes in the suit be served on the defendant/respondent by pasting it on the entrance of the compound of the defendant’s house situated at Gerald Street, Ekulu East Quarters

by Ogui Junction, Enugu within the jurisdiction of the court.

A former chairman of Udi Local Government Chapter of APGA, Ichie Jude Okoli, had approached the court, complaining that the actions of Umeh “is capable of drowning the aspirations of the party and some of its members, including himself; that it will cause irreparable damage and damages to the party.”

Okoli’s suit, recalled that Umeh was the National Treasurer of the party, who assumed the office of National Chairman in 2006 for a four-year term, following the removal of Chief Chekwas Okorie, adding that by the virtue of the constitution of APGA, the four year term expired in 2010.

Okoli averred that the constitution equally provided that the a national convention be convoked for the purpose of electing new officers for the party in the National Executive Committee, State Executive Committee and Local Government Executive Committee after the expiration of four years.

He stated that despite the expiration of the tenure of Umeh in 2010, he continued in office without any valid national convention believed that his actions since were illegal and ultra vires the constitution of the party and had the tendency of escalating into serious political quagmire unless restrained by the court.

BUJA—FORMER Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, yesterday, said but for the late President Umar Yar’Adua, he woud have been killed the same way Chief MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of June 1993 presidential election and Alhaji Shehu Yar’Adua died while in prison.

Alamieyeseigha said the late president admonished him to accept certain conditions, which he did not disclose so that he (Alamieyeseigha) will remain alive.

He said late President Yar’Adua secretly hinted him that despite his travails, a particular cabal was not done yet and wanted him completely eliminated.

He spoke in Abuja, at the launch of a book authored by his contemporary and former Anambra State Governor, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

The former Bayelsa State governor, who was the chief launcher on the occasion, was reacting to his colleague’s address, who had reeled out all his bad experiences in office as governor of Anambra State.

“You have said your own experiences in office as a governor of your state but if I state mine, you will see that yours is nothing compared to what I passed through,” he said.

He disclosed that he was writing a book on his political career, especially as governor of Bayelsa State, adding that it will soon be concluded and subsequently launched.

Mark calls for check on menace of social media ...asks reporters to cross-check facts

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—SENATE President, Senator David Mark, yesterday, called for a check on the menace of the social media on the Nigerian society, saying that people now use them to demean their leaders.

Mark said the need to check the social media became necessary, as they do not have the avenue for retraction of whatever they had done.

Senator Mark, who spoke in Umuahia, Abia State, while declaring open a twoday retreat for Senate Press corps, explained that the

media has come to stay, as part of the process of governance in the country, since the return of democratic government in 1999 and performing its social responsibility of checking the excesses of the leaders.

Senator Mark, however, urged reporters to always cross check their facts before writing so as not to mislead the people, who depend on them to know what goes on around them.

The Senate President cited as examples varied figures usually quoted by various media in times of tragedies, saying that the figures were always inconsistent.

NMA calls for immortalisation of Late Sen Dantong

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

P

RESIDENT of Nigeri an Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, yesterday, called for the immortalisation of late Senator Gyang Dantong, who died in the stampede that followed attacks by Fulani herdsmen on July 8, 2012, when he and others were attending the burial of members of their community, who had earlier been killed during similar attacks.

NMA President made this call at the final burial rites for late Senator Dalyop Dantong in Jos, Plateau State.

Enabulele, who eulogised the virtues of late Senator Dantong, recalled the roles played by the late Senator in the passage of the National Health Bill by the sixth National Assembly, his commitment to Universal Health Coverage, the eradication of Polio in Nigeria, his passion for peace and unity amongst the communities in Jos. To sustain the legacies of late Senator Dantong, he call for the National Health Bill to be passed and signed in its undiluted original form as originally presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for his assent.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Elechi faults National Assembly over impeachment plot against Jonathan

BY PETER OKUTU

A

MEETING—From left: Governor Rochas Okorocha and Justice Ben Njemanze, Chief Judge of Imo State during a meeting with the Judges in the state.

FRSC to arrest drivers with retreaded tyres

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA—FEDERAL Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Anambra State, yesterday, threatened to arrest commercial vehicle drivers operating with retreaded and expired tyres.

FRSC commander in Onitsha unit, Mr Fred Okoh, said the planned operation was to ensure the safety of

motorists and passengers in the state.

He described as unfortunate, the sale and use of retreaded tyres by both dealers and commercial vehicle drivers in not only Anambra but other states of the federation.

Okoh said some of the road accidents recorded on Nigerian roads occurred as a result of retreaded tyres.

Speaking while decorating three officers of the com-

mand, Okoh said the awareness would go a long way to reduce incessant auto crashes occasioned by the use of retreaded tyres.

He said the unit had carried out extensive awareness on the dangers of retreaded tyres at motor-parks and markets, adding that it had concluded plans to collaborate with relevant regulatory bodies to ensure the quality of tyres sold in Onitsha markets.

BAKALIKI—GOV ERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, yesterday, faulted House of Representatives’ impeachment threat against President Goodluck Jonathan over the delayed implementation of 2012 national budget.

He argued that the action of the House was not appropriate at this period, when the nation was going through challenges, including air crashes, terrorist onslaughts, tanker explosions, fire disaster and destructive floods, which had claimed many lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira.

Elechi, at the 2012 Press Week organised by the Nigeria Union of Journal ists, Ebonyi State Council, said it was worrisome that members of the House of Representatives, who are supposed to be fully aware of the negative impact and danger of any impeachment process at this period of the nation’s history, could

be part of such move. He charged the political class to contribute their quota towards national transformation He said: “Again let us examine the current issue of the impeachment threat by the House of Representatives. If what we read in the media is anything to go by,

the House is unhappy that the 2012 national budget has attained, by it calculation, 30 percent implementation for which it had threatened that if by September this year, the budget was not implemented 100 percent, it will initiate impeachment proceedings against the President".

New salary for police 'll take effect soon — AIG

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—THE new sal ary scale proposed for the police will take effect soon, Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Abia State, Mr. Solomon Olusegun, said, yesterday, in Awka, Anambra State.

Olusegun, who was on a visit to Anambra State, urged officers and men of the force to exercise patience, explaining that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar,

A

had facilitated the implementation of the new salary scale.

He said: “I am aware that a new salary scheme is coming, but we need time to put things in order before payment begins, as the IG is putting finishing touches to it.”

He commended the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Bala Nasarawa and officers of the command for what he described as their performance in crime fighting in the state and urged them not to relent.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

RAMADAN TALK 07 Inner dimension of fasting

Plateau crises: Women advocate prayers

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

BY AKANINYENE EZEKIEL

T

J

OS—PLATEAU State women under the aegis of Women Without Walls Initiative, have appealed to residents of the state to turn to God in prayers to heal the land and reverse His anger on the state in view of the various atrocities committed to defile the land.

The women spoke, yesterday against the backdrop of the recent flood disaster, which claimed scores of lives, especially women and children, as well as the attacks, which took the lives of two prominent lawmakers and other residents of the state.

President of the group, Pastor Esther Ibanga and Secretary, Hajia Khadijah Hawaja, commiserated with victims of the flood and condemned the gruesome acts of violence, which had led to wanton destruction of lives and property, stressing that the constant bloodshed is defiling the land and would bring about God’s wrath not only on the state but on the nation.

LECTURE—Commandant AFIT, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Oshoniyi (right) and AVM Gabriel Olanrewaju (rtd), Moderator, during the 41st graduation lecture of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

See not what displeases Allah

DONATION—From left, Prof David Oke, Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH; Dr Adeola Animashaun, HOD, Paediatrics; Mrs Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State, and Member of COWLSO, during the presentation of medical equipment donated by Committee of Wives of Lagos State Office, COWLSO, to LASUTH. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

N300m scam: ICPC raids MDG office in Benue, arrests accountant, others

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—INDE PENDENT Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, has raided the Benue State office of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and arrested the state coordinator, Mr. Timothy Aikyor, the accountant and other top officials in the office.

Vanguard gathered that the action of ICPC was sequel to several petitions of alleged financial impropriety levelled against top officials of the office amounting to over N300million.

A source told Vanguard that the ICPC operatives, who stormed the office, ransacked the premises and took away vital documents from the accounts department and coordinator's office.

It was also gathered that the arrested officials who were few days ago whisked to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja for questioning had made useful statements to operatives of commission.

HE idea of fasting is def initely not to starve oneself but to be on a different spiritual plane altogether. It is not a punishment but a spiritual exercise to go closer to God. In doing this, it must be a period of total rededication to Allah with increase in activities that are in consonance with the dictates of Allah while also shunning the ways of shaytan (devil). The fasting Muslim must ensure that the exercise goes far beyond abstinence from eating and drinking. It includes a change of habits that will put you on the track of righteousness. Some of them are as follows:

A source told Vanguard that the commission had also placed embargo on the bank accounts of the MDG office in Makurdi pending an indepth investigations into the matter.

It was gathered that though, some of the offi-

cials of the office had been granted bail by ICPC, they were directed to report daily at the Abuja office of the commission.

When contacted on the matter, the state Coordinator of MDGs, Mr. Aikyor, who was also arrested by

ICPC operatives, said he was not prepared to discuss the issue.

Attempts to reach the Benue State Head of ICPC, Prince Hassan Mohammed, proved abortive as he could not be reached on phone.

Terrorism: Army gives anti-bombing devices to churches, mosques

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN Army, yesterday, unveiled and presented vehicle stoppers to some churches and mosques, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

The gesture is also aimed at curtailing the spate of attacks on worship centres across the country.

Presenting the devices in Abuja, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major Gen. Bitrus Kwaji, said the vehicle stoppers were designed to stop any vehicle from all angle at any speed.

He added that the antibombing devices would be distributed to the representatives of Christian and Muslim bodies, who should in turn produce it in mass for distribution, stressing that security is everybody’s business.

He said, “it has been discovered that most attacks by suicide bombers are being carried out with vehicles loaded with Improvised Explosive Devices.

“In order to disallow bombers from reaching their targets, this invention comes in handy as it forcefully stops any vehicle that comes in contact with it at

whatever speed. The unfolding security challenges confronting the nation amongst which is the Boko Haram menace have continued to hinder the congress of the transformation agenda of Mr President as well as the development of the nation at large.

“The terrorists over the years have continued to attack places of worship (churches and mosques) in order to destabilize the nation. This necessitated the Chief of Army Staff to charge all corps and services of the Nigerian Army to provide ways and means of curtailing this menace.

Cultivate a chaste regard, restraine yourself from viewing anything that is reprehensible, or which distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God. The Prophet said:

“The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God’s curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God, will receive from Him, great and gracious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.”

As related by Jabir from Anas that Prophet Muhammad, (s.a.w) said: ‘Five things break a man’s fast, these are lying, back-biting, scandal, perjury and a lustful gaze.’

Speak no evil Guarding one’s tongue from vain talk, lying, backbiting, scandal, obscenity, rudeness, wrangling and controversy is beneficial; instead, occupy yourself with the remembrance of Allah and with recitation of the Quran. This is otherwise termed the fasting of the tongue. The Prophet said: ‘ Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say:”I am fasting, I am fasting!”

Bribery: Police detain 17 officers in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MOHAMMED

K

ANO—POLICE in Kano State, have detained no fewer than 17 officers and men of its command over allegations of extortion and bribery.

Kano Police Public Relation Officer, Mr Rilwanu Dutse, told newsmen yesterday, that the affected officers were arrested by X squad team monitoring several duty posts in the ancient city.

It will be recalled that

heavy presence of security forces became order of the day in the state since the January 20 attack by an Islamist sect, which lead to proliferation of check points to checkmate activities of criminals.

The spokesperson of the command explained that the action followed ‘bitter complaint’ from the general public bordering on act of misdemeanour against officers deployed in strategic places in the city, adding that the timely response paid off handsomely.

NUT shifts strike to Sept

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & PRISCILLA BADUGU

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN Union of Teachers, NUT, yesterday shifted its earlier strike, schedulled for this month till the end of September 2012, to enable the remaining 11 state governors comply with the 27.5 per cent enhanced salary scale, an agreement reached between the union and the governors three years ago.

NUT President, Mr

Michael Olukoya, said the 11 defaulting state governments, yet to comply with the enhanced salary should do so before the end of September this year.

Olukoya, who briefed newsmen said the union did not wish to be perceived as trouble shooters and as such, has suspended the strike, earlier slated for July 23, 2012 to give the states more time to comply and also because of the intervention of the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqquayat Rufa’i and pleas from some state governors.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 17

Sweet & SOUR

Going down a dodgy path

I

have said quite a few nice things about The Dame and Dickson in this column in the past. But I have to criticise both of them on this occasion and say that I don’t understand why they have chosen to go down a dodgy path that was bound to lead them into the painful, humiliating realm of mockery and insults.

Why?

President Goodluck Jonathan issues such as her eligibility for the post and his motives

Gov.Henry Seriake Dickson

,

S

INCE Henry Seriake Dickson, the Bayelsa State Governor, bestowed a Permanent Secretary appointment on Dame Patience Jonathan, I have spoken to several people – foreigners as well as Nigerians – who have made extremely disparaging remarks about the giver, the recipient and the recipient’s spouse.

Disparaging remarks galore have also been made by readers of various online publications. Dickson has been dismissed as a shameless arch-sychophant.

The Dame has been described as deluded, silly, grasping and ill-qualified. The President has been roundly abused for allowing his wife too much latitude.

Meanwhile, Mr. Morris Alagoa, who is Chairman of the Bayelsa state chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation, has made it clear that he regards this development as “unacceptable” for a number of reasons, including his belief that Perm Sec jobs should not be dished out like political appointments or honorary university degrees and should only go to individuals who have steadily worked their way, on a fulltime basis and for many years, to the top of the civil service.

Talk about playing into your enemies’ hands! Do Dickson and The Dame honestly, in their hearts, think that she deserves a slot that normally goes to dedicated senior career bureaucrats? Did they not realise that they would expose themselves to negative comments such as the following observation, which was attributed to writer Kaanayo Nwachukwu on an internet site I recently visited: “Even the wives of Idi Amin, Eyadema, Omar Bongo, Mugabe, Charles Taylor, Jammeh, Mbasogo, Kerekou, Gbagbo, Ben-Ali, Mubarak, Ghaddafi, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abacha, Babangida, Rawlings, Dos Santos, Idris Deby, Paul Biya, Zenawi, Afewarki, Mobutu, Kabila, Bokassa…who have ruled and ruined Africa - and

Donu Kogbara

When The Dame embarks on countrywide tours, do Perm Secs in various states not line up to almost kiss her feet? So why did she accept membership of a group that is compelled by convention to treat her like a revered superior?

continue to rule and ruin - are not half as ambitious as Patience Jonathan”.

But I am more interested in the personal angle than the ethical, legal and procedural aspects. So while most of Dickson and The Dame’s detractors are focusing on

,

for offering it to her, the questions that keep reverberating through my mind are:

Why bother about a Perm Sec title

W

hy is The Dame bothering with a Perm

Dame Patience Jonathan Sec title in the midst of all this damaging controversy when the title she already has – Her Excellency, First Lady Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria – puts her at the pinnacle of our society? Is the Perm Sec thing not a demotion rather than a promotion?!

Whether we like it or not, First Ladies in ANY country have more status than females who

Never again?!

W

ORDS like “bush” and “ nincompoop” are routinely and contemptuously bandied around whenever the current administration is being discussed nowadays; and a lot of Yorubas, Fulanis, Middle Belters and Igbos have, in recent months, a) bitterly berated me for hassling them to vote for my “Big Brother ” Goodluck Jonathan and b) assured me that they will never EVER vote for a Niger Deltan Presidential candidate again because they regard Jonathan a huge flop.

I find this attitude immensely offensive and ridiculously tribalistic.

Since I myself am deeply disappointed in President Jonathan, I cannot blame anyone who shares my view

Ex-president Obasanjo

Olusegun

that his leadership style is flawed. But I don’t see why every single Niger Deltan politician should be tarred with the same brush!

Why should an

acknowledgement of one person’s weaknesses expand to the point where you blindly despise the entire population of an entire region? I don’t remember any of the folks who are complaining about Jonathan saying that we should never again tolerate a Northern or South-Western president because of the multiple shortcomings of Shagari, IBB, Yar ’Adua, Abacha and Obasanjo!, I’m yearned for Jonathan to shine and am so very sorry that he hasn’t done well enough. But Niger Deltans are as entitled to be ineffective or disastrous as indigenes of other geopolitical zones! And, for the record, there are plenty of Niger Deltan men and women who will do better if they are given a chance.

have been high achievers in their own rights…and have performed impressively as businesswomen, lawyers, doctors, journalists or whatever.

Do people queue up to meet Michelle Obama or Samantha Cameron because they are mega-talented professionals or because they happen to be the consorts of the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Great Britain?

Grace Kelly, a dazzlingly beautiful 1950s movie star, attracted tons of fawning adulation in her heyday. But there are different levels of adulation; and it was not until she got hitched to Prince Ranier, the ruler of Monaco, that people started to curtsey in her presence and address her as “Your Serene Highness”.

When The Dame embarks on countrywide tours, do Perm Secs in various states not line up to almost kiss her feet? So why did she accept membership of a group that is compelled by convention to treat her like a revered superior?

Being respected because of who you married is probably not as satisfying as being respected for what you have actually done. And The Dame can get the best of both worlds if she GENUINELY commits herself to worthy causes.

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

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED. C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 THE London Olympic Games that begin today will be the biggest security operation in peace time. A budget of $877-million is behind civilian and military operations to protect competitors and spectators. The British will see more soldiers and armed security personnel on their streets than many ever imagined.

More awesome is the unseen details – drones, satellites, missiles, high definitioncameraed helicopters that can pick out suspects, sniffer dogs and more than 2, 000 games specific close circuit television cameras which would join another 4.2 million such cameras that are part of normal London life.

Unknown to many, London is one of the most policed cities in the world, but with 12,500 police officers, 12,200 soldiers, at least 7,000 contracted civilian security workers and a further 5,500 troops involved in military operations outside games sites, it would be a different London.

Installation of six temporary high-velocity ground-to-air missile sites around East London, including two on residential

As The Olympics Begin apartment blocks resulted in a law suit. The residents lost the bid to remove the missiles.

Britain’s biggest warship, HMS Ocean, is stationed on the River Thames, with Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Mounts Bay at Weymouth, Dorset, venues of sailing events. Six helicopters - three Royal Navy Sea Kings and three RAF Pumas will join them.

Nigeria’s chances at the Games lie more with the women. They are leaders in most of the sports where they have the opportunity to compete. They are just not given enough credit for their results under all guises, including claims that the women’s category of competitions is not as strong as the men’s.

Since winning their first Olympic medal 20 years ago, a bronze from the 4x100m

relay in Barcelona, our women have won medals at subsequent Games (with Chioma Ajunwa winning Nigeria first gold medal, long jump, in 1996). The only medalless Games for them were Athens in 2004. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, saw the women winning most of Nigeria’s medals. When Nigeria, first finished first at the All Africa Games in 2003, medals from women competitors exceeded those from the men.

Of the six medals won at the Atlanta Olympics, our women contributed one gold, one silver and two bronze. The football gold and bronze from boxing completed the count. In Sydney 2000, women won two of Nigeria’s three silver medals until a final decision earlier this month elevated the men’s 4x400m relay silver to gold.

London provides opportunity for our women to increase their total collection of a gold, three silver and five bronze medals, almost half of Nigeria’s Olympic cache of three gold, eight silver, and 12 bronze medals.

We wish the Olympic team success.

OPINION

BY ANDREW UDODIRI

A

S a child growing up in the commercial city of Aba, Abia state in the early eighties, I knew the city had a lot of environmental challenges that appeared insurmountable at a time, despite several efforts by successive governments in the state to tackle them. It was obvious, however, to the residents then that governments were not committed and sincere in tackling the problems. Top on the list of the environmental challenges in the city then were flooding and refuse disposal.

Both of them posed serious threat to our health and environmental wellbeing even as we no choice but to endure the hazard. Apart from the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at almost every corner, the odour oozing out from it was enough to make one sick all the time.

As more people trooped into the city for commercial activities and other means of eking out a living, the more the challenges took a dangerous dimension, as there were no places for refuse disposal. So most times residents dump their refuse into the drainage, especially at night, believing it would be washed away by flood when it rained. Some streets and roads were taken over by heaps of refuse and people avoided using such roads and streets for fear of being infected.

It was a situation that worsened the environmental challenges in the city as most drainage channels were totally blocked, making it possible for flood to take over majority of the roads in the city whenever it rained. I could remember how our parents would always prevent us from going out whenever it was raining to avoid being carried away by flood or being infected in the contaminated flood.

That was my experience and that of my people in the city then.

By the time I finished my secondary education in the early nineties I left the city for further education in Enugu, though I visited there occasionally to buy clothes while I was in the university because of the presence of good tailors there.

C M Y K

Abia's environmental challenges With the return of democracy in 1999, I had thought that the city and state capital, Umuahia, would receive adequate attention from the state government, especially in tackling the environmental challenges. But disappointedly I didn’t witness such intervention from the government when I visited the city again in 2005 while doing my national youth service programme in Cross River State. One of my friends there told me that the government had continued to promise the residents of plans to clear the heaps of refuse at various dump sites that had become an eye sore, but nothing was ever done.

So it was a hopeless situation in Aba and for years I didn’t go there again until recently when I was in Umuahia for some days on official duty. Every morning from my hotel room window, I saw some waste disposal trucks with the inscription of the Abia State Environment Protection Agency, ASEPA, carrying waste and some street sweepers sweeping the roads and watering the flowers planted on the dualised roads in the capital. On inquiry how such development was made possible and whether such has been extended to the commercial city of Aba, I was informed that the present government in the state made it possible with the revival of ASEPA and equipping the agency with the necessary facilities, including more than 28 waste disposal trucks, Eco poer truck, tippers, receptacles, bulldozers, graders, domestic waste bins, weight waste containers, motor vehicle waste basket, bio-degradable waste bag and others.

This was after the state government terminated the arrangement it entered into with Phoenix Environmental Service Limited for failure to live up to expectation in managing refuse in Aba. The government later entered into agreement with ANCOLD Environmental to work in

partnership with ASEPA to ensure the clearing of waste disposal in Aba. Based on the popular adage which says that “seeing is believing”, I made out time and visited Aba to see things myself and also see some of my friends after some years. On getting to the city, right from the popular and notorious Osisioma Junction, it was obvious that there was a massive improvement in the tackling of environmental challenges in the city. Flowers have been planted at junctions with a beautification design and demarcation I found very attractive. There was no traffic jams or congestion at the junction right down to the Aba/Owerri road.

Most of the known refuse dump sites in the city were empty, with disposal trucks on every street packing waste. Most of the drainage channels were cleared and clean. I could not believe that it was the same filthy city I left few years ago.

I learnt also that ASEPA introduced a unique waste sorting device known as medical waste management devise, a very special environmental management approach designed for sorting out medical-related waste for effective disposal. My friends told me that residents who infringe on environmental laws are charged to mobile courts established by the state government. This, I was told, has made the residents of the city, especially traders, to change their attitude towards managing refuse to avoid incurring the wrath of the law. So in Aba and Umuahia today, the fear of ASEPA is the beginning of wisdom for the residents, especially those who are not ready to obey the environmental laws of keeping their environments clean all the times.

The state government’s spirited effort in managing waste in the state now, especially in Aba and Umuahia, is commendable and the residents should complement them by adhering strictly to the rules of the game in disposing their refuse because it is no longer business as usual. *Mr. Udodiri, a social critic, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, JULY 27, 2012 — 19

, M

UCH of what it takes is common knowledge, particularly to power sector personnel, political leaders and affected public officials at various levels of government.

The enforcement of ordinances and codes pertaining to the utilization of space underneath power transmission lines, is the obvious starting point.

These rules are not popular and their enforcement tends to generate political friction and controversy.

One reason is that illicit occupants and users of space near power lines are usually either oblivious or indifferent to the possible consequences.

Another is the fact that transgressors are, more often than not, economic climbers and disadvantaged individuals—to whom the enforcement of such regulations seems oppressive.

Added to this is the “C-Factor”.

In many jurisdictions, a symbiosis has developed between corrupt power line officials and those who inhabit or use space that is legally off-limits.

The transgressors apparently are, for PHCN officials and other like-minded actors, a regular and reliable source of bribes.

Enforcing the codes and ordinances would, therefore, threaten the income of these avaricious interests.

Making headway, through this thick undergrowth of intertwined interests, requires a very high degree of determination and focus. One notable instance of this is the cutting-edge reforms of the Amaechi administration in Rivers State.

Determined to sanitize Port Harcourt’s building regulations as it applied to power lines, the State Government acted very decisively.

It demolished illegal buildings and fences in both socially decayed

,

and elite areas of the city-including some structures belonging to members of the Governor’s own cabinet!

This, precisely, is the approach needed--where it is applicable--to the problem of illicit use of space underneath power conducting lines. Instead, I am fearful that Peter’s approach is typical of the kind of leadership we have been getting from PHCN, in particular, and public safety administrators generally. ccording to The Punch, Peters complained that PHCN has expended a lot of resources “enlightening the public on the dangers of the infringement and has even had to make a report on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly on the issue in the past; all to no avail”.

This is curious because, by his own admission, in the same report, the law requires individuals to keep specified distances from the lines. I believe it is incumbent upon PHCN to do much more. When all else fails, it should ask government

A

Edo guber: Oserhiemen Osunbor's gobblegook

BY JOHN AINOFENOKHAI

I

AM not surprised that former Governor of Edo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for 18 months, Professor Oserhiemen Aigberaodion Osunbor, has not been able to demonstrate to the world that he has the capacity to rise above political parsimoniousness.

The truth is that he cannot do it (I will prove that shortly) and this is the tragedy of the man whose tenure was suddenly terminated by the Court of Appeal on November 12, 2008 to pave the way for the takeover of the reins of governance by Adams Aliu Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Rather than show gratitude to the political structure that brought him out from the academia and made him what he has become in the ecology of politics in Edo State by doing all within his powers to sustain the structure, Osunbor has consistently played the game of treachery to undermine it.

In a piece I wrote before the July 14 governorship election in Edo State entitled: “Edo governorship and Osunbor’s danse macabre,” I had adverted people’s attention to the fact that Osunbor was deeply engrossed in a political macabre dance by pandering to the attraction of filthy lucre and narcissism.

I had posed the critical question as to who would save Osunbor from himself and that was because he had gone too far in the pastime of vindictiveness and the blamegame which he now charges some PDP leaders with after playing emu in the grand conspiratorial alliance with Oshiomhole in the governorship poll that largely did the PDP in.

In a publication in some national newspapers (see Vanguard, Thursday, July 19, 2012, page 11), Osunbor had reportedly said “Edo guber election result didn’t surprise me.” He had tenuously claimed that the PDP lost the governorship election on February 25 when the party leaders allegedly manipulated the primaries that produced the candidate of the party:

Charles Airhiavbere.

He had even tried to attribute to himself some self-importance when he said: “Those whose mission at the primaries was to disgrace Osunbor have themselves been disgraced without any exception. They made a costly mistake and should take responsibility for PDP’s woeful performance…. So long as the party remains in the hands of vindictive, unforgiving and self-centred leaders, who endlessly engage in self glorification yet could not win their wards, PDP seems doomed in Edo State”.

I disagree with his implicit proposition that his candidature would have swung victory for the PDP in the governorship election. For someone who came last (fifth position) in the primaries of the party, how else did he want to be told that he had been rejected by the structure that threw him up.

His rejection by elements within his party was an indication of the greater rejection he would have suffered in the hands of the Edo electorate for understandable reasons.

His claims were thus unfounded; otherwise, if he knew he was popular and could win on his own merit and/or performance in office, why did he not seize the platform of another party to pursue his governorship ambition? But he would remain in the PDP to work against it from within. This was a patently callous and ungodly act by someone who is the greatest beneficiary of the party in Edo State.

Those who are very familiar with the politics of Edo State PDP and the emergence of Osunbor as the party’s governorship candidate know that he was gratuitously handed the party’s governorship ticket in 2007 because former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was then in the saddle, insisted he should be given the ticket.

Otherwise, Odion Ugbesia (now a senator) would have emerged as the party ’s candidate; and, even if Ugbesia were not to be in the race, Professor Julius Ihonvbere looked good to trounce Osunbor as he did in the February 25, 2012 primaries (Ihonvbere came fourth).

After he emerged as candidate in 2007, other aspirants campaigned for him.

to demolish encroaching structures and arrest habitual transgressors.

This approach, of course, has its limitation. It is not applicable or feasible in every instance. In some cases, the power lines may need to be re-routed, to circumvent highly populated areas. The physical security of residents will more than justify the added expense.

As a matter of policy, I believe government should look very carefully at the use of un-insulated wires for transmitting electrical power in populated areas and that the legislature should hold hearing on the issue. An alternative is needed to stringing high-tension and naked low-tension wires over urban areas.

I am aware that insulation causes high-tension wires to overheat. But low-voltage wires--especially drop lines, which carry current to residential areas--can and should be insulated. In short, the legislature needs to outlaw naked power lines within town and city boundaries.

The National Assembly should also require that high-tension wires be kept completely out of urban areas. This can be achieved through the use of drop (or “stepdown”) lines to collect power from outlying high-tension conductors and relay it to population centres.

In the eastern U.S.A., for example, power lines in urban and residential areas have long been insulated. Increasingly, insulated low-voltage wires are run underground in populated areas, rather than being strung overhead on electrical poles.

The feasibility of adopting these

I had expected Osunbor to engage in a conversation with himself...(and) the party with a view to working towards reconciliation with the elements that he wronged when he was in the saddle

,

Power line executions (2)

I believe government should look at the use of uninsulated wires for transmitting electrical power in populated areas

,

Ihonvbere played a leading role in his campaign, tending to the reputation of his campaigns in the media. Osunbor has greatly benefitted from the largeheartedness of the party and its leadership that launched him into political limelight by sponsoring him to the Senate in 1999 and 2003 as well as the governorship outing in 2007. I had expected that he should have been very grateful to the party and its leaders rather than bashing them. This goes to show how greedy he is for power. Is he the only person in the party?

B

ut I have always maintained that his decision to abandon the party by supporting Oshiomhole was foolish and morally indefensible. It shows how puerile he is politically. It is on record that his attitude in office as governor was not even salutary to the wellbeing and unity of the party in the State. Rather than build harmony, Osunbor’s desperate attempt to build a new structure in the party which would bolster his re-election, precipitated turmoil. He had used the instrumentality of his position as governor to destabilize the party. He was so committed to the process of wresting control of the party from the leaders so that he would become the de-facto leader of the party.

The PDP and even Osunbor himself have not fully recovered from the outcome of that disastrous enterprise. Having squandered the opportunity of acting as a binding force for the PDP by allowing unbridled aspiration for a second term in office and desperation to control the party machinery to consume him, I had submitted that my

safety measures here, even though we are not an advanced manufacturing country, ought to be explored. It seems to me, that importing insulated lines would make much more sense than to continue to execute our people by bringing in naked wires.

There is also the possibility that the magnetism emanating from high-tension power lines could have an adverse effect on individuals living in close proximity to them. This issue is being hotly debated; and the jury is still out.

Nevertheless, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that a 1998 study of the incidence of childhood leukemia, conducted by an “expert working group” of the American National Institute of Health, found that “power line magnetic fields are a possible cause of cancer”.

As a short term expedient, transmission wires in populated areas need to be properly maintained and promptly replaced when found to be defective. Stiff penalties ought to be imposed on obstructing or recalcitrant PHCN officials and any other administrator who actions threaten public safety. In a time when power privatisation is a hot topic, our position on this will need to be defined. Transmission as far as I know remains a federal responsibility. This may change in the not too distant future and so potential custodians of this responsibility need to be educated on this reality. Current methods will no longer sustain.

Concluded.

expectations were that Osunbor should have maintained a low profile to allow the passage of time to heal the wounds he had inflicted on himself and the party instead of rushing out in a bid to contest the governorship on the party platform.

He was no doubt deluded into believing that he was popular and that his little achievements (de-silting of drainages and renovation of some roads) in office would speak for him. But Oshiomhole for whom he had worked against his own party (PDP) had said consequent upon taking over from him (Osunbor) in 2008 that he did not leave behind any legacy.

And it is quite sad that Osunbor, a Professor of Law and two-term leader of the PDP, would, perhaps, without the slightest prick of conscience, dump a party that has made him all that he is today in the political sphere. It is even sadder how Osunbor attempted to rationalize the tragedy of his abandoning the PDP and its candidate. Read him: “Oshiomhole has promised to finish the projects I started while in office, including the ones in this community. He has promised to sink more boreholes, and complete the construction of the road I started in Iruekpen. Oshiomhole is a nice person. Outside politics, we are friends. He has even bought me a jeep just like the one he used as his official car. The governor has never said anything against my person….”

(THISDAY, Wednesday, May 30, 2013, page 12).

I wondered if that was the bait that the Comrade-Governor used to “destroy” him (Osunbor) completely politically. What was a jeep to Osunbor? What was he doing with the jeeps he had before? This sadly shows, perhaps, how unreasonable and isolated Osunbor has become in the environment of PDP politics.

As I wrote before, I had expected Osunbor to engage in a conversation with himself (monologue), with the party (dialogue) and seek to retrace where the rains began to fall on him with a view to working towards reconciliation with the elements that he wronged when he was in the saddle. This attitude would have projected him as a great politician with his eyes on posterity. But unfortunately, he has allowed egocentricity to shear him of political reasonableness.

This is indeed sad! *Mr. Ainofenokhai, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 21

NEXIM Bank assures SMEs on business sponsorship

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE — The Nigeria Export/ import Bank, NEXIM, has assured Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Delta State of its readiness to finance them provided they meet with the bank’s prerequisite conditions.

The Chief Risk Manager of the Bank, Dr Emmanuel Moore, who represented the Managing Director of the bank Mr. Robert Orya, gave the assurance while delivering a paper at the second quarterly luncheon/seminar of Sapele Chambers of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (SACCIMA), in Sapele, Delta State.

Dr Moore gave the conditions for qualification for any facility that could be given by the bank to SMEs to include, formal business registration/ incorporation of the intending recipient with the Corporate Affairs Commission in accordance with the CAC Act of 1990, registration with Nigeria Export promotion Council, a memorandum of understanding/partnership agreement of recipients, evidence of Tax payment by recipients and audited account for the past two to three years.

Other conditions to be fulfilled by the recipients, according to Dr Moore, include, business plan of the recipients, board resolution of the directors, profoma-invoice, evidence of export/ import order and possession of landed property which the recipients intend to use as security for the facility.

Chairman of SACCIMA, Prince David Eweta, told journalists at the event that the loan conditions of Nexim bank were easier to fulfill than as obtained in most commercial banks, and said Deltans would explore the opportunity to source for loans from Nexim bank to finance their small scale enterprises for the purpose of expanding existing businesses as well as kicking off new ones across the state.

From left: Mr Adesola Adenusi, MD, Netserve Ltd; Sir William Park, first prize winner of the competition and Mrs Lydia Oladokun, Head, SAP Business One, West Africa at the presentation of SAP Solution One by Netserve Limited to the winner at the Fate Foundation Annual Business Plan competition, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Slowdown in rapid-growth markets to be short-lived — Ernst & Young ...GDP to fall in 2012 but rebound expected in 2013

BY PETER EGWUATU

E

CONOMIC expansion in the 25 leading Rapid-Growth Markets (RGMs) has started to slow sharply since the beginning of this year but this will only be a temporary blip according to Ernst & Young’s quarterly RapidGrowth Markets Forecast (RGMF).

RGMs, particularly in Asia, have the

Africa needs well-regulated commodity exchanges — AfDB

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

A

176.75

+1.30

2,234.00

+25.00

23.45

-0.04

103.49

+0.07

88.20

-0.30

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA KRONER EURO POUNDS RIYAL SDR FRANC DOLLAR WAUA YEN

0.2664 25.2478 187.8674 239.9246 41.2863 232.3374 156.404 154.84 231.3639 1.9783

0.2764 25.3294 188.4741 240.6994 41.4196 233.0877 156.9091 155.34 232.111 1.9847

0.2864 25.4109 189.0807 241.4741 41.5529 233.8379 157.4141 155.84 232.8581 1.9911

CBN Exchange rate as at 26/07/2012 C M Y K

necessary tools available to ease both fiscal and monetary policy allowing growth to resume towards the end of the year.

Even with a slowdown in growth, RGMs are likely to weather the Eurozone crisis and will remain the engines of global growth. GDP is forecast to expand by 4.9% this year in stark contrast to the 0.6% contraction,

FRICAN countries can benefit immensely from well-regulated derivatives commodity exchanges – which in turn could provide a useful tool for Africa’s development,” said African Development Bank (AfDB).

Manager, Regional Integration and Trade, AfDB, Mrs. Moono Mupotola, said this in an interview ahead of the bank’s sponsored Pan-African Workshop for Regulators of Derivatives and Commodity Exchanges, which commenced on Wednesday in Gaborone, Botswana.

Explaining the rationale for the workshop, she said, “At the AfDB, we believe that efficient and wellregulated derivative and commodity exchanges are a key component of the overall commodity and capital market development in Africa. And it was with this in mind, that the AfDB chose to take the lead in organising this event. This is really in line with the Bank’s role as a catalytic agent at the heart of Africa’s capital and financial markets. We are a knowledge broker, you understand, and this workshop gives us an opportunity to promote innovative

ideas and discourse on best practices on this subject across the continent. We hope that participants will leave with a better understanding of the benefits that arise from commodity exchanges and the types of structures and regulations that can revolutionise African capital and commodity markets. “ Dismissing the apprehension about derivatives following the global financial crisis, she said, “Well, this is true and we have to understand that in the aftermath of the global financial crisis which originated in 2008, there has been significant debate at global, regional and national levels on the causes of the crisis, and the role played by different financial instruments, regulators and so on.

While forms of derivative financial instrument may have played a part in causing or exacerbating the crisis, it has also been recognised that derivatives are important as risk management instruments for commodity chains, companies, banks, financial institutions and investors that can actually enhance the stability and robustness of financial systems, as long as they are structured and regulated in an appropriate manner.

at best, that is expected in the Eurozone.

Output in the RGMs is expected to continue to pick up by 6% in 2013 and 6.5% in 2014.

However, there is a mixed picture emerging across the world. Although Asia is likely to lead the way, Africa remains resilient overall, with Ghana and Nigeria among the 3 fastest growing of the RGMs this year.

However, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America are hindered by the slow growth in their key export markets of the Eurozone and United States respectively. If the Eurozone were to fall further into recession, RGMF predicts that the Czech Republic and Poland would be pushed into recession, with Hong Kong and Malaysia also hit hard due to their dependence on global trade.

Carl Astorri, Senior Economic Adviser to Ernst & Young’s Rapid Growth Markets Forecast explains, “The RGMs are well placed to weather the major risks facing the global economy at the present time, given that they have the space to relax fiscal and monetary policy. This has already happened in some RGMs including in all of the BRICs. It is likely that there will be further easing of monetary policy in the months ahead, particularly if the global economy deteriorates further.”

Alexis Karklins-Marchay, Co Leader of the Emerging Markets Centre at Ernst & Young comments, “Although slower expansion in the rapid-growth markets is likely this year it will only be a blip and we will see a return to significant growth towards the end of the year. Soaring domestic demand in economies starved, for some time, of investment and consumption will offer business exciting new markets for goods and services in the years ahead.”

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Stock market lost N9trn since downturn— CIS President … Seeks holistic measure to tackle downturn

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

HE President, C h a r t e r e d Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Ariyo Olushekun has decried the protracted downturn of the Nigerian capital market , saying the market has actually lost N9 trillion

since the crisis started.

Speaking at a dialogue session of the Nigerian capital market community with the coordinating Minister of the economy and honourable minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, in Lagos on Tuesday, Olushekun, said, “ The

decline of the capital market started in March 2008. At the time, the general perception was that it would be shortlived. However, the problem persisted and by the end of 2008, the NSE All Share Index (ASI) had lost 45.8 per cent of its value. From its peak of N13.5 trillion,

the market has declined to N7 trillion. If we exclude new listings, the market as actually lost N9 trillion since the crisis started.”

He further noted that the Nigerian capital market had not responded sufficiently to the initiatives, actions and intervention

measures taken by the Federal Government , the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) , the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory agencies since 2008, saying, “ Today (Tuesday), the market remains hobbled by the effects of the unprecedented downturn.”

Nevertheless, the CIS President commended the Coordinating Minister for her purposeful leadership in her actions towards driving the transformation agenda of the Federal Government with uncommon passion and vigour.

He expressed delight on the commitment shown by the minister towards ensuring that

the health of the Nigerian capital market is restored without further delay.

To this development, the CIS President, urged the Federal Government to tackle the problem in the Nigerian capital market in a holistic manner.

According to him, “Too much is at stake.

Financial, physical and mental well-being of our dear country and our people are threatened.

National productivity would be determined one way or the other and our people are threatened.

National productivity would be determined one way or the other by the direction of the economy. The capital market has a major role to play in economic development.

AFC, PTA Bank renew N4bn trade finance deal

BY MICHAEL EBOH

From left: Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, FIIRO, Oshodi, Dr.Glodia Elemo and Chief Executive Officer, Bio-Organics Nutrient Systems, Dr. Kenny Acholonu, signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between FIIRO and Bio-Organics Nutrien System Ltd, in Lagos.

Stanbic IBTC assures operators, shareholders on holding company structure

BY PETER EGWUATU, NKIRUKA NNOROM & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

S

TANBIC IBTC Bank has assured capital market operators and its shareholders that their stake in the group will remain unchanged when its impending holding company structure is finalized. .

Mrs. Sola David-Borha, chief executive officer of Stanbic IBTC Bank, during a presentation on its fact behind 2011 financials at the Lagos floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) on Wednesday, said the clarification had become necessary in order to allay concerns of shareholders and capital market operators who may be worried about the potential impact of the restructuring on the bank.

“The proposed restructuring will result in no adverse changes to

C M Y K

the rights and ownership of existing shareholders of Stanbic IBTC. I wish to state categorically that the value of your investment will not be adversely affected by the change in legal structure. For example if a shareholder owns 1% of the bank he will own 1% of the new holding company.” She added that “the number of shares held by a shareholder will however change as four out of every five shares will be cancelled.

The shareholder will be paid 50 kobo for each share cancelled and the remaining share will be converted to a share in the holding company.”

The proposed share cancellation means that excess capital will be returned to shareholders, David-Borha said, adding that the share capital of the bank will be reduced by a total of N7.5 billion as a result of cancellation of 15 billion out of the

current 18.75 billion ordinary shares. The holding company will have 10 billion issued and fully paid up shares of 50 kobo. Shareholders of the bank will become shareholders of Stanbic IBTC Holdings with the same proportionate ownership, save for adjustments for fractional shares, which will be converted to cash.

Subsequently, Stanbic IBTC Bank will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC and will apply to the CBN for a commercial banking license.

The new structure, David-Borha stated, is such that shareholders will benefit from the entire business. In addition, the bank’s retail depositors will not be exposed to the risks associated with the non-banking activities of the remainder of the group. All customers of Stanbic IBTC and its

subsidiaries will continue to enjoy the services currently provided through the other subsidiaries.

David-Borha said Stanbic IBTC Bank will transfer all of its shares in its five subsidiaries to Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. The operating subsidiaries of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC are Stanbic IBTC Bank (including Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited), Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Stanbic IBTC Trustees Limited, Stanbic IBTC Ventures Limited, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited and Stanbic IBTC Investments Limited. Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited and Stanbic IBTC Investments Limited are newly incorporated companies.

N

IGERIAN-based Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, has renewed its N4 billion (US$25 million) trade finance credit line agreement with Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, PTA Bank.

According to a statement by AFC, over the last two years, it has developed a strong business relationship with PTA Bank spanning different areas.

“Apart from the direct Trade Finance Credit Line, AFC additionally has a Risk Participation Agreement with PTA Bank, under which both institutions are financing the importation of comingled oil products into Zambia for refining into refined petroleum products.

“AFC’s commitment to the Risk Participation arrangement is US$70 million, making a total of US$95 million in financing collaboration between AFC and PTA Bank,” the Nigerianbased bank stated.

Continuing, the bank stated, “AFC is an African-led international financial institution, established in 2007 whose mission is to improve African

economies by proactively developing and financing infrastructure, industrial and financial assets.

“AFC is involved as an investor, developer and financier of various infrastructure projects, and is gaining recognition as the benchmark institution for financing the development of infrastructure projects in Africa.

“The corporation is the Technical Adviser to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on the N320 billion (US$2.0 billion) Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF). It is also the lead investor in Cenpower Generation Company Limited (Cenpower), which is implementing the (US$450 million) Kpone IPP project – a 340 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Tema, Ghana.

“AFC is the lead investor in the Main One fibre optic cable project, enhancing West Africa’s connection to Europe and the rest of the world through faster and more technologically advanced broadband capacity.

“AFC recently provided financing to a leading Independent Power Producer (IPP) in Nigeria.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 – 23

Importance of full deregulation in a post-PIB economy

By YEMIEADEOYE

T

HE most topical issue in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, ‘arguably the most vibrant in Africa’ right now is the Petroleum Industry Bill,(PIB) and the only reason it would come before full deregulation of the downstream oil sector is simply because it has being programmed to encapsulate the subject matter.

•Senator David Mark

downstream sector has lived on importation for far too long and the reason for this is traced to the neglect over the years of oil pipelines earlier constructed to transport refined products across the country as well as the total collapse of almost all the nations refineries situated at Warri, Portharcourt and Kaduna.

Now questions have been asked on why the country cannot simply shore up its refining capacity to meet local demands, but rather chooses to depend solely on importation of refined products even to detriment of economic growth and in the face of 2.4 million

,

The PIB has since been approved by the federal Executive Council and has been forwarded to the National Assembly for proper scrutiny and ratification after which full implementation is expected.

This report however takes a look at the prospects of a full downstream sector deregulation after the passage of the bill as well as its importance especially in the face of in-depth corruption currently ravaging the downstream oil sector by virtue of the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF).

Excerpts: On January 1,2012 the Goodluck Jonathan led federal Government announced a shocking and unexpected stoppage to the Petroleum Subsidy Fund,(PSF) thereby signaling an immediate sharp increase in petrol pump prices across the country.

This action could be so described because the federal government seemed to have allowed an atmosphere for dialogue with the people as governments selected representatives made up specifically of the economic team and a few other notable individuals met with the peoples unelected representative consisting of the civil society groups, human rights activists and the media to discuss the all-knotty issue of subsidy removal/ deregulation. However the government’s action was sudden as it was generally presumed that dialogue on the matter was still ongoing, but the of that action is all history now.

The action of government was to signal moves towards deregulation of the downstream sector, but analysts were of the opinion that deregulation cannot achieve its aim when implemented in piecemeal and as such the removal of fuel subsidy alone cannot address the issues and should have come at the tail end of the deregulation exercise.

This report however is more concerned with the importance of deregulating the downstream oil sector after the passage of the much awaited PIB. The

•Wale Tinubu

products imported into Sub Saharan Africa. In 2010 alone, over 6 Million Metric Tons of petroleum products was imported into the country. Of this volume, The majority (73%) was for PMS importation. As a Nation, The subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) amounted to 25 percent of the government’s total expenditure in 2010. This mode of public spending has however with recent developments proved to be grossly unsustainable.

Dependence on Import The Nation produces its own

There have been concerns raised over deregulation as it would signal the removal of subsidy. It is however notable that nothing comes without challenges, and if allowed to succeed with intense supervision on the multiplier effect it would turn as the best decision for the country.

barrels of daily oil production.

It is important to note that the PIB when passed would be incomplete if the issue of deregulation is not treated with the importance it urgently requires. It is also of note that in view of recent happenings and discoveries in the oil industry, the country must deregulate if it must be rid of the corruption which have so badly permeate the system.

Current state of the Nation

Nigeria, Africa’s highest exporter of crude currently consumes approximately 60 percent of all petroleum

,

crude, and also has 4 refineries in port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna with a combined capacity (at full operation) of 450,000 barrels per day. The initial plan was to leverage on this production and refining capacity to supply petroleum products to the nation.

Unfortunately, a combination of factors such as the growth in population and therefore demand, the ineffectiveness of existing product transport infrastructure as well as the inefficiency of the refineries has led to a situation where the country is a net importer of petroleum products. It is a fact that even in a case where all the refineries operated at a hundred percent efficiency,

they would barely meet half of the existing national demand and this is what has originally brought about massive importation of petroleum products into the country.

However, an industry analysts who spoke to this writer on the condition of anonymity posited that the measure was originally thought to be temporary to enable ample time for the repairs and rehabilitation of the nations refineries and pipelines, this, according to him would in effect bring down the volumes of imported products into the country.

“This was to be done while government is also building more refineries to at least meet up with national daily consumption demand, but all of this was not implemented therefore encouraging corruption through the PSF scheme and the rest as they say is history”. Deregulating the downstream sector would however put an end to the following, Lack of investment in refineries , Excessive, dependence on imports, Supply and demand imbalances leading to shortages, Smuggling/Leakages, Inadequate Port and Reception Capacity, High Distribution and storage costs, Uncompetitive market structure, Inefficient Pricing structure Rent seeking, Budgetary pressure from unsustainable subsidy payment, these factors amidst others are the reason our economy only grows theoretically and never practically and the cheapest and most sustainable way to check these is through by deregulating the downstream sector of the oil industry and allowing different investors both foreign and domestic to invest across the value-chain, from refining to pipelines to storage depots etc.

Reasons for subsidy

Given the fact that importation of petroleum products is inevitable, the nation would be exposed to extreme price instability due to the volatility of international markets. If we couple this with the fact that Nigeria is one of the largest producers of crude oil, a justification may be made for the subsidization of the refined crude oil products for Nigerians.

Unfortunately, this subsidization has come at the price of economic development and has become an untenable position for the nation. In 2010, the subsidy contribution from the Federation was 1.2 Trillion Naira ($8 Billion) and the 2011 Subsidy payment is projected to approach approximately 1.5 Trillion Naira ($10 Billion). It is clear that these funds may be channelled towards better causes that will accelerate economic development and allow the nation to better plan its expenditure, and as can be seen in recent happenings in the sector, subsidy has brought about intense corruption such that a developing nation which is in dire need of resources for developmental and other projects even as it is currently indebted to foreign nations is now having controversies over 403 billion naira, about 2.458 billion dollars, and how to recover this sum. This money would have been better utilised if there was deregulation.

Notable Challenges/ Solutions to deregulation

There have been concerns raised over deregulation as it would signal the removal of subsidy. It is however notable that nothing comes without challenges, and if allowed to succeed with intense supervision on the multiplier effect it would turn as the best decision for the country. Some of the concerns raised includes: Increase in Transportation Cost: It is a common assumption that transportation cost will increase along with the removal of the subsidy. While this will be true in the case of passenger vehicles, most interstate transportation is run on Diesel fuelled vehicles. Some states, e.g. Lagos, also have intercity transportation that is fuelled by Diesel powered buses. Diesel is a deregulated product and as such will not undergo a price increase based on the removal of subsidy from PMS. Increase in Prices for Goods and Services: The perceived increase in the price of goods and services is also a concern that must be quickly addressed to avoid an actual increase based simply on the expectation of one. Goods such as farm produce are transported across the country on diesel powered trucks. Many services rely on generators due to the frequent interruptions to power supply but even these organizations run on diesel powered generators.

C M Y K

24—Vanguard , FRI DAY, JULY 27, 2012 FRIDAY,

Residents in Ajoke area journeying on canoe after the collapse of the foot bridge there

*Some displaced residents with their children

Demolition caught us unawares — Makoko residents

BY BOSE ADELAJA

M

AKOKO, a water front community which has been in existence since 1890, suddenlybecamehistoryafteritwasvisited by a demolition squad sent by the Lagos State government on Monday and Tuesday last week.

The demolition left over 200 of the residents, including infants, pregnant women and nursing mothers, homeless.

Before this development, Makoko was the preferred settlement of mainly Eguns, most of whom are fishermen and women, and live by the creeks. It also boasted some of thecommonfeaturesofacommunity such as mosques, churches and schools as well as some recreational centres where the residents retire to aftertheday’sactivities.Indeed, the occupants claimed there is no place more suitable for their habitation in this world.

Suspension on water They also claim that no loss of life hasbeenrecordedintheplacesince the17thCenturyandwonderedwhy the authorities at Alausa, the Lagos seat of government, could believe thatanydisastercanbefallthemnow simply because they are living close to the water. For them, Makoko which is made up of many islands, is a place like no other. And thisexplainswhyitishomeforthousands of people, including youths, themiddleagedandtheelderlywho aremostlyfishermenbyoccupation.

Their houses are mainly built with planks, bamboos, palm sticks and fewwithblocks.Someofthesestructures are mainly suspended on wa-

terwhilesomearebuiltonbareland.

Althoughonecannotvouchforthe safetyofthewaterofthenearbycreek, the people make maximum use of it for bathing and cooking although they also defecate there. But surprisingly, they claim that theyhardly fall sick in spite of the hazard they aredailyexposedtointheirdomain.

Only a few of them have dealings with the outside community, while majorityhaveneverleftthecommunityforanyreason.Amongthewomen, making babies is more of a way of life as they appear ignorantof campaignsfor birth and population control.

Illicit activities also thrive there, especially the sale of hard drugs which are displayed andconsumedwithimpunity. Indeed, Makoko was a place where lawlessness and carefree life reigned supreme.

That was until the Lagos State government issued a quit noticetothemtovacatethe place after it was perceived that they have becomeincreasinglyexposed to the danger of being swept away by flood, according to reports on climatechange which poses serious danger on parts of the state.

This move actually came toeffectlast Monday when the state government moved in its equipmenttoevicttheresidentsand demolished all the illegal structures

and shanties there.

At Ajoke area, residents said the 40 metres long foot bridge linking them to others parts of the community caved in during the downpour of Thursday, adding that since then many of them now travel to neighbouring communities by boats which operators charge a fare of N10 for the ride. Although some of the victims have been housed by their neighbours, others were seen hanging around the shanties or retrieving theirbelongings on the water.

A65-year-oldvictim, Madam Weno, said she lost cash and other valuable items to the demolition as she was on a sick bed when the demolitonteamvisited.

She said: “There was nobody to help me salvage my belongings; my husband travelled to Badagry and my children were not at home.

I lost N54,000, jewellery and household itemsinthedemolition.

I saw the flying boat afar, thinking they came to buy fish until I saw various equipment for the exercise. I ran for my dear life, leaving my belongings behind. So, I escapedfromthereempty handed.”

Another victim, a father of eight, Dele Gay Imado, said the exercise caught him unawares. He noted: “I went out to visit my friend only to discover that

There was nobody to help me salvage my belongings; I lost N54,000, jewelry and household items in the demolition

Baale of Sogunro(left) and the Alase of all Eguns.

Photos: Bose Adelaja

hisstructurewasbeingdemolished.

Out of compassion, I assisted him to salvage some of his belongings not knowing another demolition team was already in my apartment.

Thank God, my children and wife swam to a safe place where we all met.”

ApastorwiththeMountainofFire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard Metro of how his church bought a piece of land around the vicinity because many of his members reside in the area.

Incidents of erosion He said: “Some of them complained of distance and my senior pastor asked us to get a piece of land near them. We have done a lot of sand filling before the structure was erected. We have witnessed several incidents of erosion in the area which was not disastrous.”

As at 6.30 pm, Tuesday, Zeehine, a mother of two, said she had nowhere to lay her head and will continuetosleepinhercanoecomerain orsunshine.However,tworesidents of Agbami and Shogunro, Sunday Pemenu and George Olufele, said they were familiar with plans by

successive governments to demolish the area. They said: “We have heard at one time or the other since the past 30 years of orders by government for residents to vacate the place. Many governors have come and gone without carrying out the quit notice until last Monday.”

In a swift reaction, the community heads, Baale Sogunro (Agbojeti), ChiefJohnsonIdunsaandtheAlase ofallEguns, FrancisAgoyon,claimed thelandbelonged to theUniversity of Lagos and was given to their forefathersaroundthe17thCentury.

Agbojeti said:“Wereceivedanotice fromthegovernmentaboutninedays ago.Wedidnotcomehereovernight buttheportionwasallocatedtousby theYabaLocalGovernment.

“In those days, our grandparent, a fisherman, was going about his business when he met a man who gave him a piece of land on a plain ground beside the University of Lagos, Akoka which he refused on account of the fact that he wanted to be close to water. He was later asked to acquire Makoko which became our settlement till date. There is a document to back it up. We are not afraid of demolition; we’re ready to relocate provided the government makes alternative accommodation arrangement for us; but we want to be close to water.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 25

C M Y K

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—27

Lagos Trade Fair Complex to host specialised exhibitions in 2012

BY ETOP EKANEM

T

From left: Mr. Chukwuma Ochonogor, Managing Director, Concept Nova Limited and Mr. Yinka Ipaye, Head of Fleet, Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency, at the public unveiling of FleeTrak AMS (a web based fleet management software) at The WheatBaker, Lagos.

HE Lagos International Trade Fair Complex is set to host specialized trade exhibitions this year and in the years to come.

Addressing newsmen at the Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport, Lagos, Mr. Mackson Davis, Corporate Affairs Manager of Aulic Nigeria Limited, managers of Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, said the multi purposed built exhibition centre had been undergoing renovations and re-

development works to bring it back to its international standard.

He said due to mishandling and under utilisation in the past, the complex degenerated into a sorry state, adding that after the concessioning of the complex, the concessionaire Aulic Nigeria Limited embarked on massive works to restore its lost glory.

He said: “For a long time, the works being done there appeared not to be visible or noticeable but I am happy and proud to say that the effect of the

works was beginning to surface with admirable impact. The beauty of the complex especially the exhibition area is once more coming out.

Asked why the Lagos Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual trade fair somewhere outside the complex this year, Davis explained that the Lagos Chamber of Commerce was not ready for changes which Aulic Nigeria Limited is bringing into the complex, especially in the use of standard exhibition stands/ cubicles as against the use of wooden shanty structures which the Lagos Chamber of Commerce has been used to.

Preparations underway for 2nd Africa Trade Forum

P

REPARATIONS for the second Africa Trade Forum (ATF II) are underway on the theme, "Boosting Intra-African Trade and Establishing the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA)." The forum is a joint initiative of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Forum (AfDB) and is scheduled to be held from 24-26 September 2012 in Addis Ababa.

According to Mr. Alan Kyerematin, Head of the Africa Trade Policy Forum at the ECA, ATFII is being organised against a backdrop of increasing commitments to boosting intra-African trade and establishing a CFTA. "The outcomes of ATF I held in 2011 provided substantive input into the preparations for the January 2012 African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government meeting on the theme; Boosting Intra-Africa Trade." Mr. Kyerematin added that the Summit formally endorsed a Framework, Road Map and Architecture for fast tracking the establishment of the CFTA and an Action Plan for Boosting IntraAfrican Trade.

ATF II, said Kyerematin, would review key challenges in implementing the agreed Action Plan on Boosting intra African Trade and establishing the CFTA and forge an implementing strategy in that regard.

C M Y K

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27 , 2012—29

J

AIL beckoned on contro versial Nollywood star Jim Iyke but mother nature was kind and so, the Imo state born actor was saved.

Thanks to his parents who rescued him from a determined Habiba Abubakar who wanted the tough talking actor jailed for allegedly conning her out of N15million.

Jim Iyke's parents had gone with cap in hand to beg the Abuja big girl to let by gone be while the case got settled out of court. Pronto, Habiba withdrew the case in a show of respect to Jim's parents.

But the dust of the rumble had hardly settled down when a bitter Habiba was quoted as lamenting to close friends that

N15m Scandal:

I've learnt my lesson—Jim Iyke the stress and strain she suffered as a result of the matter, forced her to the surgeon's table and knives, to take away the extra pounds and wrinkles she'd piled up during the period.

When our correspondent visited Untamed Closet, Jim Iyke's fashion house, it was a remorseful Jim who disclosedhe's learnt his lesson.

“I've learnt to be silent over the matter. It would also be reasonable to apologize to Habiba for pushing her into embarking on plastic surgery”, he said.

The actor who admitted to meeting Habibaba through his sister affirmed he made jokes out of Habiba’s tummy

Continues on page 30

Colorado shooting:

How three men died taking bullets for their girlfriends WRITTEN BY MICHAEL SKOLNIK

B

ULLETS. Bullets. More Bullets. And even more bullets. One shot. Two shot. Three shot.

More shot. Screams of agony. Cries of babies. Yells of children. the dark night.

Out of breathe. We grab those around us. We run to red lights of exit signs amid the darkness.

We lay prone on the floor. We pretend to be dead hoping someday we will breathe again. We jump on top of those we love hoping that if one more bullet comes our way, it hits us and not them. hoping. Truly hope that the bullet hits me. a strange thought. A thought that we never thought we would have thought.

We walk gently through life never imagining moments like these. There is no practice. No manual. No preparation. We rely purely on our instincts. Purely on the connection between our thoughts and the movements of our bodies. There is no time for contemplation. No time for reason.

No time for time itself. Only time for hope and prayers.

Deep prayers. Deep breaths. One breath. Two breath. Three breath. No breath. Three men. Three men jumped on top their girlfriends as bullets flew through Theater Nine at Century Cinemas in Aurora, Colorado on Friday morning. Amidst chaos. Amidst gunfire. Amidst tear gas. These three men thought of the women they loved and used their bodies to protect them. They threw them to the floor. Under the seats. They held them tight.

They held onto their beautiful women as tight as they possibly could. Lying on top of their bodies

•Jon and girlfriend Young

•Alex and girlfriend amada

•Matt and girlfriend Samantha

From a load carrier to DJ • DJ Humility C M Y K

INSIDE

•Jim Iyke

Continues on page 30

I wear the best when I dress — Chiejine

VConnect Fever video sets new record on YouTube •Vconnect

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

: J D o t to r e i r r a c From a load ace story

r g o t s s a r g s ' y t DJ Humili

h.

He was a thorn in my fles do n’t did he g hin not s wa There ent bec aus e of his ind epe nd nature.

Things got worse when his the father and I had to fend for t por sup no family all alone with so s wa Ben r. from any quarte m stubborn that he ran away fro tor. duc con a e om bec to e hom t, While trying to deal with tha ’ aru lab A ‘ an e he then becam is Th t. rke ma the in (Carrier) t really did hurt as he was the firs re we s one r child and his younge looking up to him.”

But thank God, she says, he has turned out well.

ise EN ED IC T Afa gw u, oth erw of one is ity, mil Hu DJ known as s. key c Joc Nigeria’s most prominent Dis ky bul the But unknown to many, w up as Delta State born dude who gre ductor con bus a e onc s a barrack boy wa . ru') aba ('Al r rie car d and a loa cipline Despite the high level dis house the of n ldre handed down the chi was a ity mil Hu DJ er, by his police fath epentant first class truant and an unr mother his e stubborn child who gav headache. 's story Narrating the story of the DJ man who is no other person than the wo mother. his , saw it all, Mrs Agfagwu ldhood chi ’s DJ ky Recalling the bul fondre mo is she as days, Mama Ben of ure nat ly called, says the itinerant in s kid six the patriarch’s job left the her care. tried to “He is my first child and I way of the bring my children up in the stubborn. ally lord but Ben was especi

B

Taakra empowers Abuja corps members

W

ORKING towards achieving its humanitarian goal in Nigeria, Taakra Academy, owned and managed by Lady D, wife of Charly Boy, has taken its empowerment scheme to the next level, as the Academy makes frantic effort towards empowering thousands of Nigerian youth corps members who are currently serving in the FCT. Lady Diane who visited the NYSC camp in Kubwa , Abuja with other staff of Taakra Academy Tuesday, revealed her company’s readiness to empower corps members who desire to learn extra skills at the most subsidized rates.

According to Lady D “ having noticed the rate of unemployment in Nigeria, and considering the number of graduates produced every year in Nigeria, it has become imperative that Taakra contributes in its own little way towards rehabilitating Nigerian youths who are full of thoughts on what lies ahead of them after their service year” While enlightening the youth corps members on the several skill acquisition programs available at Taakra Academy, Lady Diane affirmed that corps members who join the academy would be privileged to learn up to 10 different skills within the duration of the program.

The skills will include jewelry making, soap making, hat making, batik tie and

•Taakra

dye, bag making, shoe making, nail design and fixing, makeup class, event planning, Taakra creative crafts, silk screen printing and a host of others.

As at the time of this report, corps members who see this as an opportunity of a life time are beginning to pick up their forms from the JOF building in Gwarinpa, Abuja.

Naeto C weds Nicole *gets Porsche Cayenne car as wedding gift

•DJ Humility

T

I've learnt my lesson Continued from page 29 and shape, but had on no occasion advised Habiba to do any kind of plastic surgery. According to Jim Iyke “I’m playful and jovial, and because I can make fun out of anything, I had jokingly complained about Habiba’s size sometime in my family house. I crack the same jock even with my sister, and we all laugh over it.

I don't think the claim you alleged Habiba is making is actually true. How

can she be claiming that I pushed her into the pain of plastic surgery?

I really don’t have anything personal with her. My sister said Habiba told her something of sort, but I never believed it. I thought it was one of those gossips. Hearing it from you actually confirms that she said something related to that. But would you believe that I will advise a married woman against her wish to go for surgery? If she went through any kind of stress as a result of that, then I’m sorry”.

How three men died...

Continued from page 29 in case a bullet came their way.

All three of their girlfriends survived this unfathomable early morning massacre. Jansen Young, Samantha Yowler and Amanda Lindgren made it out of the theater that night to breathe another breath. The breaths are hard to finish because the three men, the three boyfriends took bullets. They took bullets to save their ladies.

Jansen had the courage to recall those last moments, “There was kind of a break in between each gunshot.

Every gunshot, I was like, ‘This is it . . . I’m done for.’ Jon gave me one good push against that concrete again and

then . . . I didn’t really feel his arms against my back anymore but I knew he was still there.” When the gunshots went quiet, Jansen realized her boyfriend was shot. “I started shaking him and saying, ‘Jon, Jon, we have to go . . . it’s time for us to get out of here.” But he didn’t move. His breath was gone.

However, his heroic act will forever be remembered. And so will the bravery of the other two men.

These were the last moments of three heroes. Jon Blunk, Matt McQuinn and Alex Teves. .Remember these names.

•Naeto C and wife

HE much anticipated wedding of Naeto C and bride Nicole Chikwe’s finally took place yesterday July 21st, 2012. The simple but top-of-the range event was held at the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, Lagos.

Nicole, an ex model and daughter of auto dealer, Jerry Chukwueke, got her elegant wedding dress from UK-based Yemi Osunkoya of Kosibah Wedding Couture Bridal and Evening Wear.

The ceremony was well attended by the couple’s friends and government functionaries (considering that Naeto C’s mum, Kema Chikwe was an ex Minister).

Guests like erstwhile President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, D’banj and many more were present at the high-class event.

Azadus returns D

ont Cry is a new video by Azadus featuring OJB. The song is lifted from his new album titled “Above The See level” produced by OJB. The video is directed by Shellika (older brother of J Slick).

Dont You Cry is a single coming from the forth coming album of Azadus a 17tracks which also features artistes like Sound Sultan, Da Grin of blessed memories,Tu Face, Lord of Ajasa Koffi andW4. It also feature other producers like J Slick and Del Bee. The album promises to make a difference in the muisc industry.

•Azadus C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—31

Extra

I’m angry at Nollywood —Emeka Ike

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

F

OR those wondering why his face has been scarce in movies, popular act and Nollywood’s lover boy actor, Emeka Ike, has finally let the cat out of the bag.

Emeka recently in an interview said he’s presently angry with Nollywood. And as a result, he’s temporarily quitting acting in a bid to ‘strategize’.

According to him, he’s not happy with the industry at the moment which has made him to withdraw all his movies from the market.

Emeka says he doesn’t want to be associated with the ‘decay’ going on in the industry hence, he prefers to ‘stand out’.

He also revealed that he’s coming out with his own label, Emeka Ike Production and that marketing of his movies will be done under the label. And that any transaction as touching him as an actor will be done under his new label which separates him from dealing with

•Emeka Ike Nollywood.

“I have not quit Nollywood in the real sense of the word. What I did was to withdraw all my movies from the market, and I mean all the movies that are related with Emeka Ike...and the reason is not far fetched. I am angry with what is going on in the industry. My conscience would not allow me to go on with the decay in the

industry. So, I feel that was the best thing to do, to dissociate myself from the problem and stand out! So, henceforth, any Nollywood movie would not involve Emeka Ike. Rather, I want to market all my movies on the label of Emeka Ike Production. If you want to deal with me as an actor, you have to work with me under the label.

That clearly separates me from Nollywood.”

Gabriel Afolayan turns musician, drops single BENJAMIN NJOKU

M

ULTIPLE awards winning actor, Gabriel Afolayan has finally launched himself into the Nigerian music scene with the recent release of the music video of his hit single,

•Gabriel C M Y K

"Kokoro Ife" (Love Bug).

The son of a thespian, Ade Love, and younger brother to one of the most accomplished film makers and directors, Kunle Afolayan has blended his good acting skills with his music artistry.

G-Fresh, as he is

fondly called by friends, released the music video, which was shot and directed by Katung, as a way to help promote the song and establish him as a musician.The video saw Gabriel infuse some bits of his acting skills into the music video.

He has also disclosed that a new single will follow shortly and that he will not disappoint his fans.

In a recent chat with WG, Gabriel dismissed the fear that his venturing into the music industry will affect his acting career, saying that "I will always continue to make movies that will keep people at the edge of their sits while I continue to establish myself in the musical terrain."

Gabriel said music runs in the blood of his family, and his venturing into it now, is a clear confirmation of what his late father stood for while he was alive.

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Goalkeeping I played outside right, which is number seven during my time. During one of our matches, they introduced me into the game about five minutes to the end of the match, and I wasn’t happy about it. Then, the coach later advised me to start training as a goalkeeper because of my height. I wondered where I was going to start from but maybe, that’s how God wanted it because about two to three weeks after, I started

My parents threatened to send me to the village because of football — Chiejine Remember Ann Agumanu Chiejine? She was a goalkeeper to the Super Falcons team for 15 years, winning the African Women Championship (AWC) title five times and appearing in the FIFA World Cup on three consecutive times . In this interview, she talks about her experiences as a former national team first choice goal keeper and her personal lifestyle. Excerpts: training, in the post for my team at a Lagos State competition. And before I knew it, I was adjudjed one of the best goalkeepers. I got into the national team and played from 1991 to 2006 before I retired and ventured into coaching.

Comparing the experience as a coach and a former player When I was a goal keeper, I used to receive instructions from my coach. But now that I’m a coach, I find my self imparting my experience and skills to the players. If I hadn’t been there, it would have been tough impacting on my players. When I give them instructions, I tell them to do it this way or the other way, they understand me. For some players, I’m a role model; they want to be like me. I also enjoy what I’m doing and find it easy to get along with the players.

*Chiejine make up, people tend to see a different Ann and I like it when people compliment me especially on what I wear.

,

By KATE OBODO Growing up It was tough growing up with parents who wanted their children to become doctors, lawyers, and engineers. My parents never wanted me to venture into football. They believed that football is for men, not for women. It was so bad that they had to consult a doctor to ascertain whether I’m capable of bearing children.

They were also worried that I would grow muscles which will affect me in future.My parents were hard on me. It was a very difficult task. It got to a point where they threatened to send me to the village until the doctor assured them that I was medically okay. But I thank God, even as an ex-player; you won’t even know I had played football before now.

Today, I’m married with children and did not grow muscle. I got married in 1992.

I started playing for the female national team in 1991, during the first female World Cup that year. Even after I got married, I was in Sweden and United States for the World Cup. I didn’t have any problem. In a nutshell, I’m what I am today because of football.

Hi GROOVE

I have been undergoing training and trying to learn new things. i also brought new tactics into the game and imparting it on the young young ones.

Life as a coach So far, I have been undergoing training and trying to learn some new things. I also brought new tactics into the game and imparting it on the young ones. I’ve also attended several coaching courses within and outside the country to improve upon my coaching skills.

Daily beauty routine I like make-ups a lot . I always use cleanser on my face before taking my bath. When I

,

Secret of my looks Happiness and constant exercises is the key. As a coach I lead by example by minimising and watching what I eat.

Sometimes, I eat once or twice in a day. And at night, I don’t eat heavy foods. I eat a lot of fruits and I like smiling all the time. I believe these are the things that keep me going.

Fashion My love for fashion and style is boundless. I love designer

wears. Fashion has been part of me and I love it with a passion. The fact remains that I like to be different and like to be noticed whenever I dress.

People compliment my good look wherever I go. In essence, I dress to make a difference.

And most of the time, I wear clothes that are not too common. I also have passion for designer shoes, bag and perfume.

Love for native attires I love native attires a lot. I like the big gorge wrappers and blouses.

Men and I Of course, men admire me but the most important thing, is knowing your status as a married woman.

When I get admired by men, the only thing I do is to appreciate them and no intimacy.

Combining coaching and family It’s all about being focused

and having an understanding husband. My husband knows what I love doing. So, he doesn’t see any need to stop me from doing what I enjoy doing. It’s not easy but he understands me. Out of hundred men, you can only get one. If I’m going for camping, I cook different pot of soup and stew and store them in the fridge to keep them going for sometime.

By December, I will be celebrating twenty years of marriage. I have a loving husband and children(two boys and two girls) who understand why I have to be away from home for long. That is why when I get back, I don’t like going out. I spend all my time with them whenever I’m not working.

Life outside coaching I like singing and dancing. I also unwind with my husband.

Best meal/fruits I like fried plantain and eggs. I also like garden egg, paw-paw and pineapple.

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—33

Victor Ughara lends credence to ‘local content’

•Sonny Omatseye

V

ICTOR Ughara s n ' t a man who loves to bath in the glare of public attention, his life is so quiet and he does his best to keep it just that way. But as the saying goes “a goldfish has no hiding place” especially when that goldfish has a knack for doing extraordinary things like Ughara did when his company, i

Global Services Limited Global commissioned a 1,500 metric tons capacity barge in Warri, Delta State recently.

This feat by Victor an economist turned engineer, according to experts will no doubt bridge the high demands for barges by end users in the oil and marine industry.

SP gathered that Colby–1 as the barge

D'Banj plays lord at Naeto C wedding K

O KO M A S T E R , D'Banj is a man known for his swagger and one who likes to drive home just how much he is worth or how he is supposed to be seen. He is a showman who rubs it in when he can help it. At Naeto C wedding on Saturday the talented singer took centre stage of attention, even overshadowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The razzmatazz at the wedding was top draw and it seemed everybody was a bit too important to notice anybody but the singer would not have that as he drove attention to himself. When he drove

C M Y K

was christened was first of its kind barge in the country and was built for Colby Nigeria Limited owned by Prince Sunny Omatseye at N110million to carry out the BaterenUtonyibo creek canalization project by the Federal government for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs under the local content programme.

According to Prince Victor Ughara MD/ CEO, Coordinate Global Services Limited “I owe this achievement to God almighty and also the assistance from the steel producers and some few banks though some were not willing to help us.

"I studied economics but through learning, travelling and consulting some engineers, I was able to achieve this great feat. They thought it will not be possible but thank God today the whole idea of Local content has been put to use and we were able to nurture it out”

• Richard Lamai

hitherto held sway as movers and shakers, it appears it also marks the beginning of the rise of the political careers of some of the young elements in the PDP in the state.

One of such young Turks whose political career is looking upwards despite the electoral humiliation inflicted on the PDP in the just concluded gubernatorial elections in the state is City businessman and top SouthSouth politician, Chief Richard Lamai .

According to in-depth analysis of the results of the gubernatorial polls in the state, the suave and youthful politician was the only PDP chieftain in the whole of Edo State, who delivered his polling unit –unit 4 ward2 in Etsako Central Local Government, in

Lamai's political career on the rise T

HAT the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) annihilated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the gubernatorial elections of July 14 in Edo State which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,the incumbent governor was re-elected by landslide, will be an understatement.

While the election marked the end of an era for some political old horses in the state who had

terms of votes to the party, despite hailing from same Edo North as the Comrade Governor.Bba This electoral achievement we hear ,has positioned the young man in a pole position to play a prominent role in the reorganisation of the People Democratic Party in the state following its humiliation by the ACN.

Akin George Taylor moves to Banana Island with wife

T

•D’Banj in to the church driveway with his entourage and hangers-on and it appeared he wasn't getting the star treatment the Kokomaster held up the line of traffic making their way into the venue. He stayed well over 30 minutes in his automobile until another singer, Ikechukwu had to come and get him inside.

Even Baba didn't hold up matters that long.

Baba only took just about 5 minutes to make his entry and it was Wale Babalakin who came to usher him in and when his security

details were unpleasant towards journalists trying to have a word with the former number one citizen he didn't waste time in rebuking them “leave them alone they are doing their job” D'Banj's larger than life image at the event was all too glaring and it is not so much a surprise when the gist was let loose that it was him who presented the couple with N11 million Porsche Cayenne.

While some say it is Larry Onuegbu, Auto Lounge owner, who a source say was a close friend of Naeto C's sister, who gave out the car.

O K U N B O Durosaro, who came to limelight as head corporate affairs at Ocean and Oil Plc and her hubby Akin George Taylor, who only recently retired as executive director from Guaranty Trust Bank are living life to the fullest.

The couple recently moved to their new abode situated inside b i l l i o n a i r e ' s haven,Banana Island.

An insider revealed to SP that the couple built the house and it is believed that Akin George Taylor's severance package at G.T bank came handy in fulfilling their desire.

Even though the couple were not doing badly at their previous abode in Victoria Island their new home in Banana Island is a long shot better and of course, nothing beats living in your own house.

•Akin George Taylor

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY , JULY 27, 2012

Falcons will win Nigeria’s first World Cup —Ogechi Adiukwu

More ladies than ever are covering sports nowadays.

To what do you attribute this?

When I started 14 years ago, there were not many ladies in my field but you know failure is an orphan but success has many parents.

Maybe it’s because women now get involved in various sports that were once the preserve of men.

Do you see the women taking over?

It depends on what you mean but I have always said women are going to be the first to take the World Cup. Our single Olympic gold came from a woman, Chioma Ajunwa. The strongest athletes are Perpetua Nkwocha and Blessing Okagbare. They are pulling their weight and they may well take over. You know how women are, very determined. Any woman you see in sports really has the passion You just covered the London Prepare series. What’s the C M Y K

advantage of that to us?

The London Prepare series was just London getting a taste of the Olympics. It gave them the opportunity of checking out the security and so on. Just try outs; they want to know how they will handle the crowds, transportation, checking tickets. In fact it’s the Olympics rehearsals. Its been on over a year and this is the final one.

What is your personal vision for Team Nigeria?

I was really heartened to know we went to Porto Novo and did well. They have cornered Africa so its time to conquer the world and if you look at the athletes, they are really determined.

•Ogechi Adiukwu

Marie Stopes raises $4.6bn for family planning

F

ormer Nigerian health minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimeyin was one of the speakers at the Family Planning summit held last week in London by Marie Stopes International, a London-based

organisation which opened its regional office in Abuja, Nigeria, two years ago. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, takes to the stage. He begins by commending Rwanda for having the parliament with the highest proportion of women in the world.

For British Prime Minister, David Cameron: “It’s a simple fact that as countries get r i c h e r, w o m e n

,

Where passion is concerned, no male sports journalist and enthusiast brings more to the table than Ogechi Adiukwu,a television sports producer who has reported sports for more than a decade and who has come to stay. President of African Women Sports Reporters Unit (AWSRU), she has also served in the famed Pepsi Academy, presided over by the no-nonsense coach, Kashimawo Laloko. She has been in and out of London over the past months, keeping track of the preparations for the Olympics and Lipstick caught up with her on her way back to the “Biggest show on Earth.” She shares her aspirations in a short chat, as well as her experience as a lady covering sports.

Family planning helps that process along.” He announced £500m in aid at the Family Planning Summit 2012 to increase international access to contraceptives.

generally have fewer children.

And by concentrating their resources on a smaller number of children, those children are healthier, better educated and more likely to get a job and build a prosperous future for themselves and their own children.

Family planning helps that process along.”

He

•Babatunde Osotimehin

,

announced £500m in aid at the Family Planning Summit 2012 to increase international access to contraceptives. There were other world leaders from Africa and beyond.

The summit held on 11th July, was hosted by the UK Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to bring life-saving family planning services to underserved women in some of the most hard-to-reach locations around the world.

Days after the summit, a Marie Stopes official announced overall figure for commitments post summit is $2bn from developing countries and $2.6bn from donor community. In addition, Melinda Gates announced a new $560m funding for family planning between now and 2020.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 35

Not Yet Uhuru with Widows’ Rights — Eleanor Nwadinobi from killing their husbands.”

She noted that some of the harmful practices widows go through in Nigeria included having their heads shaven, usually with a rigid sharp object such as a broken glass soda bottle; being forced to sleep with their dead husbands’ corpses; being forced to cry loudly for the entire village to hear; and drinking the water that was used to clean their husbands’ dead bodies. At the end of the research, she summarised the findings as the 3Ds thus: “Disinheritance- a situation where the widow and all her belongings are taken over by her deceased husband’s

•Eleanor Nwadinobi

By EBELE ORAKPO

M

C M Y K

I

*Dr. Nwadinobi...Certain punitive mourning rites and practices are performed supposedly to dissuade women from killing their husbands

Eleanor Nwadinobi, expressed joy on the journey so far, and called on governments, individuals and corporate organisations to do all in their power to make life more meaningful for these widows and their children. Excerpts:

T

he medical doctor/gender and human rights consultant said her foray into the world of widows started as a result of two incidents in the early 1990s.

“I had visited two bereaved people, one a man and the other a woman. I was uncomfortable with the fact that the widow was treated differently in comparison to the widower and I was curious to know the reason behind it,” she said. Curiosity, they say, killed the cat but rather than her curiosity killing her, it led her to do something positive to draw the attention of the world to the pitiable plight of widows, especially in Africa. She started by carrying out a research on widowhood practices in four

,

RS. K has just lost her husband.

She is distraught. Her three children aged 5, 7 and 9 years gathered around her, wondering what was going on. Friends and neighbours were coming to console her. A few hours later, a man and a woman walked in and suddenly, the woman walked straight to a wailing Mrs. K, raised her voice and said: “Wicked woman, you have killed my brother so that you will inherit his property. That will never happen! Over my dead body!”

Mrs. K cringed on hearing these words. Instead of comforting words, she was being ‘stabbed’. Before she could recover from that, another ‘bomb’ exploded. This time from the man who said: “Where are the documents to my brother’s house? Go and bring the keys to all the cars.

We have come for our brother’s property.”

Welcome to the world of the widow which seems to cave in because of the death of her husband.

Two years ago, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 23 every year as the International Widows’ Day. The declaration calls on member-states and other international organisations to end all negative practices associated with widowhood.

Like someone rightly said, in the western world, when someone dies, the question is: ‘What killed him?’ But in most parts of Africa, the question is: ‘Who killed him?’ As a result, when a man dies, the assumption is that the wife must have killed him so she is made to pass through hell.

Speaking with Vanguard recently, President of Enugubased Widows Development Organisation (WiDO), Dr.

widows’ rights and registered an NGO called Widows Development Organisation (WiDO).

According to the former national president of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, the timing of the birth of the NGO coincided with the Beijing World Women’s Conference and the raised level of awareness of women’s rights. WiDO embarked on a massive awareness campaign with assistance from the British Council and also started a database of existing groups of widows and individual widows.

Speaking on the successes recorded so far, Dr. Nwadinobi said the humble efforts of WiDO began yielding results when in1997, members of WiDO were appointed on to the Enugu State Widows Welfare Committee with her as chairperson. Their task was to find out the prevalent practices in the state. The report of the committee showed that harmful traditional widowhood rites were still being practiced in Enugu State especially among the uneducated and pagans.

In 1998 at the Medical Women’s International Congress, Nwadinobi put forward an urgent statement for the elimination of obnoxious practices against widows in Sao Paulo, Brazil and in 1999 in the USA, she presented a paper on the findings at the Association for Women in Development (AWID) forum.

*A widow having her hair shaven

Culture is a way of life passed down from generation to generation, but when culture ceases to be a way of life and instead becomes a threat to human existence, it is better defined as torture

South Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo in 1995.

At the end of the research, she presented her findings at the Medical Women’s International Congress in The Hague, Netherlands, whereupon she was encouraged to start a nongovernmental organisation.

Dr. Nwadinobi, the subSaharan Africa regional chair of the United Nations NGO/Dept. for Public Information Executive Committee continued: “I found out that the general belief is that a woman is blamed for her husband’s death. Certain punitive mourning rites and practices are performed supposedly to dissuade women

,

relatives.

Dethronement- a woman’s status is said to improve when she marries, this status is lost when her husband dies. Therefore, she is forced to sit on the floor and go through de-humanising rites because of this lowered status. She loses her dignity in the process.

Defacement - It is generally believed that a woman’s beauty is for her husband. When he dies, she is forced to look very unattractive and unkempt.”

Having discovered the problems, Dr. Nwadinobi did not rest on her oars as she went further to seek solutions. First, she got together with some other women interested in

n June 2000, the softspoken lady was invited to be a panelist at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) in the UNIFEM Panel in New York, USA. “I presented a paper on The Myths, Rituals and Prevalent Widowhood Rites. I had told them that culture is a way of life passed down from generation to generation, but when culture ceases to be a way of life and instead becomes a threat to human existence, it is better defined as torture.”

Major breakthrough: On March 8, 2001, WiDO experienced a major breakthrough when a bill on widow’s rights sponsored by National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) was passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly.

The bill was later signed into law on June 28 of same year by the state Governor.

So far, so good, but Dr. Nwadinobi believes it is not yet over until it is over. Although a law was passed on International Women’s Day, March 8, six years after WiDO was founded, to outlaw the harmful practices against women in Southeast Nigeria, more still needs to be done as 17 years later, women are no longer asked to sleep with their husbands’ corpses or drink the used water but women’s heads are still being shaved. However, efforts are ongoing to eliminate this practice as well.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

commands such as MORE, PAUSE and RESUME. Additionally, compose a new email as an SMS & send to any email address recipient who will find your message in the right email conversation thread!

So, for those that haven’t used the email before due to access, Gmail SMS is providing a first platform.

Don’t have internet?

Send mail by Gmail SMS

I

mmediately the email facility debuted, the traditional postage services knew the game was up unless innovative upgrade was done on its services. You know, the email is fast, almost instant delivery and feedback is as instant as the flash of light.

Incidentally the short message services SMS, which accompanied the debut of GSM in Nigeria, also came to make matter worse for postal services. Today, the fact remains that no matter the innovations and upgrades the postal services received, particularly in Nigeria, it has become endangered specie.

What with several modifications these services are going almost on daily basis endearing them to people no matter age and status. email has become a part of everyday life. There are so many things you do with it:

apply for a job, make an inquiry, get notified by your social network, receive a photo or an invitation that makes you smile, and just communicate back and forth with your friends.

Although the Gmail team at Google for instance says that they put a lot of efforts to ensure that messages are delivered as soon as the sender hits “send” button, there are however, barriers that sometimes arise between the sender and his email: what if he’s not by a computer? Or his phone is not connected to the internet? Or the internet is down or too slow, so that emails just won’t load?

Besides, in recent times for a service to catch serious attention, it must not only be fast but must also be delivered on the go. Mobility has become the buzz word for tech geeks around the world.

To help solve these issues,

vellers aster tra o c r e ll •Ro

Gr ound zer ec Ground zeroo in 5D ttec echh ent er enter erttainment I

T’S like Disney Island in reality and the feeling is indescribable. Sitting on red leather upholstery with a 5D pair of specs, suddenly, the electric motor fixed at the base of the chairs come alive and you are there imagining a roller coaster journey taking you through the fantasy lands. The journey is not smooth however, sometimes large snakes pop up, bridges break, protruding sharp objects suddenly appear and you find yourself ducking your head from right to left.

Meanwhile it is all make believe because you are sitting in one place. In fact

C M Y K

a simple act of removing the glass reduces the exercise to watching a television on an uneasy leather seat. But the fun is that after a round which lasts about 10 minutes, the participants are highly elated with some reliving stories of having forgotten their problems, pains and worries while on the imaginative roller coaster trip.

That is the beauty of 5 Dimensional, 5D, technology which an entertainment centre, Ground Zero has brought to Nigeria. Located at the heart of Ebutte Metta area of Lagos, the company says it was making it easy for Nigerians to also enjoy the

Gmail SMS

Google said it has created Gmail SMS which it said is available in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya.

The service makes it possible for phone users to send and receive emails as SMS messages using mobile phones, regardless of whether they have a data connection like Wifi or 3G. Gmail SMS 5D, the latest multidimensional, digital technology introduced in cinemas all over the world.

Grand Zero is making a debut of it in Nigeria and entire West Africa. It also promised to build cinemas with the technology in all the six geo political zones in Nigeria The 5D experience is a computer technology that makes movie as interactive as possible with viewers totally involved. They wear glasses, being the platform where the software works, to further accentuate the experience.

According to Grand Zero, the entertainment is good for everyone to although a few restrictions abound.

Including that certain movies cannot be seen by children below the ages of 10 and that adults that are hypertensive cannot see the movies since it may not be medically advisable for them.

Meanwhile Grand Zero also has other effects like the 3D, combining the wind and wave motion and also the 4D experience which has water spraying effects and even rain fall. However, the 5D technology experience was better than all these, particularly with more advanced technology such as rain, smoke, lathing, air bubbles and sunlight.

works on any phone, even the most basic ones which support only voice and SMS. Gmail SMS automatically forwards emails as SMS text messages to the phone and the user can respond by replying directly to the SMS. He can also control emails received by replying with

Activating Gmail SMS service Activating this services takes five registration * Click your profile photo at the top of any Gmail page and click Account * Click Open SMS settings in the “Phone and SMS” section * Add your phone number to receive Gmail to that number * Verify your phone number by entering the verification code that would be instantly sent as SMS to your phone and then * Check the box for email forwarding to your phone.

According to Google, sending GmailSMS takes the standard SMS charge of the operator used while receiving Gmail SMS is free of charge.

EL Sajjadah: The prayer mat that lights up when facing Mecca debuts

F

OR Nigerian Muslims who may find it difficult to locate which direction is the West to carry out their prayers, there is actually nothing to worry about now.

This is because a Londonbased Turkish designer Soner Ozenc, has applied his wealth of knowledge in technology to build entertainment and information into the Muslim prayer mat. Tagged EL Sajjadah, the new digital prayer mat lights up when it faces Mecca. With the aid of an embedded digital compass, it finds Mecca based on the mat’s current location, especially if the user feeds that information to the mat’s tiny computer.

Only two prototypes exist and one was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art in New York for its show last

year on interactive design.

Ozenc said he has not received any negative comments about his invention yet but admits the light is very strong and could be distracting. “But there is an off button on the side. You just turn it to off,” said Ozenc.

Ozenc is trying to raise $100,000 through Kickstarter.com, the online fundraising tool, to bring the mat into mass production. If he reaches his goal, for $500, donors can expect one of the first mats out of the factory.

Ozenc who prefers not to share his own religious beliefs, said while working toward a Master’s degree in industrial design about 10 years ago, he began reading about flying carpets in literature. He also studied electro-luminescence, the technology that •El Sajjada makes his mat glow, prayer mat and which he has incorporated into other of his designs, including a wall clock and a decorative butterfly.

“The mat doesn’t have a religious origin,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 37

C M Y K

38— Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Greek jumper fails dope test G reece’s world indoor high jump champion Dimitris Chondrokoukis has pulled out of the London Olympics after testing positive for a banned substance, the athlete’s father said.

“Dimitris will not take part in the Olympic Games,

leaving unfulfilled a dream of a lifetime,” his father and coach Kyriakos Chondrokoukis said in a statement.

The high jumper, who was one of Greece’s best hopes for a medal in track and field, will seek a retest, his father said.

We may not return to US if . . . Kobe Bryant *Beckham offers them tips

K

obe Bryant is clearly the richest athlete here in the London Olympics.

The American Basketball star is worth $30m a year. He earns just above $16m but rakes in above $18m on endorsements annually. But he is humility personified.

He chooses to be ordinary here, very accessible, meeting people, chatting and only getting serious when in training. Few days after he reacted sharply to a question, his answer is still being discussed.

“What would it be like if USA does not win the Basketball gold? As a sportsman will that be acceptable to you? Bryant jerked and for only that moment he chose not to be a sportsman who should accept victory or defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.

“No, that’s not acceptable,” he said with authority in Manchester City where they trained and security men tried to be overzealous in guarding the super star American team. But Bryant is always relaxed. The 12 players in US team are worth $160m dollars annually. And this is excluding money from commercials and endorsements. When you add other sources, the team may worth over $300m per a year.

Could it be why the security men are all eyes on them?

“They may revoke our citizenship if we do not win the gold,” Bryant said, adding “ we are going to play hard.

When you have this kind of talent and we got here by hard work, the only thing we know how to do is to play hard.. For us it is either we

win the gold or don’t come back.

They might revoke our citizenship.”

People are still talking about this reaction from Bryant. It shows how hard they will really play. They have been dominating basketball in the Olympics but they won Bronze in A t h e n s .

However, they returned to Beijing to win the gold. Bryant was in that team and says “there’s no honour more than representing your country in

US gymnast falls in training U

S women’s gymnastics team alternate Anna Li was held out of training on Thursday following a fall during her uneven bars routine earlier in the week.

USA Gymnastics officials say Li was advised by the medical team to skip practice as a

the Olympics. It’s stupid to suggest that the Olympics should be for Under 23s” Bryant is a Man U fan and a friend of David Beckham who has helped him on how to cope with the British weather.

precaution. The 23-year-old Li was training in Birmingham _ about two hours northwest of London _ with the two other alternates on Tuesday when she fell.

Li was taken to the hospital, where tests revealed no injury. It’s doubtful Li would be available to compete if one of the five U.S. team members is unable to go.

The women’s team competition begins Sunday, with teams required to set rosters by Friday.

Injury hangs over Radcliffe

W

orld record holder Paula Radcliffe risks further Olympic heartbreak with her chances of competing in the marathon in London hanging by a thread due to injury, British media reported on Thursday.

“Shall we flip a coin?,” UK athletics head coach Charles van Commenee was quoted as saying when asked whether the 38-year-old would be fit for her fifth and final Games.

“She has been walking a thin line every day for a decade, nothing has changed,” he said. “Paula is always a concern.”

Radcliffe suffered a flaring of osteoarthritis in her left foot a few weeks ago when she flew to Munich to see celebrity sports doctor Hans Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfart.

The Briton has never won an Olympic medal and has been dogged by bad luck at

previous Games.

She was forced to drop out of the 2004 Athens marathon through illness and injury.

She finished 23rd in Beijing after her preparations were also hampered by injury.

Last April she ended a half marathon in Vienna in tears after a slow time in a headto-head with Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, who had a seven minute 52 second handicap.

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 —39

Organisers apologise for N/ Korea flag blunder

Expelled gymnast refuses to sleep

L

ondon 2012 organisers have apologised and blamed human error for Wednesday ’s flag mix-up when South Korea’s flag appeared alongside North Korea’s women’s football team on stadium screens as players warmed up before their opening match.

The team left the pitch in protest at the blunder and initially refused to play but the game with Colombia at Hampden Park, Glasgow, eventually kicked off more than an hour late after hurried corrections to the video rectified the spectacular mistake. On Thursday, North Korea’s Olympic team accepted repeated apologies.

Paul Deighton, the chief executive of the London organising committee for the Olympics, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It was a mistake. It is as simple as that.

We have apologised and taken steps to make sure that it cannot happen again. It was simple human error.”

Kick-off was due at 7.45pm but the aggrieved North Koreans did not restart their warmup until just before 8.30pm, after the flag was replaced with the correct one on the scoreboards following extensive negotiations behind the scenes. The match eventually kicked off at 8.50pm.

Federer, Murray may meet in final op seeded Roger Federer T could meet Britain’s Andy Murray in the Olympic

tennis final in a repeat of Wimbledon earlier this month, after the pair were drawn on opposite sides of the competition on Thursday.

Third seed Murray will take on Federer ’s fellow-Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in his opening match.

Federer, the top seed and world number one, will play Colombia’s Alejandro Falla while Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, seeded two, will face Italy’s Fabio Fognini. top seed Women’s Belarusian Victoria Azarenka will play Romanian world number 79 Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round when the competition kicks off later this week.

America’s Serena Williams, fresh from her fifth Wimbledon title, takes on former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

Neither of Beijing’s singles gold medallists will be returning to defend their titles, after Spain’s Rafa Nadal was forced to pull out through injury and Russia’s Elena Dementieva retired.

C M Y K

G

Soccer players adore Kelly Holmes S

ome of the stars Nigerians adore every week on television are here as lesser stars. They have heroes that they also adore. What a great leveler the Olympic Games are.

Kelly Holmes won two gold medals for Britain at the Athens Olympics. She did so in the 1,500m and the 800m.

She is adored by Britons and was chosen to inspire British teams here including the soccer team.

Ryan Giggs, Greg Bellamy and the rest of Team Great Britain soccer players are still talking about the inspirational address of Kelly Holmes.

Footballers are used to prematch and half time tactical talks by their managers. But by the time Holmes had finished talking to them, they

looked small and admitted that “there’s nothing like the Olympics.” Kelly Holmes moved them including their coach Stuart Pearce who made a great immediate impression to this reporter at the Euro ’96 where he manned the left back position for an England team that included David Seaman, Addams, Garry Southgate, Garry Neville, Paul Ince, Paul Gascoine, Teddy Sherignam, Steve Mcnaniman and the great hit man Alan Shearer.

What a great team they were.

Pearce was a no nonsense defender and fondly called Macho for his macho looks and doggedness. But before a female double Olympic gold medalist he felt small and celebrated meeting her.

“Meeting Kelly Holmes was incredible,” Greg Bellami

said. “She told us what to expect. This is all new to us.

It’s a lot different from what we are used to in football.

There’s a lot more in the Olympics. You are eating with all the athletes. You stay in the Games village together. It all adds up to the experience of being part of the Olympics.

She told us to enjoy it and embrace the Olympics. She said we should interact, meet other athletes and introduce ourselves because not many will recognize you. You are all equal at the Games Village, staying two in a room. I never thought I would be involved in something like this. This is something I would cherish for the rest of my life.”

For Giggs, the famous Manchester United star who is captain of Britain’s Olympic soccer team. “This was a chance I couldn’t turn down.

I hope it is not a one-off, I hope in future Olympics there will be Great Britain teams. It feels so special and the experience is different.”

The players, who are five star heroes to football fans share small but basically furnished rooms – two to a room in the Games Village.

Truly, Olympic Games are special.

Bellamy said he would like to meet Usain Bolt while Giggs craved to meet Roger Federer. Jack Cork, the Southampton midfielder chose Michael Phelps as his hero and an athlete he would like to meet and shake.

So the stars Nigerians know will be gunning for the autographs of bigger stars. It only happens at the Olympics.

reek triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou was sleepless, bitter about her exclusion from the Olympic Games and felt the punishment was excessive, she told Reuters on Thursday.

Papachristou was withdrawn from Greece’s team two days before the opening ceremony after the country’s Olympic Committee said her comments on her Twitter account about West Nile virus and the number of Africans in Greece were against the Olympic spirit.

“I have not slept at all and to be honest I am still trying to come to terms with what has happened,” the Athensborn athlete told Reuters in an interview. “I am trying to stay calm otherwise I would lose control.

“I am thankful to my coach and family and so many other people who have stuck by me.”

Papachristou, who apologised on Wednesday for the offending tweet, said her main emotion was bitterness over her punishment, which she considered excessive.

“After so many years of hurt and sacrifices to try and get to my first Olympics I am very bitter and upset. But what has upset me the most is the excessive reaction and speed of the disciplinary decision,” she said.

Games will show UK can deliver —Cameron

T

he 2012 London Olympic Games is an opportunity for the UK to showcase “beyond doubt that Britain can deliver ”, according to the Prime M i n i s t e r .

Speaking at the Olympic Park in East London, David Cameron said: “Look at what we’re capable of achieving as a nation, even at a difficult economic time.

This speech comes a day after US presidential candidate Mitt Romney expressed concern that the UK was not ready for the games. Yesterday Olympic officials were also forced to apologise to members of the North Korean women’s football team, after their images were shown next to the South Korean flag.

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—41

Why the Federal Government must be restricted — Uduaghan •Says, I am not in a popularity test The Delta State capital, Asaba last weekend hosted the strategic retreat of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, SCCR. On the fringes of the retreat, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan took time off to field questions from a team of visiting journalists. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN POLITICAL EDITOR

W

There are two federating units in Nigeria, the federal government and the states. The truth is that the local government is not a federating unit; the House of Assembly can make laws for the governing of local government councils.

In my first tenure, I did a local government election so you cannot accuse me that I have not conducted a local government election before. Unfortunately, their tenure finished sometime last year and you know we had the highest number of elections in Delta State at about that period.

The tenure of those local governments finished and almost at the same time, the tenure of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) expired.

Unfortunately too, the DSIEC has been having its own challenges in the sense that the membership of the DSIEC with the old law is lopsided and there have always been complaints about the membership; some senatorial districts have more than others.

So we sent an amendment to the House to ensure that there is equity and justice in the

HAT is your impression of the retreat of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review that took place in your state?

It is obviously a constitution that requires some tinkering with. There is no doubt that no constitution is perfect. America has been trying to modify its constitution for several years now and we just started in 1999. Because of our experience in the last 13 years in dealing with the constitution, many people have experienced the flaws and they believe we need to do some changes. Then the Nigerian people who have been governed with the constitution, have also experienced the flaws. So everybody, whether you are in or outside government, believe that we need to deal with the constitution and I believe that what will come out at the end *Uduaghan: Federal Government taking too much will be the people’s constitution.

What provisions of the review the allocation formula. governor that if we don’t go that Constitution in your opinion There has to be a proper way way, our security challenges deserve immediate attention? of dealing with the funds that will continue to get worse.

To what percentage should come from oil: who For us in the Southgets what? Who has derivation be increased to?

South and as a state, The minimum should be 50 the right to get what? the issue is really, per cent.

And we the states of what kind of When is Delta State likely to the Niger Delta, the federation are we oil producing have a local government practicing? The communities, because election and secondly, you are various governments The of the challenge we reported to be against the should be able to Federal have and the Anti-Kidnapping Bill passed manage their affairs, s o m e h o w Government difficulties in the by the House of Assembly? and in Why? independently, with is taking too terrain developing our area, all of us converging many things justice and fair play at the centre. we should and should demands be getting 100 per Kind of be confined cent and paying tax at federalism the centre. But if that to certain arrangement is not The Federal areas and on, then they should Government is taking the too many things and let the states increase derivation to the should be confined to do a lot various oil-producing certain areas and let areas. And then we the states do a lot more than need to review our more than they are they are security arrangement doing now. Why and one of the areas doing now should the federal that we believe government go to should be reviewed is build primary schools the area that states that and healthcare centres or boreholes? We the States should have their believe that the states should own police. Everybody knows handle these. We also need to and I speak in my position as a *Uduaghan: I am not in a popularity test C M Y K

representation at the commission level. That has been passed; we are just collating the list now which we will send to the House. Once that is put off, we will give them three to four months and we will do election.

The second question was about the kidnapping. First, what happened was that at the time the bill was passed, I didn’t give assent to it. Then they started a second one and the time they brought it I was also not in Coffice and the lifespan of M Ythat assembly K passed.

They have resuscitated that bill, they have had a public hearing, they have not quite finished and it has not been brought back to me. When they were doing the public hearing, I sent my Attorney General to give them my own view. And one of the things I did send him to do was to tell them that I don’t believe in death sentence for any crime because death sentence has not stopped any crime in this world.

Public hearing I also believe that all human beings have the right to life, it is my principle. But the bill has not come back to me. I need to correct that impression. When they bring it back to me and I look at it, then I will let you know whether it is acceptable or not. Right now, there is no dispute between the executive and the legislature.

There was a dispute between your administration and an elder statesman in this state.

What is the status of that dispute now?

We have reconciled fully.

Nothing is static in this world, I don’t make permanent enemies and I don’t think anybody should make permanent enemies. In any case we were not even enemies, we only had political differences. He had the advantage of age, experience as a former commissioner, minister, senator (and) he has been a lot of things so he had that experience. He had his own style of putting up whatever he had against me and I also had my own style of dealing with it by not first responding, being abusive and

Continues on page 42

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Why the Federal Government must be restricted — Uduaghan Continues from page 41 rude, taking him as an elder, listening. Reading some of the things he was talking about and the ones I could do, I did them. It got to a point that everybody decided that it was enough and that it was not in the interest of the state or the interest of anybody.

Do you share in the fear that Nigeria could break up soon?

It is not possible. Forget it.

Nigeria will not break up. In fact, the review of the constitution is not even going close to that at all.

We have our contacts, we have our feelers, we have our friends, nobody is contemplating a breakup.

What is the reason behind your vision of Delta Beyond Oil? *Uduaghan: Human beings have right to life What I am saying is that we can use those funds (Derivation Funds) no matter how small they are, something in some of these places; it to develop other areas of the economy might not be as much as what you are which are almost totally zero now. Let doing in Asaba but whatever you are us develop other areas of the economy doing in Asaba you have to do near that so that in future (whether near or far; in Warri. oil is not something you can rely on fully, We have many urban centres that you there might be fall in price, it can finish, have to pay attention to at the same ) whether we have oil or not we can have time. You go to some states and the state a stable economy. What has happened capital is the only urban centre and is that because we have oil, we seemed people are assessing from just getting to have forgotten the other areas of the to the state capital. But you cannot do economy. Not just in this state alone that for Delta. You cannot come to Asaba even in the nation. and assess from only Asaba and go back.

Delta State is a rich state compared A lot of people will take on you if you to a state like Akwa Ibom, but is the make assessment from only Asaba. That state spending judiciously? means that our development has to be Really I hate comparisons. That was more widespread than many other why when you said we are rich I wanted places. to be clear on what the richness is about.

When people say, ‘He is not doing The state you called now, our allocation much’ they don’t take some of these is not as much as theirs. It has never factors into place. In any case, people been since the past five years; we don’t have different programmes. I am not in have the same allocation. a popularity test. If I want to Two, states have different be in a popularity test, I will problems and challenges. just come as a governor and ask what the people like, Producing maybe renovate all the schools communities and leave other things undone. It is easy to be popular but governance for me This is the only state or is not about popularity. For me, maybe Ondo, where if you come in and go in a whatever we get, especially popularity test, you are the derivation part, the creating problems for the next governor does not spend all person coming in. the derivation money. What For me, governance is about we are talking about now, strategizing for the good of the when it comes, I have to people for a long time and the divide it into two; 50 per strategy you are putting up is cent goes to the state level not just for you alone but for and 50 per cent goes to an the person coming after you outfit we call the Delta State and other people coming Oil Producing Areas It is easy to thereafter. But you that is Development Commission, starting that strategic planning, to be able to deal with the be popular obviously you cannot be oil producing communities. popular. It is like you are I needed to explain that. So but planting a mango tree, nobody the bit that is left is what I governance sees the mango tree because have to use for the whole state including the oil for me is not you are already planting it on the ground and you just water producing areas. I still have about it. to deal with them from this popularity All they see is maybe the money. Two, I have a sand that is being watered, challenge of having the they cannot appreciate what highest number of urban centres in Nigeria. In Delta State, there you are doing. Specifically, what we are is Asaba, there is Warri, there is Agbor, doing is trying to strategize not just for there is Sapele, there is Ughelli; and today but for the future of the state. And all of them are urban centres that can what is the strategy we are adopting? be state capitals. When you are doing We are adopting a strategy in which we something in Asaba you also have to be are using the money that is coming now conscious that you also have to do to prepare for tomorrow.

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—43

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN POLITICAL EDITOR

N

OT many were surprised that President Goodluck Jonathan went across party lines to pick Senator Joy Emodi as his focus person in the administration’s dealings with the National Assembly last year.

Her appointment as Special Adviser, National Assembly was expected to help facilitate smooth relationship between the executive and the legislative branches of government.

However, the grit and grip of the popular lawmaker are increasingly being tested by the ensuing crisis between the House of Representatives and the presidency over the administration’s implementation of the 2012 budget.

At issue is the general grievance of the lawmakers that the administration has underperformed in its implementation of the capital side of the budget.

Even with the abundance of funds the administration is reportedly underperforming its execution of the capital budget.

In many instances not more than 30% of the budget has been executed even in the seventh month of the year.

Impeachment Threat: Emodi’s emotions and emolument issues Senator Joy Emodi’s personae and performance as a legislator may have recommended her as the administration’s contact person with the legislature. The question has, however, arisen as to whether the woman dubbed Joy of the Senate can soothe the administration in its present agonies?

Educational institutions That complaint is indeed not a new one. That indeed has been the sorry story since 1999.

Mrs. Emodi as a lawmaker and especially as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education was herself very *Jonathan: In the eye of the storm passionate in ensuring that votes for the country ’s educational institutions matured “The original motion had only Tambuwal’s reached them unimpeded. stewardship of the House, two prayers and after It was largely on account of further heaped praises on the deliberations and her efforts that two of an amendment by speaker claiming that the federal Hon. Ogbuefi Tambuwal and the president institutions, partly in Seeking to Ozomgbachi, only were on the same page on most appreciation of her douse the one prayer was issues. roles, conferred Appealing to the media to carried and it had doctorate degrees tension, nothing to do with play a matured role in its on her.

Emodi who i m p e a c h m e n t reportage of the issue, she said: Against that has in the past threat,” Mrs. “I want to appeal to the Media background, Emodi said in her as the Fourth Estate of the many are now made first open Realm to report in positive ways looking up to see reference to i n t e r v e n t i o n that will help promote our how she would Speaker through a press governance efforts and navigate the issue of statement last strengthen the democratic the administration’s Aminu process.

Tuesday. inabilities to Tambuwal’s Sensational reportage of key “What actually perform. national issue such as this does happened during As members of the matured House of stewardship of the debate on not help the country in any way b u d g e t as it creates unnecessary Representatives the House, implementation tension in the polity. The pointed out at the p e n u l t i m a t e further heaped was that the media has a responsibility to minority leader, in build up and support the effort Thursday session, praises on the his contribution, of the government at failure to implement speaker m e n t i o n e d delivering the dividends of a budget which is i m p e a c h m e n t good governance to the itself a law, is an claiming that was not citizens”. impeachable Tambuwal and which even put to vote,” offence. modi’s efforts the Special Adviser In her intervention the president nonetheless, other said. into the crisis, Dr. were on the Seeking to douse administration officials also Emodi has sought to the tension, Emodi point at a major crisis arising play down the crisis same page on who has in the past from what they cite as the alleging that the most issues made reference to vengeful role of some house media is crying wolf Speaker Aminu members. where there is none.

E

C M Y K

*Emodi: Says it is a media fascination

The administration supporters claim that the impeachment threat which emanated at the penultimate Thursday sitting of the House, arose from anger over their failure to get their third quarter allowance on or before that day.

Sources revealed that Finance Ministry officials failed or refused to provide a bank guarantee that would have enabled the House get a loan to cover the payment of the third quarter allocation.

Federation account The need for the loan arose from the failure of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC to share the federation account before that Thursday’s sitting which remarkably was the day the house proceeded on vacation.

“That anger was boiling over and that fired the angst of many house members,” one source disclosed.

The anger apparently combined with other outstanding issues including the poor budget performance and the seeming actions of the

president to ignore notable resolutions of the house.

Among the strong resolutions of the house that have been ignored even with ignominy was that seeking the dismissal of Ms Arumah Oteh as the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. Though the allocation to the House has now been paid, the issue of the poor implementation of the budget has continued to stir. Members are resolved to for once put the administration on its toes towards ensuring that the good life distills down to the populace.

“This is not about us, it is about what happens to the common man,” a senior official of the house told Vanguard.

Remarkably, some House members it was learnt have formed themselves into a group to ensure that they keep watch over the implementation of the budget during the House vacation.

As it is, the issues are now beyond emotion as canvassed

by Emodi or emoluments as suggested by some critics of the House of Representatives.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 AT last, the correct version of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has been sent to the National Assembly for deliberation and enactment into law. To be fair, taking a cursory look at the bill, it looks like an elegant document – a Dictionary of the Petroleum Industry. The Senate President who described it as the ‘Bible‘ of the petroleum industry meant well. This is a credit to those crafty hands that drafted the bill. The expectation is that the legislators would do justice to such an important document.

The bill, according to its sponsors, is a necessary document to explain the petroleum industry and to mark its relevance to the welfare of the people and economic development of the country. To many Nigerians, the petroleum industry law would open the gate to prosperity and change the perception in certain quarters that oil is not a blessing but a disaster to the nation.

However, the legislators should be able to differentiate between realism and undue optimism. On the question of the ownership of petroleum resources, a provision of the Bill says, “The entire property and control of all petroleum in, under or upon any lands within Nigeria, its territorial waters, on which forms part of its continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic area is vested in the Government of the Federation”.

This simply means that oil belongs to the Federal Government only. This runs widely against the notion of our friends in the difficult and heavily polluted terrains of the Niger Delta that ‘oil‘ belongs

07059197616

Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB): Some unresolved issues to them and the common phrase of ‘our oil ‘being used to develop Nigeria.

The seemingly bogus claim of the Federal Government (subject to legal definition) has duly affected its determination in the provisions of the Bill to have full control of the oil industry. It may seem nice when there is that pleasant coincidence of having a President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources coming from the same state of the Niger Delta with the hope that the interests of the oil producing states would be favourably considered. What happens when the king who does not know “Joseph” is on the throne?

The intention of the Federal Government in having full control of the industry is reflected in the powers given to the Minister of Petroleum Resources. Some of these are (a) Be responsible for the formulation, determination and monitoring of Government policy for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria; (b) Advise the Government on all matters

pertaining to the Petroleum Industry and also have direct access and seek information by right from agencies benefiting from licenses under the Act. The power of the Minister is total because acting on the advice of the Inspectorate or Agency, can grant, amend, renew, extend or revoke upstream/downstream licenses and leases pursuant to the provisions of the Act. Another provision of the Bill which needs close attention by the legislators is that which states that, “ when enacted, the Petroleum Industry Act, will, in addition to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources provide for the establishment of nine agencies responsible for the operations of the oil and gas sector.

These agencies will be answerable to the Minister of Petroleum Resources. It appears funny that in an attempt to dismantle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); the bill makes provision for the creation of 9 agencies, each with a

UNILAG: Why Jonathan should reverse himself on name change Mr Wahab Shittu is a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos and a private prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In this interview, he speaks passionately on why the proposed renaming of the University of Lagos after Chief Moshood Abiola should be reversed. Excerpts:

BY INNOCENT ANABA

W

HAT is your stance on the renaming of the University of Lagos after Chief Moshood Abiola?

I have the highest respect for the office and person of the President. Let me also say that I recognise the imperative of honouring late Chief M.K.O Abiola for the enormous sacrifice he made on June 12 and in preserving our democratic experiment. I believe that he deserves to be immortalised.

I also believe that all operators in a democracy must behave as democrats and that democracy is noted for certain fundamentals. These fundamentals include due process, rule of law, constitutionalism, supremacy of the constitution, respect for fundamental rights,

C M Y K

respect for process and procedures, transparency and accountability, zero tolerance for corruption. All these are encapsulated in good governance.

So I believe that under a democracy, the underlining philosophy of democracy is that sovereignty lies with the people and that all actions should be carried out with the people in mind.

The renaming of UNILAG by presidential proclamation without consultation with all the stakeholders including the Senate fails to recognise the fact that UNILAG was created by an Act of Parliament. And as such, for you to be able to tamper with an Act of Parliament, you have to do so by a constitutional amendment. This process ought to be carried out and approved before the Pres-

ident announces such a change, if necessary.

But as it is now, what has happened is the subversion of due process, clearly the subversion of rule of law and the subversion of constitutionalism.

Legislative authority You don’t put the cart before the horse. So, given these circumstances, what the National Assembly ought to do in order to preserve their legislative authority and enhance the doctrine of separation of powers, is to throw out the bill because the legislature is not a rubberstamp of the executive.

Abiola himself will not be happy to see that in an attempt to immortalise him due process was subverted. He himself said

board (paid chairman and members). It looks like an invitation to undesirable waste of funds and unnecessary bureaucracy.

The logical argument is that if in managing the NNPC (which is either a government agency or a public venture), there is a lot of bungling and fumbling, managing nine agencies could be a direct invitation to chaos and disaster! Since the officials of these agencies would be appointed by the President or on the advice of the Minister, it could be a case of political nice jobs for the good boys. The bill also provides for the return of the badly damaged Equalization Petroleum Fund. Under the complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry, there should be no need for uniform price of petroleum products in the country.

There is a provision for full deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry which stipulates that the price of products shall be deregulated to ensure (a) market related prices (b) adequate supply of petroleum products (c) removal of economic distortions and (d) the creation of fair market value for petroleum products in the Nigerian economy. To my understanding, full deregulation would allow marketers to procure their products (crude oil), refine them, store them and transport them to their depots and to their customers through their network of retail outlets.

The pricing is normally based on the cost of crude, refinery charges, storage and distribution costs and you cannot shave a man’s head behind his back. Using that analogy, how do you shave the head of UNILAG behind the back of UNILAG? My advice to Mr President is that he should be a listening President. If he reverses back to the previous name and then looks elsewhere to immortalise Abiola, it will not be a sign of weakness. Indeed, it would be a demonstration of high statesmanship.

Do you agree with some that some other university or stadium should be used to immortalize Abiola?

That argument overlooks the fact that Abiola was a multidimensional person who touched lives in several ways. He was the pillar of sports.

If you don’t want to name any edifice that has any sports significance to his memory, why not name the Eagle Square in Abuja after him, or why not name a democratic institute after him, or why not declare June 12 M.K.O Abiola Day and then organise activities yearly around that date with federal government participation and approval?

What would it cost the University of Lagos if the university bears the name Moshood

allowance for profits. Government should not interfere with the pricing mechanism but ensure that no abnormal price is charged. The provision of Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agencies with its board (chairman and members) may not be necessary or may be limited in its activities to providing a favourable atmosphere for the growth of the sector through improved infrastructural developments which would invite foreign and Nigerian investments. The existing government facilities should either be leased or sold to the existing viable marketing organizations in the country.

There should be no room for government to come ‘through the back door‘ to control and disorganize the downstream sector after it has been sincerely deregulated.

Another provision in the PIB is that every company that is involved in the oil and gas exploration and production is required to remit into a fund on a monthly basis, 10% of its net profit. The fund is for the economic development of the oil producing areas. This, to me, is begging the question on having shares and control in the oil resources of the area. It would have been better to give a certain percentage of control and revenue in the agency responsible for the management of revenue and expenditure of the oil resources. This would have been possible if the envisaged National Oil Company (NOC) is saddled with the responsibilities of funding production and sharing income according to designated agreement among shareholders.

*Shittu

Abiola?

Well, it will cost a lot in the sense that University of Lagos has become a brand independent of the history of Abiola.

Abiola has its own independent history. UNILAG also has its own independent history. You don’t use one history to supplant another history without disastrous consequences. If you rename it, it is like killing the brand, a brand that is known nationally and internationally with its own peculiarities.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012—45

Why I can’t bite the hands that fed me — Rep. Bamidele POLITICAL ENCOUNTER

BY GBENGA OKE

T

HE encounter between Rep. Opeyemi Bamidele and a group of newsmen was like a reunion of a fraternity of old.

Even though a lawyer, Bamidele came to public renown as a media man of sorts. Bamidele had distinguished himself as a civil rights activist and subsequently as a media strategist for the Alliance for Democracy in Lagos State before his appointment as a Commissioner in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu cabinet.

He was variously Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Special Adviser to the Governor, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and before then, Lagos State National Director of Publicity, Alliance for Democracy.

Although he made his name in Lagos, it was to his native Ekiti State that he resorted to in the approach to the 2011 general elections. His original intention was to run for the Senate, but a huge controversy and the intervention of the party elders acting on the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN’s own unique definition of internal democracy weighed against him.

*Rep Opeyemi Bamidele: We have not even condemned Farouk Lawan

in Lagos, it would also be important that I should also make myself available to be of relevance to the people of Ekiti State, my place of birth,” he said.

“I felt it would be important, that someday, when the history of that small state, where the growth of the economy and of our democracy has remained extremely nascent for such a long time, it would be written someday that my own name will also go down in history as one of those who actually came to join hands to help uplift the state.

That was the reason why I decided to go to Ekiti and run for election.”

But after winning Party's the party primaries ticket for the Ekiti Central Senate seat he was passed over. How He was, however, did he feel? not left completely “All I can say is that barren as the party the leadership of the elders handed over to The image party decided that a him the party’s ticket for the n Ijero/Ekiti of the House, number of other factors would also West/Efon Federal Constituency, in the I will say has come into play. They included issues of House of suffered a age; a lot of the Representatives. leaders felt age was So, why did he opt setback, but on my side. Some of to run for election in them also felt that Ekiti State and not the image of given the number of Lagos where he cut the House is us who were his political teeth was interested, I was the naturally the first not dented youngest. Again, question that came up they also felt that during the interaction looking at in a Chinese eat out somewhere in Ikeja area of opportunities that had been Lagos. offered, I had more than some “To the glory of God, I wasn’t other people. So it was a question doing badly in the politics of of just trying to use their own Lagos. But I got to a point where wisdom.”

I said it wouldn’t really matter Internal democracy: Noting how much God has promoted me his political fidelity, he continued:

C M Y K

”And of course, I am a member of a political party, where they are no pretensions as to where we stand. The party is committed to democracy, but we have our own distinct definition of internal democracy, and a lot of factors go into it, than just being the most popular aspirant among the members of the party.”

“So the leadership of the party decided; it wasn’t particularly an easy decision for me to take, but I had to remain consistent, and again, I wasn’t going to bite any finger that God has used to feed me or to jump start my political career.”

Activist turned politician In referring to “not biting the hand that had fed him” was off course not a veiled phrase to watchers of the activist turned politician. He inevitably referred to the ACN political leader, Asiwaju Tinubu who facilitated his political emergence in Lagos.

“It was a decision I had to take in good faith, and I left it in God’s hands. But today, in the House of Reps, I want to say that I do not have any regrets being there.

I went there believing that God preceded me to the place, and it became manifest on the very day the House was inaugurated, the man who was chosen as speaker invited me to his office.”

“Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal offered me the position of the Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and that was the first committee that would be set up by him, and the only committee for a period of four months that the Ad Hoc assignment lasted.”

Constituency projects: So, what has he been able to do for his constituents? Opeyemi who claims to be feeding off on the law practice he established

before going into politics claimed that he has dedicated his total salary from the House to the less privileged in his constituency.

“In the last one year to the glory of God, I can say that my salary has gone into this venture. The first round was to go to widows.

We actually empowered 200 widows from within my constituency. Again, I must say that this is not something that I have been handling on my own.

We have a Fund Advisory Committee that is headed by a retired Chief Judge, who is also the traditional ruler of my town, he is retired Justice Ademola Ajakaye, the Oluyin of Iyin. He is there with two other traditional

*Bamidele...House has suffered

rulers as well as a representative of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties in Ekiti, who is the State Chairman of the CPC.” I was curious to ask why there was no representative of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on the committee, but I never got the opportunity to ask that.

“Beyond that, at the level of brick and mortar, in the last one year, I have tried to also help with some of our community development projects.

“In the 2012 budget, by the grace of God, I have been able to influence a good number of constituency projects into my

constituency, using the intervention fund made available to the National Assembly members by the Federal Government.”

“In the 2012 budget, I have attracted six primary health centres to my community, and they will be spread in six different towns. Also four different 300KVA transformers, and a total of 11 boreholes in different communities in the remote towns and villages of the constituency, and two youth development and vocational training centres among other things.”

Lawan saga: Given the oozing odour emanating from the Farouk Lawan saga in the House, Opeyemi was asked his bearing on the issue.

“I will put it this way, the image of the House, I will say has suffered a setback, but the image of the House is not dented.”

“I do not have the illusion that in a house where there are 360 people, and in a senate of 109 people, that we won’t occasionally have situations to manage.”

“As much as possible, we believe that whatever happens, if any member of the house is given an assignment, either an ad hoc assignment or as chairman or member of a standing committee, and you go on a frolick of your own, and end up soiling yourself or creating a colour of integrity that could possibly affect the image of the house, then we need to dissociate the house.”

Hembe and Farouk Lawan “And that is what we had to do in the matter of Hembe and Farouk Lawan. We have not even condemned Farouk Lawan; he has not been suspended as a member of the House of Reps.

You know the rules of the house gives us the power to do that; we can suspend him from coming to that house; we cannot remove him as a member that is why the constitution makes provision for a setback a recall process.

It is only those who elected him that can recall him, if they so feel. If they still feel he has the integrity to represent them, they can leave him.

“There are moral issues, but we have not come to any conclusion; we have not condemned him. We will allow the security agencies to finish their investigations. We also would wait for the committee on ethics and privileges to finish its work. But it is part of the legislative agenda that if anyone does anything to compromise himself, we will distance the house from him.”

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Bismillahi Rahamani Raheem.

Wasalatu wasalam ala seyidina Muhammad, wa ala alihi, wa ashabihi, wasselim.

A

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

‘O Allah, bring back Gawat They say baseless things as: “where are the Alfas,” “where are the powers they claim to have without using such to at least get a clue of Gawat’s whereabouts,” et cetera as if these people decide the fate of man. Some have mischievously queried the so-called spiritual powers nokalis in Yoruba parlance of the Alfas. Others also derided saying well meaning Muslims could not make use of their connection and money to find out Gawat. Let it be known that these are ranting of mischief makers who think absolute powers reside in man. Nay! There is no power or wisdom except with Allah, the Almighty. No human can do anything except that which is decreed to be done by Allah.

•Rasaq Aremu Gawat: Still missing

During the time of the prophet, about 4th-5th Hijrah, immediately after a war with the unbelievers who had waged war on Muslims, the Prophet’s camel which the prophet rode to the

,

LHAJI Aremu Gawat does not need much introduction. For twenty-five years, he has endeared himself to the hearths of Muslims and non-Muslims during the month of Ramadan. They always look forward to Ramadan and on NTA where Aremu Gawat will be waiting to dole out the gifts in unimaginable proportions from the first day to the last day of the month. He sources different types of gifts raging from household items to edible items, cash, and hajj slots from individuals and organisations and doles it out to Muslims and non-Muslims during Ramadan.

But about 11 days to Ramadan, the ace broadcaster disappeared, and since, there has not been any clue about his whereabouts’. The psychological trauma this has left to the family is unimaginable.

Chief Imams heads of organisations and societies, Muslim leaders have not relented in offering prayers for his safe return. Our believe is that he will return safely.

It is however disheartening that some people have decided to be like the Ashabu towilu-lisani, (people with long tongue) making unfortunate comments.

Let it be known that these are ranting of mischief makers who think absolute powers reside in man. Nay! There is no power or wisdom except with Allah, the Almighty. No human can do anything except that which is decreed to be done by Allah

battle field, Qaswa, got missing.

Three among those who followed him met at a corner to review the incidence of the missing camel.

One of the three musketeer said: “how could somebody be sent by God and yet his camel was missing and he knows not her whereabouts?” He derided him saying: “Angel Jubril who comes to give him revelation could not even tell him where his camel was.” “Was he truly sent by God and other bla… bla? The second person expressly repudiated that comment, saying it did not matter if he did not find his camel that he still remained the prophet of God. The third person was however indifferent about the situation and thus, he was cautious in his comment. As they continued with their meeting, Angel Jubril was sent by Allah to reveal their discussion to the prophet and where they were.

The Prophet immediately told his followers that these people are meeting somewhere discussing about him on the missing camel

Indomie to spend N30m on feeding of 1m Muslims during Ramadan I N commemoration of the ongoing Muslim fasting in the month of Ramadan, DUFIL Prima Foods Plc makers of Nigeria’s noodles brand - Indomie Instant Noodles has announced its plan to feed one million Muslims by providing free meal during the break of fast (Iftar) across the nation during the 30 days fasting period which commenced on Friday July 20, 2012.

According to the Public Relations Manager, DUFIL Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Temitope Ashiwaju, the company is identifying with Muslims during the 30 days fasting period as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by serving cooked Indomie

products, served in well packed foil plates during ‘Iftar’(Evening Break) at various popular central Mosques across the c o u n t r y .

Ashiwaju revealed that Indomie as the leading Noodles brand in Nigeria believes strongly in connecting with its consumers through varied engagement platforms and that the month of Ramadan provides such unique opportunity to connect with and engage the Muslim c o n s u m e r s .

On the logistics of distribution, “We have identified several central mosques across the country where a total of 25,000 cartons of foil packed Indomie will be served freely at the time of breaking the

and other details of their discussion. He also gave a vivid description of the one who derided him and where they were. Amarah who was with the prophet, upon hearing this went

fast at each of these mosques on a cycle basis, as in one mosque per day and thus in a week, we cover the identified mosques of that city and the cycle continues”, he said.

Ashiwaju stressed further that the council of Imams in the various locations across the country have given their support to ensure the success of the exercise and the Imams of each mosque will supervise the distribution of freshly prepared Indomie to members during the ‘Iftar ’.

He declared that the exercise is expected to last throughout the 30 days Ramadan season in all central Mosques across the country during which an estimated 1 Million people would have been fed.

,

after these men. On reaching them, he asked: who amongst you derided the prophet on the missing camel? Who said: “if the prophet was a messenger of Allah, he would have known where he camel was; and that he was not sent by God,” Amarah asked. They were speechless starring at each other. Following the description of the prophet on who among them was particularly

mischievous, Amarah said: it was you Seidu pointing at him. He confessed asking for forgiveness.

Amarah dragged him to the Prophet. Seidu knelt before the Prophet apologizing. The Prophet forgave him but explained to him that, he was only a man and not God; he submits to Allah with everything that HE wills. “I know nothing except that which He made me to know”. Opinions were differed among the followers on how to punish him but the Prophet insisted he be forgiven and ordered he should be freed. At that point God revealed to him where his camel was lying.

“There is she, there is she!” The Prophet shouted pointing to a direction. The followers rushed down to the direction which he pointed and the camel was found. The bracelets on her neck got hooked to an object making it difficult for her to move. You can read it in the Scientific Facts in the Life of Prophet Muhammad, page 34.

We as Muslims can only continue to pray for the safe return of our brother. We beseech Allah and for the sake of Ramadan, to bring him back safely before the end of the glorious month. How many homes would have been affected through his programmes this month; how many would have found happiness in receiving his gifts and also getting the opportunity to go to Hajj through Edide Ejisari? O’ Allah where ever he is, it is not hidden from you; guide and protect him and bring him back to us safely. We cannot challenge Your authority, but we beseech you for sake of our noble Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) to undo anything against AbdulRazaq Aremu Gawat and bring him back safely. Bihaqi la aola wala kuwata ilaa bila aliyul-azeem. Amin.

Mosque etiquette during Ramadan

BY HARUN RAZAQ

A

S the blessed month of Ramadan commences, one vital issue that immediately comes to mind is etiquette with mosque during the blessed month. Muslims who are well informed about their faith will surely know the relevance of the topic especially in the month of Ramadan.

During the month, Muslims both the regular ones and the fresher storm the mosques in large numbers and most Mosques that used to have few worshipers now are being filled to capacity. Large numbers of Muslims frequent various Mosques for Ibadan (worship) which are hitherto not the norm. In the proscess of using the mosque, many Muslims inadvertently abuse the Mosque. Thus for the benefit of such people, below are information and rules that guide in the use of Mosque (though not limited to the month of Ramadan).

Mosque is a place reserved and dedicated for the worship of Allah, (Salat, seeking knowledge, recitation of the glorious Qur’an, Fikr (reflection or meditation), lectures, counseling, and other acts of worship.

Therefore, a person visiting the mosque: must be a Muslim; must cover his/her nakedness; must be in a state of cleanliness; men may wear light perfumes; go to the Mosque in a dignified manner; enter with right leg, saying: “auzu billahil azeem,

wabiwajhil kareem, wasultaninihil qadeem, minash shaitanir rrajeem bismillahi wassalatu wassallamu ala rasuli llahi, Allahumma iftahlee abwaaba rahmatika” and then exit with the left foot first saying:” bismillahi wassalatu wassallamu ala rasuli llahi, Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlika, Allahumma ‘isimni minash shaitaani rajeem”; should observed two Rak’ats as a form of salutation to the mosque before he/she sits down; must adopt a barrier (Satrah) in front when praying; must straightening the rows and close the gaps; should involve in act of worship such as nawafil, (non-obligatory salat), remembrance of Allah, tilawah (recitation of Qur’an), dua’ (supplication) etc., before the commencement of obligatory salat. But if it has commenced, he should rather join the obligatory prayer. Also related to Mosque etiquette is maintaining the Mosque.

Regular attention should be paid to the mosque by maintaining it from time to time (by sweeping, washing with some nice fragrance) in order to attract worshippers.

Managers of Mosques in Nigeria are there by advised to emulate the management of the two Holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah who are doing well in this aspect as witnessed by this writer during his Hajj few years ago.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 47

Ilado, Inagbe communities to embark on 5-yr devt plan

Library scientists

L

L

IBRARY and Informa tion Scientists, LIS, across Africa are seeking a unified body that will enable it fast-track the development of the sector.

The body to be known as the African Library Information Association and Institutions, AfLIA, will support the library and information profession that anticipates and responds to the needs of communities in Africa and drive high standards in library and information services and professional practices.

WORKSHOP—From left; Director, Press/Public Relations, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy; Mrs. Ronke Osho, Coordinator, ENABLE, Lagos; Mr. Niyi Ladoja, Consultant/Managing Director, Ashton and Layton; Mr. Gbenga Adebija and Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Tayo Akanle during a workshop for information officers in MDAs organized by the Ministry in conjunction with ENABLE in Lagos.

A

T

Rotary

P

RESIDENT, Rotary Club of Maryland, Lagos, Rosemary Ifeonye, has urged Nigerian leaders to embrace the cardinal tenets of the Rotary International’s four-way tests and inculcate the best use of their talents and time to improve the lots of the masses.

Ifeonye, who made the remark during her installation as 11th president of the club for 2012 and 2013 Rotary year, reiterated the need for people, society and government to align on a common ground to fight corruption.

She called for the overhaul of the socio-economic infrastructure, especially the power sector which will in turn provide job opportunity to the citizenry and urged stakeholders in the economy to pull their resources together and provide for the masses in order to promote continued peaceful co-existence.

of certificate and staff of office to the Oba. The meeting which took place at the Oba’s Palace, was attended by representatives of the Lagos State government, Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government , representatives of the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Baales in Ilado and Inagbe, leaders of Community Development Associations in the area, as well as youth and religious leaders.

The Baales took turns to speak on the challenges of their domains and their expectations from the government.

Group blames non-constitution of boards on perm secs

Farmers' exhibition HE South-West states in in collaboration with Chubbies and Fields will soon host the first farmers and food fair in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital in September. The exhibition has the support of the Oodua Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

According to the lead partners in Chubbies and Fields, Dr Akin Ajiboye and Mr Dimeji Fatunla, the exhibition will draw participants from South-West states and foreign stakeholders who are concerned about tackling the emerging food crisis across the West African sub-region.

The organisers said the event will showcase real and potentials for agrarian revolution in the South West. “We hope this will lead to revolution in the agrarian sector across the South-West.

AGOS State Govern ment, traditional rulers, leaders of community development Associations, CDAs, and residents of Ilado and Inagbe islands in Lagos, have resolved to embark on a five-year development programme to enable the islands realize their true potentials as the best tourist destinations in West Africa.

The decision was taken at a Town Hall Meeting organised by the Onilado of Ilado, Oba Mobadenle Oyekan, Esimikan II, following a charge by Governor Babatunde Fashola during the recent presentation

LAUNCH—From left: Senior Manager, SME Segment, Mrs. Barbara Anozia; Senior Manager, Corporate Accounts, Mr. Mohammed Aliyu; and Senior Manager SME & Regional Accounts, Mrs. Omotayo Ojutalayo, all of MTN Nigeria at the launch of MTN HyNet in Port Harcourt, yesterday Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

group, Akwa Ibom Equity Frontiers, yesterday, blamed permanent secretaries in the state civil service for the delay in the constitution of boards and commissions in Akwa Ibom State.

The group which met in Abuja, condemned what it described as the ‘overzealousness of some bureaucrats who have suddenly amassed political powers, even when they are not political appointees, and have been lobbying to delay the constitution of new boards and agencies by the State government.’

It said “qualified supporters of the governor are languishing while the boards remained ineffective and inefficient,” maintaining that permanent secretaries lacked the drive to take political decisions.

Its chairman, Dr. Okopedi Ekungulor, advocated the equitable and fair distribution of appointments as well as the prompt constitution of the boards as a way of pacifying socio-political and interest groups who were seen working tirelessly for the re-emergence of Chief Akpabio in the last polls in the state.

threatens to shut Edo guber election petition Community down operation of coy tribunal constituted T

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—EDO State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, to entertain petitions arising from the outcome of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state has been constituted.

A statement by Mrs. J. Aliyu, Secretary, Tribunal, Edo State, said the venue of the tribunal is the High Court of Justice Complex, Court 1, Sapele Road, Benin City.

She enjoined the Police, State Security Service, SSS and the general public to take note that Nigerians in respective of their political persuasions have declared the July 14, 2012 Edo State governorship election to be best conducted in the country apart from the June 12, 1993 presidential election, presumed won by late Chief Moshood Abiola.

It will be recalled that although President GoodLuck Jonathan and top Peoples Democratic Party, PDP members across the country had congratulated Governor Adams Oshiomhole on his victory, PDP governorship candidate in the state, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere has so far refused to congratulate Oshiomhole

on his victory at the poll.

It was gathered that the General Airhiavbere is seriously considering going

to election tribunal to challenge the declaration of Oshiomhole as winner of the election.

Bayelsa CP assures on crime prevention

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—BAYELSA State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, has said the Nigeria Police Force was determined to curb crime in the country, urging members of the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the tracking down of hoodlums.

Olakpe, in a chat with newsmen in his home town, Idheze, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, moments after the Idheze Community/ Elite group hosted him, said the cooperation of Nigerians was needed to put the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram and other forms of crime to the country under check.

Reiterating that it was impossible for security agents alone to curb the menace of terrorists and armed rob-

bery in the country, he appealed to well meaning Nigerians to invest in crime control in their domains.

HE people of Aghoro 1 and 2, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, under the aegis of Combine Surveillance Squad of Aghoro, yesterday, threatened to shut the operation of Sterling Global Services, if the company fails to meet their demands.

In a statement on behalf of the two communities, Mr. Ebi Eyarakpor, said since they were tired of the company’s failed promises of empowering the youths and women of the communities, “we give them sev-

en days ultimatum to stop its operation for discussion of the way forward, else we will force them to do so,” he said.

He added “despite the neglect, we have been supporting the company’s operations. But as it is now, we are tired and want the company to stop its operation to create room for us to discuss the way forward.”

Eyarakpor, noted that if the company fails to stop its operation, they would be left with no option than to shut their operations.

Bauchi PDP blames non-conduct of LG poll on CPC's suit

BY SUSAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State People’s Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday blamed the suit filed by the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, for delay in conducting local government elections in the state.

Assistant State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Bashir Bukar who disclosed this said “the tenured of the immediate passed council chairmen had expired and because of the litigations, government found itself in a difficult position, therefore it cannot violate court order.

"After government dissolved the councils, we cannot leave them without a head, so government constituted caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of the councils.

"Before we could organ-

ise the local government elections again, CPC filed a case in court, so we have to wait for the court to determine the suit before we can organised elections since our party and our government are law abiding.”

Group honours Okorocha's wife

I

MO State Towns Devel opment Association, ISTDAL, will tomorrow at the Lagoon restaurant, VictoriaIsland, Lagos, hold a civic reception in honour of the Imo State First Lady, Lolo Nneoma Okorocha.

According to the Head, Summit Media and Public-

ity, Mrs Ijeoma Nwajames, the First Lady of Lagos State, MrsAbimbola Fashola will be the Special Guest of Honour. This event, she said, will be under the distinguished chairmanship of Chief Dozie Irechukwu and Engr, Uche Ibeagi.

48 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Vanguard CLASSIFIED ASOGBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Ajasa Asogba Sevena, now wish to be known and addressed as Akodogbo Asogba John. All former documents remain valid.

Asogba family and general public please take note.

IGBOAMALU— I, formerly known and addressed as Igboamalu M a u r e e n Chinekwu, now wish to be known and addressed as U w a k w e M a u r e e n Chinekwu. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

UGWUEZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patience Ugwueze, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jeli Patience Ndidiamaka.

All former documents remain valid. Delta State University, NYSC and general public please take note.

MUSA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nancy Musa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nancy Katu Ogundimu.

All former documents remain valid.

University of Jos, U.S. Embassy, Nigeria and general public please take note.

NYIWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Loretta Kwese Nyiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Loretta Kwese Gbagyo. All former documents remain valid.

National Examinations Council (NECO), Benue State University (BSU) and general public please take note.

Confirmation of Names This is to confirm that the name Mr.. Azegba Okechukwu Ekeh Sylvanus refer to one and the same person as Mr. Azegba Macdonald Okechukwu. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Azegba Macdonald Okechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UGWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwu Rosemary N., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezeugwu Rosemary N. All former documents remain valid. University of Agriculture, Makurdi and general public please take note.

PETERS—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Fidelis Peters, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Odeh Peters Atungu Fidelis. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Polytechnic, KauraNamoda, Zamfara State, NYSC and general public please take note.

A J U K PA H A — I , formerly known and addressed as A j u k p a h a T h a n k G o d Chimnedum, now wish to be known as and called Kabiri T h a n k G o d Chimnedum. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHIBUEZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Chibueze Gift Uche, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogini Gift Uche. All former documents remain valid. Buckie-poly Ogidi and general public please take note.

NZOBIWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Anwulika Nzobiwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Anwulika Duru. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

ODO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odo Olubunmi Ekuntola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. A d e y i n k a O l u b u n m i Ekuntola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EBEBE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Glory Benson Ebebe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Nkereuwem Sunday.

All former documents remain valid. College of Education, Ekiadolor and general public please take note.

J A C O B — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Jacob Hope Arojeumen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osobhalufoh Hope Arojeumen.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DOGWOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Felicia O n y e b u c h i Dogwoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Felicia Onyebuchi Babs-Shomoye. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EBEGONYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jennifer Elaipu Ebegonye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jennifer Elaipu Ene Ebuzor. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public please take note.

OMAGBEMI—This is to confirm that the name Omagbemi Brown and Iyenmireju Austine is one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Iyenmireju Austine.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EBBAH—This is to confirm that the name Courage Ebbah and Atameh Iyeh Courage is one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Atameh Iyeh Courage. All former documents remain valid. Fugro Nig. Ltd and general public please take note.

GBUDJE—This is to confirm that the name Gbudje Audrey Uruemu and Gbudje Fortune Uruemu is one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Gbudje Audrey Uruemu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMOLADE—This is to confirm that the name Omolade Festus Igbekele and Obazuaye F. C. Igbekele is one and same person, now wish to be known and addressed as Obazuaye F. C. Igbekele. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Chiwueze George Okeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Chiwueze George Onwukaife. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

JABORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Annabel Uvietobore Jaboro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Annabel Uvietobore Jaboro Peter Ehimeh. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AKPITA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akpita Endurance Omawumi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onokiti Precious Omawumi. All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian M a r i t i m e Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and general public please take note.

IKELIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikelie E l i z a b e t h Ukamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Ukamaka Chira.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeh Faith Oluokwukwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith O. Oluokwukwe Ernest Okonkwo. All former documents remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and general public please take note.

UWEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Veronica Uweh, now w i s h to be known and addressed as Mrs. Arimiedikumo Andaebi Veronica.

A l l former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

MOKOGWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss M o k o g w u Maryanne Ifeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ndibe Maryanne Ifeoma. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

O D I R I — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Odiri Ufuoma Precious, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esabunefe ufuoma Precious. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

IBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Chris Uzoma Ibe, now wish to be known and addressed Chris Uzoma Ezibe.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

A K P A H — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyinye Eucharia Akpah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyinye Eucharia Nzekwe. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AHMED—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amina Ahmed, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amina Idoko. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

M U S TA F A — I , formerly known and addressed as Bin Umar Mustafa, now wish to be known and addressed as Bunu Abba Idris.

All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Immigration Service and the general public please take note.

EDEKUNU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Elo Hope Edekunu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Morrison Ogboru Elo Hope.

All former documents remained valid.

General public please take note.

AGBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Franca Agbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Franca A. Nwabulor.

All former documents remain valid.

Federal Ministry of Interior and general public please take note.

OLATUNBOSUN —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss O m o l a r a Olatunbosun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omolara Faleru. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

USMAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Usman Izzatu Waziri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bashir Izzatu Waziri. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the general public please take note.

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

ADVERT HOTLINE 01-8737025

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 49

50 — Vanguard,

FRID AY, JUL Y 27, 2012 FRIDA JULY

Syrian forces bombard Aleppo and Damascus D

AMASCUS and Aleppo came under shell fire yesterday as troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad stepped up efforts to crush rebels threatening the government’s two main power centers.

One of the most senior figures to defect from Assad’s inner circle, Brigadier General Manaf Tlas, put himself forward as someone who could help unite the fragmented opposition inside and outside Syria on a plan for a transfer of power.

Turkey laid down a marker by threatening to act against “terrorists” in northern Syria, a reference to Kurdish militants linked with the Kurdistan People’s Party (PKK).

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he would strike against Kurdish militants in Syria if need be, mirroring Ankara’s policy of attacking PKK bases in northern Iraq used for the group’s long-running armed struggle in southeast Tur-

key.

Turkey, a former friend of Assad and now one of his severest critics, closed its border posts with Syria on Wednesday to all traffic except Syrian refugees. A bomb attack that killed four of Assad’s closest lieutenants in Damascus last week and the surge of fighting there and in Aleppo prompted predictions among the 46-year-old president’s enemies that his time in power was nearly over.

Nevertheless, his forces have hit back hard, driving rebels out of most of Damascus, where opposition sources report executions of insurgents, and then counter-attacking in Aleppo, using helicopter gunships backed by combat aircraft.

Residents in the capital reported a shell landing in southern districts every minute on Thursday morning. Helicopters attacked Hajar al-Aswad, one of the last rebel-held districts in the city after days of street fighting, activists said.

President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian rebel fighters in Aleppo yesterday

Russia slams Assad over chemical weapons threat

R

USSIA has joined the league of nations critical of Syria’s declaration been Syria’s key protector throughout the 16month uprising that evolved into a full-blown civil war, shielding Assad’s regime from international sanctions and providing it with weapons despite an international outcry. And after the opposition attack last week that killed four members of his inner circle, the Syrian strongman

may have to seriously think about a getaway scenario, for which Russia’s help will be essential.

“Assad can’t afford not to listen to Russian signals,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of Russia in Global

EPUBLICAN Party presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney met British Prime Minister, David Cameron yesterday amid controversies triggered off by his dim view of the London Olympic Games which opens today.

Both leaders met at No. 10 Downing Street where Cameron told reporters that discussed the comments made by Mitt Romney on the preparation of London Olympic games. For the

T

HE United States said yesterday that it appeared that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were “lining up”

mer Olympics was “disconcerting.”

In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, Romney, who has campaigned on his experience running the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, was asked if he thought London was “ready” for the games.

•David Cameron second day in a row, Romney’s visit to Lon-

•Mitt Romney don has been marred by comments the preparations for the 2012 Sum-

Cuba celebrates Revolution Day

C

UBAN President Raul Castro said yesterday that his government is willing to mend fences with bitter Cold War foe the United States and sit down to discuss anything, as long as it is a conversation between equals.

At the end of a Revolution Day ceremony mark-

ing the 59th anniversary of a failed uprising against a military barracks, Castro grabbed the microphone for apparently impromptu remarks.

He echoed previous statements that no topic is offlimits, including U.S. concerns about democracy, freedom of the press and

human rights on the island, as long as it is a conversation between equals.

The July 26 national holiday was often used to make major announcements when Castro’s older brother Fidel was president, but there were none on yesterday.

S

little hope of meeting the terms of its bailout, casting fresh doubt on its future in the euro zone.

Spain’s increasingly desperate struggle to put

its finances right has seen its borrowing costs soar to levels that are not manageable indefinitely, reflecting a growing belief that it will need a sover-

for a massacre in the city of Aleppo, but again ruled out military intervention in the conflict.

The U.S. State Department said that credible reports of tank columns moving on Aleppo along with air strikes by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft represented a “serious escalation” of the government’s efforts to crush an armed rebellion.

“This is the concern: that we will see a massacre in Aleppo and that’s what the regime appears to be lining up for,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

•President Obama “Our hearts are with the people of Aleppo, and again this is another desperate attempt by a regime that is going down to maintain control, and we are greatly concerned about what they are capable of in Aleppo.”

Obama seeks tougher gun-control law

I

N his broadest re marks on gun control yet in the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater, President Barack Obama has called for tougher background checks designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

“A lot of gun owners would agree that AK-47s belong in the hands of

Spain feels debt heat as Greece faces default PAIN paid the sec ond highest yield on short-term debt since the birth of the euro at an auction on Tuesday, and EU officials said Greece had

alogue with Assad and warning him against crossing red lines, but its clout is limited. “Russia certainly can’t force Assad to step down,” Lukyanov said.

US cautions against massacre

Romney meets Cameron amid Olympic Games gaff

R

Affairs magazine. “He understands quite well that if he angers Russia, it will step back, leaving him to his doom.”

Lukyanov and other analysts say that Russia is maintaining a constant di-

eign bailout the euro zone can barely afford. It has become the recent focus for investors, but Greece where the sovereign debt crisis began - remains a powder keg.

soldiers, not in the hands of criminals — that they belong on the battlefield of war, not on the streets of our cities,” the president, who has called for reimposing the Assault Weapons Ban, said in a speech to the National Urban League.

“I believe the majority of gun owners would agree that we should do everything possible to prevent criminals and fugitives from purchasing weapons; that we should check someone’s criminal record before they can check out a gun seller; that a mentally unbalanced individual should not be able to get his hands on a gun so easily,” he

said. “These steps shouldn’t be controversial. They should be common sense.” But Obama also offered a nod to the difficult politics of gun control, portraying himself as a believer in the individual right to bear arms, and acknowledging that calls to action after an incident like the one in Aurora often fade.

“When there is an extraordinarily heartbreaking tragedy like the one we saw, there’s always an outcry immediately after for action.

And there’s talk of new reforms, and there’s talk of new legislation,” Obama said in his speech.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 51

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

African athlete seeks UK asylum A

N Olympic athlete has walked into a police station in Britain – and asked for asylum.

The male competitor reportedly turned up at Bridewell Police Station in Leeds, Yorks, on Tuesday.

He is believed to have entered Britain as a legitimate member of the Olympic squad of an East African country.

The sportsman is currently having his application processed in the normal way after police passed the case to the

UK Border Agency (UKBA).

Immigration officials have warned that up to two per cent of athletes, team officials and supporters may claim ref-

uge in the UK during and after the Games – or try to stay on once their visas expire.

A number of international Olympic teams have training camps in

Yorkshire, the largest being the Chinese team in Leeds.

A Home Office spokesman said it was expected that all athletes taking part in the Games would leave when their accreditation expires and any applications for asylum would be dealt with according to standard immigration procedures.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said asylum applications were a matter for the UKBA.

Toriola, Oshonaik e fright en opponents Oshonaike frighten A S Table Tennis gets ready to dazzle crowd at the London 2012, two of Nigerian Ping-Pongers, Segun Toriola and Funke Oshinaike are coming on board with their intimidating records.

Segun Toriola is one of the most outstanding athletes in the London Olympics making his sixth appearance in the Games. It is an incredible record and that alone has sent shivers down the spine of many of his opponents. Thousands of athletes crave for one Olympics and for one athlete to have participated in six Olympics is awesome.

Toriola is not alone.

Nigeria’s Queen of the Table, Funke Oshinaike is also ready to sparkle not only with her fierce strokes but also making a bold statement with her fifth appearance in the Olympics. The two Nigerians have shot themselves into the history book but will do more by capping their extraordinary records with medals. ‘’I thank God that I am still alive to play in my 6th Olympics. I promise to do my best. Any athlete who promises to win a particular medal before the Games is a liar. With God, all things are possible”, Toriola said.

When the Nigerians step into their Excel North Arena on July 28,

power, subtlety and lightning fast-reflexes would be on display.

Funke Oshonaike needs more energy to fight off the challenge of Iranian Shahsavari Neda in her first game while Edem Offiong fights off Egyptian challenge of Meshref Dina.

And the Master, super strokes of Toriola would come to play against Canadian Ho Andre while Aruna Quadri confronts Machado Carles of Spain.

Table Tennis Coach, Richard Edem expects tough battles since all attention would be focused on the Men and Women singles which happens to be the ones Nigerians qualified for.

•Toriola

Abdullahi: A Daniel comes to judgement

N

IGERIAN athletes have never experienced this atmosphere of peace and smooth organization for a long time.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the honourable Minister of Sports has brought his fiat to bear by ordering that the welfare of Nigerian athletes should come first before that of officials. And this order has brought tremendous joy to Team Nigerian athletes. ‘’These athletes are the reason for you and I

to be in London for the G a m e s . We should place the athletes at the heart of whatever we do.

If you want the best from them, you must give them the best”, Abdullahi was quoted as telling officials in a meeting a scribe described as intense. ‘’He did not mince words by telling them that the welfare of athletes come first before others”, the scribe said.

Daily passes to the Olympic Village where

Amokachi returns to the Olympics

S

UPER Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi is in London for the Summer Olympics.

‘But Amokachi who won gold at the Atlanta 96 Olympics will not be in London as an athlete or as part of Team Nigeria.

C M Y K

Rather he will be there to cover the Games for cable tv channel, Supersport which has secured the rights to transmit the events of the games to millions of its subscribers across the globe.

Announcing the sched-

ule for Olympics transmission Wednesday in Lagos, DSTV Nigeria public relations officer, Segun Fayose said, apart from Amokachi who would be doing magazine programmes for the organisation, there would be five other reporters cut

the athletes stay is limited but the Minister warned that whatever quota Nigeria gets should go to the athletes first before considering any other official or their families.

The Minister said that he should not even been considered for such passes before athletes.

The athletes are happy and are hailing the Minister. One popular athlete while talking about the development said; ‘’A Daniel has come to judgement”. across Africa, including Nigeria’s Chisom Mbonu from Supersport Nigeria who will cover teams from all the West African subregion and Team Nigeria in particular.

“We will beam all events involving Nigeria live and that will include the exploits of D’Tigers, Nigeria’s male basketball team,”

Olympics Diary:

London, July 25

10 years younger in London

I

PLAYED football but not to the level that officials needed my passport for any outing. Injury did not allow me to proceed.

I, therefore, don’t have passport age as our footballers or young sports men and women do. When a footballer says his age, it is a common thing to ask weather it is real or passport age. I have never lowered my age for any reason but London Accreditation officials did that here.

It was an error that delayed my accreditation for 24 hours.

On arrival in London on Wednesday, a friendly and conversational volunteer had Mitchel Obi, the ace sports analyst and commentator and myself to the desk where we could sort out our accreditation. In less than three minutes Mitchel had his accreditation hanging on his neck. The story was not same for me. After few minutes of trying to verify my document from the computer, a lady volunteer on the accreditation desk told me “sorry, we cannot process your accreditation here. You may have to go to the Main Press Center.”

I asked what the problem was and she said the age in our document is not the same with that in your passport.” I screamed, asking how that could have happened.

They could not provide an answer. I was shocked. I filled my forms properly and never made any such mistake.

Actually, the age in my document here in London is 10 years younger. I did not take it lying low and wanted to raise issues there at the airport. Mitchel laughed and said I was lucky for being 10 years younger. He recalled when such a thing happened to him and another visa and accreditation had to be issued to him as the one he carried were based on the wrong age in his form. Well, they did not need to do that here and the problem was sorted out at the Main Press Center near the Olympic Stadium 24 hours later. After they mixed up South Korea’s anthem and flag for North Korea’s during a soccer game for North Korea mine appears a lesser problem and I am no longer complaining. Prime Minister David Cameroun said yesterday that they would leave a legacy as hosts. I have turned 10 years younger in London, a legacy in a way.

A classy Beggar

W

HEN the sun shines here people go naked on the streets.

Yes, this means nothing here. It’s normal in Europe and America to almost be nude when it’s summer and the sun warms up the atmosphere. What Africans at home will marvel at is normal here. But at the Brixton Train Station a beggar added something to the men and women who appeared to be competing over skimpy wears that are so transparent you will prefer to look away than to look on if you must keep your sanity. A man was playing some melodious tunes on saxaphone and the effect was so strong that some couples really coupled tightly while listening to the music.

They were just there while many walked past. Some dropped money in a container beside the man. He was a beggar with a difference. At least, he provided entertainment and had something for his effort. I saw a similar scene at Victoria Train Station but the setting was different. The Jamaicans and other blacks in South London heat up the place and now that the Olympics are here it is a daily carnival in south London and the Olympic fever may be felt here than East London which hosts the games. The man in Victoria Station played great guiter and people dropped money but did not create scene, not so at Brixton where passers-by make a show of everything.

The Olympic Games are here.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 — 55

Opening ceremony: Boltic takes over flag from Maryam A

Team Nigeria Captain is an honour — Chukwumerije

B

EIJING Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije has described his being named as Team Captain of Team Nigeria to the London Olympics as an honour bestowed on him The Taekwondoist, no doubt, is a symbol of humility, hardwork, discipline and a role model. ‘’This is a huge honour placed on my shoulder by my country. It is not a title or a CV. It is massive honour done to me to be the captain of a great team like Team Nigeria. I am most humbled by this honour and respect”, Chukwumerije popularly called Yaya by his friends stated.

The athlete had come to the secretariat of Team Nigeria alongside his team mate, Isa Mohammed and coach Keum Sihwan when volunteers who recognized him swarmed on him to take autographs and pictures. He obliged despite a 29-hour energy-sapping journey from

Continues from B/P pass what Beijing offered and reminded all that they would do it their own way. But as time dragged on they grew in confidence and now say they will organise the best games ever. And they intend to begin with the opening ceremony.

Typical of Britons, they have boasted about today’s show more than the citizens of the past games did about the shows they hosted. England wins everything in the media but when it matters most they fail and begin to offer excuses that denied them the best. They still don’t believe their last team to the European Championship was awful. Before the competition, just like the past World Cups, they boast-

C M Y K

Istanbul to London.

One of the Volunteers quipped; ‘’I’m in love with this guy. He is organized, humble and respectful”.

S the zero hour for to day’s opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, approaches, the baton for the flagbearer for Team Contingent has changed hands. The new flagbearer is 96kg Freestyle Wrestler, Boltic Sinivie.

Usman Maryam of Weightlifting(+75kg) was earlier named to be the flagbearer before Team Nigeria made the changes after a meeting.

Deputy Chef de Mission, Al-Hassan Yakmut informed that the change became necessary since the coach of Maryam would not want her to be stressed at the opening ceremony. ‘’The opening ceremo-

ny is going to stretch into the morning of Saturday and Maryam will be competing soon after the ceremony. It is for strategic reasons. We don’t want to wear her out in the ceremonies. We’ve have placed our athletes at the heart of the Games”, Yakmut said.

He however said that the new flagbearer, Boltic has all the qualities to carry Nigeria’s flag at the epoch opening ceremony. ‘’Boltic is not new to events like this. He has been around and has won several medals for Nigeria at international events”, Yakmut who has been working with the precision of a General at war said.

Igali ent er s global Hall of F ame enter ers Fame

T

EAM Nigeria Wres tling Technical Adviser, Dr Daniel Igali has added another feather to his cap as he

•Igali

will be inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame next Friday (August 3 ) in London.

Igali, a Sydney 2000 Olympic Champion in the Freestyle wrestling is one of seven inductees into the Federation International de Luttes Associees (FILA), the international Olympic governing body for the sport of wrestling.

“To me it is as big as becoming an Olympic champion,” says Igali.

Continuing, the Nigeria- born Canadian said, “I will always feel pride in winning gold for Canada. I feel confident too

that the wrestling talent coming forward amongst all countries competing at these Games in London holds much promise for the sport.”

It’s an honour en par with winning his Olympic gold medal – that’s how Simon Fraser University (SFU) alumnus Igali feels about his Aug. 3 induction into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame.

“Daniel’s induction is huge for all involved in sport in Canada and Nigeria as well,” says SFU wrestling coach Mike Jones, who is expected to be in London for the event.

•Boltic

Oyedeji, Ahmed promise Tunisia hell Continues from B/P uncommon transformation of the D’Tigers said that they have moved away from under-dogs to powerhouse.

The Tigers would confront fellow Africans, Tunisia, who are Africa’s champions in the opening of hostilities on Sunday here in London. ‘’Things have changed. We are no longer the D’Tigers they used to know. They too have confessed at the sudden transformation of the Nigerian team.

We’ll sort things out on the court on Sunday”,

London ready to do it their own way ed of winning but never came close to doing so.

However, they are good in inventing things. Interestingly but unfortunately to them, other countries later outdo them in their game.

They invented football but the game eluded them and Brazil came to be known as custodians of the beautiful game.

The theme song for Euro ’96 that they hosted and which this reporter covered was ”Football is coming home.” They wanted to win it and prove to the world that football has come home, to where it began. But they did not even get to the final although they presented what remains their best team in modern times.

With David Seaman, Tony Adams, Nevile,

Southgate, Pearce, Ince, Gascoigne, McManaman, Sherignham, and Shearer, they looked a solid team. But Germany beat them in the semifinal and football never returned home. Tennis started here but they are still searching for a Briton who will win Wimbledon in these modern times. Pierre de Courbatin, the legend behind the modern Olympics visited England to develop ideas that led to the first modern Olympics in 1896 but on August 12 when the final medals table would be out and the curtain drawn here, Britain may not likely be among the top finishers.

That’s why today ’s opening ceremony means a lot to them. The attitude here is “If ’we cannot win the

games let’s make the greatest impression with the opening ceremony.”

They have promised the world a grandiose show that will remain green in the memories of all for the rest of their lives. Atlanta ’96 captured musical entertainment at it’s best.

Sydney dramatised their interesting history, captured the life of Australian Bushman before civilisation came, the war that followed between the invading Europeans who were banished and dumped in their lands as ex convicts who must not associate with noble men and how peace was achieved between the Aborigines, the original owners of the land and the Europeans who are now Aussies in a strong and united Australia etc.

Sydney made sea life

symbolic and upped drama in a way that is yet to be matched.

Athens acted the Olympic story but emphasized the many gods that make their history unique.

Beijing was pure science and magic. Weather forecast read that rain would fall in their opening ceremony. They blew a mixture of carbon monoxide and some other substances into the sky and held the rain. AJU! JUJU? They took the opening ceremony to a l e v e l L o n d o n initially admitted that they would not match.

They know it will be difficult to surpass Beijing and they want do it their own way.

They will have music and dramatise the Union Jack, spicing it with monarchical perspectives.

the lanky jolly good Basketball player said.

He was not alone. His coach, Sani Ahmed agreed with his player and said that they don’t dwell on titles and would not see Tunisia as African champions when they aim for the basket on Sunday. ‘’We have respect for all the teams here. It is not easy for teams to qualify to be part of the Olympics. We respect them but on the courts, my brother, there is no respect. We are here to make a point and to bring honour to millions of Nigerians”, Ahmed noted.

The world will judge them when they are done today. Tips on the opening ceremony show that it will still be a great show even if they do not match Beijing and Sydney. Opening ceremonies are always great spectacles and a probable indication of what follows. But with the anthem and flag of North Korea being mistaken for South Korea’s, forcing protests that have already dented the organisation here, with security issues and shrewd intent to maximise in areas where past hosts offered tremendous hospitality, the games are already being bashed by the international media. The opening ceremony offers London a chance to make a good impression. It begins tonight at 9pm.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Results: Men football More Olympic stories on pages 38, 39, 54, 55 & Sports Vanguard pull-out

Honduras Japan Mexico UAE Gabon

2 1 0 1 1

Morocco Spain Korea Republic Uruguay Switzerland

2 0 0 2 1

TODAY'S EVENTS Archery (Men & Women

London ready to do it their own way W

HAT will London offer to the world?

The opening ceremony of the Olympics goes a long way to score the Games in the minds of millions of observers.

And countries spend huge resources to show what they are and what they are capable of doing. Sometimes, a great opening ceremony may remain the issue throughout the Games and cover up organisational lapses that would have, ordinarily, scored

the Games low in the minds of all.

In the past four recent Games, Sydney and Beijing stand out as magnificent and stupendous shows that people still talk about till date. Beijing was so full of science and technology that London, the next hosts were so awed that they said ”well, we will do it our own way.”

They did not believe that they could match or sur Continues on Page 55

LONDON WONDER: The opening ceremony has become almost as important as the sport itself.

Basketball: Nigeria Vs Tunisia

Oyedeji, Ahmed promise Tunisia hell

T

HE story of Nigeria’s male Basketball team to the Olympics is like that of rising from TODAY'S

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

grass to grace or zero to hero. It is more like the Biblical rejected stone.

Olumide Ayodeji, one

of the henchmen who has toiled towards this

Continues on Page 55

•Boltic takes over flag from Maryam — Pg 55 •African athlete seeks UK asylum

— Pg 54

QUICK CROSSWORD

ANSWERS ACROSS 1 Leap (6) 5 Business (6) 8 Produce (8) 9 Misplace (4) 10 Individual (3) 12 Belt (5) 15 Nourished (3) 17 Allow (3) 18 Sick (3) 19 Tag (3) 20 Should (5) 21 Tavern (3) 22 Scull (3) 23 Tin (3) 24 Novel (3) 26 Tally (5) 29 Merry (3) 33 Pay (4) 35 Floor (6) 36 Substitute (6)

DOWN 2 Groom (5) 3 Thought (4) 4 Allowance (5) 5 Boxing ring (5) 6 Rasp (4) 7 Outcome (5) 10 Frequently (5) 11 Jostle (5) 12 Tempest (5) 13 Correct (5) 14 Toss (5) 15 Throw (5) 16 Fop (5) 25 Precise (5) 27 Liberally (5) 28 Offspring (5) 30 Proficient (5) 31 Kit (4) 32 Gambol (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Brag 4, Fig 6, Seek 8, Horrid 9, Wrench 10, Eon 12, Stiff 14, Break 15, Fiend 18, Tavern 20, Assume 24, Demon 26, False 28, Burst 30, Sly 32, Cajole 33, Auburn 34, Stir 35, Mud 36, Deed.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Roost 3, Giraffee 4, Fade 5, Gown 6, Spear 7, Exclaim 11, Own 12, Sot 13, Fir 16, End 17, Dam 19, Adamant 21, Sob 22, Snubbed 23, Eat 25, Eel 27, Scour 29, Spree 30, Seem 31, Yard.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K