BORNO, ADAMAWA BURN AGAIN:Gunmen kill 52, set 300 houses ablaze

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62067

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N150

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013

THREAT TO SHUTDOWN GOV T:

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PDP, APGA, LP, others unite against APC B O R N O , A D A M AWA B U R N A G A I N :

Gunmen kill 52, set 300 houses ablaze

BY NDAHI MARAMA & UMAR YUSUF

•Attackers bomb church, kill many in Adamawa •I counted 49 dead bodies in Borno attack— Survivor M •40 people died — Police Commissioner

AIDUGURI— BORNO, the epicentre of the Boko Haram murderous attacks literally burnt on Sunday as gunmen numbering over 50 invaded Kawuri District of Konduga Local Government Area of the state and set ablaze over 300 houses and shops after killing 52 people including a soldier, and wounding several others includContinues on page 5

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Mr & Mrs

DANGER—Some people scooping fuel from a ruptured pipeline (inset) spilling petrol into the creek at Ijegun-Imoren Village, near Navy Town, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: NAN.

El-Rufai surrenders to DSS, detained

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POCKET CARTOON Governor aborts trip to town

EL-RUFAI—From Right: Former Governor of Anambra State, Senator

Chris Ngige, former FCT Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi and Mr. Osita Okechukwu, addressing the press before Mallam El-Rufai honoured the Department of State Services, DSS, invitation in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

BORNO, ADAMAWA BURN AGAIN:

Gunmen kill 52, set 300 houses ablaze Continues from page 1 ing policemen and civilians.

In neighbouring Adamawa State, several

people, including two policemen were also feared killed as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked a church in Chakawa vil-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend all the care, kindness and understanding you can, with no thought of reward, and your life will never be the same.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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OMETIMES our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light — Albert Schweitzer The old man smiled at me from across the table at the coffee shop, a Caucasian, with snowy silvery hair and looked probably about three score and ten and still counting. There is a gentleness about him that exudes inner strength, a calm that seemed divinely inspired. I was puzzled at first; he looked familiar but a stranger still.

I had a lot on my mind and was a bit startled when he said to me, you’re very beautiful! I see your heart is beautiful too, always remember to thank God and your parents for they made you beautiful!

We both knew he was referring to the heart as a beautiful place, and the nurturing and grooming comes from divine love! This kind of experience comes to me often as a reminder to stay focused on the beautiful.

I asked the old man, if there was something I could do for him, maybe I could buy him a coffee drink perhaps? He smiled and said to me. I am good, but yes there is something you can do, always remember to keep giving love! Keep on giving your love’!

It is love that makes you beautiful!

I couldn’t help but smile,and my troubling thoughts dispersed into the winds. No matter what comes our way in life, take heart, these situations will resolve themselves as you advance, the solution of light will dawn, and shine with increasing clearness in your life. “I stood up to leave and thanked the old man, as I walked away to the substation, the Sun on my face and the light in my heart could literally flame the whole sky.

lage of Madagali Local Government Area.

Some residents of the affected village who fled the area told newsmen that they were attacked during the Sunday service in the morning.

However, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawal Tanko, who confirmed the deadly attack in Kawuri town to journalists in Maiduguri, said 40 people were killed while 25 others sustained gunshot wounds and burn injuries.

The Borno attack, which was carried out at about 5pm on a market day led to many traders and residents sustaining injuries. Some of the injured are now receiving treatment at Konduga General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Kawuri District is one of the towns in Konduga, which is along Maiduguri-Bama Expressway, about 60 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

This is the second time the town is being attacked. The first was in October last year when some Boko Haram suspects clashed with vigilante youths popularly known as civilian JTF, which led to the killing of 10 people including three youths, while 18 were injured and over 48 shops and 200 houses were burnt in the attack.

Governor Kashim Shettima who was billed to visit the ghost town yesterday morning had to suspend the trip following intelligence reports that the place was not safe. The terrorists who attacked the town had planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), targeting rescue workers and security operatives deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

Vanguard gathered that the fresh attack on Kawuri town took place at about 5pm on Sunday when gunmen suspected to be terrorists armed with AK47 rifles, IEDs and petrol bombs entered the community and wreaked havoc before fleeing into the Sambisa forest.

I counted 47 dead bodies –Survivor A survivor, Mallam Mustapha Modu said he counted about 47 dead bodies yesterday morning while several others sustained gunshots and various degrees of burns.

It would be recalled that in the last one week, 37 communities of Kwaljiri, Kaya, Ngawo Fate, Limanti, Njaba, Yahuri, Mude, Wala and Alau among others in Damboa, Konduga and Gwoza council areas have been sacked by terrorists. The displaced residents have taken refuge in some neighbouring villages of Cameroun Republic and other towns including Maiduguri metropolis.

The Police Commissioner of Borno State, Mr. Lawal Tanko confirmed the incident to Vanguard. He said: “I received an intelligence information that Kawuri town was attacked by Boko Haram sect members suspected to be on revenge mission on market day (Sunday), where many civilians were killed while several others were left with serious burn wounds before they set the whole place on fire. We have deployed our men to the area and very soon I will feed you with details”.

On the number of casualties on the side of his officers and men, Tanko said, some of his men were wounded in the attack but he did not lose any of them.

How they

attacked us – survivors

Some survivors told newsmen in Maiduguri, yesterday, that the attack coincided with the weekly market of the town.

“The gunmen arrived the town using Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, and pretended to be villagers coming to the market. “Unknown to the people the gunmen had planted IEDs at strategic areas in the town before carrying out attacks on residents,” Malam Isa Ibrahim, a survivor, said.

He said that the gunmen also set several houses and shops ablaze before fleeing. Malam Fantara Madugu, another survivor, said he counted about 15 bodies at the end of the attack.

We counted about 15 bodies of victims at the end of the attack. ‘We also assisted in conveying about 20 injured persons to the hospital,” he said.

Several worshippers killed in Adamawa church attack Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, where Christians were attacked on Sunday, some of the worshippers who escaped being killed said: “They used explosives during the attack on worshippers and many people lost their lives".

A resident who identified himself as Apogu said: "I cannot actually say how many people were killed but I learnt that about 16 people were evacuated from the church." Another resident claimed that some houses were also attacked by the gunmen who took some men hostage, while two policemen- an inspector and a sergeant who were on guard in the church were killed.

“I saw some people crying, saying that their relations had been taken away as hostages by the

gunmen”, the resident who preferred anonymity said.

Attempts to get military and police authorities in the area to comment on the incident did not yield result.

A soldier in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity told Vanguard that nine people lost their lives during the attack.

He said the Army had sealed up the area and were hunting for the fleeing attackers.

Military authorities in Adamawa State have promised to speak on the issue later, even as the chairman of Madagali Local Government, Maina Ularamu confirmed the attack, but declined to comment on the casualty rate.

Meanwhile, Tanko said, with determination to end the violence perpetrated by terrorists in the region, particularly in Bama, Gwoza, Damboa council areas where over 30 communities were sacked and displaced in the last one week, the state command under the recommendation of the Police Service Commission, has decorated/promoted the Area Commander of Bama, Mr. David Dangiwa from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police, while Officer in-Charge of Operations, Mr. Aminu Koji was promoted from Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner of Police with immediate effect.

Head of civil service urged concerted efforts Disturbed by the tragedy, Alhaji Bukar Aji, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), said the fight against terrorism and crimes was a collective responsibility that should not be left for the Presidency alone.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Subsidy protester’s murder: IPO's absence stalls trial

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — TRIAL of the dismissed Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Yaya-Abatan Police Station, Lagos, Mr. Segun Fabunmi, charged for shooting Adedamola Daramola to death during the protests against fuel subsidy removal on January 9, 2012, before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, was stalled following absence of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO).

At the resumed trial, Director, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, urged the court to stand down the case pending the arrival of the IPO, whom she claimed was testifying in another case at a magistrate's court in Ikeja.

The trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, subsequently asked Ogungbesan if the said IPO was the only witness the prosecution hoped to call during the trial.

In her response, Ogungbensan explained that there are two ballisticians and a pathologist, who were also not in court.

“Why bring witnesses in piecemeal? I have given you a whole day and you have not come to court with a witness. The same thing happened at the last trial date. I thought you were ready to deal with this case expeditiously” the judge queried.

Justice Akinlade said it was disrespectful for a high court to be waiting for a witness who had gone to testify in a case at a magistrate’s court, adding: “I can’t continue wasting my dates because I expect you to bring two or more witnesses to court.”

Counsel for the defendant, George Oguntade (SAN), however, urged the court to adjourn the matter since no one could say exactly when the witness could make it to the court.

Justice Akinlade later adjourned the case to February 18 for trial.

Families of 2002 victims of Ikeja bomb blast in a peaceful protest in Lagos, Monday. PHOTO: NAN.

Missing child: Anambra shuts motherless babies home O

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

NITSHA — THE Anambra State government, yesterday, ordered the immediate closure of the Christian Relief Compassionate/ Motherless Babies Home, Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area.

The closure was as a result of the home’s inability to account for the whereabouts of a baby in its care.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, who disclosed this, said the ministry was dismayed by a situation where a baby boy under the care of the home got missing without reason.

Agbata explained that motherless babies homes/orphanages are child care institutions where children in need of care, attention and protection are kept temporarily before being united with their kith and kin and wondered the agony and feelings of the parents of the missing child.

Registration certificate withdrawn She also ordered the withdrawal of the home's certificate of registration within the next 72 hours from the date of the receipt of the letter of withdrawal.

The statement further directed the affected home to inform parents and guardians of children in their care to come and collect their wards/children pending when their certificate

of registration will be restored.

The commissioner frowns at some homes selling off babies in their care or giving room for disappearance of babies and warned that any staff found to be culpable of aiding and abetting the sale or kidnapping of babies overtly or covertly would regret his or her involvement as a full scale investigation have been ordered into the mess.

The statement signed on behalf of the commissioner by Director, Child Development, Mr Emeka Ejide further informed that the ministry had zero tolerance for sale and disappearance

of babies in homes.

On a visit to the home, the proprietor was not in but it appears the home is still operating despite the order yesterday as he was said to have gone to Awka.

Efforts to speak with him on the debvelopment failed.

How Chidalu disappeared It would be recalled that one Master Chidalu Nwite, son of Mr. Sunday Nwite, disappeared from the home and the managers could not give account

Crisis looms as soldiers invade community

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ARRI— FRESH commu nal crisis is brewing in Okerenkoko community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State over the invasion of the community by soldiers, last Thursday To stem the ugly development, community leaders have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan asking for a redress.

Leaders under the Okerenkoko National Development Forum, led by Chief Michael Johnny, through their lawyer, L.O. Ayoro, had written a petition to the President, dated January 24, 2014, alleging that the soldiers were sponsored by a renown former militant leader.

The lawyer also noted that the ex-militant leader with the

aid of a director-general of a federal agency is opposed to any good development initiated by elite of the forum The letter reads in part: “We have the instruction of our client, Okerenkoko National Development Forum, to make this letter of petition to your exalted office, being of urgent national concern to prevent further breakdown of law and order in Okerenkoko community in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State."

The petition states, in particular, that: “On 23rd day of January, 2014, several men of the army were deployed to Okerenkoko community putting it under siege till the time of writing the petition and appealed to the President to urgently intervene."

of what happened to the little boy, warranting a report to the police.

Little Master Chidalu Nwite was handed over to the Matron of Christian Compassionate and Motherless Babies Home, Obosi, owned by Mrs. Chika Goodness Ogazi for upkeep, due to the mother’s illness after giving birth to the boy.

Chidalu was brought to the home on October 18, 2013 when the father met all the requirements needed for the upkeep of the child.

Mr Nwite became suspicious of foul play when Mrs. Ogazi allegedly refused to issue him (Nwite) with any document as a proof that his son was in the custody of the home.

Nwite, while narrating his ordeal, accused the home of knowing the whereabout of his son.

He accused the home of being notorious in child theft and trafficking in the recent past, adding that he was shocked last Sunday when he visited the home to see his child only to be told that the boy is the only one missing among other children there.

Reacting on the situation then, Mrs. Ogazi said she came to work on Saturday and met the lady and on inquiry, she was told that the lady was in her home for Region of Mary of the Catholic Church charity work.

She said: “On hearing the name Region of Mary, I suspected nothing as many of them used to come and assist us in domestic works in the home.

"It was when I was in the church on Sunday morning that I was called and when I came to the home, the news was broken to me and I fainted.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 —7

Fuel tanker explodes, kills 2 in Funtua F

UNTUA — A DIESEL tanker, yesterday, exploded and killed two persons at Bakin-Dutse in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Eye witnesses said the deceased persons were the

driver of the tanker and a welder.

The tanker was loaded with diesel, but had one of its compartments broken and a welder was called to repair it.

“While the welder was fixing the compartment, the tanker burst

into flames and the driver and the welder sustained severe burns and were rushed to the hospital where they died,” an eye witness said.

The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, unit commander in Funtua, Mr Rabiu

Usman, confirmed the incident and gave the registration number of the tanker as XA 224 FTA. Usman advised tanker drivers to always be cautious with the vehicles, especially when they were loaded with fuel.

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25-yr-old docked for stabbing with jack-knife

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIM

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AGOS — A 25-yearold man, Samaila Ibrahim, was yesterday arraigned before Magistrate A. K. Shonubi in an Apapa court for allegedly assaulting one Mr Alabi Akide.

The complaint was said to have sustained bodily injuries as a result of Ibrahim stabbing him in the stomach and head with a jack-knife.

The prosecutor, Mr N.A. Eze stated: “Samaila Ibrahim January 14, 2014 at Alakija, Festac Town in the Apapa magisterial district did unlawfully assault one Alabi Akide by using a jack- knife to stab him in his stomach and head, thereby causing bodily harm and hence committed an offence punishable under section 171 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.”

Mrs Shonubi adjourned the matter for hearing to March 7, 2014, while granting the defendant a bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

Employee arraigned for threatening female boss

Residents of Atinporome area of Badagry, Lagos State protesting against demolition of their houses, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Bauchi Peace Corps arrests 100 suspects

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — THE Peace Corps of Nigeria, Bauchi State command said it arrested 100 suspected criminals in the 20 local government areas of the state for acts such as robbery, vandalization of property, possession of illegal drugs and political thuggery.

It also said it posted its officers to over 670 secondary schools in the state to protect and sensitise students against criminal activities.

The state commandant of PCN, Patriot Mburtis Maxboi, made this known, yesterday, while presenting the scorecard of the com-

mand in 2013 at the command headquarters in Bauchi.

According to him, the criminals were arrested following intelligence report from some residents of the state after which they were handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

He said:”Peace Corp in the state, apart from colloborating with other security agents to combat crime, also work with members of the public to sustain peace.

"The security agent is not God and cannot know where and when crime is commited,but if residents make available useful information to the command, we can achieve our job to sustain

peace by ninety percent.”

Mburtis who maintained that the corps are also collaborating with state Ministry of Education to also sensitise secondary school students against use of drug and other social vices that may jeopardise their future, appealed to the state government and other stakeholders to support the activities the corps in tackling crime and social vices among the youths.

He said: “We are alarmed that the government is not taking adequate steps toward the planning of the future of the youths through patriotic and civic education and near absence of job opportunities.

It is, therefore, in view of this reality that our youths have taken solace in crime, social vices and act of terrorism that are now threatening our national unity.”

A N G O - O TA (OGUN) — A 30year-old employee, Sola Amodu, was yesterday, brought before an Ota Magistrate’s court in Ogun State for allegedly threatening his manager.

The accused, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on a charge of threat to life.

The prosecutor, Inspector Olajide Michael, told the court that the accused committed the offence on January 23 at about 12.34 a.m. at Onipanu area of Ota. He alleged that the accused had sent a text message to the phone of Dorcas James, the Human Resources Manager of Roto Prints Company, threatening her.

The message, according to him, reads: “You (James) should be careful, other workers are not happy with you.”

Michael said the offence violated Section 86 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate, Mrs Titi Bello, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

She said the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and show evidence of one-year tax payment to the state government.

The case was adjourned to February 17 for mention.

Recharge card thief dies in Bauchi hospital

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Heap of refuse on Ekeonunwa Street in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI — A recharge card thief arrested by the police in Dass, Bauchi State has reportedly died at the General Hospital in Dass where he was receiving treatment as a result of alleged drug overdose.

According to information obtained from the police, the deceased was identified as Mutaka Adamu, a resident of Abuja Rama in Dass.

The suspect was arrested on January 14, 2014 following complaint lodged by Nuhu Haruna, a resident of Bayan Fada in Dass that Mutaka and his conspirators allegedly stole

his recharge cards.

Nuhu had reported at the Dass police station and mentioned Mutaka and his cohorts allegedly who broke into his shop and stole the recharge card worth N35,000, prompting the police to issue an arrest.

The prime suspect was arrested at about 7 p.m on that fateful day by Police Corporal Aminu Adamu and brought to the police station in Dass.

It was further learnt that the police discovered that deceased was under the influence of drugs prompting them to rush him to the General Hospital, Dass for treatment.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Service Chiefs: APC Senators defy party directive, participate in screening

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA — ALL Progressives Congress, APC, senators, yesterday ignored their party’s directive to block the confirmation of the Service Chiefs recently appointed

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

About seven APC Senators participated in the screening of the new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosun.

The Senators who participated in the exercise were Femi Ojudu, Ekiti Central; Akin Odunsi, Ogun West; Kabiru Marafa,Zamfara Central; Mohammed Sani Saleh,Kaduna Central; Attai Aidoko, Kogi East; Bindowo Jibrilla, Adamawa North and Boroffice Ajayi, Ondo North.

In his opening remarks during the exercise, Chairman, Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force, Senator George Sekibo said the screening was in line with the provisions of the constitution as well as to completely put the armed forces under democratic control.

Security challenge capable of disintegrating Nigeria

Senator Sekibo noted that the country was going through serious security challenges in with the North-East insurgency, oil theft and the pipeline vandalization in the SouthSouth and kidnapping in the South-East among others topping the list.

His words: “If the required attention is not given to these challenges, they are capable of disintegrating our country or putting our nation’s unity into question.

It is the wish of the Senate and indeed the entire nation that no part of this country should be allowed to exist in lawlessness."

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, EMMA OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA — THE famed unity in the Aminu Tambuwal-led House of Representatives was unravelling, yesterday, as members began to take position along party lines on the directive by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to shut down the government.

The directive by the opposition party to shut down government bills upon the alleged reign of impunity in Rivers State, yesterday, led to the emergence of at least three groups in the House taking divergent positions on the issue.

The crisis of confidence among political groups also led the split in the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, which also yesterday, disowned a statement of support for the APC directive issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu.

CNPP Chairman and former governor of Old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, in a joint statement with the body’s national secretary, Mr. Willy Ezugwu, said the CNPP, as a body encompassing all political parties, would not side one party against another.

Also yesterday, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State gave strong support to the APC directive, saying it was a necessary legislative action to bring a belligerent executive arm of government to order.

Meanwhile, the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu has scheduled a strategic meeting with members of the House of Representatives caucus to fend off the challenges from the APC. "The meeting which is being convened by the PDP House leader, Mrs. Mulikat AdeolaAkande at a five star hotel in Abuja today, is to be graced by the party’s 18 governors.

Meantime, the PDP which for the first time last month lost its majority in the House, yesterday, teamed up with three smaller political parties to form a body to frustrate the directive issued by the APC to its members to frustrate the passage of government bills and appointments in the National Assembly.

PDP, APGA, LP, AP unite against APC

The new body termed “National Unity Group of the Federal House of Representatives” (NUG) is composed of PDP, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Accord Party (AP) and Labour Party (LP) members.

Speaking as the Leader of the group, Hon. Bitrus Kaze (Jos North/South Federal Constituency of Plateau State) said the group was formed to essentially protect the unity of the country.

He recalled the attempt by

From left: Yakubu Brade, Bitrus Kaze, Tom Zakari, Tobias Okwuru and Jerry Alagbaoso, members of National Unity Group of House of Representatives (PDP, Labour and APGA members) addressing newsmen on the call of APC to boycott budget, confirmation of Service Chiefs and others at National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Govt shutdown: PDP, APGA, LP, AP unite against APC zCNPP disowns scribe on statement zFashola backs APC Reps zMu‘azu meets PDP House caucus today Gbajabiamila to ridicule the PDP Deputy Leader, Rep Leo Ogor on the floor of the House last Tuesday when he addressed him as the “minority leader,” and vowed that the group would not allow Nigeria to be ridiculed.

Motif of the group

Giving the motif of the group, he said: “Just a week ago, in defiance of a court order, the APC in what the media next day admitted was a failed “attempt to take over NASS,” created a near breakdown in the chambers when the minority leader sought to claim that the majority leader was no longer the majority leader; in any case he was properly shouted down by most members.

“These latest directives are a provocation and as far as legislative manoeuvres go, they will once again fail. Hence, everything must be done to arrest the APC attempt to turn Nigeria into a laughing stock. We the National Unity Group in the House of Reps made up of PDP, Labour, Accord and APGA members, wish to aver as follows: “That any attempt to tamper with the 2014 budget and hence the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration, would be met with robust resistance;

Reps react

Reacting to the development, Gbajabiamila, the leader of the APC House caucus said: “Those names and groups are unknown to the House. So I cannot speak to their agenda. However, that it would take the hurried and panicky formation of three groups to

counter a legitimate directive from one party speaks volumes not only about their understanding of issues and politics but also of the impact and force of the directive.”

Rep. Ogbonna Nwuke (Omuma/Etche Federal Constituency, Rivers State) on his part also charged the PDP to respond squarely to the issues on hand.

“The PDP should rather address the issue in question. What the APC drew attention to was the brazen abuse of power, the unnecessary recourse to impunity by the authorities especially in Rivers State. Why are they not addressing that matter? That is the issue the APC was drawing national attention to and why it ordered its lawmakers to shut down government.

Hon. Abiodun Faleke (APC) Lagos State: “No law maker can stop me from democratically expressing my views on the floor just as I cannot stop any. At the end, majority will prevail.”

CNPP disowns scribe

Disowning the recent statement by its national publicity secretary giving support to the APC directive, Musa the CNPP chairman and Ezugwu, the secretary said: “The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, hereby distances itself from the statement credited to Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who claimed to have spoken in his capacity as the Publicity Secretary of the CNPP. “Mr. Okechuckwu specifically said that the CNPP supports the APC’s directive to its members in the National Assembly to block

the confirmation of Service Chiefs and ministerial nominees as well as stall passage of the 2014 national budget.

“We wish to remind Nigerians that the CNPP as an umbrella organization of all the registered political parties in Nigeria cannot take side with any one political party against another.

“The secretariat of the CNPP did not at any time mandate Mr. Okechukwu to issue a statement endorsing the directive of the APC to its members in the National Assembly.

“The views expressed by Mr. Osita Okechukwu are personal to him and do not represent that of CNPP.”

Fashola backs APC Reps

Governor Fashola, in a session with newsmen yesterday gave support to the APC directive, saying: “But let me say here without any shadow of doubt, that three arms of government in the theory of separation of powers recognized the needs for every arm of governments, the executive, legislature and the judiciary as a check on the other."

PDP caucus meeting

Today’s meeting with the PDP House caucus would be the first formal contact between the new national chairman and the members.

It was also learnt that the meeting was called to fine-tune ways of neutralising the increasing influence of the APC and stall the bid by the opposition to change the leadership of the House of Representatives.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 9

Enugu Environment Ministry invades dep gov's lodge zDismantles poultry

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—OFFICIALS of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority and Ministry of Environment, yesterday, invaded the official lodge of the state deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, and carted away over 3,000 chickens and about 40 crates of eggs from his poultry on the orders of the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo.

But Chief Press Secretary to governor, Chukwudi Achife, said it was regrettable that the deputy governor chose to ignore all entreaties, including a government directive, to relocate the birds, especially one that had to do with the health of the people.

The ECTDA and Environment Ministry officials, who were led by their commissioners, Messrs Ikechukwu Ugwuegede and Nnaemeka Chukwuone respectively, arrived the lodge at about 1p.m. yesterday to inform the deputy governor of the Chief of Staff’s order to evacuate the birds and demolish the poultry which the government said constituted public health hazard.

Deputy governor watches

Onyebuchi, who was with his wife and personal aides, including security officers attached to his office at the lodge which had been under renovation since September 2012, did not resist the action of the officials who later brought in four trucks and evacuated the chickens to an unknown destination.

When the government officials mobilised by the two commissioners could not evacuate the entire birds, Ugwuegede mobilised more uniformed officials of his ministry who spent about an hour evacuating the birds and the crates of eggs into the four trucks and took them away.

Commissioner declines comment

The ECTDA Commissioner, however, declined to comment on the development when approached by newsmen who rushed to the scene from the nearby Press Unit of Government House, saying he did not invite any journalist to witness the exercise.

But Vanguard obtained copies of correspondence between the office of the governor and that of the deputy governor over the operation of the poultry farm in the government lodge.

Two separate letters dated December 24 and 27, 2013, with reference numbers GHE/CAO/ 31/239 and GHE/CAO/31/240 and signed for the Chief of Staff

by Mr. G.O.C Ajah, Permanent Secretary in-charge of

Officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, and Enugu Ministry of Environment, evacuating the Deputy Governor's poultry, yesterday.

Government House, Enugu, which were delivered to the office of the deputy governor the same day, indicated that the Chief of Staff had directed that the poultry be removed.

Letter on relocation of poultry

One of the letters, entitled “Final Notice/Request to stop or relocate the commercial poultry in your official residence” and dated December 27, 2013 reads: “I am directed to request Your Excellency to kindly stop or relocate the said commercial poultry farm out of your official residence as it offends the Statutory Certificate/Certificate of Occupancy purpose clause for which the land is used as Residential.

“I am further directed to state that Your Excellency is given up to 14 days from the date of this letter to effect the desired directive referred to above. Please be informed that (at) the expiration of this ultimatum no further Notice may be given as appropriate action will be taken by relevant Government Agency to effect desired compliance.”

In his reply to the letter dated January 8, 2014, and signed by Mr. Chris A. Eze, Permanent Secretary in his office, the deputy governor said the tone and language of the letters written to him by the Chief of Staff “is insulting and shows disregard to the Office of the Deputy Governor of a State.

“The haste of the two letters shows a mind filled with malice and bent on making mischief, the two letters were delivered to His Excellency’s office, signed for and received on the same day, December 27, 2013. One is a “Notice” and the other “Final Notice.

“His Excellency, the deputy

governor also observed that your said letters are replete with falsehood. The official residence of the deputy governor is part and parcel of Government House and no Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is, to the best of the knowledge of His Excellency, issued in respect of it.

“His Excellency challenges you to produce or at least cite its reference number since this is the basis of your action. You may also consider revoking the said C of O.

Putting records straight

“Just to put the records straight, His Excellency has asked me to inform you that the said poultry is operated within a section of the deputy governor’s residence designated and fenced out as Agriculture Unit - same as the Agric Unit of the Government House where a bigger poultry farm, a piggery and a ranch exist. His Excellency, the deputy governor operates a vegetable farm within that section and no mention was made to of it. Or, is “vegetable farm” within the purpose clause of the C of O? “The structure for the said poultry farm was inherited by His Excellency from his predecessors in office who also used same for the same purpose. His Excellency has operated the same poultry farm since 2008 with technical support from ENADEP and Commercial Agriculture Programme of the State Ministry of Agriculture.

“There is no record of a letter from you to His Excellency, bringing to his attention, complaint of any environmental or health hazard from the said poultry since 2008. This is because there is none.

“The poultry is operated within the best international practices.

His Excellency’s members of staff

are living in the Boy’s Quarter, just meters away from the poultry and they have not complained of any inconvenience since 2008.

“Finally, it is the advice of His Excellency that you do not allow the love of power to dominate the power of love.”

Vanguard observed that the deputy governor had been residing outside the official residence since September 2012 until Governor Sullivan Chime reportedly asked him to vacate the dilapidated lodge for a renovation work to be carried out on the building.

Renovation

It was learnt that the renovation work was awarded to the same contractor that handled the renovation of the governor’s residence at the same time but while that of the governor was completed since 2011, the deputy governor’s which was almost completed was abandoned and the expansive premises had remained a thick bush since then.

The contractor was said to have been ordered to stop the rehabilitation work shortly after Governor Chime returned from his four months’ medical trip in London but the reason for the directive could not be ascertained.

Private residence

The deputy governor had been operating from his private residence at GRA Enugu since the official residence was no longer habitable but he had continued to operate the poultry with the assistance of some of his staff residing in the Boy’s Quarter.

Meanwhile, the state government in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the

governor, Chukwudi Achife, said the poultry was located in the official quarters of the deputy governor which shared a wall with the office of the governor.

Government's position

The statement read: “In recent times, the stench from the poultry had been pervading the Government House and causing much discomfort to all workers within the Government House, including, of course, the governor.

“Following persistent complaints and appeals from staff of the government, the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr. GOC Ajah, was instructed to invite the Ministry of Environment and Government House clinic to inspect the poultry.

“Both the Ministry and Government House medical personnel came out with a verdict that the place was not being well kept and constituted a health hazard to people working in the Government House.

“Based on this report, the Permanent Secretary has, on a number of occasions, taken Government House staff to clean up the poultry.

“However, when the problem persisted, it was brought to the notice of the governor who then directed relevant government officers to communicate the health concerns to the the deputy governor with a view to having him maintain the place properly or relocate the birds."

First Lady makes case for more women in govt

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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BUJA—THE First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan has said that for the Affirmative Action Quota of 35 per cent women inclusion in appointive positions to be achieved, there must be an aggressive campaign for gender mainstreaming at all levels of governance.

She said this in Abuja at a oneday forum organised by the National Centre for Women Development ,NCWD, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency,NOA, in Abuja.

While declaring the forum titled: Do the Right Thing: Mainstream Gender in Governance for National Transformation, open, Mrs. Jonathan, who said that Nigeria could not have attained its present level of development without the active participation of women, emphasised the need to carry women along.

She said: “The inclusion of women in national developmental plans must be accorded top priority.”

10—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Shareholders petition SEC over alleged N5.2bn at MTI

LAGOS BOMB BLAST 12TH ANNIVERSARY:

Fashola dedicates commemorative road to victims

BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI

BY PETER EGWUATU

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AGOS—SHARE HOLDERS of Mass Telecommunication Innovation, MTI, Plc have petitioned the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, over the involvement of some of its former directors in the fraudulent appropriation, distribution and utilisation of the company’s funds raised from the capital market.

According to the written petition from the shareholders, “between March and April 2008, after obtaining the consent of the SEC, MTI had a private placement to raise funds for the purpose of implementing its business development and expansion programme, improvement in information technology infrastructure, staff development and working capital as stated in the offer document.

“The sum of N5,200,000,000 was raised by way of private placement and the company was converted to a public limited liability company and its shares were listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, after a successful private placement.”

The shareholders said as soon as the funds were released to the board and management, the first event was the payment of what the directors called “severance pay.”

Each of the five directors, the shareholders said took the sum of N55 million amounting to N275 million adding that all the directors, including the non-executive directors remained on the board after collecting the severance pay.

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AGOS—IN memory of the victims of 2002 Ikeja Military Cantonment bomb blast, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, named the newly constructed Ejigbo-Ajao estate link road, in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area as ‘January 27 Link Bridge.’

Families of victims protest

However, some families of the victims, numbering about 20 stormed the venue with placards of different inscriptions, to register their complaints over their exclusion from the lists of beneficiaries of government’s compensation.

Fashola, who made the declaration at the official commissioning of the link road, led other dignitaries to observe a

minute silence and prayers in remembrance of more than 1000 victims of the dark Sunday, that occurred 12 years ago, saying, it was avoidable if the Federal authorities in charge had been alive to its responsibilities.

He recalled that “women, men and children perished in the OkeAfa canal, because a national government led by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, failed to do its duties. There is no other excuse by it. That was their responsibility to manage bombs and explosives and to look after the Nigerian Military, but they dropped the bombs.

“Since then, they have pretended as if nothing was wrong,” the Governor said.

He added that the central government’s silence prompted his government to intervene by

Money laundering: Ex-bank director asks court stay proceedings

BY INNOCENTANABA AGOS—COUNSEL to Niyi Opeodu, a former director of Union Bank Plc, yesterday, asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to stay further proceedings in the money laundering charge brought against him.

Niyi Opeodu is standing trial alongside former Managing Director of Union Bank, Barthlomew Ebong, Henry Onyemem, and Samuel Anyininuola, former directors of the bank.

They are being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside a Company, Falcon Securities Ltd, and its Director, Peter Ololo, on a 20-count charge bordering on the offence.

At the resumed hearing in the case, counsel to Niyi Opeodu, informed the court of his motion for stay of its proceedings, pending an appeal at the Appeal Court.

The prosecutor, in reply, told the court that it had filed a counter affidavit to the motion, and served same on the defence counsel, who said he required seven clear days to respond.

Trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case to February 7 and 17 for hearing.

The accused were re-arraigned before OfiliAjumogobia in November 15, 2012, following the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako from the Lagos division.

L

Naira appreciates by 300k against dollar

L

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

AGOS—THE naira yesterday appreciated by 300 kobo against the dollar in the parallel market in response to the policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, last week.

On Friday, the apex bank removed the $250,000 maximum limit imposed on banks’ foreign exchange sales to bureaux de change, BDC. In reaction, the parallel market exchange rate yesterday, fell to N168 per dollar from N171 per dollar at the close of business on Friday.

The CBN said that the restriction was removed in order to shore up foreign exchange supply in into the BDC segment.

rebuilding the schools and hospitals located within the Ikeja Cantonment which were destroyed by the explosions.

Fashola speaks

Speaking at the inauguration of the link road, Fashola, said it was another fulfillment of promise of the state government in 2002 to open up the area as part of the administration’s drive to renew inner city roads.

“Few months the political arena of choice for Nigeria has become very active and it is important to connect people with the choices they have made, the promise we have made and are delivering and continue to tell them that promises are meant to be kept and not disregarded.

“My predecessor promised you then that day that a bridge will be built to link Ejigbo to Ajao Estate, I have come here today to fulfill that promise”, he stated.

Responding to the call for compensation made by some families of victims of the bomb blast, Fashola said it was

impossible for government to compensate survivors of victims every year, however, assured that genuine beneficiaries not yet captured before now would be captured soon.

On compensation

“No amount of compensation that we pay that can bring back the lives of those that we lost and as much as we are willing to do so, you must assist us to verify who the real beneficiaries of compensation are”, he added.

Earlier, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said the essence of the road is to eliminate congestion along the Ejigbo corridor to enable travelers from Ikotun connect to the Airport Road without going through Isolo area.

He said a recent study of the road showed that travel time has reduced by about 75 minutes, just as he revealed that the governor had approved the Ati-Okoye and Kolawole Shonibare roads within the link road for immediate reconstruction.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 11

Ekiti people are tired of Fayemi, says Adeyeye

BY HENRY UMORU

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THANKSGIVING: From left: Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, retired Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his wife, Olufunso and Head of the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Sonekan, during Akinola’s 70th birthday thanksgiving service, at Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, yesterday.

Ogun LP petitions Police, DSS over Daniel zAsks Speaker to declare party members seat vacant

DO EKITI— F O R M E R spokesperson of Afenifere and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has described as “self-deceit taken too far” claim by the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi that he was seeking re-election because of clamour by Ekiti people that he should seek second term.

Adeyeye, who said it was obvious that Ekiti people are tired of the Fayemi-led government, reiterated his conviction that, “Ekiti people will vote Fayemi and his evil government out of office on June 24, this year.”

In a statement by the Director General of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement, PAAM, Bisi Kolawole, he said: “I couldn’t but laugh when I read in the newspapers that Fayemi said he had accepted the calls by Ekiti people to seek re-election because I wonder whether it was the teachers, civil servants, health workers and pensioners that are being treated with contempt by the state government that called for Fayemi’s reelection."

BY DAUD OLATUNJI BEOKUTA—MEMBERS of the Executive of the Labour Party, LP, in Ogun State have petitioned the state Commissioner of Police and Directorate of State Services, DSS, urging them to stop the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from opening a parallel party secretariat.

The party executive also urged the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi to declare the seats of four members vacant for allegedly failing the people of their constituencies.

stop and put on hold any attempt

by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Joseph Akinlaja or any of their agents, representatives and associates from opening any parallel office bearing the name and logo of Ogun State Labour Party in any part of the state.

“To investigate the motives, actions and inactions of Otunba Gbenga Daniel's meetings as related to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Senator Bola Tinubu to cause anarchy and civil disturbances among the political parties in Ogun State.

“To provide adequate security

The lawmakers

Fuel scarcity looms over unpaid subsidy to oil marketers

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The affected lawmakers are Remmy Hassan from Odogbolu, John Obafemi from Remo North, Adeleme Salmon from ImekoAfon and Samson Onademuren from Ijebu North-East.

The petition, signed by the party secretary, Sunday Ogini was dated January 20, 2014.

Daniel reacts

But, in a swift reaction, Daniel who spoke through a factional Secretary of the party, Micheal Adegbola described the allegation as watery and mere blasphemy, saying, the step taken by the national body which suspended the state chairman, Olabode Simeon was in order.

In its petition, the party said that, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has been having nocturnal meetings with Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the national leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu with a mandate to destabilise Labour Party from its programme of support for Jonathan.

Party leaders to CP, DSS

In their prayers, the executive of the party in the state requested the Police and DSS; “To prevent,

A

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

BUJA—OIL marketers, yesterday, warned of an impending scarcity of fuel in the country from Friday, as Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, said their stock was fast depleting.

This followed the failure of the Federal Government to settle them their outstanding subsidy claims, totaling about N120 billion for the third and fourth quarters of 2013.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore appealed to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA to release the import allocation for the first quarter of 2014, explaining that its members currently have 45,000 metric tons which is about 60 million litres of fuel left in their storage facilities.

According to him, two of its six members have run out of petroleum products, while the remaining four members

for the state secretariat at Adatanin, Abeokuta and our party offices in the 20 local government areas against attack by Otunba Gbenga Daniel or any of his agents and associates.”

Defending Daniel, Adegbola, however, said: “It is amusing that Ogini is an interloper, who does not have any mandate to issue or speak on behalf of Labour Party in Ogun State.

“All allegations leveled against our cherished leader Otunba Gbenga Daniel are watery, mere blasphemy and very cheap orchestrated campaign.

“The national body of the party

have stocks that would last for only five days from today if they are not replenished.

The major marketers who account for 60 per cent of petroleum products supply in the country are Total, Conoil, Mobil, MRS and Forte Oil. He noted that 2013 ended on a very tall hope because some payment was received and products were brought into the country.

He said, “We hoped that the payment will continue but as we speak we are told that the whole thing is being processed and therefore only wish and hope that the process will end pretty soon so that we get payment.

“The last time we met I said we have not received third quarter and fourth quarter has not ended but now it has ended so we now have two quarters, third and fourth quarters pending.

“At this point I want to plead on behalf of other marketers who have been calling me that they have not received their own payment, the interest and

has spoken in a letter addressed to the Director of DSS of an acting chairman, Mr. John Olaleye.

“The letter has been dispatched accordingly. It is, however, important to stress that Ogini is not known to Labour Party as it is now very glaring that Ogini and his co-travelers are acting the script of some people to create and cause crisis in the Labour Party in Ogun State.

“We assure all our teeming supporters not to be swayed or distracted by the shenanigans of Ogini and others who are paid agents of destabilisation.”

foreign exchange because it is not only the majors that suffered the penalty from the banks.

“With the closing of 2013, one was expecting that Q1 for 2014 should have been released, knowing fully well that it takes some weeks to book a cargo and for it to arrive Nigerian waters.

“The first month for Q1 2014 has almost ended which means that whatever we are getting now is a fallout from Q4. How long that would last I cannot say because PPPRA usually gives marketers when to bring in products even after the quarters allocation.

“For instance, if there are six of you in a quarter, they can tell one of you to bring in for a particular period maybe first week. They try to arrange in such a way that you won’t have people bunching together. It would be spread evenly over the quarter.

“So I like to say that non release of Q1 is making us uncomfortable. Our appeal, therefore, is that it should be

released immediately before Q3 import dries out.

“As we speak today and I speak for only ‘Major’ in this area we have only about two or three vessels outside for major marketers which is a spillover from last quarter which is about 45,000 metric tons.

“This includes two non ‘majors’ in other words for ‘major’ there is only one cargo of 15,000 metric tons.

“We would therefore want to appeal that we should not fall back into the mistake of allowing only Pipeline and Product Marketing Company, PPMC to import because if we do so, we will get into trouble.

“It is only a pity that we give credit to only PPMC, I think credit should go to all of the following: PPMC, PPPRA, MOMAN and the independent importers also constitute another group. All these groups goes together to be able to ensure that we have availability all over the country.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Amaechi, Ikimi lead peace c'ttee on Bayelsa APC crisis

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—RIVERS State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, have been nominated by the national leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, to resolve the crisis rocking the party in Bayelsa State.

Also on the peace committee are the South-South members of the interim committee of the party, including the former National Youth Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, Ebikibina Miriki.

The party has been locked in factional crisis in the state, leading to the setting up of parallel state secretariats in the state by loyalists of the former state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The decision of the national leadership of the party to set up the committee, it was learnt, was to avoid imposition of party structure and ensure formidable team of party executive in the state which is a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, strong hold.

The choice of Amaechi, according to a party source, was based on his supervisory role as the lead-

er in charge of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, in terms of support and logistics.

The committee is expected to, among others, meet with the warring factions in Port Harcourt over the crisis rock-

ing the party in Bayelsa and also intervene in the party crisis in Akwa Ibom State, between the supporters of the 2011 flag bearer of the defunct ACN and other APC leaders in the

state.

It was learnt that a blanket order on ceasefire on further media war had been slammed on the warring factions ahead of the Port Harcourt meeting.

DONATION: From left: HRH Gregory Akenzua, Pro-Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University; Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Pastor Chris Oyakhilomen and Pastor Tom Amenkhienan, at the commissioning of a 600-seat auditorium donated by Believers' Loveworld (Christ Embassy) to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, yesterday.

Edo govt orders demolition of buildings converted to churches, other uses

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State Government will commence the demolition of buildings designated as residential, but illegally converted to churches, restaurants, supermarkets, night clubs, car wash and other uses.

The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Francis Evbuomwan, who briefed newsmen, in Benin, said the move was part of measures adopted by the state government to restore the Benin City master plan.

At the briefing was the state Com-

missioner for Transport, Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo. He said that operators of bus terminals, whether public or private, were expected to register their bus terminals with the Ministry of Transport and obtain planning approvals from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development with regards to the location and citing of their bus terminals, adding that all bus terminals must not be operated by the road side, but within a fenced area.

The commissioner, who

Chartered Institute of Commerce gets new council

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HE Nigerian Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Commerce, Nigeria, has elected a new council.

The Institute which is responsible for the training of personnel in salesmanship, sales/marketing, advertisement and other commercially oriented areas, has Pastor Wale Olasoji as the national president, Mr. Abdukareem Wasiri Sanni, Vice-President; G. Jimoh, Treasurer; Chief K. Ogolo, Financial Secretary/Chairman Finance Committee; Omomarho Oghene, Audi-

tor-General; and Prince Etah Etah as Chairman, Examination Committee.

Others include Chief C. Ibebunjoh, Chairman, Disciplinary Committee; Chief Amaunam Okodi, Chairman of Membership Committee; Prince Abarka Musa, Public Relations Officer and Chairman of Welfare Committee as well as Prince Ademola Abidoye, Registrar/ Chief Executive Secretary to Council.

threatened that the state government will not tolerate conversion of residential buildings to churches, restaurants, or night clubs, however, offered a month’s grace to those yet to regularise their building permits or face demolition.

He said: “The maximum penalty for failure to remove illegal structure is demolition. You either remove it yourself or government will demolish your building and recover the cost from you. When Gov-

ernor Adams Oshiomhole set up this ministry 10 months ago, one of the missions of the ministry is to enhance the quality of urban living through development of commodious layouts, green areas, parks and open spaces.

“Consequently, the ministry is poised to make some radical changes, including addressing the issue of converting residential premises to churches, restaurants, super markets, night clubs and car wash, failure to regularise such which will attract closure or outright demolition."

NEPC, Embassy of Iran collaborate to promote trade

T

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC and the Iranian Embassy, have agreed to collaborate to promote trade between both countries.

Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, while receiving the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, HE Saeed Koozechi, in his office in Abuja, said the Council will identify areas of mutual cooperation that would assist in promoting locally manufactured products for export.

He said the council was planning incentives for prospective foreign investors through a new package from the proposed Reverse Investment Policy. This, he said, would encourage Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, in designated Free Trade Zones across the country, being that Iran, for instance, might establish and fully own industries in Nigeria, which would produce what that country needs, and export same thereafter.

Responding, the Iranian Ambassador, HE Koozechi maintained that NEPC was an important organ in the development and promotion of export trade, adding that although Iran was endowed with oil and gas, the country generates about $50 billion annually from non-oil exports.

He said Iran plans to increase its production capacity for petro-chemicals from 55 million to 100 million tonnes annually in two years, adding that presently there are more than 20 petro-chemical industries operating in Iran.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 13

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—15

Court bars Chevron from sale of assets

BY AHMED IBRAHIM with Agency Report

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VISIT: From Left, Mr. David Tswanya, Hajia Mariya Ibrahim Baba, Executive Director, Media; Mrs. Patricia Kupchi, Executive Director, Contact; Mallam Garba Bala, Director General, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, APC Presidential Aspirant; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager, Publications/Editor in Chief, Vanguard Newspapers; Hajia Rabi Gambari, Special Assistant; Mr. John Nwokocha, Executive Director, Research, and Mallam Ibrahim Tukur, Executive Director, Finance, during APC Presidential Aspriant's courtesy visit to Vanguard Media Limited, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye,

El-Rufai surrenders to DSS, detained

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

ABUJA — FORMER Minis-ter of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday, turned himself in to the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja.

El-Rufai, who is the current Interim Deputy National Secretary of the nation’s leading opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, was driven by Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to the national headquarters of the security outfit at about 9.15a.m. in an ash-coloured Mercedes Sports Utility Vehicle.

Others who accompanied him were his wife, Mrs. El-Rufai, Senator Chris Ngige, Interim National Secretary of APC, Tijani Tumsa, and El-Rufai’s lawyer.

However, at the DSS headquarters, only Amaechi, Ngige and ElRufai’s lawyer were allowed to follow him into the premises of the security outfit.

Speaking to newsmen at his Maitama home before he was driven to the DSS headquarters, El-Rufai insisted he was innocent, adding that his comment about the possibility of violence erupting if next year’s general elections were rigged was based on Nigeria’s electoral history.

He maintained that his comment was in line with his freedom of speech as enshrined in the amended 1999 Constitution.

Said he: “The statement I made was based on historical fact because it happened in 1964, 1983, 2003, 2007 and 2011.”

El-Rufai said he was ready to go to court to enforce his fundamental human rights, if the need arose, adding, “we are ready to pursue the enforcement of our rights in the law court and in the court of public opinion; whoever does anything against the law should face the consequences.”

Asked what he thought was responsible for the invitation by the DSS, he said he believed the security agency decided to invite him because of a legal action he filed challenging the decision of DSS operatives to detain him in his hotel room in Awka during last November’s governorship election in Anambra State.

Commenting on the development, APC scribe, Tijani Tumsa, dismissed the impression in some quarters that El-Rufai’s statement was inciting, adding that Nigerians were aware of those who had been making incendiary statements about next year’s general elections.

He said: “El-Rufai’s statement

was not inciting. It was based on historical facts. I think his invitation by DSS is all political.

“He made those comments to forestal what may happen next year. We are insisting on free and fair elections in 2015. ”If you listened to some recent statements made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, it means we should be expecting flaws in the 2015 polls.”

Tumsa stated that APC’s cardinal position was that the rule of law and the fundamental human rights of Nigerians should be respected.

Only last Friday, operatives of the DSS who were in search of El-Rufai had laid siege to his houses at Asokoro and Maitama It would be recalled that the DSS reportedly invited El-Rufai for a chat last Thursday.

Although the reason for the invitation was not known, it was learnt it was in connection with a statement attributed to him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections are not free and fair While speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth

Service Corps members in Abuja, last Wednesday, the APC deputy secretary said the elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and property unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free and fair.

It was, however, gathered that El-Rufai, declined the invitation, citing the pending suit he filed against the DSS as his reason. ElRufai was reported to have told the Director General of DSS, Ita Ekpeyong, that he was willing to meet with him in his home or office or alternatively, the DSS should produce a warrant of arrest.

The spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, had last Thursday warned those making provocative statements ahead of the 2015 general elections to desist from such remarks or face the full weight of the law.

In its own reaction to the siege laid at El-Rufai’s house last Friday, All Progressives Congress, APC, strongly condemned what it called “the harassment of its Deputy National Secretary, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, by the Department of State Services, DSS.” He was still being held as at the time of going to the press.

Defection: 5 ‘rebel’ Govs, INEC, shun PDP’s suit ...Court orders service of fresh hearing notice on APC

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — THE five ‘rebel’ governors who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, refused to appear before Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to join issues with their former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the suit seeking to declare their seats vacant.

PDP, which instituted the legal action, told the high court that the defendants, comprising Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Alhaji

Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara states, patently ignored hearing notices served on them since December 16 last year.

Consequently, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, ordered the issuance of fresh hearing notices on the five governors through the national secretariat of APC situated at Wuse Zone 6 in Abuja.

Similarly, the court directed that another hearing notice be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at its headquarters in Abuja, stressing that it would go ahead and hear the substantive matter on February 6, even if the defendants declined to appear in court on that date.

However, a team of four Senior

Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for the PDP urged the high court to allow them publish the hearing notice on two national dailies, a prayer granted by Justice Kolawole.

When the matter was called up for hearing, lead counsel to the PDP, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, told the court that though the bailiff had confirmed that hearing notice was duly served on the governors, he urged the court to take judicial notice of the fact that none of the governors appeared for the matter.

“My Lord, this honourable court had on December 13, 2013, made an order for substituted service of the hearing notice on all the defendants, none of them is here

today. I can confirm that only INEC was served through its national office.

“Based on the order of this court, the 2nd to 6th defendants were served through the National secretariat of the APC because we felt that was the proper place to reach them. The bailiff also confirmed that they were served on December 16, 2013.

“My Lord it is over 30 days since that service was effected, yet, there has been no memo or response from them.

“Therefore, we shall be asking for a short date to address this court with regards to our substantive suit. This matter is a very serious one that deserves urgent attention."

FEDERAL High Court, yesterday, upheld an order barring Chevron from selling its onshore assets until a legal dispute with Brittania-U is resolved.

“The court upheld the interim order in favour of Brittania to protect the assets while the substantive case is still being determined,” Ricky Tarfa, lawyer to Bittania-U disclosed outside the court premises.

“The judge said that the order needs to be in place until the case is decided.

The order restrains Chevron from transferring the asset or doing anything with the assets,” he stated.

Chevron’s lawyer at the Federal High Court in Lagos declined to comment.

The Nigerian firm, run by former Chevron executive Catherine Uju Ifejika, was the highest bidder at over $1 billion for the biggest cluster of blocks - OML 52, 53 and 55 - and Chevron began discussions with the company over the sale.

Chevron decided to look at alternative bids after Brittania-U failed to prove it could muster the sum promptly, banking and oil industry sources said.

Among the challenges being heard are whether or not the court even has jurisdiction in the case.

Controversy had trailed the proposed sale of the assets, as it was reported November last year that Seplat won the bid for Chevron’s 40 per cent equity in the gas rich Oil Mining Lease (OML) 53, in the eastern onshore Niger Delta basin, while Amni Petroleum is the preferred bidder for OML 52 with Belema Oil Company clinching OML 55.

Osun 2014: Campaigns begin in May

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA — THE Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has fixed May 11 for the commencement of campaigns for Osun State governorship election scheduled to hold on August 9.

This was contained in the time-table for polls released last week by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.

The time-table shows that collection of forms for the election would take place at INEC headquarters on May 19 while June 2 has been fixed for the conduct of party primaries.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

KWANKWASO TO JONATHAN: You’re not 2015 '...this amounts to a third term'

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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S PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan prepares for his re-election next year, Kano State Governor, Dr. Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso has warned that Jonathan is not qualified to contest for presidency in 2015.

According to the governor, any attempt by Jonathan to run in the next poll will amount to a third term in office, which is not acceptable to most Nigerians.

Kwankwaso, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, advised President Jonathan to take urgent steps to solve the raging insecurity challenges in the North-East and stabilise the Nigerian economy and take a bow from governance in 2015, when he would have attained the eightyear maximum limit stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.

The governor argued that contrary to the President’s position that his tenure started in 2011, the true position remains that he actually started serving as Nigeria’s President in 2007 and would have completed his eight years in 2015.

Describing any third term bid as a taboo, Kwankwaso pointed

out that Jonathan and those urging him to run in 2015 could never justify such a move, which runs contrary to the clear provisions of the law.

The governor said: “Jonathan is not qualified to contest election again in 2015 going by the provi-

qualified to contest in

sions of the Nigerian Constitution. Third term is not acceptable to any part of Nigeria and the time limit stipulated must be respected by all Nigerians.

“I am sure Nigerians will kick against a third term whether by Jonathan or by any other person

in this country.

Mr. President would have completed his eight years in office by 2015. He served as Vice President for two years, Acting President for two years and is doing another four years, which will terminate in 2015.

“But those advising the President are pretending that his tenure started in 2011. I saw them on television the other day trying to argue in that direction, but they can never be correct. I am not a lawyer, but I know that two plus four plus six can never be eight.

Make your presidential bid known, Shuluwa tells Jonathan

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI — ELDER statesman and one of the founding fathers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief

Abu King Shuluwa has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention over the 2015 elections to save the party from further crisis.

Shuluwa observed that the crisis bedevilling the party had di-

rect links with the general perception that Jonathan would run for a second term in office.

He spoke to journalists, weekend, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, adding that “whether we like it or not, the exit

Ministerial nominee, ex-Gov Haruna acquitted, discharged

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — A Ministerial nominee and former Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna is now set to scale through the Senate screening as he has been acquitted and discharged of offences of conspiracy and forgery of bank accounts’ documents by the Federal High Court sitting in Yola.

The former governor was al-

leged to have been involved in alteration of Guarantee Trust Bank’s documents.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had charged Mr. Haruna to court for operating a Guarantee Bank account by proxy when he was the governor of Adamawa State.

The EFCC specifically accused him of operating an account where the local government chairmen in the state and him-

self were the signatories.

The balance in the account amounting to N46.2million comprised N2.2 million allegedly donated by the 21 local government chairmen for the registration of voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. However, Haruna was acquitted on Thursday, January 16, 2014, by the court presided over

by Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu.

of Alhaji Bamaga Tukur as the Chairman of the PDP will not reduce the crisis in the party. ”The man was just a sacrificial lamb; the fact is that he was just a victim of circumstance because he was not the problem of the party. ”The truth is that, Tukur as chairman was not the reason for the series of problems rocking the PDP today, but President Jonathan.

"It all stems from the fact that there is a general perception that he will run in the 2015 election and some people are not happy with the development. ”The moment Jonathan tells the people that he would not contest, calm will return to the party and the country. What we are witnessing is not the issue of Tukur, it is all about Jonathan, let him talk.

He has not spoken but his body language clearly shows that he wants to contest.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 17

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Politics without principles Tinubu’s midwifery of the APC is conclusive proof he is anything but a progressive politician. The APC is an allcomers alliance of strange bedfellows without any defined policy objectives. No one can tell what is progressive about this new cocktail. Former archenemies of the ruling PDP, hitherto derided as corrupt and incompetent by Tinubu, are now courted and welcomed in APC with open arms.

Since 1999, Obasanjo has been Tinubu’s public enemy number one. In 2011, Tinubu said: “(Obasanjo) should go away and retire in shame politically. He brought a whole salad of corruption, manipulation and failures.”

However, more recently, Tinubu was part of a delegation of APC leaders who visited Obasanjo at his residence in Otta, pleading with him to decamp from the PDP to the APC. The nation watched with incredulity as Tinubu was quoted as saying to arch-enemy Obasanjo: “We’re resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria.

We want you as navigator.”

Such duplicity is par for the course with Tinubu. He cut his political teeth as a NADECO politician in the heydays of the annulled June 1993 elections. In consonance with his NADECO colleagues, Tinubu is on record in insisting repeatedly that: “Because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak… We must convoke a national conference.” Fast-forward to 2013, after President Jonathan decided to convene the requested national conference, Tinubu started singing a different tune. He declared: “The national conference is by whom, for whom, and at what stage? How many levels of deception?

I see a contradiction. I see diversion.

I see deception, lack of honesty and integrity.”

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What does Bola Tinubu want?

The contradiction, deception and lack of honesty that is evident to all are on the part of Bola Tinubu.

South-West control

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inubu has controlled SouthWest politics not because he is popular in the region, but because he has been allowed to get away with anti-democratic tendencies. His ACN party made no pretenses to be democratic. Candidates for elective offices did not come from any democratic processes; they were chosen in Tinubu’s bedroom. There was only one discernible requirement for qualification: total allegiance to Tinubu and the acceptance to do his bidding.

It is to Tinubu’s credit that the candidates he chose undemocratically have tended to do better than others.

Justifying himself, Tinubu said: “I play god-fatherism in the South-West for the good of our people. My god-fatherism is for progress.” However, his blatant “all in the family” nepotism can hardly be said to be in the interest of the South-West.

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VER the past few years, Bola Tinubu has made himself something of a colossus of South-Western politics in Nigeria. Against the onslaught of vociferous PDP electoral manipulations in 2003, Tinubu drew the line in the sand and held on to the biggest prize: Lagos. He became, in effect, the lone survivor of his party in the South-West. By 2007, using just Lagos State as his stronghold, he fought back to wrest ACN control back in all but one of the South-western states.

By 2011, he had consolidated his hold in the region. With 2015 looming, it would appear to be high time for Tinubu to unfold a national, as opposed to a merely regional, agenda.

Accordingly, Tinubu has now become the grandfather of the All Progressives Congress (APC); a coalition forged between his ACN party, Buhari’s CPC, the ANPP and Rochas Okorocha’s wing of APGA. But the question needs to be asked: what is in this newfangled APC for Bola Tinubu?

will not take place in Tinubu’s bedroom.

In 2011, President Jonathan supported Mulikat Akande of Oyo State for the position of Speaker of House of Representatives. But Tinubu corralled ACN representatives to defeat his candidature in favour of Aminu Tambulwal of Sokoto. He did this so he can play a South-West marginalization card against Jonathan’s PDP government in subsequent elections. He was also mindful that a Yoruba Speaker should not provide a rallying point for the PDP in the struggle for supremacy with his ACN in the South-West.

Rigging democracy By 2011, Tinubu’s ACN already had twelve years experience of perfected vote-rigging in the South-west. No matter what INEC says or does, the elections could always be relied on to conform to Tinubu’s permutations. The South-West public was not particularly bothered about this because the ACN was preferred to the only other viable alternative; the

The very things that made Tinubu successful in the South-West are bound to shipwreck him in the APC

Tinubu crowned his daughter the new Iyaloja of Lagos. He installed his wife, as a Senator for Lagos State. His wife's sister is apparently a member of Lagos State House of Assembly. His daughter's husband is a member of the Federal House of Representatives.

This is unacceptable.

The APC is likely to produce a Northern candidate to compete against Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Tinubu calls himself the leader of the APC, and his alliance partners seem readily inclined to humour him with that inconsequential title for the time-being. But as the so-called leader of the new coalition, he is not going to be able to handpick the presidential candidate in the same undemocratic way he does in the South-West. One thing is for sure, that decision

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PDP. But with ACN now merged into the APC, we have a new political dynamic especially at the national level.

The question that now arises is this: Can South-Western votes be successfully rigged in favour of a Northern presidential candidate, according to the requirements of Tinubu’s new APC alliance?

I doubt it very much.

Let me say something here about the peculiarities of Nigeria’s “rigging democracy.”

In Nigeria, every election is rigged. The question is to what extent or to what degree.

Nigeria’s rigging rigmarole also has some paradoxically inbuilt democratic tendencies.

The capacity to rig and get away with it is linked to actual support on the ground. In short, the efficacy of rigging lies in the ability to exaggerate the margin of victory. Put in the

Norther ner, as the ACN presidential flag-bearer in 2011, Ribadu still did not receive South-Western votes.

The votes went, instead, to Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and the South-South Moreover, a Northern president portends nothing but disaster for Tinubu’s political ambitions. No president of Nigeria will kowtow to him the way his South-Western governors currently do. Tinubu might want to learn from the experience of the “navigator” of PDP politics; Olusegun Obasanjo. That “navigation” came to grief once Yar ’Adua became president; and then again, once Goodluck Jonathan was installed in Aso Rock.

Therefore, if Tinubu has ears, he should use them. The Northern politicians clamouring for power after being starved of it for 16 years are not dying to do any favours for the SouthWest, given the eight years of Obasanjo’s presidency. They are dying to do favours for themselves. Once a Northern president is firmly installed in Aso Rock, they are going to stop returning Tinubu’s phone-calls.

Vice-president Tinubu Sen. Bola Tinubu. national mix, this might conceivably distort and even determine the eventual outcome. But when an election is rigged to the extent that the eventual winner in a particular constituency bears no relation with the real choice on the ground, it is likely to result in riots and protests.

The South-west is still the only region in Nigeria that votes ethnically. In the history of Nigeria’s democratic experience, the North has voted for Southerners. The SouthEast and the South-South have voted for Northerners. But the South-West has never voted for a Northerner.

Therefore, Tinubu is going to have a problem convincing South-West voters that they vote for a Northerner in 2015 if, as is true to form, they are not inclined to do so.

Northern APC president

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inubu’s political career would be greatly endangered were he to presume he can, at his discretion, manipulate SouthWest votes for a Northern presidential candidate. Should he make that mistake, he might just end up as another Samuel Ladoke Akintola of SouthWestern politics, accused of selling out his people to the North. The outcome of that in 1964 was widespread rioting in the West, which prefaced the 1966 military coup.

For his APC alliance with Buhari to work, Tinubu would have to become what he is not: a democrat. He will have to convince South-West voters to vote for a Northerner. That will require a lot of leg-work and campaigning that has not even started, with the elections only one year away. Even then, it is not likely to work. When Tinubu chose Ribadu, a

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f course, one way out is to balance the APC ticket with a Yoruba vice-presidential candidate. However, Tinubu himself is not viable in that capacity. I daresay, Nigeria is not ready for Vice-President Tinubu. I know of no great desire in the land for the nation’s economy to be mortgaged to the Tinubu family according to the format currently prevailing in Lagos especially where, among other sharp practices, his Alpha Beta outfit gets a fixed percentage of all internally-generated revenue.

One of the more plausible configurations I have heard is a Kwankwaso/Fashola ticket designed to bring into the APC mix the two more popular governors of the two most populous states. However, Tinubu may have a problem with that because it will signal his death-knell politically. A Yoruba vice-president would be an even greater threat to Tinubu’s South-West supremacy than his earlier fears of a Yoruba Speaker.

In any case, in Nigeria, nobody votes for a vicepresident, even though he is on the ballot. Everyone knows that a vice-president plays second-fiddle to the president.

He is only as relevant, or as inconsequential, as the president wants him to be.

With all the clamour at the moment by the Northern political elite for a Northern president, it is easily forgotten that the current vice-president is actually from the North.

This is because the vicepresidency is not the issue.

The critical factor is the presidency.

This, therefore, is my position. The APC adventure marks the end of the road politically for Tinubu. It is downhill all the way for him from now on. The very things that made Tinubu successful in the South-West are bound to shipwreck him in the APC.

18 Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 IN June this year, a combined effort of the security agencies and the Lagos State Government led to a massive security sweep of some suburbs of Lagos, where some suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamic insurgency sect were apprehended before they could hit targets in the nation’s commercial capital.

Specifically, four suspects were arrested in the Orile-Iganmu area and charged with plotting to attack the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos. One of the suspects is also being prosecuted for helping the sect monitor the activities of security agencies and reporting back to the terrorists.

This is yet another indication that though beaten back and put on the run, the nation’s number one arch enemy is still active and determined to spread terror and cause maximum panic in the system. They are looking for soft spots and exploiting every available laxity in the security system to hit back.

It should be clear even to lay people that the prisons are among the prime targets of terrorists and highly sophisticated robbery gangs. Some of their colleagues, who have

Preventing Terror Attacks On Prisons been convicted in the courts are cooling their heels there, and some of these felons are their leaders and valuable hands. They would like to set these people free and further win for themselves the false air of invincibility.

It is for this reason that security at our prisons, particularly the high security ones, where the toughest criminals are being warehoused, must be guarded with the greatest sense of vigilance and sophisticated equipment possible.

Correctional professionals must upgrade their mentality to the needs of modern era plagued by tougher new crimes, such as ter-

rorism waged by suicide attackers. Gone are the days when criminals regarded the prisons with awe. They now know that the prisons are among the least equipped in terms of arms, and that its officials are much easier to tackle than, say, military personnel.

Bearing in mind the havoc the society suffers, whenever prison breaks take place, particularly the freeing of suicide-ready terrorists, the system must wake up and fortify our prisons to meet the challenges of the moment.

It is high time we leveraged on the impending national conference to explore the possibility of decentralising correctional functions to enable states and even private security contractors to build and operate prisons just as it is done in many advanced societies. As the criminals specialise in their nefarious activities we must also adjust accordingly in order to stay ahead of them.

In these days of globalisation of crimes such as terrorism, we must explore every opportunity to align our correctional practices with the best in the world, protect our people and secure our nation.

OPINION

BY TAMUNO WEST -GREENE

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EARLY ten days after he was flown to the United Kingdom supposedly for treatment over gunshot wounds sustained during a fracas with policemen penultimate Sunday, reports from London about Senator Magnus Abe’s ‘hospitalisation’ have been disturbing.

Controversy has also trailed the political activities of the Senator who was dramatically flown to the UK, as he has literally converted his hospital ward into a venue for discussion with political loyalists.

Contrary to initial reports, Abe, who is a strong ally of Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi, said he sustained injury from the alleged gunshot in order to score political points. Several photographs syndicated to news organisations, shortly after the incident by the Rivers state government, created fears that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), was in critical condition.

Recently, British Health officials have added their voice to what is popularly being regarded as “Senator Abe’s hospitalisation scam.” Since his arrival in the UK, and his eventual hospitalisation at the London Bridge Hospital, queries have been raised about why he was brought into the hospital.

According to an online report which obtained the information from British authorities, “there was no trace of injury on him; neither was there any treatment given to him apart from the fact that an antipyretic drug was administered”.

Because of the impression initially C M Y K

Issues about Senat or Abe’s ‘hospitalisation’ Senator created, one had expected that Abe would end up in the hospital’s intensive care unit, but he was kept in a ward meant for people with shock. From the ward, several photographs of the Senator and his visitors, mainly political associates, were taken and lavishly posted on internet websites and the social media.

The authorities at the London Bridge Hospital have expressed their anger with the officials of Rivers state which deceived medical authorities in Nigeria to issue the frivolous certificate that enabled the British officials to admit Abe. The medical officials who examined and signed the result and Senator Abe’s Health certificate that enabled him to be flown into the United Kingdom were criticised for their indiscretion when the Senator was neither sick nor seriously injured to warrant being flown abroad.

The visit to Abe’s hospital bedside by the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to analysts, was mainly a photo opportunity to drive the drama of his hospitalisation home. Following the reports generated by and around the Senator, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarki Dalhatu Tafida, was similarly led to the same bedside where the APC had stationed a photographer to capture such high profile visits. When Abe is not posing for photographs, the gadgets curiously placed on various spots on his chest, are

kept aside as he meets with political allies in London.

The London bridge hospital authorities, reports say, have had issues with the sheer number of politicians who visit the hospital to see the ‘sick’ Senator. The reports indicate he had virtually converted his ward to a political meeting place with many of his allies in the support of Governor Amaechi, filing in and out on daily basis. This has also confirmed doubts that he was in serious condition.

Abe, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District, was said to have been hit by a rubber bullet on the chest when police allegedly used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse members of Save Rivers Movement (SRM), a political group that supports the State Governor.

The members had converged preparatory to a rally scheduled for noon when the police came to disperse the crowd. He was reportedly rushed to a private hospital, Krisany Medical Services, at Agudama Street, Port Harcourt, where he was allegedly treated for shock and internal bleeding before being flown dramatically, to the United Kingdom, for further hemorrhage test. Evidently, he has quickly recovered enough to resume political activities with various interest groups even while on hospital admission.

The Rivers state Police Command stridently denies firing any gunshot into the crowd in Port Harcourt, with the

Police spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP), telling the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the group was dispersed because they did not obtain a police permit.

Analysts have also picked issues with the syndicated photographs of Senator Abe receiving treatment in a private hospital in Port Harcourt. While a medical analyst observed that it was unusual that he was receiving infusion with his wrist watch and other gadgets on, others said the pictures, with a nurse surrounded with mainly political aides, do not portray an environment for intensive medical care.

Another question is why only Abe, among the scores of other Amaechi supporters involved in the Port Harcourt shooting, was flown to London for medical treatment. This suggests that Abe was singled out for dramatic effect because of his political profile.

Amaechi and Abe have been locked in a battle with other stakeholders, led by Education Minister Nyesom Wike, for the control of the politics of Rivers state. The state governor is among the five Peoples Democratic Party governors who decamped to the All Progressives Congress where he is believed to be eyeing a slot in the presidential ticket of 2015.

*Mr. West-Greene, a commentator on national issues, wrote from PortHarcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 19

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HEN President Goodluck Jonathan announced in his 2013 Independence Day broadcast to Nigerians the intention of his government to organize a national dialogue as a way of resolving the seemingly intractable security and political crises in the country, very few people, if any, disagreed with the necessity for such a dialogue.

Indeed, the opposition APC opposed the dialogue only in regards to timing. The reason for this near- unanimity on the necessity of a national dialogue is the general acknowledgement that the military-written Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 is a military Decree (Decree No. 24 of 1999) rather than a negotiated framework for peaceful co-existence of the people of Nigeria. In the past, many had challenged as a lie, the preamble to the Constitution which states that: “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding

And to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people Do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following Constitution “ because the people of Nigeria did not sit down to negotiate the document.

After fourteen years of unbroken civil rule, the failings and weaknesses in the document have become more evident with various peoples of Nigeria expressing frustration and marginalisation with it and its operation. The feeling is increasingly one of despair that this union is not working and that the state of this union is anything but strong.

Attempts have been made albeit at huge financial cost to the tax payer to tinker with or amend the document to make it workable but most informed Nigerians know that the amendments were merely cosmetic and failed woefully to address the critical concerns of the citizens. Some people have argued that when the foundation of a building is fundamentally defective, any attempt to renovate the superstructure without altering the sub-structure is a waste of

Nigeria should not just be one nation for the sake of oneness.

It must be a nation in which the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness must be paramount

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resources. In building construction parlance, you cannot tear down the walls of a bungalow to build a skyscraper on a foundation laid for a bungalow.

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t is therefore generally agreed that for Nigeria to achieve her potentials and assume her leadership role in Africa and in the comity of global nations, its very foundation must be redesigned and re-engineered. As the most populous black nation on earth, Nigeria holds out enormous hopes for the black man all over the world. An economically strong and self-assured Nigeria should be a source of pride for Africa and for this reason; a united indivisible Nigeria remains an alluring objective. Nonetheless, without the right foundation and framework, Nigeria will remain a nation of unfulfilled potentials which increasingly runs the risk of implosion that could lead to

APC and its concept of heroes and villains

BY HUMPHREY IFEANYI

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WICE in recent times, I have heard people say: “If Abacha were alive today, he would have been a hero.”

Not long ago, Gen. Sani Abacha was mentioned in respect of what would have been his response to the shenanigans from pro-homosexual countries of Europe, United States and Canada who have been threatening to withdraw their development support for Nigeria because President Good luck Jonathan signed into law the same sex prohibition Act 2013.

It was a shock to hear such declaration in a place like Lagos, which was the hot bed to the anti Abacha campaign.

Nigerians would hardly forget that it was Abacha who opened the door to China and other Asian countries at the time the West were threatening to impose all manner of sanctions on Nigeria in the late 1990s. But on three occasions, the US congress failed to agree on what to do to Nigeria.

The focus of this article is really our concept of villains and heroes in Nigeria and we are using the likes of General Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Sen. Sani Abacha and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, incidental all of them military heads of state and their antecedents in the political arena as linked up in this analysis.

Femi Aribisala did a brilliant expose on on 'Why General Muhammadu Buhari cannot be president" (see Vanguard Newspaper, January 21, 2014, page 18). If this article had appeared during the 2011, general elections, Femi Aribisala would be labelled a serial hate monger.

But needless to say that Mr. Aribisala captured the bleak side of Gen. Buhari's government 1983-1985. It also recollected the mindset of Gen. Buhari and his attitude to inter-ethnic and inter religious relations, his disposition to issues bordering on civil liberties, freedom of speech, freedom of C M Y K

association, freedom of the press and anti corruption as exemplified in the countertrade experience.

Another article germane for this analysis was written by Simeon Kolawole, entitled “The Canonisation of Obasanjo, (Thisday on Sunday, December 30,2013, Pg. 104).

The writer declared “six years ago, I would have sworn that nobody would ever take Obasanjo seriously again, but this is Nigeria where our memory is so shallow, misfits get easily rehabilitated”.

Kolawole chronicled the activities of General Olusegun Obasanjo and his relation with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was the president and to maximally frustrate Bola Tinubu's administration in Lagos State. Before then, Gen. Obasanjo was in office as a military head of state from 1976 to 1979. This was the period he took Nigerians on a charade that was organised

by Chief Michael Ani's defunct FEDECO. It was an election that General Obasanjo invited five eminent Nigerians namely: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mallam Aminu Kano, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri who were contesting the election to tell them that the best candidate might not be the winner of the election.

It was the electoral quagmire in Kano state and definition of two-third of 19 states in the Constitution that exposed what Gen. Obasanjo meant by that statement. Both Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his supports, predominantly from the South West learnt the meaning of and what it felt to be betrayed and cheated. Gen. Obasanjo went ahead to expunge the provision for Electoral college vote in the constitution.

The sins of Gen. Obasanjo caught up with him in 1990 when he presented himself as a candidate for the office of the Secretary General. The full weight of the anger of the Yoruba nation was unleashed on him as his kinsmen led the campaign to stop him from attaining that office.

Nobel Prize winner Prof. Wole Soyinka led

destabilisation of the entire West African sub region with negative global implications.

The consequence of the foregoing is that rather than pigeon-hole the proponents of national dialogue as agents of balkanisation of Nigeria, we must seize the opportunity presented to work towards redesigning its foundation to enable it achieve its potentials as a strong, prosperous and proud nation. Therefore, the national conference should not be seen only from the perspective of a Constitution-making arrangement even though that will be the ultimate product. Much more than that is the fact that it will provide a platform for the fundamental definition of our nationhood and citizenship. This is the key to creating a new Nigeria.

In crafting the US constitution, the delegates first voted and adopted the declaration of independence document. While that document is not the Constitution, it is the soul and spirit of the constitution and explains the dreams and visions of the founding fathers of that nation nearly two and half centuries ago.

It was the desire to create a nation in which the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness will be paramount as encapsulated in the statement “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Every single provision of the constitution that followed is gauged on the

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BY CLEMENT OFUANI

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Thoughts on the national conference

We are manipulated according to their whims and desires, the cabals tell their followers what is the truth, what is acceptable and what is not

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a campaign team to New York to campaign against Gen. Obasanjo. In the end he lost.

According to Prof Ibrahim Gambari, who was Nigeria's permanent representative to the UN then, the British and the Americans told Nigeria that when they talk of electing a Secretary General, the emphasis was on the secretary and not on the GENERAL. Things were the same again in 1999 when General Obasanjo was released from jail in Bama, Borno State and presented to Nigerians as the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, the likes of Chief Ifeanyi Ekwueme who founded the party were shoved aside for Chief Obasanjo,who had survived Gen. Abacha's incarceration.

General Obasanjo was roundly defeated in his South West region, including his own ward. His performance in office was well captured in the Kolawole's piece earlier cited. hat is interesting to this writer is that all these leaders who were once seen and treated as villains in the South West, have become heroes either because they have become political allies of the All Progressive Congress or because they have sympathy, or because they have joined the army of those bashing President Good luck Jonathan.

Those members of the same PDP who were described as thieves, bad persons, election riggers among other crimes have become as clean and white as snow because they defected to ACP. There must be some thing chamelonic in

W

basis of how it furthers or hinders the attainment of this fundamental objective.

Similarly, Nigeria should not just be one nation for the sake of oneness. It must be a nation in which the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness must be paramount. Such rights must attach to each individual as a citizen of the country and each group of individuals however aggregated within the nation. In determining the aggregation of groups of people, our historical political experience shows a certain pattern of political loyalty that runs along ethnic lines. This has been the pattern since the 1940s. In the seminal work of Professor Ali Mazrui titled “The Path to Nigeria's Greatness: Between Exceptionalism and Typicality’ published in USA/ Africa Dialogue, No.9, the erudite Professor observed that “Nigeria's typicality includes the fact that Nigerians are more strongly moved by socio-cultural ideologies than by socio-economic ideologies.

Socio-cultural ideologies appeal to such cultural forces as ethnicity, religion, nationalism, race-consciousness and regional allegiance. Socioeconomic ideologies try to appeal to such economic interest as class, economic equity, trade union right and the like. Marxism, ujamaa and most other forms of socialism are socio-economic ideologies.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18

*Mr. Ofuani, a former commissioner in Delta State, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

the character of politics that is played in South West. Motivating factor is greed rather than morality and the selling point is blackmail.

Those who fallout of the dictatorial mode of reasoning are ostracised for ever as the likes of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Gen. Oladipo Diya, Chief Bisi Onabule, have come to know. Chief Onabule served as the Chief Press Secretary to General Babagida, who provoked the June 12, 1993 crisis.

If Gen. Babangida joins the APC and the battle against President Jonathan, his sins will be forgiven. Why not, he is not Judas Iscariot after all.

The essence of rational thinking as propounded by the likes of John Mills is that human beings are capable of rational thoughts and actions and they do not require draconian laws and institutions to herd them in line.

But we seem to be in a situation where some people reason for us based on their interest and interpretation of events and situations.

We are manipulated according to their whims and desires, the cabals tell their followers what is the truth, what is acceptable and what is not. Perhaps if Gen. Abacha were to be alive today; and declares for APC, then he too would become “a new creature, all things will pass away,” that is really a good concept but the snag is that such repentance is not from the heart, the leopards have retained the spots in their skin.

Sometimes I wonder what is the difference between the herd mentality that we see among followers and supports of APC and what obtains in places like North Korea or even the defunct Soviet Union? In these places, followership is by unquestioning obedience. Respect and obedience are commanded, not earned.

People join the mob so as to be seen to be politically correct. There is no room to listen to the other side of the argument. It is either black or white. In this process, the dividing line between honesty and hypocrisy is blurred , but those who choose to be led by the nose are free just a it will be proper to liberate the political space to accommodate free thinkers and conscientious objectors.

*Mr. Ifeanyi, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

JANUARY 28 , 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 21

Expert decries inadequacy of shelter in Nigeria

A

N Uyo-based Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Mr. John Isangedighi, has decried the inadequacy of shelter in the country, saying that 17 million Nigerians had no houses to live in.

Isangedighi, who expressed the concern in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, however, ruled out the possibility of all Nigerians having their own houses.

He said that with the formulation and proper implementation of housing policies, 70 percent of Nigerians could own houses.

Isangedighi said that it had become very difficult for most Nigerians to have decent shelter because of high cost of building, adding that government should urgently address the ugly situation.

“The government has fallen short of expectation in the provision of houses for citizens in Nigeria in general and Akwa Ibom in particular. “We know that government has challenges like land administration, finances, legal and regulatory framework, but it is its responsibility to make it possible for citizens to have homes,” he said.

SEMINAR: Secretary General, Abuja MOU, Mrs. Mfon Usoro (left) and Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, at the 5th Strategic Admiralty Seminar for Judges, in Lagos.

Isangedighi said that there has been appreciable efforts by individuals to provide houses for themselves in the country.

According to him, the government has not done much in terms of housing develop-

ment.

“By now, I expect the Akwa Ibom State Government, for instance, to have a minimum of seven sites and service schemes within Uyo metropolis,” Isangedigi said.

The estate surveyor and valuer called on the state government to map out sites for high, medium and low density housing estates in the state capital.

He also observed that mort-

Nigeria, Benin Republic strategise to address problem on vehicle imports

By GODWIN ORITSE

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HE Nigeria Customs Service and its Beninoise counterpart are currently meeting to strategise on the problem of appropriate transit of imported vehicles from Republic of Benin to Nigeria.

Disclosing this to newsmen at Seme weekend, Customs Area Comptroller of the Command, Mr. Willy Egbudin, said that the inappropriate transit of vehicles from across the border was beginning to affect the revenue profile of the Command.

According to Egbudin, discussion is on going with our Beninoise counterpart to address the problem of appropriate transit of imported vehicles He explained that on resumption of duty, he engaged critical stakeholders for interaction, cooperation, collaboration and support necessary to achieve the Command’s goals .

He noted that the Seme border Command is basically an enforcement area, adding that the Command has a mandate to ensure legitimate trade is facilitated through the Com-

mand.

His words “ Though this is basically an enforcement area, with mandate to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum, the Command is

also saddled with responsibility of revenue collection, facilitation of legitimate trade and general security of the nation”.

Dangote to revive local production of rice with N50bn

By PETER EGWUATU

D

angote Industries Limited has concluded plans is to invest $300 million (N50 billion) in rice production to make Nigeria , self sufficient in rice production and also stop importation of the product into the country.

According to information made available to Vanguard, the President of the Group, Aliko Dangote, last week at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, Switzerland said his Group’s planned investment in the agriculture sector will create additional 180,000 jobs in the economy. Explaining his Group’s foray into agriculture, Dangote said. “If I had dreamt five years ago that I would invest in Agriculture, I will write it off as bad dream or nightmare but today,

gage institutions in the country have not done much in real estate development, adding that it was their primary responsibilities to intervene in the sector. On the collapse of buildings, Isangedighi advised government to strengthen the capacity of its regulatory agencies to enable them reduce the incidents.“People with the right competence should handle building projects; the practice needs compliance with architectural designs and specifications,” Isangedighi said.

113.85

-1.35

2,786.00

-5.00

15.11

0.07

we’re investing $2.3 billion in Agriculture, $2 billion in sugar, and $300 million in rice. In Nigeria, we have one of the most 107.22 -0.36 attractive investment policies through framework that the government has put in 97.09 -0.23 place to help businesses succeed.”

It is expected that the planned invest- CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING ment will effectively enable the country 154.75 155.25 155.75 become self-sufficient in food production DOLLAR as it did in cement sector. Dangote Group STERLING 257.0398 257.8703 258.7008 EURO 212.2706 212.9564 213.6423 ended cement importation with three FRANC 173.2923 173.8522 174.4121 plants located at Obajana, Gboko and YEN 1.4864 1.4912 1.496 0.3011 0.3111 0.3211 Ibese meeting domestic demand for ce- CFA 236.4395 237.2035 237.9674 ment. The Group through massive invest- WAUA RENMINBI 25.5814 25.6645 25.7476 ment in sugar cultivation as part of the RIY 41.2612 41.3945 41.5278 national sugar master plan will put Nige- KRONA 28.4399 28.5318 28.6237 ria on the world sugar map and end im239.3566 SDR 237.8198 238.588 portation of raw sugar.

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/01/2014

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY

28, 2014

What should be the time frame for verification of shares?

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE he above question has to be resolved and resolved quickly, so as to eliminate or reduce to the barest minimum, the suffering shareholders experience in their quest to verify and dematerialise share certificates. The resolution of this question was a major issue in the IST Ruling on the case of Eze A. Eze (Applicant) against Fidelity Securities (1st respondent) , Fidelity Bank (2nd respondent), Securities and Exchange Commission (3rd respondent), and First Registrar (4th respondent).

Fidelity Securities argued that, “there was no time frame for the verification of the Applicants share certificate and the applicant did not, at the time he was giving out his share certificate for verification, agree on any time frame within which it could be verified”. First Registrar also argued that there is no law in Nigeria that stipulated a time frame for the dematerialisation and verification of shares, and that all the law requires is for the verification to be done within reasonable time (all things being

T

equal) The implication of the above is that share verification can take eternity. And that is the general attitude among stock-

brokers and registrars. As a result shareholders that seek to verify their shares suffer, others who are discouraged by the stress and delay, keep

their share certificates at home, and in the process, some certificates are lost. By extension, this undermines the volume of shares that

Top 10 performing stocks O

n the top 10 performing stocks last week were Transnationwide Express Plc, Costain (WA) Plc, IHS Nig. Plc, Courtville Business Solution Plc, C & I Leasing Plc and John Holt Plc. Others are May & Baker Nig. Plc, Forte Oil, Portland Paints and Products Plc and Prestige Assurance Plc. Transnationwide Express, listed on courier/freight/delivery sector, led the pack with 51.64 percent or N0.63 price appreciation to close at N1.85 from N1.22.

Transnationwide has for some time now been struggling with bad fortune as indicated by the 2012 year end financial statement. Within the stated period, the company recorded loss after tax of N345.39 million in comparison to a profit after tax of N48.653 million recorded in the same period of 2011, while profit before taxation stood at N56.168 million, which was four percent less than N58.518 million posted in 2011. Also, the shareholders

fund declined by 27 percent to N314.517 million from N431.126 million in 2011. However, revenue for the period grew by 6.8 percent from N563 million in 2011 to N601 million in the review period. Despite the dwindling fortune, the company rewarded its shareholders with 5kobo dividend for the period, which amounted to N9.91 million gross dividends. Incorporated in 1984 as a private company with the name, TNT Skypak Nigeria Limited, the company engages in transportation, express delivery, logistics and freight businesses.

Cosatin’s shares rose by 43.48 percent or N0.50 to close at N1.65 from N1.15. The company had last week notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, that it has finally liquidated its debt with First Bank of Nigeria, FBN, Limited for which a Receiver Manager was appointed against it by the bank late last year. Following the successful liquidation, the company said that steps are be-

ing taken to discharge the receivership at the Corporate Affairs Commission. Costain is presently operating below the postlisting rules of the NSE as it is yet to file its audited financial report for period ended March, 2012 with the Exchange, which attracted a fine of N3.6 million.

Listed on the building structure/ completion/other sub-sector of the NSE, Costain undertakes construction and civil engineering infrastructure projects. It also produces furniture and joinery for buildings.

IHS appreciated by 31.67 percent or N0.95 to close at N3.95 from N3.00 at the beginning of the week. Issues around its share buyback and subs e q u e n t delisting from the NSE was resolve last week after the company agreed to up its exit price to N4.35 per cancelled share instead of initial N3.70 proposed by the Board. Some sections of shareholders of the company are still grossly dissatisfied with the new price though. The company’s audited 2013 finan-

cial statement showed that cash and cash equivalent for the period rose to N6.73 billion from N810.225 million in 2012; cash generated from operation stood at N15.334 billion as against N36.235 million in 2012, while net cash flow rose to N15.295 billion from negative N823.845 million in the corresponding period of 2012.

Courteville followed with 21.43 or N0.15 price appreciation to close at N0.85 from N0.70. The stock started trudging up last year after a spirited argument by the company’s Managing Director, Bola Akindele, that it was priced below its fair value.

From 50kobo, it picked up and had risen to N0.96 in 2013 before falling back to the present market price.It was also among 13 companies recently commended by the NSE for compliance to good corporate governance by filing its 2011 year end result well ahead of stipulated submission date. In a bid to enhance shareholders

should be in the CSCS depository, and that could be traded.

Hence the volume of trading on the NSE is undermined.

Unfortunately the SEC and NSE are yet to discover this link. When they do, they will surely read the riot act to brokers and registrars or the issue of share verification. But the argument of Fidelity Securities, and First Registrar, did not hold water before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal averred, “Ordinarily, verification and dematerialisation of share certificates should not take more than two weeks. But this is where there are no irregularities alike what happened in the instant case. The procedure set out by this Tribunal in Molten Trust Ltd & Anor Vs SEC (supra) is the standard procedure if there are no irregularities.”

The implication of this statement is that if you submit your share certificate for verification and dematerialisation, if after three weeks, it is not you’re affected, and no case of irregularity is brought to your attention, the broker and registrar are liable for negligence of duty.

You can drag them to the IST to claim damages for negligence. But to ensure a favourable ruling at the Tribunal, you must have the necessary weapons. These weapons will be discussed in the next edition next week.

By NKIRUKA NNOROM value and stay ahead of competition, CBS, recently disclosed plans to extend its operations to more African countries.

Available financial statement of the company for the first quarter ended 31st March, 2013, showed that its turnover rose by 33.78 percent from N233.97million in the first quarter of 2012 to N313.01million.

Shareholders’ fund rose marginally by 3.08 percent from N2.82billion in the first quarter of 2012 to N2.90billion in the corresponding period of 2013, while retained profit grew by 63.21 percent to N86.84million in 2013 from N53.21million in 2012. C & I Leasing rose by 16.36 percent or N0.09 to close at N0.64 from N0.55; John Holt recorded 13.82 percent or N0.17 price appreciation to close at N1.40 from N1.23; May & Baker went up by 12 percent or N0.27 to close at N2.52 from N2.25; Forte Oil rose by 11.82 percent or N9.81 to close at N92.81 from N83.00 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 23

Investor lambasts CSCS over poor services

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he Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) has been criticized for poor services and unethical activities.

In a complaint to Investors Forum, Managing Director of ICON Continental Global Systems Limited, Mr. Akinola M.A accused CSCS of unreliable text alert services and discrepancies in the information on its website.

In its response CSCS acknowledged decline in some of its services due to challenges encountered in its online platform.

In its complaint, Akinola stated, “I will like to express my displeasure at the poor service CSCS Plc is offering its esteemed subscribers because the email alert you promised us is not forthcoming and very unreliable. If you are very observant and diligent, you will agree with me that there are some anomalies on your official website, e.g. the emergency phone number 019033551 is never functional because several attempts to reach your office are to no avail and also the official email address i.e.,control@cscsnigeriaplc. com is quite different from the one you are using to communicate with us i.e.,cscshp@cscsnigeriaplc.com.

•Kyari Abba Bukar, CSCS MD

•Oscar Onyema, NSE CEO

“How this discrepancy occurred is best known to your office. But as a professional, I will categorically tell you that, this is very illegal, unethical and unserious to communicate with client using another email address that is at variance with what you stated on your official website. Infact, I still want to believe this email is not from CSCS NIGERIA PLC “In this era, where superior hackers and fraudsters are deploying sophisticated software and high-tech to defraud innocent investors, CSCS NIGERIA PLC should not derail in its primary goal of protecting investors’ vital interest. This duty is

paramount because this service is real-time online with some elements of risk embed in internet security.

“At no time should there be communication breakdown between CSCS NIGERIA PLC and its esteemed client. As the custodian of peoples’ hard earned treasures you cannot afford to keep investors in limbo by advertising lines of communications that are completely inefficient and suspicious, which indeed could expose your flanks to litigation.

“Nevertheless, this email is an expression of our recent frustration with your service and it doesn’t in any way

constitute a permanent view. I hope you’ll take this in good fate as a launching pad to improve your service.”

Responding, CSCS Head of Brand Communication and Marketing said, “The Central Securities Clearing System Plc, under the leadership of Mr. Kyari Bukar, is committed to its mission to create value by providing securities depository, clearing, settlement and other services driven by innovative technology and highly skilled workforce.

“In this regard, CSCS had commenced continuous upgrades to its systems, infrastructure, processes and people that have seen several of the staff attending various best-in-class trainings and exposure on customer service delivery. Though, there have been cases of services drops experienced by some of our customers, positive results from these initiatives have been acknowledged by various customers, market participants and investors. “The Managing Director, Kyari Bukar, reassures the numerous stakeholders of the company’s commitment to better service and that in the event of such instances of service drop, the customer should immediately call the attention of a superior officer

and/or call any of our published hotlines for immediate attention.

“CSCS is further using this medium to notify our clients that the current difficulty in accessing certain services on our website is due to recent challenges encountered on our online platform. We are in the process of resolving the issues related to these services which have been temporarily shut down while we are deploying alternative channels of providing the affected services.

“On another note, according to Mr. Bukar, a single central securities depository (CSD) per country is the global best practice. Presently, the less than five countries that operate multiple CSDs are beginning to merge them. This is obviously due to advantages arising from economies of scale, non-duplication of structures, databases, and cost effectiveness. Our service delivery is driven our ‘SECURE’ core values of Security, Efficiency, Confidentiality, Uprightness, Resourcefulness and Excellence what we stand for.

Once again, we will continue to partner with you in ensuring that the right levels of awareness and information sharing are promoted.”

INVESTORS SPEAK

On IHS Nig Plc’s share buy back

By WILLIAM JIMOH

I

ntroduction: IHS Nigeria Plc plans to delist from the Nigerian Stock Exchange, after raising $1 billion last year to more than double its assets. The company which has not been able to pay dividend to shareholders for more than three years due to its expansion plans, last week held an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting in Lagos to secure the approval of shareholders for the planned share buy-back and delisting. Investors Forum sought the opinion of some shareholders present at the meeting on the issue.

Excerpts: Mr. Fidelis Opia Ijoma: Majority always has their way.

Our gathering here today as minority shareholders will not make any difference, the majority shareholders have agreed on what they want and what they are going to let go.

This gathering is just to fulfill all righteousness.

The majority shareholders will always have their way; all that the minority shareholders have here today is just a say. We are minority shareholders and our

impact is very little.

Though the company is saying that as they are leaving the stock exchange or moving from being a public company to a private limited liability company, it is possible for any of their shareholder who wants to continue to do business with them, but the implication of this is that it is going to be very difficult for anybody that still decides to hold the shares to sell it when he want after the company delisted.

This is because it is no longer a listed company; therefore, all the activities on the stock exchange will no longer affect it. But I think the OTC widow, which was introduced recently will allow shareholders still holding the shares after this court ordered meeting to sell their shares if they later consider such an option more suitable to them.

The N4.35 per share which is the pay off price the shareholders and the board of director arrived at today is an ideal price to take. But if it has been done on the N3.70, it would have been a lost on the part of the shareholders because the valuation is not

proper.

Captain Jenson Fofah: They gained, I lose I am losing. When the company started we were there with them and while they were not able to declare dividend for about five years, we were there with them, but like most of those companies that have made use of the shareholders to better their business and afterwards send the minority shareholders away turning the company to a private one, IHS is doing that toady.

This is not new like I said because companies including the likes of Nigeria Bottling Company, the makers of Coca Cola did the same thing and the implication is that we that we were once very important and relevant to them are now seen as hindrances to their progress. And for that reason, they are asking us to go. So, if you ask me who lost and who gained between the minority shareholders and the company with the amount they are paying us, I will say that they gained and we will lose.

Really, I don’t understand all these people, they are very funny. Though many investors

have decided to leave and for such action they will get N4.35 per share which is a good choice anyway, I am retaining mine but even with that, I don’t know what will happen to it because to me what they are telling us is a planned game. They know what they are doing and it is really working for them while it works against us as shareholders.

And like many other shareholders that will retain their shares, the question I asked myself is what I will do with the money if I collect it. Our investment in the company should have yielded much profit by now but they have failed to pay us dividend for years, which is the reward of bringing our money to buy their shares in the first place.

Mr. Rotimi Blaize: Can’t market provide for their expansion plan?

I think both the price they previously intended to give and the one we later agreed on is very ridiculous because if you are trying to send investors off, you should be able to give them something reasonable. If for no other reason, at least you have traded with our hungry money

for four years without any reward and as if that is not bad enough, the company is saying that it wants to delist because it wants to expand and I keep asking if the market cannot provide for their expansion plan. I did not buy into the idea of retaining my share with this company, because why do I need to do that if somebody is saying that he does not want me, must I force myself on him? I think the wise choice is to collect whatever money there is and do some other thing with the money and get profit from it rather than putting it on something that one is not certain of.

I know that their plan is to buy a particular telecom company’s towers in major part of the subregion, but they are not ready to let shareholders share from their prospective profit at the end of the expansion plan and that is to me the major reason why minority shareholders must go. One thing I know with these foreigners doing business in Nigeria is that; they are always looking for ways to enslave us.

They use Nigerians to raise capital when they just started business and came to the market to be listed; and when they have grown so big that they can operate on their own that is all.

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

N27.7bn Chad basin oil exploration suffers setback

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

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he Federal Govern ment’s desire to achieve commercial oil production in the Chad Basin this year may not come to fruition, due to insecurity caused mostly by Islamic insurgency under the code name, Boko Haram.

Vanguard learnt that the various technical personnel who provided support services for exploration activities have left the region from fear of being killed, while geologists in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), also shunned the volatile Basin in Borno State for fear of losing their lives.

With this insecurity situation, the over N27.7 billion investments may not be realised as scheduled. Vice President Namadi Sambo said last year that oil prospecting in the Chad Basin was yielding promising results, and may lead to commercial exploration of oil and gas this year.

The Vice President, who visited the region, disclosed that the project had gulped about $75 million (about N11.9 billion) in 2012, while another $100 million (or N15.8 billion) was earmarked for it in 2013.

“I want to inform you that government is committed to the oil and gas search in the Lake Chad basin,” he said at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai.

Sambo also said three blocks have been identified in the area after series of research.

“These blocks have great potential for oil and gas exploration. Our plan is that by the fourth quarter of 2013, or first quarter of 2014, commercial oil and gas exploration will commence in the basin,” he added.

But the raging Boko Haram insurgency has however punctured government’s optimism. The Government had in a bid to douse the insurgency deployed soldiers to the site, while a state of emergency had since been declared in Borno State.

But industry sources argued that these measures are not enough to guarantee security of lives and property.

“The Joint Task Force (JTF) is having a clamp down on the Boko Haram terrorists, while those terrorists too have retreated to launch guerrilla warfare on the military. In all of these, do you think as a geologist one will be able to think straight?

“Even those on site are not finding it funny. It is true that some of us do not want to be

From right: Ms.Baerbel Freyer, Germany Chamber of Commerce Lagos; Engr. Hakeem Adeniyi Ogunbambi, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Ministry of the Environment; Ms Doris Beck (GIZ);Mr. Derus, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany and representative from Fed Ministry of The Environment at the two-day seminar on Technology Transfer in the fields of renewable energies organised by Ministry of The Environment in collaboration with State of Bavaria, Germany held at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alausa, Ikeja.

anywhere near that place. Do not forget that we lost three of our staff to the insurgency in 2012,” one of the workers deployed to the region said.

Oil workers under the auspices of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), had late last year warned of possible abandonment of the northern region

on account of the increasing activities of the sect.

I

n a statement entitled: “The Road to Yugoslavia,” PENGASSAN said, “the Boko Haram insurgency represents a dangerous descent into anomie, reminiscent of the horrific inter-ethnic and religious war that marked the violent break-up of the former

Yugoslavia.”

The association reiterated that it would not hesitate to call out its members, starting from its Kaduna zone, if government did not arrest the violence against innocent Nigerians in the northern part of the country.

In the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Deji Kolawole, PENGAS-

SAN said: “Nigeria cannot afford to take this road to selfdestruction, for when the rich makes war, it is the poor that suffers. We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians to exercise great restraint in the face of the constant provocation and violence perpetrated on other innocent Nigerians by terrorists under the hood of religionists whose aim is, obviously, to precipitate an ethnic cum religious war in the country. We must note that an eye for an eye would only make us all blind.

“PENGASSAN expresses grave concern on the deteriorating security situation in the country resulting in the loss of innocent lives and which has led, lately, to the declaration of a 24-hour curfew in two states — Kaduna and Yobe — with the attendant impact on the socio-economic lives of the citizens of those states and other neighbouring states.

“We further call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has all the coercive powers of state to wake up to its primary responsibility, i.e. the security and welfare of the people as enunciated in section 14 of the 1999 Constitution.

“We, and indeed all Nigerians, are tired of the President’s usual swan song of expressing heartfelt condolences, condemning the dastardly act and promising to bring perpetrators to book whenever attacks like these happen.”

Power supply worsens in Q4 2013 — NOI Polls

By SEBASTINE OBASI & CALEB AYANSINA

E

lectricity supply in Nige ria, worsened in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2013, at the peak of the privatisation process, power poll results just released by NOIPolls Limited have shown.

The report said that although power supply to households worsened in Q4, nevertheless, majority of Nigerians (70 percent) were hopeful about the ongoing reform in the power sector.

The report also said that an average of 46 percent of Nigerians received between 1-4 hours of continuous power supply daily, while 17 percent said they have received absolutely “No Light” in their households.

The Poll however, noted that in Q4, the Nigerian power sector saw an achievement of a milestone as the privatisation process, initiated to reform the power sector was taken to the next level.

This involved the final hand over of 11 power distribution and five generation companies, created out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), being regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), to their private owners on behalf of the Federal Government.

Consequently, under the new era, privately owned generating companies will sell directly to distribution companies, which in turn supplies electricity to consumers for domestic and commercial uses.

According to the report, a review of the

state of power for the year 2013 (12 months), showed that power was best in Q1 and worse in the Q4.

This is evident in the fact that Q1 recorded the highest proportion of respondents who gave a positive report (40 percent: 33 percent plus seven percent), and Q4 has the highest proportion of respondents (which also represents the majority) that gave a negative report (45 percent: 31 percent plus 14 percent) on power.

A further trend analysis showed a 4point decline in the proportion of respondents that claimed power supply improved very much from Q3 (seven percent) to Q4 (three percent).

There was also a 5-Point increase in the proportion that claimed power supply remained bad from Q3 (26 percent) to Q4 (31 percent).

Furthermore, a regional appraisal of power in 2013 revealed that the NorthEast zone is the most affected area with poor power supply, as it recorded the highest proportion of respondents that claimed power supply remained bad for three quarters; Q1(39 percent), Q2(61 percent) and Q4(59 percent).

While the South-East zone had the best power report in the first two quarters, as it recorded the highest proportion of respondents who experienced an improvement in Q1 (46 percent) and Q2 (41 percent). The South-South zone had the best in the last two quarters, as it recorded the highest proportion of respondents that experienced an improvement in supply in Q3 (47 percent) and Q4 (43

percent).

The zones were split equally along the lines of bad and improved power supply. South East (43 percent), North-Central (41 percent) and SouthSouth (41 percent) are the zones in which majority witnessed improvements in power supply over the 12 months.

While the North-East (51 percent), North West (46 percent) and SouthWest (46 percent) are where majority reported bad/worsened power supply.

The report also said that on an average, the majority of Nigerians (46 percent) received 1-4 hours of continuous power daily. Another 20 percent who claimed they received between 5-9 hours of continuous power and 17 percent who reported they received no power supply at all.

Furthermore, the month of December (49 percent) recorded the highest proportion of Nigerians that received 1-4 hours of continuous power supply daily.

It noted however that the last phase of the privatization process has stimulated great expectations about the power sector reforms among the majority of Nigerians. Due to past and current challenges faced in the power sector, the total reformation may be a gradual process with a succession of milestones to be achieved. One of which would be the increase of total power currently being generated which will directly result in improved power supply to households.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—25

C M Y K

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Transformation: Fixing PPMC supply/distribution network

BY CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU

T

Local Content: Indigenous firm blazes trail in HDD technology T

he Local Content Initiative of the Federal Government is yielding greater results, as indigenous firms are gradually gaining global recognition through their exemplary performance in Horizontal Directional Drilling, HDD Technology, in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Recently, Fenog Nigeria Limited (FNL), with the aid of two HDD rigs-PD 250 and PD500, set a new world record in the oil and gas sector with the gas pipelines project awarded to it by oil major, the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

The management of NAOC, the Nigerian unit of Italian Eni, was probably impressed by the performance of Fenog in the NNPC/Chevron’s job in the Escravos river crossing, challenged Fenog to send gas pipelines across the Kwale end to ObOb end of the river, a distance measuring 2.82 kilometres.

The trunkline project, designed to convey gas from the various fields of NAOC in Kwale and its environs, to ObOb Gas Station to Bonny plant of LNG and beyond was awarded in February 2013.

Fenog completed the job within six weeks despite the challenges posed by flood in the area in 2013. The company eventually gained access into the site on November 10.

However, the job was completed by December 30, 2013, with the pipes laid 33 metres under the river from the entry point at Kwale to the exit point at ObOb across the turbulent river, with the combined forces of PD 250HDD rig and PD 500HDD rig.

Pioneering technology As the pioneer user of the HDD technology in the industry, Fenog in August 2010, successfully laid gas pipes across the 1.7-kilometre Escravos River in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The feat was a novel achieve-

ment by an indigenous company in the nation’s oil industry. But that feat was a tip of the iceberg as the company had gone ahead to acquire seven HDD rigs and laid 24" pipes across 2.82-kilometre/ ObOb Kwale River in Delta State for NAOC to boost gas supply and distribution.

Despite the challenges posed by the new technology and agitations by the host communities, a team of Fenog’s engineers and technicians delivered within three months.

For the first time in the oil and gas industry, the PD 250 HDD technology successfully placed 24” pipes 42 metres under the water across the 1.7km across the river, from the entry point to the terminal point in Madagho, an Itsekiri community, Warri South West LGA of Delta State.

The prevailing world record was 1.2-kilometre river crossing. For setting a new world record, the company received accolades in the industry.

Speaking on the significance of the NAOC project, Engineer Chukwudi Uwakwe, General Manager, Fenog Nigeria, said no company had been able to achieve the record, adding that with the NAOC’s Gas trunkline project completed, Fenog had recorded another first in the oil and gas sector.

Uwakwe said, “The significance of this project is that it is a trunkline to convey gas from Kwale flow station to ObOb Gas Plant and to Bonny LNG and beyond. So it is an economic value line that Agip has put in place to ensure that gas is convened from Kwale to ObOb Gas Station to LNG. “Fenog carries the flag of local content policy of the government because no company in Nigeria and even in the whole world, can be able to do this kind of project for now. A 24-inch by 2.82 kilometres river crossing is a challenging

work and Fenog is showing an example to all Nigerian companies that we have the capacity and we are equally encouraging them to come up and build capacity to train Nigerians because this job was done

by Nigerians and it was 100 per cent done by Fenog Nigeria Limited.

“We are using this medium to tell the Federal Government to encourage local companies so that they can be able to come up with standards that can be able to promote the lo-

,

BY MICHAEL EBOH

The significance of this project is that it is a trunkline to convey gas from Kwale flow station to ObOb Gas Plant and to Bonny LNG and beyond

,

cal content.

“The local companies in Nigeria will develop Nigeria. If there is any project at all they should first consider Nigerian companies and this will help us to build capacity,” Uwakwe added.

To sustain Fenog’s innovative local content strides and place it ahead of other operators, Uwakwe said the management of the indigenous oil firm had acquired seven HDD rigs in the categories of PD 150, 250, 350 and 500 HDD rigs as well as an Offshore and Deep Water Barge (Akpevweoghene), with the capacity to lay pipes from 2" to 60" offshore/deepwater, among

others.

Elated about the acquisition of a PD350 HDD rig, Uwakwe said, “PD350 HDD rig is different because we call it a Versatile Rig. Apart from the normal drilling which every other rig can do, it is also used for pulling, pushing, thrust-boring, tunneling and it has the ability to grab and push and overcome any force.

“The operation of PD 350 HDD rig is all-encompassing.

It is the first of its kind in the whole world. We (Fenog) told the manufacturers what they would do for us and they came up with it and it is the latest of the HDD technology.”

Curtailing criminal activities The company’s huge investment in the acquisition of latest technology, especially in pioneering underground pipelaying in the country, Uwakwe said, was conceived to salvage the oil industry, particularly to assist and collaborate with the authorities to curtail the unwholesome acts of crude oil theft.

Describing the HDD as being of ‘immensurable value’, Uwakwe added that the acquisition of the equipment is part of the company’s contribution to the ongoing war against sabotage activities in the oil industry.

Also speaking, Fenog’s Executive Director, Mr. Mathew Tonlagha, recalled how the company used the Continuous Horizontal Directional Drilling (CHDD) for one of its ongoing crude oil pipeline project within the Escravos region. He noted that this pipeline will be the most secured in Nigeria.

Tonlagha also lauded the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke’s initiative to empower Nigerian companies, which he said rekindled hope for the indigenous players.

To this end, he expressed delight that the management of NAOC deemed it fit to patronise Fenog in line with the local content policy and urged other multinationals to emulate Agip.

he Government’s Trans formation Agenda, instituted by the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to cover the period 2011–2015, is anchored on Nigeria’s long-term economic development blueprint as encapsulated in Vision 20: 2020. The transformation agenda isolates a set of key priority policies and programmes, which when executed are expected to yield outcomes that are consistent with present and future needs of the Nigerian people.

It is already a known fact that Nigeria operates largely a mono-product economy presently, and it is expected that further developments in, and transformation of, the oil & gas sector will lead to a diversification of the Nigerian economy into agriculture, information and telecommunications technology, aggressive manufacturing activities, etc.

In this light, it is important that foundational issues relating to the oil and gas sector are dealt with. One of these is the supply and distribution network, made up of pipelines, depots and tank farms, jetties, terminals, etc. Taken together, this infrastructure behaves like a natural monopoly because it links up all current and projected productive entities within the oil industry. This infrastructure is the foundation upon which existing refineries and petroleum products’ supply and distribution nation-wide hinges on.

It is also the foundation on which new refineries, new storage facilities, etc could be brought on stream, so repair and rehabilitation work on supply/distribution infrastructure should be pursued as stridently as the need to construct new refineries. National refineries and indeed nation-wide distribution of petroleum products cannot operate effectively and efficiently where the supply and distribution (S/D) infrastructure is compromised by vandals.

Critical facilities Consequently, the current Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has taken some urgent and laudable steps to address the most critical of these facilities. Interventions to maintain national refineries have been accompanied with S/D infrastructure upgrade nation-wide. The Port Harcourt–Aba product line, which hitherto was inoperable due to pipeline vandalism has now been re-established and rehabilitated. The Warri–Benin product line has been recovered, and the Benin depot has been re-commissioned.

The Aba product depot has now been re-commissioned after nearly seven years of dormancy. ...To be continued

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—27

NNPC promises increase in gas supply …says N800m spent on vandalised pipelines

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA: The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, said that gas supply to power plants will improve over the next five weeks, following the massive repair works on ruptured gas pipeline in the Niger Delta region.

The Corporation also said that a total of N800 million had so far been spent on a number of vandalised gas pipelines.

The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said with the ongoing repairs on the pipelines which he blamed it on the activities of saboteurs, gas supply to power plants will improve appreciably in the next five weeks.

Yakubu attributed the recent drop in gas supply for power generation on the rising incidents of outright sabotage of some crucial gas pipelines, which significantly eroded available gas to the power plants.

He recalled that the period gas pipelines vandalism akin to the recent incidence was between 2007 and 2009,

FG appoints new MD for NREA

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

during the peak of militancy in the Niger Delta.

According to him, “you will recall that attacks on gas pipeline were most severe in 2007 and 2009 at the peak of Niger Delta militancy. However, following the federal Government amnesty, we saw a major improvement which is testament to the effectives of

the amnesty programme.

“We never saw any attack in the last three years, so these recent attacks on gas pipeline is just a surprise to us.”

Yakubu, who said last week that over 30% of the 480MMsf/d installed gas supply capacity was out due mainly to vandalism, stressed further that “the lost gas is

the equivalent to the gas requirement to generate about 1, 600MW of electricity.”

He listed the pipelines involved to include the Escravos-Warri stretch of the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System, ELPS, which accounts for 190mmcf/d, the Trans-Forcados crude pipeline, 230mmcd/ d.

Power: ABB to set up manufacturing plant in Nigeria

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

A

BB, a multinational electric power solution company, has pledged to set up a local manufacturing power equipment plant in Nigeria.

The development is part of federal government’s privatisation objective that will allow both local and international players to invest in the nation’s power sector.

The establishment of the plant is sequel to the recently concluded privatisation of the power sector, and the successful hand over of the privatised assets unbundled from the Power Holding Com-

pany of Nigeria (PHCN) to the new owners of the Generation, GENCOs and Distribution companies, DISCOs. A statement from ABB, said the decision was made known recently by the company in Abuja, during a conference aimed at building capacity for top officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. At the conference, ABB and TCN were said to have agreed that when established and operational, the local manufacturing plant will readily make available in the Nigeria market power equipment, and will reduce the cost of importing such equipment from outside the country.

The Managing Director and Country Manager, ABB Nigeria, Mr. Nitin Desai, was quoted as saying that the management was giving the plan a serious consideration.

He also said the new manufacturing plant will help develop and optimise electrical power systems in Nigeria, as producing quality electrical products locally will help upgrade power assets in the country.

TCN was said to have noted that there is now an urgent need for ABB to collaborate with all stakeholders in the power sector to bring about better management, automation, and protection.

A

BUJA: The Federal Gov ernment has appointed Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Wasaram, as the new Managing Director of the National Rural Electrification Agency, NREA. Wasaram succeeded Mr. Kenneth Achugbu, who was recently suspended by the Supervisory Board of the agency Speaking with newsmen on this development, Chairman of the Board; Senator Jonathan Zwingina, said the board made the decision to suspend the former boss over poor projects execution and failure to implement its budget between 2012 and 2013.

According to Zwingina, the supervisory board was inaugurated in September 2013 to transform the NREA, adding that as a reputable board, the directors are taking drastic measures including tackling the agency’s lack of executive capacity to implement government’s programme.

He revealed that Achugbu was suspended by majority vote on January 21st adding that his case has been “referred to the Minister of Power for further necessary action.”

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

BRIEF

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA: The member na tions of the African Pe troleum Producers Association, APPA, have resolved to come up with a common nomenclature for all geological formations across the sedimentary basins of the Gulf of Guinea.

To this end, the first study on harmonisation of stratigraphic nomenclature of sedimentary basins of the Gulf of Guinea, to be undertaken by APPA is expected to be commissioned by April this year.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, disclosed this last week during the opening ceremony of the bids for the study in Abuja.

He said the decision to conduct the study was adopted in March 2012 in Cairo, Egypt, at the 29th session of the Council of Ministers, as one of the major studies included in the 8th programme of action which APPA will undertake between 2012 and 2017.

Consequently, four international consulting firms, including PGS, TGS, CGG, and RPS Energy, indicated interests in the study at the APPA Secretariat in Brazzavile, Congo.

Nigeria has also been designated as the project lead country for the working group which will monitor the study.

The Gulf of Guinea is one of the most prolific oil and gas provinces in the world, and remains an area of world class oil discoveries.

It is in the light of this that seven African countries in-

Lagos partners Germany, others on renewable energy

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

APPA holds study on Gulf of Guinea sedimentary basins cluding Nigeria, are meeting in Abuja, to harmonise all sedimentary features adoptable in the oil and gas industry.

Kifasi, who is Nigeria’s APPA national representative, explained that the meeting was convened to analyse the

bids submitted by the four consultants.

At the end of the meeting, members will come up with a report to be presented to the Council of Ministers scheduled to meet in March, for approval. Thereafter, the APPA Secretariat is expected

to sign the service contract by April, 2014.

He charged the members to approach the assignment with a great sense of commitment, in order to bring to bear on the outcome of the exercise the desired transparency, diligence and fairness.

MOMAN urges FG to deregulate kerosene …Encourages production of LPG cylinders

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

M

ajor Oil Marketers Asso ciation of Nigeria, MOMAN, has urged the Federal Government to deregulate the kerosene sector, as a matter of permanent policy.

The Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, in chat with Vanguard, said there is a lack of clarity on the policy surrounding kerosene, adding that for the Major to come in, there must be clarity.

He said, “Government should deregulate kerosene as a matter of permanent policy and the object of this statement is to clear any doubt in the mind of anybody that kerosene is deregulated so that other players will be able to import.

“When you are talking about kerosene deregulation, nobody is buying it at N50 because there is only one importer that is why there is so much pressure on the price of kerosene. If NNPC imports, MOMAN members import, Independent Marketers import, the price will come down.

“As at today, only NNPC is

importing, and they give it to those they feel like giving it to and quote me, no supply of kerosene has been made to any Major marketers at the Apapa facility in the last two and the half years.”

Olawore also calls for the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG also known as cooking for domestic use.

“We must demystify kerosene and I am choosing my words clearly; “We must demystify kerosene” kerosene is not a product that should carry these mysteries about it.

“How do you demystify kerosene? We must encourage the use of LPG. The world over, LPG is used for domestic cooking not kerosene. It is only in Nigeria and not up to 10 countries in the world that make use of kerosene for domestic cooking. So we should encourage the use of LPG. “If there is any subsidy that is coming, we should subsidise the production of the cylinders not the product. We should encourage the manufacturers of the cylinders locally. It is a shame that the large plant at Ibadan and

Abeokuta are dead, we should encourage them. If we encourage them and they begin production of LPG cylinders, the cash given to them should not be free.

“Government can give them little or no interest, let’s finance them so that they can commence production of cylinders in order for the common man, if there is any, can be able to buy cylinders at affordable price otherwise government should distribute cylinders through LPG Association. Through Major Marketers government can get cylinders to the households in Nigeria and at cheaper rate.

“Is it not a shame that some West African countries that consume more LPG than Nigeria? We are talking about deforestation; can’t we check that by encouraging people to use LP Gas? We are talking about the same thing every time like commission enquiries, probes, committees talking about LPG and no movement, all is talk!! No movement.

“So my point is that, deregulate kerosene, encourage the

use of LPG by supporting the local manufactures of cylinders (Standard Cylinders) and when you are giving them finance, it should not be free but should be at a very low interest rate or no interest at all so that they can come up and start production over a period of time, then you can leave them on their own.

“Let the use of gas penetrate even the villages, let the establishment of LPG plants touch ever y part of Nigeria, let there be plant where in my village where somebody will carry the cylinder without travelling more than two kilometer to get to a plant, refill his cylinder and come back home, spending at least between N50 and N100 for transportation.

“If you do these, the forest will be green because nobody will cut down trees for firewood and when the trees are there, we will have more oxygen to breath, the oxygen we get from the plant is fresh that is why you see people in the villages looking healthier and fresh than those of us in the city because there are trees everywhere,” he said.

agos State Government has disclosed plans to partner Germany as well as encourage collaboration with other foreign investors, to promote energy efficiency and conservation in the state.

Speaking at the opening of a 2-Day seminar on renewable energy, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said being the industrial nerve centre in Nigeria, Lagos will continue to promote acts that will boost its energy needs.

The commissioner further said that the government intended to form a more formidable synergy with the state of Bavaria, Germany, in developing capacity and sharing experiences on energy.

He said the sector is critical to economic development as well as the socio-economic growth of the state, adding that a huge gap existed between energy supply and demand in Nigeria.

“The average annual energy consumption in Nigeria is one of the lowest in world, which has left the economy in a comatose state. In fact very few African countries could satisfy their energy demand,” he said.

According to him, the status of Lagos as the commercial nerve center of the nation placed a huge demand on energy, due to increase in population and environmental pressure on the state.

Bello also said that government was developing a renewable energy policy, which would enhance the development and utilisation of indigenous renewable energy and technology to promote energy efficiency and conservation.

He said: “In order to boost the energy generation in the State, the present administration has put in place some independent energy projects such as, solar power station for the Electricity Board office in Ikeja; retrofitting the Alausa Secretariat with energy saving bulbs (15watts) by departing from the conventional lights bulbs (60watts) thereby saving 3398.98KW monthly.

“Other projects include the Akute Independent Power Plant, which will supply power to the Akute intake facility of Lagos Water Corporation among others.

He argued that the Energy sector is a great challenge to our state and indeed the country as a whole, but it also offers some of the best investment opportunities for local and foreign investments.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—29

Biblical perspective on sexual aberrations (2)

BY PROF. E.M.UKA

The first part of this discourse was published in Thursday's edition of Vanguard

Police permit not required for rallies in Nigeria (2)

H

BY FEMI FALANA, SAN

The first part of this discourse was published in yesterdays edition of Vanguard ERTAINLY in a democ racy, it is the right of citizens to conduct peaceful processions, rallies or demonstrations without seeking and obtaining permission from anybody. It is a right guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and any law that attempts to curtail such right is null and void and of no consequence.”

In consigning police permit to the dustbin of history the Court of Appeal relied on the case of New Patriotic Party v.

Inspector-General of Police, Accra (1992-1995) GBR 585 where the Supreme Court of Ghana observed that, “Statutes requiring such permits for peaceful demonstrations, processions and rallies are things of the past. Police permit is the brain child of the colonial era and ought not to remain in our statute books.”

In line with the rule of law the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr. M.D. Abubakar has directed all police officers to comply with the verdicts of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal by recognizing the fundamental right of Nigerians to assemble freely and protest without harassment.

Hence, in the Nigeria Police Code of Conduct launched at Abuja on January 10, 2013 it is stated that police officers shall “maintain a neutral position with regard to the merits of any labour dispute, political protest, or other public

C

demonstration while acting in an official capacity; not make endorsement of political candidates, while on duty, or in official uniform.”

In view of the aforesaid judicial pronouncements on the fundamental right of Nigeria to protest peacefully without police permit which has been recognized by the InspectorGeneral of Police as espoused in the Nigeria Police Code of Conduct we urge the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and other Police Commissioners to desist from cancelling

or disrupting political meetings and rallies convened by Nigerians in exercise of their freedom of association and assembly.

Incidentally, the Honourable Justice Adekeye J.S.C. (Rtd) who delivered the historic judgment of the Court of Appeal which confirmed the illegality of police permit is now a member of the Nigeria Police Service Commission. We have no doubt that the respected Justice will rightly advise the Nigeria Police Force to stop the illegal and contemptuous practice of insisting on the issuance of po-

,

FEMI FALANA

Map of Nigeria

Inspector general of police, Mohammed Abubakar that the protests organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress in 2005 against incessant hike in the prices of petroleum products were not disallowed by the police.

In the same vein, the then Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ensured that the rallies convened by the Save Nigeria Group in Lagos and Abuja in 2010 to protest the coup of the cabal that seized power when the late President Umaru Yaradua was in a state of coma in a foreign hospital were not attacked by the Police. Since democracy admits of freedom of expres-

Since democracy admits of freedom of expression the holding of dissent, protests, marches, rallies and demonstrations the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression should not be enjoyed on the basis of the whims and caprices of the ruling class

lice permit for political meetings and rallies in Nigeria.

Notwithstanding that the provisions of the Public Order Act relating to the issuance of permit for holding public meetings and processions have been struck down the Constitution has empowered governors to issued directives to commissioners of police with respect to public order and security in their respective states.

This was confirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of Anambra State v. Attorney-General of the Federation. (2005) 9 NWLR (PT 931) 572 at 616 where Uwais CJN (as he then was) held that, “The Constitution in section 215 subsection (1) clearly gives the Governor of Anambra State the power to issue lawful direction to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, in connection with securing public safety and order in the State.”

Following the aforesaid judgment of the Federal High Court, the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration ensured

,

sion the holding of dissent, protests, marches, rallies and demonstrations the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression should not be enjoyed on the basis of the whims and caprices of the ruling class.

In the light of the foregoing, it is submitted, without any fear of contradiction that the power to issue licence or permit for holding public meetings, assemblies and processions was never vested in Inspector-General of Police and Police Commissioners but in the State Governors.

Police permit which is a relic of colonialism has been annulled on the ground of its inconsistency with the provisions of the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on freedom of assembly, association and expression. To that extent, the disruption of public meetings and rallies by the police and other security agencies ought to be resisted by Nigerians as it is illegal and contemptuous.

Concluded

OMOSEXUALITY: Homosexuality is a sexual attraction to or sexual relations with members of the same sex. It is also a sexual attraction of a person, usually a man to another person of the same sex. The bible views this type of sexual orientation as abominable. In Lev. 18: 22; 23, it warns, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is an abomination ...” In Deut. 23:17, it says, “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.” The penalty for such an offence is a death sentence.

Societal view of sexual abrerration: Pervasive sexual practices which appear “fashionable” by some members of the Western society are viewed by the saner segment of the society, particularly in Africa, as a repulsive depravation that contradicts the most elementary laws of nature. Those who indulge in it are most often viewed as depraved and sick minds. Upon their declaration of their sexuality, that is making it public, these gays and lesbians are automatically visited with stigma, prejudice and hostility. Their respective families are often disappointed and embarrassed. They often end up being ostracized either by the family or the community or both.

Unfortunately, homosexuality has gained prominence in most Western countries with some of them legalizing its practice and providing for the protection of its members from social molestation and stigmatization.

The way forward Psychological Panacea: Psychologists have offered some tips on how to overcome sexual perversions. They are: •Check your condition, by asking yourself how much is your perversion preventing you from living a good life?

•Write down a list, how and when your perversion influences your life.

•Admit to yourself that you are having problems.

•Decide that you don’t want to be a pervert any longer.

•Prevent new perverted images and ideas from entering your head.

•Learn to meditate on the word of God concerning your salvation.

•Practice self-control, not only in the area of your perversion, but in general.

•Try redirecting perverse

sexual impulse to something better and nobler.

•When perverted thoughts are engaging you, snap out of it by immediately getting away from where you were.

•Don’t look at or read pornographic pictures or books, if your problem is about having too much sexual thought.

•Keep up with your new anti-perversive orientation.

Biblical Panacea: As a cure for sexual perversion, the bible advises, “seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his ways and the evil man his thoughts.

Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” (Isa. 55:6-7).

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.

Turn! Turn from your evil ways!

Why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11).

Sexual lifestyles Thank God there is hope, a cure for the sins of homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, rape and adultery. We should note that these mentioned perverse sexual lifestyles attracts God’s punishment. For such God warns them that hell not heaven is their final destination.

And how is God’s cure received? In exactly the same way as other types of sinners receive forgiveness.

•Recognize and confess that you are sinful and that you deserve God’s judgement for having willfully chosen to disobey God’s word.

•Surrender your life to God and receive His gift of forgiveness through the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross.

•Turn from sin and turn to Christ. Repentance implies putting off the old nature and putting on the new nature (Col. 3:5-17).

•Then, just as the alcoholic needs to avoid alcohol-related situations if he wants to stay dry, the converted sexual pervert needs to avoid all company and habits that may entice him back to his former way of life. By the unmerited grace of God that he has now received, he will be given the strength to “resist the devil” and experience that “the devil will flee.” (James 4:7). Also, as John 8:32, it is written: “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).

Concluded

Most Rev. Prof. Emele Mba Uka is Prelate & Moderator of the General Assembly, The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Office of the G. A. Moderator, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2014

By Theodore Opara

BriscoeFord targets more market share with all-new Ecosport SUV B

RISCOEFORD, one of Ford Motors dealers in Nige ria is eying more market share s it introduces the Allnew Ford Ecosport into the market. The renowned auto marketing company took delivery of some units of the compact Ford SUV recently which it describe as class benchmark.

Built on Ford’s global B-segment platform, the compact EcoSport will deliver the agility and fuel efficiency of a small family car with the flexibility, spaciousness, high driving position, and go anywhere appeal of an SUV. The all-new EcoSport will offer a range of efficient powertrains, including the 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine — International Engine of the Year — and a 110PS 1.5-litre petrol engine expected to deliver classleading fuel efficiency in Nigeria.

Compact and agile, the all-new Ford EcoSport is also full of innovative technologies and features.

Bringing together features not normally found in this segment, EcoSport offers a driving experience with a superior standard of onboard connectivity, safety and convenience. One of the highlights is the awardwinning SYNC driver connect system with voice control. More than 4 million vehicles are currently on the road with SYNC technology. Ford forecasts 9 million additional vehicles will be equipped with SYNC by 2015 globally as it deploys the Ford-exclusive system in products such as the new EcoSport.

Powered by the Microsoft Windows Embedded Automotive Platform, SYNC has created the “upgradeable car”, allowing new features and improvements to be seamlessly integrated at the same pace as consumer trends and preferences.

SYNC sets the trend for a hands-free, voice-activated future. It helps drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road as they choose their favorite music and make calls on a mobile phone.

EcoSport’s voice-activated audio system features a CD/MP3 player, USB slot, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth connection, auxiliary slot and a 3.5-inch LCD screen.

Voice controls will be available in various languages,

C M Y K

depending on the region.

The EcoSport also offers other key features, including Ford push-button start, keyless entry, electric power-assisted steering, automatic headlamps, and rainsensing wipers. EcoSport

has a number of driver assist features, including Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Program, Hill Launch Assist and rear parking sensors.

The all-new EcoSport offers an advanced climate

control system, providing efficiency and comfort, including electronic air-conditioning with individual controls for the driver and passenger. The all-new urban SUV features im-

proved versions of creative solutions, such as the cooled bin inside the glovebox and storage underneath the passenger seat.

Energy efficiency is one of the highlights of the allnew EcoSport. The goal set

by Ford in the EcoSport’s development was to become the segment leader in fuel-efficiency with its various engine options. The availability of an all-new 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine, to be a benchmark in fuel economy, and flex-fuel options in Brazil is part of Ford’s global strategy to offer various motor choices to meet the needs of each region. Efficiency is present in all aspects of the vehicle’s design. The SUV’s body was specially developed, including the use of new materials and designs to make it much lighter and

resistant.

The new EcoSport was designed to meet the strictest safety standards in the markets in which it will be sold. Its high-resistant body with optimized weight, developed with design tools and advanced software, combines programmed energy impact absorption zones with an extremely rigid protection cage to protect occupants. The chassis’ stability and robustly built body with high torsional rigidness for occupant protection are part of the features which give the EcoSport the confidence of a true SUV. The vehicle also offers an advanced package of safety features to help drivers prevent accidents and to protect passengers, including dual front airbags (for driver and front passenger) and side curtain airbags.

US Transportation department to assist FRSC T HE sustained drive by the Federal Road Safety Commission towards meeting the June 2014 deadline and seamless implementation of the new drivers license, has received a boost with a strong pledge by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of the United States of America Department of Transportation, to support the FRSC to build a world class commercial drivers license system.

This formed part of presentation by the Chief,

Commercial Drivers License Division Office of Safety Programs of the FMCSA, Selden Fritschner, during a meeting held to review progress of the various agreements between FRSC and United States of America Department of Transportation Agencies over the last four years.

The meeting which is the fourth since 2008 was held during the 93rd Transport Research Board meeting at the Washington DC. According to Fritschner,

the FRSC has demonstrated high sense of commitment and consistency to reposition motor vehicle administration in Nigeria through the new drivers licensing regime and indicated the willingness of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to add value to this initiative through the setting up of a world class commercial drivers license system.

He added that the agency partners with Federal, State and Local enforcement agencies to ensure

safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations; targeting highrisk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness in USA. Responding, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Osita Chidoka commended the Federal Motor Car-

rier Safety Administration for its endorsement of the Commissions numerous initiatives, geared towards entrenching safer road use in Nigeria and the pledge to complement FRSCs drive to restore the integrity of the drivers license.

The FRSC team which was led by the Board Chairman, Chief Felix Chukwu attendance, was also complimented by National Highway Traffic Safety Agency, the US Road Safety Lead Agency.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—31

By Theodore Opara

New Yaris, another auto invention — Ade Ojo T

OYOTA Nigeria Ltd, TNL, has unveiled the all-new Toyota Yaris, a sub compact sedan into the Nigerian market.

Speaking at the launch at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, chairman, Toyota Nigeria Ltd, Chief Michael AdeOjo described the all-new Yaris as another auto invention from the stable of Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan to the Nigerian auto market.

“It is a thing of joy to note that we are starting 2014 on a very positive note with tonight’s unveiling of this delightful piece of artistry”, he said.

According to him, the introduction of the all-new Yaris is an indication that Toyota is poised as ever to continue to brighten the days of its customers with the latest technology in the local as well as global market place.

He explained that as a customer-conscious organisation, introducing new products at the beginning of the year has become one of their hallmarks over the years. He recalled the introduction of the All-new RAV4 in the first quarter of 2013 which he said has been performing very well in the market.

The Toyota boss noted that the consistency with which the company introduces latest models of vehicles into the Nigerian market underscores a tradition of excellence typical of a responsive organisa-

•Toyota Yaris tion like Toyota, adding that their desire to continually match, if not surpass the dynamic tastes of their customers from time to time remains a key motivation to his company.

“It is this same burning desire that fires the urge in us as a company to continually set the pace as far as current technology is concerned in the market place to the benefit of all stakeholders”, he stated.

Speaking on the all-new Yaris, Chief Ade-Ojo dis-

closed that the car stemmed like every other Toyota model from a heritage of Toyota unrivalled and exclusive superior quality engineering. The new Yaris, he said

is upgraded from exterior to interior.

“Judging from its upgraded exterior design over its immediate predecessor to the beautifully enhanced

OSCHARIS Motors and Intercontinental hotel Lagos, have signed a partnership agreement aimed at giving Five Star treatment to buyers of Range Rover at Luxurious Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos. Under the arrangement, every, buyer of the Range Rover, SUV, gets the perfect complimentary getaway weekend stay at the luxurious Intercontinental, Lagos.

According to the General Manager, Marketing, Coscharis Motors, Mr. Abiona Babarinde, the partnership between the two premium brand is a unique way of rewarding our loyal customers for their loyalty to the Range Rover brand.

In his remark, the Director of Sales, Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, Mr. Ku-

mar Krishna, said: ‘’the partnership reflects an alignment of two premium brands that exudes luxury, class and style and targets the upper premium class. For us at Intercontinental, we are very excited to associate with the premium Range Rover brand which is a market leader, any day, in the automobile industry.

The Sales Divisional General Manager for Coscharis, Ufoma Umukoro, stated that the vehicle would be available for test drive at the luxury hotel or any other preferred location in Victoria Island and the Lekki axis. According to him, Coscharis is making Jaguar Land Rover Ownership more affordable by offering a 3 year or 100,000km free service plan on the Range

size sedan that will redefine peoples personality; a model that will spark up music beautiful world around its targets and potential users alike.

...Yaris, car with rich history T

HE Toyota Yaris was introduced into the market in 1999 as a replacement for the Toyota Startlet. It was created to be market leader, a position the car has main-

tained ever since then.

Now in its third generation, the Yaris has become more stylish, bigger, roomier, safer with classleading comfort. Like it

Five Star treatment awaits buyers of Range Rover buyers at Intercontinental to offer peace of mind to

C

interior design, the latest Yaris will readily conjure a unique driving pleasure in its targets.

He described the Yaris as a smart but compact mid

Rover Evoque, Freelander 2 or Jaguar XF. This is an effort by the company

its premium customers.

The promo will run till May 2014 with.

From left: GM, Marketing, Coscharis Motors, Abiona Babarinde; Director, Sales, Intercontinental Lagos, Kumar Krishna; GM, JLR Sales, Coscharis Motors, Ufuoma Umukoro and Head, Public Relations, Intercontinental Lagos, Omobolanle Salami; during the signing of the Range Rover Evoque Getaway Partnership.

predecessor, the Yaris has maintained it sporty character with head-turning design and fuel efficiency.

Powered by a 1.3 litre engine, the Yaris combines high fuel efficiency and low emissions with excellent standing-start acceleration. The 1.3 litre petrol engine Yaris comes with 16 valve DOHC with VVT-i technology.

Reliably engineered both for performance and a sense of security, the Yaris delivers maximum output of 63/6000 kw/rpm and maximum torque of 121/4400 Nm/rpm. The high performing engine of the Yaris is mated to an automatic transmission that delivers smooth ride on the road.

The Yaris is equipped with MacPherson suspension at the front and Torsion beam at the rear.

This suspension is designed to reduce vibration and enhance ride comfort.

In addition, sound absorbing and vibration damping materials are adopted throughout the entire body, and acrostic glass with three-layer structure is adopted for

the windshield, helping reduce wind and road noise. All these were adopted by Toyota Motor Corporation to create a quiet and comfortable cabin.

The new Yaris boasts improved safety features.

Anti-lock Brake system with electronic Brakeforce Distribution helps maintain vehicle stability and driver control when braking and includes a Brake Assist function that increases braking force when the brakes are applied suddenly to make emergency stop.

Also, SRS airbag are adopted for the driver’s and front passenger ’s seats. In addition, the body structure efficiency absorbs and distributes energy from frontal and side impacts, helping reduce cabin deformation.

The body also mitigates impacts energy in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. On braking system, the Yaris is equipped with ventilated disc in front and drum at the rear making braking more efficient and shorter.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Ekiti 2014: Fayemi heeds the call GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi last Sunday formally entered the race for the 2014 Ekiti gubernatorial contest. His long expected entry into the contest has been welcomed by his supporters

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

‘W

HEN an orange is sweet, you ask for more,” that was the response of the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC to the declaration last Sunday by Governor Kayode Fayemi, that he would be seeking a second term in office.

The official declaration by the governor followed the recent release of the time-table for the forthcoming gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It is not as if the governor ’s declaration was anything surprising, especially given the recent media and personal clashes between the governor’s camp and his one time political soul mate, Rep. Bamidele Opeyemi who is also aspiring for the same position, but now on the platform of the Labour Party, LP. Besides Opeyemi, Dr. Fayemi is also facing the prospects of clashing with a formidable aspirant from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which presently parades a multitude of aspirants with one time governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose and the minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Olu Bolade leading the pack.

Provision of infrastructure Dr. Fayemi’s aspiration for an unprecedented second term in office is expected to break grounds. No governor of the state has won re-election, a fact the incumbent is now aspiring to cross. His supporters who acknowledge that fact equally say that no governor has performed as well as Dr. Fayemi, especially in the provision of infrastructure and social well being.

The administration’s efforts in infrastructure development are underpinned by the network of new and rehabilitated roads accomplished since his inauguration as governor in 2010. But in the run-up to the election the gist is that accomplishments are not the only essential ingredients necessary to win elections in Ekiti State.

So the prospects of Dr. Fayemi being rejected at the election not essentially because he has not delivered but for some other local reasons are not obvious C M Y K

to the campaign.

It is not surprising that even before the governor formally inaugurated a campaign team that his associates had been in campaign mood, addressing issues against his prospects as they came.

In his statement declaring his intention for a second term, the governor said: “our people can faithfully testify that together the Collective Rescue Mission we promised at the outset of our first term in office has crystalised. Indeed our people can testify to how we have rescued Ekiti State from the years of locusts and returned our dear state to the path of respectability, stability and development. Our people can affirm that we have kept faith with the Roadmap to Ekiti Recovery - our 8-points agenda.

Every stratum of Ekiti State can see our footprints on those key sectors we promised to touch.

My readiness to heed your calls today is therefore a demonstration of our collective commitment to continue the good work we have begun.”

The governor was quick to reassure those within his party that his declaration did not foreclose them from contesting for the governorshp.

“My decision to heed the calls of our people following the plethora of endorsements I

•Fayemi have received from the leaders and members of our party does not translate to the closure of the political space for contest.

I therefore look forward to fair competition from my coaspirants within and outside our party. I look forward to very robust debates and issue- based

campaign”.

But with the only notable opponent of the governor from within the fold, Opeyemi not in the APC, the coast is apparently clear for the governor. The state branch of the APC in fact did not hide its appreciation of the governor’s

decision to contest a second term. “If not Fayemi, who else?

His promise-keeping tendency is second to none,” Mr. Segun Dipe, the director of media and publicity of the Ekiti State chapter of the APC said in a statement made available to Vanguard.

“He has not only walked his talk, he has humbly, steadily but surely, kept our state, Ekiti on the world map of development. All the promises he made during the campaign for his first term were fulfilled in record time as if this is not the same Ekiti State, which was wearing the toga of infrastructurallydisadvantaged state in a not too distant past,” he added.

Continuing, he said: “We are happy that Governor Fayemi has not turned down our request for an encore of the good times we are enjoying under his administration.

When an orange is sweet, you ask for more. When an experience is sweet, you want to relive it. When governance is sweet, you want a repeat of it, especially if it is legitimate to do so. Governor Fayemi could have said “No, I have heard enough, let me aim at something higher, now that APC is the party to beat at the centre in the country.”

Adamawa: Mixed blessing for APC The transformation of the All Progressives Congress, APC as the ruling party in Adamawa State is a mixed blessing.

BY UMAR YUSUF

T

HIS is certainly not the best of times for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State. Various camps of APC leaders in the North-East state are locked in a pitch battle for control of the party.

The raging battle is mainly between Governor Murtala Nyako, who recently defected to the APC and leaders of the three legacy parties that merged to form APC. The defunct legacy parties are the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Those in the camp of the legacy parties are General Mohammed Marwa, who flew the CPC governorship flag in 2007 and 2011 and his ACN

counterpart, Engineer Markus Gundiri.

Then, the governorship elections were bitterly fought among the trio leading to deep political enmity among them.

Until the November 2013 defection of Nyako to APC, analysts considered it impossible for Marwa and Nyako to eat on the same political table. Thus, when Nyako decamped to the APC, observers waited patiently to see how things will pan out.

The wait did not last long.

Marwa and Gundiri at a stakeholders meeting in Yola recently vowed that Nyako would never lead APC which they had laboured to build over the years.

However, Governor Nyako’s camp swiftly reacted that he did not join the APC to scramble for leadership or any position.

At the stakeholders meeting in Yola purposely held to denounce Nyako’s alleged moves to dominate the APC, even when a harmonization exercise is yet to take place, Marwa and Gundiri vowed to ensure that the party is under their control.

They described Nyako’s position that all aspiring members of APC are equal as misleading and argued that members from the legacy parties are superior to new entrants.

Raging debate, disagreement With Governor Nyako’s camp insisting on controlling the leadership because it has the state governor and members of the legacy parties stoutly countering the move, the Adamawa APC is set for a major internal squabble in the coming days.

Marwa and Gundiri insisted that they are in control of the party in Adamawa because the legacy parties were responsible for the consummation of the merger that led to the birth of the APC, adding that any other entrant into the party including Governor Nyako should take the back seat.

Gundiri, the former gubernatorial candidate of the ACN, who was represented by his running mate, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Namdas, said it amounts to self-deceit for Nyako to claim that all APC members are equal because “they can’t compare themselves to us”.

Marwa’s representative, Alhaji Baba Sulaiman, noted that APC does not condone injustice and as such anyone coming into the party should come through the right procedure and that attempts

Continues on page 33

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—33

Rivers crisis: How Senator Abe was shot — Tony Okocha IN this interview the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha gave a blow-by- low account of how the Police conducted its operations on January 12 while aborting a rally of the Save Rivers Movement at the Arts and Science College, Rumuola during which Senator Magnus Abe was allegedly shot with a rubber bullet.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

W

HAT really happened on Sunday, January 12, at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, in Obio Akpor local government area?

That day, I saw brute force. The rally was actually billed to commence at 1p.m.

At about 6 a.m. members of the SRM who live close to the venue had arrived to make sure that everything was set. Then the person who called me earlier called again that the police were shooting teargas to disperse the crowd. You know the way some of our people behave: some people came to the venue very early in the day, maybe to position themselves where they can see what will transpire during the occasion.

He kept calling me persistently, so I got up, hurriedly took my bathe and left for the venue of the rally. I got to the venue before 8a.m. When I got there I saw so many policemen.

The policemen had even blocked one side of the road, but I managed to drive my car through one narrow path. I could only get as far as the entrance into Psychiatric Road. I then

At a point, I asked the police officer: ‘between the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, who is the chief security officer of the state?’ The law is clear that the governor is the chief security officer of the state. The Police man turned and walked away. We then walked to the venue of the rally with a few young men that were with me.

We were shocked at what we saw.

The canopies had been dismantled; the chairs thrown to different directions; our gadgets had been destroyed. I was in some kind of rage because I couldn’t just imagine that the police will do what they had done. So, I asked the young men that were with me to erect the canopies and arrange the chairs.

What I saw after 20 minutes was a thick reinforcement of policemen, driving into the College of Arts and Science, Rumouola, in three armored personnel carriers with sirens blaring. The next thing I heard was ‘take alignment; take alignment’ whatever that meant I don’t know. So, all the police men now strategically positioned themselves. Then, the next thing I heard was sounds of canisters

•Okocha: The police positioned themselves to shoot Initiative, GDI, to hold their rallies while preventing the SRM from doing the same thing. One police officer then walked up to Senator Abe and told him ‘Oga make you dey leave here now; I beg, make you leave quick.’

Because of the warning given by the police officer, Abe started following one particular officer, telling him that “if anything happens to me I will hold you responsible”.

Was this inside the venue of the rally?

Oh no! We were outside the venue. The entrance had been barricaded with Armored Personnel Carriers, APC’s and operational police Toyota Hilux vehicles.

Can you put a name to the officer that Senator Abe was profiling?

No, the situation was so tensed then.

So, you turned back and left?

No we didn’t leave. Senator Abe and I started moving towards the main gate of the venue, then, suddenly, Abe screamed: ‘they have shot me,

they have shot me’.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and seeing Senator Abe was shot at pointblank. Abe was now clutching his chest. At that point my legs were being shot at pointblank with teargas canisters.

My security details managed to package Senator Abe and I into Abe’s car off the road since one side of the road had been blocked to traffic.

What brand of car was this?

An armored Toyota Land Cruiser.

What was your next step after alighting form Senator Abe’s car?

Since the police prevented us from holding the rally at the College of Arts and Science at Rumuola, we decided to relocate to Rumuigbo to hold our rally at the Rumuigbo Civic Centre. Just as we were at the verge of settling down, we heard another wave of siren blaring. Again, the police started shooting and women, including pregnant women who were seated started scampering for their dear lives.

Adamawa: Mixed blessing for APC

Nigerian people was behind our resolve to move to APC. “Contrary to insinuation by some people, Governor Nyako wishes to state that he and his colleagues in the G5 who moved over to the APC from the PDP did not do so in order to become leaders of the party in their respective states. They were driven by higher patriotic motive of pulling the country out of the woods” “We could have formed a new political party; we could have joined a newly registered party or any of the other existing political parties in Nigeria. But we opted to join APC because it represents a broad-based coalition of democratic forces built on the ideals of progress and development,” he said

,

At a point, I asked the police officer: ‘between the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, who is the chief security officer of the state?’

The law is clear that the governor is the chief security officer of the state moved forward to address a Police officer that I saw. He had the name tag Hassan; He wore an eagle epaulette on his shoulders.

So, I asked him: ‘what is the problem?’ He told me that they had instruction not to allow the programme hold. So, I asked why and who gave the instruction.

He told me the instruction was from the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu. So, I asked him what was the meaning of what he was saying and why the commissioner of police would ask that the SRM should not hold a peaceful rally after the police have been duly informed.

He spoke with such disrespect: just like giving me an order and walked away. But some young men who were standing close to him called his attention to the fact that I am the Chief of Staff to the Government of Rivers State.

Having been told that I was the chief of staff, he came back and apologised.

up. Within minutes, the whole place was engulfed in smoke. I couldn’t understand it because they were shooting at me directly.

So, some of the boys that were standing close to me started shouting: ‘Oga, run, run you are the target’. Confused and shocked, I stood, looking at what was happening.

The boys couldn’t take it anymore and began pushing me out of the venue. At that point, the boys managed to package me to one flat belonging to Elder Wiyonka. Six of his children that were sleeping, jumped up apparently having inhaled the smoke. We had to rush them to the kitchen which was behind the flat and started bathing them with kerosene since it is believed to be an antidote.

Because they (Police) knew that what they were doing was wrong, they kept picking the shells of the canisters after firing them. They parked one APC in front of the house where we were.

So, I was wondering: could it be that I was under arrest? Then, Senator Magnus Abe called and asked where I was. I told Senator Abe that I was trapped in Elder Wiyonka’s house. Senator Abe asked what was happening and I told him and he said he was coming.

So I briefed him on what had happened. I saw Dr. Uche Mike Chukuma, a Police officer who appeared to be in charge of the operation. Then Senator Abe and I moved forward to address some police officers that were standing close to the entrance of the venue of the rally. Senator Abe asked them why they were allowing the Grassroots Development

,

being fired. It was not that they were shooting into the air, no, they were shooting directly at the crowd that was already building

Continues frompage 32 by any power monger to hijack the party would be resisted.

“We will never allow anyone who came in through the window to hijack our party which we laboured to build over the years.

I urge all of you to unite and say no to any attempt by outsiders to hijack the party from us as your tireless efforts were responsible for the birth of the APC,” he said.

Countering, Governor Nyako said his movement into APC alongside four other PDP governors was not driven by the desire to become leaders of the party in their respective states.

Rather, he claimed it was a patriotic move to save democracy

•Nyako: I am not after power from the tyranny of the ruling PDP. Nyako, in a statement by his

Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajo, said the need to provide viable opposition platform that will check the current drift in the polity, particularly the replacement of all democratic cultures and tenets with a culture of impunity and political brigandage, was the major reason they defected to the APC. His words: “The need to join other patriots to form a PanNigerian National platform that will serve as a veritable vehicle for the enthronement of genuine unity, peace and progress in the nation and the desire to build a political party that respects the welfare and interest of the

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

One year after demolition, Badia residents recount ordeal •As Lagos reverses decision on house allocation WALKING through the rail track at Ijora Badia, Mr. Oluwagbemiga Anjorin gazed at the portion of the land where his parent’s house used to stand before February 23, 2013.

He was secretly nursing the hope that his family will be among the first set to take ownership of the ongoing 1008 low cost housing units meant for the cleared space.

Lagos State Government

pulled down several structures in Badia East, Apapa-Iganmu Local Government Area early last year, displacing Anjorin and at least 2,251 other residents of Iganmu Alawo and Ilu Eri. Anjorin, a SS3 student of Queencare College, Ajegunle, was at the time preparing for his 2013 May/ June Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE of the West African Examination Council Examination, WAEC. Ironically, the preparation

,

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

My textbooks were all gone and the money to purchase another set wasn’t available. My parents were occupied with how to raise money to rent another apartment elsewhere

suffered a setback as the demolition led to the destruction of his notebooks and textbooks.

According to him: “This affected my preparation for the exam because for weeks, I had nowhere to lay my head.

,

I slept outside. And after I relocated to the Better Life Health centre, Badia, another challenge arose.

My textbooks were all gone and the money to purchase another set wasn’t available.

My parents were occupied

with how to raise money to rent another apartment elsewhere.”

In her account, another victim, Mrs. Ayinke Stephen said: “When Governor Babatunde Fashola visited us last year; he said that the housing project is for our good, promising that at the end, the 319 displaced landlords will be the first beneficiaries of the 1008 low cost housing units.

“In order to actualize this and get compensated for our demolished houses, the state

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

government asked us to nominate representatives to meet with government officials. The government team was led by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye. Other members of the team were Commissioner for Housing, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Information and strategy.

“During the negotiation, the community representatives included the demand to be allocated part of the houses in the new estate but to our surprise, government representatives demanded that such be expunged.”

Residents slam paltry compensation

House allocation demand One of those who represented the community, Mr. Raymond Tedunjaiye, explained further; “During one of the meetings last year, the state representatives said we should expunge house allocation demand from our requirements saying it was not part of their brief.”

Responding to the allegation, Ipaye told Vanguard that; “they can apply for flats in the houses when it is ready. If they qualify they will have to take a mortgage like others, not for free. There will be 1,008 flats. Remember that 2,252 persons claim to have been living in that strip. That is why government has allocated N284.4 million to them as compensation.”

— 35

S

HORTLY before the anniversary of the demolition, the state governor, Fashola announced that the state government had approved N284.4 million for the displaced 319 landlords and 1, 933 residents.

Clarifying this, Ipaye said; “The fund is only for those who claimed to have been living in the portion of land that was actually cleared.

The state government is actually borrowing the money from the World Bank which is involved as lender of the funds for Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Programme, LMDGP. The money for affected persons is to be paid fully by Lagos state government. The LMDG funds advanced to Lagos state government for slum upgrade are a loan to be repaid in full, not a donation or grant.”

But according to Tedunjaiye; “With the new compensation structure, displaced tenants will collect N90, 000 each while landlords will get between N174, 000 and N309, 000.”

Government’s position on compensation Faulting government’s position on compensation,Ms. Megan Chapman, a human rights lawyer handling the issue of displaced Badia residents for Social and Economic Rights Action Centre, SERAC, in an interview said; “Shortly after the demolition, SERAC petitioned the World Bank on behalf of Badia East residents. The World Bank agreed that because of the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project, LMDGP, the World Bank’s safeguard

policies on resettlement should apply to the February 23 Badia demolition. “The LASG must therefore come up with a resettlement action plan, RAP, for all persons affected by the demolition.

It is unfortunate that government’s quoted compensation amounts are lower than the earlier agreed compensations.

In September 2013, an agreement was reached for compensation that will benefit 2,252 displaced households which amounted to nearly three million dollars. “The c o m m u n i t y representatives agreed on N114,000 per tenant or household and between N261,000 and N532,000 per landlord to offset the loses they suffered.”

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oshindele, the Iyalode of Iganmu-Alawo in her submission said; “The money approved by the state government isn’t enough compared to what we lost in the demolition exercise. For instance, I had 12 rooms while the government is ready to pay mea mere N309, 000.

“This is a far cry from what is needed to erect the structure alone. Where do they want me to start?”

Oshindele urged the state government to reconsider its stand and fulfil its promises, adding; “if the government can relocate us, we will be happy because that will reduce the suffering.”

Pathetic living condition since demolition R

E S I D E N T S accommodation distress is better appreciated from some of their accounts.

According to Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oshindele, the Iyalode of Iganmu-Alawo; “Since the demolition, I have been sleeping outside with my children. Some of them had to stop school because I had no fund for their education.”

Mr. Adewale Olaitan recounts; “Since the demolition, we’ve had no roof over our head. And this has caused the death of many people in the community. The mother of Ismaila Ganiyu and his siblings used to live here before the demolition. After the exercise, she relocated to a church where three of her children met their end.”

Chapman said that some of the displaced residents now sleep in the community health centre.

According to her, “The last time I visited the centre in late November 2013, at least 30 displaced residents used to sleep there.”

She added: “It was constructed some decades ago and was recently renovated by Doctors without boundary. A small clinic was attending to the residents need for two years until December 2012, when it should have been taken over by the Local Government council, but the council failed to take over operations.”

At the last count at least a dozen evictees have died, many have no shelter, and there has been no assistance to date.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oshindele.

Iyalode of Iganmu-Alawo

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

C-River, UK firm sign pact for N3.7bn Ikom water project

T

HE Cross River State Government has signed a pact with a United Kingdom firm, Lilleker Brothers, for the execution of a N3.726 billion World Bank assisted second national urban water sector reform project for Ikom water supply scheme.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the 500 cubic meters water scheme in Calabar, the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, expressed delight at the project and urged the contractor to deliver on specification, bearing in mind the need for global quality and timeliness.

The governor, who stressed the critical role of water in the life of individuals which necessitated the pursuit of the project, said that upon completion, in addition to other intervention projects, 80 percent of the people of the state will have access to potable water supply that will immensely improve their living conditions.

He said “Without access to potable water supply, there is no way we can meet the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. The state will not relent in ensuring that the MDGs was met in the state.”

The governor pledged the state government’s readiness to ensure that its programmes and projects touch the lives of ordinary citizens, especially those in rural areas.

APC's directive on 2014 budget in right direction—REP

BY GBENGA OKE

C

HAIRMAN House Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Mr Dakuku Peterside, has said that the directive given by the national leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, to boycott the passage of the 2014 budget in the National Assembly was in the right direction, aimed at putting a stop to lawlessness in the country, particularly in Rivers State.

He also said the directive was necessary to put an end to impunity that is going on in Rivers State.

Speaking to Vanguard, he said APC cannot appear to be helpless in the face of impunity going on presently in the state.

“This impunity must stop because it is not part of the democratic culture of this country. I am in full support of the directive by the national leadership of our party that

we should boycott the passage of the budget. I fully support it and will join others to fully comply with the directive because the height of patriotism is to respect the

Youths condemn attack on Delta SSG

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OUTHS from Delta State have condemned the verbal attack on Secretary to Delta State Government, SSG, Mr Ovuozourie Macaulay, by the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi.

Nwaoboshi, while reacting to comments on power shift in the state by the SSG, derided him, saying that Macaulay was attempting to heat up the polity in the state.

But the youths, under the ae-

gis of Delta State Youth Forum For Good Governance, DSYFGG, in a statement in Asaba, by its President, Prince Kpokpogri, said that the PDP chairman’s comment was uncalled for.

He noted that the SSG was held in high esteem in Delta State and that the people would not fold their hands and watch his political achievements and reputation dragged in the mud.

They gave the PDP chairman seven days ultimatum to retract his comment on the SSG.

Edo PDP leaders shun Tambuwal in Benin

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, weekend, shunned the Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, at the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, in Benin, Edo State.

Although Tambuwal had said that he was still a member of the PDP, the incident at the palace of the Oba of Benin, where he was ignored by members of his party, may have indicated otherwise.

The Edo State chapter of PDP executive, led by its chairman, Chief Dan Orbih and Tambuwal were at the palace of the Oba to commiserate with him on the death of his wife, Queen (Oloi) Esther, who passed on last week.

Orbih and his executive were

the first to arrive at the palace and were waiting to be ushered in to see the Benin monarch, when Tambuwal and his entourage, made up of mainly of All Progressives Congress, APC, members of the House of Representatives from the

state, came and were ushered in to see the Oba. After seeing the Oba, the Speaker was driven away in his waiting car as other dignitaries tried to exchange pleasantries with him except members of his party, the PDP.

Group backs Uduaghan for Senate

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ARRI—AS the tempo of political activities increases ahead of the 2015 general elections, a coalition of political pressure groups, Eager Network for Development of Warri, Delta State, ENDOW, has thrown its weight behind the senatorial ambition of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the House of Assembly aspiration of a former Chief Whip of Warri South legislative arm, Mr Griftson Omatsuli.

ENDOW, in a statement in Warri, said that Uduaghan’s

enviable achievements in healthcare delivery, especially the recent historic first successful kidney transplant at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, giant strides in transportation and education sectors, plus his detribalised posture make him the perfect candidate to represent Delta South senatorial district, come 2015.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Ernest Ebisanine, also called on Mr Omatsuli to vie for Warri South Constituency I seat in 2015.

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

law under which you are elected. ‘’If you don’t respect the law which is the foundation of democratic society, then there is no basis for democracy itself,” he added.

He, however, maintained that all progressives in the country must rise up to condemn what is happening in Rivers State.

UPC begs FG to revamp DSC

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—WORRIED by the moribund state of Delta Steel Company, DSC, Ovwian-Aladja, Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, has called on the Federal Government to take more practical steps to revitalising the ailing steel company.

Speaking with newsmen after a meeting of the National Executive Committee and Elders Council of the group, its National Publicity Secretary, Olorogun Ebenezer Okorodudu, said: “We will reach out to the Federal Government and relevant agencies of government on how to revamp the company, which you know is a major institution for the development of the Urhobo nation and the country at large.

“DSC was the largest functioning steel company in Africa in the '80s. Its employment exceeded 10,000 workers with a lot of multiplier effects in terms of contracts to firms. Several stakeholders came up with this meeting to bring the company back to life.

“In order to harmonise these views, a technical committee has been put in place to discuss the various views."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On discrimination against Polytechnics and strike

GOVERNMENT is killing polytechnic education in Nigeria. Several meetings held with government to ensure re-opening of polytechnics yielded no fruits.

So ASUP should call off this strike because the Federal Government is unperturbed. Mr. Mustafa Suberu- Manager

GOVERNMENT should do something about polytechnics.

ASUP did not ask for too much like ASUU. If the government did not abandon polytechnics, why are they not showing any concern on the issue? Mr. Maji IshakuBusinessman.

I do not blame those in power who are supposed to direct the course of the country ’s educational system. Their children do not school in Nigeria, and so will never attend polytechnics here.

Mr. Hammad AdediranWorker.

LET us all abandon poly education and embrace university, if that is what they want. University students that I handled for workshop had nothing to show of it. You will understand more if you’re in public recruitment agencies. Ms. Sandra Adichie- Model

ASUP should not suspend the strike until Federal Government grants their request. It is either they grant ASUP demand or the strike continues. FG is not worth trusting again. Ms. Uzowuru ChidinmaStudent.

I am tired of staying at home. Federal Government and ASUP should do something quickly.

When two elephants fight the grass suffers. I am appealing to both sides.

Ms. Hidayaah Hormortayour- Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014—37

Kinsmen eulogise Ezeoba on his exit from Navy

Bayelsa youths threaten protest over upsurge in piracy

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INSMEN of the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba, have commended him for his meritorious service and contributions to the development of the country.

The kinsmen, under the aegis of Ibusa in the Diaspora, said the people “congratulate and thank you for your outstanding contributions to the Nigerian armed forces over the last years.”

A statement by the VicePresident-General of the group, Mr. Roland Nwanze, said: “As you depart from the Nigerian Navy after an exceptional and exemplary period of meritorious service, I write to congratulate you for your formidable intellect to shape and professionalise the Nigerian Navy. You brought your remarkable skills to bear in the modernisation and advancement of the Nigerian armed forces.”

Nwanze said the people of Delta State in particular would remain eternally grateful to Ezeoba because, as head of the Nigerian Navy, he embarked on a renaissance plan, “laying the foundation for a progressive, vibrant culture within the navy.”

N-Delta group drums support for Mutu

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IGER Delta youths, under the aegis of Southern Zone Young Star Association, SZYSA, have canvassed support for the re-election bid of Mr. Nicholas Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

SZYSA, in a statement by its President, Mr Brizimor Jeffery, urged the people of the Bomadi/ Patani federal constituency to stand by Mutu, explaining that the lawmaker ’s antecedents have proved that he can be trusted.

Jeffery said that Mutu has attracted a lot of federal projects to the area and empowered indigent youths, women groups and aged. He urged groups, businessmen, individuals to join the effort to return Mutu to the House of Representatives in 2015.

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BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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VISIT: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (left) and Genaral Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, at the regional Camp of the church in Port Harcourt.

2015: AIG meets with political leaders in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, Edo State, Mr. Salihu Argungu, yesterday met with leaders of political parties in Edo State, warning that the Police would not hesitate to disrupt any political rally held without a police permit.

He also warned that any police officer involved in an election duty outside his or her operational order would be dealt with. He spoke in Benin City in company of the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Folunso Adebanjo, when addressing the political leaders at a meeting.

All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Labour Party were represented at the meeting.

Argungu said that he called the meeting to inform politicians

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on the need to play according to the rules in order to avoid anarchy in the state.

According to him, the 1999 constitution guaranteed freedom of association and assembly, but that the provisions of the Public Act Laws of 2004, as well as the Electoral Act 2004, as amended, regulated the conduct of rallies, processions and assemblies.

He said: “For the purpose of proper and peaceful conduct of public assemblies, meetings, any person desirous of conveying or conducting such meetings or rallies is required to apply for and obtain permit. In the same vein, where such licence is granted, section 2 of the said Act confers on the Police, power to stop such assemblies, rallies or meetings

where they violate any condition of the licence.”

On efforts being made by the Police to train officers ahead of the elections, he said, “Currently, the Inspector General of Police and his management team have sat and discussed the issue of training and retraining of officers. There are many rank and file now in police colleges and institutions undergoing training, so that they will become professionals in the forthcoming election.”

Responding, the Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Godwin Erhahon, Mr Christopher Adesotu of PDP and others, commended the Police for initiating the meeting and assured that their members would be briefed accordingly in order to avoid unnecessary tension in the state.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING: Rep lauds judiciary for sentencing ex-policeman to death

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN House Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Warman Ogoriba, yesterday hailed the judiciary for passing the death sentence on an ex-policeman, Matthew Egheghe, who killed a 20-yearold man in Bayelsa State in 2011, for accusing him of taking bribe at a check-point.

Ogoriba, who represents Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma in Bayelsa State, in a chat with newsmen, described, the judgment of the Bayelsa State High Court as “one of the best in this part of the country as it will serve

as deterrent to other erring policemen.“ After the murder of Victor Emmanuel, Ogoriba had, that same week, drawn the attention of the House, which had sought to how he was shot to death at a checkpoint in Yenogoa on October 23, 2011.

In the motion he sponsored then, Ogoriba had pleaded with the House that “these extra-judicial killings by some policemen are against the reason for establishing it.”

The House had then resolved that the Committees on Police Affairs and

Human Rights should investigate the issue and follow the case up to its logical conclusion.

According to Ogoriba, the young man was killed in the presence of his mother that fateful Sunday just because he accused them for collecting bribe.

The policeman attached to the Bayelsa State police command, Matthew Egheghe, was sentenced to death by hanging for killing 20-yearold Victor Emmanuel at a checkpoint on the Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, on October 16, 2011.

ENAGOA—YOUTHS in Bayelsa State, under the auspices of Niger Delta Youths for Positive Attitude Change and Progress, NDYPACP, have threatened to stage a protest to the state's Government House over the recent upsurge in sea piracy in the creeks and waterways of the state.

Though the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, had said last month that it would resuscitate the defunct Bayelsa Volunteers in conjunction with the state government to tackle sea piracy, the outfit is yet to take off.

Scores of lives as well as valuables had been lost in the last one year due to the upsurge in pirates’ attacks in the creeks and waterways.

Lamenting the deplorable security situation in the riverine areas of the state, the group cited last Thursday attack on Ekeni community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, by suspected sea pirates during which a woman, identified as Madam Rhoda Brisibe, was shot dead.

Allow AghalokpeArhagba produce next Okpe LG Chair, group urges PDP

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KPE Movement for Positive Change, weekend, appealed to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State to allow the Aghalokpe-Arhagba community produce the next Chairman of the council considering their contributions to the success of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led government at all levels in the area.

In a statement by Mr. Johnson Onuomo, President, in Lagos, the group alleged the marginalisation of the people of AghalokpeArhagba since the creation of the council. The statement said that other communities which make up the council area were always favoured, stressing, “it will be proper for the government this time around to consider the people of Aghalokpe-Arhagba to produce the council's next Chairman."

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Group supports Gov Chime's guber slot for Enugu North

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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GROUP, Enugu Unity Forum, EUF, has pledged its support and loyalty to the government of Governor Sullivan Chime for zoning the 2015 governorship slot to Enugu North Senatorial district.

The group, which is made up of professionals, academics, politicians, businessmen and women of Enugu State origin resident in Abuja, also lauded the development strides of the governor.

In a press briefing in Abuja, weekend, the group isolated Chime’s administration from the previous one, saying his government had entrenched good governance through the provision of physical infrastructure in Enugu State within the past six years he had been in office.

Chairman of the group, Barr. Emeka Ugwu, said Chime’s achievements were unassailable. ”The achievements recorded by the present government in the state, ranging from the provision of good roads including Enugu Ugwofo Nike Opi link road and so many other link roads in various local government areas in the state,” he said.

LG boss eulogises pioneer chairman

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HE CHAIRMAN of Oji River local government area in Enugu State, Mr. Jideofor Onyemaechi, has described the pioneer chairman of the council, Ernest Mattah, as a man whose legacies in education, infrastructure development and administration were worthy of emulation.

The chairman stated this at the lying in state of the the pioneer chairman, prior to his burial at his country home at Umuagu Inyi, Oji River council, last weekend.

He noted that as a mark of respect for the deceased, a street will be named after him as a way of immortalising his legacies.

On his part, the eldest son of the departed former chairman, Mr. Chinedu Mattah, said he was not surprised by the great eulogies that had been pouring in since his father’s death.

He said his father was a good man whose shoes will be very difficult to fill.

C M Y K

2015: MASSOB declares support for Jonathan

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — THE leadership of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has thrown its weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election.

The chief protagonist of MASSOB, Chief Ralph

Uwazuruike made the position of his group known in Owerri, when he played host to the new leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. “MASSOB is in agreement that President Jonathan should run for the 2015 presidential election. I call on Ndigbo to give full support to President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming general elections,” Uwazuruike said.

While recalling that he made a similar call in 2011, Chief Uwazuruike also said it had become pertinent to repeat the call as Nigeria moved slowly towards 2015 general polls.

Giving reasons Igbos must continue to support President Jonathan, the MASSOB boss said: “whichever way you look at the issue and person involved, he is our brother. He buried our leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, in a very fashionable manner.”

Uwazuruike recalled how Jonathan gave Ojukwu a state burial, stressing that “ with this, he won the hearts of Ndigbo.”

On the sagging fortunes of APGA, Uwazuruike lamented that “APGA is supposed to be a national party but the past leadership of

the party sadly transformed it into a near family business.”

While noting that he was not a registered member of any political party, Uwazuruike, however, said that he remained interested in knowing what happened to Ndigbo in all the registered political parties in the country.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard after the event, a chieftain of APGA, Professor Francis Dike expressed regrets that Chief Victor Umeh had been chairman of the party for more than 12 years, describing it as a disgrace to Igbo race.

Detained community leader's mother, wife, son charged for assault, stealing

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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COMMISSIONING: Vice President Namadi Sambo (left), in a handshake with Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, after the commissioning of the New PDP Secetariat, in Kastina.

WKA — IT was a pitiable sight at the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, as tears

Imo govt deports 84 Boko Haram suspects to Katsina

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — FOR fears that they might be members of the dreaded Boko Haram, Imo State government, weekend, sent back to Katsina about 84 persons.

The deportees, mainly youths, had been in Imo State for eight days under-going skill acquisition training when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state raised an alarm that they might be Boko Haram insurgents.

The young Muslims, who had spent about eight days in the state, were quartered in the premises of Imo Newspapers Limited, on Egbu Road, Owerri, which is now renamed “Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies, ICAPS.” A security man on guard in the premises, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, explained that government had no other

option than to send them safely back home.

“The alarm by PDP raised palpable fears that people could descend on the innocent students.

Government had to cut short their training and sent them back to their state,” the man said.

Speaking to inquisitive journalists in Owerri, the Director General of ICAPS, Mr. David Day,

Our economy is collapsing, says Elechi

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI — GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, said yesterday, that the country’s over-dependence on oil was killing the economy.

According to him, only a diversification of the economy will save it from total collapse.

Elechi, who gave the observation while signing into law the 2014 Appropriation Bill of N99,

CAATU elects new officers

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HE CENTRAL Association of Agwa Towns Union, CAATU, the umbrella body governing all Agwa sons and daughters in Lagos State, weekend, elected new officers that will pilot the affairs of the body.

The elected officers are: Barrister Benson Akunya, President General, Mbadiwe

confirmed that the establishment trained youths on skills and leadership programmes.

“We do not train miscreants, criminals and members of Boko Haram in ICAPS. We had to cut short the training of 84 literate youths from Katsina State, as a result of the alarm, which obviously put their lives in danger,” Mr. Day said.

flowed freely among some onlookers when Mrs. Adaeze Anyakorah, the 65-year-old mother of a detained community leader at Uruebo village, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Mr. Ambrose Anyakorah, was handed a six-count charge for allegedly assaulting and stealing property worth thousands of naira from two prominent people in the community.

Charged along with Adaeze was her daughter in-aw, Joy, 40, and grandson, Somtochukwu, 15.

Anyakorah had been having a running battle with those said to be behind the arrest of his mother, wife and son over the chairmanship of Uruebo.

Nwagbo, Vice President, Godspower Onwuzugha, General Secretary, and Degualle Unagha, Assistant General secretary.

Others are: ,Nnanna Ezenwoke, Financial secretary, Samson Madufor, Treasurer, and Uzo Okenesi, Director of publicity.

840,505,540.00, called on the people of the state not to relent in the payment of their taxes.

He warned that the government would not treat non-payment of tax with levity, adding that the state would seek financial assistance from America and Africa Development Bank, ADB, to fulfil its infrastructure obligations to the people of the state.

“Our economy is very, very dry if we must face the reality and that is why we are asking for assistance of soft loans from America and Africa Development Bank to ensure economic take-off in the state.

“We must be prudent in whatever is available. We will be strict in approval of meetings so as not to be left out of national schemes.

"We will be economical in attending meetings outside the state; we cannot be doing everything just because other states are doing them.

“It is easier to pass a budget into law than to find the money; all

should be up and doing in tax payment. It is an exercise our people are long used to and because we are blessed with oil wells, people tend to depend on it; the civil duty of tax payment should not be treated with levity.

It gives us a sense of belonging.

“In the years ahead, we shall be more stringent to ensure that that obligation is achieved. We are trying to average in all the subsectors of the economy - education, agriculture, health, name them and, therefore, you cannot say anyone has been neglected; all these sub units are adequately attend to.”

In a remark, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, noted that the 2014 budget was structured to ensure increase in the internally generated revenue, IGR, adding that the policies of the present administration were targeted at ensuring speedy development of all the sub-sectors of the economy.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

—39

VISIT: From left: Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, ED/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, TURBANING: From left: Niger State governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Katsina State NEPC, and the Embassy's Counsellor, Mr. Abbas Faraji, during the governor, Dr. Ibrahim Shema and Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill visit to the NEPC headquarters, Abuja.

Akpabio, after being turbanned in Katsina, weekend.

MEETING: Engr. Joseph Akpieyi, President-General Worldwide, Government College Ughelli Old Boys' Association, GCUOBA, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School, Delta State and Mr. Okoro Okpako, Principal,Government College Ughelli, at a recent meeting of GCUOBA.

BRIEFING: President, NUTGTWN, Mr. Oladele Hunsu (middle), Treasurer, Mr. John Adaji (left) and Deputy General Secretary, Education and Research, Mr. Ismail Bello, at a briefing on Alhaji Adamu Muazu's appointment as PENCOM Chairman in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

AUDITION: From left: Head, Events & Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani, winner, Nigerian Idol season 3, Moses Obi-Adigwe, Show Host, Nigerian Idol, ILL Rhymz, winner, Nigerian Idol season 2, Mercy Chinwo, and Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Daniel, at the Benin auditions of season 4 of the Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol competition in Benin.

BRIEFING: COO, Dana Air, Mr. Yvan Drewinsky (middle), Media Communications Manager, Mr. Sam Ogbogoro (left), and Head, Commercial Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzo, at a briefing by the firm on the re-commencement of operations in Lagos, yesterday.

PRAYER: From left: Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, former Chairman, Caretaker Committee, South West PDP, Chief Ishola Filani and National Auditor, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju, during an interdenominational prayer session for Nigeria and its leaders, organised by the Ogun State chapter of the PDP at Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

DECORATION: Commissioner of Police, Borno State, Mr. Lawan Tanko (right), being assisted by deputy commissioner (medical) Mr. Komi Ahmadu, at the official decoration of Area Commader, Bama, Mr. David Dangiwa with his new rank as Asst Commissioner of Police in Maiduguri. Photo: Ndahi Maram .

DEDICATION: Rev. Felix Meduoye, General Overseer, cutting the tape to dedicate the new Foursquare Gospel Church building, at Odo-Jobere, IjebuOde, Pastor Oyebola Adams, donor (2nd right), Bishop Babatunde Ogunbanwo, Bishop of Ijebu South-West Anglican Communnion (2nd left), while others look on. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Jonathan visits Adamawa today

Plateau upgrades three general hospitals

BY UMAR YUSUF

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OLA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan is to pay a oneday visit to Adamawa State today.

While in the state, Jonathan is expected to commission a number of projects undertaken by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, under the then Chief of Air Staff, CAS, now Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

Among the projects to be commissioned are the NAF Comprehensive Secondary School located in the state capital and the Terminal Building of the Yola International Airport.

Security has been beefed up in the state which had been under emergency rule since May last year, even as the streets of Yola are now wearing a new look, owing to the visit.

Military authorities in the state have advised residents to keep off the streets the president is expected to ply during the visit between 7am to 2pm today.

Nigerians urged to re-integrate ex-convicts

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UTSE—NIGERI ANS have been urged to encourage and assist the integration of ex-convicts into the society in order to hasten their rehabilitation.

The Controller of Prisons Service in Jigawa, Mr Muhammed Bade, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Dutse, yesterday.

“The Nigerian society does not really accept ex-convicts. It is unfortunate the way people discriminate against exconvicts as if they are not human beings.

“Ostracising the exconvicts usually make them uncomfortable, hence, they deliberately commit offences that would take them back to prison”, he said.

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From left: Seplat managing director, Austin Avuru, Mr. Jim Ovia, founder Quantum Capital and Dr. ABC Orjiakor at Seplat Extraordinary General Meeting in Lagos, yesterday.

House of Reps committee flays implementation of Defence budget

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

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UTSE—CHAIRMAN House of Representatives’ Committee on Defense, Bashir Adamu has expressed concern over the opaque manner in which defence budgets were being implemented, saying that only a little percentage of the budget was actually utilised for the items budgeted.

Adamu said that defence budgets had become drain pipes to the national treasury, adding that unless they were faithfully implemented, nothing tangible would be achieved.

He spoke to newsmen in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, even as he expressed optimism that the recent changes of service chiefs by President Goodluck Jonathan would reduce security challenges facing the country.

He stressed that it was the prerogative of the President to drop or appoint service chiefs, subject to the approval of the National Assembly.

The lawmaker explained that the huge allocations to security in the country’s annual budgets were paper allocations as only little was implemented.

“Unless and until we implement 80 to 90 or100 per cent of our defence budget, Nigerians will not appreciate that government has done anything tangible in the area of security of lives and property.

“But we believe that with the new changes, we will overcome the security challenges. We pray for the new service chiefs that

God will guide them aright," he said.

Adamu however, urged security agencies in the country to rise up to challenges ahead even as he commended them for their efforts in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

He however, expressed concern that despite the huge expenditure on security, the impact of protecting lives and property in some parts of the country was not being felt.

The legislator representing Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi Federal Constituency said that the Ministry of Defence received the Lion’s share of federal allocations in the last three years, pointing out that performance in terms of security was dismal.

According to him, one of the MDAS under the defence sector said during its budget defence, before his committee that “its implementation of capital was between 40 to 45 percent for last year".

OS—THE Plateau Government says it is expanding and upgrading three general hospitals into referral centres to boost health care delivery, especially in the rural areas of the State.

According to the Commissioner of Health, Dr Fom Dakwak, each of the state’s three senatorial districts has one of the centres to ensure effective reach.

Dakwak spoke in Jos on, yesterday while inaugurating a Governing Council for the College of Health Technology, Zawan.

He named the three hospitals as the Specialist Hospital in Jos, which would serve Plateau North, Pankshin General Hospital, to serve Plateau Central, while the Langtang General Hospital would serve Plateau South senatorial zone.

“The upgrade of the health facilities will provide better and quality treatment and create more employment opportunities for graduates from the various health institutions in Plateau", he said.

He pointed out that no responsible government could afford to neglect the health sector.

“It is a testimony to our respect for the health sector that government has invested so much into the facilities and infrastructure there”.

Vietnamese experts arrive Kogi to train farmers on new techniques

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OKOJA—GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi, yesterday said that agricultural experts from Vietnam would arrive in the state next week to teach the farmers new techniques of cultivating cashew and cassava.

Wada told a news conference in Lokoja that the experts would come to Nigeria with a new high-yielding variety of cashew, found to be suitable for cultivation in the state.

According to the governor, the collaboration is aimed at consolidating the position of the state as the number one

producer of cashew and cassava in the country.

Wada said the experts would work in conjunction with selected farmers to establish new cashew plantations in the three senatorial zones.

He said the Vietnamese would also replace the existing ageing cassava and cashew plantations in the state.

According to Wada, the government has set up a team to help in the grading of cashew being produced in the state to enable the farmers to make more money.

Wada said the Kogi State University, Ayingba, had been mandated to establish a Cashew Centre of Excellence to conduct research, add more value and attract more patronage.

On cassava, he said that all the 21 local government councils were fully involved in the cultivation of the crop.

He said the state government would increase the 2,000 hectare cassava farm at Alape to 15,000 hectares in 2015.

Wada said the state had the potential to become the number one producer of rice in Nigeria.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 41

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 43

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 45

NEWS BRIEF

U.N. Security Council urges end to ransom payments to extremists

Hollande begins life as bachelor F

RENCH leader Francois Hollande began a new chapter in his presidency as a bachelor after splitting from his partner of eight years following an affair with a younger actress.

This came as Trierweiler, 48, left for Mumbai Sunday for charity work, her first public appearance since the scandal erupted. She had been convalescing at a presidential residence in Versailles outside Paris after leaving hospital last Saturday, where she was treated for what was described as fatigue brought on by press revelations of Hollande’s affair with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet.

Her entourage said she was accompanied on her India trip by a presidential bodyguard. A source close to her said: “She is on good terms with the president and she is better.”

But 59-year-old

Hollande came under fire from opponents for cheating in his personal life and procrastinating on announcing the split.

Under intense media scrutiny since the revelation of the affair two weeks ago, Hollande — who had pledged a “normal” presidency after the domestically turbulent stint of his “bling bling” predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy — on Saturday formally announced his split from Valerie Trierweiler.

“A Bachelor at the Elysee,” said the Journal du Dimanche weekly, adding that Trierweiler’s departure as first lady was “the end of an epoch”.

Saying he was speaking as a private individual, Hollande, in a terse statement to AFP over the phone, said he was ending his “shared life” with Trierweiler. And in an interview to Time

magazine just hours before announcing the rupture, Hollande reiterated his desire to keep silent about his private life.

Thousands of people marched in Paris Sunday in a “Day of Anger” over Hollande’s policies, some

of them alluding to the scandal. An organiser said, without naming Hollande, that some leaders “were more busy with their affairs... than with unemployment and the freedom of the French people”.

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French President Francois Hollande and Valerie Trierweiler leave the Elysee Presidential palace in Paris

the relic will become more noteworthy and valuable.

In 2011, John Paul’s former private secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, now archbishop of Krakow in Poland, gave the local Abruzzo community some of the late pontiff’s blood as a

•Late Pope John Paul II reliquary and a crucifix missing.

John Paul, who died in 2005, loved the mountains in the Abruzzo region. He would sometimes slip away from the Vatican secretly to hike or ski there and pray in the church.

Polish-born John Paul, who reigned for 27 years, is due to be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in May, meaning

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they don’t want the establishment of a Palestinian state,” Erakat said in remarks published Monday in Palestinian daily AlAyyam.

Erakat was reacting to comments by Netanyahu at last week’s WEF gathering in Davos, where the premier insisted Israel would not

token of the love he had felt for the mountainous area.

It was put in a gold and glass circular case and kept in a niche of the small mountain church of San Pietro della Ienca, near the city of L’Aquila.

Russia bails out Ukraine with $2 billion

U

KRAINE is borrowing another $2 billion from Russia on the same terms as a $3 billion Eurobond sold in December, in a sign that Moscow is pushing on with a $15 billion bailout despite concern about violence at antigovernment protests in Kiev.

Netanyahu's settlement stand provokes anger OMMENTS by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Economic Forum make it clear he is against the establishment of a Palestinian state, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat has said.

“Anyone who says they want the settlers to remain is actually saying

HE U.N. Security Council urges countries yesterday to stop the payment of kidnap ransoms to extremist groups like al Qaeda, which have earned hundreds of millions of dollars from such crimes.

No new legal obligations were created by the Britishdrafted resolution - unanimously adopted by the 15member council - as states are already required not to pay kidnap ransoms under an anti-terrorism resolution adopted in 2001.

“We estimate that in the last three and a half years, al Qaeda-affiliated and other Islamist extremist groups have collected at least $105 million,” British U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters.

“It is therefore imperative that we take steps to ensure that kidnap for ransom is no longer perceived as a lucrative business model and that we eliminate it as a source of terrorist financing,” he said. “We need to break that cycle.”

Cuba to host Latin American summit without U.S.

Thieves steal Pope John Paul’s blood from Italian church T

HIEVES broke into a small church in the mountains east of Rome over the weekend and stole a reliquary with the blood of the late Pope John Paul II, a custodian said yesterday.

Dozens of police with sniffer dogs scoured the remote area for clues to what the Italian Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana called “a sacrilegious theft that was probably commissioned by someone”.

Franca Corrieri told Reuters she had discovered a broken window early on Sunday morning and had called the police. When they entered the small stone church they found the gold

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evacuate Jewish settlements built on occupied land the Palestinians want for their future state.

Netanyahu has publicly supported the two-state solution during US-sponsored talks which envisage the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a final peace agreement.

In a geopolitical battle with the European Union after Ukraine spurned a trade pact with the 28state bloc, Russia agreed on credits and cheaper gas for Kiev in December to help its fellow former Soviet republic meet huge debt payments.

The deal brought a breathing space for the government but the protests have since spiraled into violent unrest in the capital and other cities, forcing President Viktor Yanukovich into talks with opponents who mistrust Moscow.

The Ukrainian government said in a statement on Monday it was issuing $2 billion in Eurobonds to Russia on the same terms as in December, bringing the total amount borrowed over two years at an interest rate of 5 percent to $5 billion.

ATIN American and Caribbean leaders converge on Cuba this week to discuss trade, peace and human rights in a further sign of regional eagerness to challenge the dominance of the United States.

The two-day summit is expected to take up issues such as Colombian peace talks, lingering poverty in Haiti and human rights. Thirty-three countries from the region will participate, notably without the United States and Canada, which are not invited.

While the visiting heads of state and government are likely to express solidarity with Cuba and perhaps seek an audience with former Cuban President Fidel Castro, Cuban dissidents who advocate greater human rights on the communist-ruled island will also try to capture attention with so many leaders and journalists present.

NATO faces tough decisions on staying in Afghanistan

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ATO faces tough decisions next month about whether to pull all its troops out of Afghanistan after this year if President Hamid Karzai does not sign accords allowing them to stay, the alliance’s leader said yesterday.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen repeated his warning that the 28-nation alliance would be forced to pull all its troops out of Afghanistan by year-end if it does not have a legal framework in place to keep some there.

The Afghan government and the United States have agreed the legal terms for U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan after the end of 2014, when NATO -led forces are due to end combat operations, leaving behind a much smaller training and advisory mission.

Marijuana use during pregnancy affects baby— Research

U

SING marijuana during pregnancy could affect a baby’s brain development by interfering with how brain cells are wired, a new study in mice and human tissue suggests.

Researchers studied marijuana’s effects on mice and brain tissue from human fetuses, and found that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, interferes with the formation of connections between nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for higher thinking skills and forming memories.

“Our advice is that [pregnant] mothers should avoid marijuana,”said neuroscientist Tibor Harkany of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and the Medical University of Vienna, in Austria, who led a study detailed yesterday in the EMBO Journal.

Harkany added that the effects of prenatal marijuana exposure could even last into adulthood.

The drug could have direct effects, or it could sensitize the brain to future drug exposure or neuropsychiatric illnesses.

46 — Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 28, 2014 TUESDA

Leprosy, a forgotten disease makes a comeback?

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

W

HEN Edna, 32, a g r a d u a t e of English Language, was diagnosed with leprosy, an old but neglected disease. Her world turned upside down.

She cried for days before she was taken a Leprosarium.

Edna swears that living with leprosy and branded a “leper” is a fate worse than death. It is a disease that leaves you and those sympathising with you in tears. The emotional trauma, untold suffering and agonies of persons in a leprosarium for those afflicted by leprosy is nothing to cheer about. The experience is unpalatable to anyone. The environment in which they are admitted and treated is not in anyway habitable, thereby making the situation more dehumanizing and agonizing.

The fate of Edna and about 3,500 Nigerians afflicted annually with leprosy hangs in the balance as new cases are

being detected with little or no r e s o u r c e s allocated to fight resurgence of the disease.

Most of the Leprosaria built in the country date • Leprosy, a neglected tropical disease, is still a special public health problem in back to the 1950s Nigeria due to the discrimination, stigmatisation, isolation, and destitution patients and are now suffer within the community. dilapidated, unkempt and irritating.

Today, leprosy, a neglected tropical disease, is still a special public health problem in Nigeria due to the discrimination, stigmatisation, isolation, and destitution the patient suffers indignation within the community. A chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, Leprosy mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes. It is curable and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability.

The World Health

Organisation, WHO, says leprosy is not highly infectious.

It is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases.

Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. WHO has maintained that early diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy remain the key elements in eliminating the disease as a public health concern.

Although, Nigeria was removed from the list of countries with high endemicity

in 1999 when it achieved the target of 1 case per 10,000, leprosy control activities have since nose dived.

Only recently, a public health expert, Dr Dan Onwujekwe, expressed concern over the gradual resurgence of leprosy in Nigeria.

According to the researcher, at the Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Yaba, Lagos, new cases of leprosy were detected in some parts of the country, calling for more vigorous strategy to stop the spread of the disease.

“Nigerians should watch out

Crisis in the health sector:

Clinical governance is the way to go — Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Chairman, LUTH Management Board

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

HEALTH professional and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Olatokunbo AwolowoDosunmu, has proposed the principle of clinical governance as solution to the perennial crisis within the nations health sector.

Speaking during the official commissioning of the new Surgical Skills Training Centre and the Assisted Conception Centre & Colposcopy Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, AwolowoDosunmu, who is Chairman, LUTH Management Board, suggested the initiative as the way forward out of the quagmire while reflecting on her plans and expectations for the tertiary health institution in the near future.

The Board Chairman who witnessed the altercation and open protest by members of the striking LUTH branch of the Medical & Health Workers

Union, expressed her expectations from the suggested principle of clinical governance.

“I have a blueprint which is clinical governance, and I believe it is the way to go. Clinical governance sets out policies and very clear guidelines about what happens. There are policies on every issue imaginable, employment policies that everyone signs up to immediately they get employed.

Healthcare sector It is not just rules and regulations, it is also about the development of every individual within that organisation - their training, setting goals annually, doing an appraisal, seeing how far you have come with your goal and then finding out if you reached the goal or why you didn’t reach the goal and what other goals you want to set for yourself in just one year. That way, every body gains and not everybody has

• Chairman, LUTH Management Board, Dr. Olatokunbo AwolowoDosunmu (centre), commissioning the Surgical Skills Training Centre at the health institution last week, while the CMD, LUTH, Prof. Akin Oshibogun (left) and Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LUTH , look on.

to be the boss.”

Noting that the healthcare sector required a revamp, she remarked: “To work on clinical governance, I really believe in it and it is not just a LUTH thing. It should be nationwide and should involve all the regulatory bodies, the Medical and Dental Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council,

and others who will set up the guidelines on promotions.

“This has to be more global and holistic and address every area of practice so that everyone knows where they stand and in any situation you can refer to the rules and regulations so you do not go wrong.”

Commenting on the prevailContinues on Page 47

for any strange lightening of the skin, skin lesion, white patches on the skin that has loss of sensation, persistent upper respiratory infections and swelling of any part of the nerve of the body. Those might be early forms of leprosy and it is better to tackle them at that stage; they can be arrested, they can be treated, and the person can be cured.

Just last week during the 61st World Leprosy Day, the National Director of the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Dr. Udo Sunday, raised alarm over new cases of leprosy in Nigeria, saying that about 3,805 new cases of the disease were recorded in 2013.

More worrisome is the fact that out of the number, 10 per cent were children, and 12 per cent were already deformed as a result of lack of care. The North East zone of the country accounted for most of the cases.

Udo expressed fears of likely resurgence of the disease in the country if Federal Government does not step up its act.

He warned that Tanzania and Liberia were already experiencing resurgence of the disease, while 16 countries in the world today still found more than 1,000 new cases every year, including Nigeria.

Leprosy control “There is need to refocus and reprioritise leprosy control activity in Nigeria owing to the high percentage of childhood leprosy and WHO Grade 2 disability among newly diagnosed patients indicating sustained transmission and late reporting, respectively.

“Nigeria needs to put in more efforts in order to detect early cases because if they are not detected on time, they are bound to cause disabilities which have a socio-economic impact on the society.”.

Udo further disclosed that a survey revealed that 27 per cent of street beggars across the country were leprosy victims.

He called for the passage of Bill on Disabilities which is still pending before the National Assembly, saying that leprosy is not hereditary, but is exacerbated by lack of political commitment, inadequate low referral and high level of stigmatization of sufferers.

However, as those afflicted with the diseases look forward for a little attention, health watchers are of the view that the authorities will implement the global leprosy strategy 2011–2015 national leprosy programmes which focuses more on underserved populations and inaccessible

Continues on Page 47

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 28, 2014— 47 TUESDA

Crisis: Clinical governance is the way to go Continues from Page 46 ing crisis at the institution, the Board Chairman observed that as one of the leading hospitals in Nigeria, it was only to be expected that in any agitation or crisis, the focus of the agitation would be situated in LUTH for maximum impact.

“The fact that this has taken place today on a day when the Board was supposed to meet and has invited the press to cover an event that we should all applaud. I expected it to happen in view of the ongoing crisis.

“To talk about the way forward, there is a short term, medium term, and long term strategy. In the short term, the only

Leprosy, a forgotten disease makes a comeback?

thing is negotiation and to see what of the workers’ demands can be met reasonably. The hope is that both parties in negotiation will give and take, and understand that the negotiation necessarily includes compromise in certain areas.”

Awolowo-Dosunmu said: “In the short term they will continue the negotiation in a peaceful manner with a larger picture in mind, knowing that there are patients involved and the survival of the institution is at stake. Let us remember that LUTH is not the only institution affected, it is nationwide thing.

“I’m speaking to all the local and state chapters. Negotiate and go back to work.

Demands will always be made, but negotiation is ongoing. Make your de-

mands, negotiate, get what you want move on till the next one.”

On the medium to long term, she said: “I believe the time has come for policy makers, government, management to put very clear guidelines in place that will govern the conduct of both the managers of the people, and conduct of the work so that everyone knows what is what, knows how many positions are available in a particular cadre, so that we do not all feel that because we have been on the same level for five years, we are all entitled to move to the next level. I do not think there is any organisation that works like that. There is always a structure and I think that structure needs to be clearly set out so that the whole house does not crash down over everyone’s head.”

Continues from Page 46 areas to improve access and coverage.

To reach all patients, leprosy treatment needs to be fully integrated into general health services. Moreover, political commitment needs to be sustained in countries where leprosy remains a public health problem. Partners in leprosy elimination also need to continue to ensure that human and financial resources are available.

The age-old stigma associated with the disease remains an obstacle to selfreporting and early treatment. The image of leprosy has to be changed at the global, national and local levels. A new environment, in which patients will not hesitate to come forward for diagnosis and treatment at any health facility, must be created.

• L-R: Managing Director, Nutricima Limited, Mr. Suneel Vasudevan; Chairman, Scientific Committee, Nutrition Society of Nigeria , Dr. B.I.C Brai; Marketing Director, Nutricima, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadyay; Head of Marketing, Mrs. Wande Oluwasegunfunmi and the Category Marketing Manager (Standard Milk), Mr. Raphael Agbaje at the launch the consumer reward initiative tagged Nutricima Mega Cash Promo held recently in Lagos.

Nigerian healthcare excellence Awards

N

OMINATIONS are on for the maiden edition of the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards, NHEA, even as 43 individuals and organisations have been nominated for the corporate and individual categories listed for recognition.

NHEA is aimed at recognising the rapid growth in the healthcare sector, and the capacity of individuals and corporate organisations to influence and set new performance standards in Nigeria and beyond. The event which holds March 21, 2014 at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos is expected to focus on elevated performance; creation of new business models; new trends; market leadership; inspirational performance, among others.

Stakeholders are urged to visit www.nigeriahealthawards.com to make their nominations which close March 01, 2014. Professor Soyibo Adedoyin, an expert in Health Economics, University of Ibadan is Chairman of the Advisory Board while Dr. Jim Rice, Project Director, Management Science of Health, USA is Chairman of the Jury/Selection Committee.

The award has 16 categories including The Lifetime Achievements Award, Outstanding State Government Healthcare Programme of the Year, Outstanding CSR Health Project of the Year, Healthcare Media Excellence, Private Healthcare Provider of the Year, among others.

NHEA is supported by the Nigeria medical fraternity and Federal Ministry of Health and is organised by Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR) in colaboration with Anadach Group, USA.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) • Dr Vijaya Rajakumani,

I

AM 29 years old and I just started making love with my boyfriend. I have been a virgin until April, 2013. My problem is that right from the first time I indulged in love making, I have not been able to feel anything at all. I can’t feel my man inside of me (he is well endowed and a passionate gentle lover), not even a little friction and “No Orgasm”. This has been a major embarrassment to me. So, I want to know if your vaginal tightener and Orgasm Gel will work for me – Tina Dear Tina, when you say that you don’t feel anything at all, do you mean to say that you feel no pleasure or that you have absolutely no sensation when he enters you? These are two different things.

If you feel no sensation, then I have to wonder if you are attracted to men at all. If you are attracted to him but just cannot enjoy intercourse, then lack of fore play could be the problem. There are step by step procedures involved in love making, without which the woman will not enjoy intercourse. Passionate talk, kissing, touching, heavy petting and genital stimulation with the fingers, toys and other body parts are usually the first things you do before actual intercourse. Books like Sex Secrets and movies like How to Boost Your Libido will teach you more of these steps. Arousal gels and vibrators will also help you but you do not need a vagina tightener yet. You only just started having sex a couple of months ago – Uche I have been taking Extenze Plus Penis Enlarger for two months now and I like the results. I want to order for a new pack but I have also been hearing about Big Bam Boo and Max Size enlargers. Now I am confused. Which one is the best? Paul Hello Paul, users have had good results with all of them so it is difficult to say that one is better than the other. My advice is to stick to what works for you.

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Most times, I don’t even last up to one minute before climaxing – Marvis Dear Marvis, apply an ejaculation delay ointment all over your penis and then wear a penis sleeve afterwards before having intercourse. This will enable you last for fifteen to twenty minutes before ejaculating.

Use the Love Stuff All Night Long Delay Cream and the Nasstoys Penis Extender Sleeve for this. They work better together – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com. Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 , 2014

By Jude Njoku & Favour Nnabugwu

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OOR maintenance cul ture has often be adduced as the major reason for the collapse of Nigeria’s 195,400 kilometers of roads infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, construction experts and cement manufacturers who brainstormed on “Exploring cement based option for sustainable road construction in Nigeria,” about a year ago, canvassed the use of concrete in road pavements in view of its durability and cost-effectiveness.

In making the call, the the experts noted that prior to this time, all road constructions in Nigeria were done with asphalt or plain laterite for rural roads because cement was relatively scarce and expensive. They further noted that with the installed capacity of local cement companies increasing from 3,000 metric tonnes per annum in 2003 to 28mtpa, the country has moved from the previous position of the world’s leading importer of the product in 2006, to a position of self-sufficiency, hence the need to start using cement in roads pavement.

The Chairman of Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, CMAN, Mr Joseph Makoju, an engineer, explained that “benchmarking against international practice, about 40 percent of the roads in the developed countries like USA and Germany are made of cement concrete whereas it is only about two percent in emerging economies countries like India and less than 0.1 percent in Nigeria”.

The call by CMAN and construction experts appears to be yielding fruits faster than expected as the Federal Government last week, promised to collaborate with CMAN to test run the use of cement in road pavements.

The cement manufacturers the government plans to collaborate

Roads infrastructure:

FG partners cement coys to test run use of cement in road pavements with include Dangote Cement PLC, Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria PLC, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Askaka Cement and United Cement Company UniCem, Calabar.

The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, an architect, disclosed this when he received in audience the management of Lafarge WAPCO Cement led by the company’s Managing Director, Mr Guillaume Roux in Abuja.

The Minister explained that as part of the ongoing process of identifying good solutions for Federal roads in the country, the Ministry of Works would start an experimentation on rigid pavements which is another name for cement concrete surfacing..

“We want to know what the manufacturers are bringing to make the projects realistic. We have identified cement companies as one source of the excessive overloading of our roads. We would carry out labora-

tory test on the products to ensure that they are good as we prepare to begin the construction of rigid pavement carriageway in Nigeria.

We have identified major road works where we want to experiment rigid pavement design. Consultants were commissioned and they told me that one of those roads is the Kachie-Ajie road to connect the Federal Capital Territory to Baro Port in Niger state”.

The second one is the IkoroduShagamu road. We have completed the design of the rigid pavement and commenced procurement for the two roads. Once the 2014 budget is approved, the projects will come on stream.

“They are projects where you have to showcase cement for road works, we are looking forward to collaborating with your organisation in bringing that experimentation to a successful end. We believe there are certain terrains in our country that are unfriendly to asphaltic concrete, so we have to

Fashola boosts intracity transportation with 21 new roads

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

THE Lagos State government last week, formally handed over the Alaba Cemetery Road in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area , bringing to 21, the number of road projects commissioned within the last three months.

Speaking at the handover, Governor Babatunde Fashola said, “we handed over some in Mushin, some in Ikeja, some in Badagry, all within a space of three months”.

He explained that there are over 200 road projects at various stages of completion across the state, adding that the programmes of his administration were designed to provide jobs and ensure a better life for

Lagos residents.

Explaining the difficulties encountered during the construction of the 2.6 kilometre road, he said the old road which he described as a refuse dump, had to be excavated up to the depth of 1.5 metres and sand filled with the required laterite before bringing it to its present level.

He advised the residents of the area to protect the road from vandalisation and misuse. He told them that the walkways were designed for pedestrians’ use and not as markets or trading points for people.

While also calling on residents to register under the resident registration scheme, Fashola said only the tax payers within

the state will be entitled to facilities constructed by tax payers’ funds.

The commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, an engineer, stated that a big big culverts erected and buried under the ground at Bakare Faro Street.

This is to allow water to be drained so as to keep the road in very good shape. He stressed that the road built with street lights was also meant to serve as bye pass to Lagos Badagry Expressway.

The Commissioner therefore urged people creating extra pipes to discharge their waste into the drains to desist from such as they may be constituting a threat to cholera outbreak in the area.

design this solution for those terrains so that they can last longer,”.

He spoke on the advantages and disadvantages of using cement in roads pavements.

“It is well known that while the design life of concrete roads is between 35 to 50 years as against 20-25 years for flexible asphalt pavement, the cost of concrete roads is considerably high. On the other hand, flexible asphalt pavements lend themselves more easily to stage construction and also initial cost of construction is lower than concrete pavement but requires more frequent maintenance,” he said.

On the damage to roads due to overloading by cement companies, the Minister said ministry will

range of alternative cement brands to select from.

“We are leading the required differentiation in the cement market and will continue to deliver value to our customers and stakeholders through our innovative products and services,” he said, adding that . The company had invested a substantial amount of money in the provision of its other products, aimed at providing products and services to building contractors in need of large volumes of already mixed concrete to ensure faster and quality execution of products.

On the Lafarge Readymix Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of the company, he said the company decided to introduce the Readymix concrete into the market because of the huge opportunities for such products.

According to him, a model of Readymix is already operational in some African countries like South Africa, Zambia and Morocco.

His words: “Our ReadyMix business has become a preferred solution in the concrete sector in Nigeria. We are expanding with three new plants across the nation.

Lafarge Powermax has also been launched, an innovative 42.5AL high quality performance cement, that is used for large construction projects like bridges, high rise structures, slabs and beams, spun pipes, garden paths and driveways and so on.

The company is building plants across Nigeria, starting from Lagos to Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The aim is to provide commercial Readymix concrete products, targeted at providing products and services to building contractors.

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Eagles to play Croatia T

HE Nigeria Foot ball Federation is working to have the Super Eagles play an international friendly match against Croatia as part of preparations for the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Confirming this to journalists in Cape Town, President of the federation, Aminu Maigari said arrangements had reached an advanced stage to get a date for the match. ’’We are still waiting for the Croatian FA to confirm a date, but that will definitely come after the match against Mexico,’’ Maigari said, while discussing plans for the Super Eagles ahead of the World Cup. Nigeria is grouped alongside Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina and Iran in Group F ’’We all know that Croatia and Bosnia share the same border and both countries play almost the same way.

So, a match with them will give the Eagles a glimpse of what to expect from Bosnia at the World Cup,” Maigari said.

He also said that apart from the March 5 friendly against Mexico and the proposed tie against Croatia, plans are afoot to see the Eagles engage top flight opposition before the Mundial. “We intend to see the team play a number of friendlies to put them in a competitive shape before the World Cup.”

Today’s Matches

Championship.

Uzonenyi, whose performance here has attracted interests from far and wide told Sports Vanguard at the Eagles Garden Court de Waal Hotel camp that numerous clubs, particularly from South Africa had come calling, but he told them to wait till after the tournament which Nigeria is already in the semi final. ’’You know when you dance very well, people spray money on you, but

v

Cardiff

8.45pm

Norwich Southampton

v v

Newcastle Arsenal

8.45pm 8.45pm

Swansea Crystal Palace

v v

Fullham Hull

8.45pm 9pm

Liverpool

v

Everton

9pm

Ghana

TACKLE ••• Super Eagles forward, Fuad Salami (L) battles for the ball with Mohsine Moutaouali of Morocco during their 2014 CAF African Nations Championships Quarterfinal match at Cape Town Stadiums

Eagles arrive Bloemfontein, ready for Ghana T

HE Super Eagles of Nigeria arrived Bloemfontein, venue of their semi-final clash against the Black Stars of Ghana on Sunday night to the warm embrace of Nigerians and residents of the city. First to call for enquiries about the team’s welfare was National Women’s teams coordinator, Aisha Falode, who is here on CAF assignment.

The Nigerian team was split into two on the trip to Bloemfontein, with the first team made up of officials, arriving the city by

Uzoenyi Continues from BP

Man U

I don’t want to talk about anything transfer now, until after the tournament. All I can confirm is that there have been advances but I have told them to wait,’’ Uzoenyi said.

The Enugu Rangers player said his priority now is how to help his country lift its first Chan trophy. ‘’We have a task on our hands. We still have two matches to the trophy and this means we need all the concentration required to achieve the task.’’

7pm, while the other half of players and coaches came into town at about 9:30pm.

The team is quartered at the President Hotel and Conference Centre, alongside the Zimbabwean national team who will be playing the first semifinal at the Free State Stadium against their Libyan opponents also on Wednesday. Residents of the city are already predicting a Nigeria-Zimbabwe final, as they think Southern Africa’s only pride remaining in the tournament are the Robert Mugabe boys.

The team resumed train-

ing yesterday evening in the city, while it is expected that it will be given a chance to feel the stadium for the game on Tuesday evening. There are lots of Nigerians here in Bloemfontein, because of its proximity to Johannesburg and other factors. “We don’t expect to lack support here because of the huge population of Nigerians and the fact that the Supporters Club is on ground”, declared team administrator, Dayo Enebi AChor.

Returnee full back, Solomon Kwambe was full of smiles when asked about his return to the first team for the game against Ghana after seeing out his one match ban following two bookings against Bafana Bafana.

Nigeria Continues from BP the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Other top seeds for the qualifying tournament for the 2015 AFCON include Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali and Zambia.

The 2015 AFCON will be hosted by Morocco in four cities from January 15 to February 7.

The draw for the qualifiers is scheduled for April 27 in Cairo, Egypt.

Meanwhile, CAF are to decide on the hosts for the 2019 and 2021 AFCONs in September.

Algeria have tabled a formal bid for both tournaments.

Other countries who are vying to stage the biennial tournament are Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, DR Congo, Zambia (2019 AFCON) and Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea (2021 AFCON).

Continues from BP nobody remembers those who scored many goals but come second, and that progressing is more important than the statistics.

“I think we don’t plan to always come and score one goal but we plan our game according to the strength and weaknesses of our opponents,” Konadu told the FA’s official site.

Ghana have scored four goals in four games, and have conceded just once at the tournament. On Sunday, the Stars crawled into the semi-final via Kwabena Adusei’s strike from the spot got them a 1-0 win over DR Congo.

Nigeria and Libya have scored the most goals among the four teams that have made the semis, with Ghana only ahead of

Aiyegbeni Continues from BP clubs website. “I heard Qatar has a very strong League and Rayyan are a prestigious club.

“When I learned Rayyan wanted me, I decided to try something new and made the move.

“I want to train hard and help the team win games and to target winning the League title,” he said.

The Nigeria international is well travelled having previously played for Julius Berger, Gil Vicente, Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Kfar Saba, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers and Guangzhou R&F.

the equally frugal Zimbabwe.

But Ghana have been measly in defence as, with Zimbabwe, they have conceded just once in four matches.

“But just in case it happens that we score one goal and we are able to defend well, that for me is a plus to our team because we know the strengths and weaknesses of our team.”

“We don’t have to expose our boys to danger. We have to just protect our goal area as much as we can and if by doing so we end it up with one goal, that is okay that is football.

It’s all about what you can do in the 90 minutes,” he said.

The coach also hailed his side’s tactical discipline that led to their edging out the maiden winners of the tournament on Sunday.

“When we started this project, many people had little confidence in this team.

And for me it is always better to come into a tournament as underdogs than to come with high expectations and just cannot progress,” Konadu told the Ghana FA website.

“In the previous edition, we had all the best players of the country then but we couldn’t even progress to the next stage but here we are we have a group of people who think they can fight till the last blast of the whistle.

“They have the belief in themselves, we gave them the confidence and we told them this is the platform for you. They came and they are doing it for us and for me, I’m very very impressed.”

Ghana play Nigeria on Wednesday in the pick of the semifinal games.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

I’ll bounce back against Ghana — Salami S

UPER Eagles and 3SC of Ibadan forward, Gbolahan Salami has expressed hope that the thigh injury that has limited his performance at the ongoing African Nations Championship would heal just in time for the semi final clash against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Speaking with Sports Vanguard at the Eagles’ Garden Court de Waal Hotel camp of the team in Cape Town, the striker said, “As a player, I am very happy that I am a member of the national team squad. I am happy because this is my first tournament with the national team but I must confess that I nurse a personal sense of disappointment because I have not been playing well due to a thigh injury.”

He said that the medical team have been working round the clock to ensure he gets fit again just in time before the semi final tie against Ghana on Wednesday.

“They have been treating me twice a day to ensure I return to full fitness,” the 3SC said.

ON GUARD......Local Eagles defender Azubuike Egwuekwe fends off Morocco’s Iajour Mouhssine during the CHAN q-final match in Cape Town.

Eagles won 4-3.

Ejike Uzoenyi: Abigor poses questions to Keshi W

ARRI Wolves Chairman, Godwin Abigor, has one question for Stephen Keshi, the Eagles head coach.

“Why have you not been making Ejike Uzoenyi prominent in your team all these days?”

Abigor commended Keshi and the team for beating Morocoo 4-3 after being 3-0 down last Saturday but insisted that Nigerians are expecting more comments on Uzoenyi from Keshi.

“Ejike has been so marvelous in then ongoing African Championships that many are wondering why Keshi has not been fielding him,” Abigor said while recalling a report he said he read in Vanguard extolling the skills of Uzoenyi when Eagles played a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda.

“Vanguard reported in

2012 from Rwanda that Ejike Uzoenyi was man of the match and that Rwanda’s German coach was asking the Nigerian contingent where they fished out the boy from.

It was that match too that your Onochie Anibeze reported would likely be the last for Osaze Odewengie, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Dickson Etuhu for a very long time going by their woeful performance. Vanguard’s report has played out correctly. Vanguard reported that the foreignbased players failed Nigeria in Rwanda while Godfrey Obaobona, Juwon Oshanuwon and Ejike Uzoenyi were outstanding and actually saved Nigeria from a possible defeat in the match that ended goalless. So what has kept Ejike away till now? It will be nice to know. But I strongly join many Nigerians who feel that

Ejike Uzoenyi should be given a chance to be in the World Cup team to Brazil. His game is good enough for Brazil. He is petite but Messi and some other good players are also small in size. I’m not in any way comparing them but Ejike has shown the skill and determination to go to the World Cup and Keshi should give him a chance. My prayer is for Ejike to sign a good contract in Europe and go there to develop his game more. I think that he will.”

Ejike scored two goals against South Africa and his equaliser two minutes to full time against Morocco was classic. Nigeria went on to win the match in a most dramatic way that Nigerians are still celebrating. They face Ghana, the current WAFU Cup champions in a semifinal match tomorrow.

2014 NOGIG: Chevron crush NCDMB 4-0, Total survive

I

T was a dream start to the 2014 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games for Team Chevron as it walloped Team NCDMB 4-0 at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere yesterday.

It was a result that gave the Coach John Kekeke tutored side a pole position in Group B and sent a clear signal to their rivals that they are in for serious business in the games.

Defending champion, Total held their own as they drew 2-2 with hard-fighting NAOC in a thrilling encounter that served as the opener of the football event that began yesterday.

Today ’s matches will see AGIP engage

NLNG in the first match of the day. The lunch time fixture will see NCDMB take on Shell while ExxonMobil and OANDO play the last match of the day in the evening.

Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 2014 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games, Louis Ogbuifo told reporters yesterday that from what he has seen of the football event so far, this edition of the games would be the best ever since the commencement of the biennial games. “We are ready to stage the best games ever,” he said, assuring that his committee will do everything possible to surpass whatever heights the games had attained in the past.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014

Nigeria top seed for 2015 AFCON qualifiers

C

HAMPIONS Ni geria will be the top seed for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, according to CAF. Their top ranking was

summed up based on a points system from recent AFCONs, the 2013 AFCON as well as their performance in the qualifying tournament for Continues on Page 53

Clubs scramble for Uzoenyi’s signature •Winning CHAN is my priority — Uzoenyi Aiyegbeni moves to Qatar F P

BRIDE — Ejike Uzoenyi

ETITE Super Eagles striker, Ejike Uzoenyi has rebuffed advances from South African Premier Soccer League clubs because he would not want anything to distract him from his primary assignment here in South Africa - winning the African Nations Continues on Page 53

ORMER Super Ea gles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has moved from Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou R&F and

joined Qatar side Al Rayyan on an 18-monthdeal.

The striker confirmed the move on the Qatari Continues on Page 53

Ghana not worried about goal drought

G

•Keshi

HANA boss Max well Konadu only cares about advancing in the Chan, and not about

a low goal count.

The gaffer insists that

Continues on Page 53

Eagles arrive Bloemfontein, ready for Ghana — Pg 53 QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Wicked (3) 6 Dash (4) 8 Rotated (6) 9 Edit (6) 10 Animal (3) 12 Under (5) 14 Admission (5) 15 Lasso (5) 18 Guard (6) 20 Threadbare (6) 24 Old-fashioned (5) 26 Mar (5) 28 Drab (5) 30 Morass (3) 32 Elude (6) 33 Rebel (6) 34 Border (4) 35 Bath (3) 36 Sea-eagle (4)

DOWN 2 Dwelling (5) 3 Forgive (7) 4 Corpse (4) 5 Swarthy (4) 6 Couch (5) 7 Reticence (7) 11 Donkey (3) 12 Tender (3) 13 Gained (3) 16 Unusual (3) 17 Newt (3) 19 Uncovered (7) 21 Colour (3) 22 Fatty (7) 23 Parched (3) 25 Fuss (3) 27 Silly (5) 29 Verdant (5) 30 Defeat (4) 31 Clutch (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Grope 7, Cobra 8, Limit 10, Enter 12, Van 13, Duvet 15, Resided 17, Reader 19, Cad 20, Decoded 23, Pair 25, Dial 26, Devoted 30, Fil 31, Recede 34, Depress 37, Lorry 38, Pea 39, Eager 40, Mania 41, Table 42, Revel.

DOWN: 1, Rogue 2, Greed 3, Ranted 4, Peer 5, Divided 6, Miner 9, Mad 11, Recover 13, Drape 14, Vapid 16, Sad 18, Remorse 21, Diner 22, Alley 24, Refrain 27, Vie 28, Delete 29, Repay 32, Coral 33, Droll 35, Pen 36, Safe.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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