AFTER BORNO, YOBE MASSACRE: B-Haram strikes in Adamawa, kills 14

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62090

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

WORLD LEADERS FOR NIGERIA @ 100

CENTENARY—President Goodluck Jonathan (5th right) flanked on his right by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and left by President Francois Hollande of France, and from left, General Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Omar Bashir of Sudan, and President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia among other world leaders during the Conference on Human Security, Peace and Development organised to mark the Nigerian Centenary celebrations at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. State House Photo.

AFTER BORNO, YOBE MASSACRE:

Heads of state present SOME of the Heads of state present at the Centenary celebration in Abuja, yesterday, include President Francois Hollande of France; President Joyce Banda of Malawi and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.

Others are Presidents Yahya Jammeh of Gambia; President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone; Idris Deby of Chad; Kenyan VicePresident William Ruto; President Boubacar Keita of Mali; Representative of British Minister, Mark Simmonds; Benin President, Boni Yayi; Blaise Campoare of Burkina Faso; Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania; M o h a m m a d o u Issoufou of Rwanda; Macky Sall of Senegal; Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini of Swaziland and Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AmissahArthur of Ghana and Prime Minister H a i l e m a r i a m Desalegne of Ethiopia

B-Haram strikes in Adamawa, kills 14

BY TAYE OBATERU, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, UMAR YUSUF, VICTORIA OJEME & NDAHI MARAMA

•Burns police station, banks, shopping mall WITH the •We'll flush out the insurgents soon— DHQTRS YOLA— nation yet to recovfrom the shock aris•Denies withdrawal of troops before Yobe attack ering from the massacre of about 58 students of Federal Government Col•Six Boko Haram members killed in Adamawa lege, Bunu Yadi, Yobe

Fawehinmi, Fela families, Soyinka reject centenary 10 awards

YOBE KILLINGS:

Police disperse protesting youths in Abuja 8

NJC sacks two judges, warns three others 8

State and abduction of 16 female students by Boko Haram insurgents last Tuesday, the sect, yesterday, moved to Adamawa where it attacked two local government council areas which

COLUMNIST:

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share common borders with Borno State, killing 14 persons. They also torched three branches of new generation banks Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

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C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON moured Brigade, Yola, Captain Nuhu Jafa’aru confirmed the attacks, but declined to give casualty figures.

Also, chairman of Madagali Local Government Council, Mr. Illarama Maina and the member representing Michika in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Adamu Kamale confirmed the attack.

Meanwhile, residents of the two local governments have deserted their homes and are now taking refuge in nearby military bases or police stations.

IGBO AGENDA—From right: Prof. Ben Nwabueze, the co-ordinator; Elliot Ukoh and Senator Anyim Ude during the presentation of Igbo Agenda on the National Conference By Igbo Leaders of Thought in Enugu, yesterday.

B-Haram strikes in Adamawa, kills 14 Continues from page 1 before setting several other shops ablaze. The branches of the new generation banks, houses and shops destroyed were located along the major Maiduguri-Gombe-Adamawa federal highway.

Also, in Plateau State, two members of a family were killed and about 50 houses burnt in fresh attacks on villages in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.

The two were killed at Diniyam-Rim of Riyom Local Government while

another raid was launched on Rakok and Razat in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area even as several of the houses in the villages which were torched by the attackers were largely uninhabited as a result of previous attacks.

This came as the Army High Command redeployed the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Major General Unsaid Bindawa, to the Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, Minna, as Commandant, while the former Commandant of TRADOC, Major-General

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Looking at a challenge with fresh eyes can make a huge difference to the success of your solution, take time out of your challenge.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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OUR encouraging word, given today, may for ever change a receptive life. I wonder who needs to hear it — Steve Goodier

At book signing, people waited in line for a guest author to autograph a copy of his latest novel. An encouraging, elderly woman at the front of the line turned around and said with obvious enthusiasm, “I just have to say – this is the BEST book I’ve ever read. Why, I couldn’t put it down until the very last page.”

Before anyone could respond, the author glanced up and said, “All right, Mother, that’s enough!” Although a mother’s praise is a bit on the biased side.

Besides, if we’re looking for more warm vibes and verbal support, we certainly can’t take our mothers with us wherever we go. That said, there is tremendous power in words of encouragement. Power to change lives. A young Polish boy wanted to play piano, but his teacher told him that his fingers were too stubby and that he would never play well. The boy was advised to try the cornet, but was later told by an expert musician that he did not have the lip to ever be good. Discouraging words.

Then, one day, he met the great pianist Anton Rubinstein. The famous musician gave this young boy the first bit of musical encouragement he ever received. “Young man,” Rubinstein said, “you might be able to play the piano. In fact, I think you can...if you will practice seven hours a day.”

He did practice for many hours every day and his hard work was r ewarded. Years later, Jan Paderewski became one of the most famous pianists of his time.

Mohammed Abdulkadir is now the new GOC of the 7 Division.

Vanguard sources said that three villages in Madagali, including Shuwa, Kubla and Kircinga were completely overrun during the attack in which 11 persons were reported killed. A junior seminary belonging to the Catholic Church in Shuwa, the Bishop’s House and the residence of a former commissioner, Hamisu Maidugu, were all said to have been burnt by the attackers.

In Michika Local Government, where three people were reported killed, the Divisional Police Station, an old generation bank and a shopping mall were all destroyed and ransacked.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the attackers invaded the town at about 9:30pm and unleashed terror on the people for over four hours.

The sources said that, “the gunmen who were many drove in Toyota Hilux vehicles fitted with Rocket Propelled Launchers, RPL, and improvised explosive devices, IED’s, invaded Michika town at about 4am, yesterday and wreaked havoc on innocent civilians.

“While the gunmen were unleashing terror in Michika council area, another group of terrorists also invaded Shuwa village at about 4:45 am and set many houses ablaze before they fled without being caught.

“Also destroyed in the coordinated attacks in Michika and Shuwa villages were several commercial and private vehicles and motorcycles parked along major streets,” the source said.

The Army Public Relations Officer, 23 Ar-

The Plateau attack

In a related development, the interim chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Governemnt in Plateau State, Mr. Habila during a phone interview said the unknown gunmen stormed the villages in the early hours of yesterday, destroying whatever they found.

They also reportedly set harvested crops and other valuables on fire, according to eye witnesses.

Similarly, the member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Dem confirmed the killings, saying the two family members were sleeping in an isolated house when they were killed by the attackers, while two other family members were injured.

Troops kill six Boko Haram terrorists in Michika

Meanwhile, military authorities, yesterday, in Abuja promised a total elimination of the group in no distant time even as the Defence Headquarters claimed the troops had killed six Boko Haram terrorists in Michika, captured two others and destroyed nine of their vehicles.

Addressing the media on the intensified campaign to stop the Boko Haram attacks and killings, Director of Defence Information, MajorGeneral Chris Olukolade noted that the new approach marks another phase in the operations designed to further contain the terrorists and their activities.

“The specialized campaign which has commenced is being undertaken simultaneously in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. This operation is also in furtherance of efforts at apprehending the terrorists and ensuring that they do not escape out of Nigeria as they are now so desperate to do so,” Olu-

kolade said.

He continued: “The Defence Headquarters acknowledges with grave concern, the recent mindless killings of innocent school children and other citizens in towns and villages following terrorists activities in some parts of the North-East.

“The dastardly act has expectedly attracted the reaction of well meaning individuals who have been condemning the senseless bloodletting.

Disturbing as this trend proves, the fact remains that the chilly episode is simply typical of terrorists intention to intimidate the people into subscribing to their false claim of invincibility.

“This distressing situation notwithstanding, it must be pointed out that the current activities of the terrorist group are actually at best, a reaction to the renewed offensive against the terror outfit whose operatives had infiltrated the country to support their hitherto depleted membership and counterparts in their daring acts to relevance by embarking on renewed attacks on soft targets.

“Unfortunately, the terrorists have in the course of their flight towards various borders, continued to perpetrate mayhem as noticed in some parts of Adamawa State yesterday night, where they attacked communities.

Yobe attack: Troops not withdrawn On disclosure by aides of the Yobe state government that troops stationed at a checkpoint near the Federal Government College, were withdrawn 24 hours before the terrorists attacked the school, General Olukolade said the allegation was not correct.

“It is wrong to say our troops withdrew 24 hours to the attack. Our troops there are on mobile patrols in that vicinity because we can’t be at every location. In fact, the closest checkpoint we have to that school is seven kilometres away.

Troops are being moved around at random as a result of the security situation. Troops are not static. Troops that were moved from a particular location to another are to carry out other assignments. Also, it will be unrealistic for troops to be stationed everywhere. The situation there now is that everyone wants troops to be stationed at their house.”

Responding to a question as to how the terrorists moved all the way to the school without being caught and why the killings took place without security moving in, Olukolade recalled that during the attack at the College of Agriculture, the governor requested that GSM services be restored which was done under 24 hours.

“This time, they cut off all the telephone masts around the area and most of the killings were carried out through slaughtering so as not to attract noise because they know that gunshot sounds would have attracted some response.

They only started burning and shooting on their way out following the screaming of students and teachers of the school.”

EU condemns killings The European Union has also condemned the Yobe massacre. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton in a statement said: “I strongly condemn the horrific killing of 59 school children in Bunu Yadi in the North East of Nigeria, the latest in a series of brutal attacks by terrorists on innocent civilians.

“Those responsible for this and other attacks must be brought to justice and held responsible for their acts.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and the families. The EU stands firmly with Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and is ready to provide technical support to the Office of the National Security Adviser.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Police recover 2-month-old stolen baby in Kaduna

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ADUNA — KADUNA State Police Command has said it had recovered a two-month-old baby, Sulaiman Adamu, stolen from his mother.

Its Public Relations Officer, Aminu Lawan, disclosed this in Kaduna.

Lawan said the mother of the baby, Marwa Adamu, had earlier reported the case at the Police Divisional Headquarters in Rigachukwu on January 31.

He said the mother had complained that a woman, Hassana Mohammed, had run away with the child from Maraban Jos, in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

Lawan said the child was recovered on February16, when the woman who took away the baby called her friends on phone, who immediately alerted the police.

The police spokesperson said the woman was encouraged to return and on arrival in Maraban Jos, was arrested for child theft, adding that she would soon be prosecuted.

Narrating the incident, the mother of the baby, Marwa Adamu (28), said the suspect had run away with the child on January 31, after she had finished plaiting her hair.

According to Adamu, Mohammed took the child on the pretext that she was going to call one of her friends to also get her hair plaited.

Adamu said she had to report at the police station when the suspect refused to return the baby few hours later.

Illegal petrol sellers with their cans at a petrol station in Bauchi.

(INSET):Petrol hawkers on Aba Road, as scarcity hits Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTOS: NAN.

Man dies in romp with commercial sex worker in Aba ...had N200,000 cash on him A

BA — A man, identi fied as Ogadinma Chukwu, has lost his life while having sex with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St. Michael's Road, Aba, Abia State.

Sources said the deceased, whom they alleged to be a regular visitor to the brothel, died while romping the prostitute.

It was gathered that immediately Chukwu slumped and died, the prostitute contacted her colleagues and the manager of the brothel who moved his corpse to a sanitary lane at the back of the brothel.

As a result of the development, shop owners around the area quickly closed business for fear of police arrest.

Those who spoke anonymously to our reporter disclosed that some staff of the brothel at about 5 p.m. brought out the corpse through their back door,

dropped it at the sanitary lane and disappeared.

When our correspondent visited the area, the brothel was deserted as people were gathering at the adjoining St. Michael's Road by York Street junction and Hospital Road.

A cross section of sympathisers said the deceased might have died of a cardiac arrest or exhaustion as white foam gushed out of his mouth.

Policemen from the Aba Cen-

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ARRI — OKPARA Water-Side community in Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State has protested an alleged encroachment and unlawful sales of land belonging to Okpara Mixed Secondary School, Okpara Water-Side, by land racketeers.

In a petition addressed to the Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Delta State, signed by the chairman of Okpara Water-Side Development Forum, Mr. Wellington Onoghwepe and two others, the community said the school's

land, measuring about 700ft by 350ft as at 1980, has been reduced to 350ft by 350ft by land speculators.

The people lamented that at the moment, there was no space to build a block of four classrooms awarded to the community by the ministry through the Hon. Joseph Oshevire constituency project office and the contractor for the project was contemplating erecting the structure on the football field.

According to them, "At present, he (contractor) is contemplating on building the four-classroom block on the

that the deceased and some other members of the group still use their old identity cards.

Abia Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna, could not be reached for comments at press time, but a senior police officer said the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary.

He said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of the man's death.

Toddler smashed to death during free-for-all in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE— DETECTIVES in Ondo State have arrested a middle-aged man, Ayelehin Kehinde, for allegedly causing the death of a two-yearold toddler in Supare, Akoko area of the state during a freefor-all.

Delta community protests illegal sales of school land

BY EMMA AMAIZE

tral Police Station, who conducted a search at the scene, recovered an ATM card, a cheque book, cash of over N200,000 and a Man O' War Association of Nigeria identity card, bearing the name, Ogadinma Chukwu.

Contacted, the Commander, Man O' War Association, Aba, Uche Egbuziem, identified Ogadinma Chukwu as a former member of the association, stressing

football field, which is unacceptable to us as that is the only football field that is left for the students for football and other sports.

"Peradventure, if the four-classroom block is built on the football field, the implications are as follows: There will be no space in the school premises for physical activities such as football and relay race; it will promote further encroachment on the school land; it will reduce the pace of development on the school, as the only space reserved for development has been sold by some persons in Okpara Water-Side community."

The suspect, who is now in police custody, reportedly pulled the baby boy, who was sleeping, from the back of her mother and smashed him on the concrete floor.

Vanguard gathered that the mother of the deceased boy was accused by the suspect of giving out information about him to police detectives who recently raided his house.

It was learnt that some detectives stormed the area recently asking questions concerning complaints from some leaders in the area over the activities of some people with questionable character.

Vanguard lear nt that someone may have leaked the information to the suspect that his name was mentioned to the detectives who visited the area.

Irked by this information, the suspect was said to have stormed the woman's resi-

dence and accused her of giving false information about him to the police.

An argument reportedly ensued which later degenerated to a free-for-all and in annoyance, the suspect was said to have pulled the baby backed by her mother and hit him on the concrete floor.

The baby’s head was reportedly smashed with blood gushing out from the nose, ears and mouth.

The suspect was said to have attempted to flee but was overpowered by the neighbours who took him to the police station where he was detained.

Neighbours, however, rushed the baby to the hospital but he reportedly died on the way and was confirmed dead in the hospital.

Contacted, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect described the incident as “cruel.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 —7

Gunmen abduct PDP chairman, 2 others in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT — CHAIRMAN of Port Harcourt Local Government Area chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Chinyere Igwe, and two other chieftains of the party in the state were kidnapped by unknown gunmen, Wednesday

evening.

State Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah, who spoke yesterday on the development said they were abducted at Eagle Highland area of Port Harcourt by heavily armed men.

The other members of the party kidnapped alongside chairman of Port Harcourt local government chapter were a former member of

the House of Representatives, Hon Chinyere Igwe and Mr Alwell Ihunda.

Obuah, who said the abduction was politically motivated, wondered why only members of his party were abducted while they were in the midst of others that evening.

While calling for the immediate release of the hostages,

Obuah said the party would not hesitate to mobilise its members to stage what he termed the mother of all protest to ensure their release.

He further warned security agencies in the state to be alive to their duties, urging that they should shun temptations to oppress and victimize members of the PDP.

Gbaramatu women protest, demand release of arrested leaders

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ARRI — HUN DREDS of women from various communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest, condemning the unlawful arrest and detention of Chief Mosco Johnny, Chief Michael Johnny and eight other leaders from Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The women led by Mrs. Grace Mosco Johnny, in their numbers stormed the Delta Broadcasting Station, Edjeba, along NPA expressway, where they insisted that all the allegations that Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo levelled against Chief Mosco Johnny, Chief Michael Johnny and eight others before the Police Area Command, Warri, were nothing but lies.

Some of the placards which they displayed read: “Tompolo cannot enslave our husbands”, "Tompolo leave our husbands alone, they are innocent”, “No to slavery and oppression by Tompolo in Gbaramatu”, “Our husbands are innocent of all the allegations”, “Tompolo release our husbands.”

The women were also accompanied in the protest by the wives of Chief Michael Johnny and eight others being remanded at the Okere prison.

Priests of Anglican Communion, Enugu protesting over the face-off between Enugu State government and the church on schools ownership in Enugu, yesterday, PHOTO: NAN.

Police nab 71-year-old man over N1.6m fraud ...uses First Lady's empowerment programme to defraud

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA —MEN of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a 71-year-old man involved in duping women under the guise of empowering them through the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan's empowerment programme.

The suspect was arrested with another member of the syndicate while his wife, who is said to be a key player in the scam, is said to be on the run.

Parading the suspects at the premises of the Police 'A' Divison, Asaba before newsmen, yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Celestina Kalu, said

that: "The run-away wife of the 71-year-old man (names withheld) posed as the Coordinator of an NGO (non-governmental organisation) known as Women Relief and Restoration Initiative in charge of Anambra and Delta states through which the scam was perpetrated.

One killed, scores injured as Customs, youths clash over rice

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — PANDE MONIUM broke out yesterday in Ikoko-Ilashe community along the Idiroko border in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State when some Customs officials shot one dead and injured many others along the Idiroko border.

Vanguard gathered that the violence erupted when some youths from three communities of Koko, Alaari and Ilashe resisted men of Customs in the state from evacuating over 900 bags of rice already stockpiled

in a warehouse at Koko village.

An eye witness told Vanguard that the Customs officials started shooting at the youths which hit the youth leader identified simply as Timothy while many, including women and children, were allegedly injured.

Vanguard’s findings showed that a lot of people in the border areas, including school children, have been attacked by Customs men while chasing suspected smugglers.

It was gathered that the lat-

Be our eyes Are you an eye-witness to an accident, robbery, fire outbreak, kidnap, building collapse, etc? Share it with Vanguard readers. Send pix, text or e-mail to The News Editor on 08023145558, or kayodematthew@yahoo.com

est development started late Wednesday afternoon when scores of youths from the three communities blocked all access routes to Koko village where the warehouse was located.

According to the findings, the youths made bonfires to prevent the Customs officers from taking their wares which they claimed passed through legal routes.

Some of the officers allegedly pulled the trigger and fired the shot which killed Timothy while scores allegedly sustained various degrees of injury.

Contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Chike Ngige, confirmed the incident, saying the deceased was shot when he attempted to snatch the gun from one of the officers who fired the shot."

Landlord's son defiles tenant's 6-yr-old daughter

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — A 26-yearold son of a landlord has defiled a six-year-old daughter of his fathers tenant in Okitipupa area of Ondo State.

The suspect who attends a government technical college simply identified as Dele reportedly committed the offence at about 9 pm after luring the innocent girl to the back of the house with biscuit.

Vanguard gathered that the suspect's father’s apartment is located at 24 Oyesanmi Street, Okitipupa.

Narrating his ordeal, the father of the victim, Jacob Esikpo, said his wife sent the girl an errand when the suspect lured her to the back of the house.

After about 30 minutes the father of the victim said her mother discovered that the girl was walking strangely.

She was said to have initially ignored it but on a second thought asked the girl what happened to her.

The girl reportedly split the milk by confessing that the suspect took her to the back of the house and defiled her.

The mother was said to have raised alarm and when the suspect was confronted he denied the allegation.

But while the girl’s private part was inspected by the parents of the victim and other neighbours, it was discovered that the girl had been defiled.

Her private part was said not only to have swollen but also has blood stains.

The suspect was thereafter apprehended and handed over to the Police.

Vanguard gathered that the suspect has reportedly defiled two other minors in the neighbourhood in recent time.

The father of the victim said that her daughter is on admission at a private hospital in Okitipupa.

He pleaded with the police to prosecute the suspect, adding that he was not ready to settle the matter out of court.

The Police authorities in the state said the suspect would be taken to court after investigation.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT:

NJC sacks 2 judges, warns 3 others

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE National Ju dicial Council, NJC, yesterday, said it has found two high court justices guilty of judicial misconduct, even as it okayed their compulsory retirement from office.

The Council, which disclosed that the decision was taken at the end of a meeting it held in Abuja, Wednesday, insisted that Justices G.K. Olotu of the Federal High Court and Justice U. A. Inyang of High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, should forthwith vacate their various offices.

Consequently, NJC, in a letter it wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan, pleaded that the two justices should not be allowed to adjudicate in any court in the country, stressing that pursuant to its findings, they ought not to sit on the Bench.

Their sack, according to a statement signed by the acting Director of Information at the NJC, Mr Soji Oye, was based on the outcome of petitions written against them. NJC maintained that Justice Olotu, breached the laid down judicial procedure by delivering a judgment in a case with Suit No. FHC/UY/250/2003, eighteen months after the final address by all the counsel in the suit, contrary to the constitutional provisions that judgment should be delivered within a period of 90 days.

The statement said, “The Hon. Judge admitted before the Fact Finding Committee of the Coun-

cil that investigated the allegations that she forgot she had a pending ruling to deliver in an application for Joinder, and the Judge entertained a post Judgment matter in Suit No. FHC/UY/ CS/250/2003 in Port Harcourt after delivering Judgment, which made her functus-officio. That in another case: Suit No. FHC/ABJ/ CS/505/2012, Hon. Justice Olotu failed to deliver judgment twice.”

It further maintained that Justice Inyang, was also recommended for compulsory retirement from office owing to findings of the Council that “the judge included in his judgment, references to the Garnishee Proceedings, which came after the Judgment had been delivered on December 20, 2011.

Garnishee proceedings “That His Lordship also included the name of the counsel to Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, SAN, who came into the matter after the judgment of December 20, 2011 was delivered.

“That the Judge recklessly signed a Writ of Execution, a day after delivering his judgment of 20th December, 2011, the same day a Notice of Appeal and Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution were filed. That the Judge continued with the Garnishee Proceedings despite application for Stay of Execution; and that before delivering his Judgment of 20th December, 2011, Hon.

PROTEST: Youths protesting the killings of students in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, yesterday, in Abuja . Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Justice Inyang ignored a properly filed Motion on Notice for leave to file additional witness Statement on Oath.”

Meantime, the NJC, yesterday, said it has in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution as amended, suspended the two judges from office with immediate effect. The Council equally issued warning letters to the Presiding Justice of Court of Appeal Kaduna Division, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, Justice A. A. Adeleye of High Court of Justice, Ekiti State and Justice D. O. Amaechina of High Court of Justice, Anambra State, respectively.

Justice Adamu, was specifically reprimanded after it was found that he deliberately absented himself from duty, an action the NJC said amounted to gross misconduct contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and the Code of Conduct of Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Yobe killings: Police disperse youths protest in Abuja

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

RMED policemen in Abu ja, yesterday, used tear gas to disperse youths protesting the killing of school children in Yobe State. About 50 youths gathered at the Unity Fountain Park in the central area of Abuja in the morning to express their outrage over the recent killing of students by ‘Boko Haram’ in the north-east.

The youths were carrying placards and singing solidarity songs in what was as yet a peaceful demonstration when the police descended on them. The police confronted the youths and while beating some of the protesters, used tear gas and riot dispersal techniques to chase them out of Unity Fountain, adjacent the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

One of the protesters, Godswill Okoronkwo, said the protesters

Benin govt sponsoring smuggling into Nigeria — CANMPEL

BY OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

C

HEMICAL and Non metallic Em ployers Federation of Nigeria has accused the government and people of Benin Republic of deliberately sabotaging the Nigerian economy through state sponsored smuggling. Making the accusation, yesterday, the President of the federation, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, who is the Managing Director of Dangote Cement said that industries in the country were folding up not because of power and infrastructural challenges but because Benin Republic was sponsoring smuggling of low quality products that are cheaper than locally produced goods into Nigeria.

Edwin said industry membership of his federation that stood at 145 has dwindled to 92 with a total loss of 270, 000 jobs in the last few years, adding that more companies were at the verge of folding up. He urged the fedral government to shut the border to check the menace of state sponsored smuggling into the country.

Edwin declared “We made a detailed study on why this is going on and we realised that Benin Republic is acting as an official sponsor of smuggling. The Dangote group has been in the business since 1992 and

we have seen how the government of Benin encouraged smuggling by keeping a loyal group of smugglers so that they can generate revenue from the group and the group was coming into Cotonou and then crossing the border into Nigeria.

“What we had done before now was to manage the situation as much as we can but today what we have seen is a state sponsored smuggling. What we have realized is that at the top level in the government of Benin Republic, there are people who have significant interest in smuggling.

Interest in smuggling So, now it’s not just about people trying to take advantage of situations and loopholes, it is state sponsored. So they are ensuring that most of the goods coming into their markets are then smuggled across the border. The comptroller general of Customs has been trying to do his best but he has limited men and resources available.

“We see the Nigerian government trying to help industries and the ministry as well and the CG is trying to curtail the smuggling going on but once it’s a state sponsored, it’s difficult to manage. Take rice for

instance, if you take the data from customs and you see the data of rice shipment from Cotonou, 2.2million tonnes of parboiled rice is shipped into Cotonou and all of us know that nobody in Cotonou uses parboiled rice.

Parboiled rice is used in Nigeria. So why would the government of Benin allow 2.2million tonnes of rice into their market when they know they do not need it? So you can understand that it is being sponsored by top people in the government. So if the state is sponsoring smuggling it will be impossible for customs to control smuggling as much as they are trying today.

“We realised that one of the biggest problems affecting existing operators in this industry is the smuggling of goods across the border to the country. Everybody knows that this is what affected textiles. Something like textile coming from China, India and Pakistan destroyed the textile industry in Nigeria. Before then, we also had the challenges of power, poor road infrastructure, and high financial risks. I remember in 1992 when we are doing restructuring of the Nigeria industrial needs, I was borrowing as high as 62 per cent, we were surviving and managing very well but when the smuggling started coming in they just destroyed the business."

came together through social media sites like facebook, twitter and Black Berry Chat. He said they were all outraged with the gruesome killing of innocent school children in Yobe State and decided to come together and demonstrate.

Okoronkwo who is a young IT professional appeared confused that the Police will stop the peaceful protest. He said, “all we wanted to do is show the relevant authorities that we are fed up with the senseless killings in the northeastern part of the country.”

Another protester, Ike Amadi, said the idea behind the protest was to show concern and solidarity with the families of the victims.

NNPC raises alarm over campaign of calumny

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HE MANAGEMENT of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has raised the red flag over what it describes as an orchestrated campaign of calumny designed to tarnish the reputation of the corporation by some unscrupulous people.

In a statement by Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, NNPC cited what it argued was “the deliberate misrepresentation” of the presentation made by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, before the Joint House Committee probing the Berne Declaration Report as an example of the well-choreographed negative campaign against the corporation.

“Some of the reports had sensational headlines alleging that NEITI had uncovered fresh unremitted $22.8 billion oil revenue by the NNPC. "However the bodies of the stories were totally different from the headlines in terms of message and content," the corporation said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 9

BY BEN AGANDE & VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, challenged African leaders to come together to fight the menace of terrorism in the continent, noting that terrorism is undermining the development of the continent.

President Jonathan's remarks came on the day the French President, Francois Hollande and the British Prime Minister; David Cameron assured Nigeria and indeed Africa of their support in the fight against terrorism on the continent.

President Jonathan, who spoke at the International Conference on “Human security, Peace and Development: Agenda for 21st Century Africa, organised as part of the Centenary celebration, to mark the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria, said no expenses would be spared by Nigeria to ensure that those who murdered innocent students at a Federal Government College in Yobe State are brought to justice.

He said: "We must emphasize that human security and peace are intertwined. Peace is not just the absence of violence or war.

Peace encompasses every aspect of social tranquillity and well-being. The peace we strive for is a state marked by the absence of severe human want and avoidable fear. In our lifetime, this peace is attainable in our nations and our continent.

"The current state of human security, peace and development in our dear continent presents a picture of hope as well as challenges. For over a decade, Africa has consolidated on its democracy and many countries have exited military dictatorship. There is now a heightened commitment to the tenets of good governance and the rule of law.

"Nigeria has always sought security, peace and development.

We are steadily developing a strong and vibrant democracy.

There is enthusiastic participation across the nation, with a purposeful government and active opposition parties. This was clearly expressed in the last national elections held in 2011, which received wide national and international acclaim, and was adjudged the freest and fairest ever in our nation's history.

Terrorism must be condemned

"Terrorism, which is a global menace, has extended its tentacles to Africa and Nigeria. In concert with our regional and global partners, we will continue to respond strategically and decisively to this scourge, and together with our people we shall end the killings and bring terrorism to an end.

"Terrorism must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

We all must work together, collectively, to rid our world of haters of peace, who use terror to maim, kill, instil fear and deny

From left: Divisional Head, Corporate Banking of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ola Olabinjo; Managing Director of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti and Managing Director of Emadeb Energy Services Limited, Mr. Adebowale Olujimi, at the commissioning of the oil depot of the company, yesterday. The project was funded by FCMB. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Yobe massacre: We'll spare no resources to bring perpetrators to book —Jonathan ...says African leaders must come together against terror ...as world leaders pledge support people their rights to peace and security.

"The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is one of such condemnable acts of terror. We have continued to deploy human and military intelligence, in close collaboration with our partners, to bring an end to their nefarious activities.

"The enemies of the state today in Africa are always faceless, driven by religious extremism, ethnic mistrust and rivalries and propaganda of hate. Their nefarious actions are not limited to any single country and no one is immune. Therefore, as leaders, we also must change our approach and work more closely together to confront and defeat terrorists and conveyors of hate. Terrorism does not respect borders or boundaries.

Terrorism does not respect borders

"I always say that our new security architecture must recognise the fact that the terrorists are trans-border criminals that do not respect our boundaries and our borders. Our law enforcement agencies have to respect our international boundaries; there won’t be compromise on this if we effectively root out trans-border crime.

"While we respect international boundaries, terrorists move in and out of our borders. It is now time that we agree as African leaders that acts of terror against one nation is an act of terror against all nations. We must not allow our countries to be safe avenues for terrorists, we must operate maximally in better managing our political boundaries; we should adopt protocol that allows countries to pursue terrorists well into their safe havens in other nations. While we cannot rede-

fine our borders, we must redefine our collective approach to ending trans-boundary terrorism and insurgencies."

African leaders must come together to fight terrorism

While noting that the African continent has witnessed its fair share of wars, President Jonathan said it was time for African leaders to come together to stamp out wars and especially treat the root cause of such conflicts.

He noted: "And the cost of wars and insurgencies are too high. It has been estimated that Africa loses $18 billion per year from wars as well as insurgencies.

Wars, insurgencies and conflicts impact neighbouring countries even more due to displacement of refugees, illegal trafficking of arms and disruption of economic activities.

"When there are wars or conflicts, we all lose. When there is peace, we all win. We must deepen our resolve to regulate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, strengthen our enforcement of the regional protocols, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Related Materials; and the Nairobi Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.

Britain, France pledges support against B/Haram

In his remarks, the French president, Francois Hollande, promised to support Nigeria in her fight against terrorism, while condemning the recent attack by the Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe

State.

According to Hollande, "we will always stand ready not only to provide our political support but our help every time you need it because the struggle against terrorism is also the struggle for democracy. Your struggle is also our struggle."

In his statement, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who was represented by Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said the British government was ready to deepen its unique relationship with Nigeria by extending support to all areas.

He noted that Nigeria stands in a very good position to lead other African nations to a path of greatness if it is able to get its acts right.

We'll stand by Nigeria against Boko Haram —World leaders

World leaders, yesterday, made unified statement to stand by Nigeria and help defeat the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

In a communiqué read by Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshida, at the end of the Centenary Conference, in Abuja, the leaders strongly condemned the acts of terror and reassured that they would work collectively to end the Boko Haram terrorist activities.

Specifically, they agreed on intelligence sharing and checking the proliferation of small arms among not only the neigbhouring countries in West Africa but across the globe to end the violence which has claimed several thousands of innocent lives in the country and now affecting its neighbours.

“In this connection, in addition to calling for greater cooperation in intelligence gathering and sharing, African leaders have resolved to stem the proliferation of

small arms and light weapons which aid terrorism and other transnationally transmitted organised crimes,” the statement said.

It was also agreed that Africa and the international community should act in concert to reduce the drivers of illicit trade and transfer of small arms and light weapons.

Similarly, the world leaders pledged to step up good governance and the cost of elections to deliver the full dividends of democracy to their people.

Jammeh urges Nigeria to reconcile differences peacefully

The Gambian President, Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, who received a standing ovation for his remarks on the state of insecurity in the country, appealed to all Nigerians to reconcile their differences peacefully and maintain Nigeria as a strong and unified power house of black Africa.

His words: “There is no country in the world that is comprised of one region, one religion and one ethnic group. The beauty of Nigeria and any country for that matter lies in her cultural, religious and regional and diversity.

"Our diversity should be a source of strength, unity and pride and not division, weakness and violence.

“The people of The Gambia, and Black Africa in general look up to all Nigerians to maintain and strengthen the unity, peace and prosperity of Nigeria as Africa’s most populous nation and Black Africa’s power house.

"All Nigerians should understand that a divided Nigeria can only mean catastrophe for the entire black race. Please preserve the unity and peace of Nigeria and remember that Nigeria is bigger than any regional, ethnic or cultural considerations or interest.”

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Gani, Fela's families shun FG's centenary awards zAs Wole Soyinka mulls rejection L

BY JONAHNWOKPOKU

AGOS—AS the Federal Government honours 100 persons today with Centenary awards as part of Nigeria’s Centenary celebration, the families of late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti have rejected the post humous awards for both late Fawehinmi and Fela even as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka also mulls rejecting the award.

Professor Soyinka is on the list alongside the likes of Professor Chinua Achebe, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu, Nwankwo Kanu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, among others.

Soyinka speaks

But Professor Soyinka said: “I would have preferred that the entire day of infamy be ignored altogether. I’m even thinking favourably of just ignoring the obscenity, then turning up at the counter-event.”

Professor Soyinka, however, said he will endeavour, to be at the centenary awards planned in London on June 27 during which diasporans will honour 100 outstanding Nigerians in the UK. At a gala dinner due to take place at

Ife devt board eyes N500m industrial park

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VISIT: From left: Professor Muibi Opeloye, President, Ife Development Board, Chief Kola Adetunmbi, Secretary General, Ife Development Board, and Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Member of Board, and GM/Editor-in-Chief, Publications, Vanguard Newspapers, during the courtesy visit to Vanguard Newspapers' Corporate Headquarters by the Ife Development Board team, at Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Waltham Forest Town Hall in East London tagged Nigerian Centenary Awards UK, diasporans will hand out honours to 100 Nigerians who have excelled in various fields in the UK over the last 100 years.

We won't accept the award —Femi Kuti

Also, Femi Kuti, son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela

Anikulapo-Kuti, has said that the family would not accept any centenary award in his honour.

Femi who made the statement through a Twitter correspondence while stating that the family has not been officially informed about any centenary award for Fela, noted that the Federal Government should first apologise for killing his grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and burning of Kalakuta Republic.

“We have not heard such but I can speak for myself, Federal Government should first apologise for the killing of our grandmother and the burning of Kalakuta,” he wrote.

Asked if the family would accept the award if the government apologised for the two wrongs mentioned, Femi said he doubts if the family would accept the award.

“Like I said we have not heard anything from the Federal Government. But I doubt if the family will accept the award.”

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is being honoured in the ‘Internationally Acclaimed Artistes, Literary Icons and Journalists’ category.

Gani's family

Likewise, the family of the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani

Fawheinmi has turned down his nomination for a centenary posthumous award.

The family cited the nomination of the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, for the same award, the unbridled killing of students by insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country and the incessant corruption reeking across the country, including the alleged missing of $20 billion from NNPC as reasons for rejecting the nomination.

According to the letter sent to the presidency via the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, and signed by Mohammed Fawehinmi, for and on behalf of late Gani Fawehinmi family, the family said they acknowledged the receipt of the letter and commended the federal government for considering their father for the honour but cited the reasons above for turning down the offer.

The letter read in part; “We want to thank the Federal Government for considering our late father for this honour. However, for reasons stated here under, our family has decided it would be inexpedient to accept the award.

“Our late father was empathetic to the sufferings of our people, particularly students. In the last 72 hours, 43 innocent students were mowed down by the bloodthirsty Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State, while 20 other girls were similarly abducted by this same band of terrorists. These girls are still in captivity while their fate is unknown. If our late father were to be alive, would he be wining and dining with all the glitterati at a Centenary celebration under these circumstances? Certainly no.”

BY DANIELETEGHE

AGOS—PRESIDENT of the Ife Development Board, IDB, Professor Muibi Opeloye, yesterday, said that the board would build a N500 million industrial park in Ile-Ife, Osun State. This is part of efforts to turn the town into an industrial hub meant to develop the state.

According to him, the project is tied to the theme of this year ’s Ife Day celebration which is ‘Industrialisation For Youth Empowerment’ Prof. Opeloye stressed that the building of the industrial estate arose from the need to create employment for thousands of youths in the community.

When completed, he said the industrial park would attract a lot of investors who will create employment opportunities for the people of Ile-Ife. He said: “Our focus of creating an industrial park is borne out of the fact that there is unemployment in the country, our youths are roaming the streets, riding Okada and this is unfortunate. What we will be doing through establishing the industrial park, is creating an enabling environment for would be investors since we have raw materials, cassava, maize, banana, palm produce, etc.

Interested investors will come with processing plants, so we will not be investing directly but provide enabling environment for the investors.”

Also speaking, a member of the board and General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers Limited, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye said IDB was poised to help Ife indigenes, who are scattered all over the country.

According to Adefaye, the board has been able to offer scholarships to Ile-Ife indigenes, build a city hall as well as provide employment for deserving indigenes.

In his own contribution, Mr. Kola Adetunmbi, also a board member, said that the board was working in tandem with the government of the state as a link between the administration and the people.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—11

Ogun community honours Edwin Clark’s wife, others

BY DAUD OLATUNJI B E O K U TA — A community in Ogun State, Ilushin in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area has cried for help over lack of portable water for the people of the community.

Chairman, Central planning committee of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Onishin of Ilushin, Professor Segun Awonusi, stated this yesterday during a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital. He also disclosed that wife of the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Mrs. Bisola Clark, and other distinguished personalities would receive recognition awards.

While rolling out a weeklong programme of activities for the anniversary, the chairman disclosed that the celebration will hold between March 3 and 9.

Awonusi , who described the community as a selfmade town in waterside, claimed that the Ilushin community had received little or no government efforts while it was building the first community Grammar School in 1963.

A

Lions Club holds convention in Ijebu Ode

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HE 2014 convention of the Lions Club International District 404 A1, tagged Ijebu Ode 2014 will commence today at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and will end on Sunday March 2, with series of activities to assist the less privileged people in the society.

According to the chairman, planning committee, Lion Ayo Ogunyale, the Disrtict Governor, Lion Tokunbo Jegede will preside over the ceremony.

The opening ceremony holds at Equity Hotels, Cinema Hall, Ijebu Ode by 2pm, and the Cultural Nite will be hosted by Region 5.

All chapters of the club will participate in the parade on Saturday, March 1.

It will be rounded up with a banquet at Conference Hotel, same day by 7pm, as eminent personalities will be honoured at the event.

Parties oppose PDP’s call for Osun REC’s removal

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—OPPOSITION parties in Osun State are divided over the call for the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Dr. Rufus Akeju over his alleged romance with the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, in the state.

The leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had been calling for the removal of Akeju from the state, threatening not to participate in any election supervised by him.

But a section of the opposition parties under the aegis of the Alliance of Collaborating Political Parties, ACPP, described PDP allegations as scandalous and baseless.

The parties that make up the ACPP include the National Conscience Party, NCP, United Progressive Party, UPP, Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, African Democratic Congress, ADC and United Democratic Party, UDP. Others are Peoples for Democratic Change, PDC, African People Alliance, APA, Citizens Popular Party, CPP, Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP

and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP. The parties in a statement signed by their chairmen noted that the grouse the PDP allegedly had against Akeju was his refusal to be manipulated in the 2011 general elections in favour of any political party in the state.

The statement read in part; “For the sake of emphasis,

elections were conducted in this state in 2011 to the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and the office of the President, the then ACN won all the 26 seats in the House of Assembly, all the three senate seats and the nine House of Representatives with ACN Presidential candidate winning in our dear state.

“The election then was

peaceful, free and fair without any hitch. To cap it up, none of these elements crying blue murder had the temerity to approach a tribunal to challenge the result of the election.”

The parties called on INEC not to be distracted by the antics of the PDP, but rather concentrate on their sacred duty of ensuring free, fair and credible election in the state this year.

INSPECTION: From right: Speacial Adviser to Lagos State Government on Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami, Chairman Ojo Alaba International Market, Mr. Godwin Ibe, and Director, Drainage/ Flood Matters, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Dayo Erinle, during the inspection to Alaba International Market drainage channel and Alaba Rago drainage channel, at Alaba in Lagos.

US envoy commends Ogun on infrastructure devt

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BEOKUTA—THE United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has hailed the ongoing infrastructure development in Ogun state, describing it as “rapid and fantastic.”

Mr. Entwistle disclosed this yesterday in Abeokuta during his official visit to the state.

The ambassador, who was accompanied by the US Consul General, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins, expressed delight and satisfaction with the quality of infrastructure being put in place by the Amosun administration after a tour of the state capital.

He said: “What I see is fantastic, rapid development in Abeokuta. The roads, the bridges, the flyovers are very, very impressive.”

He lauded the vision and commitment of the state governor, which led to such landmark achievements in less than three years in office.

The envoy further disclosed that America had a lot of investments in Ogun, noting that one of the US biggest companies, Proctor and Gamble, would open a factory in the state in a month’s time.

He added that the US had interest in Nigeria’s next general elections and expressed the hope that they would be transparent,

credible and non-violent.

Responding, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, thanked the ambassador for the visit.

He said Ogun had consistently been adjudged the safest state in the country in the last three years and promised that his government would continue to provide enabling environment for business to thrive.

He said the international

standard roads, bridges and flyovers in the state capital were also being constructed in major towns and cities of the state.

On the next general elections, Amosun called for a levelplaying field for all contestants so that the electorate would have the opportunity to decide who to govern them.

He commended the interest of the international community towards a successful 2015

‘Working condition of federal, state lawyers deplorable’

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DO EKITI—THE Law Officers Association of Nigeria, LOAN, has decried the poor working condition of lawyers working in Federal and state ministries of Justice in the country.

This assertion was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its NEC meeting in Ado Ekiti.

The communiqué which was signed by the National president, Mr. Solomon Ibhadon; Secretary, Mr. Godwin Iheabunike and Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Moses Agwere, noted that the poor working conditions of legal officers working in the federal and

state ministries of Justice is worrisome.

According to the communiqué, a situation where the salaries and allowances of legal officers across the country do not reflect the current economic realities in the country is unacceptable, especially taking into consideration the peculiar nature of the job of the legal officers.

The communiqué also commended the Bayelsa State government for the payment of appreciable amounts as outfit/ robbing and housing allowances to legal officers in the state whilst urging the Federal and other states governments to emulate same.

elections in Nigeria.

Extends Homeowners’ Charter deadline

Meantime, after considering the requests made by residents to Governor Ibikunle Amosun during his tour of the designated centres for collection and submission of forms for the Homeowners Charter Initiative, the Ogun State government has extended the deadline till March 31.

This is to enable people benefit from the opportunity which allows property owners in the state to get Building Plan Approval and Certificate of Occupancy at discounted rate.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu said in a statement that the people now have additional one month to collect forms and submit them.

The initial deadline was February 28 and it was announced on December 16 when the scheme was launched in Abeokuta.

Olaniyonu stated that apart from being a direct response to the requests by the people, the new deadline will enable the officials in charge of the programme enough time to attend to the huge crowd witnessed at the various centres.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

DESOPADEC's rehabilitation of police barracks, Warri Club illegal —Court

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—A DELTA State High Court sitting in Warri, yesterday, held that it was illegal for Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, to spend the 13 per cent Derivation Fund on renovation of the Nigeria Police Barracks, ‘A’ Division, Warri, and provision of infrastructure at Warri Club, a private recreational entity.

Trial judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, stated this while delivering judgment in the N1 billion suit brought by plaintiffs, Itsekiri chapter of Host Communities of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, its chairman, Prince Ikenwoli Emiko and others, against DESOPADEC. Itsekiri host communities had prayed the court to declare the controversial expenditure on the police barracks and Warri Club illegal and order the commission to pay N100 million compensation to the people for damages suffered because of the misapplication of funds meant for development of their communities.

Agreeing with the claimants/ plaintiffs that the said projects

were outside the "core mandate” of the commission as stipulated by the DESOPADEC law, Section 13, 1 (a), (b), 4 and 6, passed by Delta State House of Assembly, Justice Umukoro, however, said he was hamstrung to order the payment of compensation to the claimants, as they did not prove that they suffered any damage by the action.

He disbelieved the evidence of defendant witnesses that the money spent on the police barracks and Warri Club was from a security vote and that the projects were linkage/special projects, saying the testimony was designed to hoodwink the court.

Justice Umukoro said it was not enough to allege

that Itsekiri oil communities suffered damage, as the plaintiffs should have called witnesses to substantiate the claim. “ It is not the duty of court to prove the case of any party. This court is not a Father Christmas and nowhere was it proved that they suffered damage, they only proved illegal expenditure on Police Barracks and Warri Club,” he added.

ARET ADAMS ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES: From left: Mrs. Izarene Adams, widow of the late Chief Aret Adams; Mr. Atedo Peterside, chairman of the occassion; Mr. Mac Ofure, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aret Adams Foundation and Mr. Philip Mshebila, Regional Communication Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production, during the 11th Aret Adams Annual Lecture Series, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Yobe Massacre: Parents, FGC teachers task govt on security at colleges

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE National Association of Parents and Teachers of Federal Government Colleges, NAPTAFEGC , yesterday condemned the killing of some students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State, by Boko Haram sect members and called on the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators.

In a statement by its National President, Mr Paul Erie, in Benin City, the association described the massacre of the students as senseless, wicked and inhuman, asserting that “the children killed had nothing to do with whatever issue the group was having with the Federal Government.”

While calling on the Federal Government not to relent in its resolve to end the Boko Haram menace, the association advised the government and security agencies to “beef up security in all Federal Government Colleges, particularly those vulnerable to attack.

Government must strengthen its intelligence gathering

mechanism to forestall future occurrence.”

In another development, the Executive Chairman of Edo state Universal Basic Education

Board (SUBEB), Prince Stephen Alao, has stressed the need for teachers to embrace the introduction of Anti HIV/AIDS clubs in primary schools in the state.

Stating this while flagging

Confab: Ex-NIMASA DG, others to x-ray Itsekiri challenges

BY DANIEL GUMM

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ARRI—AHEAD of the forthcoming National confab, prominent Itsekiri as like Prof.

Itse Sagay (SAN), Dr. J. O. Ireyefoju of Delta State University, DELSU and ex-Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Temisan Omatseye, will be among distinguished persons that will speak at the maiden National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, public lecture billed to hold in Warri, tomorrow.

The public lecture which will give the Itsekiri people a great opportunity to examine the intra-ethnic challenges facing them as well as carry out a surgical analysis on the state of Itsekiri nation as a minority group in Nigeria, is expected to have Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, the member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Mr. Daniel Rey-

enieju and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, among others, as special guests of honour.

A statement by NAIG National President and Secretary, Mr. Alero Tenumah and Mr. Toju Okpeyeoghan respectively, said the lecture which is being facilitated by Consultant to the Federal Government on Oil and Gas, Chief David Omaghomi, will hold at PK PUB in Warri, Delta State.

The statement added that NAIG members from within and outside the country, Itsekiri students from tertiary institutions and prominent Iwere socio-cultural groups had been mobilised to attend, while the Olu of Warri and a former boss of the defunct MAMSER Chief (Mrs.) P. E. B. Uku, will feature as father and mother of the day.

off the anti-HIV/AIDS clubs in primary schools across the state, Alao said the club would help create awareness among pupils, adding that the programme would help to develop strategies for the prevention and the spread of HIV/AIDS in primary schools.

Delta community postpones confab

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VU community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, has postponed indefinitely its biennial national delegates’ conference earlier scheduled for March 1.

A statement by the PresidentGeneral of Ovu Development Union, ODU, Mr. Joseph Ukukor, who copied Ovu Elders Council and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Isiokolo, said the postponement became necessary because of security report reaching the union’s executive.

Glo/CNN African Voices stars Nigerian playwright Bandele

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NE of Nigeria’s leading lights in the literary world, Biyi Bandele-Thomas, will be the star guest on CNN African Voices, a 30minute magazine programme sponsored by Nigerian telecommunications operator, Globacom.

The novelist and playwright will feature in the programme which runs at 8.30 a.m. on Friday, with repeat broadcasts at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, 3.30 a.m., 9:00a.m and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

There will be further repeats on Monday at 2:30a.m., 10:30a.m., and 5:30 p.m. and on Tuesday 5:30a.m.

Born in 1976, Biyi Bandele, is regarded as one of the most versatile of the UK-based Nigerian writers.

New Tejuosho market: Appeal Court frowns on pending suit at lower court

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HE battle over the ownership and control of the newly constructed Tejuosho UltraModern Market has shifted to the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, with the court frowning on the pending proceedings at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

This was sequel to the complaints of the counsel to First Bank, Kemi Balogun, who informed the court that their opponent, Access Bank, had commenced a contempt proceeding against his client at the lower court in spite of the fact that the matter was now before the appellate court.

The court inquired from Balogun as to whether the lower court was aware of the proceedings at the Appeal Court, to which he answered in the affirmative. It urged all parties to ensure that all necessary contentious applications were filed before April 15, when it will hear all the parties in the matter.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 28, 2014 —13

C M Y K

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—15

NIGERIA'S CENTENARY CELEBRATION IN ABUJA

President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving President Yahya Jameh of The Gambia, and the Power Minister, Professor Chinedu Nebo (left), during the arrival of delegates for the Conference on Human Security, Peace and Development, organised to mark the Nigerian Centenary Celebrations, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving President Ellen JohnsonSirleaf of Liberia.

President Goodluck Jonathan, welcoming President President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving Vice Pres- Ibrahim Keita of Mali. ident, Sanar da Hotuna of Rwanda.

President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving the President, European Union, Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso.

President Goodluck Jonathan receiving the President ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraog

President Goodluck Jonathan, welcoming former Interim National Government, ING, Chairman, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (2nd left), and the Head of Service to the Federation, Alhaji Goni Aji. C M Y K

President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving the Chairperson AU Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Zuma

President Goodluck Jonathan receiving President Balise Compaore of Burkina Faso

President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving President President Goodluck Jonathan, receiving former Joyce Banda of Malawi.

President Shehu Shagari.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Boko Haram: Mass protests imminent over terrorist attacks —GOV NYAKO

BY UMAR YUSUF

Y

OLA — PIQUED by the incessant attacks by insurgents in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, Governor of Adamawa, Murtala Nyako, has asked the Federal Government to take more proactive measures to stem the tide.

Nyako told newsmen in Yola, yesterday, that the Federal Government needed to do more to allay the fears of the public who have started getting tired of excuses.

He also said that people were agitated and might start coming

C M Y K

out to demonstrate their displeasure with the ways things were deteriorating in the affected areas.

According to him, the authorities needed to know who were funding the insurgency and why the steady attacks on the populace even with the state of emergency in place.

Nyako wondered why soldiers in some of the places were either a little bit late in arriving at the scene of such attacks or completely absent to the dismay of the people. ”In Yadi-Buni of Yobe State, the Army withdrew from check-point some hours before the attack, who ordered the withdrawal?

”We also have the case of General Shuwa in Maiduguri who was killed by the so-called Boko Haram. There is an Army unit there, but they did not respond during the attack, who told them not to respond?

”The Nigeria Air Force base was raided in Maiduguri. There was a military base nearby, who gave the base order not to respond during the raid on the Airforce base?” Governor Nyako

asked in anger, pointing out that it was ‘’either this thing is controlled by unknown fellows or unknown Boko Haram strategic commander in the defence system or is being stage-managed.”

Nnamani 'returns' to PDP

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU — FORMER Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, yesterday, 'returned' to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP four years after he left the

party and founded the Peoples Democratic Change, PDC, at his Agani Ward in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

However, the PDP Chairman in the local government where Nnamani hails from, Mr. Vin-

cent Nnaji, described the former governor’s claim not only a ‘’charade and laughable,’’ but ‘’a stark demonstration of desperation" on the part of Nnamani.

According to Nnaji, it was ‘’ridiculous that they gathered a handful of locals who falsely presented themselves as ward executives,’’ and presented Nnamani with a socalled membership card.

Nnamani had decamped from the PDP in 2010 and founded the PDC on which platform, he contested the 2011 senatorial election for Enugu East and lost.

However, speaking shortly after 'returning' to PDP, the former governor declared his intention to recontest the Enugu East senatorial seat on the platform of party, saying that as an Nkanu man he has volunteered himself to represent his people.

Ngene said at the ceremony that Nnamani picked the PDP membership card number 0276943 on January 4, 2014, and was thereafter duly registered by the ward executive.

But dismissing Nnamani’s reported re-entry into the PDP, the chairman of the party in Nkanu East Local Governm- ent,Mr. Nnaji, yesterday, said the party had scheduled ward meetings throughout the state today (tomorrow) and wondered why they did not wait for the meeting which would be attended by all the members in Agbani ward. ‘’One, the ward meeting is scheduled for today (Friday) all over the state. So, why did they not wait to carry out this charade on the day of the meeting? We advise our party members to ignore this absurdity because, there is a process to get back to the party, certainly not through the back door or in this crude manner. It is a shame. ’’Two, it is ridiculous that they gathered a handful of locals who now falsely presented themselves as ward executives,’’ he added.

He said: “If Nkanu people don’t have people to lead them, I have volunteered myself to run to represent the Enugu East senatorial zone in the next senate.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 28, 2014 —17

W

HEN Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, decided to publicly query the financial dealings and modus operandi of the state oil company (NNPC), my knee-jerk reaction was that he was behaving inappropriately for a government official and must have a murky hidden agenda.

I felt he should have addressed any concerns he had about NNPC to Mr President in a private setting, instead of loudly embarrassing an administration he was a leading light of (and had gained considerable benefits from).

My view is that if you dislike the manner in which an entity to which you belong is carrying on, you should resign instead of becoming an in-house whistleblower. It is, in my opinion, highly dishonourable to sit tight and continue to collect generous perks, while dissing your colleagues and making your boss look bad.

And I wondered whether Mallam Sanusi would have been so eager to take pot shots at NNPC, thereby casting aspersions on those who run it, if its supervising Minister – Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke – had been a fellow Northerner married to a fellow Northerner,

,

•Lamido Sanusi Lamido

The Sanusi Drama am I an academic who is training the next generation of industry professionals and has written books about oil. To cut a long story short, because I am humbly aware of my intellectual limitations within this context, I was afraid to jump to conclusions

By kicking Sanusi out of his team, Jonathan has given the world the impression that he is more interested in suppressing truth and maintaining the status quo than in accepting the urgent need for oil sector reforms and ruthlessly tackling NNPC’s multiple shortcomings on behalf of the suffering Nigerian people

,

rather than a Bayelsan married to an Igbo.

I also remembered that Sanusi had also, on occasion, been quite harshly criticised for not always handling his own duties in a completely efficient and transparent manner. Phrases like “pot calling the kettle black” and “people who live in glass houses should not throw stones” therefore sprang to mind.

Furthermore, I was a member of the Presidential Oil & Gas Sector Reform Implementation Committee that drafted the original Petroleum Industry Bill, so I’m not a complete ignoramus when it comes to oil/gas industry matters. And my instincts told me that Mallam Sanusi’s seemingly credible analysis was flawed.

But I wasn’t sure that my instincts could be trusted because I am not an expert.

I am not one of those journalists who have been full-time energy correspondents for decades. I am not one of the many engineers, lawyers, economists, geologists, etc, who have worked in the industry round the clock since they graduated from university. Nor C M Y K

•President Jonathan

about Sanusi’s complicated technical assertions by myself and decided to search for an expert advisor who had nothing to lose from being totally objective.

I wound up consulting a gentleman who works for a foreign research unit that specialises in studying the management of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.

There isn’t enough space on this page for me to share his observations with you in detail, so I’ll settle for just repeating his conclusion: “The submissions made by the CBN Governor appear to be weighty but can be faulted in some areas…”

HOWEVER, despite this confirmation that Mallam Sanusi is not as accurate as he would like us to think – and my reservations and suspicions about his conduct and motives – I was appalled when Mr President decided to suspend him. Since Sanusi is human, he is far from perfect, but he WAS a Class Act when he was a Lagos-based banker and he DID later become one of the few players in Jonathan’s camp who enjoyed REAL

respect from the international community.

Va n g u a r d readers should go online and check out websites like Financial Times and BBC if they want to see how serious foreigners are interpreting his removal.

Sanusi has a large army of •Diezani Allison-Madueke outraged fans at home and abroad; and he is going to court to seek reinstatement. But he was some of Sanusi’s complaints are based on due to retire in about three months’ time dubious assumptions, some are also ANYWAY. And I would not, if I’d been in worthy of investigation.

Jonathan’s shoes, have given him this NNPC has been riddled with corruption opportunity to turn himself into a martyr and incompetence since it was and global cause celebre. established. State oil companies in more You have probably guessed that I am ethical, more productive and more civilized emotionally biased against Sanusi and countries are thriving, while NNPC limps wary of him because I am a Niger Deltan on somewhat pathetically. and regard Jonathan and Diezani as quasi By kicking Sanusi out of his team, siblings and want them to be given the Jonathan has given the world the benefit of any doubts. impression that he is more interested in But even I think that my sectional suppressing truth and maintaining the sentiments are trite and impossible to status quo than in accepting the urgent morally justify…and that anyone who is need for oil sector reforms and ruthlessly dragging Nigeria down with obfuscations tackling NNPC’s multiple shortcomings and dysfunctions should be punished, no on behalf of the suffering Nigerian People. matter where he or she is from.

The Bottom Line is that even though Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 NIGERIANS would witness the most formal event of the centenary today when President Goodluck Jonathan hands out 100 awards to 100 individuals – more than 50 post-humously – who made their marks in Nigeria’s first 100 years. The award list is not the only controversy over the centenary, debates over what Nigeria was celebrating preceded it.

The list celebrates old Nigeria. It celebrates a Nigeria that is stuffed with the challenges many of those being honoured invented. The list does not look at Nigeria of the future, its composition is extremely low on people below 50 years, only one, as if to confirm that Nigeria stopped functioning a little after its independence in 1960, yet a large number of the centenary awardees made their names in post-independent Nigeria.

The failure of the centenary awards to build a bridge between the faded generations and their successors is a major emptiness of the celebrations. Where are the youth? Are their achievements not worth recognising in a year that we should be examining the future of Nigeria? Is it only the past that is of significant importance?

100 A wards A 00 Aw Att 1 100 Political correctness played a part in the compilations. Everyone who has led Nigeria is a national hero, the list says. Does it mean that once someone leads Nigeria he assumes sainthood and appears on national honours lists? The choices must have been tough; farming out only 100 awards to more than 160 million people who believe they all deserve awards can be challenging.

Three families had the distinction of producing two members on the list – the Lugards, Frederick, Nigeria’s first GovernorGeneral and his wife Flora, the RansomeKutis, women political leader Funmilayo and his musician son Fela and the Yar’Adua brothers, Shehu Musa, army general and politician and his younger brother Umaru, the only Nigerian civilian

president to die in office. Jonathan succeeded him.

As the celebrations continue, Nigerians are still concerned with every day struggles, which blur any significance of the 1914 British amalgamation of two administrative entities the Northern Protectorate and South Protectorate for their administrative convenience. The journey has witnessed many landmarks among them the Civil War of 1967-1970.

Nigerians sharply criticised the merger.

They blame it for most of the country’s woes. Debates about Nigeria are a catalogue of lamentations without dedication to sustainable solutions.

The centenary celebration would be a complete waste if it fails to provide platforms to address ways of making Nigeria work better to assure justice and assuage restiveness.

Leadership should depart from a conceited style that ignores Nigerians. Politicians think everything is about them. If they are able to gain political power, Nigeria is making progress.

We should be concerned about the next 100 years of Nigeria.

OPINION

BY SAMUEL EGUAIKHIDE

E

DO STATE is unique in many ways, one of which is that it is the only state in the country whose governor is addressed as the Comrade Governor, drawing from his past as the number one Labour leader in the country.

The Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led many strikes against bad policies of the Federal Government and was in the forefront to picket many employers of labour, including banks, who were out to make life unbearable for their employees. Oshiomhole is clearly a man who has attacked and of course is used to being attacked.

Since becoming Governor of Edo State, Oshiomhole has demystified one Chief Tony Anenih, an old war-horse, a man who in his eighties should be basking in retirement in his country home at Uromi; a man who is better known among his acolytes and hangerson as Mr. Fix-it; a man who keeps recycling his political life like a bad coin, thereby keeping younger, fitter and more intelligent people on the sidelines; a man who in retirement, closer to 100 than 40 years is Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority; a man who has been demystified in his domain, Uromi in several elections held in the state and only depends on political oxygen from Abuja for his survival.

The interesting thing, however, is that since the demystification of Tony Anenih, two other Tonys, one Tonnie Iredia, the other Tony Afejuku have found space in the media to defend their

Edo politics and tale of the three TTon on ys onys namesake, hurl unbridled, and most times senseless, attacks on Oshiomhole to the consternation of many. Many know that while Tony Anenih lives on political oxygen in Abuja and has lost his political value in Edo State and in his Uromi backyard, the other Tonys: Tonnie Iredia, a Benin man who was Director-General of the NTA not because of his ethnicity and who was unable to make effective changes to reposition that medium, and Tony Afejuku, a Delta man and classroom teacher with no political clout.

The reason for the defence of Anenih by Afejuku and Iredia is not far-fetched: both are ‘wanna-be’ politicians who think coming to the defence of their namesake will give them the advantage in the political shenanigans and scheming for which their more illustrious Tony is known.

In an article entitled: “One man, One vote: Edo’s futile slogan” published in his “Nigeria Today” column in the Vanguard on Sunday, February 23, 2014, Iredia tried his best to lampoon the “One man, One Vote campaign”, an internationally-accepted democratic principle for free and fair elections which has now been accepted as the model for elections in Edo State.

It is worrisome that a man who has been Director-General of such a television network as the NTA will call the “One man, One vote campaign” which the President and Vice-President bought into and always preached “a scheme”. He wrote: “To start with, even the opposition party adopted it,

making it a suspicious device. For example, although Governors always chorused the slogan, President Goodluck Jonathan gave a solemn assurance at a political rally in Benin City on Saturday June 25, 2012 that the Edo State governorship election would be a ‘one man, one vote affair’. Some two weeks earlier, Vice President Namadi Sambo in a similar rally at the same venue had made same pledge.”

Now, what is Tonnie Iredia’s problem with One man, One Vote? The answer is not farfetched. He belongs to the old school led by his patron and namesake, Tony Anenih, which believes that things must be done the old way, the way of fixing things whether you vote or not. Now in Edo, one man, one vote has taken its root and he is clearly unhappy about that.

The governorship election in the state held on July 14, 2012 was used to the might of the ballot, and that election which has been adjudged the freest in the history of elections in that state and the best in the country since the June 12, 1993 saw Comrade Oshiomhole winning across the 18 local government areas in the state, in all the wards in Edo North and Edo South and almost all the wards in Edo Central, including the ward of Tony Anenih.

It is understandable that a man who would not give voice to the opposition and the voiceless as NTA DG would be most unhappy to see the ordinary people rub shoulders with him on election day as equals

with the same power of one vote.

Tony Afejuku, English teacher, now professes more in hack writing. He has taken it upon himself, like his brother Tony does in Vanguard, to dedicate the back page of Nigerian Tribune of Mondays to Oshiomhole bashing. His recent article published in the Nigerian Tribune of Monday, February 24, 2014 at the back page in his "In & Out" column with the title “Benin Bullies” leaves so much to be desired.

When a man writes fiction as the fact, descending to the level of agberoism and bolekaja writing because he wants to captivate his audience with the fluidity of his pen, he deserves nothing but pity! Calling properly constituted traffic managers vagabonds and bullies because they enforce the law shows that this classroom teacher still has a lot to learn!

However, he surreptitiously let the cat out of the bag when he wrote: “I requested the driver of my rented car to buy me a carton of Gordon Gin along the famous Mission Road.” He may have been hallucinating in doing the write-up or as they say, under the influence.

For Tony Afejuku and Tonnie Iredia, the people of Edo are not taken-in by their disjointed and incoherent writings which are meant to feather their nests and make them get the ears of their namesake. While they are free to write and publish whatever they want, they should know that the people are not taken-in by their writings meant to launder the faded image of their man as the people of Edo are wiser after the PDP's 10 years of the locust. *Mr. Eguaikhide, a political analyst, wrote from Ekpoma, Edo State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014— —19

M

OST video sellers stock it; they know their customers who often are hooked to it, but no one discusses it, although everyone knows it is there growing, catching young converts and destroying them slowly. Religion pulpits avoid it for fear of offending membership, and the world is awash with it. It is found on the streets, magazines, advertisements, movies, televisions, video games, smart phones, mobile devices, and online photo sharing services, in living rooms, hotels, and cyber cafes. It is fast acquiring the prominence of a new culture, a bad and user-destroying culture, yet no one wants to discuss it seriously.

Teachers, parents, preachers, good mentors, are reluctant to face it, while millions drown in its compelling ocean without seeking help.

It is pornography. It is sensitive, acknowledged by all, but denied by most while it continues to kill, or shall we accept that it is a harmless habit? Let us see.

Pornography is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal.

Pornography uses a variety of media, as we already know.

Commercialised pornography accounts for a nearly $100 billion worldwide industry for the production of various media and

associated products and services.

This industry employs thousands of performers along with support and production staff. It is also followed by dedicated industry publications and trade groups as well as the mainstream press, organisations, government agencies, and political organisations. It has been established, that over 30,000 persons view pornographic websites every second, and internet users send over 1.7 million pornographic mails every minute, nearly two hard-core pornographic videos are released in the USA alone every hour, while over two million pornographic movies are rented there every day.

Sadly, nine out of 10 young men, and three out of 10 young women view pornography there too. There are no records about pornography in Nigeria yet, but going by way we follow the American life style, our figures may be close to those of the USA. I imagine Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna could be the hot centres of pornography in Nigeria. Some say there are nude night clubs or centres now in Owerri too.

Research concerning the effects of pornography is concerned with multiple outcomes. Such research includes potential influences on rape, domestic violence, sexual dysfunction, difficulties with sexual relationships, and child sexual abuse. Viewers of novel and extreme pornographic images

,

may become tolerant to such images, which may impact sexual response, in some cases leading to erectile dysfunction. Viewers may also become addicted to pornography. Pornography's effects on crime and domestic violence have become conclusive, since the United Kingdom government has criminalised possession of what it terms "extreme pornography" following the highly publicised murder of Jane Longhurst. Some studies support the contention that the viewing of pornographic material may increase rates of sexual crimes, and the liberalisation of porn in society may be associated with increased rape and sexual violence rates. Experts have established that pornography is highly addictive, with some even likening it to crack cocaine!

P

eople who indulge in pornography often cover up their habit. Most of the young ones who are hooked to internet pornography are secretive and deceitful, and not surprisingly, many of them suffer from feelings of isolation, shame, anxiety,

Final letter to Dame Jonathan on the NNPC missing fund

BY GODWIN ETAKIBUEBU

T

HIS third and last letter on SLS [Sanusi Lamido Sanusi] and the missing fund at the NNPC is reaching you after the man has been suspended; albeit sacked, as that was the path Justice Ayo Salami, the former President of Court of Appeal, followed. Even at that, the suspension cannot down-grade the importance, in quantity of content, of this third letter.

As l said in the first and second letters to you Madam, SLS picked the figure of exported oil, looked at the amount returned to the Federated Account, and concluded that the returned amount did not correspond with the value of the crude oil exported.

At the end of the day, more to mislead the majority of uninitiated Nigerians, the language of reconciliation of accounts was introduced by the “Professionals”. This group of professionals was led by the erudite worldacclaimed financial magician, our own sister and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It was this most respected woman of substance that admitted that money was missing but not the big amount SLS talked about. According to her, at least to protect her colleague Minister of Petroleum Resources and the rotten NNPC, what was missing was only US$10.8 billion.

Madam, with this admission by the one that coordinates the economy, facts of legal conviction in any court of competent jurisdiction has been established, to wit- missing money. And since money does not possess wings to fly, it can only be natural to admit to one fact, to wit- somebody or a group of people stole the said “missing” money. It follows therefore to conclude that the thief or thieves must be somewhere between the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum ResourcC M Y K

es.

My dear Madam, the amount admittedly stolen, at conversion rates of one US$ to N160, is one trillion, six billion Naira. But should we evenly guess that the stolen amount is US$20 billion, that will translate to three trillion, two hundred billion Naira at the same conversion rate of one US Dollar to N160. This is a whopping sum that can properly settle the whole 160 million Nigerians!

One more quick point I need to make here before we go into the details of the “fallout” is another fact of theft publicly admitted at the Senate by the Minister of Petroleum Resources and her NNPC. The Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, told the National Assembly that she spent N3.5 billion as kerosene subsidy without budget appropriation. What audacity! What an effrontery! There seems to be a racket being perpetrated by the NNPC against the Nigerian people.

Permit me to tell you quickly how this racket works. They take our money directly from the NNPC coffers [without budgetary allocation – it is not even known to any outsider when and how the money is taken], import DPK at N150, allegedly selling same to Nigerians at N50 [which is a big lie because they shared the imported kerosene amongst their racketeering chains to sell for between N150 to N250 per litre] and they turned around again to deduct the balance of N100 from every litre of the imported fuel. What happens here is that they make N100 per litre from whatever quantity of kerosene allegedly imported.

Madam, just for your information, NNPC allegedly imported [according to the figure it released to the National Assembly last week] 2.2 trillion metric tonnes in 2010, 1.9 trillion metric tonnes in 2011, 2.6 trillion

depression, and anger. In some cases they even develop suicidal tendencies, and often too embarrassed or too scared to seek help. Even a fleeting accidental brush with pornography can have a negative impact. Testifying before a US Senate Committee, Dr. Judith Reisman, a leading researcher on pornography said: “Pornographic visual images imprint and alter the brain, triggering an instant, involuntary, but lasting , biochemical memory trail, difficult or impossible to delete”. Pornography simply enslaves and wreaks havoc on its victims. It also damages marriages and families by undermining marital trust, intimacy and love. It also promotes selfishness, emotional aloofness and dissatisfaction with one's mate, thereby fuelling unhealthy fantasies and cravings which tempt users to force objectionable sex practices on their mates. Pornography promotes emotional and physical infidelity, causing mates to deal treacherously which devastate marriages, leading to separation, and divorce, which in turn harm the children of the marriage.

Pornography can harm children more directly. Studies also show that adolescents in pornography become sexually active at young ages, promiscuous, sexually violent, and emotionally, and psychologically unstable.

Pornography poisons loving relationship and ultimately brings heart ache and pain. It is the devil’s food for the perishing soul, and demon possession becomes easy, targeting the joy and peace of an otherwise good person.

Pornography has been convincingly linked to hordes of demon possession and activities.

,

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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Is pornography harmless or toxic to Nigerians?

Promoters of pornography erode the future of our adolescents; our law makers must come to the rescue through restrictive laws on all forms of pornography

What the suspension of SLS has done is to make him [SLS] a hero of the war against corruption and your husband the greatest promoter of corruption in the annals of Nigerian history

,

metric tonnes in 2012 and 2.6 trillion metric tonnes in 2013. This brings total of kerosene allegedly imported from 2010 to 2013 to 9.6 trillion metric tonnes. Let us convert this 9.6 trillion metric tonnes to litres of kerosene so that you can see how a few people have undermined this country financially.

One metric tonne is about 1,223.77 [based on density of kerosene being 817.15kg/m3] or approximately 1,224 litres. 9.6 trillion metric tonnes will give us 117,504,000000000 litres of Kerosene. This cabal/mafia made N117, 504,000,000,000 or US$734,400,000,000 [seven hundred and thirty four trillion, four hundred billion US Dollars] for the past four years.

This is what NNPC, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and few players in the oil industry have reaped from Nigeria and Nigerians. My sister, will you not be disturbed by this figure? Your husband, my own brother, did not even know that anything near this is happening yet he appointed people “to watch his back”. What is the bottom line on “this tip on the iceberg” revelation?

P

ermit me to say one or two words about the suspension of SLS. The man is arrogantly brilliant and delicately loquacious with an everlasting radicalism in his blood – all are bad for the “Nigerian concept of Public Servant”. Yes, he is a bad news any day on his utterances but for blowing the

Help can best come from spiritual deliverance and good counseling by experts.

Pornography has often been subject to censorship and legal restraints on grounds of obscenity.

The introduction of home video and the Internet saw booms in worldwide pornography. Child pornography is illegal in almost all countries, and some countries have restrictions on pornography depicting violence such as rape , rape pornography or pornography depicting sex of a human with an animal, or both, called zoophile.

Zoophilia is a sexual activity between human and non-human animals or a fixation on such practice. Although sex with animals is not outlawed in some countries, in most countries, bestiality is illegal under animal abuse laws or laws dealing with crimes against nature. Bestiality refers to deriving pleasure though not necessarily sexual pleasure from inflicting cruelty to animals.

The legal position on these in Nigeria is not clear yet, while promoters of pornography continue to erode the future of our adolescents, with their questionable and nefarious trade.

Nigerian school children who received laptops recently from a U.S. aid organisation have been reported to have used them to explore pornographic sites on the Internet. Also efforts to promote learning with laptops in a primary school in Abuja have gone awry, as the pupils freely browse adult sites with explicit sexual materials.

Our law makers must come now to the rescue of our teeming adolescents through restrictive laws on all forms of pornography.

*Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

whistle on this NNPC issue, the civilised world of humanity, which is addicted to fundamental hatred for corruption, shall always be grateful to him [SLS] into eternity.

Yes, again, your husband should have sacked him about February 2012, when he queried him, through the then National Security Adviser, the late retired General Owoye Andrew Azazi, over reckless and seditious statements in an interview he granted to the Financial Times of London. Yes, he “over-ran the runway” in that interview. Yet, SLS refused to answer the query, saying that “I am not answerable to the NSA – I can only answer query signed personally by the President”. My brother, your husband, did not sign any query for him or compelled him to answer to the one signed by the late General Azazi on behalf of the President. If your husband had moved against him, he would have been able to secure two third of the Senate membership, as stipulated by law, to sack the man, there and then.

What the present suspension of SLS has done is to make him [SLS] hero of the war against corruption and turned your husband to become the greatest promoter of corruption in the annals of Nigerian history. Your husband never thought of it this way, but because he listened to bad advisers around him; the same thieves we just finished discussing, he is now the villain while SLS becomes the victor. What an irony of life!

I conclude by thanking you once again for reading all my letters on this subject matter.

It might be too late to reverse the SLS situation but what you read might be able to prepare you adequately enough in the future, in telling your husband, my brother, to be very “careful with some of his ministers”, mostly at the oil and financial sectors, because these are the people working for his political peril. These people, my sister, might deny you the continuous tenancy of Aso Villa beyond 2015. Deal with them before they endanger you, is my candid advice. *Mr. Etakibuebu, a public analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 21

NSC boss seeks amendment of shippers’ law

BY LINDA ONYEMARA

T

HE Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, Hassan Bello has stressed the need for the law establishing the council to be amended in order to empower it to tackle the challenges faced by shippers in the country.

Bello in a chat with Vanguard in his office recently, said that the council cannot compel any defaulting operators to do the right thing because the present law does not give the council the power of enforcement.

The NSC boss explained that the council has made several attempts through the National Assembly to amend the law but its efforts are yet to yield the desired result.

According to him “The council has reviewed the existing law not even once but twice. We have engaged the National Assembly towards that too. Some of our recommendation has even become a bill.

We have the encouragement of stakeholders because it is the stakeholders that will make input on proposed law.”

He further said that the Government is concerned with Shippers’ transaction with other stakeholders and has mobilized the Council to take up the role of a moderator and regulator in the shipping industry.

Bello pointed out that Council has worked hard to erect transport infrastructure like, Truck Transit Parks, TTPs, some of which are expected to become functional this year.

He said “We have already started talking with NPA, the Kogi state government, Kaduna state government, and many more state governments, and we hope that these things will be done on Public Private Partnership, PPP, will commence operation soon,” he concluded.

168.05

-0.75

2,934.00

-16.00

16.63

0.3

109.66 102.09 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI

RIYA KRONA SDR

154.75 258.123 212.1777 173.8764 1.5102 0.3053 238.3459 25.4025 41.2601 28.4279 238.7638

155.25 258.957 21 2.8633 174.4382 1.5151 0.3153 239.116 25.485 41.3934 28.5197 239.5352

From left: President, Cosco Shipment Group, Mr. Wang Yuhang; Chief Executive Officer, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould; Chief Executive Officer, UTM Offshore Limited, Mr. Julius Rone; and Ghanaian Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, during a signing ceremony of $750 million drill ship in partnership with the GNPC, in China.

FG moves against unlicensed service providers

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HE Federal Government has threatened severe sanction against unlicensed Private Employment Agencies, PEAs, otherwise known as service providers, as it partners with stakeholders to check cases of unfair labour practices in Nigeria.

Speaking through the Minister of Labour and Productivity, FMLP, Chief Emeka Wogu, the government called on the unlicensed PEAs to immediately regularize their operations with the Ministry or face sanctions provided by Labour Law. Wogu, who disclosed this in Abuja, explained that towards this end, a National Workshop on Strengthening the Role of Private Employment Agencies, PEAs, in Human Resources

SELLING 155.75 259.791 213.5488 175 1.52 0.3253 239.8861 25.5676 41.5267 28.6116 240.30

CBN Exchange rate as at 27 /02/2014

work.

He listed other objectives of the workshop as addressing the emerging trends and challenges in the recruitment industry while also providing a platform for interaction between regulators, operators of recruiters’ license and applicants.

The Labour Minister further revealed that the workshop was being organized in accordance with the mandate of the Ministry with regards to licensing of qualified companies, including those providing Security Services to operate as Labour contractors and Private Employment Agencies in line with the provisions of Sections 23, 24, 25 and 71 of the Labour Act, CAP L1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

APBN tasks professionals on nation-building

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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Development was being organized to hold on 2nd and 3rd April 2014 at the Conference Hall of NECA House, Ikeja in Lagos..

According to him, the Ministry, in collaboration with Human Capacity Providers Association of Nigeria (HUCAPA), was organizing the National Workshop as part of efforts at achieving the laudable objectives of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Administration for the Labour and Employment Sector of the national economy.

Wogu pointed out that in addition to reducing the incidences of unfair labour practices, the workshop was geared towards strengthening relations with all PEAs while promoting productivity and decent

P

ROFESSIONALS under the aegis of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, have identified the role of professionals in nation building as crucial, adding that to achieve the task of nation building professionals must imbibe the values that foster and promote nation building while avoiding and controlling all the militating challenges.

Delivering the public lecture at the 1st Annual Public Lecture/Awards in Lagos organised by the Lagos State chapter of APBN, the guest speaker, Mr. Uju Ogubunka, a fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers said each professional should make personal decision and resolve to commit to

contributing to nation building with or without the next person to him, pointing out that if all professionals abide by their professional codes of ethics and conduct, utilize their knowledge, skills and competencies, the collective approach and commitment to nation building can make the task lighter and perhaps, exciting.

He further noted that professionals must be involved in the articulation of national vision and plans, implementation of national programmes and projects efficiently in the quest for nation building.

According to him, the role of professionals in nation building also include analysis, evaluating,

discovering and pointing out gaps as well as proffering objective and well informed solution options on national issues, adding that supporting public and private sector projects and activities that are aimed at building the nation is equally a function of professionals. ‘’Practicing and promoting maintenance culture in and outside the home, complying with laws and regulations, practicing and promoting sustainable environment, creating public awareness and enlightenment are the roles of professionals in nation building. They are also expected to be an advocate on issues of individual, communal and national interest and importance.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

From left: Bex Nwawudu, Director, CBO Capital; Col. Henry Mgbemena (rtd), Managing Director, Union Dicon Salt; General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd), Chairman, Union Dicon Salt, and Chuka Mordi, Director, CBO Capital at the UDS 20th Annual General Meeting.

X-Issuer has enhanced compliance to post-listing rules —NSE

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HE Nigerian Stock Ex change, NSE, has said that the introduction of X-Issuer, an online portal that allows quoted companies to submit their financial statements and corporate actions to the NSE from the comfort of their offices, has increased companies’ efficiency in discharge of post-listing rules requirement.

A statement by Head, Corporate Communications, NSE, Nwando Ajene, quoted Ms. Tinuade Awe, Head of the Legal and Regulation Division, NSE as saying that the X-Issuer has also encouraged transparency and accountability among quoted companies.

She added that the adoption has eliminated leakage of price sensitive information because of the minimal time be-

tween submission by the issuer and release of such information to the market.

According to her, “the need to file corporate action before financial statements or along with the financial statements of the relevant period cannot be over emphasized. This is because the market reacts to any information that is released on financial reporting disclosure such as rendition

of forecasts, interim accounts – Q1, Q2, Q3 financial statements, audited year-end financials and other price sensitive information such as acquisition, merger, changes on directorate etc., “Over the years, the NSE has required entities that intend to declare dividends and or issue bonuses (corporate actions) to file information regarding such corporate actions with the relevant financial statements. (Interim or year-end dividend/bonus are to be accompanied with interim/year-end accounts).

“Filing financial statements therefore, before filing corporate action could lead to negative reaction as the market operators will not be aware that the company will declare dividends and or issue bonuses at a future date, and when such information is finally released it may adversely affect investors as decisions have already been taken based on the released financials.”

Continuing, she said that XIssuer does not accept the uploading of financial statements by issuers before their corporate action information, adding that, corporate actions can, however, be filed before the financial statements.

“Filing of corporate action information alone does not qualify a listed entity as having submitted the financial statements for the relevant period,” Awe noted.

She further explained that XIssuer has consistently offered unique benefits of data capture, form submission validation and other ancillary services such as submission notification mechanisms and tracking of submitted information.

Ecobank’s biggest shareholder worries over CEO’s performance

BY PETER EGWUATU with agency report

S

OUTH Africa’s Public In vestment Corp., the biggest shareholder in Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI), said it has concerns about the panAfrican lender’s Chief Executive Officer, Thierry Tanoh.

“We have reservations about Thierry Tanoh,” PIC’s Chief Investment Officer, Daniel Matjila said in a phone interview. The PIC, which owns more than 18 percent of Ecobank, according to the Lome, Togo-based lender, is

concerned about performance under Tanoh, Matjila said, without being more specific.

Tanoh said he was in a meeting when called and asked to be called back in a few hours.

Mwambu Wanendeya, a spokesman for Ecobank, declined to comment.

Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC investigated Ecobank after Laurence do Rego, the company ’s former executive director of risk and finance, told the regulator in August that Tanoh and former Chairman Kolapo

Lawson planned to sell assets below market value. Do Rego said she was pressured to write off debts owed by a business headed by Lawson and manipulate the bank’s results. Both Tanoh and Lawson deny any wrongdoing.

Despite its reservations about Tanoh, Matjila said the Pretoria, South Africa-based PIC will support the creation of an interim board of directors that includes the CEO. Shareholders will vote at a meeting on March 3 on the

proposal for a seven-member interim board, which will implement recommendations on corporate governance made by the SEC. “We want a board that can work and move forward, so we are willing to make a concession with him on the interim board,” said Matjila, who will also be on the board.

The interim board will hold office until the company’s annual general meeting, which will probably be in May or June, according to Ecobank spokesman Wanendeya.

The interim board would also

Heritage Bank eyes listing, executes CBN’s mandate on financial literacy

BY PETER EGWUATU

H

ERITAGE Bank has indi cated its interest to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE in the nearest future, just as it pledged its continuous support for the financial literacy, especially amongst children as mandated by Bankers Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Addressing journalists on its financial literacy programme in Lagos, Group Head, Customer

Experience and Analytics, Mr. Ralph Omoregie said “We are happy when the Bankers’ Committee of the CBN mandated banks in the country to adopt schools and educate the young ones on banking services. We in Heritage Bank have already started this initiative because we believe that it is good to catch them young.

We have visited 30 schools in both private and public to educate them on financial instruments and it has been suc-

cessful. So the schools should map out time and include this financial literacy programme in their curriculum to enable banks participate actively.”

“We pledged to adopt a school in Lagos, renovate and equip it with the state –of – the art e- learning facilities.

This will be part of our corporate social responsibilities.

There are enormous benefits in educating the young ones on financial services. We would like to catch them

young so that they will grow with it and be able to know how to save and this will be good for the economy” he added.

Meanwhile, Heritage Bank has adopted Zuriel Oduwole , eleven years old girl as its Ambassador for the financial literacy programme.

Speaking, Bunmi Adebiyi, a representative of the CBN on Financial Inclusion said, “The role of the apex bank is to support banks in providing enabling environment.

Honeywell Flour Mills records 24% increase in revenue

H

oneywell Flour Mills Plc has recorded 24 per cent increase in revenue for the nine months ended December 2013.

The result which was sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) shows that the company recorded revenue of N41.03 billion between April and December 2013. This represents a 24% increase from the N33.04 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. This increase in revenue was driven, largely, by the increased production capacity of the company having recently added 1,000MT/day via two new mills. According to a statement, the cumulative effect of revenue increase and reduction in costs grew the company’s Profit after Tax (PAT) by 18 per cent from N1.7 billion in the corresponding period of last year to N2 billion in the period under review. The income statement also showed that gross profit for the same period was N7.76 billion, from the N5.48 billion reported for the corresponding ninemonth period ended December 2012. This was primarily attributed to the company’s ability to manage input costs that resulted in a slower increase (relative to revenue growth) in the cost of sales, which grew by 21 per cent to N33.27 billion from N27.56 billion.

Increase in operating costs, which rose by 42 per cent from N3.04 billion to N4.33 billion between comparative periods in 2012 and 2013, was due to increased overheads necessary to operate the expanded production capacity, rising finance costs and increased marketing expenses needed to maintain brand equity, to increase consumer awareness and increase product visibility.

Rising finance costs had an adverse impact on profitability as the company fulfils its obligations on the debt component of funds used to finance the additional production capacity. The Management of Honeywell Flour Mills is currently exploring several strategic options to reduce this cost. Insecurity in some Northern states and growing infrastructural deficits especially bad roads and poor power supply, continue to pose serious challenges to the smooth operation of HFMP’s activities. However, the Management is confident in its ability to continue to thrive within the tough operating environment.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 23

Africa needs more investment in agriculture — Marc Wegerif

M

arc Wegerif coordinates Oxfam’s Economic Justice campaign in East Africa, working with partners to bring about fair policies for small farmers, pastoralists and communities affected by climate change.

He is based in Tanzania.

He was in Nigeria recently as part of his work on Female Food Hero award.

Oxfam is working in a number of countries where they are rolling it out as a way of celebrating women’s contribution to agriculture and food security.

In this interview with JIMOH BABATUNDE, he shares his thoughts on female farmers, smallholder farmers and Africa Union’s Maputo declaration on budget for agriculture.

Here is an excerpt.

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achieving food security, economic growth and social development for our countries and we want to see an improvement that benefit the majority of people and that is why agriculture is interesting, because that is where majority of the people are still.

Even in Nigeria with all the oil money, industries, Nollywood, most people are still in agriculture, that is the starting point, not to say they must not stay in agriculture, but let them thrive there but if they move on from that with better education, with more money behind them, let them do something better that is great.

We need as a continent to be serious too. At the

,

On how long the award has been on t started two years ago in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria, we have had two awards, but what we are doing in Nigeria now is really scaling it up to a bigger public reach.

We had the award, but now we want to take it to a national level and in particular, we also want to have entertainment and television component, so we are looking at reality TV format which will give more platform for those women to share their experiences with the public learning through viewing the programme.

So by the International Women Day on March 8th, we will be announcing the format and will have the final award on the 15thof October, but we are going for something bigger with much wider public reach.

On his experience working with African female farmers I think there are many women, despite the challenges they face, who are really doing something special to feed their families, their communities and feed the country .At the end of the day, we hear of the challenges and difficulties these women face, but what we are doing with the female food initiative is to find those successes and what the women are doing to improve their family lives through farming.

I think that is what we want to show and that becomes encouraging to other women, so that people can learn from one another. There are other successful young women farmers in Nigeria, let us expose them, give them the exposure that they deserve and let other people learn from them.

We are not just taking the richest farmers; we are taking those farmers who are good representatives of the millions of hard working women that others can identify with, not really those who inherited some big money, but those who have the challenges, struggle, find new innovation, something that make their production special and more sustainable and profitable.

On what they are driving at What we are driving at is

We import about $40 billion worth of food into Africa every year, yet we have the potentials to grow food not only for ourselves, but export around the world

moment, we are importing food into Nigeria. We import about 40billion Dollar worth of food into Africa every year, yet we have the potentials to grow food not only for ourselves, but export around the world.

Agriculture can be a real driving force for growth and improvement in the lives of majority of people. That is what we want to see.

On how Africa can move

fectively and invest on a land you don’t even have a right?

This is the basic thing that we have to get right.

On AU’s Maputo declaration of 10% budget to agriculture Let us celebrate the countries that have achieved that and some countries have done that.

And we appreciate that there is a renewed interest in agriculture and we see that by the African Union declaring this year for agriculture and food security.

L

*Wegerif

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forward with agriculture One of the things we have seen is lack of investment in agriculture. Nigeria was a food exporter up to the 80s, it was an agricultural giant, and it was exporting. Look at a country like Brazil, they kept on investing in agriculture as a key part of their economy, they have other natural resources as well, they have more industries than we have in Nigeria. They

manufacture cars and they still have agriculture as the heart of their economy.

And now they are a major agricultural exporter. We see Brazilian companies coming to invest in agriculture in Africa, especially where they have historical connection like in Mozambique. Why not see Nigerian companies going to invest in agriculture elsewhere in the future? But let us start here and build on what we have to make it a success.

That means investing in agriculture, investing in smallholder farmers, because that is where the majority of farmers are, giving them the supporting environment. The majority of women farmers produce the food in Africa and most of them don’t even have rights on the lands they are producing on.

So how do you produce ef-

et me not dwell on what has not been done, but let us say something is happening and more countries are achieving that. We hope Nigeria will also follow suit and even if it does not get to 10%, let us see an increase, but very important as well is how that money is used.

You can put your 10% in your budget, but if they are still spent on recurrent like salaries, office equipment, cars, there is problem. So we are also saying yet there is need for 10 per cent, but make sure the money gets to the farmers and specially to the small-scale woman farmer as that is where the biggest change can happen.

On who a smallholder farmer is The majority of our farmers are smallholders and their needs are like in other businesses . They need a secured environment to work in. They need security on the land which is a main productive assets, they need research and development for improve practices and techniques.

The access to market is often the problem of rural infrastructure, even if there are good roads and the rural areas are opened up to markets; they need access to the right kind of trainings.

FIIRO lauds ATA contributions to research

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R Gloria Elemo, Director General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has commended the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Akinwumi for introducing the Agriculture Transformation Agenda.

Commending the visionary and purposeful leadership of the Minister during a visit to FIIRO in Lagos recently, Dr. Elemo said the Agriculture Transformation Agenda has turned the agricultural landscape in Nigeria resulting in increased outputs, job creation wealth creation and better rating by international bodies. She added that most of his actions have been helpful to research institutes, especially FIIRO, “most of the

technologies developed at the institute have been found to be very relevant to the Agriculture Transformation Agenda” Dr. Elemo listed cassava, yam, sorghum and rice as

crops that have benefited from the agricultural value chains.”

The Institute’s success story in the development of sorghum malt for the replacement of Barley malt has been fully

commercialized by breweries both within and outside Nigeria.” She added that the institute has played a great role in cassava flour inclusion in wheat flour for bread and other confectioneries in Nigeria.

From left: Business Development Director, Hand Held Products, Mr. Daesung Ra; Director of Hand Held Products, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas and Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim, all of Samsung Electronics West Africa, at the Samsung Galaxy S5 global unpacked event in Barcelona, Monday.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Opportunities abound in Nigeria for hotels — Coeln S

Kenya, Egypt , Saudi Arabia , Oman and now Nigeria.

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Coeln technical with my catering school in Belgium. After my education, I entered the hotel industry with the Hilton group as a low ranking staff and moved up the ladder before moving over to Intercontinental and have remained here since On challenges moving up the ladder Well, you face some challenges due to various hotels, environment, and locations and of course. The most important is the hard work that you have to put in and then you get support by Intercontinental in your career development.

On his experience managing hotels in Nigeria The good thing is that from

,

ince it was commissioned late last year, the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos has become a reference in hospitality. The General Manager, Didier Coeln, in this interview, reveals what they set out to achieve in the industry as he brings on board his over 25 years experience in the hospitality industry.

Coeln said having travelled in many countries within Africa and Middle East that he has gained experience in leadership within multi cultural environments. “Being successful is achieving results while focusing on service delivery and standard improvements.”

JIMOH BABATUNDE presents an excerpt from the chat.

On how he came into the industry I have always loved the hospitality industry and so went to catering school for four years in Ecole Hôtelière Namur, Belgium, where I learnt how to cook, serve and learnt all the basic of the hotel industry.

It was a four year programme which gave me opportunity of concentrating on all aspects of catering, then went to International Hotel School of Glion, Switzerland, for two and a half years preparing for management positions within the hotel industry.

So, basically, I have A level

on’t think that there are bigger challenges than anywhere else. It is same if you work in Saudi Arabia or in Egypt not everything is readily available. So sometimes, you might have the issue of finding the right equipment or the right type of goods that you need, but there is always a solution.

There is nothing that makes Nigeria more complicated. On the contrary, our Nigerian colleagues go out of their ways to make guests happy unlike in Europe, five O clocks is five O clock.

On the edge of the hotel in terms of competition Well, our edge is obviously when you are the newest; you are more up to date on matter of technology. Then also our rooms are quiet large. We offer our clients large varieties of dining experience. Some hotels

Nigeria is one of the leading countries sub Sahara Africa with large population, good GDP; so there is definitely good potential for the hotel industry here

my career, first of all, Nigeria is not the first place that I will be working abroad. I have spent most of my careers working abroad in what is known now as DR Congo and I have worked in Congo, in

,

have one restaurant, one bar, but here we have four different restaurants, three different bars and definitely, you have wide range of possibilities for guests that want to enjoy themselves while in Lagos.

Southern Sun Hotel wins award T

HE International Hotel Awards have again voted Southern Sun Hotel as the best hotel in Nigeria for the second time running.

Southern Sun hotel emerged the winner of the prestigious award at a colourful ceremony recently after it won the same award last year.

Expressing delight with the hotel’s successive win in two years, the hotel’s General Manager, Mr. Mark Loxley, attributed the success to “fantastic team effort, ongoing hard work and the dedication of staff and management in providing a high level of quality guest service, diligence and commitment”. Mr Loxley noted that the award will, “encourage staff and management to continue in their efforts, towards maintaining very high quality of service delivery at all times”.

These awards represent the hotel’s consistency in maintaining years of international standards which ultimately confirms Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel as a topmost player in the hospitality industry. Likewise, the awards are in recognition of the hotel’s consistent delivery of quality products and customer service over the years.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) and Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, presenting award of Businessman of the Year to Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, Chairman of Chisco Group,s during the Sun newspapers awards in Lagos.

We have the latest technology in the hotel. We have IP solutions as regards to telephone, and TV, internet and these are what guests are looking for, especially business travellers .

On the hotel’s unique selling point I think today, we have two unique selling points. One is our rooms and the technology that goes with them, including the bathrooms. I mean we have modern equipment and not all hotels have what we have.

Our second selling point is our Nigerian colleagues, right from the day we opened they have embraced the philosophy of intercontinental and they are truly dedicated and they are truly making all the efforts to make sure our guests are happy inspite of some hitches.

They have done good jobs in making the guests feel at home and for them to get the services they expect to get from intercontinental property.

On connecting with the hotel guests This is the most important part of the day, even though sometimes, it can be a little bit shorter due to desk work.

Obviously, the name of the game is to meet the guests, to have contacts with them , to know what they will like us to improve , what they will want to see, what they will like to get and making sure they are happy and return back to us on their next trip to Lagos.

On the opportunities in the hospitality industry in Nigeria I think the opportunities here are great and I think, for what I know since Intercontinental hotel has opened, a number of other international chains are trying to open a hotel in Nigeria which shows definitely there are keen interests in Nigeria as a very good market.

In any case, Nigeria is one of the leading countries in sub Sahara Africa with large population, good GDP. So there is definitely good potential for the hotel industry here.

For the people, obviously that will give opportunities for our Nigerian colleagues to grow, because if there are new hotels coming up in the next two, four, five years, I am pretty sure that our colleagues would have trainings that will make them grow in the industry.

That is the name of the game.

When I started my career, I started as a receptionist, checking everyday tomatoes, it took me several years to become General Manager.

On the cost of accommodation in Nigeria I will not say it is expensive, it is a fact that we try to balance between the investment to cost of running the properties and then to make a profit.

Everybody knows that in a

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 25

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26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—27

I N S I D E

Defections: Senators are not playing to the gallery — Senator Goje PAGE 28

Why Nigeria'll not break up under Jonathan's PAGE 30 watch -- Clark

Crushing the obstacles towards national development PAGE 30

THE new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu has been all about trying to recover grounds and goodwill lost to the opposition during the traumatic Tukur years. His hectic efforts nonetheless, the question as to whether he is running against time persists BYHENRYUMORU

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HOSE without work should stay off PDP secretariat, I am here to work, there is no doubt that all has not been well with our party. I will restore the lost glory of the PDP, with your total support” Those were the words of the national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu at the National Executive Committee, NEC hall of Wadata Plaza, national Secretariat of the party on January 20, 2014 soon after he took over from his immediate predecessor, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

As a former governor of Bauchi State for eight years, a member of NEC of the party and an aspirant to the position of National Chairman prior to the March 2012 National Convention, the problems of the PDP were obviously not new to Mu‘azu.

Once he took over the mantle of national chairman, Mu‘azu at every event expressed his desire to consult party stakeholders, an expression which smacked of humility and inclusiveness. So far, he

ing in the corner ahead of 2015.

The new chairman is also pursuing the five former PDP governors who recently left the party for the APC. He has also said severally that his doors remain open to all, including foes of serving party leaders in states and at federal level even as he has continued to reiterate that there would be no imposition of candidates and automatic tickets under his watch.

He has also painfully explained the need for reforms within the party, albeit, with the hope that senior party chief-

Muazu, movements and mission tains and governors will not start a fight given the historical reluctance of the party to reforms.

Remarkably, Mu‘azu is still enjoying his honeymoon with governors and other prominent stakeholders leading state del-

,

Muazu has also made no pretences on his desire to grow the membership base of the party with plans to admit everybody including ‘Scorpions’

has maintained that policy of consultations with governors, members of the Board of Trustees, party members and former opposition members who have been thronging his office to visit him. With his coming, the PDP national secretariat has again come to life after a long spell of inactivity due to Tukur’s inclinations of running the party from his own home.

Muazu has also made no pretences on his desire to grow the membership base of the party with plans to admit everybody including ‘Scorpions’ especially with the All Progressives Congress, APC lurk-

* Jonathan, Mu`azu in Owerri: President and Chairman are dancing to a new rhythm

,

egations to pledge loyalty to the new administration in the party.

Among those who have visited are Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina; Ramallan Yero of Kaduna; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Theodore Orji of Abia; Gabriel Suswam of Benue; Sullivan Chime of Enugu; Idris Wada of Kogi; Martin Elechi of Ebonyi and Aliyu Babangida of Niger.

Others who visited the Wadata Plaza national secretariat were the BoT led by the chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, PDP Governors Forum led by the

chairman and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

Anenih during his visit applauded what he noted as the new spirit of team work evident in the National Working Committee, just as he stressed that leaders, stakeholders, members of PDP can now walk around with their eyes closed.

It will be recalled that the crisis in the PDP under Tukur got to a climax when the party split into two parallel NWCs, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and six northern governors staging a walk out on the convention ground at the Special National Convention held last August.

Five of the governors including Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State ho had earlier been suspended from the party crossed over to the All Progressives Congress, APC last November.

Besides the governors who left the party, thirty seven elected members of the House of Representatives left the party for the APC. 11 senators have also made a show of their re-

jection of the party in the Senate.

Mu‘azu is also walking the difficult path between pleasing incumbent governors and opening the party to all. He had reassured Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, his own successor as governor that he would not temper with the governor ’s structure but at the same time had difficulties readmitting the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu back to the party.

Incumbent governor Kalu’s readmission is viciously opposed by the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Theodore Orji and by most party chieftains in the state. The governor, National Assembly members and many senior party officials few weeks ago took the radical step of staging a march to the national secretariat to press home their demand that the party’s doors should be locked against the former governor!

Mu‘azu has also proved to be adept in winning some former governors in the opposition to the PDP. He has so far won over former Governors Attahiru Bafarawa and Ibrahim Shekarau to the PDP. By press time, he was also set to catch a former military governor, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa.

Last Saturday, February 22, 2014 the national chairman also won back former Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State back to the PDP. Udenwa returned to the PDP alongside former Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Senator Christy Anyanwu, chairman Senate Committee on Navy, Chief Mike Ahamba, former lawyer to General Muhammadu Buhari among others.

Speaking at the colourful event President Goodluck Jonathan urged members of the party who left for the APC to as a matter of urgency rush back in order not to lose their seniority.

The president who was apparently referring to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Governors Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers; Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of Kano; Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and others who recently dumped the PDP APC, said that there will be no discrimination against anyone of them that decided to return immediately to the party.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Defections: Senators are not playing to the gallery— Senator Goje SENATOR Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) is among the 11 senators that recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Before his election into the upper legislative chamber in 2011, he was the governor of his state under the PDP. Again, before his governorship, Goje was appointed minister under the PDP-led federal government. He offers explanation to his decision and what his new party has for the people of Gombe State in particular and Nigeria as a whole. Excerpts:

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N the controversies trail ing the decision by him and 10 other defecting PDP senators as APC senators in the Senate As it is now, we have made our case very clear in the Senate, we have submitted a letter signed by 11 of us and we have made it clear as far as we are concerned that they should consider our position since we have defected. It is left to whoever wants to interpret our action to interpret it the way he wants.

We have gone to our constituencies during the last registration exercise of APC and registered as members and participated actively in all APC activities.

Let me say here that there are some senators who, although they have not come to the floor of the Senate but they have gone to the public, from the other side, from APC, APGA who have said they have also defected to the PDP. Of course, they have not said their own on the floor but it is in the newspapers, some of them have spoken to us privately. So, it is a question of interpretation.

On comments that they were playing to the gallery by insisting on formalizing the defection in the Senate after going to their various constituencies to declare their defection I don’t like that phrase ‘playing to the gallery’. We are not playing to the gallery. We were elected by our people and the people in our constituencies have endorsed our action.

Endorsing actions But we are in the Senate; it is fair to tell our colleagues our position. That is all. But to say that we are playing to the gallery is very unfair to us. We are serious minded people who have gone through the needs of the Senate.

On why he dumped PDP after benefiting from the party as a former governor, former min-

ister and now a senator I think you are not completely right to say that I benefited from the PDP as a party; it is a twoway traffic thing. The party has also benefited immensely from my contributions. Don’t forget that in Gombe State, when we had election in 1999, the PDP did not form the state government.

Gombe State was ANPP up to 2003.It was under my leadership that PDP was able to take over that state and won all the subsequent elections.

So, to say I only benefited is not complete. You have to say we mutually benefited from each other. I contributed immensely to its success in the state. Gombe State would have remained an ANPP state and consequently become an APC State now. So, I think the least I can say is that we benefited from each other. It is mutual, PDP benefited from me and of course, I benefit from it being a member of the PDP but I worked hard for the PDP in the state.

Working hard for the PDP Don’t forget that in the North East in 1999 when election was conducted, three states went to PDP, Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba states. Borno, Yobe and Gombe went to ANPP. And up till now, Borno and Yobe have never been taken over by the PDP, it is only Gombe State and I think I should be commended for that.

On Senator Ita Enang’s motion last week that the seats of defectors be declared vacant because there is no division in PDP I am not aware that Senator Ita Enang moved a motion. He only intended to move a motion. He gave a notice to move a motion; he has not yet moved the motion. But I think we have talked a lot on this issue of whether or not to declare our seats vacant. I don’t want us to continue to drag the issue. The only thing I can say is that it is not the first time since 1999 that senators and National Assembly members have defected from one party to the other. Even right now, in the

Party's manifesto

•Goje: I will not personalise my issues with Dankwambo House of Representatives, an arm of the National Assembly, people have been defecting on the floor of the House from one party to the other. So if somebody wants to say our own is different, I don’t want to talk much on it. I know that it has been happening in the presence of many people that are now opposing our moves.

They are there either as members of the Senate or presiding officers of the Senate accepting to read letters from some members defecting from one party to the other. If now, the time has changed, I don’t think the laws have changed. But I think it will be surprising giving that the same Senate since 1999 has been accepting defection of members.

The same laws, the same constitution that give people the opportunity to defect are still in place and if suddenly, they say today that people can no longer defect, it is their opinion and everybody is entitled to his opinion.

Your major concern is that in 2015, the APC should produce a governor in Gombe State. In 2011, you struggled to ensure that you produce a governor for the PDP. Are you not tired of producing governors that will end up fighting you?

I don’t produce governors. God produces governors, political parties produce governors. So to say that I produce governors, I think it is wrong. I don’t want to over promote my own contributions, I don’t want to see myself as somebody who is fully in charge of the political activities in Gombe State. Even when I

won my election, it was not me, I led the fight, the PDP crusade to defeat the ANPP in 2003.So all subsequent elections were won, it was not because of my own making as a person as Goje. I am not one of those politicians who arrogate to themselves all credit of either installing or defeating a governor.

On his influence in Gombe and what the APC is going to do in the state that the PDP had not done I believe I still have much influence. I have been in this game since the Second Republic. I was a member of the Bauchi House

,

BY JOHNBOSCOA AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

and whether he is open for reconciliation?

I don’t personalize politics, I look at issues. Even as a student, I was always active politically. I was the president of Bauchi State Students Union. I have always been with the group that intends to change the society for better.

And given the situation in Nigeria today and the situation in Gombe State, we believe that the APC is in a better position. It is poised to make changes that will go a long way in improving the present condition of the people of my state and Nigeria as a whole.

The second part of your question was on whether or not I have reconciliation in my heart. Well, I am a human being and it will be inhuman for me to go against my religion to say that I don’t have a heart of reconciliation.

Even God Almighty, who created us, forgives us if we do the right thing. So, if God himself forgives, who am I not to forgive?

You said the APC would change the present condition of the people of Gombe State in particular and Nigeria as a whole when it comes into power but we know that when you were governor of Gombe State under the PDP, there were reports that you tried your best, are you now trying to say that the dream of PDP, its manifesto died after you left as a governor? Or are you trying to say that the present governor who succeeded you under the PDP platform is not carrying out the party’s manifesto in the state?

Well, I don’t want to join issues with the governor on personal grounds or on any other matter.

To force me to go into details is to force me to preempt my own party which I am not going to do.

The number of former governors in the Senate is intimidat-

,

So, to say I only benefited is not complete. You have to say we mutually benefited from each other

of Assembly before we even got Gombe State. So how do you expect me not to have relevance when I have been in the game since 1979? You cannot be a member of the State House of Assembly, a governor, a minister or an active participant in the political system for over 30 years and then expect that you will wake up one day to be deserted by the people, it is not possible.

On what APC will do differently, since I am not going to be a governor, we have not yet articulated in details the manifesto of our candidate. Even the manifesto of APC has not been properly articulated and circulated; I don’t want to preempt the party.

At the right time, I will give you the details.

On how PDP wronged him

ing and more are still coming.

What does it portend for the Senate?

I want to correct the impression of people seeing former governors as different people. We are all human beings; we are the same. The fact that we were governors does not make us different. It is just that we have experience. Governorship job is not a small job; it is a 24-hour job if you want to do it rightly. If you just want to go there and waste your time that you are governor, fine.

But if you want to do the job well, it is a very tasking job and in the process one acquires a lot of experience. And therefore, our presence in the Senate does not make us different, only that we have more experience; we have seen things than others who have not been governors.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 29

C M Y K

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 THERE have been some reactions to my article in this column last week titled: DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME. Some have, I think without justification questioned my sincerity since President Jonathan has been trying his best for the country since he was duly elected in 2011. Sincerely, I have no doubt that the seemingly amiable but crafty President has been doing his best, even if his best might be judged not to be good enough by others.

It is a pity that in the Nigerian political scene, criticism against party policy is often taken as a personal onslaught by an individual leader.

When sycophants cry out that President Jonathan is the most abused or a criticized Leader in Nigeria, the basis for such belief lacks merit. It is however true that in moment of exuberance at political rallies, leaders often talk gibly, and make promises which are often forgotten immediately after elections. Such an important promise the Obi of Onitsha reminded President Jonathan recently: the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Although the act of keeping promises by politicians is not the same as the art of making them, it helps the concept of trust if politicians talk less about lofty ideas that would fire imagination at that moment but later result in condemnation.

My main concern last week was against the attitude of many politicians to the threat to life and property of the hapless Nigerian, not only in the North-Eastern part of the country, but also in the Plateau State where killings have defied solutions offered by the security forces. The innocent blood of the unlucky combatants is often mixed with the blood of those who perish daily on the poorly maintained roads in a country where politicians and their leaders seem afflicted with psychic disorder. All what is of primary importance to the politicians is the crown of glory that would await the victorious party in 2015.

It is true that the many ills of present Nigeria pre-date the current President and that President Jonathan in his characteristic ‘go-slow‘ approach would overcome over a long period. Some suggest that a second-

Crushing the obstacles towards national development term elixir would provide a Leviathan. It is gratifying to note that the President has refused at present to join in the euphoria of a second-term prospects.

Many analysts believe, and justifiably so, that President Jonathan as the political leader of the nation has a sacred right to call on all Nigerians to form a united front to crush Boko Haram insurgency (warriors) in the North-East, the wandering murderers of Plateau State and the terrible marauders all over the country.

The call for a coalition of forces to suppress insurgency may not be popular where the opposition sees itself in a position to take over power. The truth is that political equation and sums do not normally add together. The clear scenario is that opposition to Jonathan is based neither on political ideology or economic principle. Some see the urge in the dirty fingers of ethnicity – power back to the North or underestimating the essence of governance of a plural society.

There is a great danger in the great rush to the 2015 general elections without serious attempt to remove the obvious obstacles to the general political and economic development. Apart from the problems of insecurity which have been highlighted, other problems are rooted in the structural deficiencies of the country which many patriots think the National

Dialogue of the President could conveniently solve.

Many Nigerians have set high hope on the successful outcome of the National Conference in spite of the negative thinking of the opposition politicians whose lack of trust in President Jonathan is the main factor.

If the President is sincere, he could take the opposition into full confidence and make all Nigerians participate fully. There should be ‘no go‘ area as erroneously announced by the President Jonathan since the purpose of the Conference is to determine how Nigerians could work together in peace and prosperity. If properly managed and sincerely coordinated, the National Conference could turn out to be President Jonathan‘s finest hours.

As it has been recognized all over the world, poverty is a potent threat to political stability. Poverty could arise out of inequitable distribution of income, lack of opportunity, unemployment and all combined.

In this country, abject poverty is a combination of all the vices except that there are glimpses of extreme wealth, side-byside with deep poverty – tending to give the impression of a growing economy.

Behind the golden mask of a macroeconomic stability lies the stench from a cesspool of unemployment and very poor

Why Nigeria'll not break up under Jonathan's watch—Clark Elder statesman and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark was the guest lecturer at the 7th Distinguished Lecture Series of School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Victoria Island, Lagos, last Wednesday. He spoke on burning national issues including the raging Boko Haram insurgency, war against graft and comments that Nigeria may disintegrate before 2015 among others.

BY IKENNAASOMBA

C

HRONICLING the his tory of Nigeria dating back to the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates, Clark said that propositions that the nation will disintegrate should be totally disregarded, as what is playing out in the country today is only a tussle for political power.

He said: “We have been together for the past 100 years. It was in 1914 that Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and the Southern protectorates. Don’t ask me why the amalgamation because I do not want to dwell on that. But firstly, it is apt to note that there was a true federation particularly in 1961. Among Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, there was a federation and these premiers

agreed that there was going to be a federation where everybody will be equal. We are going to have a federation where every component and region will be allowed to develop at its own pace. Then, these three leaders were able to develop their own region.

“It was in 1956 that the late Chief Anthony Enahoro moved a motion in the Parliament that there should be independence, but the Northerners said no, that we were not ready. So, when they came out of the Parliament, they were booed and jeered at.

And the northerners vowed never to come to Lagos again. Then, this was followed up by the independence in 1960, Nigeria did not break. Even in 1966, five majors in the Army decided to plot a coup that saw many people killed, including Tafawa Balewa, the Sarduana of Sokoto,

Nigerians willing to work and prone to destructive activities.

It is instructive to note that no developed nation would tolerate an unemployment rate of more than 10 per cent (3 percent is the norm) from any government. Rather, the contesting political parties would campaign of unemployment figure of between 3 to 5 per cent.

However, the Nigerian politicians are dreaming to rule in an atmosphere of about 30 per cent unemployment with 24 per cent among graduates. It should be remembered that the idle hands of yesterday are the insurgent, killers and kidnappers of today.

In a situation of high rate of employment, such a serious problem according to Prof R.C. Lipsey is best solved by encouraging governments, firms and households to be spend thrifts as much as possible because, other things being equal, the ,ore prodigal and spendthrift the households, the higher will be the level of national income and employment. Generally, unemployment for any length of time could be sad and soul destroying prolongs unemployment especially among graduates could be an invitation to chaos and general instability in the country.

CENTENARY HONOURS AWARD Sadly missing in the list are the names of late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Premier of Western Region who was killed in Army mutiny of 1966, and the mover of Independence Motion in 1957 that ushered in Nigeria‘s Independence in 1960. Dr. Mike Okpara, former Premier of Eastern Region and Leader of NCNC after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Navy Cdr. Akano (who as a young Lt. lowered the British flag during the Independence celebration in 1960). In Boxing, Hogan King Bassey was a former commonwealth and world‘s champion. Chief Simeon Adebo was a distinguished adminisistrator. Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle should not have been left out. I am sure there are many others which poor record keeping have left out.

ceded from Nigeria, but Gowon insisted that Nigeria must remain one. After the war that ensued, Nigeria became more stronger and united, the Igbo were re-integrated into the country because Gowon declared that there was no victor, no vanquished. Since then, so many things have happened, but Nigeria did not break.

“When in 1914 Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern protectorates, he did not say one would be superior to the other; he did not say one would rule Nigeria forever.

Massive support

•Clark Chief Akintola, Chief OkotieEboh and some soldiers. All these played out and Gen. Yakubu Gowon came into power but Nigeria did not break...

“Even in 1967, there was a civil war which claimed so many lives because the Igbo felt they were marginalized and therefore they fought for a cause. Under Odumegwu Ojukwu, they se-

The Northerners have ruled this country for 38 years, military and civilian, whereas others have ruled for just 16 years. The Igbo have just ruled for 6 months, but heaven did not fall. Now that the South-South who has not been there before is now there, heaven wants to fall.”

He recalled the 1979 election, saying the South-South massively supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a northerner and NPN candidate, and has always supported the North and other regions for the Presidency noting that there was no reason the South-South, a minority, will not be supported to complete its ten-

ure of eight years in the presidency.

Jonathan has right to re-contest elections: Speaking further, Clark said that Section 137 of the 1999 constitution allows the President to go for two terms of four years each. “So, it is an aberration for anybody to say that Jonathan does not have the right to re-contest in 2015 presidential elections. Section 137 guarantees the President the right to go for two terms of four years. President Jonathan was only a running mate to the late President Musa Ya’Adua in the 2007 elections. He only contested as President in 2011, therefore, it is a mix-up to say that Jonathan’s tenure started in 2007.”

Obnoxious statements: Describing statements credited to General Muhamadu Buhari, Adamu Ciroma and Asari Dokubo that there will be war if Jonathan wins or does not win the 2015 elections, Clark said they are not enough to break the country.

His words: “So, when you are talking about Nigeria in the shadow of 2015, I am very optimistic that nothing will happen to our dear country. I don’t see Nigeria breaking in 2015. People are just saying this because two American scholars who conducted a research some years back, postuContinues on page 31

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 31

Return of the Riceman – Oshiomhole, Imasuagbon make peace It was undoubtedly one of the most visible acts of political grace when Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State joined many others to thank God on the miraculous survival in an auto accident of one of his most formidable critics, Barrister Ken Imasuagbon.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR T HE venue was the New Covenant Gospel Church in Benin City and the sight of the same man he had relentlessly pursued and pilloried attending the church thanksgiving held in memory of his survival was emotive for Barrister Ken Imasuagbon.

“It shows you’re a good man.

May you not lose me or anybody from Edo State,” Imasuagbon told Governor Adams Oshiomhole as he made his thanks that memorable day earlier this month.

Dubbed the Rice Man on account of his yearly distribution of rice to the population in Edo State, few politicians like Imasuagbon and Oshiomhole could have put politics aside in appreciation of the goodness of God on one another as the two did that day.

Imasuagbon, a two-time gubernatorial aspirant in Edo State miraculously survived an automobile accident along the Agbor-Uromi road on November 14, 2013 when his convoy was hit by a truck belonging to one of the country’s largest industrial conglomerates.

Industrial conglomerates His survival was in every respect miraculous given that the vehicle he was traveling in was visibly written-off. It has been speculated since the accident that the truck driver was on an assassination attempt given that the truck by-passed the other vehicles ahead of Imasuagbon’s vehicle in the convoy to hit at the vehicle he was seated in. Besides, the vehicle driver has not been seen since and not even by his employers.

Following the accident he was flown abroad almost unconscious in an air ambulance until his return to Benin in early February.

The return to Benin was a celebrated affair with well wishers of the man on hand to receive him at the Benin airport when he arrived Benin City

that day.

If the ecstatic crowd that followed him on arrival was anything, then the outpouring of friends and “foe” at the church service was outstanding.

Comrade Oshiomhole who had been the object of Imasuagbon’s sharp tongue was the most prominent of the several well wishers that turned out to rejoice with the Rice Man. The survivor was escorted by family including his wife, Kate resplendent in a blue lace blouse upon a red wrapper with a red headgear. Ken’s mother was also on hand to thank God for the survival of her son.

Following a bible reading from Psalm 116:9-14, Imasuagbon thanked God for His mercies.

“What can I say? What can I do? All I have to say is to say thank you to God that heard your prayers and cries. Only the living can praise the Lord. If I had died on November 14, you’ll not be celebrating today. I thank God for giving me a second chance. You all did well. I’m grateful to every one of you. God saved me. I am alive. I am back to you. I am back because of your prayers and tears. I know that all of you prayed for me.

President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Tony Ahenih, HE

•Imasuagbon, Oshiomhole and Omobude: Peace at the altar (Governor Oshiomhole), everybody prayed for me.”

Fixing his gaze on the governor for putting aside their political differences to rejoice with him, Imasuagbon said: “It shows you’re a good man.

May you not lose me or anybody from Edo State,” he prayed.

Oshiomhole who aborted a trip to his own village to be with his political “foe” spoke in like manner. “All of us are Edo people. We’re not defined by the party we belong to. If anything, the party is defined by those who belong to it. What defines us is who we are- we’re Edo people.”

“We thank God for your life. We join your family to thank God because politics aside, you’re one of the main players and drivers in the Nigerian politics, economy and society. Many Nigerians are aware of your contributions in the education sector. You run not a

mushroom school, but a school that is truly imparting knowledge in the finest tradition.”

“Many of our politicians get so desperate because they do not have any other business address.

You have a flourishing business address, not just one that’s profitdriven, but also driven by a passion to impart knowledge, to contribute to the development of our human capital.”

Commending Imasuagbon’s gestures towards the people, the governor noted that it was remarkable that the celebrant would put his wealth to help the needy in the midst saying that such acts ought to be emulated by many others in the political class who only accumulate for themselves.

“That you choose to add to the life of the people is a testimony to the goodness of your heart and if political aspiration inspires men to do good, then politics should be the only

business in town.”

In his message, Rev. Felix Omobude, president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN urged the political class to put make truth a central policy in their aspirations.

Given that Oshiomhole is not due for another term in office, it was remarkable that Imasuagbon seized the opportunity of the goodwill demonstrated by the governor at the thanksgiving to negotiate a handover, to him in 2016 when the governor leaves office.

But Oshiomhole was shrewd in his response saying that whoever he hands over to whether ‘Ken or Imasuagbon or by whatsoever name called”, would be the person as chosen by the masses. “My prayer is for God to direct Edo people to help us in finding that man or woman.”

Why Nigeria'll not break up...

Continues from page 30 lated that Nigeria is in a balance or that Nigeria will break. They based their postulation on jostling for political power and the small arms being imported into this country.

Now certain obnoxious statements have been made by the likes of Buhari, Geidam, Alhaji Suleiman, Adamu Ciroma, Asari Dokubo and others that there will be war, bloodshed, that there will be no Nigeria, if Jonathan wins or does not win the 2015 elections. These statements which support the assertion by the American scholars is not enough to break Nigeria. Let it also be known that I, E.K. Clark openly responded to the NationalAssembly,especiallytheHon.Aminu Tambuwal-led House of Representatives not to play double standards. When the House ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest and investigate Asari Dokubo, who was only reacting to the statements of some northern elements who are threatening to make the country ungovernable if Jonathan wins the 2015 election, it was my open letter that

made the matter die down till date.”

On Corruption: “Jonathan has done a lot in fighting corruption in this country.

Looking at the issue of fuel subsidy, even the son of the former Chairman of his party was prosecuted. But however, I suggest that with the political will he has to fight corruption, that a Corruption tribunal should be set up, to charge criminals who steal our public funds, no matter how highly placed they are. This is being done in other countries. It pains me that most corrupt Nigerians still work freely in the streets.

Rather than keeping shut, they go about accusing the present administration of corruption. Take for instance, the suspended CBN governor, who has been playing a holy than thou attitude, it has just been made known that he was involved in financial recklessness at the CBN. Sanusi should not be allowed to go scot free. He should be made to go to jail, if found wanting after ongoing investigations.

Boko-Haram challenge: Reacting to Tuesday’s killing of students of Federal

Government Girls College in Yobe State, by the deadly Islamist sect, Boko Haram, Clark affirmed that all hands needed to be on deck in combating the insurgency which has claimed many lives and properties. He however blamed the insurgency to statements credited to some northerners that Nigeria will be ungovernable if Jonathan wins the 2011 Presidential elections.

“I think the federal government has been making frantic efforts to contain this insurgency. Government recently created a new army division to support the armed forces that are there already.

These insurgents are terrorists, because they have already been brain-washed that when they kill, Allah (God Almighty) will reward them after death in heaven, with seven virgins which is all fallacy.

One major challenge is the issue of genocide. Because when the Jonathan administration uses full force like Obasanjo did, so many innocent Nigerians will be killed."

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—33

I N S I DE:

Tale of the fast est rising fastest Nollywood 5

BY AYO ONIKOYI

O

ma Iyasara is an extraordinary, emerging talent, with a unique combination of good looks, enterprise, a good command of English with sophisticated diction.

In 2011, she enrolled in the prestigious Royal Arts Academy owned by Emem Isong and she excelled as one of the favourite students in her time, with a certificate of excellence.

A graduate of Mass Communication from Imo State University, Oma has featured in a number of blockbusters like ‘Damage’

by Uche Jombo, ‘Secret Weapon’ alongside Eucharia Anunobi, Emeka Ike and Chika Ike among many others.

What are the biggest challenges one encounters in trying to break through in Nollywood?

One of the greatest challenges is acceptance.

There are so many talents in Nollywood, and it is not an easy task to get noticed, not to even talk of acceptance.

Before you can be seen, you need to prove yourself beyond the ordinary. And the best way to prove you are different, is to be who you truly are.

How serious is the issue of ethnic bias in Nollywood?

C M Y K

A man who makes me laugh has a chance to my heart – Oma Iyasara That issue is not peculiar to Nollywood alone. Every work place has its own issue of tribalism because everybody tends to want to favour their own people before other people. But believe me, when you are talented such trivialities cannot stop you.

Now, there are issues of pornography creeping into Nollywood, is it true pornography makes the movies more real?

I don’t think pornography makes a movie real, the way the world is now, sex sells, so pornography is just a decoy to attract people to movies. But it doesn’t work for me because it’s not in our tradition and culture But you said if the money

I don’t think pornography makes a movie real, the way the world is now, sex sells, so pornography is just a decoy to attract people to movies

is right you may consider going nude for a role?

Yes, I may consider going nude to interpret a role but definitely not to the extent of going fully nude. Besides, that is why we have body doubles.

What are your selling points and have they helped you in anyway?

I will say my selling point is my jovial attitude, and my eyes.

Yes, I will say they have helped in a lot of ways and will still help in the future How have they helped? Please explain My jovial nature has opened doors for me in

ways I can’t explain; be it in people recommending me or just wanting to help me, because they just want to see me grow.

Who are your idols in the industry?

Uche Jombo, Nse Etim Ikpe, Dakore Akande, Bimbo Akintola, Joke Silva, the list is endless.

Now, what would attract you to a man?

A good conversationalist with a good sense of humour is my kind of man, any day. If a man makes me laugh a lot, he has a chance to my heart. Then his manners and how he treats other people count.

Though looks are not very important, it is an added advantage.

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

projecting yourself, it’s always difficult. I’m trying my best to get my name stamped in the industry. I believe with the help of God, it will soon happen.

I feel challenged by my name

Coming from a christian background,what were your parents’ reaction when you decided to go into music?

At first, it wasn’t easy to convince them, because my parents are highly religious. Being in the church choir at a point and then becoming an R n B artiste, a public figure was too much for them to handle. But with time, they learnt to live with it.

Why did you choose the R n B genre of music?

I can’t say it’s basically RnB. I do a lot of things; I’m a rapper and I also do high life. Though I do more of RnB-Hiphop.

— Finnest,

What should your fans be expecting from you?

I have a lot of things in stock. I just dropped a new single, it’s a highlife kind of music titled, ‘Finnest, No Dey Tire’.

It’s out there in the market. My management is working round the clock and very soon, the video will be out. I’m also working on other songs that are yet to be released.

Music Ar tist e Artist tiste

BY JULIET EBIRIM

H

erbert Patrick Onyebuchi popularly known as ‘Finnest’ is one of the rising music stars who holds a lot of promises for this generation. Having started his journey into music since 2010, Finnest is poised to rule the nation’s airwaves in future. In this interview, he shares his passion as well as his desire to emerge as one of the best up and coming artistes in Nigeria.

Have you worked with other artistes, like doing a collabo ?

I’ve worked with some artistes but they are budding artistes like myself. I ‘m working towards doing a song with Olamide and Phyno before the end of March.

Let’s meet you!

My name is Herbert Patrick Onyebuchi popularly known as ‘Finnest.’ I am an artiste from Imo state. I do R n B - Hip hop.

How did you get the name ‘Finnest’?

I got the name from a couple of friends way back in High School.

Since then, I’ve kept the name and it means a lot to me. It is said that great power comes with great responsibility. So, I’m trying my best to live up to the expectations that come with the name ‘Finnest’.

What inspired your decision to go into music?

I didn’t just start singing. As a matter of fact, I’ve been in the Church choir (Deeper Life Bible Church) since my childhood. But I started singing professionally in 2010, when I released my first single, ‘Baby Girl Come Back.’ It’s presently on air, but I got signed to a record label (Sounds & Meknitz RecordS) officially in 2012. Since then, I’ve been working on releasing my maiden album.

How many songs have you done so far?

I can’t say, but I’ve done a couple of singles. I have a video ‘Omoge’. which is currently enjoying good airplay. The video is being played on Soundcity, MTV Base and our local stations too.

What challenges did you encounter on your journey into music?

I encountered a lot of challenges.

As an upcoming artiste, it’s not easy C M Y K

•Finnest

Besides music, are you thinking of branching out into other aspects of entertainment?

Besides music, I’m also a footballer. But I had to abandon football in order to focus on my music.

Who are those you look up to in the industry?

My number one mentor is D’banj, the Koko Master. Foreign artistes such as R.Kelly, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Beyonce also inspired me. I love Wizkid too.

Where are you hoping to see yourself, five years from now?

I want to see myself as one of the best artistes to come out of Nigeria and be respected on the world stage.

I got the name from a couple of friends way back in High School. Since then, I’ve kept the name and it means a lot to me

What kind of person are you?

I’m a simple dude, God-fearing. I try to keep my cool, be myself, despite being a singer.

What’s your family and educational background?

I’m the fourth child in a family of six children. I was born and brought up here in Lagos. I studied Business Administration at the Lagos State Polytechnic.

Any last words to fans?

They should expect nothing but the best from me. Like I said earlier, the name ‘Finnest’ is a challenge to me and I intend to keep the fire burning.

How is the name a challenge?

‘Finnest’ is all about portraying the best, letting people see that you are the best and you have to do things to show that you are really the best. That’s what the name means to me.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—35

Tale of the fastest rising Nollywood 5 I

t has never been a piece of cake to make it in Nollywood. Despite the industry being adjudged as the second biggest in the world, going by the number of films produced per year, the abundance of talents jostling to make their mark makes it anything but easy.

More often than not, many actors have come into the makebelieve world of Nollywood with dreams as big as their fantasies only to be disenchanted when faced with the gritty business of making it. Beauty just doesn’t count because they come a dime a dozen and when you feel talent is all that would see you through, you soon find out the industry is a sea of talents, tapped and untapped.

However, some have been lucky or should we say, super talented. What their mates might have spent years achieving they pulled off in the shortest time possible. They are not many in the industry and the actresses on the top of the list right now are the quintet of Ivie Okujaye, Queeneth Hilbert, Mercy Macjoe, Tamara Eteimo and Crystal Okoye.

These Nollywood fastest rising five have nothing in common except the fact that they have enjoyed uncommon speedy rise to fame. In the space of five years these young ladies have done what took their mates scores of years to achieve.

•Queeneth

by Ayo Onikoyi Hilbert

Ivie Okujaye: The graduate of Economics from the University of Abuja who won the Amstel Malta Box Office talent hunt reality show in 2009 has come to stamp her presence on the movie scene. Even though she took a break after winning the talent hunt reality show to continue her study, Ivie returned with a bang.

Her unforgettable role in ‘Alero’s Symphony’ a 2011 flick which starred her alongside top hiphop star, Faze, saw her claiming the prestigious AMAA award for Best Promising Actress in 2012. Also at the first edition of the African Magic Viewers Choice Award last year, affable, ever-smiling Ivie stole the night as the ‘Trailblazer of the Year ’.

She has been tagged ‘Little Genevieve’ on account of her looks and talent. And like her look-alike superstar Ivie also tested her voice as a singer and it seems the rising star may have more luck. She is from Delta state and apart from singing and acting, Ivie also does scriptwriting.

Tamara Eteimo; Tamara has almost the same story as Ivie, she too, started her career on the wings of winning a talent hunt reality show. She won Next Movie Star reality show in 2011 after graduating from the University of Port Harcourt, where she studied Theatre Arts. Immediately after, she landed a lead role in the popular Wale Adenuga’s production,Super Story and acted the role of Utohan, the female footballer.

She has done many movies, but the one that caught many people’s fancy was the ‘Desperate Housegirl’ in 2013 where she played the supporting role as Victoria. Tamara played the role to near perfection that even the ever criticising movie maker, Charles Novia, could not help but name Tamara as one of the best six actors of 2013.

That accolade did not end at C M Y K

•Mercy Macjoe Charles Novia’s desk, the African Magic Viewers Choice Award joined in the chorus, which saw Tamara’s name being listed as one of the nominees for the Best Supporting Actress in a

•Ivie Okujaye

•Eteimo Tamara

•Crystal Okoye Drama alongside other top African talents.

Like Ivie, Tamara also has passion for music. She has released some singles, many enough for an album release but as Tamara said in a recent interview her love for acting has somewhat eclipsed her singing career. She’s back in the world of music, just as her profile is rising in the movie scene.

Queeneth Hilbert: Beautiful Queeneth who has been touted as the most beautiful girl in Nollywood is anything but a rookie looking for the big score.

She started show business when she was barely 15. Her journey into acting only started in 2012 and between then and now, Queeneth claims to have done between 20 to 30 movies.

Now that is a profile that will make many go green with envy and in more than half of those films Queeneth wasn’t picking the end of things, she was actually in either the lead or supporting role. She has said she has no qualms about acting nude or having to bring pornography

to the fore, all in the name of role interpretation.

To the half Nigerian, half Lebanese Queeeneth, acting should not have ‘stop’ signs, to her, acting is about translating the script in graphic details whether with the clothes on or off.

Crystal Okoye: Crystal Okoye hasn’t got a profile as long as an arm but her profile is rich, unusual and fascinating. Barely a year on the scene, the curvaceous twenty-something has done more than 20 movies with more than 5 of those as the leading lady- now, that’s a profile even the best in the industry will gawk at.

Still an undergraduate of University of Nnamdi Azikwe, Anambra State, Crystal had her first shot at acting in 2012 and she was paid a paltry ten thousand naira in ‘Wild Heart’, a movie which saw her doing another one almost immediately.

Only a couple of days back Crystal announced her arrival as a ‘big girl’ in the industry by taking delivery of a new Honda SUV. Mercy Macjoe: If Crystal’s story is fascinating, Mercy Macjoe’s is one a little short of incredibility. Her first appearance in a movie turned out to be a lead role and that’s a record that cannot be found laying around in Nollywood.

Her story has a bit of a maverick about it. According to her, she saw an advert on television for an audition and decided to try out her luck and it came out unstuck for the actress.

Since that 2011, it has been jollyride from one location to another for the Akwa Ibom State-born beauty who has had more than 20 movies to her credit.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—37 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

How smar tphone usage is powering designs I

n 2013, two major firms in the United States of America,Facebook and analyst firm International Data Corporation, IDC, collaborated on a study named “Always Connected” which aimed to showcase the relationship between smartphones and social activities. The study focused on the behaviour of Android and smartphone owners, over 70 per cent of whom believe in smartphone connections as the best and preferred form of direct communication to their friends and contemporaries.

One of the key things taken away from the report is that people are spending less time using smartphones as phones.

The study highlighted that only 16 per cent of user’s time was spent using their devices as a phone, whereas other activities such as emailing, 78 per cent, web browsing 73 per cent, and playing games 60 per cent ranked much higher.

As a result of these usage patterns, the design and form of the latest mobile phones is starting to change. Bigger screens, more human-centric UX and the rising popularity of large display smartphones which mix the best of phone / PC functions all point towards users now viewing their devices more as pocketable, personal computers as opposed to just phones.

To accommodate this contemporary trend, device makers LG Electronic says it is adding some touches to its designs to ensure its products meet the taste of time. Some of the areas it is focusing its innovation includes:

*LG, G2

Cameras – The successful marriage of phone and camera remains one of the most iconic inflection points in the evolution of smartphones despite first appearing some years ago. LG said that powerful cameras like the 13 megapixel model featured in its G2 smartphone remains just as important. It makes digital communication become even more visual with new social media channels and live videostreaming on website like Youtube.

Batteries – With increased mobile phone usage, satisfying power needs have become priority especially in Africa where power supply is a bit challenging. Innovations in battery technology however, have lagged behind advances in processing power. Since 2000, battery capacity has only doubled while processing speed has increased 12-fold.

Lithium Ion batteries are the current industry standard, however the race is on to engage with newer battery technologies such as wireless charging and carbon nanotubes to help improve efficiency.

Displays – Increased usage also means the need for more power-efficient, durable and versatile high contrast displays. LG’s OLED display technology, which features in both in its premium SMART TV and premium smartphone models such as the G Flex is a key differentiator in consumer buying decisions.

New Galaxy S5 comes biometric scanner-enabled

A

t last, leading smartphone makers, Samsung, has taken the opportunity of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, to let the lid off its highly anticipated Galaxy S5 smartphone.

Perhaps, it was a grand design or the mobile maker could no longer wait after the myriad of new devices making debut at the show.

But for what it’s worth, the new Galaxy device has additions that reflect good thinking and present the company as a modern day solution provider.

Powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, the Galaxy S5 sports a 5.1-inch super AMOLED display, making it slightly larger than its predecessor, the Galaxy S4. The device also boasts an upgraded 16-megapixel camera, new fitness tracking features, a heart rate scanner and is dust and water resistant.

The highlight of the Galaxy S5 is a new fingerprint sensor, which is integrated with the device’s home button. The finger scanner will

provide consumers with a safe, biometric screen-locking feature and also make their mobile payment experience more secure.

The new Galaxy S5 features a perforated pattern on the back cover creating a stylish and modern look. It comes in an array of colours, including Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue and Copper Gold.

It is the fifth generation of the Galaxy S series and the company has promised it will be available for purchase in 150 countries, including Nigeria, on April 11.

Speaking at the unveiling of the device, Director of Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas said the new Galaxy S5 offers consumers a refined experience with the added advantage of innovation on essential features for everyday use. ”With the Galaxy S5, Samsung is going back to basics to focus on delivering the capabilities that matter most to consumers. A great number of innovations have been injected into the device towards delivering new value to enhance their lives and also provide them with the ultimate communication experience. The Galaxy S5 represents an iconic design with essential and useful features to focus on delivering the ultimate smartphone in the market today through people-inspired innovation,” he said.

*Galaxy S5

How to make money from apps

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

I

t’s no longer news that Facebook acquired Whatsapp for 19bn dollars, an amount that can buy the entire Manchester United football club eight times over with change left over. But the question is, how on earth did an app that is practically free, have so much worth? And what makes facebook think it can make its money back? But on a more personal note, how can we make money from developing apps?

The most traditional way to make money from apps is by selling your app in the app store. Most sold apps go for $0.99 which is about N150 or less per download.

C M Y K

Whatsapp for example is free in the first year of usage but in the second year, users are supposed to pay $0.99. However, with millions of free apps circulating around the globe every day, it seems plausible that very few people would be interested in paying for an app, no matter how innovative it is.

In the app world, ‘free’ is the new ‘monetization plan’ but how does that work in the real world? One way is through In-app purchases. In-App purchases allow users to unlock or upgrade parts of a game or tool after they download it. It’s a simple case of getting the pet for free, but paying for its feed. The reason is that they can pay for different items to help them advance. Another recent report shows that nearly 76 per cent of all Apple App revenue comes from people purchasing upgrades on apps that were originally free.

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

DELSU trains youths in power, energy T

•Engr, Akpos Okeren

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

I

NDUSTRY leader in makeup and beauty, House of Tara recently launched one of its new luxury studio at the Centro Mall in Lekki. The launch, which presents a different kind of beauty experience to guests, was headlined with the music of soul singer, Bez. “Every studio is special to us, it’s an expression of the passion we bring to making women beautiful in Nigeria and outside,” says the managing director, Tara FelaDurotoye. “We are particularly excited with this store as it gives an expression to the wholesome make up experience we want to create.

Because we have mastered the art of retail management with our 14 studios and over 3000 reps, we are scaling up our distribution channel management by presenting other brands with our retail opportunities.”

“And for our customers, we also appreciate that each brand has its own offering and

O key into Governor Uduaghan’s human capital development and job creation programmes, the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka has embarked on a youth empowerment programme to train over 600 youths on certain aspects of power and energy.

For a hitch-free exercise, the state university through DELSU Investment Limited is partnering with Shurlock Solar Tech Services Limited in form of Private, Public Partnership (PPP) in line with local content development.

The one-month training programme which will be conducted in six centres across the state th will commence from 8 March, 2014 and is expected to end in the first week of April. The training centres include: Warri, Abraka, Ughelli, Sapele, Asaba and Oleh, all in Delta State .

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Shurlock Solar Tech, Engr, Akpos Okeren, participants in the programme will surely benefit a lot as they have designed and enriched the different aspects of the training. He said courses in building and electrical installations of solar inverters, building of panels, determination of solar battery

bank, street light installations, house wiring amongst others.

These courses, the energy consultant maintained, will open the eyes of these students particularly on renewable energy and solar devices.

Engr Okeren who confirmed that the programme is open to both students and the general public said “What DELSU is trying to do is very commendable. They are trying to introduce vocational skills into the students even with their academic training, so that they will be self reliant in the future. Apart from that, these students would also be equipped with some basic technical knowledge such as how to avert fire outbreaks, installations of electrical equipment and how to monitor and control power and its equipment”.

“The programme is going to run for a month in form of a weekend programme. Warri centre commences from 8th to 9th march 2014 while the training will take place in five

other centres at different dates across the state. All individuals who succeed in gaining the knowledge are recognised as having both the theoretical and practical skills to be a quality technician.”

Okeren added.

Speaking further, the American trained engineer who said that over 100 participants are expected in each of the zones said “It is very important, beneficial to obtain such training because it gives a strong competitive advantage when starting a career in the green job market.

I advise the general public to join the session where they can learn through leading recognised experts in each of the major fields of renewable energy. This surely will provide a very high standard of teaching within the sector”.

Meanwhile, Shurlock Solar Tech Services Limited is a renewable energy company specialising in installation power and energy equipment such as street lights, solar water projects, electrical transformers and house wiring. The company has been in business for over seven years and has also partnered with many foreign energy firms such as Florida Earth for Energy. Others include schools,

House of Tara launches a different kind of beauty experience really; no woman’s makeup bag has all same products, so we want to ensure our consumers have access to a wide variety of products every time they walk into our stores” says Rhema Akabuogu, Retail

Experience Manager The 14th studio for the brand, was formally opened at an exclusive VIP event at the rooftop of the Centro Mall Last Sunday.

With 14 studios in eight states

and emerging footprints in Ghana, Kenya and SA; this studio is strategically located at the Centro Mall which sits in the heart of Lekki’s thriving lifestyle community, and is purpose built to be the

premier provider of shopping, food, event and fitness space.

House of Tara is also set to launch 29 new stores across 12 cities in 2014.

The studio will host TARA Makeup, the company’s in house brand, as well as some of the world’s most exciting beauty brands. House of Tara continues to create a world class experience for its customers across the country.

“We are excited!” says says Rhema Akabuogu, Retail Experience Manager. “We possess the education, infrastructure and distribution channels that allow for a soft landing for other international and local makeup brands. For this event; no detail was spared in creating this experience for the special guests who will be at the event, and the beautiful women – and men! – who will visit the studio. It points to the future for the TARA brand, and as a pioneer, for beauty in Nigeria and the continent.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

— 39

London Runways

- the Economics of Fashion

T

HE London fashion week Autumn Winter 2014 ended this week on an exultant note, with government and private sector alike lining up to be part of the success story.

At a press conference to open the Fashion Week Natalie Massenet, Chairman of the British Fashion Council, announced updated figures showing substantial growth in the UK fashion industry over the past five years. ‘I wish all those involved a successful London fashion week, and hope that it generates more opportunities for some of our most promising creative talents. A successful fashion industry means more jobs for the people of this country and that in turn means economic security for families in Britain’.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “These latest figures are clear evidence of the hugely important contribution that fashion makes to our economy. It is a dynamic industry whose value is increasing thanks to the dazzling creativity of our designers, the brilliant colleges that bring up the next waves of talent and a fast moving retail sector, which covers the spectrum of great style from bespoke to high street. My office will continue to work with the British Fashion Council to ensure that London remains on the front row in the international fashion stakes.

Sam Moore, COO, Oxford Economics, added: “Our research underlines the continued and growing importance of the fashion industry’s contribution to the UK economy. Despite, the severe economic headwinds that have confronted British industries since 2009, the growth of the fashion industry is a testament to the popularity of the UK’s fashion industry.

London Fashion Week is part of the Big 4 fashion weeks internationally, the others being Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. The schedule begins with New York, followed by London, and then Milan, and ending the events in Paris.

In addition to Ready to Wear shows, there are Men’s and Haute Couture shows, which are held semi annually for the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter seasons.

S TAT I S T I C S 75,000: Last season there were 75,000 images added to Instagram that including hashtag #LFW. There were 176,000 mentions of #LFW on Twitter.

160: London Fashion Week live streams are watched in 160 countries worldwide 200kg: Over 200 kg of Lavazza beans are used over London Fashion Week, with over 30,000 espressos being served at London Fashion Week last season 22%: The direct value of the UK fashion industry to the UK economy is £26 billion; up from £21 billion in 2009. Showing an increase of 22% in nominal terms (source: Oxford Economics 2014) 797,000: The UK fashion industry is estimated to support 797,000 jobs (source: Oxford Economics 2014). This is a decrease of 2.3% from 2009 Whilst employment figures have dropped overall the increased contribution to UK GVA reflects higher productivity within the fashion sector. The British Fashion Council is committed to supporting growth in the sector which it hopes will lead to more employment opportunities 46 billion: Fashion’s total contribution to the economy via both indirect support for supply chain industries and induced spending of employee’s wage income is estimated to have risen to over £46 billion. An increase of 23% since 2009 (source: Oxford Economics 2014) 77: 77 designers showing presentations or catwalk collections on the schedule over 5days Over 150 UK and international emerging and established, ready-to-wear and accessory designers exhibit in The Designer Showrooms at London Fashion Week 120 million: UK media coverage each season exceeds £160m (source: Precise) and media coverage from the International Guest Programme exceeds £120m 5,000: Over 5,000 visitors were expected: buyers, TV & radio crews, journalists and photographers. It is estimated that orders of over £100m are placed during LFW each season; the International Guest Programme alone generates over £65m of orders.

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY LIBRA; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis may bring you personality clashes base on envy from the other party. Slow down and give peace a chance at least for now.

SCORPIO; Full-Moon in Aries points to possible misunderstanding (probably) within your working arena. This is the wrong time to fan the embers of discord.

SAGIT TARIUS; Although the full-Moon is generating tension, your wish is to have your good time. It’s wrong to under-rate the havoc jealousy can wreck.

CAPRICORN; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis will bring pressure from many fronts, the more noticeable ones are career/business and domestic related types AQUARIUS; Full-Moon in Aries warns you to watch what you sign and verbally agreed to do. If you fail to respect the law, it’ll back-fire very soon.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

GIP here means – ‘Any Government In Power’. The acronym is meant to describe persons of easy virtues who have remained common

Are You An A.G.I.P Person? denominator in every succeeding government/administration. It is used here as a metaphor for lack of principle.

If I may ask you

TERROR MUDA

– what do you stand for? What do people know you for? Can people trust you to do the common good?

What cause do you be-

in “Never say goodbye”

lieve in? Can you fight for the cause?

Don’t be an A.G.I.P. Person.

Don’t fall for everything. Dedicate your life to a worthy cause.

Fight for honour.

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; Today ’s full-Moon in Aries does not encourage carelessness with money as such can actually lead to avoidable but serious troubles. Avoid jealous approach ARIES; Full-Moon in your Star sign will encourage you to under-rate many to their resentment the way you too’ll be negatively affected. Don’t ignore your spouse TAURUS; Full-Moon in Aries warns you to do away with whatever can not be placed above board.

Take your health seriously today more than before GEMINI; Today’s full-Moon in Aries can tempt you to expose your love life unnecessarily. Separate your private/personal affairs and open friendship CANCER; Full-Moon will certainly affect your mood and make you aggressive but, encouragement of tension along your career line and/or within your business circle can not help your cause now.

Protection of your image is important however.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LEO; Full-Moon may bring you what you’re likely to see as an insult but in reality it is not one. You only need to be on the right side of the law so that you’ll have the last laugh to the detriment of your opponents. Discourage of jealousy within you.

VIRGO; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis may generate tension around you but, the best way for you not to be the loser is to make sure your finances are well protected. Then green eyed monster called jealousy may make things a little bit difficult.

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

Basic characteristics of Pisces Pisces is 12th of the twelve Zodiac signs ruled by mysterious Neptune. It quality is mutable while it element is water. Mutable aspect of Pisces indicates that people born under it are changeable, by this I mean they change their minds often times. Being a water sign, naives of this Star have very strong intuition and can flow into anybody heart and/or mind.

Neptune as the ruler of Pisces brings compassion and ARTISTIC talent into Pisces born people’s creativity quotient. Neptune rules psychic related thing and many of things that cannot be placed above board; Neptune makes most natives of this star sign secretive, hard to understand and dreaming.

Two opposing fishes as joint symbol of Pisces oftentimes responsible for occasional confusion suffer by all natives of Pisces one time or the other. It is truly important for them to learn how to control both their emotion and mind.

Because it is easy for Pisces people to become pessimistic unnecessarily The reasons are while one of the fishes may head for optimism and day dreaming, the other’s inclination may be of fear, despondency and timidity. Thus, confusion can creep in and that will be to the detriment of their confidence.

Cultivation of practical nature and adoption of realistic method in all you do will be of great importance. It is equally important for Pisces born people like you to take psychic related things more seriously because they can make use of psychic and/or spiritual related things.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 41

TREBLE CHANCE Aston V. South'pton Sunderland

v Norwich v Liverpool v West Brom

Millwall

v Brighton

Watford Preston Tranmere Cheltenham

v Blackpool v Walsall v Oldham v Bury

Guest Forecaster BAYO AKINWAMIDE BET ON – 34, 40, 43 OXFORD UNITED 44 AWAY: Exclusive 2013/2015 Oxford UNITED. By appearance of Oxford United on away game Coupon No.44, have its opponents 6th and last letters added, as addition made subtracted the Date-Matches-Played, and that fraction made multiply by ‘2’ for a sure draw automatically.

Research and presentation by Bayo Akinwamide.08035317164.

Facebook: bayodusports@yahoo.com WEEK05- Fixtures Saturday August17,2013 appeared Oxford United at an away game Coupon No.44 with Torquay a match. That’s A+Y=1+25=26-17=9x2=18banker. Checked for Week05 matches played Saturday August17,2013, Napped-18.

WEEK33- Fixtures Saturday March1,2014 appeared Oxford United at an away game Coupon No.44 with Rochdale a match. That’s A+E=1+5=61=5x2=10banker. Checked for Week33 matches to be played Saturday March1,2014 to NAP-10.

Graded right, Saturday March1,2014 are Preston vs Millwall, Southend vs Wycombe. TIPS << >> NAP:3,31,37,45. NAP:10,18,38,48. NAP:4,10,16,21.

NAP:10,11,29. NAP:34,40,43. NAP:35,38,44.

FOUR HOMES

HIBERNIAN – 48 – AWAY CLASSIFICATION. English Football, Scotland and The HIBEES ! With simple appearance of Hibernian on away game Coupon No.48 made Jackpot, that by multiplication of 4. And, Double-Multiplication: 4,3,2,1 respectively. Have first and last letters its opponents subtracted, as fraction added ‘14’ for Point. And Point by multiplied, as that multiplication made subtracted “49”, and fraction made subtracted the Date-Matches-Played for Pointer.

Finally, Pointer be multiplied by Double-Multiplication for a sure draw automatically. ReLATE search and presentation by Bayo Akinwamide. 08035317164. Facebook: TIPS bayodusports@yahoo.com WEEK16- Fixtures Saturday November2,2013 appeared Hibernian at an away game Coupon No.48 tie Motherwell as a match. That’s M-L/N. =1312=1+14=15point. Therefore, 15x4=6049=11-2=9pointer.And 9x4=36banker.

Checked for Week16 matches played Saturday November2,2013, Napped-36.

WEEK32- Fixtures Saturday February22,2014 appeared Hibernian at an away game Coupon No.48 tie Kilmarnock as a match. That’s K-K/N. =11-11=0+14=14point. Therefore, 14x4=56-49=7-22=15pointer. And, 15x3=45banker. Checked for Week32 matches played Saturday February22,2014, NAPPED-45.

10X14X 15 PAIR X16 FOUR AWAYS 41 X 11X 25X 27 42 X 28 PERMUTATION AVOID 1 X 6X8X 17 14 X 31 X 33 RISKY TIPS 15 36X42X 46 CREDIT Coventry 2 Sheff Wedd 2 Barnet 2 Aldershot 3 York 3 Plymouth 3 Northpton 3 Newport Co 3

EXCELLENT Aston V. South'pton Sunderland Millwall Watford Preston Tranmere Cheltenham

7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5

Give us your views about our Guest Forecaster

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS WEEK 33 Barclays Premier League 1 Aston V. 2 Everton 3 Fulham 4 Hull 5 Man Utd. 6 South'pton 7 Stoke 8 Sunderland 9 Swansea 10Tottenham

.

v Norwich XX v West Ham 1X v Chelsea 2 v Newcastle X1 v Man City X v Liverpool XX v Arsenal 2X v West Brom XX v Crystal P. X1 v Cardiff 1

Sky Bet Championship 11 Bolton 12 Bournemouth 13 Burnley 14 Huddersfield 15 Ipswich 16 Leicester 17 Millwall 18 Nottm For 19 O.P.R. 20 Reading 21 Sheff Wed 22 Watford

v Blackburn 2 v Doncaster 1X v Derby X1 v Barnsley 1 v Birmingham 1 v Charlton 1 v Brighton XX v Wigan 1X v Leeds 1 v Yeovil 1 v Middlesbro 2X v Blackpool XX

Sky Bet League One 23 Bradford C. 24 Bristol C. 25 Carlisle 26 Coventry 27 Crawley 28 Crewe 29 Leyton O. 30 Milton KD 31 Preston 32 Rotherham 33 Tranmere 34 Wolves

v Stevenage v Gillingham v Brentford v Shrewsbury v Peterboro v Swindon v Colchester v Sheff Utd v Walsall v Notts Co. v Oldham v Port Vale

1 2X 2 X1 2 2 1 1 XX 1 XX 1

Sky Bet League TTw wo 35 Burton A. v Accrington S 1 36 Cheltenham v Bury XX 37 Chesterfld v Portsmouth 1 38 Dagenham v Mansfield 1 39 Fleetwood v AFC Wimbldn 1 40 Hartlepool v Torquay 1 41 Newport Co. v Scunthorpe X1 42 North'pton v Bristol R. XX 43 Plymouth v Morecambe XX 44 Rochdale v Oxford 1 45 Southend v Wycombe 1 46 York v Exeter XX

6 8 17 36

Conference Premier 47 Aldershort 48 Barnet 49 Braintree

v Lincoln v Woking v Hyde

XX X1 1X

Revised Pairs 1 x 6, 8 x 17 31 x 33,42 x 46

42— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 ATE last year when Nigeria Abdu-Kabir Abubakar beat even the Arabs and other nationals and won the first prize in the first category of World Quran Recitation Competition, not many saw the glory the young Muslim brought to the nation.

The event itself was not reported in the media, perhaps because many thought it was not a national affair, but rather strictly, a Muslim affair.

The King Abdul Azeez competition, as the mother of all international Qur ’an contests, witnessed over 6000 participants from all over the world and where a Nigerian came first with the coveted We will have appreciable prize money of SR 100,000.

The success story has placed number of them who will teach Nigeria on record, not only in even the up-coming generation Saudi Arabia but also all over the right attitude and culture of the world. Unfortunately, not Islam.

The national competition that even a Presidential handshake produced Ustaz Abubakar was was offered. last weekend concluded in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital.

Meaning and In the competition that lasted interpretation seven-days, Ustaz Suleiman One of the benefits to the Saleh emerged the 2014 winner society includes proper of the National Quran reading learning and internalisation of Competion. He will have the the meaning and interpretation honour to represent Nigeria in of the Quran as revealed to Saudi Arabia to defend the title Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)

by God. With that, we will have less of those who congregate themselves killing fellow human beings, slaughtering children and other innocent people and telling the world what Islam is not.

The truth is that in the face of misconception and misinterpretation of the word of God by dare devil elements in the society, when we have more youths dedicating themselves to the precision and correctness of the reading and meaning of the Quran, they will be kept away from violence and extremism.

Nobody will gouge them into later this year. doing what is not contained in Suleiman Saleh, from Ikara the scripture.

LGA, Kaduna state scored 95.8

L

Nat'l Qur'an recitation competition for a paradigm shift

on them including cars and multiple scholarships to any academic institution around the

world.

The Jigawa state government alone donated 12 cars for all the male and female winners in the six categories alongside

,

percent in the male category, while Wasilah Haliru from Sabon Gari LGA also in Kaduna State scored 94.5 percent in the female category; both were tested in Memorisation, Tafsir and Tejweed of the entire Quran.

While Saleh was turbaned and decorated by His eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, Ustaziah Haliru was decorated by the wife of VicePresident, Hajia Aishat Sambo.

Cash gifts running into millions of Naira were splashed

and the hereafter! It means you can gain the world effortlessly through the knowledge of the Quran; that alone is a big achievement in the life of any young Muslim. This will open doors for other opportunities.

Sometimes, when we ask for Hasana in dunya, we think of all the good things, materially which we desire to use to better our lives. These are rather beckoning on the winners with lots of gifts and opportunities just as the preparation for the journey to the hereafter is set on a sound footing; to be able to receive glad tidings from angels, to be granted easy reckoning and the favour of Allah. I wish I was Saleh; I wish I was much younger to seize another opportunity to contest for this glorious event.

Besides, this will encourage Muslim youths not only in the

It means you can gain the world effortlessly through the knowledge of the Quran; that alone is a big achievement in the life of any young Muslim

fridges, sewing machines and computers as consolation prizes for other contestants with N5 million going to the foundation; Center for Islamic Studies, Othman Danfodio University, Sokoto which organised the competition.

Among personalities who doled out gifts to the winners and all contestants include the chairman of the occasion, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos; Niger state governor, Dr. Aliyu Babangida; Kaduna State governor, Ralman Yero; Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako;, Speaker of the National House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; the Shehu of Borno; the wife of the Vice President, Aisha Sambo.

What else can be more rewarding both in this world

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day-to-day recitation of the Glorious Qur’an, but also forge unity and Islamic brotherhood among the ummah and intensify learning of the correct recitation of the Holy Qur’an and all its sciences in the manner it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). It will also enhance the quality of learning Tajweed and sciences of the Holy Qur’an in schools and colleges throughout the country.

Apart from winners in all the six categories, all the finalists were outstanding because non of them scored below 92 per cent. No fewer than 139 males and 127 females from 27 states took part in the competition.

Congratulations to all winners!

Security expert calls for behavioural analysis of Boko Haram

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ENOWNED security expert Dr. Ona Ekhomu has called on Nigeria’s security agencies to conduct behavioral analyses of Boko Haram terrorists in order to predict future attacks and prevent the tragic events. According to Ekhomu, behavioral analysis gives the security psychologists or profilersdeep insight into the mind, phenomenology, idiosyncrasies and patternedbehaviors of sociopathic and psychopathic serial offenders.

Reacting to the killing of over 50 students in the attack in Yobe State, Ekhomu said that since BokoHaram terrorists were serial killers, it was possible to predict their choice of targets, timing of attacks, success rate and methods of attacks – even before they strike.

Ekhomu called for the setting up of Behavioral Analysis Units as part of our security infrastructure. He said that the war against Boko Haram

terrorism was not a conventional warfare and that Nigeria’s security agencies have to be retooled faster in order to “meet extant challenges”.

According to Dr. Ekhomu who is also the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, Boko Haram had repeatedly attacked schools in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states with huge fatalities.

He opined that 90 per cent of school attacks occurred at night with the terrorists employing the same methods of AK-47 rifle shootings, throat slashing and burning of students to death in their dormitories. He said that the terrorists had “left enough signatures that can assist behavioral analysts to predict their future moves with certainty, thereby thwarting their nefarious plans to kill innocent students.”

Hajia Aishat Sambo, wife of the Vice President with Hajia Mariayam Lamido, wife of Jigawa State Governor during the 28th National Quranic Recitation competition held in Dutse, Jigawa State recently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014— 43

Hajj 2014: Ogun govt tasks prospective pilgrims

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Humuani’s life is a pride to Muslims — Jadesola Oyewole •How my sister seeking admission into Xtian school was victimised Alhaja Silifat Jadesola Oyewole, former National Treasurer of Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), attended Tottenham College London and started Muslim Ladies Circle, is one of the children of the late scholar and merchant Alhaja Humuani Alaga, the Otun Iyalode of Ibadan Land. In this interview with newsmen, she speaks on making marriages work, women activism, girlchild education among others reflecting on the life of Humuani Alaga. EXCERPTS:

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HO is Alhaja Humuani Alaga?

She was a very active woman, good disciplinarian, hardworking, religious, very respectful, she believed so much in the Qur’an and practiced it. She was older than my father and gave him all the respect. I could remember, she was always on her kneels when demanding for ‘food-money’; She regarded money given to her by her husband as more blessed. She had never done anything without the consent of her husband. She was an activist, a Muminaat who influenced women to play active part in state, national and international affairs. Her life is a source of pride to Muslims.

What is your advice to women on housekeeping and work?

They should pray to God to give them the right husband. It is good to respect your husband and men should reciprocate that gesture. It will be a great mistake to be married to somebody who’s not God fearing.

Religious training We should also make our children better off in terms of moral and religious training. In the 50s, 60s, people were not well educated about Islam but things are better now.

What led to the book presentation in memory of your mother?

It was my mother’s baby; it started with Egbe Ifelodun. Then, most schools were Christian schools. One of my sisters wanted to get to St. Annes’s school but could not, she advised her friends to start a Muslim school and God helped through Isabatudeen in Ojoo. She loves helping people; she helped a lot of people in their education and employment. Then the grandchildren said they have been hearing a lot about their grandma thereby suggesting that we should put it down in a book form.

What is your advice to those in position of power?

The rich and those in position of power should fear God, help people and be ready to account

for everything. I could remember that my mother was always eager to render all accounts no matter how small the amount might be.

She loved giving detailed account about every spending. She won’t lie and she hate liars.

How best can women be involved in activism and politics without rancor?

In those days, they played politics with love, now it is money and power. That does not mean women cannot be better politicians; they should do it with honesty. For instance, the likes of my mother and M a d a m Funmilayo Ransome Kuti used the opportunity they had to help a lot of people; but now, we can’t get close to them. You must know what you want to do before going into politics. Our men should stop holding meetings late at nights.

In other parts of the world, no political meetings at night. Going into politics does not mean there shouldn’t be time for the family.

Many women are brilliant and will deliver if given the opportunity.

What led to her establishing a school?

She took one of my sisters, Musliat to a mission school for admission. She was asked to wait until all the Christian girls were attended to. This upset her so much that she left the venue and called a special meeting of the Isabatudeen society and narrated her experience. There and then, members decided to contribute nine pounds each towards founding a school for Muslim girls. This incident led to the founding of Isabatudeen Girls’ Grammar school on 24th January, 1964 with a population of 30 girls.

It was the first Muslim girls’ secondary school in Ibadan. The

entrance examination took place in December 1963 and by the end of 1964, the number of students rose to 100. Today, the school has over 1000 students. There were obstacles in granting approval for the school. At the initial stage, government of the Western Region refused to grant approval for the school in 1964 because it was an all girls’ school, the society protested. Thereafter, the late premier of Western region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (S.L.A) intervened and the Ministry of Education gave approval four

•Jadesola Oyewole

HE Ogun Muslim Pilgrim’s Welfare Board has called on prospective pilgrims for the 2014 Hajj to ensure that their documents were regularised before March 14. The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, made this known in a statement in Abeokuta, recently.

Rasheed said that the intending pilgrims were expected to pay a deposit of N500,000 on or before the deadline. “Intending pilgrims are requested to note that their completed application forms should be submitted on or before March 14 with a minimum deposit of N500,000,” he said.

He enjoined those who could not perform the exercise last year but still had their documents and N400,000 deposit in the coffers of the board to pay up the balance of N100,000. Rasheed said that the board was starting early preparation for the exercise because of its intention to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

South-West Muslims petition Jonathan over confab delegates

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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HE executive secretary of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof. Dawud Noibi, yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to reject the purported delegates list sent to him by some South West leaders.

The group alleged in a statement issued in Ibadan that Muslims in the region did not recognise the said South West leaders, adding that MUSWEN had not mandated any group to represent it at the conference.

MUSWEN alleged that some South-West leaders had sent in the list of 15 nominees from the Region to represent it at the forthcoming national dialogue conference.

He said when the meeting of the group was held in IsharaRemo, Ogun State; the group was reported to be collating the names of those that would represent the region, but that a statement was issued by MUSWEN to warn the group against the consequences of such action.

The Islamic leader noted that despite the warning, the group went ahead to present a list of 15 Christians to represent the South West region. He said that any decision reached by that group on behalf of the South West region would be null and void.

Noibi said that any attempt by this self-appointed group to force itself on the Muslims of South West region would be resisted by all means.

Humuani Alaga’s book for presentation

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years later.

The society built a maternity center at Mapo, headquarters of Ibadan Municipal Council which was later handed over to the Council. Her enthusiasm and ability to raise funds earned her appointment into Olubadan’s Palace Committee.

On Education: Child education starts from the beginning. I am in support of decent dressing and early training with regard to the use of Hijab by female Muslims because every girl-child should be wellprotected. We should train the female Muslims how to dress well. Tight fitting clothes can be tempting, but that is not the way.

Advice for women on home and career: Women should have contentment, no matter the little they have with God’s blessing. It’s unfair for a woman to be outside her home anything after 7pm. We need to be there for these children. But when you are not at home, so many things can happen.

HE family of Humuani Alaga of Oja-Oba, Ibadan holds the 21st Anniversary Thanksgiving and Presentation of a Book on Late Alhaja Humuani Alaga, M.B.E. The event holds on Saturday, 8th of March, 2014 at Isabatudeen Girls’ Grammar School, Ojoo Express road, Ibadan.

Alhaja Humuani Alarape, Amoke Alaga, the former Otun Iyalaje of Ibadanland was known for her seflessness and advocacy in girl-child right. In 1978, Alhaja Alaga led other market women in protest to the then governor over the killing of demonstrating students by soldiers. She moved for the formation of Isabatudeen Girls’ Grammar school in 24th January, 1964 after one of her daughters was victimised by a Christian girls school authority while seeking admission.

From left: Alhaji AbduRasheed Alabi, Chairman Ennys Waters, his son, Royan and mum during Wolimot Qur'an held in Morcaz Ridwanullah Arabic School, Igbogbo, Lagos.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Bayelsa, Delta communities give 7-day ultimatum to oil firm over spill

IYC leadership tussle: I remain spokesman —Clarkson

ARRI—IJAW communities in Agge, along the River Ramos, between Ekeremo in Bayelsa State and Bururtu in Delta State, have issued a seven –day ultimatum to a Delta State-based oil servicing firm, within which to send relief materials, medications and pay adequate compensation to victims of oil spill that occurred last December.

The spill occurred when a barge allegedly carrying about 4,000 litres of crude oil sank in the river, polluting the environment, damaging fishing gears and causing death of aquatic lives and posing health hazard to the communities.

The barge is said to belong to Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production based in Okpai in the Ndokwa axis of Delta State.

A Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, led by the Warri Zonal Office Director, Mr. Akindele, met with representatives of the communities to assess the damage and recommend adequate compensation.

Speaking on the issue, a community representative, Mr. Mitchell Suwa, applauded NOSDRA for its prompt action, saying “now we know that they are working, unlike previous occasions when you would never see them and get them to come to impacted sites.”

BY FEGUFE YAFUGBORHI ARRI—DR. Agagha Clarkson has insisted that he remains the substantive spokesman of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, distancing himself from a purported harmonisation election which reportedly replaced some executives of the body.

Agagha, in a statement, described the reported election as a “sham said to have been conducted by selected persons under the guise of being delegates outside the shores of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta as a whole.

“The shenanigan so perpetuated is null and void and inconsequential since it is absolutely alien to the constitution of the IYC and the spirit of the struggle for our emancipation. I remain the spokesman. Anything contrary is an imposition.”

Meanwhile, the IYC has condemned Boko Haram’s killing of innocent students in Yobe State, saying: “It is a sad moment in our lives.

Let all join hands with the President in bringing the outlaws to book and ending their nefarious activities.”

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Toba for burial

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VISIT: From left: Lagos State Coordinator, Neighbourhood Watch, Alhaji Musiliu Sanni; Major General Charles Omoregie (rtd.), Executive Chairman, Neighbourhood Watch, from Edo State and Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, during a visit by Edo State chapter to understudy the operational strategy of the security outfit in Lagos.

Change your attitude to election results, Okubor urges politicians

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ELTA State 2015 governorship aspirant, Dr. Festus Okubor, has called for a change of attitude among politicians in the country, ahead of next year's elections in order to give credibility to the polls.

Okubor spoke in Asaba while reacting to a keynote address by the Chairman of Independent National Electoral commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, at a seminar on Building Confidence in the Electoral System, for electoral stakeholders organised

by Delta State Independent Elec-

Late Mr. Toba Falode

do that, the ordinary person in the village will accept the outcome, give respect to the outcome and be more liable to follow the leadership that is now in place for the good of society.”

He called on politicians to learn to congratulate each other, and also congratulate INEC, pointing out that the job of INEC and the Election Management Bodies, EMBs, was not easy. He noted that “politicians must learn to accept defeat."

Delta communities appeal to NDDC over road project

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ON of former AIT sports reporter and member of Nigerian Football Federation Board, Aisha Falode, Master Toba Falode, aged 20, is dead.

A statement by the family said Toba, will be buried at Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, on March 3, after a funeral service at Trinity House, Water Corporation Road, Lekki, Lagos.

Until his passage, Toba was a member of The Youth Fellowship of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG,Gloryland Parish, in Lagos.

toral commission, DSIEC, in collaboration with INEC. He said his call became necessary because of the negative attitude of contestants to election results, saying, "as politicians, I think this is the time for us to deliberately work to add value to electoral outcomes, no matter what. What this means is that we must stop seeing sabotage from outside. When election results are declared, we must say the better person won. When we

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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HE people of Idumu-Oza and Alihagu communities in Agbor, Ika South Local Government area of Delta State, have called on the management of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to prevail on the contractor handling the IdumuOza/Alihagu/Oki Road project to return to site.

The Oza of Idumu-Oza community, Chief James Mekwuye, and the Egbekoje of Alihagu, Chief Onyisis Ashien, spoke separately at their respective communities in Agbor.

They noted that the people of Idumu-Oza, Alihagu and Oki communities heaved a sigh of relief when contract for the rehabilitation of the deplorable Idumu-Oza/Alihagu/Oki Road was awarded by NDDC, but lamented that their happiness over the award of contract for the road project had been short-circuited by the contractor who abandoned the project nine months ago.

According to the royal fathers, the abandoned road project has brought unprecedented hardship to resi-

dents in the affected communities who now find it difficult to access their houses through the said road.

Navy combats piracy in Lagos waters

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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UTGOING Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Beecroft, Apapa, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, has said that his men had reduced piracy in Lagos waters to the barest minimum.

Ezekobe said, in an interview in Lagos, that his tenure in office saw the rescue of MT NORTE, ladened with about 70,000 metric tonnes of PMS, which was hijacked from Lagos waters in August 2013, while eight of the pirates were killed and 17 arrested.

According to him, the vessel was not only rescued but

also its crew were rescued unhurt.

He said during the period, the command also arrested several illegal bunkerers, pipeline vandals, and pirates who were handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

He said some suspected pipeline vandals, who allegedly siphoned petroleum products from a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, facility at Majidun area of Ikorodu Lagos, were also arrested.

Ezekobe said126 jerry cans, filled with the siphoned petroleum products and three boats were recovered from the scene.

Delta community drags IG to court over alleged illegal arrest of elders

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—THE Diokpa (old-est person ) of Ogbe Akpu quarters in Issele-Azagba in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State and seven other elders of the community have dragged the Inspector General of Police before a Delta High Court sitting in IsseleUkwu, claiming N10 billion as damages for their alleged illegal arrest and detention over land related issues in the community.

Also sued were officers of the Delta State Police Command.

In the suit, the applicants, through their counsel, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, are asking the court to restrain the IG and his men at the state police command, and their privies “from further inviting, harassing, arresting and/or threatening the applicants and members of the Ogbe Akpu quarters of IselleAzagba community."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 45

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46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBUARY 28, 2014

Crisis rocks Abia union of medical workers

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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MUAHIA — THE cri sis rocking the leadership of Abia State Council of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria has deepened, with a faction urging its members to shun national immunization programme coming up next week.

But the directive said to be circulated through short message service, [SMS, allegedly

by Uche Ezekiel’s faction has drawn condemnation from the people who viewed it as act of sabotaging government’s important programme aimed at improving the health of the people.

Ezekiel’s faction claimed that Comrade Uche Obigwe tenure has elapsed, following an agreement allegedly signed in 2005 for Comrade Uche Obigwe to relinquish power in 2008, which was not honoured.

But in a reaction, Uche Obigwe dismissed the claim, saying his tenure subsisted till 2015, following a 2013 tenure elongation approved by National Executive Council, NEC, for the Ayuba Wabba national leadership of the union.

Imo launches village health workers scheme

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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WERRI — IMO State government, yesterday, launched a village health workers scheme to fast-track health care delivery at the grassroots.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Eze Madumere, launched the scheme in Owerri, with a charge to the workers to be diligent in their duties as grassroots health care providers.

Represented by Dr. Edward Ihejirika, the Commissioner for Health, Madumere handed over the health kits to 40 village health workers.

Madumere said that the scheme was initiated to complement the “health at your doorstep” programme of the state government.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Millennium Development Goals, Mrs. Mma Nzeribe, said the scheme would enhance access to health care services.

Nzeribe said the scheme would make the required impact in improving community health outcomes by increasing the utilisation of health care facilities provided by the state government.

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FG distributes cancer test kits in Owerri

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — NIGERIAN Women and young girls have been advised to take advantage of the free cancer screening in some designated health establishments in the

various geo-political zones of the country to check the spread of the disease.

A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Dr. Akuabia Nzeribe, made the appeal during yesterday’s distri-

bution of cancer test kits to women in Owerri.

Vanguard recalls that the distribution of cancer test kits to women selected from the 27 local government areas of Imo State, was preceded by a lecture delivered by Dr. Nzeribe, which

PRESENTATION: Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi (left), presenting the Sun Public Servant of the year Award to Director General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, and Dr. Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, during the Sun Newspapers Awards, in Lagos.

largely focused on the need for early detection of breast cancer.

Nzeribe lamented that “many deaths arising from breast cancer would have been carefully avoided, if there was early diagnosis of the condition.”

She identified “changes in genetics arising from age, frequent exposure to X-ray radiation on their chest, non-breastfeeding of their babies, excessive weight and alcohol, are some of the risk factors in breast cancer.”

While demonstrating how to effectively and efficiently use the test kits to detect lumps in the breast, which she said, was a possible cause of breast cancer, Dr. Nzeribe, however regretted that “no health establishment in Imo State could boast of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine used in detecting cancer.

“It is very important that we imbibe early detection strategies to do self breast examination and clinical examination. Women who are 40 and above should get mammogram as appropriate,” Dr. Nzeribe prescribed.

Addressing the women also, the wife of Imo State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, urged them to utilise the test kits, which were provided by the Federal Government, to reduce the scourge of cancer.

Anambra targets 2.6m for immunisation

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — ANAMBRA State government said, yesterday, it was targeting about 2.6 million people for immunisation

during the March, 2014 National Immunisation Plus Days starting tomorrow in all parts of the country.

A breakdown of the target population shows that 1,043,187 chil-

dren under five years, 1,147,506; women of child bearing age, 260,797 pregnant women and 208,637 children under one year are to be immunised during the four-day exercise.

Utomi, others harp on true federalism

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BUJA — Former presidential candidate under the Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, Professor Pat Utomi has attributed the slow pace of development in the country to lack of true federal arrangement of the country’s political system.

Utomi and other speakers, at the public presentation of two books, ‘Pages and Sages’ and ‘Leading with Courage and Integrity’ authored by Odey Ochicha, in Abuja, insisted that true federalism was fundamental to development.

They also unanimously noted that Nigeria "needs courageous leadership, if the country must survive her trying period, and be reckoned with in the comity of nations."

They were of the opinion that “Leadership is not only about providing houses, roads and jobs, but it is all about people and what we believe in,” adding that “until Nigerian youths hold the electoral process in this country, we will continue to lament.”

Prof. Utomi maintained that

people did not have to be in the position of authority to make a difference in their various areas, adding that displaying of good leadership starts with individuals.

“Our country has a lot of grandstanding; we must say to ourselves, how can I work my talk?

You don’t have to be in Aso Rock or in Government House to make a difference, and influence those people around you,” he said.

Briefing reporters in Awka on the preparations for the exercise, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Lawrence Ikeakor, said though there had been no reported case of polio in Anambra State in the past six years, regular immunisation became necessary as people of the state were highly mobile and could come in contact with people from states still habouring polio virus.

Ikeakor, who spoke through the state Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Chukwudi Okoye, said the campaign was being mounted in the 21 local government areas of the state in partnership with the World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, and the media.

Developer's arraignment over N37m rent fraud stalled

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — ALHAJI Ishola, Salaudeen, the developer who defrauded over 100 prospective tenants of N37 million was arraigned, Wednesday, before Justice Candida Johnson of Lagos High Court, sitting at Igbosere.

The civil case, which came up for the first time before Justice Johnson, was stalled as counsel to the defendant, Mohammed Adamu, told the court that

he was not prepared for the case. He did not come to court with the case file.

Meanwhile, counsel to the claimants, Oguniran of Aluko Oyebode Chambers, had filed applications for default before the court but it could not be heard as counsel to the defendant was not prepared.

The judge, who was not happy with the counsel, lambasted him for not being diligent with his work.

However, he adjourned the matter to March 12, 2014, for

further hearing of the matter.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Demi Ajayi of an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s court has said she would strike out the case of Alhaji Ishola Salaudeen, at the next sitting, if they failed to settle the defrauded prospective tenants and adjourned the case to March 5, 2014.

The striking out of the case would enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, commence criminal prosecution of the suspect at the high court.

Salawudeen, who is the landlord of the building at 59, Oriola Street, Alapere, Ketu, in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, allegedly duped the tenants under false pretence of renting the 13 miniflat apartments to the tune of about N37million.

The 46-year-old Salawudeen is facing a 211-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence and duping over 106 prospective tenants at Alapere, Ketu.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

VISIT: Vice President of the House of Councillors, Diet (Parliament) of Japan, Hon. Azuma Koshishi (left) and a staff of the Diet (middle), Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, (2nd left), his wife, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu (2nd right) and the Ambassador of Nigeria to Japan, Hon. Godwin Agbo, during a working visit by the Deputy President of the Senate to the Diet, in Japan.

OPENING: From left: Mr. Ladi Balogun, MD, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chairman, FCMB, and Mr. Biodun Oyapero, at official opening of First Almond Attorneys in Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

From left: Mrs. Ethel Igboeche, Publicity Secretary, Lady Charity Madubuko, Vice President, Mrs. Ifeoma Monye, President, Mrs. Chika Unigwe, Ms. Nneka Esomeju, Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, Secretary and Mrs. Funke Dinneh, Legal Adviser and other members of FGGC Abuloma, Port Harcourt, Alumni Association, during a thanksgiving service, at Temple Glory Church, Hosanna House, Wuse zone 2, Abuja.

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CONFERENCE: From left: Mr. Millison Narh, Chairman, AFRACA, Mr. Charles Mordi, representing Dr. Sarah Alade, Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, Commissioner for Agriculture, representing Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and Mr. Emeka Emuwa, GMD, Union Bank of Nigeria, during the internatioal conference on AFRACA in Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

From Left, Area Head, Regulatory Affairs, British American Tobacco West Africa, Sola Dosumu, MD/CEO, Nigeria Export Import Bank, NEXIM, Roberts Orya, Executive Committee member, Borderless Alliance West Africa and Chairperson, Nigeria Chapter, Chinwe Uzu, at the 3rd Annual conference of Borderless Alliance, sponsored by BATN in Lagos.

Mr. Ndibe Obi, MD, Next Inter national, marketers of Amarula, congratulating the 2nd star prize winner, Mr. Emeka Onyenanu, CEO, Uzems Ltd, at the Amarula Dealers Forum, in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Dharnesh Gordon, MD/CEO, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Adedoja Ekeruche, Category Business Manager, Nestle, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, President, Nigeria School Sports Federation and Mr. Lanre Balogun, representing the President, Nigerian Collegiate Sports Federation, during the briefing on the 2014 Nestle Milo secondary school basketball championship in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

- 47

From left: Ven. Abel Ajibodu, Dean of the Cathedral, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, guest lecturer, and Professor Wale Omole, Chairman, Anniversary Committee, during the 50th anniversary lecture of Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

From left: Director, Brand Communications and Sponsorship, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi, Chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, MD/CEO, PRM Africa Ltd, Mike Dada, and MD, AIT, Mrs. Tosin Dokpesi, during a meeting on the hosting of AFRIMA in Abuja.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Observers task Plateau SIEC on future polls

Bill on Kaduna private schools passes second reading

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ADUNA—A BILL which seeks to regulate the activities of private schools, yesterday passed through second reading on the floor of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The bill would amend the state Private Schools Board Law 2007, to prevent the setting up of such schools illegally; prevent arbitrary raise in tuition fees or using the schools as special examination centres to perpetrate examination malpractice.

The amendment also seeks to ensure that the schools adhere to National and State Education Policies and are not used as base for “sexual abuse or harassment, drug abuse or cultism”.

The executive bill, presented to the House by the Chief Whip, Mr Philemon Gidan-Mana, also prescribed punishment for statutory violation of the law.

BY TAYE OBATERU & MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

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NOA BUDGET—From left: Chairman, Senate Committee on Orientation and Tourism, Senator Hassan Barata; Senator Femi Ojodu; Senator Hosea Agboola and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri exchanging pleasantries during the 2014 NOA Budget defence at the Senate Committee Chambers, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Kwara Govt to provide more facilities for tertiary institutions

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LORIN—THE Kwara State Government has pledged to provide more facilities for effective learning and teaching in ter-

tiary institutions in the state.

The new Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Alhaji Aliyu Opakunle, made the pledge on Thursday in Ilorin during a visit to three tertiary institutions in the state.

Opakunle also said the state government was committed to the provision of qualitative and q u a n t i t a t i v e

education.The commissioner urged the staff of tertiary institutions to be dedicated, committed and upright in the discharge of their duties.

Opakunle, who also admonished students to concentrate on their studies, advised the management of tertiary institutions to make cleanliness their watchword.

OS—OBSERVERS who monitored Tuesday’s local government elections in Plateau State have tasked the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to improve logistics in subsequent elections to avoid the challenges faced in the just concluded councils polls.

Leader of the group of observers who is also the Country Director of the World Youth Peace Mission, an NGO based in Abuja, Mr. Boniface Okafor, however, gave a pass mark to the electoral body as they “effectively distributed the sensitive and non-sensitive materials to 15 participating local councils, made adequate security arrangement” and these culminated in a peaceful conduct of the exercise.

According to the observers who addressed journalists, yesterday in Jos, the State capital, “having been present on the field we are bold to make the following declaration: Accreditation of voters in most polling units commenced on time though with a few cases of late arrival of materials like in Mushere A and B polling units in Bokkos and Jebu Miango in Bassa local government areas respectively.

“We observed that there was large turnout of voters in most polling units we visited, the election was conducted in a conducive environment where all participating political parties had their representatives during the accreditation, voting and collation of votes in the polling units”.

The groups further “commended the security agencies for their role in the successful elections, Plateau people for peaceful conduct, political parties for effective mobilization of electorates and the State government for taking the bold step to conduct the election”.

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YORUBA ASSEMBLY FOR 2014 NAT. CONFAB

From left, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alhaji Taiwo Alimi, and former Lagos State governor,Alhaji Lateef Jakande, during Yoruba Assembly for 2014 National Conference, at the House of Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan, yesterday. Photos: Dare Fasube

From left Dr. Remilekun Akinola, representing Ekiti State Governor, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and Chief Olanihun Ajayi.

From left, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, Fred Agbeyegbe, representing the Itsekiri people, and Chief Abiodun (Wright) Osibogun.

From left, former Governor Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State, Chief Olu Falae; Chairman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State, and General Alani Akinrinade, Vice Chairman of the assembly.

From left, Justice Bola Ajibola (rtd); Professor Dud Noibi, Alhaji Femi Abbas, and Alhaji Bidemi Siyanbade

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Yorubas to canvass regional autonomy at confab •demand equitable taxation •delegates who fail to pursue agenda should not return home Akinrinade •YCE calls for affirmative action to reverse Yoruba losses in the federation

BY OLA AJAYI & DAPO AKINREFON

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HE Yoruba ethnic national ity, yesterday, resolved to champion regional autonomy within the framework of the six geopolitical zones at the forthcoming National Conference.

The proposal was among the 15 point agenda for the Yoruba ethnic nationality agreed at a grand Yoruba Summit for formal presentation and verification of the Yoruba Agenda held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan.

The agenda was prepared by a three-man committee organized for the purpose of the conference led by Chief Olu Falae. Though, the agenda, according to Chief Falae, was not the final document that would be taken to the Abuja conference, he said it would form a bulk of the Yoruba agenda.

Some of the issues put on the agenda were recommendations prepared earlier at the 1994 and 2005 constitutional talks.

Resource management Among them were ideal resource management system for a true federation, full participation in national security, elections to be organized by regional electoral commission, immunity for the president, prime minister and regional ceremonial head, regional premier, governors and deputy governors from civil court processes.

They said all items included in the exclusive list such as arms and ammunition, customs duties, aviation, currency, coinage and legal tender, defence, excepting deployment, command territorial control, central military council, external affairs, extradition, elections, implementation of treaties and many others would be spelt out.

The committee was set up in Ile-Ife by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

Other members of the committee are Dr. Kunle Olajide, secretary and General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) who is the vice chairman.

About 17 different groups and many important people in the zone including Chief Rita Lori Ogbeibor from Delta State attended the successful event at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan, yesterday.

However, the perennial battle between the Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi resonated again as the latter dis-

tanced himself from yesterday’s meeting. At the meeting, Oba Sijuwade was represented by the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adedokun Adegoke, while Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana was represented by Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Omowale Kuye.

Some parts of Kwara and Kogi told the gathering that part of the Yoruba agenda at the national conference should include their possible excision from Kogi to Osun and Ekiti States. Governor Ibikunle Amosun who was represented by the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi said, nobody was asking for the end of Nigeria but that the country should be better.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State was represented by Mr. Sola Ebiseeni. Among dignitaries at the event were former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, Owa Ooye of Oke Imesi, Gani Adams, Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee, Wale Oshun, Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Chairman, Afenifere, Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, leader of Alliance for Democracy, Prince Bola Ajibola, former President, International Court of Justice, Chief Theophilus Akinyele, Mr. Felix Adenaike, former Managing Director, Afri-

can Newspapers Limited, publishers of Tribune Newspapers, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, daughter of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Osoba, who spoke on behalf of the media, suggested that there should be a media team to put heads together on the conference.

Chief Olu Falae, chairman of the committee , said three documents on Yoruba agenda were L-r. Opthamological surgeon,Dr. L. Isaiah; Chairman, Medical Women harmonised to arrive at the ten- Association of Nigeria, Delta State chapter, Dr. Omo Ogoja; General tative one which would later be Manager, Health, Safety, Security and Environment of Seplat, Mr. Bryte Oghor; General Manager Corporate Affairs & New Business expanded. of Seplat, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku and Manager, Corporate While presenting the agen- Development Social Responsibility, Mrs. Esther Icha at the opening ceremony of da, Gen. Akinrinade clarified SEPLAT’s Eye Can See Programme in Sapele that the document was not a final one that would be sent to of Elders (YCE), Gen. Adeyinka congress of the body with the Abuja.

Adebayo (rtd) has appealed to theme: ‘Charting the Course of He appealed that if the people leaders and elders from the South Yoruba Nation in the Nigerian in the gathering were not chosen west region to organise a congress Federation for the Next Centuas some of the delegates, they with the aim of harmonising the ry’, held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeshould not feel aggrieved,noting region’s position before the com- ja, yesterday, argued that the rethat anybody chosen as delegate mencement of the national con- gion has been marginalized and but failed to pursue Yoruba agen- ference slated for next month. called for affirmative action to reda would not come back home.

General Adebayo, who ad- verse the losses suffered by the Gani Adams expressed total dressed the 13th annual national region. support with every move of the committee. He called on Senator Okurounmu to say categorically if he endorsed the agenda.

All groups in attendance were given few minutes to speak.

Meanwhile, President of the Yoruba Council

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 — 55

NEWS BRIEF

Egypt arrests seven proMursi Facebook activists

Bible, peace award tear Luther’s family apart T

HE Bible and Nobel Prize that belonged to US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., symbols of peace to the outside world, are tearing his family apart.

The American icon’s three living children, known for their familial legal disputes, are pitted against each other in a latest episode that involves whether the items will be sold.

“The thought of profiting from the sale... is spiritually violent, unconscionable, historically negligent and outright morally reprehensible,” said youngest sibling Bernice Albertine King, 50, in a recent press statement. Her two brothers disagree.

In January, both of King’s sons announced in a telephone conference that they wished to put the items on the market.

The Bible, which King took with him everywhere, recently received still

G

T

L-R: Children of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Bernice Albertine King, Martin Luther King III and Yolanda Denise King now in family feud. another layer of historical resonance when used for US President Barack Obama’s second oath of office.

King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 during his fight for the civil rights of African Americans.

The current debate over

heart.

Merkel addressed Britain’s Parliament during a visit full of ceremonial honor and political purpose.

Prime Minister David Cameron sees Merkel as a

British Prime Minister David Cameron and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel in close deliberation

Ukraine warns Russia against aggression

U

KRAINE has warned Russia against “military aggression” after armed men seized government buildings in the Crimea region and raised a Russian flag, with reports also emerging that the ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovich, was being sheltered by Moscow.

The acting Ukraine

GYPTIAN police detained seven men accused of using Facebook for inciting people against the security forces, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday, clamping down on internet activism by supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi.

It said the men, aged between 21 and 43, were behind an array of Facebook sites, some of which had published the addresses of policemen. It follows the February 16 announcement of the arrest of 14 other Muslim Brotherhood activists on similar charges.

Mursi’s supporters have drawn extensively on Facebook as a means to organise since July, when the Islamist politician was deposed by the military after mass protests against his rule and the state launched a fierce crackdown on his backers.

Hillary Clinton lauds veto of Arizona’s discriminatory bill

the items’ fate hinges on a 1995 agreement between King’s three children, in which each was given one vote in matters concerning his estate of historical items.

Bernice, a pastor like her father, has positioned herself as the guardian of the moral legacy King left

behind when he was assassinated in 1968.

Martin Luther King III, 56, who goes by Marty, is the oldest brother and an activist known for his media appearances. Dexter Scott King, 53, who lives in California, has a patchy acting career.

We need strong UK in strong Europe — Merkel ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel wooed a welcoming but skeptical audience of British lawmakers yesterday with a call for a strong, unified Europe with Britain at its

E

president, Oleksander Turchynov, told parliament on Thursday he had order troops and police to take “all measures” needed to protect Ukranian citizens after the apparent proRussian takeover of buildings in the Crimea.

This came as reports emerged yesterday that Yanukovich was now in Russia.

potential ally in reshaping the European Union, and laid on lunch at the prime minister’s Downing St. residence and tea with Queen Elizabeth II on top of the speech to lawmakers.

The pomp stands in contrast to a recent visit by France’s socialist President Francois Hollande, who was treated to a press conference in an aircraft hangar and lunch in a pub.

Cameron, under pressure from Euroskeptics inside and outside his Conservative Party, has

promised a referendum on leaving the EU if he wins the next election. He hopes to renegotiate Britain’s membership to persuade voters to stick with the 28nation bloc — but so far has few European allies for the project.

Merkel, who shares some of Cameron’s center-right views, said the eurozone economic crisis had driven home the need for a tighter rein on the bloc’s finances, and she backed the idea of closer economic coordination and less bureaucracy.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI denies resignation invalid Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on Wednesday rejected as “simply absurd” the notions that his resignation might not be valid and that the Vatican hierarchy was now divided between loyalty to him and to Pope Francis.

“There is no doubt at all on the validity of my renunciation,” Benedict said in an unprecedented letter published in the La Stampa daily, after it had written to him with questions about when he

stepped down in 2013.

“The only condition for validity is that the decision be taken in full freedom. Speculation over an invalid renunciation is simply absurd,” said Benedict XVI, whose Latin title is now “pontifex emeritus”.

Benedict became the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign in February last year, when he said he could no longer carry on because of his declining health.

AKING the stage to thunderous applause at the University of Miami, an exuberant Hillary Clinton lauded Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s veto of what Clinton called “ d i s c r i m i n a t o r y •Hillary Clinton legislation,” saying that it was a recognition “that inclusive leadership is really what the 21st century is all about.”

Inclusion and participation were the themes of Clinton’s remarks Wednesday.

Before a question and answer period with former Bill Clinton cabinet member and current University of Miami president, Donna Shalala, Clinton touched upon a childhood encounter with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Clinton said she was challenged to “participate in the cause of justice” and “not to slumber” as the world changed. After talking about her encounter with King, Clinton urged the students in attendance to “use technology and social media to build people up to enable them to participate rather than tearing them down.”

GOP pick eight cities to compete for 2016 convention

T

HE U.S. Republican National Committee yesterday named eight cities that will compete to host the 2016 national convention to formally nominate the party’s presidential candidate.

Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Phoenix will submit bids for the opportunity to stage the convention in the summer of 2016, said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.

A site selection committee will evaluate the bids and select one or more finalists by late spring, with the winner to be ratified by the RNC this summer. The eight cities submitting bids are the greatest number since 2000, the party said.

For the winning city, a nominating convention can generate reams of publicity and millions of dollars of economic activity, but the hosts also must raise tens of millions of dollars to stage the three or four-day event.

Al-Shabab explosion kills 10 in Mogadishu

A

T least 10 people were killed in an explosion when a suicide bomber drove his car into a tea shop near the national security headquarters in Somalia’s capital, a senior police officer said to the Reuters news agency.

The al-Qaeda linked group, al-Shabab, said it carried out the attack on Thursday and threatened more.

“We are responsible for the car bomb blast,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters.

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014—57

Cardinal sins at Davos

BY BASHORUN J.K.RANDLE

P

OPE Francis I, has nev er made any secret of his immense admiration for Cardinal Sin. While the Holy Father was in Davos, he made it abundantly clear that he did not want anything for himself. All he wanted was that due recognition should be accorded at the World Economic Forum to his longtime ally in his fight against poverty - Jaime Lachica Sin, DD; PHL; OS; OL who was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila and de facto Pri- Pope Francis mate of The Philippines which is currently in political logjam and thousands of people (including chartered economic turmoil. Cardinal Sin (Cardinal accountants) continue to die everyday from Jaime Sin) was born on August 31, 1928 hunger, even though substantial quantiand died on June 21, 2005 at the age of ties of food are available and often wast76. ed. Likewise, we cannot but be moved by At the Vatican, his official name was the many refugees (including retired charJaime Cardinal Sin but he was not a sin- tered accountants) seeking minimally digner!! On the contrary, he was like the then nified living conditions, who not only fail Archbishop Jorge Bergolio (now Pope to find hospitality, but often, tragically, Francis I) a champion of the poor in The perish in moving from one place to anothPhilippines. Indeed, he was one of Asia’s er. most prominent religious leaders and a "It is the precise responsibility of the varcentral figure in the “people power” re- ious political and economic sectors to recvolts that ousted two presiden- ognize Catholic Social Teaching in procies...Ferdinand E Marcos and Joseph moting an inclusive approach which takes Estrada. into consideration the dignity of every huFortunately, a quick search on Google man person and the common good. It is provides ready material on the Cardinal: this ethical responsibility which ought to Jaime Cardinal L Sin, also known as Jaime shape every political and economic deciSin and Jaime Lachica Sin (Chinese name: sion that affects the lives of the generality XTn Haimian; XTn Haimian), was born of the world’s peoples. on August 31, 1928 in New Washington, "What is needed is a renewed, profound Aklan, Philippines. He was also known and broadened sense of responsibility, on as “Cardinal Sin” which should not be the part of all. Business is - in fact- a vocaconfused with “cardinal sin” (synonym for tion and a noble vocation, provided those the seven deadly sins) He has also been engaged in it see themselves challenged by a greater meaning in life. Such men The Pope’s pleas on behalf of the poor and women are able and downtrodden struck a responsible to serve more effecchord with Klaus Schwab who founded the tively the common good and to make the World Economic Forum, WEF, in 1971 goods of this world more accessible to all. the source of many jokes in The Philip- Nevertheless, the growth of equality depines revolving around him such as “The mands something more than just economic greatest sin of all...Cardinal Sin” or “Wel- growth, even though it presupposes it. It come to the house of Sin” referring to his demands first of all a transcendent vision of the person because without the perspecChurch.

He was an archbishop of the Roman tive of eternal life, human progress in this Catholic Church in The Philippines. He world is denied breathing space.”

The Pope’s pleas on behalf of the poor led the archdiocese of Manila as its archbishop and was later made cardinal by and downtrodden struck a responsible Pope Paul VI. As Archbishop of Manila, chord with Klaus Schwab who founded the he was widely considered Primate of The World Economic Forum, WEF, in 1971.

He painstakingly polled the 700 memPhilippines, though no formal recognition has even been attached to the archdio- bers of the WEF regarding what in terms of Risk Assessment/Risk Management cese.

He retired as the Archbishop of Manila would pose the most formidable challenge on September 15, 2003, having reached to the global economy over the coming dethe age of retirement for prelates under cade. By a wide majority, inequality took Canon Law, and was succeeded by Gaud- first place as the most likely risk. Corrupencio Borbon Rosales. He was only the tion took second place.

Perhaps that was what prompted the third native Fillipino Archbishop of Manila, following centuries of Spanish, Amer- European Union Home Affairs Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstroem, to release her ican and Irish Archbishops.

Pope Francis did not mince words while bombshell report a week ahead of the World addressing the “Seventy Elders” (char- Economic Forum. According to her, the tered accountants protesting against the extent of corruption in Europe is breathover domination of the accountancy pro- taking and it costs the European Union fession by only four firms - the “Big Four”). economy at least Euro 120 billion (about) It was freezing in Davos but the Holy Fa- £Stg99 billion) annually. The feisty lady ther was undaunted: “It is intolerable that did not pull any punches.

To be concluded

,

,

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

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ADESIDA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abiola G. Adesida, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abiola Satmak.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eke Chinedu Cyrina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyeneke Chinedu Cyrina. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoro Chibuzor Juliana, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anyanwu Juliana Chibuzor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NNAMANI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkiru Hope Nnamani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkiru Hope Okechukwu.

All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and general public please take note.

EKWERE JACOB—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Udeme Ekwere Jacob, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Udeme Phinehas Udoeyo. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public please take note.

UCHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uche Esther Ugochi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ifediora Esther Uhochi. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Navy and general public please take note.

OGUEJIOFOR —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oguejiofor Ngozi Lovelyn, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibiam Ngozi Lovelyn.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKPAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akpan Glory Obong, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Itoro Glory Uwah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AMASIORAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Angela Ngozi Amasiorah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angela Ngozi Obi. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry Of Finance, Abuja and general public please take note.

UKOMADU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patience Nnenna Ukomadu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patience Chidi Chilee Eguzo. All former documents remain valid.

Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture Umudike, Abia state and general public please take note.

OMISAKIN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omisakin Comfort Aderoju Olubukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oladapo Comfort Aderoju Olubukola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eze Onyinyechi Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anowo Onyeyirichi Ruth. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EDEYAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Edeyan Elohor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Elohor Okoro. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebimiere Awe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebimiere Kalsuo. All former documents remain valid. Bayelsa State Sanitation Authority and general public please take note.

ODU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eno Ben Odu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eno Ama Edeminam. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DStv Basketball: Oluyole Warriors, Police Baton set the ball rolling

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ITLE sponsor of the DStv Premier Basketball League, MultiChoice Nigeria is excited that the 2013/ 2014 Basketball season dunks off today with the jump ball event slated for the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos with the preseason game between Oluyole Warriors and Police Batons.

Among the initiatives announced for the new season are live broadcasts of at least 60 games on SuperSport, new courts, weekly magazine shows that focuses on players, matches and attractions, among many others.

At a press conference which held last Tuesday at the National Stadium, Lagos, Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, said that several strategy sessions between MultiChoice, the Nigerian Basketball Federation and other stakeholders of basketball in Nigeria were held with the objectives of enhancing the quality of games in the league, making the game more attractive to fans and ultimately, boosting the national team.

“We are starting to see that basketball is moving

*Action from DStv Basketball league. in the right direction.

We are most excited about the jump ball event slated for 28 February (today) to herald the new season because the match will be played on a brand new court. The 2014 season will give fans a lot to be excited about than in previous seasons,” said Mr. Mabutho.

Tijani Umar, President, Nigerian

Curtain falls on NOGIG 2014

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HE grand finale of the 2014 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games comes up tomorrow at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola will lead a host of dignitaries expected to

2014 Lagos Polo: Petrosmith, HST, Kano Susplan win

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AGOS sides, Petrosmith and HST were among the teams that recorded wins in their opening group matches in the Low Cup yesterday as matches in the final week of the 2014 Lagos Polo International Tournament hots-up.

Petrosmith beat Ibadan Eleyele 7-4½ while HST also proved superior to Ibadan Oluyole with a 7-1 win.

The results extend the Ibadan teams winless run having lost all their four group matches in the first week where they featured in the Dansa Cup. Kano Susplan edged city rivals Titan/Aitek 65½ to brighten their qualification chance in stream 2 which also has HST and Oluyole. Lagos Goodfellows joined the list of winners in the Low Cup as they defeated Raven Rojo 12-4½.

South African fourgoaler, Lance Watson was the match winner for Petrosmith as he scored four of his team’s goals in a match where immigration officer

Basketball Federation, said that the partnership between MultiChoice Nigeria and the federation will avail the league and the national teams great benefits. He also referred to the stakeholders’ engagement that has been taking place, saying that the meetings show that perceptions with regards to basketball in Nigeria are changing.

Edozie Onwuli puts up a courageous perfomance.

The double-phased 10day tournament is sponsored by MTN and GTB while Veuve Clicquot, Union Bank, Chapel Hill & Denham, UBS, Unity Bank, Caverton Group, Dansa Foods Ltd/Dangote, Southern Sun Hotel, Smooth FM, Beat FM, Delaney, Total, Polo Limited, Sony and Avion Continental Group are co-sponsors.

grace the occasion. The minister of Petroleum, Deziani Allison Madueke, top government officials as well as chief executives of the oil and gas sector will be there to witness their respective athletes fight for honours.

The grand finale will feature the final of the soccer event which will be preceded by a third place match.

The programme will also feature the final of the 4x100 relay.

Meanwhile, Team Chvron dominated the stakes in swimming as her representatives topped the medals table with 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals.

ExxonMobil placed second with 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal while Team Total placed third with 2 gold and 1 silver medal.

Cricket: FCC tours Accra

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HE Foundation Cricket Club of Lagos commenced a two-match tour of Accra Ghana. ahead of the 2014 Lagos Cricket Club Council season. FCC, as the club is known was founded in 1985.

One of the strategic objectives of FCC is to spread the game of Cricket within and outside the shores of Nigeria. This goal the Club has religiously pursued from its inception till date by

embarking on visits to several parts of the country and indeed the west coast In the past, the club visited Accra, Ghana on a number of occasions.

The Club’s last visit to Accra was in 1997 when it won the two matches that featured on that tour. This year, FCC is poised to again play two international friendly matches this weekend with Accra-based teams in Accra, Ghana.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Chinwe’s hat-trick sinks Sporting Huelva •As Flamingoes win 3-2 S

TRIKER Chinwe Ihezuo scored a hat-trick for the Nigeria U17 Women team to edge past tough Spanish Sporting Huelva for a 32 victory in an international friendly in Portugal on Wednesday.

The Coach Bala Nkiyututored girls stated their resilience as they pull through for another victory despite their Spanish opponent’s coming back twice at the Browns Hotel Football arena in Faro, Portugal.

The Nigeria contingents continued their impressive run in a 19-day training tour in Portugal ahead of the FIFA U17 women World Cup in Costa Rica from March 15th to April 5th.

Pelican Stars forward Chinwe Ihezuo who was a standout in the encounter put the Nigeria U17 women in front with her breakthrough in the 13th minute and doubled the lead at five minutes from the break.

The Flamingoes’ lead was reduced in the 43rd minute when the Spanish side pulled one back to keep the score line 2-1 at half time in favour of Nigeria.

However, the Spanish visitors powered home the second five minute

Olofinjana *Continued from BP compensation form both Olofinjana and his erstwhile employers Cardiff City, after a tackle from the Nigerian in November 2010 put him out of the game for fifteen months with a ‘horrific’ knee injury.

In his court action, Blackstock claims Olofinjana was ‘negligent’ in ‘failing to play the ball’ and ‘challenging in a way that caused a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury ’ in the 88th minute of the game.

The amount for which Olofinjana has been sued has not been disclosed but according to the contents of the Writ of Summons, it is believed to be over £50,000.

Blackstock’s barrister, Jonathan Crystal, said in the writ that

into the second half through forward Martin Prieto as they held out to deny the Nigerian side any victory.

D i s a p p o i n t i n g l y, Sporting Huelva met their awful moment when the u n s t o p p a b l e Azerbaijan2012 silver boot winner breezed past the Spanish club side’s defense to secure the much-expected winner and her hat trick of the day.

Speaking after the game, hat–trick scoring hero, Chinwe Ihezuo has reaffirmed her resolve to help the Flamingoes to reach the finals of the Costa Rica U17 FIFA World Cup. On meeting expectations of Nigerians, the Pelican stars attacker promised that she and her teammates are fully prepared and battle ready to take on any side in the world Championship as a unit.

In his post match reaction, head coach of the Nigeria U17 women; Bala Nkiyu commended the Nigeria women for their resilience, while admitting a tough encounter, however he stated that they are prepared for the World Cup. Olofinjana, 33, “played Mr Blackstock rather than the ball” and “raised his foot” in the challenge, “forcefully striking” his opponent’s shin and calf and failed “to control his momentum”.

“The medical reports detail a significant chance that at some point in the future Mr Blackstock’s knee will deteriorate further or he will suffer further injury as a result of the existing condition of his knee which will impact upon his ability to play professional football.”

The player returned from the injury in December 2011, and went on to have successful campaigns in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.

He has however been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury he sustained while on loan at Leeds United.

Manu Garba kick-starts race to New Zealand 2015

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*Ejide Uzoenyi, Shehu Abdullahi and Chigozie Agbim jog the ball in new Super Eagles World Cup jerseys unveiled yesterday in Abuja. *Continued from BP each for the Madrid giants.

The £86million forward scored two and made two as Real ran riot against a poor Schalke side in Gelsenkirchen, winning 6-1 with ease.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Bale’s performance after the match, describing it as his ‘best game of the season’.

The nine-time winners had only won once before in 25 trips to Germany but victory was never in doubt at the Veltins-Arena with Real’s most potent attacking weapons coming to the fore.

Karim Benzema and

Eto'o *Continued from BP secured a 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg with Galatasaray. The buildup to the match was dominated by comments made in private by the Portuguese concerning his strikers, in particular Eto’o.

Canal Plus broadcast video of Mourinho telling a businessman at a recent sponsor’s event: “The problem with Chelsea is I lack a striker. Eto’o is 32 years old, maybe 35, who knows?”

Mourinho was apoplectic about the remarks being broadcast and said his relationship with Eto’o had not been

BBC Cristiano Ronaldo also scored twice as an insatiable Madrid left Schalke requiring a miracle at the Bernabeu in three weeks time despite Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scoring the goal of the night in time added-on.

Schalke won a corner in the first minute and nearly took the lead but captain Benedikt Howedes’ header from distance drifted wide of Iker Casillas’ right-hand post.

But Real were seeing more of the ball and soon had the lead thanks to that potent attacking trio in the 13th affected – something the Cameroon forward agrees with after he made light of the comments.

“I am Samuel Eto’o, what can I say?” he told Sky Sports News after the Galatasaray match.

“If at 36 and 37 I can score three goals at Manchester United it means that I still have some juice and I can even score until I am 50.

“But I really don’t care, what is really important to me is to give my maximum to the team, to help them to win some titles.”

Eto’o came on as a 68th-minute substitute in Turkey for Fernando Torres, whose goal early in the clash was the ideal response to Mourinho’s leaked remarks.

minute.

Bale cut in on the right and found Ronaldo whose backheel took a deflection which found Benzema on the penalty spot and he made no mistake with a crisp finish.

RVP *Continued from BP and the champions would resist any attempt by the player to leave.

The manner in which United resisted Wayne Rooney’s desire to move to Chelsea last summer when he had become disgruntled with life at Old Trafford is now considered the default stance at the club when seeking to retain topline players.

The approach with Rooney has proved a success, with the England striker committing fully to David Moyes’ team. Last week he signed a fiveand-a-half-year deal that keeps him at United

Amokachi *Continued from BP successes we have enjoyed so far continue with this new kit,” Amokachi said at the public presentation of the World Cup jersey in Abuja yesterday..

“The jersey reminds us of the playing days of my boss “The Big Boss” in the 80’s.

“It has the shade of green they used back then and a touch of the green we used in Atlanta

EWLY-appointed Head Coach of U20 National Team, Manu Garba has invited 35 players for screening as he launches the race to get the Flying Eagles to the 2015 African Youth Championship, and subsequently, the FIFA U20 World Cup New Zealand 2015.

Nigeria will clash with the winner of the preliminary fixture between Kenya and Tanzania, in the second round of the qualifying series for the African Youth Championship in May, with the first leg away.

Triumph will take the team into the final round of the qualifiers, and the continental championship is slated for Senegal in March 2015.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup -winning Coach will start the screening programme at the FIFA Technical Centre, National Stadium Complex, Abuja on Monday. until he is 33.

Following United’s dismal 2-0 Champions League defeat at Oympiakos on Tuesday, Van Persie signalled his disquiet by complaining that his team-mates were taking up positions he wanted to occupy.

Although the striker was careful to defend Moyes, his frustration with his fellow players was also an implied criticism of the manager ’s tactical approach.

In the opening last-16 first-leg defeat by the Greek championsVan Persie was starved of chances and squandered United’s best opportunity towards the end of the match.

96.”

CHAN MVP Ejike Uzoenyi was one of the first Eagles stars to model the new kits.

“The jersey is great. It feels light on the skin and it’s top quality,” he praised.

“I like its texture and cannot wait to wear it for action next week.”

The Eagles will on Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America launch the jersey in a World Cup warm-up against Mexico.

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62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Madrid’s BBC crush Schalke 6 - 1 G

ARETH Bale was close to unplayable as Real Madrid all but sealed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The BBC – Benzema, Bale and Cristiano scored a brace •Continues on Page 60

Amokachi prays World Cup kits bring more glory

RVP considers United future

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OBIN Van Persie is uncertain whether to remain at Manchester United and will consider his future in the summer. It is understood that the Dutchman has no release clause in a contract that will have two years left in July

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F R I C A N champions Nigeria will hope for more glory wearing their new World Cup kits, according to assistant coach Daniel Amokachi.

On Thursday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) unveiled the kits to be worn by the Eagles at Brazil 2014.

The home kit is in two refreshingly different shades of green from the current jersey, while the away kit is white with trimmings of green and red numbering.

“Our prayer is that the

•Continues on Page 60

Sports PullOut On Centre Spread

•Rolando

•Van Persie

•Continues on Page 60

I’ll keep scoring ‘until I am 50’ — Eto’o

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UNVEILING: Ejike Uzoenyi(L), Abdullahi Shehu(m) and Chigozie Agbim(Goalkeeper) model the new World Cup kits of the Super Eagles in Abuja, yesterday.

Olofinjana sued over tackle F

ORMER Nigeria international Seyi Olofinjana has been dragged to court as a

result of a rash tackle he made against a Nottingham Forest striker over three-years-

ago.

The 27-year-old Dexter Blackstock is seeking •Continues on Page 60

AMUEL Eto’ohas laughed off the leaked remarks from Chelsea manager José Mourinho questioning his age, joking that if he can manage a hat-trick against Manchester United “at 37” he must have plenty of years left in the tank.

On Wednesday evening, the Blues

•Continues on Page 60

•Eto'o

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 1 Scorn (6) 5 Greedy (4) 8 Fragrance (5) 9 Fixed (3) 10 Too (4) 11 Otherwise (4) 12 View (5) 13 Talented (6) 16 Lake (4) 18 Relax (4) 20 Jewel (3) 22 Sorrowful (3) 23 Immerse (3) 24 Discourteous (4) 25 Detail (4) 28 Plant (6) 30 Skulk (5) 32 Pleased (4) 33 Elite (4) 34 Gist (3) 35 Freshly (5) 36 Caribou (4) 37 Fuel (6)

Down 1 Pattern (6) 2 Confirmed (8) 3 Crown (6) 4 Advanced (9) 5 Corrected (7) 6 Valley (4) 7 Expired (4) 8 Donkey (3) 14 Attractive (9) 15 Serpent (3) 17 Rodent (3) 19 Aircraft (8) 20 Firearm (3) 21 Wander (7) 26 Cloak (6) 27 Frisk (6) 29 Elderly (4) 30 Sensible (4) 31 Clef (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 3, Essay 9, Appeal 10, Centre 11, Tight 12, Evil 15, Mess 17, Delight 20, Pit 21, Tamed 23, Slip 25, Mesh 26, Tower 28, Cob 30, Divided 33, Unit 35, Made 36, Candy 38, School 39, Latent 40, Sleep

Down: 1, Dazed 2, Spoil 3, Eat 4, Slight 5, Ache 6, Yet 7, Steep 8, Beast 13, Version 14, Limit 16, Sighted 18, Taped 19, Hem 22, Denim 24, Pod 27, Riddle 28, Curse 29, Bight 31, Dated 32, Deity 34, Call 36, Cos 37, Yap

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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