ENUGU ATTACK: Buhari orders crackdown on rampaging herdsmen

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 63016

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N200

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

FG seeks World EFCC detains bank 14 Bank's help on MD over Diezani's alleged $115m cash $320m Abacha loot 44

ENUGU ATTACK:

Buhari orders crackdown on rampaging herdsmen •Sends Chief of Defence Staff, IGP after them •Condoles with families of victims •Gov. Ugwuanyi summons traditional rulers, denies calling Buhari for action

•We won't retaliate, says IPOB

•Enugu CAN calls for self defence; Okorocha wants perpetrators punished

By Emeka Mamah, Emma Nnadozie, Henry Umoru, Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli, Kingsley Omonobi, Omeiza Ajayi, Chinenye Ozor & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security chiefs to hunt down those who perpetrated the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State on Monday.

President Buhari gave the order, yesterday, in an

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‘22,988 Nigerian coys rented N3.48trn equipment in 5 years' 44 Mr & Mrs

COLUMNISTS:

AGM: From left: Mr. Obinna Nwosu, Group Deputy MD; Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Group MD/CEO; Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Chairman and Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, Company Secretary, all of Access Bank Plc. at the 27th Annual General Meeting of the bank held in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

C M Y K

Citizens uniting to Patriotism even reclaim Nigeria's in thievery democracy •P.17 •P.19

This could lead to war •P.19

Deputy Speaker leads 10-man C’ttee to harmonise 2016 budget 9

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C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

PROTEST— Protesters at the gate of the National Assembly on Day 2 of their Protest, having a meal, yesterday, in Abuja.. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Buhari orders crackdown on rampaging herdsmen Continues from Page 1 address delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the public presentation of a book, entitled “Who will Love My Country: Ideas for Building the Nigeria of our Dream”, written by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja.

The President’s words: “Before making my remarks about the book, let me use this platform to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack perpetrated on the Ukpabi Nimbo community in UzoUwani area of Enugu State on Monday. I deeply sympathise with all those who lost dear ones, as well as those who lost their

properties in the attack.

“I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen, and to go after all the groups terrorizing innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue,” he stated.

Police corporal led attack, indigenes tell IGP

The people of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government yesterday told Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, that policemen who were officially posted to protect them from the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO ITHOUT scars you have no proof of battle, without a proof of battle your conquests become suspect. So when you fail at anything, see it as a scar of honour and a proof of your journey to success.

W

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When resistors show up in your life, disengage from their opposition with polite thanks for sharing and change the subject — Gabrielle Bernstein

O

FTEN when you are excited about pursuing your dreams, people in your life can resist your path. If you get hung up about this resistance, it will block your forward motion. When resistors show up in your life, disengage from their opposition.

Keep positive people in your life who will cheer you on small successes.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A rodent that decides to play with the lizard in the rain, should know that when the lizard's body dries, its will remain wet.

Fulani herdsmen disappeared shortly before the attackers arrived and killed over 20 people.

Spokesperson of the community, Dr George Ajogwu, who made this known, told Arase that the Fulani attackers were led by a police corporal serving at Adani Police Station in the local government.

According to him, it was, however, the arrival of another police team from the Area Commander’s office that minimised the level of destruction as the new team challenged the attackers frontally.

Ajogwu’s account of the incident was, however, disputed by the transition committee chairman of the local government, Cornell Onwubuya, who disrupted the speaker, leading to an uproar.

However, Ajogwu, who insisted that he must be allowed to speak as he was a member of the community, said: “What happened was that the policemen posted to the community left, despite the fact that we pleaded with them to stay till those who would relieve them arrived. But they did not listen to us.

“Immediately they moved out that morning, the Fulani herdsmen struck. If the policemen had listened to us, the incident would have been nipped in the bud. It was only the Area Commander’s men from Nsukka that responded.

“I am from this community; what happened affected us.

The situation is unbelievable. We cannot say exactly the number of people that died but the death toll is above 20. The Fulani herdsmen had

been attacking us on regular basis.

“Annually, we lose two or three people to the Fulani attackers. I am very happy that the IGP is here to witness what the Fulani herdsmen have done to us. On yearly basis, we bury people killed by Fulani herdsmen.

“We do not go to the farms again. We have been crying to the police to help us. The Fulani herdsmen rape our wives in our farms.

“Ralph Ojombo went to the farm when the corporal came with the same Alhaji that attacked our people earlier before now. The corporal is serving at Adani Police Station. The youth were there when he came with the Fulani herdsmen and started shooting at the young boys. What saved most of them was that they ran away. Some of the youths asked him whether he was part of the Fulani herdsmen; he ordered them to shut up their dirty mouths.”

It’s pathetic — Arase

Responding, the IGP, Solomon Arase said: “The incident is very depressing and pathetic.

I am not happy about it.

The death of one person diminishes humanity. I am concerned about the number of people that died. Even the death of one person means a lot to the entire country. That is why I decided to come and have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. Most of the stories we have out there were at variance with what is on the ground.

Thank God. “I have been discussing with Senator Chuka Utazi (who represents Enugu North and is from UzoUwani Local Government Area) and the local government chairman (Cornell Onwubuya) even before the incident. We are looking for the panacea to the problem.

“Now that I am here, I am able to see what has happened. We should be able to find solutions to the problems. I can assure Nigerians that no Nigerian who snuffed life out of a fellow Nigerian will got scot-free. We will make sure that we catch the perpetrators of the crime and prosecute them.” Commenting on the police corporal who allegedly led the Fulani attack, Arase said, “The police corporal that was mentioned as conniving with the herdsmen, I have ordered that he should be put in custody. The police have zero tolerance for any police officer that conspires with any criminal.”

Also responding to the claims that more dead bodies were still in the bushes and farms, Arase directed the Enugu State Police Commissioner,

Ekechukwu Nwodibo who was present to send the homicide squad from Enugu to join the search parties in a bid to recover all of them. He then promised that a police station would be built at Nkpunato Nkpologwu, near Nimbo to reduce crimes in the area.

Death toll still unknown, says Sen. Utazi

Earlier, Senator Utazi told the IGP that “the communities in UzoUwani have suffered untold hardship for years in the hands of Fulani herdsmen,” adding that the herdsmen and their cattle destroyed farmlands and crops as well as “ raped women and kidnapped people along Nsukka-Adani-Onitsha highway.”

Utazi further said that the death toll of Monday’s attack was yet to be known as two corpses were recovered Tuesday following the stench oozing from them. He then appealed to the IGP to ensure thorough investigation into the matter as well as the prosecution of the offenders.

The IGP later visited the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo, Igwe John Akor, who lamented the problems being encountered by the people of the area in the hands of Fulani herdsmen who “molest innocent people, rape women, kidnap and rob people at intervals,” and appealed to him to provide security for his subjects.

Akor praised the efforts of the policemen who were on ground on the day of the incident and asked Arase to provide more patrol teams to save the people from being kidnapped and robbed.

Ugwuanyi convenes monarchs, other stakeholders

Following his visit to troubled Ukpabi Nimbo community, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, summoned an emergency meeting with traditional rulers, presidents-general of town unions and leaders of the neighbourhood

watch groups in all communities in the state.

A reliable source disclosed that the meeting which is part of series of action plans of the state government to find a lasting solution to the menace of the Fulani herdsmen in the state is scheduled to hold next Monday, May 2, at Old Governor ’s Lodge, Enugu at 1pm.

The source also revealed that the governor was determined to put an end to the inhuman acts of the herdsmen which have consumed the lives and property of innocent citizens of the state as well as threatened the peace and security of the state and the nation at large.

It could be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi had while addressing the people of Nimbo community called for peace, fasting and prayers for the intervention of God, assuring them and the people of the state that he will do everything possible within his constitutional powers to end the incessant menace posed by the herdsmen in the state.

The governor also disclosed that when he got a security report on Sunday that the attack will take place in the community, he immediately summoned an emergency meeting of the State Security Council which met on Sunday night till the early hours of Monday, shortly before the herdsmen struck, regretting that the sad incident eventually occurred after all assurances given to him by security operatives that the attack will not happen.

The scheduled meeting, according to the source, is expected to map out the best strategies that would promote peace and end the attacks from the herdsmen.

Monarch warns

Meantime, the Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick, has called on the Federal Government to immediately intervene and halt the violent rampage by herdsmen across the country.

Eze Dick warned that

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6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY APRIL 28 , 2016

From left, Yele Braithwaite; Kitoye Braithwaite; Mowunmi Braitwaite and Olubunmi Braithwaite during the obsequies.

OBSEQUIES: From left; Mrs Laolu Branco-Rhodes, daughter; Dr Grace Simisola Braithwaite, widow; Mrs Ebun Joda and Pastor Tunde Joda, Founder, Christ Chapel International Church during the Christian wake-keep for Late Dr Tunji Braitewaite at his Victoria Island, Lagos residence yesterday. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele.

Lagos immortalises Braithwaite, names Dolphin Park after him ...As Utomi, Ojukwu's son eulogize late activist

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Charles Kumolu

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, named the Dolphin Estate Park after the late human rights activist, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

Ambode, who announced this at a Service of Songs organised by the deceased’s family, explained that Braithwaite was immortalised in recognition of his laudable contributions to nation building.

This came as Professor Pat Utomi, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and other social crusaders at a colloquium in honour of the legal luminary, urged Nigerians to emulate the deceased’s selflessness and consistent advocacy for a better Nigeria.

According to Governor Ambode

Braithwaite dedicated his life to the improvement of the living conditions of the masses, noting that on several occasions he stood for and defended the rights of the common man.

Ambode said: “As a legal luminary, Dr. Braithwaite’s imprints on the legal profession are not only impressive but will continue to receive accolades even from the generations yet unborn. His legal engagements in the defence of human rights, democratic norms and general advancement of frontiers of knowledge through his cerebral work entitled the jurisprudence of the living oracles among other intellectual pursuits will remain with us and remain relevant in addressing various challenges in our democratic experience.

“Rather than being disappointed for being rejected at

NNNS, Abeokuta's 25-year anniversary celebrations underway

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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ORMER students of Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta, NNSS, have said in collaboration with the present students of the school; plan to celebrate 25 years existence of the institution to showcase its achievements.

Publicity coordinator of the anniversary planning committee, Mr, Tayo Balogun, who said the anniversary celebration would hold between April 29, and 30, explained that the old boys of the school in conjunction with the staff and students, planned to showcase NNSS achievements with the theme “still excelling together” at the

school premises.

He said “The Nigerian Navy Secondary School Abeokuta is an all-boys school, founded in 1991 and is the Navy’s equivalent of a military school. The school is renowned for discipline and academic excellence and has over the years produced many students who have excelled in various disciplines in Nigeria and beyond.

“It was founded in 1990 but the first set of students resumed on March 2 1991. The official name of the school is Nigerian Navy Secondary School Ibara Abeokuta (NNSS Abeokuta). The school is for boys only and is full boarding.

Students of NNSS Abeokuta are fondly called Navy Boys.”

the 1983 poll by the same masses whose lot he had hoped to use the instrument of government to better, Braithwaite was at the forefront of emancipation of the Nigerian people throughout his life time.”

The governor declared that his government would immortalize heroes of democracy and all those who contributed to the growth of good governance in the state.

On his part, Utomi said Braithwaite was someone, who had what it took to be a leader and that Nigerians should emulate his selfless disposition to national issues. ‘’It is important for every man to make sustainable progress in the society. If you go back to any of your villages 70 years ago, ask who was being left behind, there was hardly any left behind. That was the very spirit of African communal line. To run away from one’s class, is to mistake an understanding of an African, who knows that it is for greater good for no one to be left behind, that was what Dr. Tunji Braithwaite in many ways represented.”

Also speaking, the first son of the late Igbo leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Debe Ojukwu said: ‘’Braithwaite was my father’s personal lawyer. It was worrisome to some of us at the initial stage when he settled for him as his lawyer instead of all the Igbo lawyers at his disposal. But then I didn’t know who Braithwaite was.

“But then as a young lawyer, I had known that the relationship between a lawyer and the client, as well as the relationship between a priest and a penitent is justifiable before the law.

That is why the priest can never reveal whatever the penitent had told him.”

FG stops funding overseas medical trips for officials

By Gabriel Olawale

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HE Federal Government yesterday said it would no longer provide resources to any government official to travel abroad for medical attention on cases that could be handled in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Sokoto, President Muhammadu Buhari, said his administration would not encourage expending hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole, said “While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her

fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria.”

He called on health professionals to avoid interprofessional crises which had impacted negatively on the nation’s healthcare delivery system.

“We have seen the hazards that this unfortunate and highly preventable problems have caused to the quality of health care delivery in Nigeria. May I employ members of NMA to always imbibe the spirit of team work to ensure harmonious relationship with other health professionals, no profession can effectively and efficiently function without the other”, he said.

Lagos restructures N167.5bn bail bonds

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS State Government yesterday said it had completed the restructuring of N167.5 billion programme of its two bonds, termed “series one and two.”

This came as Governor Ambode expressed optimism that the activities lined up for the forthcoming Lagos International Jazz Day would go a long way to showcase and develop its tourism potentials to the world.

The governor in a statement by Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinkunmi Mustapha, said the

restructuring was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, last week.

According to him, it was achieved through the finalization of a process where the state reached an agreement with its bond creditors on accelerating repayment terms.

Mustapha said: “We thank all our bond creditors for their continued support of the State Government, in a difficult market environment. This restructuring completed entirely through domestic capital markets, once again underpins the strength of the Lagos State credit story.''

Court adjourned NAMA boss' trial

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till May 12 for the trial of Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, charged with stealing the agency’s money amounting to N6.8 billion.

Abdulsalam is charged

alongside six others.

The other accused are: Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, and two Limited Liability companies, Randville Investment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 7

Unknown gunmen kill 75-yr-old Osun chief

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—A 75-year-old High Chief, the Akannare of Ile-Ido Ife, Osun State, Chief Moses Elutilo, was on Monday, murdered by some masked men who invaded the venue of a meeting.

It was gathered that the deceased, had at about 8:00am on the faithful day received a call that there was going to be a meeting at about 10:00am at Atagilere plank hall on Ondo road, Ile-Ife of which he must attend.

The source noted that when the deceased got to the venue of the meeting at about 10:00am, he was asked to lead the opening prayer by one Yemi.

“As soon as he stood up to pray, he was immediately attacked by the masked men who attacked him with dangerous weapons and smashed his head,” the source added.

The deceased was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital but suddenly gave up the ghost before medical attention could reach him.

It was gathered that the

deceased was the only star witness in a land dispute before Justice A. A. Onibokun of the State High Court, Ile-Ife. Chief Elutilo’s death was announced to the court yesterday when counsel to the plaintiff in suit marked: HIF/16/2015 in a case involving Ido Reformation Committee Versus Dr. E. B. Makusota and Prophet Sunday

Oyebode, aka, Kind Solomon came up yesterday.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Albert Okuovara told the court that the only witness in the case had been murdered on Monday.

Justice Onibokun adjourned the case till July 13, 2016 to enable the plaintiff put its house in order so as to continue with the case.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Osun State Police Command, DSP Folasade Odoro while confirming the incident said the matter was under investigation.

She added that an autopsy would be carried out on the corpse and circumstances surrounding the murder of the deceased.

OME retired judges in Ondo State have dragged Governor Olusegun Mimiko before the National Industrial Court, NJC, for failing to pay their retirement benefits since 2007.

Also joined in the suit are the Ondo State Pension Board and the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede.

The retired judges prayed the court to direct the defendants to pay them upward review by 96 percent of their monthly pension from February, 2007 in line with circulars issued in 2010 and 2015 by the National Judicial Council.

They listed some of the retirement benefits as accommodation, four official domestic staff, medical care, and serviceable vehicles,

WORLD BANK—President Muhammadu Buhari, welcoming the Managing Director of World Bank, Sri Mulyani, while the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffery Onyeama (R); World Bank Senior Director, Ms. Mamta Marthi (L); CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele (2R); Country Director, Rachid Benmessaond (2l); Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (3R); World Bank Vice President, Jan Walliser (3L) and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari (4R) joined in a group photograph after an audience the Presidency granted a delegation from the World Bank at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

among others.

In a suit filed by their counsel, Adetoye Ojopagogo, the former judges also sought an order of the Industrial Court compelling the state government and its officials to review and harmonize their pension benefits every five years from 2000 till date in conformity with section 210 subsection 2 and 3 of the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking on behalf of the plaintiffs, retired Justice Adeyemo Arona, lamented that six of the retired judges, including late Justice Rasheed Fawehinmi, died while struggling and waiting to receive their benefits from the government.

Mr. Afonja said he and his colleagues took the matter to court after all efforts to appeal to Mr. Mimiko to pay their retirement

entitlements had failed including sending some first

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HE Assemblies of God Church, Nigeria, which has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since 2013 with Rev. Chidi Okoroafor, deputy to Rev. Paul Emeka, claiming that his faction had suspended the General Superintendent and ex-communicated him from the church may now heave a sigh of relief as the World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF) has endorsed Rev.

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Court upholds FG’s objection to Bi-Courtney’s bid to procure injunction

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FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has dismissed an injunction sought

by Bi-Courtney Highway Services Ltd, seeking to restrain the Federal Government to stop further action on the LagosIbadan Expressway, following the termination of a concession agreement with the firm.

The court found the preliminary objection of the Attorney General of the Federation dated November 16, 2015 challenging the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case as “meritorious.”

Justice Ibrahim Buba in a ruling dismissed Bi-Courtney’s bid to procure an injunction thereby giving the government the nod to go ahead with the reconstruction plan for the expressway.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration had terminated the con-

class monarchs and eminent indigenes of the state to beg him.

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CRISIS: WAGF endorses Rev Okoroafor

By Sam Eyoboka

cession agreement with Bi-Courtney and subsequently got financiers including the Infrastructure Bank for the project which was handled by Julius Berger Plc and RCC. Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing had reacted to the ruling, saying that despite the legal hurdle, the project had been captured in the 2016 budget with billions of naira appropriated for it.

“This action was filed outside the three months prescribed by the Public Officer Protection Act. It is accordingly dismissed and other issues have become academic. The Preliminary objection shows clearly that the action was filed more than three months. Therefore, there is no argument that this action is not statute barred.

...NLC condoles with NMA

By Victor AhiumaYoung & Rotimi Ojomoyela

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UNPAID PENSIONS: Retired judges drag Mimiko to court

S

Ekiti doctor laid to rest amidst wailing

Chidi Okoroaofor and other members of his executive, Rev. Godwin Amaowoh, General Secretary; and Rev. Vincent Alaje, General Treasurer at the headquarters of the Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri, US. World Assemblies of God Fellowship is the highest fellowship body of God Fellowship.

Rev. Okoroafor and his team were received by Rev. George O. Wood, who doubles as the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, US and the chairman, World Assemblies of God Fellowship.

DO-EKITI—ONE of the six doctors from Ekiti State, who died in a ghastly motor accident on their way to Sokoto, late Dr. Tunde Aladesanmi, was buried amid tears at his family residence in Araromi Quarters off Adebayo in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

The daughter of the deceased, Jesutofunmi, who prayed for her late father to appear to her in a dream said “My sweet dad, I love you so much. I know you are dead but I believe you are still with me.

Please, just appear to me in a dream and make me brilliant and tell me you love me. I will always make you proud dad.”

The funeral rite was performed at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Life Fountain Cathedral on Bank Road in the state capital.

This came as Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, commiserated with the leadership of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA over the death of its members.

Six doctors working with FETHI, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti and Ekiti State Hospital’s Management Board and their driver, on Sunday died in a tragic motor accident along Kaduna road while on their way to Sokoto to attend NMA’s Annual General Meeting.

Meanwhile, NLC in a statement by its president, Ayuba Wabba, lamented that “Nigeria already suffers deficit in terms of number of medical doctors. With 40,000 doctors for a population of two hundred million, (average of one doctor for 5000), the tragic death of six working medical doctors is a great loss to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigeria and all the working people represented by NLC.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

N676m job scam: Judge hands off Moro’s trial Says action based on personal reasons As court adjourns Metuh’s trial to May 16

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA— JUSTICE Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, disqualified herself from presiding over the trial of the erstwhile Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro.

This came on a day Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting also in Abuja shifted the trial of embattled National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, to May 16.

Moro is facing trial before the court over alleged complicity in a N676 million job recruitment scam that led to the death of no fewer than 20 persons in 2014.

Justice Chikere, who on May 3, okayed full-blown hearing on the matter, made a U-turn, saying she would no longer hear the case on personal grounds.

“I am sending the case-file back to the Chief Judge for reassignment on personal reasons. When it gets reassigned, the parties can continue,” the judge stated after the case was called up for hearing.

Nevertheless, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, notified the court that the charge pending against the exminister had been amended.

Moro is answering to an 11count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, filed against him and two others.

Those facing trial with him are former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior when the alleged fraud was committed, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia and a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. F. O Alayebami.

They were charged alongside the firm contracted to conduct the botched March 15, 2014, National Immigration Service, NIS, recruitment exercise, Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.

Court adjourns Metuh’s trial to May 16 Meanwhile, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, shifted trial of the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh to May 16.

The matter was adjourned to enable Metuh, who was said to have fallen off a swivel chair, Tuesday, to receive proper medical attention at the National Hospital, Abuja.

The PDP spokesman is answering to a seven-count criminal charge the Economic

and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his company, Destra Investment Limited.

The defendants were alleged to have received N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, prior to the 2015 general elections.

At the resumed sitting on the case yesterday, Metuh’s lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, told the court that his client was hospitalised at the intensive care unit of the National

Hospital in Abuja, even as he begged for the trial to be suspended for at least two weeks.

“My Lord, we humbly apply for an adjournment to enable the first defendant, who is currently on intensive care, go for his medications. We had to compel him to be physically present in court this morning,” Ikpeazu submitted.

Meanwhile, the application was not opposed by EFCC lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir.

“My Lord, the news is in the public domain that the first defendant is in intensive unit.

We shall not be opposing the application,” Tahir stated.

Consequently, Justice Abang adjourned the case till May 16 and 17.

Before adjourning the case, Justice Abang ordered fraillooking Metuh, who was present in court, to stand on his feet.

Though Metuh complied with the order, he, however, held his waist with both hands.

UNVEILING: From right: Mr. Muda Yusuf, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Mr. Abdul-Ganiyu Sumaila, President, African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC); Dr. Obiora Madu, Director General, ACSC and Mr. Taiwo Ajibola, representative of Managing Director, MDS Logistics, during the unveiling of the 2016 Industry Report of Nigerian Logistics and Supply Chain at the National Logistics Strategy Summit, in Lagos, yesterday.

Dumping of toxins: $6m Tidex legal deal initiated by Farida’s EFCC —Adoke

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA—IMMEDIATE past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, has said it was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, under the leadership of Farida Waziri, that initiated the non-prosecution agreement with Tidex Nigeria Limited and not himself.

According to Adoke, he only signed the deal after the negotiations and terms of agreement as the chief law officer of the federation, after the EFCC and the company had reached an agreement not to proceed with prosecution over alleged dumping of toxins in Nigeria.

Under the deal reached, Tidex Nigeria Limited was asked to pay $6 million (N1.92 billion).

But the current Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who appears unimpressed with how the deal was struck and executed, has given the EFCC the directive to probe the entire process and

where the huge sum was paid into and why $300,000, representing five percent of the legal fees, was taken by a private lawyer.

However, Malami’s directive to the EFCC to probe the transaction has not gone down well with Adoke, who believes the whole idea was borne out of vendetta and witch-hunt.

Adoke issued a strongly worded statement in Abuja, yesterday, and virtually cleared himself of any complicity in the deal, saying he had nothing to fear for doing his work in the overall interest of Nigeria as its AGF. In the statement made available to Vanguard, the former minister said all issues relating to the agreement, which was signed in 2011, were well within the public domain and were approved by the relevant government agencies as part of their duties to the nation.

He said the petition against him was coming because of his refusal to allow his office as the AGF to be used by the Nigerian shareholders to settle personal disputes with their foreign

partners.

Adoke said: “My answer is simply that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not initiate these settlements. It was the EFCC, under the chairmanship of Farida Waziri, that initiated these settlements and nominated Mr. Godwin Obla as the lawyer to represent their interest in the negotiations that were conducted under the auspices of Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. “ It was when the negotiations were concluded to the satisfaction of all the parties, that I signed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and Mr. Emmanuel Akomoye (then, Secretary to the EFCC) signed on behalf of the EFCC. The copies of the agreements are in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and I believe with the EFCC as well.

“This was the procedure that was adopted in respect of all the settlements that were initiated by the EFCC in 2011."

Oil hits 2016 high due to falling output, weaker dollar

L

ONDON— OIL hit its highest level, yesterday, driven by a falling dollar and evidence of declining US supply, putting the price on course for its strongest monthly performance since last April.

Brent crude futures were up $1.03 at $46.77 a barrel in early trading, having risen nearly 20 per cent in April, their largest one-month gain in a year.

The international benchmark earlier hit a 2016 high of $46.81.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures also rose 86 cents to $44.90 a barrel.

Brent received extra support from news that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait appear no closer to restarting their jointly operated Khafji oilfield, which produced 280,000 to 300,000 barrels per day The oilfield had been shut since October 2014 due to environmental problems.

The prospect of an agreement among the world’s largest exporters to limit production evaporated almost two weeks ago when a meeting between OPEC members and their nonOPEC counterparts ended in a stalemate.

Since then, Brent has hit its highest since November and, aided by further evidence of declining output anywhere from the US shale basin to the North Sea, attracted fresh investment cash.

“There was definitely a bit of a turning point when we had the initial sell-off after the producer meeting,” CMC Markets strategist, Jasper Lawler said.

“That got reversed and went on to show that (a production freeze) was a fairly small part of what had been supporting the price and really, it’s the supply outlook for the U.S. coupled with the dollar that is really driving returns,” he added.

WTI was further bolstered after the American Petroleum Institute reported a draw of nearly 1.1 million barrels in US crude inventories last week.

Analysts had expected a 2.4million-barrel build.

The dollar was down on the day, having fallen about 5 per cent against a basket of currencies since the start of the year, even as U.S. interest rates are expected to rise.

The Federal Reserve’s policysetting committee meets on Wednesday but is not expected to announce any change in rates, leaving traders to scour the postmeeting statement for any clues on the outlook.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—9

Umar over the matter.

Umar orders Saraki’s security out of tribunal

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki (left) and his counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Saraki files fresh application to disqualify CCT chairman As Umar orders Saraki’s security aides out of tribunal Warns against posting clips of proceedings on social media 19 political parties ask tribunal chair to step down

By Chris Ochayi, with agency reports

A

BUJA — THE Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has filed another application to disqualify Danladi Umar, the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, from continuing to preside over his trial.

Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, however, ordered security operatives attached to Saraki to leave the courtroom, even as the tribunal warned against posting clips of its proceeding on social media.

Ajibola Oluyede, a counsel to Saraki, who is being tried for alleged false and anticipatory assets declaration, filed the application shortly after the trial resumed yesterday.

He said the tribunal chairman still had a serious corruption case against him with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and premised his application on Section 36(1) of the constitution, which addressed the issue of biases and the rules of natural justice.

Oluyede had unsuccessfully moved a similar application last week, which resulted in a heated exchange between him and Umar.

After reading his motion, Oluyede called the attention of the court to a letter written to the Attorney-General by the EFCC chairman in February 2015, which was part of his exhibits against Umar.

Oluyede read out paragraph four of the letter: “There are indications that the tribunal chairman might have demanded and collected money from the

complainant through his said personal assistant.

"However, efforts made to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he had lost the telephone in 2012.

“This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific analysis, with a view to corroborating the allegation. In the same vein, the complainant could also not make available his telephone set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it.

"Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the

tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part.”

Justice Umar had initially declined to entertain the motion, but prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, urged him to admit the application so that it can be argued.

The letter cited is a 2014 petition sent to the EFCC, in which Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Customs official, claimed to have been pressured by Mr. Umar for a N10 million bribe.

The EFCC has repeatedly said it had no evidence to prosecute

As proceedings continued, chairman of the tribunal ordered security operatives attached to Saraki to leave the courtroom.

He gave the order shortly after counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and counsel for the defence, Kanu Agabi, announced their appearances.

The CCT judge said his order was for the safety of all those present at the tribunal. “We have observed that some armed security agents are at the tribunal. We want such security men to stay outside. They should stay outside of the court hall not inside. It is for the protection of us here,” he said.

Umar also warned against the recording of proceedings of the tribunal, adding that he was ready to make the trial open to all Nigerians, if parties to the case filed an application for it to broadcast.

Nobody' ll assassinate you, Agabi tells Umar

Speaking afterwards, Agabi, Saraki’s lead counsel, urged the judge not to nurse fears because nobody would assassinate him.

He said: “My prayer is for peace and understanding. By God’s grace, you are in that post to be instrumental. I believe harmony and love will prevail.

That is why I always urge you not to be angry because anger is not of God, but of the devil.

“Generations to come will adore you if you are humble and humane. Nobody will assassinate you, but you should be an advocate for peace.”

19 political parties ask Umar to step down

Meanwhile, the leadership of

19 political registered parties, yesterday, called on the chairman of the tribunal to step down from the ongoing trial of the Senate President, arguing that recent events indicated that he was an interested party in the matter.

Annoyed by what they described as witch-hunt, the parties noted that Justice Umar would not be impartial or unbiased in this case, given the circumstances of his relationship with the EFCC. Besides, the parties also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances which led to the EFFC issuing the letter of clearance to Justice Umar over his alleged involvement in N10 million bribery scandal.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, National Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who read the text of the media briefing on behalf of the parties, said Justice Umar had failed to demonstrate a dispassion required of anyone sitting in judgment over others.

The political parties are Labour Party, LP; Action Alliance, AA; National Conscience Party, NCP; Democratic Peoples Party, DPP; African Democratic Congress, ADC; Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN, and MPPP, among others.

The parties noted: “We believe his continued stay on the bench while this defendant is appearing before the tribunal supports the conspiracy theory that there is an agenda to convict Dr. Saraki by all means.”

The political parties which said they were not against the trail of the Senate President, added, however, that, “President Buhari needs to act now, not to stop Saraki’s trial but to ensure that the process of fighting corruption does not end up being even more corrupt than the corruption it seeks to eliminate.”

Budget impasse: Deputy Speaker leads 10-man C’ttee

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuf Lasun, is to lead a 10-man National Assembly Committee to interface with another five-man committee from the executive to harmonise all the grey areas pointed out by the Presidency on

the 2016 budget.

The 15-man committee which has five members of the House of Representatives and five members from the senate as well as the five members from the executive is expected to finish its assignment on or before next Monday for the presidential assent expected to take place between Tuesday and Wednesday of the week.

The House of Representatives had embarked on a closed-door session, yesterday, to discus the outcome of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu

Reps halt N309bn electricity bond

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, halted plans to raise a Federal Government secured bond of N309 billion to finance the “outrageous shortfalls” in the Nigerian electricity market.

The House also called on the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) to

immediately halt the move to raise the bond.

This followed a motion by Rep. Edward Pwajok (Plateau-PDP), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Moving the motion, Pwajok expressed concern that the planned massive borrowing was in spite of intervention by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in March 25, 2015, through the grant of a bailout.

According to him, the bailout is to the tune of N213 billion through the Nigerian Electricity

Sector Intervention (NESI) facility.

“In spite of that intervention, the shortfall, instead of being wiped out, has continued to escalate at the rate of about N15 billion per month (equivalent to N500 million daily).

“It rose to a total-market shortfall of N400 billion as at Dec. 31, 2015.

“A continuing incidence of market shortfall is a distinctive action for new investors to venture into the Nigerian electricity market."

Dogara at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday evening.

Though, Dogara on the resumption of plenary was silent on what transpired at the closed-door meeting and decisions reached, Vanguard reliably gathered that the House decided to set-up its five man committee to interface with the members from the executive to harmonise the budget.

It was further gathered that Chairman of Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, who had been in the storm over his alleged role in the controversy surrounding the budget is a member of the committee Also included is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Ibrahim Babangida and the Minority Whip, Binta Bello.

A source who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said that it was agreed that all the insertions in the budget that were not contained in the main budget document including constituency projects will be completely removed.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 —11

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

We'll pay workers despite N1.4bn allocation shortfall —Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

Edo State Government received from the Federation Account N1.6 billion. I will need about N3 billion to pay wages, overheads and other basic things that are not negotiable, which means we have a deficit

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that his government got only N1.6 billion from the Federation Account this month a shortfall of N1.4 billion to meet salaries and overheads, but that it won’t stop the government from meeting its wage obligation before the end of the month.

Oshiomhole, who restated his commitment to the prompt payment of workers’ salaries during a visit of the newly elected leadership of Trade Union Congress, TUC, said: “The labour movement remains my primary constituency. Politics is my secondary constituency, and I am never ashamed to say that the style that I adopt and the strategy that I use are the result of my trade union training and all that the union equipped me with.

“So, our movement gives us all that we need to prepare for leadership. I congratulate you on your election. I also want to congratulate your immediate predecessor for the leadership he provided for the TUC. “Things are tough. This month,

of about N1.4 billion. But we will pay the workers before the 30th.

Before May Day, they must get their salaries.

“It is a lot easier for the government to explain poor finances. It is far more complex

Ayade tasks FG, int’l community on C-River anti-deforestation efforts

C

ROSS River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has called on the Federal Government and the international community to support the anti-deforestation efforts of the state government to preserve and manage its rich forest resource rather than work against the construction of the superhighway by his administration.

Ayade, who made the call while inspecting over 22 truck loads of timber impounded by the anti-deforestation task force of the state, also called on both the local and international nongovernmental organisations, the Federal Ministry of

Environment and other stakeholders to show their love for the state by focusing on how the anti-deforestation task force can be adequately funded to checkmate the obnoxious activities of illegal loggers.

He said: “The antideforestation Task Force needs money for advocacy, intelligence, to be in the forests to arrest these illegal loggers, to drive all night and through the forest, for fuel, and all forms of logistics to sustain their work. Cross River is doing this at a huge cost.

“It was based on this reality that the state made a choice to construct the superhighway to help expand opportunities,

Killings in Ogoni planned to ruin my ambition —Abe

By Davies Iheamnachor

P

ORT HARC O U R T — SENATOR Magnus Abe, the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for Rivers SouthEast senatorial district, in the national and state legislative rerun elections, has described the continuous killings in Ogoni area of the state as man made obstacles targeted at his ambition and success in the poll.

Abe, who spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, noted that the killings in his senatorial district were plots by the enemies of Ogoni people to abort his representation at the Senate.

The APC senatorial candidate noted that the acts were perpetrated by a set of people who do not want his political success.

Abe, who also spoke on recent murder of his ally, Dr. Vincent Eebee, in Yeghe community, lamented that his supporters were now in hiding.

He called on security operatives to investigate and fish out the killers in

C M Y K

to explain how, in the face of the crisis in the country, a worker is able to go to work, stay at work, put in eight hours at work, find his way back home, provide for his wife and then hug the children as a father that cares with a salary of N20,000.”

Ogoni, stressing that they (killers) and the car

they used for their operations are known.

Ogboru resigns from Labour Party

By Festus Ahon

A

S A B A — D E LT A State governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2015 election, Chief Great Ogboru, yesterday, resigned his membership of the party, saying he was leaving with all those that came with him from the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, and others of like mind.

Vanguard gathered that the resignation was not unconnected with his purported desire to move to All Progressives Congress, APC and in fulfilment of the agreement he entered into with the leadership of LP in the state and at the national level to the extent that should he win the election, members of LP and DPP would form the government with him and should he fail, the party would revert to status quo.

Ogboru, in the letter of resignation dated April 26, 2016, addressed to the chairman of LP in the state, Emeka Nkwoala, said he was moving out and joining the APC “to provide a

strong, formidable, reliable and credible alternative to leadership in our state, and by extension good governance.

“This, of course, is part of our agreement when we moved enmass to the LP. I have also written to you as chairman because this was our understanding with you then, that we shall revert to you, chairman, in the event of our mass exodus to a new party.”

Vanguard had reported that the LP and Accord Party were concluding plans to fuse into the APC in Delta State with Sir Richard Odibo leading the LP and Mr. Alfred Oloko leading the APC in the merger talks.

harness all the solid mineral deposits throughout the state, using the superhighway to the deep seaport at Bakassi. The superhighway will help us expand our opportunities of harvesting all our solid mineral deposits through to the deep seaport.”

Reacting to what he described as cheap blackmail and bad politics being orchestrated by some Cross Riverians and fueled by some international NGOs, Ayade said: “You cannot claim to love Cross River more than us, you cannot afford to care more for our forests than we do, hence the need to stop playing this cheap politics."

Diamond Bank declares N217bn gross earnings for 2015

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IAMOND Bank has declared gross earnings of N217.09 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 against N208.40 billion achieved in 2014.

The financials are contained in the company’s audited result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday, in Lagos.

The gross earnings represented a growth of 4.17 per cent over the figure in 2014.

The bank’s profit before tax, however, dropped to N7.1 billion from N28.10 billion in 2014, a decrease of 74.8 per cent.

Its profit after tax also stood at N5.66 billion, down from N25.49 billion achieved in 2014, a decline of 77.8 per cent.

The bank’s net operating income stood at N104.64 billion compared with N127.38 billion in 2014.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—13

Oshiomhole, deputy face-off: PDP seeks cleric's intervention

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State has called on the Archbishop of the Benin Metropolitan See of the Catholic Church Archdiocese, Most Rev Augustine Akubeze, to intervene in the face-off between Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, by calling them to order.

The party said the allegation

by Governor Oshiomhole that his deputy wanted to kill him amounted to blackmail, describing same as a ploy to defend the lack of coordination between the governor and his deputy.

State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, made the appeal to the Archbishop while receiving a governorship aspirant of the party, Chief Solomon Edebiri, who was at the party secretariat to inform the State Working Committee of PDP of his intention to vie for the governorsip position of the state as well as to begin a tour of the local governments in the state.

He asked why Governor Oshiomhole reasoned that his deputy wanted him dead at the twilight of his administration, when the deputy would have benefitted more if this was done at the beginning of their

tenure.

Orbih noted that it was a common knowledge that the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state after Oshiomhole’s administration was a poisoned chalice.

He regretted that the governor and his deputy had

reduced governance to fetish issues, asking the duo to exorcise themselves of their fetish tendencies and face the challenge of providing leadership and good governance to Edo people during their remaining term in office.

He described the

BRIEFING: From left: Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah retd; Special Adviser to the Governor on Treasury, Revenue and Accounts, Mr. Timipre Seipulo and Chairman of Staff Verification Committee for Brass Local Government Area, Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff, during the monthly Transparency Initiative press briefing in Yenagoa. Photo: Lucky Francis.

Odubu declares for Edo gov race

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—EDO State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, yesterday, in Benin formally declared his intention to seek the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship ticket in the state's governorship election slated for September 10, 2016.

The deputy governor, who also used the occasion to comment on his alleged attempt to kill Governor Adams Oshiomhole, described the allegation as a wicked attempt by enemies of progress to drive a wedge between him and his boss.

He said: “It is an old and tired lie concocted to tarnish my image in the eyes of the public. It is politically motivated. You are aware that the governorship election is around the corner, and I am one of those vying for the APC ticket. They failed when they tried it during my re-nomination as deputy governor in 2012. They certainly will fail again now.

“For me, nothing in this world is worth the blood of a fowl, not to talk of that of a human being. I leave these enemies of progress to the all knowing God. I know and I do believe that He will manifest Himself in this matter, in the fullness of time. Time, they C M Y K

behaviours of the governor and his deputy, who are both Catholic, as unbecoming of Catholics, and called on Catholic clergies, especially the Benin Archbishop, Most Reverend Akubeze, to stop the duo from bringing further dishonour to the church and governance.

say, writes the ultimate history and history, delivers that final judgment.”

Odubu who declared his readiness to contest the APC governorship primaries amidst speculations that he was told to

step down from the race, said nobody had told him to step down from the race for whatever reason, insisting, “Nothing like that will happen and it is not likely to happen. Stepping down is not in my calculation.”

On some leaflets that were being distributed in Benin-City few days ago by some persons that he has been in government for close to 16 years and as such should not be voted for, he said that he has been around in the political arena for a while serving the people in different capacities in the legislative and executive arms of government.

Victor Wood not involved in petition to EFCC —IDI

By Daniel Gumm

W

ARRI—AN Itsekiri group, Iwere Development Initiative, IDI, has absolved the Executive Director, Research, Planning and Statistics in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Engr. Victor Wood, of involvement in a purported petition written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the immediate past governor of the state and other persons.

Also allegedly petitioned were the member representing Warri North constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Michael Diden as well as the current member representing Itsekiri ethnic nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi.

IDI, in a statement by its Chairman, Misan Tsegbeyeri,

berated those accusing Wood of allegedly conniving with Prof.

Itse Sagay, SAN, to petition the afore-stated persons to the EFCC, noting: “Even though Wood is a member of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILOT, he has never met Prof. Sagay, let

alone connive with him to petition anybody to the EFCC.” The group said those behind the allegation were “hell bent on tarnishing Wood's reputation before Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Itsekiri nation and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli.”

Oshiomhole never asked me to write petition against Odubu —Osifo

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Edo State Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Mr Washington Osifo, yesterday, denied allegation that his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, directed him to write a petition against the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. It will be recalled that the

deputy governor, during a peace meeting with the governor, had alleged that a petition was written against him, purpotedly masterminded by the governor with a view to impeaching him.

It was at the same meeting that Governor Oshiomhole alleged that his deputy hired native doctors to kill him which was denied vehemently by Odubu.

But addressing journalists, yesterday, Osifo described the allegation as a calculated attempt to smear his reputation.

Edwin Clark commends UNIBEN professors

By Gabriel Olawale

P

RO-CHANCELLOR and Chairman of Council, University of Benin, UNIBEN, Chief Edwin Clark, has praised the staff and students of the university for breaking world record as the first institution to produce eight professors to head various tertiary institutions across the country at the same time.

Expressing his delight, Clark said that the growing demand for technical manpower, development of research in science and technology as well as provision of intellectual reservoir in the country have continued to make UNIBEN's products crucial in national development.

Clark said that the appointment of eight professors from a single institution to head universities nationwide has given the university a great sense of pride and fulfilment as, “for the first time in world history, eight Professors from a single university, will all at the same time, be appointed to head various tertiary institutions in a country."

Bayelsa Assembly to swear in three opposition members today

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE leadership of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, yesterday, succumbed to pressure with resolution to swear in three elected members of the opposition parties.

The members-elect are Alfred Belemote (APGA, Brass II), Gabriel Ogbara (ADC, Ogbia III) and Gibson Munalayefa (Labour Party, Ogbia II).

The leadership of the House had come under criticisms over its refusal to administer oath of office on the three members-elect.

But the Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson, yesterday, on the floor of the House announced that the decision to delay the administration of oath of office on the elected opposition legislators was caused by faulty processes.

He said that though the opposition legislators would be sworn-in today, “the delay in administering oath was caused by lack of due process.”

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Lai’s suit against Metuh goes to mediation court

NCC FORUM ON SERVICE: From

left— Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Ms. Funlola Akinyode; music star, Oladapo D'Banj Oyebanjo; Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, and member, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Mr. Douye Diri, during the consultative forum on the provision of value added servicesin Lagos, yesterday.

J

USTICE Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday, ordered that the N500 million libel suit filed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, against Olisa Metuh, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s spokesman, should go to mediation court.

Ipaye ruled: “The file should be taken to the Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, Prompt Administrator to set the ADR in motion.

“Now that pleadings have been closed, seven days from today, please, head to ADR Centre for mediation of this dispute.”

Earlier at the proceedings, Mr. Metuh’s lawyer, U. A. Otoahine, filed two applications dated April 25, which were granted by the court.

He said: ”My Lord, the first application is requesting for an extension of time to file the statement of defence and originating processes.

“The second application is seeking an extension of time to file a counter-affidavit.”

The judge, however, refused to hear the application brought by counsel to the minister, Wahab Shittu, that the case be set down for trial.

Mr. Mohammed, a former spokesman of All Progressives Congress, APC, had, on October 12, 2015, filed a suit against Mr. Metuh, accusing him of publishing libellous materials against him.

Fuel Scarcity: Depot owners dump PPPRA's pricing template

By Sebastine Obasi

D

EPOT owners appear to have jettisoned the pricing template of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, thereby sabotaging efforts of Federal Government to end the lingering fuel crisis.

Vanguard learned that depot owners, especially those used by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for throughput arrangement, jettisoned the current PPPRA pricing template for petroleum products released on April 1, and, instead, have been using the pricing template for the first quarter of the year.

For example, the present PPPRA pricing template for exdepot collection price is N76.

However, no marketer gets the product at that price, as they pay up to N120 per litre, apart from the thousands of Naira given, underhand, to security agents to facilitate the entry of their trucks.

Consequently, marketers add up these costs which are passed on to motorists, who buy the product between N150 and N200, as against the official price of N86.50k.

According to the President,

National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Mr. Kassim Bitaya, the current fuel scarcity ravaging the various parts of the country was caused by PPPRA. He said: “I expected that PPPRA should have called a stakeholders’ meeting like they did in the past before rolling out pricing templates. Rather, what we discovered was that they just rolled out the template without carrying the

... as World Bank promises funding for petroleum sector

By Michael Eboh

T

HE World Bank has promised to provide funding for Nigeria's petroleum sector, while it also expressed support for the ongoing reforms.

In a statement, yesterday, NNPC said the Managing Director of the World Bank, Sri Mulyani Indrawati made this known when she paid a visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, in Abuja.

FG seeks World Bank's help on $320m Abacha loot

By Omoh Gabriel, with Agency Report

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has asked the World Bank to help Nigeria recover N102.4 billion ($320 million) allegedly looted and hidden in Swiss bank accounts by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

Buhari made the appeal, yesterday, during a visit by the World Bank's Managing Director, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, to Abuja, according to a statement released by the

President’s office.

Authorities in Switzerland agreed to return the funds on the condition that they are used for social programmes monitored by the World Bank.

The statment said: “We need the support of the World Bank for the repatriation of the funds. If such repatriated funds have been misapplied in the past, I assure you that the same will not happen with us.”

Recalled that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on March 9, signed

stakeholders along.”

He explained that the pricing template was calculated based on the official exchange rate of N197, adding that no marketer had access to foreign exchange to bring in products at that rate, a development that resulted in many marketers jettisoning the idea of importation.

“The pricing template, as presently designed, is faulty

a letter of intent for the repatriation of $321 million allegedly stashed in Swiss banks by Abacha.

The event, which was preceded by a brief discussion between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister, Didier Burkhalter, took place at the Vice President’s conference room, where Burkhalter signed for his home country, with Swiss Ambassador, Eric Mayoraz, and his Chief of Staff, Damien Cottier, in attendance as witnesses.

She commended the Federal Government for bringing transparency and accountability to bear on NNPC operations and the entire oil and gas industry, adding that the 20 fixes introduced by Kachikwu to NNPC business models have gone a long way to reform the Corporation for profitability.

She said the World Bank was ready and available to offer the ministry technical support, advice and funding, stressing that sound policy thrust is key in the areas of fiscal direction, gas flare out and gas to power.

In response, Kachikwu said since assumption of duty in August last year, a lot of reforms ranging from the first phase of restructuring and the recent restructuring have served as enablers for the introduction of new business models that have drastically reduced the losses recorded by the NNPC in the past.

Meanwhile, the minister and his Aviation counterpart, Senator Hadi Sirika, has pledged to work together to eliminate the challenge faced by airline operators in accessing aviation fuel for daily operations.

because some components ought not to be there in the first place, while some need to be reviewed either downward or upward,” he added.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Association for Energy Economics, NAEE, Professor Wumi Iledare, said the Federal Government made a mistake setting the price of petrol at N86.50k per litre, saying deregulation is the best solution to the lingering fuel scarcity.

CBN’s operating surplus jumps by 261%

By Babajide Komolafe

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, recorded 261 percent increase in its operating surplus to N123 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2015.

Consequently, CBN will remit N98.4 billion, representing 80 percent of its operating surplus (or net income), into the federation account as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2011.

This was contained in the CBN Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the year ended 2015, released yesterday by the management of the apex bank.

The statements revealed that Group Operating Income rose

by N287.65 billion or 64.6 percent to N732.51 billion from N444.86 billion in 2014, while Group Operating Expenses rose by N185.72 billion or 42.8 percent to N618.86 billion from N433.14 billion.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—15

APGA crisis deepens; NWC members suspended

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA—THE protracted crisis in All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has taken a turn for the worse following the suspension of some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

Ironically, the national leadership of the party recently set up a reconciliation committee headed by former Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, Chief Maja Umeh, whose report is expected on June 30.

The terms of reference of the Umeh committee, among others, are to reconcile all aggrieved party members that were still in the party, those who had left the party but had not joined any other party and to look into the matters that had not been resolved and proffer solutions to them.

National chairman of the party, Chief Victor Oye, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, said the suspended members including Mr Umeh Nzekwe were found guilty of anti- party activities.

Speaking in a separate interview in his office, the chairman of the party in Anambra state, Chief Norbert Obi described as a welcome development, the suspension of the members.

He particularly expressed joy that Nzekwe was among those suspended, saying he had been publishing unprintable things in the media against the party.

He said: “We do not need his likes in the party if we must forge ahead and enhance the political fortunes of the party.

His suspension is in order.”

He denied allegation that he was supporting the former governor, Mr Peter Obi in the yet to be scheduled Anambra central senatorial election

against the APGA candidate, Chief Victor Umeh.

The chairman declared that in spite of the fact that Obi was governor for eight years and was contesting under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party, the APGA candidate would defeat him at the polls.

A group under the aegis of concerned members of APGA, led by Chief Basil Nwosu at a press conference in Awka threatened that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano

will not clinch the party ticket for a second term unless he tendered an unreserved apology and reconcile with former Governor Obi. Contacted, the factional chairman who lost his case to be declared national chairman of the party at the Supreme Court, Chief Maxi Okwu, said his group is waiting patiently to know the outcome of the Umeh committee before they take a decision on whether to dump APGA or remain in the party.

MTN'S FORUM FOR VISAFONE: From left— MD, Office Devices Limited, Cyril Alowaranda; CEO, Strategic Infrastructure, Anniyke Ovia Iyawa; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge, and Juke Resources, Geann Ovia, at a forum organised by MTN for Visafone customers in Lagos.

Anambra govt extends LG caretaker c'ttee chairmen's tenure

By Enyim Enyim

O

N I T S H A — CONDEMNATIONS, yesterday, trailed the elongation of the tenure of the 30 transition caretaker committee chairmen in Anambra State.

The House of Assembly through electoral college, Tuesday, confirmed the reappointment of former elected chairmen and members for another three months.

The former elected chairmen were elected during the tenure of Mr. Peter Obi and when their tenure expired in December last year, the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano, transmuted them to transition council chairmen for a tenure of three months.

Upon the expiration of the three months, the governor, according to the speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs Rita Maduagwu, wrote to the House requesting that the transition chairmen should be returned.

While welcoming the transition chairmen to the hallowed chamber, the Speaker announced to them that “ we have already read a letter from the governor requesting that you should be returned with your members.”

However, while they were

C M Y K

asked to take a bow and go, one member from Njikoka Local Government Area was not confirmed and no reason was given by the House.

But this did not go down well with a cross section of stakeholders and members of the public, who described the action as an aberration in a

democratic dispensation.

They urged the governor to put machinery in place to conduct council election without further delay.

We're over-taxed, Abia workers cry out

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has cried out against what it called “over taxation” by the Abia State Government, saying that the government’s new tax policy would further impoverish the workers.

Lamenting the new tax regime in the State, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe said that allowances are being taxed.

According to him, the Board of Internal Revenue of the State embarked on the new tax regime without any sensitization for the workers to prepare them for the new tax.

He said the workers were not against taxes but would want proper information and sensitization to adapt to the new tax regime which would deplete their purse more.

According to him, to calm the agitated workers on the issue, NLC and TUC have set up a 9-member committee to look

into the issue and advise the unions accordingly.

Obigwe said that the outcome of the committee which has 30 days to complete its assignment would determine the next line of action for the workers.

The chairman said union leaders set up the committee to maintain the peace existing in the work force as they feel being “enslaved with the new tax regime, where even allowances are also being taxed.”

Ezza/Ezillo crisis: Ebonyi govt begins field tracing of disputed land begun a field tracing on the of the communities one

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—WITH a view to resolving the over eight-year crisis between Ezza and Ezillo communities in Ishielu local government area of the state in which over 100 persons lost their lives, Ebonyi State government yesterday

disputed land.

It is believed that the initiative if properly implemented would resolve the protracted crisis in the area.

Speaking at the end of the exercise at the Council Headquarters in Ezilo, the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Kelechi Igwe gave leaders

week to resolve the crisis or be prepared to accept any decision taken by the government.

The disputed land is about three kilometre radius, cutting across a portion of Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway and richly endowed with economic trees and stone deposits.

NDLEA arrests 47 over drug trafficking, abuses

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—THE Ebonyi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA yesterday said it has arrested 43 males and 4 females over drug peddling and other drug related offenses within the first quarter of 2016 in the state.

Briefing newsmen at the command headquarters at Ntezi in Ishielu local government area of the state, the Commander of the Agency, Barr. Raph Igwenagu who spoke through his Public Relations Officer, Mr. Silas Orji said the command had taken possession of about 170.500 kilograms of different types of drugs including cocaine from suspects arrested by the command.

According to him, 18 drug dealers had so far been convicted, 15 were counselled while 3 others are still undergoing various stages of rehabilitation.

20-yr-old gives birth in Aba prison

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—A 20-year-old female inmate of the Aba Prisons, Blessing Azubuike who was arraigned before an Abia state Magistrate court over alleged child stealing has given birth to a baby boy.

Sources at the Nigerian Prisons, Aba told Vanguard that the mother and her child are in good and stable health conditions.

Recall that Blessing was arraigned before a Magistrate court sitting at Osisioma Ngwa presided over by Chief Magistrate Grace Ukeje.

She was alleged to have conspired with one Chibuisi Emmanuel Nnaukwu, and others still at large around September 2015 at No. 41 Umuada Street, Over Rail Aba, to kidnap three year old Chinwendu Divine and one Miss Ezinne Echeka, aged 16.

16—Vanguard, THURESDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

2 killed as vigilante, area boys clash in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman

T

WO PERSONS were killed and several others injured during a bloody clash between members of a vigilante group and social miscreants, otherwise known as area boys, in the densely populated Ajegunle area of Lagos, Tuesday night.

It was gathered that fight broke out following argument over sharing formula of currency popularly known as 'Owo omonile.'

It was alleged that one of the factional leaders identified simply as Ezekiel, a member of a vigilante group, collected an undisclosed amount of 'Owo Omonile' from a man who was erecting a building in Arumoh Street. .When confronted by the area boys , Ezekiel refused to part with any sum, a development that led to a free -for- all between Ezekiel’s loyalists and the area boys, during which dangerous objects such as cutlasses , axes, broken bottles and even guns were used.

Unknown gunmen abduct Senator Anisulowo in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — A F O R M E R Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, was, yesterday, kidnapped by armed men alongside her security aide along Igbogila Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Anisulowo, who was a senator between 2003 and 2007, representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was reportedly abducted while she was returning from her farm.

The victim reportedly celebrated her 70th birthday some weeks back in Ilaro, the headquarters of Yewa and was being rumoured to be nursing ambition of governorship in 2019.

Confirming the incident , the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Command got a report that Anisulowo was kidnapped yesterday evening by armed men.

Market women protest alleged imposition of N30,000 tax

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—AGGRIEVED women at Nkpor Main Market, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, staged a peaceful demonstration to protest against imposition of high tax by officials of the market and some government revenue agents.

The over 100 women, under the aegis of Nkpor Main Market Women Petty Traders Association, closed their shops and stormed the Idemili North Local Government Secretariat, Ogidi, as early as 8a.m. with different placards.

Some of the placards read in

part: “We can’t afford to pay as much as N30,800 per head as tax in the market because we are merely petty traders.” "Is it from the sale of vegetables, fruits and plaiting of hairs that we will get the N30,800 to pay to the revenue agents?" “Both state and local governments should help to liberate us from these Shylock revenue contractors.”

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, Mrs. Veronica Eneh, a stakeholder in the market, said the Chairman of the market, Lawrence Okonkwo (aka Ububa) brought in some persons he introduced to them as state government revenue agents that would be collecting tax and other

revenues amounting to N30, 800 per head, per annum.

Eneh said initially, they were paying only N192 as revenue to the government until few years ago when it was increased to about N4, 800 and when they protested and refused to pay, the then state government task force on revenue collection, popularly known as Ndi Mpiawa Azu (those who break peoples’ backs with sticks), were unleashed on them and they were prompted to go to court to challenge the harassment and increase in payment of levies.

The traders contended that as the matter is still pending before the Magistrate Court, the same

Nkpor Main Market, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State market women protesting over N30, 800 tax, at Ogidi, yesterday.

group of revenue agents came into the market again and told them that their total payment for tax and other revenues is now N30, 800, adding that to worsen the matter, they were told that the new fee would be paid in arrears with effect from 2013.

They also hinted that previous chairmen in the market had never levied the petty traders so much in the market until the advent of the incumbent Lawrence Okonkwo-led market executive, insisting that they cannot afford this N30, 800.

The women wondered why the revenue officials could not come into the market and assess them individually before imposing the tax payment, adding that government should come to their aid because they do not have any other means of livelihood should they be ejected from the market, as the revenue agents threatened to do.

Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Emma Idemobi was not in office during the demonstration, but chairman of the market leadership, Lawrence Okonkwo told newsmen on phone that it was not the market leadership that imposed the levy but the state government.

He added that the only role he played was just to invite the women to come and listen to the revenue officials from the state government.

Detained Saraki’s aide refuses food from DSS We're not allowed to take food to him —Family

By Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—THE family of the detained Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President on Youth and Students Matters, Barr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said he has not eaten any food since his arrest three days ago.

Ugochinyere,according to the family,at a press conference yesterday,has refused any food or

water brought to him by the Department of State Service,DSS. The detained activists brother, Obinna Ikeagwuonu, who read a prepared text to newsmen,said they have been denied taking food or water to the detained President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, saying the development had taken a toll on his health.

To this end,they have

demanded an unconditional release of their son.

The family said teeming youths across the country have been calling to know the fate of their leader just as it said it had limited strength to withstand this pressure if Nigeria youths want to approach the State and demand for the whereabouts of their president.

“Unofficial information

reaching his family confirmed that Barrister Ikenga was interrogated on two issues-a petition authored by the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung, who was indefinitely suspended from the Board of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, a body over which Ikenga is President.

Ogun police arrest fake police officer with 10 bags of Indian hemp ...parade 37 others for robbery, murder, cultism

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—OGUN State Police Command, yesterday, paraded a dismissed police officer, George Oliseh, for disguising himself as a Superintendent of Police and being in possession of 10 bags of weed suspected to be Indian hemp.

The state Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali while parading 37 suspects at the command’s headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta for various offences such as robbery, cultism, murder and

Impersonation, said the arrested suspected fake Police officer donned a police uniform and identity card.

The fake officer, according to the Police Commissioner, was arrested on Sunday at Sagamu, Ogun State while conveying consignment of the illicit weed from Owo town in Ondo State in his Toyota Camry car with number plates RSH 101 RE. Ali said Oliseh was in the company of an accomplice, Isaac Ishicheli, who claimed to be his brother-in-law.

The 64-year-old Oliseh said it was poverty and frustration that forced him into the illicit

business, because he had to take care of 23 children and five wives.

He explained that shortly after he was dismissed from the force, he suffered partial stroke, affecting his left hand and leg, but he became a transporter, plying Idanre and Akure.

“It was Inspector Umukoro, an Urhobo man from Delta, who introduced the Indian hemp business to me, and I embraced it. I was also a former corporal in the Police Force, I joined in 2002, but I was dismissed in 2009.

“I was dismissed because I used the police van to convey Indian hemp, while I was with Edo

Command.

“It was frustration and poverty that forced me into the business, because I have to take care of 23 children and five wives, though two had left. I regret ever taking to this illicit trade.”

Others who were paraded include a 49-year-old suspected fraudster, Adenike Longe, who allegedly defrauded three companies of goods worth N100m, issuing them dud cheques.

The Police equally paraded an alleged 40-year-old serial killer simply identified as Lucky alongside five members of his gang.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016— —17

O

N Tuesday this week, the civil society organisation called Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS), made good on its announced plan to peacefully storm the National Assembly, to demand the immediate resignation of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The “#Occupy the National Assembly” demonstration had a list of demands which reflected the seething anger in Nigeria, about the 8th National Assembly.

These included stoppage of the re-padding of the 2016 budget; scrapping of constituency projects allowances; return of the SUVs that Bukola Saraki purchased for senators at N35.5million each; and ending impunity in the Senate.

The group also wanted the National Assembly to subject itself to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. They also argued that it was an aberration for the country to be held to ransom because of the interest of a single person, in reference to Bukola Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Powerful movement Expectedly, a smaller pro-Saraki group, #SaveOurNass was on hand to carry out a counterdemonstration and it also attempted to disrupt the #Occupy the National Assembly protest. It was in the spirit of the times, that even in Asaba, Delta State, protesters also demonstrated against the disappearance of N16billion from the 2015 DESOPADEC budget.

In response to #OccupyNass, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, described the protest as a “wrong precedence and anti-democratic”; arguing that those who “did not elect (senators) cannot force (them) out…”

Citizens uniting to reclaim Nigeria's democracy In January 2012, a massive national mobilisation confronted the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s decision to increase the price of petroleum products. It was a powerful movement that united the Nigerian people, while showing the potentials of mass action in the context of democratic disdain for actions of the ruling class. The #Occupy the National Assembly protest can also be located within the same tradition and is a reflection of the increasing levels of consciousness, that power belongs to the Nigerian people

The #Occupy the National Assembly protests this week tell a very simple tale; it is the right of citizens to reclaim their country

and the political elite must work for those interests or face the people’s wrath.

In truth, the 8th National Assembly has been particularly

irresponsible in its ways, reflecting very much the tainted mandate of its leadership and the controversial manner that it came into position since June 2015. The leadership, especially in the Senate, has been more committed to its own survival and has never shied from using the resources of the National Assembly to buy the loyalty of members, at a time when Nigerians expected them to make sacrifices which reflect the spirit of the times in Nigeria.

The purchase of the thirty-six

SUVs, became the tipping point for the Nigerian people; it was clearly not better than a bribe to keep the senators in line, as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, confronts the damaging evidence that began to surface at his trial at the CCT. The fact that he was also one of the main people that were named in the “Panama Papers” expose, convinced the civil society activists that a man with the baggage which Saraki carries does not fit the leadership

Between the beer boom and dwindling church tithes Breweries NIGERIAN recorded sales of almost N300billion in 2015, while “ Guinness is expected to record sales of N275billion; totaling almost N600billion (about $3billion), which is about 3% of our GDP. That is about 3billion bottles of beer, or 20 bottles per person per year. The average Nigerian is either a Christian or Muslim. Both religions enjoin adherents to avoid alcohol. So who drank N600billion worth of alcohol in one year”? I have reproduced fully a poser that was trending at the beginning of this week. I received it on my phone as we waited for a professor in my PhD class at the Nigerian

Defence Academy in Kaduna.

And it set me thinking about the Nigerian social condition and the contradictory content of consciousness in society.

We live in a state of anarchic and contradictory modernisation, characterised by extremities of wealth and a mass of alienated people who have very little to look towards. Existence for this mass of atomized and alienated represents an earthly expression of the hell that religion has constantly drummed into the heads of adherents.

Consequently, religion is now a booming business, with priests becoming some of the richest people in our country: they own

Another garland for Pinnacle Communications

L

AST week in Las Vegas, USA, Lucky Omoluwa’s Pinnacle Communications Limited was given an award by GatesAir, the US broadcast industry manufacturer, at a PreNAB Channel Partners meeting which held at the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The award was for Pinnacle Communications Limited’s “outstanding dedication to digital broadcasting, international business practice and creativity in rights implementation”. The modest and ever self-effacing Lucky Omoluwa was not present at the ceremony, but was represented by Pinnacle Communications Limited’s Executive Director, Dipo Onifade.

The Annual Convention of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), hosts the largest collection of broadcast equipment suppliers at its annual convention in April, in Las Vegas, and in recent years, as the Nigerian broadcasting industry has rapidly expanded, Nigerian broadcasters as well as broadcast entrepreneurs have become some of the most notable visitors at the gathering.

It is a convention that I have attended quite regularly in recent years too, because the convention C M Y K

also affords the opportunity to enjoy the multi-faceted delights of Las Vegas.

Pinnacle Communications Limited’s award has come against a backdrop of controversy in the Nigerian transition to digital broadcasting.

Pinnacle Communications had won an open, transparent and competitive bid to become the Second National Carrier for the digitization process but the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the same body that announced Pinnacle’s success on national television and in the presence of the media, then went ahead to take steps which contradicted the original pronouncement. Nigeria’s digital transition was immediately put in jeopardy, as the dispute between the regulatory authority, the NBC and Pinnacle Communications Limited, became a subject of litigation in the courts.

The impunity associated with the NBC leadership under Emeka Mba, reflected the general disorder towards the end of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Not even the concerted propaganda by the NBC leadership could paper over the fact that the only stakeholder in the digitization process that

position of the National Assembly.

The protests that commenced this week represent a symbolic manifestation of the citizens' anger; they underline the fact that it is only the Nigerian people themselves that can force the hands of the political elite and potentially stop the impunity that has become embedded within the state system. No institution reflects opacity like the National Assembly; and no set of individuals in the political system prize their collective comfort without care for how Nigerians feel, like those in Senate. But the 8th Senate is becoming the most controversial of them all. Its actions and inactions have reflected the desperate corner that Bukola Saraki has boxed himself into. The #Occupy the National Assembly protests this week tell a very simple tale; it is the right of citizens to reclaim their country and to determine the nature and content of the democracy that can serve their interests.

had put its funds into the process, Pinnacle Communications Limited, was in dispute with the steps taken, that amounted to a subversion of a national process of the importance of the digital broadcasting transition. It took the defeat of the Jonathan administration for the impunity embedded in the process to begin to emerge. There were revelations about funds that were supposed to have been remitted into the Treasury Single Account (TSA), that were allegedly hidden away in some secret accounts.

The EFCC's invitation While early this week, reports emerged of the invitation issued by the EFCC to members of the dissolved board of the NBC, to answer questions over an alleged N3.4billion scam in the commission. The EFCC's invitation had arisen over issues that surrounded the sale/lease of broadcast spectrum to the South African telecommunication outfit, MTN, for $171million (about N34, 114, 500.00); and how 10% broker fees of N3.4billion was paid to a Technology Advisor, before the sale received presidential approval.

The defeat of the Jonathan administration in the last elections has led to the opening of a Pandora’s box of revelations about the mismanagement of Nigeria’s finances in the past five years especially, and the issues arising from the NBC represent a tip of the iceberg, of the many from several sectors. One of the more gratifying issues is the effort that the new administration is mustering to take the digital process forward, and this has been driven in recent months by Information Minister, Lai Muhammed. He also gave an undertaking that the impasse between the NBC and Pinnacles Communications Limited would be resolved to be able to bring all stakeholders back into the process, in the overall interest of our country. When a committed Nigerian company, such as Pinnacles Communications Limited, has put a huge amount of money into a defining process as the digital broadcasting process, after an open, transparent bidding process, it becomes imperative that such a process should be completed in an honest and honourable manner, in the overall interest of our country.

private jets; wear expensive clothes; live in palatial homes; run upscale schools and universities and sell hope and prayers and are lords of a boom prayers economy. Their flock barely survives in the heartless conditions of our neocolonial capitalism and even the little they have, they are often willing to give as tithes and offerings.

But the economic situation in the land today is even beginning to affect the takings in churches.

SATURDAY PUNCH of April 16, 2016, carried out an investigation that confirmed a “considerable drop in tithes and offerings by members”.

As a matter of fact “there has been increasing demand on the church leaders for financial support towards feeding, accommodation and children’s tuition.”

Church takings and economic reality A church leader in Akure reported that attendance of Sunday services “had dropped from 500 to between 200 and 350 members…”. The development he blamed on irregular payment of salaries to workers in the state.

A pastor in Ibadan added that: “the church is a component of the society. So, what is happening in the society will affect the church.

Before, members would pay little, but now, they are not ready to pay anything.

In fact, they are looking for ways to get something from the church”. Critical theorists often argue that religious institutions also sell a form of intoxicant to adherents; spiritual booze. The economic condition is making things difficult for the vendors of spiritual intoxicants. But business is booming for the bottled version of intoxicants in our society, as we have quoted at the head of this piece.

Three billion bottles of beer were consumed in 2015 alone, and that generated almost N600billion, or 3% of GDP, Phew!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 WE are deeply perturbed by the escalating conflicts between heavilyarmed cattle herdsmen and indigenous communities, especially in the four geopolitical zones of North Central, South East, South West and South-South.

We have raised the alarm several times on this issue. Our voice has resonated with those of countless other Nigerians in the swelling chorus of calls on the Federal Government to frontally and immediately mobilise the Nigerian armed forces to arrest the menace of these gunmen.

From the plains of Plateau, Nasarawa and southern parts of Kaduna States, these armed desperados have increased in numbers, pouring southward into Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Delta, Edo and

“Herdsmen” and the gathering storm parts of Rivers States.

They brazenly herd their livestock into people’s farmlands and threaten them with their deadly weapons at the slightest sign of protest. Some of them even go beyond that and engage in criminal ventures such as kidnapping, armed robbery, murders and rape.

They sometimes block the highways and inflict life-threatening injuries on their victims. The worst part of it all is that, as in the case of Agatu in Benue State, they drive indigenous people from their communities and occupy same in a fashion reminiscent of medieval conquests.

Even more worrisome still is the fact that these gunmen openly brandish their sophisticated weapons and very little is done by the law-enforcement agencies to enforce the law prohibiting the illegal possession of unlicensed firearms which the rest of the society is strictly bound to observe.

We admit that this menace has been there for over a decade, but what was seen as isolated cases of infractions has ballooned in scale and thrust in the past one year, with the law enforcement agencies showing a singular lack of interest to confront it.

Fulani herdsmen have cohabited peacefully with their host communities and land-owners in all parts of the country for ages. Why the sudden upsurge of invasions and violent criminalities among these gangs of “herdsmen”?

We, once again, call on the Federal Government to order a crackdown on this menace in the same manner that Boko Haram, the Shiites, Biafra agitators, pipeline vandals and others have been militarily confronted.We hope this is done quickly to avoid matters getting to a breaking point where communities might be forced to raise their own respective militias for the defence of their homelands. The security agencies must wake up, do their jobs and head off possible outbreak of anarchy in Nigeria.

A stitch in time saves nine.

OPINION Re:Battle for Edo: The high stake game ByEdun Akenzua

M

Y attention has been drawn to an interview with one-time Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, published in Vanguard (Thursday, March 31).

This rejoinder to the interview is for three reasons. One: Mr. Lucky Imasuen made reference to the Benin Leaders of Thought, a body which I chair; two: I was named five times in the interview and, three: there are inaccuracies in the historical account of the events he gave.

In the interview, Mr. Imasuen unveiled his preferred candidate for this year’s gubernatorial election. Of course, he has right to adopt any person of his choice as friend. In exercising that right, he jettisoned PDP and crossed over to APC last year, although it was PDP that once gave him the opportunity to emerge as Deputy Governor in 2007/2008.

Mr. Imasuen adopted Godwin Obaseki. I have met Mr. Obaseki three times. He struck me as an amiable, intelligent, gentleman.

The interviewer asked Mr. Imasuen: “The Benin Leaders of Thought headed by respectable Prince Edun Akenzua recently adviced Governor Adams Oshiomhole to create an open field for all the aspirants when they heard he was supporting Obaseki. What is your advise to this noble group?”

The wrong impression given in this question must be corrected at once. It was not because BLT heard that the governor was supporting Obaseki that BLT called for a level playing field for aspirants.

In October last year, BLT members heard a rumour that the governor had a preferred candidate for the governorship race. This was discussed at BLT meetings.

The chairman was mandated to seek audience with the governor and find out

Edo people know that whatever has a beginning has an end if the rumour was true. Unfortunately, the chairman could not get audience.

Throughout November, BLT was inundated with letters from persons accusing it of endorsing god-fatherism. So intense was the accusation that BLT decided to make a public statement refuting the allegation. It addressed a Press Conference on January 5 and said, inter alia: “The fear of the potential return of Godfatherism, a phenomenon which dominated the politics of Edo State before the entry of the Comrade Governor and to which he (the governor) also devoted so much time and energy fighting, is one issue that has excited the imagination of

Edo politics in recent times. Edo people have generally acknowledged Godfatherism as one evil that needed to be addressed before the state would achieve the goal of good governance.”

“As the Comrade Governor observed as far back as 2009, ‘what made governance difficult is that some leaders are imposed on the people. That situation creates absence of support, and people will become cynical about you”. (Vanguard, January 5, 2016).

“It is against the above background that members of the Benin Leaders of Thought were taken aback by the rumour that a particular governorship aspirant had been endorsed by the governor as his anointed successor in this year’s gubernatorial race. BLT did not believe this rumour, giving the Comrade Governor’s position on the issue of Godfatherism...”

Mr. Imasuen said: “Prince Edun Akenzua and members of the Elders Forum (sic) are not members of APC; they are doing the right thing at the wrong time”.

He was referring to BLT’s search for a proper Benin person to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who has done so many things to positively and permanently change the face of the state. Is it too early to search for a successor to him?

Edo people know that whatever has a beginning has an end. They knew Governor Oshiomhole’s tenure would end

one day. Consequently, lovers of Edo have shown concern, since 2013, about who will succeed him. Gen. Ogbemudia’s Edo Mass Movement, announced last year that it was also searching for a successor. Other well-meaning Edo persons have been searching as well.

We are looking for a Benin person who will surpass what our indefatigable and progressive governor has done, or at least, maintain the tempo. We want a person whose achievement we will be proud of, after his tenure, as we are proud of that of Governor Oshiomhole. We could not have started the search for such a person too early.

Before Mr. Imasuen unveiled his favourite aspirant, he unabashedly announced he was a good history student.

He claimed to be the Oba’s son.

“I am a good history student and a son of the Palace. I think I call myself the son of the Palace because I am a subject of the Oba. The Oba is my father...”, he said.

From the sanctuary of history, where he took refuge, he began to launder Agho Ogbede-Oyo’s image. He believed that what Agho did in Benin in 1897 would constitute Godwin Obaseki’s soft underbelly or Achilles heel.

Mr. Imasuen also accused people of carrying a rumour that Agho Obaseki, betrayed the Binis and that he Imasuen, did not know from where those he accused got that information.

Continues tomorrow Mr. Akenzua, , MFR & a Bini High Chief, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28 28,, 2016 – 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com that days to the attack, there were rumours that 500 heavily-armed Fulani militiamen were camped in the bushes ready to attack. The Directorate of State Service (DSS) under Director General, Alhaji Lawal Daura, did nothing about it. DSS could not re-enact the speed

This could lead to war O

N Wednesday last week, I was at the Enugu State High Court to attend a session.

Shortly before 10am, a large number of prisoners, accompanied by their wardens, arrived.

The prisoners’ warden who came to our own courtroom with his wards stood with us in the corridor as the court was packed with lawyers, plaintiffs, respondents, court staff and other interested persons.

After a while, a discussion naturally came up about the menace of Fulani cattle herders all over the country. The prison warden who obviously hailed from Enugu State opened up and said the situation in the state was “horrible”.

“I went to my hometown last weekend. I was just resting in my room in the afternoon when, all of a sudden I started hearing “hm-hm-hm”. I looked out of my window into my garden. I was shocked at what I saw: cows everywhere! They were eating everything in the garden. I came out and saw three young Fulani men. They were armed with AK47 assault rifles, the type that we in the Service never have the opportunity to touch. The boys

just looked at me and continued to mind their cows. There was nothing I could do because I knew they were ready to shoot at any slightest opportunity”.

Barely five days later on Monday, 25th April, there was breaking news all over the Internet on an outbreak of fighting between Fulani herdsmen and indigenes in Nimbo, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, a northern precinct of Enugu State. According to the news which was later confirmed, seven villages in Nimbo (Nimbo Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Enugu Nimbo, Umuome, and Ugwuachara) were attacked by the herdsmen, leaving between 40 and 48 people dead (many with their throats slit, Boko Haram style) and over 60 injured.

Residential homes and a church were razed. Indigenes of the community fled to nearby Nsukka town.

Can I hear you say: “Agatu season 2”?

Come to think of it: Agatu is not far from Uzo Uwani. Benue and Enugu share a common boundary. It would seem that, having “conquered” Agatu, the Fulani militia deployed to take over the South East. News had it

I am afraid, people are being pushed to the wall. Let it be known that no one will allow any foreign invader to take over their homeland.

People have run away, hoping the law-enforcement agents will do their work. When that fails, I am afraid we may see wars and expedition with which they allegedly discovered fifty corpses in shallow graves in Abia State, five of which they identified as being those of people of Fulani stock, though they did not tell us the ethnic background of the rest forty five dead men.

It was not until these vandals had despatched innocent and defenceless villagers to their early graves that we got reports of police and military deployment to the area. Perhaps, they were there to shut the stable door after the horse had escaped.

That is the type of “law enforcement” the security agencies of this country are very good at providing.

Before now, people were asking who these “herdsmen” really were. For me, it is not just who they

Patriotism even in thievery

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ICHARD Nixon (1913-1994), the 37th President of the United States of America; and Jacob Zuma, 74, the incumbent President of South Africa, are two of a kind. They share similarities in many areas: By dint of hard work, both rose to the pinnacle of power by becoming the Presidents of their countries. They were also the two Presidents who squandered State resources in revamping their private homes. This aspect is the main focus of today’s write-up vis-à-vis a comparative analysis with the Nigerian situation.

After the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963, Americans felt compelled to beef up security around their Presidents.

Nixon was the US President from 1969 to 1974 when he became the only American President to ever resign that office. Nixon had earlier served as a member of the House of Representatives and Senator from California as well as US Vice President from 1953-1961.

As soon as he became the US President, he squandered $17 million, in a criminal up-grade of his country home, in the name of presidential security.

This smart lawyer outwitted America because what constituted presidential security was nowhere defined. But his action was an eye-opener. With the promulgation of the Impoundment Act, 1974, never again would any American be given a blank cheque under any guise.

Similarly, on becoming the President of South Africa, Zuma substantially upgraded his private home in rural Nkandla – Kwazulu with State resources amounting to 216 million Rand (about $24 million). The Public Protector’s report found that items like swimming pool, amphitheatre, cattle enclosure, chicken run, etc., contained in the up-grade had no relevance to presidential security.

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Even where the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down what could be considered a loose ruling – that Zuma should refund “some amount” to the State – Zuma has stoically ignored the court ruling.

Truly, Nixon got off the hook but the stigma on him is forever. If you go to

Of necessity, Nigeria must invest more in the business of total re-orientation of society America today, a present-generation American would quickly tell you, “We once had a bad President”.

As for Zuma, he is getting off the hook because – unlike Nigeria where a majority party in parliament would carelessly relinquish power to the minority party – the ANC, a party that knows its onions, will not allow Zuma to go down, even where a party veteran.

Ahmed Kathrada – an antiapartheid stalwart who was jailed with Nelson Mandela – has joined the call for him to step down. All the same, the scar on Zuma remains permanent.

Nixon and Zuma could have wished they were Nigerians. In Nigeria, when money talks, nobody walks. Nigeria is one place where no leader ever gets questioned for helping himself to any amount of public funds to build private mansions.

Nigerians build and build, sometimes in utter contravention of the biblical assurance in the Book of Isaiah 65: 21-24 where God gave His children the blessed assurance that they would build their houses and inhabit them; and they would

are that matters the most, as that is now obvious. What interests me more is: what really is their mission?

Even a cretin now knows that these are not the traditional Fulani cattle-herders we were all born to see grazing their cattle peacefully without molesting anyone or destroying anyone’s means of livelihood or attempting to displace indigenous populations from their homelands. Because they were peaceful, they were also allowed to ply their nomadic trade in peace. In fact, the nearby presence of the Fulani cattle herders meant easy availability of meat in our local markets.

But it also contributed negatively to the extinction of traditional animal farming, along with the rapid disappearance of local animal breeds, such as the evergreen forest goats, fowls, cows and guinea-fowls, which are more highly valued and nutritious.

You cannot blame the cattle Fulani for the laziness in animal husbandry among the Southern peoples, along with the nearextinction of local breeds. You cannot blame the nomads for Southerners abandoning their local communities for the nonexistent “luxuries” of the townships, which gave nonindigene and non-citizen interlopers to seek to annex lands belonging to locals for the gratification of their cows and the profit of cow owners in the North.

Indeed, this is where the problem is. These “herdsmen” are just the grunt workers; the foot soldiers of highly-placed individuals, such as emirs, titled men, retired generals, retired police

plant their vineyard and eat the fruits thereof. They would not build for others to inhabit; and neither would they plant for others to eat.

Nigeria is the only place where people steal for other nations to prosper. It is a known fact that many Swiss and other foreign banks thrive on loots from Nigerian leaders.

We are reminded of the numerous Nigerian leaders who have been named in the Panama Papers – a set of 11.5 million confidential documents detailing information on how more than 214,000 off-shore companies and other wealthy individuals hide stolen assets from public scrutiny.

It is instructive that while those involved in the Panama leaks elsewhere are resigning their positions in shame, Nigerians involved are running around, apparently looking for where to steal more.

The Prime Minister of Iceland, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was the first leader to step aside in the wake of the Panama scandals.

Someone was wondering why no prominent Americans have been named in the Panama Papers. He was quickly reminded that Americans are patriotic, even in thievery. What they steal are kept in American banks – circulating in, and developing, America. Nigerians steal to develop other lands.

While the US and South Africa have developed to the level of questioning their leaders who pilfer small sums of public fund, Nigerians engaged in the stealing industry do theirs brazenly, with impunity and nobody questions them.

In Abuja, a single military or civilian brass would own a sprawling estate with hundreds of duplexes and condominiums

chiefs, retired security chiefs, big politicians and businessmen in the North who are not ready to upgrade their animal farming practices to the more productive and modern strategy of ranching.

With climate change and desertification in the North, and the availability of cheap arms from wars in Libya, Chad, Mali and other places in the desert, sophisticated weapons are purchased and given to hired hands from all over the West African sub-region to move hungry cattle to Southern greener pastures. Minister of Agriculture in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, disclosed that these militia men see themselves as Jihadists. Why else are they slitting throats and burning churches in Igboland? What do these have to do with cattleherding?

I am afraid, people are being pushed to the wall. Let it be known that no one will allow any foreign invader to take over their homeland. People have run away, hoping the lawenforcement agents will do their work. When that fails, I am afraid we may see wars. People could be forced to go home and reclaim their communities with fire for fire. No tribe has the monopoly of military prowess. Those who start fights first don’t always win.

The Police, Army, DSS and other law enforcement agencies must move in decisively to protect Nigerians and preserve the peace, unity and stability of this country PRONTO! Today, not tomorrow!

adorning an entire block and nobody raises an eye-brow.

What of the case of a former Nigerian Head of State who invited a colleague from another African country to come and see his holdings? After the guided tour, the visitor surmised, “All these cannot be for one man in one life time”.

Corruption creeps into the life of a nation in various shades and colours. For instance, each time our Senators abandon their duty post to accompany their boss to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, as if they are part of the defence team, this comes at a cost of millions of Naira on the tax-payer in lost mann-hour.

God make man; man made money; and money made man mad. Not too long ago, the Local Government Council Chairmen in a particular State formed themselves into a Club where they made a monthly contribution of N1million each.

Of course, one bad turn deserves another. One of the Chairmen took his contribution and invested it on a property in an erosion course. In less than two years, erosion had completed the task of burying the property under sand and water. That’s the nature of stolen wealth.

It takes only one committed generation to rebuild a nation. We shall get there someday. Of necessity, Nigeria must invest more in the business of total reorientation of society. By the time people realise the vanity and vainglory in the hazardous business of stealing; the propensity to embark on wanton looting of public funds will be drastically reduced.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

*Traffic at the Berger axis of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway locked by tankers and other articulated trucks

Why police’ll unlock the Mile 2, Liverpool, Ijora, Tin Can traffic gridlock — Owoseni In a manner of putting the record straight with regards to the role or contribution of the Nigeria Police Force in restoring order and sanity to the traffic jam-plagued Mile 2 to Tin Can axis of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, maintained that the Force have been playing a commendable role in ensuring that the persistent traffic gridlock in the area was effectively tackled. In an interview with Vanguard Metro, the Police boss explained that a collaborative Task Force with significant Police input has largely succeeded in unlocking the jam and maintaining the flow of traffic in the area.

Excerpts:

By John Ivwurie

C

LEARING gridlock in phases: Coming to Lagos, one of the challenges, apart from the crime situation, that I envisaged I would meet on ground is traffic congestion. This, of course, has an impact on police response to distress calls and crime prevention. Having that in mind, I was lucky that at the time the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was also worried as to how the traffic problem could be solved.

Apapa actually is one of the places we have had this problem.

For years, Apapa and environs have been no go areas; some residents even parked out of the area. That is why Apapa that used to be a highbrow area is almost abandoned, properties have lost their value. So as a Police Command we wondered what could be done. I made up my mind to complement the efforts of the other agencies, especially LASTMA. We then decided that at peak periods we would put more police men on the road; officers doing administrative duties in branches, especially those in head office were redeployed for this purpose. So we started with that all over Lagos.

Joint Task Force: In the case of Apapa, the Governor then suggested that we should have a joint task force. So we started with that. With the Governor’s funding by making rations available for the personnel whom we drew from Police, the Military, LASTMA and Civil Defence, we all went on the road and focused attention on Ijora Causeway to the Tin Can end. We were able to make some impact. Sometimes

We had to make a way for vehicles from Mile 2 to Liverpool passing through Tin Can; I committed close to 300 policemen to that place you will see the tanker drivers misbehave and take the whole road. I was determined to do whatever it takes to bring order.

There were times that from 8am to 6pm I trekked from the Tin Can end of Apapa to Surulere in order to get these tankers properly

placed.

Mile 2 to Liverpool: While this was going on, I saw that there was no movement from Mile 2 to Liverpool and that increased the number of motorcycles plying that road. It also made a lot of the commercial buses to drive against the traffic up to Kirikiri, which they should not have been doing. From the gains we recorded at the Ijora Causeway to Tin Can, my officers and I put heads together to unblock the road.

Different formations The first thing we did was to clear the bridge linking Marine Road to Liverpool. I tasked the Area Commander there, giving him 24 hours to clear the link bridge which trucks had taken over. He succeeded and I was happy with him.

In the second phase, we had to make a way for vehicles, other motorists from Mile 2 to Liverpool passing through Tin Can. So we got policemen from different formations; I committed close to 300 policemen to that place. I wanted the police men that would work there to have easy identification, because I discovered all sorts of uniformed persons go there under the guise of clearing traffic to do illegal things, including collecting money from people.

They are currently identified with reflective jacket.

We also discussed with some of the tanker drivers, to solicit their support. In this light, I gave them 48 hours. After the time elapsed, the Area Commander reported that a lane has been cleared for motorists to take from

basically do more of appealing.

I know we are not there yet and more needs to be done. I have been soliciting the support of m a j o r stakeholders, people doing business along that axis to set barricades. The plastic barricades will be lined from •Mr Fatai Owoseni, CP, Lagos State Mile 2 to Tin Can, Liverpool, so that Mile 2, past Tin Can to apart from human directions Liverpool. I went there there is a visual guide to the tankpersonally to confirm and discov- er drivers so they don’t exceed ered that motorists and cyclists their allotted space. This is didn’t believe the road was because at a point in time those cleared. They felt that if they go in the Task Force will have to be from Mile 2 up to Forte Oil op- assigned to other places. posite Berger Yard, it will be Continuity: As for continuity, blocked; so they were still taking once you have a template, it can one-way. To tackle this, I set out be shared with whomever that is to enlighten them. I got them coming; the person may even do together, spoke to them. I also better. It is about setting a solicited for the drivers and template and who would not policemen to support in want to associate with success? maintaining the flow of traffic.

Whoever is coming next would hear of the success story and there is no way he or she would Military not want to sustain it or even presence improve on it. I must actually We got the commitment of the thank all the supervising officers soldiers deployed there to sup- there. It is about supporting them port the police. Those from OP because the bulk of personnel MESA stationed there are to we have taken there are people complement our efforts. Some of doing administrative work in the commercial bus drivers and headquarters; officers that we bike riders are not just transport- know can be put to productive ers, some are criminals. They use. It is basically a special duty hide knives and all sorts of weap- and we thank God that the ons under their shirts. It is all for officers on ground appreciate the the safety of the people. There intervention and are making the are also military facilities around best use of the personnel we have that place. All is in a bid to sustain given them.

You say Area Commander, Area what has been done on that road and further improve on it. We B is always on ground; the DPO still maintain that body of police- Trinity, CSP Mukaila, is always men. We change them from time on the road; DPO Kirikiri is to time, taking into cognisance always on ground too. The the ways the drivers can provoke question is: What is driving the policemen. So the officers them? there are not armed, they

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—21

MAN demands passage of 7 bills for manufacturing competitiveness

By Franklin Alli

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ANUFACTURERS Association of Nigeria, MAN, is heading to the National Assembly to influence speedy passage of seven bills into law by legislative arm of the government.

This is to spur competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

Engr. Ibrahim Usman, Chairman, Infrastructure Committee of MAN, who disclosed this to Vanguard, said that these bills include: “The Federal Competition and Consumer protection Bill 2015; Roads Authority Bill 2015, National Inland Waterways Authority Bill 2015 and National Roads Funds and Harbour Bills 2015.

Enabling environment Other bills under the reference are National Transport Commission Bill 2015, Nigerian Ports and Authority Bill 2015; Nigerian Postal Commission Bill 2015 and Nigerian Railway Authority Bill 2015.”

“All of these bills are very important and will create a friendlier enabling environment that will enhance performance of the manufacturing sector and other businesses in the country when passed into law,” he said.

He noted: “For example, the Inland Container Terminals in Kaduna, Funtua, Kano, Jos and Maiduguri can now be empowered to have goods consigned to them directly

from abroad by importers. The whole idea is to ensure that government provides guidance, basic infrastructure and security of live, investments and property as well as excellent enabling environment for the private sector to do business.”

In view of this, he said that MAN Executive council, will be visiting the Speaker of the House and the Senate President

The Federal Competition and Consumer protection Bill 2015; Roads Authority Bill 2015, National Inland Waterways Authority Bill 2015 and National Roads Funds and Harbour Bills 2015

to request for an urgent and decisive action on the 168 page report titled: “Comprehensive

Review of the Institutional, Regulatory, Legislative and Associated Instruments Affecting Businesses in Nigeria.”

“In line with our advocacy plans, MAN infrastructure Commitee has also concluded plans to engage the ministry of transport in Abuja to advocate affordable rates for cargoes and proactive increase in the

frequency of movement of cargo train up north. With full take off of inland container terminals up north, manufacturers there can custom-clear their imported machineries and raw materials.

“This is one of the issues we have on the front burner to be brought to the attention of the Minister of Transport.”

Commenting on security, he replied: the issue of security is

totally beyond the control of manufacturers. Almost all the industries in the North Eastern part of the country have been closed down for almost six years now since the beginning of the insurgency. It goes without saying that without a peaceful atmosphere, no business can thrive.”

Access Bank gets shareholders’ nod to increase capital to N100bn

By Peter Egwuatu

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HAREHOLDERS of Access Bank Plc yesterday endorsed proposal by its Board of Directors to raise additional capital of N100 billion. The shareholders at the 27TH Annual General Meeting, $ 124.25 1.15 AGM of the bank approved the proposal $3,158.00 45.00 and commended the Board for proposing $ 15.57 -0.06 dividend for the financial year ended March 31, 2016.

The Board of Directors $ 44.86 0.38 of the bank had at the $ 43.01 0.37 meeting sought shareholders’ approval for CURRENCY BUYING SELLING additional debt capital of up to N100 billion 196 196.5 197 US through the issuance of 282.0048 282.7242 283.4436 DOLLAR 220.794 221.3573 221.9205 non-convertible loans, POUNDS 200.758 201.2701 201.7822 EURO notes, bonds and or any 1.7691 1.7736 1.7781 FRANC other instruments ei0.3202 0.3302 0.3402 YEN ther as a stand-alone 275.3302 276.0325 276.7349 CFA 30.1669 30.2443 30.3217 issue or by the estabWAUA 52.2597 52.393 52.5263 RENMINBI lishment of a debt issu29.6673 29.743 29.8187 RIYAL ance programme 275.4976 276.2004 276.9032 KRONA whether by way of a SDR public offering, private CBN Exchange rate as at 26/04/2016 placement, book build-

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ENDORSEMENT: From left, Dr Femi Mobolaji-Lawal, Vice Chairman, Nigeria Heart Foundation; Prof Innocent Ujah, Director General, Nigeria Institute of Medical Researh; Dr Kingsley Akinroye, Executive Director, Nigeria Heart Foundation and Mr Kalyan Bandyopadhyah, Marketing Director, Food & Nutrition, PZ Wilmar, at the Nigeria Heart Foundation Endorsement Certificate presentation to Mamador Cooking Oil, in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU

ing process, reverse call enquirer or any other method or combination of methods, in such tranches, series or proportions and at such dates, coupon or interest rates within such maturity periods and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the board of directors subject to obtaining the requisite approvals of the relevant regulatory authorities.

The shareholders of also unanimously approved a final dividend of 30 kobo per ordinary share in addition to interim dividend of 25 kobo ordinary share paid earlier.

Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN, Mr. Boniface Okezie commended the bank’s impressive performance and advised the management to raise the additional capital through bonds.

He noted that the current operating environment is unfavorable for right issues or public offer.

Speaking in the same, the National Coordinator, Independent

Shareholders Association of Nigeria ISAN, Sir Sunny Nwosu said the bank has been lucky to remain resilient in the face of harsh operating environment.

According to him “ the performance is a pointer that the future is promising. I implore the bank to improve on the dividend payouts in the coming years as it has all it takes to surpass other lenders in the country.

Change in consumer behaviours Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of Access Bank, Mrs. Mosul Belo-Olusoga said the Nigeria banking landscape has been fundamentally altered, saying Access Bank management is at the forefront of ensuring that the business constantly evolves and adapts to change in consumer behaviors, technology, and the competitive landscape.

“We are confident in our ability to achieve our committed growth plan despite the present economic constrains and we have the antecedentstoprovesame”shesaid.

CommentingondividendBelo-Olusoga explained that over the years, the grouphasconstantlydeliveredonitstargetdividendpayoutratioof33to35per cent. The bank’s result show that gross earnings stood at N337.4 billion in full year2015,anincreaseof38percentyear on year against N245.4 billion of 2014 withinterestincomeandnon-interestincomecontributing62percentand38per centrespectively.

Interest Income grew by 17 per cent yearonyeartoN207.8billioninfullyear 2015fromN176.9billioninfullyear2014 asaresultofimprovedincomefromlending activities and increased yield on investmentsecurities.

Non-InterestIncomestoodatN129.4 billion up 89 per cent in full year 2015 fromN68.4billioninfullyear2014,largelyattributabletostronggainsonforextradingtradingincome,whichreflectsmanagement’s ability to diversify the bank’s revenuesources.

Profit before tax for the period rose to N75.0 billion, representing a 44 per cent year on year growth when compared to N52.0 billion in 2014. Profit after tax was up 53 per cent in full year 2015 to N65.9 billion from N43.1 billion in full year 2014.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Agriculture should not be seen as a social welfare programme, rather African farmers should be treated as entrepreneurs

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Farmers should be treated as entrepreneurs —Elumelu

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FRICAN governments and donor organisations have been asked to treat the agricultural sector in Africa as a commercially viable sector with a potential to create millions of jobs and dollars in revenue.

Mr. Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa and founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation made the call in a keynote address to agribusiness investors and stakeholders at the Global Food Security Symposium in Washington DC. He said agriculture should not be seen as a social welfare program, rather African farmers should be treated as entrepreneurs as governments create the enabling environment for MSMEs to access finance.

Speaking from an African standpoint, Elumelu advocated for public and private sector collaboration, recommending the adoption of an Africapitalist approach to achieve the transformation and growth needed to meet the increasing demand for safe and sustainable food. Africapitalism promotes the private sector’s commitment to Africa’s development through long-term investment in strategic sectors of the economy that create economic prosperity and social wealth.

“If the public and private sector work together in shared purpose, we will be able to retain the desired knowledge and manpower in rural areas in order to support agriculture. We will also be able to control the rate of urbanisation, because we would have made it possible for our young people to earn a good living and grow their businesses right where they were born and raised as agro-allied entrepreneurs,” he added.

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BUSINESS

CBN unveils scheme to curb youth unemployment Stories by Yinka Kolawole

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently launched the Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP) aimed at harnessing the latent entrepreneurial spirit among the teeming youths by providing timely and affordable loans to implement their business ideas.

Background: The programme was launched against the background of

The YIEDP scheme is being implemented in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Heritage Bank as the pilot bank.

Eligibility: The categories of youths eligible to participate in the programme are either serving youth corps members or those who have not more than 5 years post NYSC qualification. The applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years old.

limit N3 million while group project jointly owned by 3 to 5 qualified beneficiaries can access up to a facility limit of N10 million.

Sectors: The relevant business sectors qualified for which an applicant can qualify for the programme include: Agro – Allied; Food Processing/ Preservation; Arts and Crafts; Manufacturing/Cottage Industry; Information and

Private sector tasks On the private sector responsibilities, he advocated for large investments that promote mechanized farming and processing as well as capital to partner with the government to provide key infrastructure supportive of sustained growth in the agriculture sector. “I believe that if we transform the agriculture sector, we will transform the African continent,” he said.

Elumelu concluded by appealing to the U.S. government for a decisive congressional action to reform emergency food assistance by providing USAID with the flexibility to ship or purchase food regionally to avoid distorting local markets, further impoverishing local small holder farmers in Africa. According to him, flexibility is the right way to approach food aid that will save more lives. “Food aid must not become an industry. As an African, I want to appeal to the U.S. Congress and the next president of the United States to make the correct and courageous decision in the next reauthorisation of the farm bill to fight famine with flexibility.”

Statistics reveal that an estimated 6.3 billion people will live in urban cities by 2050 putting a strain on the supply of safe and sustainable food to feed the population.

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data by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which estimates the number of Nigerian youths in the labour market to be 36.3 million, representing 48 percent of the entire labour force.

While launching the programme in Abuja in March, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the situation could not be allowed to degenerate further, given the bright ideas and big dreams of the youth.

CBN intervention schemes Emefiele said that a credit line of up to N3 million would be made available to each eligible youth, while recipients who were on records to have made good utilisation of the funds would be encouraged to migrate to other CBN intervention schemes that would enable them access more funds. He added that the pilot phase of the programme will target 10,000 youths in productive activities within the next four years.

The YIEDP scheme is being implemented in collaboration with NYSC and Heritage Bank as the pilot bank Eligible youth can apply for the loan through a dedicated portal by Heritage Bank using his/her NYSC State code. Applications can be made as an individual or as a group (of 3 to 5 applicants with similar business interest). A single applicant can access up to a facility

Communication Technology (ICT); Construction Support; Power and Energy; Education and Financial Inclusion; Film and Photography and; Automobile, among others.

Security: Graduate entrepreneurs are to use their tertiary institution(s) certificate(s) and their NYSC discharge certificate as collateral. Serving Corp members are required to pledge their NYSC discharge certificate and their tertiary institution(s) certificates(s). Also, legal ownership of assets financed by the bank and 3rd party guarantors will be requested as additional collateral from all entrepreneurs.

NYSC: Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, noted that the programme will offer training start-up capital to youth corps members who have indicated interest in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 23

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& YOU Olawumi added that the programme was designed to complement the other interventions of the NYSC such as the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) founded in 2012 and

Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF) launched in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BoI). He therefore admonished corps members nationwide to take advantage of the opportunity by coming up with creative ideas and bankable business plans that would qualify them to access the fund.

Nigerians emerge MTN entrepreneurship challenge finalists

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NIGERIAN firm has emerged as one of the top three finalists in the MTN Entrepreneurship Challenge powered by Jumia following a rigorous selection process, involving more than 700 applicants from 26 countries across Africa.

A statement by Charline Merieau, Communications Manager, Africa Internet Group (AIG), the parent company of Jumia, said the three finalists, Pass.ng (Nigeria), MedRX (Ghana) and Vicoba (Tanzania) will be invited to the Entrepreneurship Festival in Cape Town on May 27 to compete for the big prize. Pass.ng is promoted by S a m s o n A b i o y e , Abayomi Akanji and Oluwaseun Oluyemi.

Entrepreneurship challenge The challenge, which aims to boost entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as build a stronger and more sustainable business environment on the continent, kicked off in February, and is a joint initiative between MTN, Jumia and the MTN Solution Space based at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.

Through the entrepreneurship challenge, students were invited to develop a unique digital application or smart solution to address a problem faced in Africa.

Applicants submitted original ideas covering the areas of ECommerce Marketplaces, Education Technology, Smart Cities and Solutions, and Health Technology were received.

Over the past few weeks, the ideas were narrowed down, with 11 Live Pitch events taking place from Cameroon to South Africa, to shortlist the top candidates who will eventually pitch their business ideas at the Entrepreneurship Festival in Cape Town in May 2016.

The finalists: Pass.ng is a web, desktop and mobile-based CBT

examination preparatory and testing platform, with a vision to help candidates excel in all the major Nigerian Examinations and tests. MedRX app is an interactive health platform for all users who have health needs.

The app connects users to health personnel from various fields of practice including hospital, pharmacy, laboratory and academia. Village Community Banks (Vicoba) are an important instrument of development work, allowing people who do not have access to conventional bank accounts, to access informal investment groups.

Vicoba app creates a collaborative platform that includes existing tools for financial and task management in a way that is adapted for the African market.

The finalists will face a panel of experienced business leaders at the Entrepreneurship Festival, where the winning team will be named.

Winning team The panel includes Jeremy Hodara, co-CEO Africa Internet Group, Professor Walter Baets, Director of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, and Herman Singh, MTN Group Chief Digital Officer.

The top team being awarded the opportunity for incubation at the premises of either MTN Solution Space at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, or at one of 9 Jumia offices across the continent. The winner will also win a cash prize of $25 000 towards their start-up and have access to a Facebook Start Programme to the value of $15 000, which includes tools and services needed to build mobile applications.

In all, more than 1,000 students applied to the competition. Top categories are E-Commerce Marketplaces, Education Technology, Smart Cities and Health Technology and top 3 countries in number of applications were Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.

It is not enough to have a vision. We need to have processes and structures in place that will help us achieve the vision

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Whose role is it to run an organisation's vision?

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.”…Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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T is a big risk when the leaders are the only people that understand the vision of an organisation. There is yet a bigger risk when they chose to run with the vision alone.

Developing the vision is the first step; the second and most important step is running with the vision. Two pertinent questions to ask are: who owns the vision of an organisation, and who runs with the vision?

The CEO (with the board or senior management) is expected to develop the vision of any organisation. The vision helps them to know where they are going to, and what their end state results will look like. That does not mean that the CEO or senior management owns the vision. As soon as any vision is being developed, it ceases to be the CEO’s “property”.

Everyone in the organisation now owns the vision.

Core strategies

danger?

Yes, there is a big d a n g e r when the CEO or S e n i o r Management thinks that his/her idea is best and only idea.

Nobody has the

monopoly of best ideas. When the ideas of some group of people (younger officers) are disregarded and slighted, it negates the true fact that “people support what they help create”. When this happens, the people involve might not work with their minds and hearts the way they ought to.

Leaders are to lead and navigate change in a way that will yield sustainable results

Running with the vision is akin to implementing core strategies that will help organisations achieve their end state. The CEO’s job is not to implement the core strategies, his primary roles are planning and change. Employees implement the change, in order words they run with the vision.

I am disturbed. Why is it that in most organisations, only the senior management sees the organisational “big picture”? These people constitute about 20-30 percent in population.

What happens to the other 70 percent who are middle officers?

These groups of people in one way or the other are expected to run with the vision. Can you see why I am disturbed?

Why is it easier for senior management to see the big picture?

The answer is because they have been taken to a “helicopter ride” and from 5000 feet above the ground level they were able to see the big picture.

The CEO must ensure that everyone in the organisation sees and knows where the organisation is going to – this is a critical task.

Whenever I am teaching Strategic Thinking to organisations, I always include a slide titled “Danger”. Why

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

Points to ponder: For a CEO to achieve the organisation’s vision, everyone in the organisation must begin to see the “big picture”. Mildly speaking, some employees do not know what their vision statement is. They also do not know what their core values are, so what guides them and what have they been doing?

Leaders and Managers must

avoid “DAD” syndrome when running the affairs of the entire organisation.(“DAD” stands for: Deciding – Announcing – Defending).

But rather must enforce “Parallel Involvement Process”- where the views of employees are valued. Being a leader does not confer us the right to use veto powers on subordinates. Remember people support what they help create.

Final Note: It is not enough to have a vision. We need to have processes and structures in place that will help us achieve the vision.

Remember structures influences behavior. The roles of leaders are to lead and navigate change in a way that will yield sustainable results.

These results are achieved collectively.

Senior management and the collective workforce should not focus on their personal goals but rather on the goals of the organisation. It is much easier to achieve one’s personal goal(s) after helping the organisation’ achieve its goal first.

For your views or perspectives: Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 C M Y K

24 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard,THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—25

Prospect of micro-pension excites informal sector workers

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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HE Prospect of MicroPension scheme coming on stream for informal sector workers within the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, is exciting workers in the informal sector.

It will be recalled that the Director General of National Pension Commission, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu had in February during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, said modalities for keying the informal sector workers into the CPS were at the advanced stage where about 60 per cent of informal workers would be captured.

Anohu-Amazu added that the commission had started sensitizing informal workers in some states ahead of the launch of the scheme, declaring that as soon as the commission finished , it would start registering them.

While giving support to the federal government’s effort to keying informal sector workers into the CPS through PenCom, Federation of Informal Sector Association of Nigeria, FEDISAN said the plans were commendable.

FEDISAN’s Director General, Mr. John Kolawole, who spoke in Lagos, said since informal workers were self-employed, the commission should adopt a systematic method on how they would contribute their funds.

According to him: “Bringing informal sector into the pension contributory system

has been on for some times, so the informal sector will be happy to be part of it. Pension scheme is saving for the rainy day. If PenCom and informal workers agree, it is a formal way for a guaranteed future for the workers.”

He noted that because the government was interested in the informal sector, members would ensure its development to boost revenue for the country, saying; “we are keying into government interest to develop the sector.

Government has put about N200 billion to assist the sector. The Central Bank of Nigeria has also directed the bank to assist the informal sector with loans at 10 per cent interest rate. We are organizing and we will come out well.”

Retirement life tough --Ex-naval officer

By Gloria Adokwu

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IXTY-year-old Chief Ebalotu Michael Otubest, who retired from Nigerian Navy three years ago, after 36 years service, in this chat, told Pension and You, that his gratuity has been paid, but that retirment life has been tough.

Explaining that he retired voluntarily, he said he prepared for his retirement, but did not prepare long enough.

According to him: “What gave me such impetus to start preparing was the kind of lifestyle those ahead of me were living.

Solution of problems "They never thought it wise that someday, sometime, they would go. Since my retirement, I have not started doing anything. The only thing I am doing now is working on my house which is almost completed and the site of the hotel I plan to build is being cleared.

Payment of pension: "Yes, my pension is being paid constantly. When Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System, IPPIS was introduced to us, the issue generated a lot of noise because people did not know anything about it. It was introduced by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's government.

It was very good because it solved a lot of problems. There were several documents bearing the same name, number and things like that of pensioners. If you go to Abuja near the War College, where you have the Military Pension Board, you will see people who served the nation and have become destitute. So Obasanjo brought the issue of IPPIS and said we should contribute along with government contributions. The system solved the problem that people could not solve for years.

But immediately after they finished paying those people, they were supposed to have reversed it and worked on pension properly, but they did not.

Rather, they just feel that whoever enters his/her name on the IPPIS that it will

•Chief Otubest continue to work as before. That is why today those who retire now, some receive N100,000 as pension while some of us that went through IPPIS are receiving between N35 and N40,000 monthly."

On his advice to those still in service, he said: “My advice to those who are still serving in the armed forces and in particular the Navy, is that the retirement is not easy, so they should start preparing now.

26 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, April 28, 2016

Nigerian vs foreign fashion in work places

By Josephine Agbonkhese & Anino Aganbi

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O doubts, women love African prints and would proudly adorn them anytime. Thanks to fashion designers who have revolutionised the Nigerian fashion and evolved with urbane, modern designs.

This love notwithstanding, Nigeria fashion appears restricted to weekends, particularly amongst those in the formal sector. Hence, it isn’t uncommon to see most people remember their native apparels on Thursday evenings when making a pick for Friday.

Superiority vs inferiority Part of the colonial ideology was the labeling of the entire culture of the colonised as uncivilised. Thus, clothing also became an ideological battlefield for superiority and inferiority. Despite attainment of national (political) independence however, cultural aspects of the colonial project have been largely

Are you getting hot flushes, bone mass loss and other strange symptoms you suspect you are too young to have. You are probably experiencing menopause before your time. Check out the facts:

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Continues on page 28

We emphasize on research-based methods

Women face many hurdles •let’s take malaria off the list

By Nana A Sa’id

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Pg ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Why we empower women living with HIV/AIDs with skills Pg

Early Menopause Q&A

ignored by successive government. Thus, much of the colonial cultural ideology that enforced inferiority of the Nigerian fashion remains; but of course now enforced by postcolonial leaders, both in the public and private sectors.

“I have plenty of suits made with Ankara fabric but I dare not wear them to work because my employers do not allow such.

They actually feel they(Ankara suits) cannot qualify as formal wears but I personally cannot see the difference because they look very formal. But on Fridays we are free to wear clothes made with African fabrics,” a female banker with one of the first generation banks said.

“I remember one of my colleagues was sacked a couple of years ago for coming to work in native wears. Probably my boss had other issues against her, I really cannot tell, but his argument was that she flouted the dress code of the company,”

INSIDE

ALARIA is all around us. Many of us know someone who has had malaria or has experienced the symptoms ourselves. I recently dealt with it at home when my daughter fell sick with malaria and as a physician, I see countless patients and their children struggling with the disease. But despite malaria’s seemingly universal nature, one thing I have noticed over the years is that malaria has a disproportionate effect on women.

Women are at highest risk during pregnancy, which can lead to severe complications for mothers and their babies. In Nigeria, the impact is devastating: malaria is responsible for

— 27

11 percent of all maternal deaths, in part because less than one in five pregnant women receive the recommended dose of lifesaving preventative treatment.

Our social structures exacerbate the challenges women face in protecting themselves from malaria. Women often lack access to the same resources as men, making it harder to afford preventative measures or malaria treatment. Many women do not have the education they need to fully understand malaria’s risks. As a result, too many women are not in the position to seek appropriate care when they or their children get sick.

All of these factors contribute to a vicious Continues on page 29

HAT is menopause? The word ‘menopause’ comes from the Greek words ‘menos’ meaning month and ‘pause’ meaning to cease. So, menopause means the monthly (the period) stops. Menopause is the final menstrual period. You only know you have had a final menstrual period if you have had no period for 12 months.

Women are born with about a million eggs in each ovary. At puberty approximately 300,000 eggs remain, and by menopause there are no active eggs left.

What is the difference between early menopause and premature menopause?

‘Premature menopause’ is when the final menstrual period occurs before a woman is 40 while ‘Early menopause’ is when the final menstrual period occurs before a woman is 45. The syndrome affects 1% to 8% of women respectively.

How does it feel?

Symptoms of premature/early menopause are basically the same as for menopause at the expected age of 51-52- however, they are often more severe.

In premature/early menopause not induced by surgery or cancer treatment, the first symptoms may include irregularity of periods and inability to get pregnant.

You may feel hot, irritable, anxious, as if you are having premenstrual symptoms, breast soreness or bloating. The risks of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are higher for women with premature/ early menopause than for women reaching menopause at the expected age. For this reason it is important that advice is sought from your doctor.

What are the causes?

There are many causes of premature/early menopause. While it is clear surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) results in instant menopause, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments cause ovaries to weaken, the causes of ‘primary ovarian insufficiency’ are not always as clear.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Nigerian vs foreign fashion in workplaces

We emphasize on researchbased methods - Efe Kragha

Continued from page 27 another who works with a media consulting firm said.

The acceptability of the African fabric is so unimaginably appalling that most employers tell employees straight on at the point of entry that it is either Western-style or nothing else because they of course want to pull off that supposed “superior” look.

Trends in Nigerian fashion This unacceptability continues to persist even though indigenous designers have advanced the Nigerian fashion and clothing to international standards where they even now compete favourably with Western-style designers in any part of the world.

Today, every piece of Western-style clothing can be re-designed using African fabrics- be it formal or casual, and such pieces will still retain same sophisticated look, if not more. Plus the elegant, smart and stylish feel they radiate.

Buy Naija campaign Funny enough, addressing this glitch in our choice of clothing doesn’t form an integral part of the BuyNaija….create jobs campaign in spite of the obvious potentials of the fashion industry to create employment and enhance culture at same time. A food for thought for public and private sector leaders!

One of the most prominent beauty fads in big cities such as Lagos today is the spa, which offers a wide range of activities purported to have not only beauty but health benefits. This is why WO chats to Efe Kragha, a lifestyle solutions and nutritional services provider on individual as well as corporate basis; about best practices, minimum standards and how to spot defaulters.

Her Victoria Island based outfit- run with a partner, began as a fulfillment of a lifelong interest in physical fitness. Her partner, the nutritionist in the house, has previously run a restaurant and they had decided on a merger. What emerged is a three-sided component affair encompassing fitness, nutrition and health all under one roof. Excerpts:-

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UNSCR urges govt to establish commission for gender equality

By Funmi Olasupo

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HE United Nation Security Council Resolution, UNSCR 1325, has urged the Federal and State Governments to establish commission for gender equality, with similar statutory mandate to that of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, in order to ensure balance in appointment and placement in public service institutions.

The statement was contained in a communiqué presented at the end of Nigeria 15th anniversary to Commemorate the United Nation Security Council Resolution; 1325, held at Katsina, Katsina State.

The UNSCR said that government should review the Nigerian National Action Plan, NAP, for it to include new pillars such as relieved and recovery in post conflict resolution, which will consider disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration, and countering violent extremism.

The communiqué also call for domestication of NAP on UNSCR at state and local government levels by giving consideration to norms and values, and with the example of Kano State Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, which could serve as model for other state governments to adopt.

It reads in part: “The provision of psycho social support by trained personnel should

Tell us more about that.

OU might find some people might come in not just to lose weight but they have other goals; for example to maintain weight simply. Some men might come in because they want to be in one format. Some might want to be on a program and each and every client’s program is tailored specifically for them so that’s why the knowledge and research based components of what we do is key.

So we are not just any company that will come to you to lose 50kg in two days. We make sure we do it in a healthy, long term, sustainable manner to achieve your goal for you.

You see people buying all sorts of green tea and others saying you don’t need an exercise, just take them to come down, what can you say about that?

I found out that when they prescribe that, you would find that they also prescribe some kind of nutrition program as well.

The thing I ask is, if you don’t have that tea and you ate right in the first place, would you achieve your goal? If the answer is yes, then what’s the use of those other green teas and etcetera etcetera. Another thing is, one has to be really careful about the components of what the weight-loss pack.

be encourage to handle social protection to victim of conflict should be giving priority.”

However, according to UNSCR some milestone achievements have been recorded, including the passage of Violence Against Women Prohibition Law, VAWPL, which has potential to mitigating the suffering of women and girls during violent conflicts.

Also, the NAP on UNSCR1325 contains gaps as a result of issues that have emerged since it was launched in 2013, and for instance, violent extremism, Boko Haram insurgency and adoption of women, Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and other associated humanitarian relieve crisis.

Meanwhile, UNSCR in its submission mentioned that during the 1967-1970 Civil War in the Eastern part of Nigeria, there was no enough protection by the government, which also led to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons within the zone, especially among the youth.

Therefore UNSCR recommended an annual budgetary allocation by the government for the implementation of National Action Plan, NAP, should be made available, and also the establishment of a body to be called Conflict Management Mitigating Council, CMMC, whereby partner with the men folk in the implementation of NAP on UNSCR 1325 mission.

If someone has blood pressure you shouldn’t be working a lot on the stomach because you can be increasing the blood pressure your weight, your hormones will be affected. If you are a regular healthy person if you work on making sure the calories you put in are less than what you burn you should achieve weight loss. It’s a chore but it’s a long term solution.

A lot of people are a bit worried about alternative medicine. What is your take on that?

That is why I always emphasize research-based methods. We try not to move with each and every fad. If something comes on the market we do try to ensure there have been proven

Burning sensation I had one client who was trying to lose some weight for a shoot she was doing and I told her let’s work towards her goals and she insisted there was this thing she wanted to use. She ended up in the hospital, she was basically pooing fat. All the fat was not digesting as it should and the …… was not being distributed in the body. So she would go to the toilet and see fat floating because it wasn’t digesting properly it was just going straight through her liver. Some of them might contain something which basically might increase their heartrate. You might feel a burning sensation in your body which makes you feel you are burning fat. It also depresses your appetite. One has to be very careful.

We tell people, what they need to achieve is a lifestyle change. Unless you have metabolic issues like thyroid disease. We are not doctors but things like that can affect

• Lola Akande

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 —29

Women face many hurdles Continued from page 27

• Spa session

methods. We ensure our reputation is being protected. As the research changes we let our clients know for example the burning you have in your muscle…

During exercise…

Yes. Before they used to say it was caused by what you call lactic acid but now the research has changed to show that your muscles actually get torn a little bit. We make sure we keep up with research and we also make sure our clients are up to date with the information.

What about people with special nutritional needs Like I keep emphasizing, on our nutrition form we ask you about your aversions; what your meals are like- breakfast lunch and dinner, if you’ve been prescribed something for diabetes we make sure we do a correct calorie count. We are not allowed to prescribe but we encourage meals that might help your blood sugar.

We do that for all the clients.

Do you get any surprises?

Sometimes and that is because the client failed to mention. Either- funny enoughthey just forgot to mention or sometimes

they are ashamed. There is a process when one comes here. What is the process because the thinking is, if one has gone through the process you will find out. There was an incidence that happened where we had to terminate the relationship.

Do you work with any healthcare providers?

Yes there are two HMOs we are about to sign up with So, while you are teaching other people how to relax, how do you relax yourself?

Good question because the irony of it is that my schedule used to be quite crazy at some point and I would be on from like 4-4.30 in the morning to like 9.30pm and at the weekend as well so I had to make a decision which was very tough especially in this environment where human resources are very difficult.

We started training. My SaturdaysI alternate Saturdays- sometimes I go to the beach or I might read a book.

Who can train to work here?

The reason why we actually do training apart from needing more hands is that you find that the foundation for massage therapy, at least compared to where I learnt it, is faulty. Someone might come and say, “I have a BSc” in Physiology then you ask them and they cannot tell you the name of a simple muscle. It’s pretty much open to all as long as you can demonstrate that you are going to be able to be trained.

What precautions should be taken before a massage? Can people not just walk off the street for a massage?

You can walk off the street but before your session there should be a brief intake.

Basically that intake is about any illness, broken bones, sprained muscles, diabetes, blood pressure. If someone has blood pressure you shouldn’t be working a lot on the stomach because you can be increasing the blood pressure. Diabetes you should be careful on the foot because some of them lose feeling on their foot.

These are the things one should know before you start doing these things.

Unfortunately I don’t think they do.

Why we empower women living with HIV/AIDs with skills - Lagos Women Affairs Commissioner

By Josephine Agbonkhese

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o fewer than 100 women living with HIV/AIDs are presently undergoing a 3-week empowerment exercise where they are being equipped with diverse vocational skills in Coker/Aguda area of Lagos.

Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise last week, Commissioner for Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, Mrs Lola Akande, whose ministry spearheaded the training, told Woman’s Own the gesture was in consonance with the policy thrust of the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who had vowed to run an all-inclusive and participatory government.

“The state government is

willing and ever ready to spread the dividends of democracy to its citizenry, particularly women, irrespective of background, education, class, status, religious beliefs or political affiliations. Hence these training to help women living with HIV/AIDs live meaningful, independent lives.

“Our goal, as a ministry, is to ensure the potentials of women and other groups are fully tapped, and that they are trained, equipped, empowered and mobilized to become the much desired engine room for growth and development,” Lola explained.

The beneficiaries, according to the Permanent Secretary, WAPA, Dr(Mrs)Olanike Oduwole, who also spoke at the flag-off, would, by the end of the training, have

acquired necessary skills in events management; bead making; make-up/gele tying; snacks production; soap, pomade and insecticide production, among others. They also will be empowered with start-off grants.

She further disclosed that women who benefited from an earlier training done in January were already earning a living from skills learned.

Present at the flag-off were Hon. Ismail Olugbenga Bello, Executive Secretary, Coker/ Aguda LCDA; Alhaji Abdulateef Olaogun, Community Development Council Chairman, Coker/ Aguda and Alhaja Zainab Ayorinde, Community Leader, Aguda, amongst others.

cycle that holds women back and allows malaria to persist. When women spend their income on malaria treatments, or miss work to care for themselves or a sick child, they have fewer resources to provide other necessities for their families – especially if they are the sole source of income. As women’s financial security falters, they have a harder time keeping their families healthy, making them more susceptible to infectious diseases like malaria.

We can end malaria in Nigeria if we make women a priority.

There are encouraging signs that we’re moving in the right direction. Several states offer free maternal and child health services and use antenatal clinics to distribute free insecticide-treated bed nets and preventative treatments. For women who can’t reach these clinics, many community-based organizations send volunteers door-to-door to help women get the services they need. Some malaria control programs collect comprehensive data on malaria’s burden on pregnant women.

This has to be the norm, not the exception.

We need local, regional and national strategies designed specifically to address women’s risks. This means tailoring awareness campaigns to emphasize malaria’s impacts on women and offer information on preventative measures and treatment options. These campaigns must also reach men, who can help their wives, mothers and sisters access care.

Collecting wide-ranging data on malaria’s burden on all women – not just pregnant women – will ensure that these strategies are wellinformed and address the various factors that drive women’s health decisions.

Health-seeking behaviours But it’s not enough to focus on the healthseeking behaviors of individuals. To address the root causes of malaria’s burden in our country, we also need to make sure that women don’t spiral into poverty when they or their children get sick. Our political leaders should prioritize making malaria interventions more affordable through financial programs that are geared toward women. Also, social safety nets, legal reforms and employment programs can help account for lost livelihood due to malaria illness.

Ultimately, developing these women-centric programs will require involving women in the design and implementation of malaria interventions in their communities. Women have insights into their specific barriers to care and are better prepared to create programs that reflect the intricacies of their everyday realities. As more women are empowered to step into leadership positions, these perspectives will help create more nuanced programs that work for them.

Putting women at the forefront of Nigeria’s malaria effort will go a long way toward placing national malaria elimination within our grasp. It will also yield impressive results for women’s standing in society. Reducing the burden of malaria would allow more women to complete school, remain in the workforce and participate in governance or decisionmaking – increasing their overall economic, social and political empowerment.

I want to see a future where my daughters can thrive. That future is irrevocably tied to the ability of all women in Nigeria to reach their full potential. Let’s not allow malaria to jeopardize it.

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Int’l designers can stimulate acceptance of African fabrics in workplaces —Darling Tunde-Olofin, Designer Darling Tunde-Olofin is the enigma behind one of Nigeria’s famous fashion designing brands, Darlene. In this interview with Josephine Agbonkhese & Anino Aganbi, the executive member of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, FADAN, says indigenous designers have got a role to play if Nigerian fashion must assume its pride of place in the formal sector.

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OU make both African and Western designs; which appears to enjoy more patronage?

The native seems to get better patronage because we now use indigenous fabrics to make lots of English designs.

That means our people are embracing our local fabric more.....

Yes they are. They are also trying to modernise it because our real traditional designs can be dressy and very regal. If you wear an Iro and Buba for example, it transforms you instantly. The English style is subtle; it is very toned down. So, people understand the balance now and they therefore use African fabrics to make the English styles. This is a very good balance that can easily transit from the office to any function you want it to. You can dress it up or down.

But the African fabric is still not accepted in most formal environments as office wear…

There are some particular professions that became Westernised from the very beginning.

Collection of daily contributions The banking profession for example is one. Our own African way of banking is the thrift collection; the Osusu for examplea man going from one house to another to collect daily contributions. That man till today can wear anything and still go from house to house. It’s still standard.

But the banking sector takes the form of the Western culture which it has its roots in. They are however beginning to embrace the local fabric. That’s why employers can now wear them on Fridays.

I think we would soon get to a point of change in our orientation because there are lots of African fabrics whose motifs are so cool that people can hardly tell which they are unless they touch them.

We now have Ankaras that look very English.

There are also some Ankaras that even when you where them to the bank on a Monday, it can

pass for a formal wear because it is all flowery and looks really formal when used for pencil skirts.

How come the Indians accept the Sari even in very formal sectors like banks?

You know Nigerians are very unique and peculiar people. We are perfectionists in a lot of ways.

If you go to Ghana for example, they can use their Kente for

Nigerians over do things most of the time. We do things more than the people that even taught us how to do them.

We are extremists and we are not confident about our culture formal styles these days and it is accepted in banks. Nigerians over do things most of the time. We do things more than the people that even taught us how to do them. We are extremists and we are not confident about our culture. This rubs off on the fashion industry and every aspect of our economy. We still take somebody that has a foreign certificate over somebody that has a local certificate. We still take

• Darling Tunde-Olofin

somebody that has a phonetic accent over somebody that has the Yoruba intonation in their voice also. We take everything foreign over everything local.

At this time when one of the Federal Government’s major campaigns is the BuyNaija campaign, do you accepting African fabrics as formal wears in all sectors will impact the economy?

Of course it will. The truth is that if designers get away from the money mentality and they really want to embrace the

indigenous, they will have a serious rethink. Sadly, most Nigerian designers trending right now are those that use Western fabrics for their designs. These people will always go to the African Fashion Week to represent Nigeria abroad, with Western designs.

If we can be original and patient as designers, respect for our fabrics might not come as fast as expected, but it will surely come with our efforts. We need to promote our culture instead of trading it on the altar of instant

recognition. Maybe we should have a sanction so that all designers participating in fashion shows abroad compulsorily rock our traditional fabric on stage or disqualify.

About the BuyNaija campaign also. I feel we still need to address the issue of electricity first so that designers can produce without a tripled overhead cost. We spend a lot on fuel and so many other things which are much cheaper in other countries.

Group canvasses improved welfare packages for pregnant, nursing women

By Caleb Ayansina

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BUJA – A Group known as the Annmom Foundation for MothersWelfare (AFMW) has called on all tiers of government to improve welfare packages for pregnant and nursing mothers across the country.

The President and Founder of the AFMW, Princes Ann Johnson said their finding revealed that if at all, Nigerian government had welfare packages for pregnant or nursing women in the country, it was very poor, adding that, various programmes and initiatives that could improve their standard

of living were not properly implemented.

Princess Johnson, who was speaking in her maiden media briefing, in Abuja, noted that women and children were the worse hit by the poor economic situation of the country.

Narrating her experiences in IdiAraba, in Lagos state, the mother of three said it was pathetic to discover that six out of ten lactating women, their team came in contact with, were living in abject poverty that required urgent attention of the government.

“It is important to call on the Federal

and other tiers of government to rise up to the challenges posed by poverty in our society. The less privileged ones are everywhere; therefore, the government should double its efforts at its social responsibilities to the citizens either directly or through organisations such as ours.

“The government should also engage in sensitisation and enlightenment on birth control because from what we see out there, an average poor family has more than four children, making them overwhelmed by acute poverty.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—31

Why secondary school leavers shun admission into polytechnics

By Dayo Adesulu

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HE dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates calls for government attention, as it appears to be one of the reasons many students are not willing to accept admission into Nigerian polytechnics.Over the years, students seeking tertiary education always wanted to attend universities. Few who are in polytechnics or have graduated from polytechnics did so as a last resort.

Stakeholders in the sector are finding it difficult to persuade prospective students that university and polytechnic certificates carry the same weight; but experience shows variance with the claims.

Because of this, there are over one million admission spaces in the polytechnics and colleges of education, students are not willing to accept the offers.

Why students don't want polytechnics: Vanguard investigations revealed some of the reasons why students do not want the polytechnics. They include the minimum school certificate qualifications requirement for tertiary education. While universities require five credits, including English and Mathematics, polytechnics are satisfied with four credits, to include Mathematics and English. Some polytechnics even accept a pass in English.

Polytechnic entrance exams Again, when a student sits for the UTME, cut-off marks for universities are always different from the polytechnics and colleges of education. Most times, while the university cut-off is 180, it is 150 for polytechnics. This sends wrong signals to admission seekers.

Besides, before the introduction of UTME, students who sat for polytechnic entrance exams wrote three papers, while the university candidates wrote four papers.

Thus, while the polytechnic scores are rated on 300, the university is rated on 400 marks.

Apart from this, after the prospective students have been admitted in the polytechnic, they spend a minimum of five years on any course to obtain HND, while the university undergraduate spends four years, while some specialized courses, like engineering take five years, while architecture and medicine,

Cross section of secondary school students. take six and seven years respectively.

Moreover, in the polytechnic system, the Cumulative Grade Point Average, CGPA, is 4.0, while that of the university is 5.0.

But it is in the labour market that the disparity is quite graphic. For instance, it is interesting to note that the HND holder in the civil service usually does not advance beyond salary GL 13; that means he/she cannot be a director. Even when a polytechnic graduate wants to get a Master's degree, he is often denied admission until he does Post-Graduate Diploma, after which he is qualified.

If you get to most polytechnics in Nigeria, it is the university

HND holders in the civil service cannot go beyond salary GL 13; that means he/she cannot be a director graduates that are employed as lecturers. The authorities seldom employ polytechnic graduates as lecturers.

FG allocations: Our investigations revealed further that even the Federal Government allocation to the university is higher than the polytechnics. Government is not

helping matters, as it often ignores the agitations by polytechnics for months, but respond repidly to universities.

The Visitor of state-owned universities and polytechnics is the governor. But while the governor visits the university during convocation, he seldom visits the polytechnic throughout his tenure. The best he could do is to delegate the Deputy Governor or Commissioner for Special Duties to stand in. All these add to why many admission seekers prefer to remain at home until they get admission in the university. They see the polytechnic as the last resort when all attempts fail. We should not be quick to blame our students, the bulk of the blame

should go to our government and policymakers.

Minister of Education could sponsor a bill in this regard to the National Assembly for amendment and the anomaly will stop. Until everyone begins to see polytechnic graduates and university graduates as the same, we will continue to have admission spill-over every year.

Poly students, graduates react Some polytechnic students and graduates bared their minds: Bidemi Kalejaiye said: "After I had tried to get admission into the university for four years without success, I decided to go to the polytechnic. I, however discovered that a university graduate is not better than a

polytechnic graduate.''

Joshua Yinusa said: "I always desired university education. But after I tried to get admission into the university for two years without success, I accepted polytechnic admission since all my friends whom we did WASSCE together were either in the university or polytechnic. After my NYSC, I will still enrol for a degree course in the university because of the disparities between the polytechnic and university graduates."

Onome Ogheneovo said: "Since I couldn't get what I desired, I decided to like what I have. I tried to get into the university for five years without success. But within a year, I tried the polytechnic, I got it. The requirements were easy to meet."

‘Teach local languages to children at early stage’

By Elizabeth Uwandu

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HE need to preserve our culture and avoid our local languages going extinct, formed the basis of Early Life Nursery and Primary School 2016 cultural festival.

While expressing joy on the performance of the children, the Proprietor of Early Life Schools , Chief Innocent Nwokeji , advised parents to ensure that their wards learn Nigerian local languages for the purpose of peaceful cohabitation and cordial relationship.

“Parents should ensure their children learn our local languages so that if one travels anywhere in the world and sees a fellow Ni-

gerian, he can boldly say, ‘This is my brother or sister.”

High points of the festival featured reading of the school’s history by some of the children in the three major languages Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, including Efik. Other performances by the children included: March past by the cultural groups, fashion parade, cultural dances, arts exhibition and unveiling of traditional dishes.

Nwokeji applauded the children's performances, promising to pay 50% of the tuition fees of five of pupils who read a two-page history of the school in the local languages, come next academic session. Chairman of the event, Engr. Benjamin Ibezim said a cultural event such as this should be

a continuous activity so that our norms, values and local languages would not go into extinction.

“If we don’t continue in these activities of teaching our children the norms and values, especially the local languages; our culture will soon go into extinction. Learn folklores, values and also interact with their kinsmen,” he said.

The headmistress of the school, Mrs Ezinne Ibeabuchi said the school has contributed its quota in promoting the Nigerian cultural heritage of unity in diversity.

She used the occasion to thank the proprietor, his family, staff and parents for their time and resources in making the festival a success.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

We discover pathogens before they attack — Prof Happi

NgREN secures e-Content worth $4m for Nigerian varsities

In handling certain diseases, it has been proved that time is of the essence. If a patient presents at the hospital early and the ailment diagnosed early, the possibility of survival is high especially in cases like cancer, Lassa fever and Ebola. So it was a great relief when Professor Christian Happi, Dean, College of Postgraduate Studies, Redeemer’s University Ede, Osun State, came up with the Lassa Fever and Ebola Virus Disease rapid diagnostic kits.

In this chat with Vanguard Learning, the Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics and Director of World Bank-funded African Seat of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, the African platform for Genomics to solve the problem of infectious diseases in Africa, speaks on the innovations. Excerpts:

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By Ebele Orakpo

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ROTOTYPES:These are the prototypes of Lassa Fever Rapid Diagnostic Tester and the Ebola Rapid Diagnostic Tester (RDT) we developed during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. The Ebola RDT was approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration.

Using Genomics:"What is very critical about these two prototypes is the fact that we have been able to use Genomics to develop tools that can enable us diagnose Ebola and Lassa fever in record time, in less than 10 minutes. So we moved the diagnostic time for Ebola and Lassa fever from about six hours to 10 minutes, and that is groundbreaking.

Basically, with these new tools, we have made the world better because we are now much more prepared for the next outbreak compared to what happened before.

"This is the first time in the history of science where we conducted research during an outbreak and developed a rapid diagnostic test within four months and now, with the outbreak of Lassa fever, we were also able to develop another rapid diagnostic test within few months.

Changing the landscape: We basically changed the landscape of science and diagnostics in Africa so we are actually in a much more powerful position as far as diagnostics for infectious disease is concerned.

Infectious disease We actually use this same technology, the Genomics platform, for pathogen discovery.

At Redeemer’s University, we discovered two new viruses. We not only discovered the two new viruses but also developed diagnostics for them.

Identifying pathogens: The platform we have actually enables us to identify any pathogen present in any blood sample. In addition, we have a computational platform that enables us to relate the nuclear sequence to any organism that is present. That way, we discovered the two new viruses called Ekpoma Virus 1 and Ekpoma Virus 2. We call them Ekpoma because they were discovered in Epoma, Edo State of Nigeria. That has put us in a position where we are well

*Lassa Fever RDT Ebola Virus Disease RDT poised to discover organisms and pathogens before they can actually start attacking us. That

is how we have revolutionised the field in the past three years," said Happi.

ERC condemns dissolution of UNILAG SUGto manufacture all kinds of quasiBy Amaka Abayomi

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HE Education Rights Campaign, ERC, has condemned the decision of the Senate of the University of Lagos to dissolve the executive and legislative arms of the University of Lagos Students’ Union, ULSU, for leading students’ protests against poor welfare conditions and high cost of goods and services on campus.

Describing the decision as draconian and despotic, National Coordinator, ERC, Mr. Hassan Soweto, said the decision is an assault on the freedom of association and other democratic rights.

His words: “That the University of Lagos is dissolving ULSU less than two years after it was restored following over one decade of proscription is a sign that intolerance has continued to rule the hearts and minds of members of the varsity management.

“The ERC hereby demands the immediate restoration of Students Union activities and a halt to every other attack on the democratic rights of students. We also condemn the decision to make all students and their parents sign undertaking and indemnity forms which are meant to frighten students from ever daring to fight for their rights.

“On the undertaking form, there is what is called a ‘re-absorption oath’ which students must sign and get notarized as preconditions for admittance into halls of residence and examination venues. Through the Parents indemnity form, parents and guardians are to be held liable for whatever supposed misdemeanor is committed by their wards. We demand an immediate reversal of these draconian measures.

“All the varsity is doing is simply

legal measures to keep students enslaved and unable to defend themselves against its anti-poor policies. Such draconian clampdown on freedom of expression was the hallmark of m i l i t a r y despotism in Nigeria. They have failed before and will fail again.”

Rather than clamping down on students’ union, the ERC called on the management to address the legitimate demands of the students just as commencement of examinations has been fixed for the 9th of May, 2016.

“Up till now, questions raised by students during the protests as to t h e whereabouts of the additional two dieselp o w e r e d generators r e m a i n unanswered.

Instead, the varsity said on its website that it could only ‘endeavor to p r o v i d e electricity in the various halls of residence between 7.00 pm and 7.00 am daily.

By Dayo Adesulu IGERIAN Research and Education Network (NgREN) has secured resources valued at about $4 million EBSCOHost e-content which will be available for free to all Nigerian universities until December 31st, 2016.

The information which was disclosed by the Chairman, NgREN Board and Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, noted that the e-content resources will include e-books, journals, academic magazines etc. According to him, $4 million would grow the number of available resources in the nation’s university libraries and as a result, heighten research activities in the Nigerian University System (NUS).

Okojie who urged universities to key into the opportunity explained that by accessing the EBSCOHost e-content, Nigerian varsities stand a better chance of enhancing their position in international university rankings just as in the accreditation of programmes, where library holdings form a major component of the assessment.

He said: "Universities in Ni-

geria are hereby encouraged to utilise these resources which are available on the NgREN at no cost until the end of 2016. Plans are underway to ensure that universities on NgREN continue to access EBSCO and other e-content beyond the expiration of the current service."

He pointed out that NgREN was established in 2014 to provide an elaborate infrastructural backbone to interconnect all Research and Education Institutions in Nigeria and link them with other Research and Education Networks (RENs) worldwide Since its formal launch, the NgREN has made significant progress in reducing the cost of bandwidth for subscriber institutions from an initial USD 1,260 per mbps when the project took off, to USD160 per mbps and to a present cost estimate of USD50 per mbps, saving the universities a huge chunk of their resources, which could be channelled to other areas of need.

"REN has helped in reduction of travel costs as a result of the video-conferencing facilities and capacity building cost savings through online and remote training modules," he stated.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—33

OAU’s Team Humane wins Microsoft Imagine Cup

By Amaka Abayomi

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TARU Babatunde, Oyatope Blessing, Shoaga Victor, and Ayodele Obasegun of Team Humane of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have won the National Finals of the 2016 edition of Microsoft Nigeria Imagine Cup. Now in its ninth year, Microsoft Imagine Cup is the premier students’ technology programme and competition, and a cornerstone of the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative which provides the opportunity for student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs to collaborate, develop a technology application, create a business plan and gain a keen understanding of what is needed to bring a concept to market.

solution for the visually impaired which was initially targeted at gaming for the visually impaired, but later we felt we can do more than gaming.”

Also speaking, Director, Developer Evangelism, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina

Oyetosho, explained that “Microsoft is committed in empowering students to become the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and developers, and the competition inspires student developers around the world to create innovative

solutions that change the way we live, work and play while also growing the skills they need to pursue a future in technology.”

Team Humane will go on to compete in the Middle East and Africa semi-finals for a place at the world finals schedule to hold in Seattle, Washington in July

Accompanying hardware Competing in the World Citizenship Category, Team Humane came up with a solution for the visually impaired which enables them to interact and navigate freely on their mobile phones.

The solution comes with an accompanying hardware known as the Humane handle, which interacts with apps installed on a device using Bluetooth. A visually impaired person would be able to navigate through various apps installed on his/her mobile phone using the handle and an integrated voice navigation system.

According to the team lead, Ayodele Obasegun, “we were concerned about solving a major challenge hence we embark on this project. We have been developing solutions for various organizations and we felt a need to impact our community and the world as a whole, thus, this

Bishop Mike Okonkwo, The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). presenting a trophy to one of the winners in last year's edition of the competition.

Students redefine state of Nigeria in 13th Mike Okonkwo essay contest

By Tare Youdeowei

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NTRIES for the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria is now open from March 28th to May 27th, 2016, as part of the activities lined up to mark the 71 st Birthday of Dr. Mike Okonkwo The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

The topic for this year ’s competition of the 13th Mike

Exempt tertiary institutions from TSA, VC urges federal, state govts

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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HE Vice-Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, Prof. Doknan Sheni, has urged Federal and state governments to exempt universities and other tertiary institutions from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) so as to end unnecessary bottleneck which could stifle development in education administration.

Prof. Sheni made the call during the matriculation of the newly admitted students for 2015/ 2016 academic session in the varsity where he lamented the frustration of managements of varsities in accessing funds to run their institutions.

He said “The TSA, as good a policy as it is, is not good for varsities in terms of their desire to bring about infrastructural

development for conducive environment for studies. We hope the federal government will have a rethink over the inclusion of varsities so as to give us the needed atmosphere to operate without any hiccups.

“Varsity education today has become a very important and necessary component in the drive toward laying a solid foundation for both the sociopolitical and economic development of the nation.”

Addressing the 744 matriculating students, the VC admonished them to have it at the back of their minds that they have come to obtain knowledge with which they would use to development the country and so must be serious and committed and warned them against involving themselves in cultism and other vices, which he said the university would not tolerate.

Okonkwo National Essay Competition is “The State of the Nigerian Nation: Redefining Our Values.”

The competition is aimed at contributing to the educational sector in the country and to sensitize the students by encouraging them to excel in their world by developing their ability to think through issues and make a change in their world even at their tender age.

Over the years the competition has been very successful in helping these youths to develop analytical and problem-solving skills.

Internet ready desktop computer Like previous years, the star winner school gets three (3) internet ready desktop computer and a printer, while the student goes home with a trophy, Laptop, N100,000.00 cash and a plaque. The first runner up school gets 2 internet ready desktop computers and a printer and the student goes home with a cash prize of N75,000.00 with a plaque. The second runner up school gets an internet ready computer, while the student gets N50,000.00 cash prize and a plaque.

For participation in the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students, the entry requirements include: Essay of maximum of 2000 words, a

Passport Photograph of the Student, Full Name, Address, Contact Telephone Number, Class, School and Name and Telephone contact of the Principal. Essay could be submitted through email to essay@trem.org or by post to The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters, Obanikoro/ Anthony Oke Bus, Lagos.

Topics handled over the years include: 2004 edition (securing the Nigerian future: improving the standards of education), 2005 edition (building leaders for tomorrow a collective responsibility), 2006 edition (lawlessness and the rule of law in the Nigerian society), 2007 edition (political office and governance: for gain or service?), 2008 edition (the role of judiciary in sustenance of democracy), 2009 edition (global economic trend: the alternatives for Nigeria), 2010 edition (Nigeria @ 50: its leadership, development and the future), 2011 edition (survival of Nigerian state: political and economic implications), 2012 edition (dependence of Nigeria economy on crude oil any alternatives?), 2013 edition (overcoming the Nigerian security challenges: a panacea for national growth and development), 2014 the topic was (The Power of Your Vote: a catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria) and in 2015. “The Nigerian Political Class and the

VC tasks FG on TET fund for private varsities

By Simon Adewale

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ICE Chancellor of Western Delta University, WDU, Oghara, Prof. Austin Asagba, has appealed to the Federal Government to allow private universities across the country to have access to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to pave way for rapid development in the private university education sector.

Prof. Asagba who made the call weekend at the 2016 matriculation exercise of the institution, said, ‘’Private universities are mainly funded by their proprietors, friends and well wishers. There has been no government input and that is slowing down their general development. We are paying tax too and it is Nigerians we are training. I therefore urge the Federal government to allow private university access to the TET fund.‘’ According to him, the nine year old WDU which matriculated a total of 120 new intakes has several departments in its Colleges of Natural and Applied Sciences, as well as Social and Management Sciences.

AAUA signs MoU with Auburn varsity

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N its continuing efforts at deepening its academic programmes, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Auburn University, Alabama, USA. The MoU, which essentially is to facilitate exchange of students and staff, and research collaboration, among other benefits between the two Universities, was signed on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Auburn University, Alabama, USA. This development is coming barely four months after AAUA had signed a similar document with Alabama State University, USA, to further expand its global partnerships and broaden opportunities for its staff and students.

In his remark, the ViceChancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, who signed the MoU, on behalf of the University, expressed delight at the development which he described as worthwhile, promising to maximize the partnership in the interest of the University.

He said, “For us at Adekunle Ajasin University, It’s a worthwhile collaboration that we are happy about, cherish and treasure, and which we are going to maximize in the best interest of our University.”

34 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 35

Foods that help you lower blood pressure, lose weight Watermelon

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ADE up of 92 percent alkaline water, this delicious fruit helps you stay hydrated while it cleanses the kidneys and bladder and helps maintain an alkaline pH. Watermelon is a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium, betacarotene, and has high levels of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to build bone.

Cabbage

Thanks to its rich glucosinolate content, eating all types of cabbage helps activate crucial detoxifying liver enzymes.

However, green cabbage contains more chlorophyll than the other varieties.

Since chlorophyll strengthens the liver, Eat green cabbage, preferably raw so as to maintain the highest nutrient levels.

It is a sulfur-rich cruciferous vegetable that is also an excellent source of Vitamins K, C, folate, and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Lemon

Adding lemon to your water doesn’t just make it taste better, it can help you if you have high blood pressure, and is often one of the first foods recommended to those suffering from certain medical conditions.

It’s easy enough to start getting more lemon into your life. Just add the juice to water or other foods and you’ll get the benefits. It is also used to help treat cases of urinary tract infection.

Energy rich fruits and vegetables

Celery

easier to digest and process.

Celery contains plenty of water, and will therefore get you to go more often.

It’s great for hydrating the body, and recent research has shown that it’s not just the water we drink that hydrates us, but the water we take in from foods as well. If you don’t care for the taste of celery, try adding it to a diuretic smoothie with other fruits and vegetables found on this page. You’ll be giving your body a big boost of nutrition and also make it

Ginger

It’s not easy to eat a lot of ginger, and luckily you don’t have to. Using it to zest up your meal, or adding a bit of ginger root to a glass of water will give you the benefits you need from it. It has a nice cleansing effect on the body, and is often used in detox programs to help flush out toxins. It also serves as a diuretic, and will help your body get rid of any built up fluid it may have.

Why you should eat banana peels

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HAT food is packed with vitamins and fiber, but is almost always purchased just to be thrown away? If you said banana peels, you’re right. It might be one of the world’s most recognizable comedy props, but the humble banana peel is nothing to laugh at.

These slippery skins contain vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, potassium and fiber, as well as tryptophan, which has been shown to help balance emotions and mood.

While the jury is still out on exactly how much of these nutrients our bodies can absorb from eating banana peels, noshing on them instead of trashing them is still a great idea because of the landfill waste it saves.

Remember to wash your banana peel thoroughly just like you would with any other fruit you plan to ingest. Use organic bananas for the recipes since non-organic banana peels may contain harmful pesticides.

Smoothies are a great way to mask the bitter flavour of banana peels while also breaking them down and making them easier to digest.

A favourite smoothie is to use banana peels in is an apple pie smoothie, which, tastes like a healthier version of apple pie.

To make it, just blend one Red Delicious apple, one whole banana and the peel (just cut off the hard ends), a dollop of almond butter or a handful of almonds, some almond milk and a dash of cinnamon. If you’re allergic to nuts, leave out the almonds and use a different kind of milk.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO everybody and welcome to the second installment of our new products discussion. First on the list are two male products that have proven effective in helping men where it matters most, which are the areas of prolonged intercourse and a big and firm erection.

The first of these two products is the Size Matters Penis Sleeve. It is a hyper realistic 8.5 inch hollow penis sleeve that men can wear over their own penises to help them look much bigger and last longer during intercourse. With it, you don’t need a condom. It adds 2.5 inches of length and considerable thickness to the penis when worn.

And then there is the Flipper Vibrating Cockring, a male performance enhancer ring worn over an erect penis to enable a man have intercourse for up to twenty minutes and still remain rock hard even after ejaculation. All men want to impress and deliver in bed and one of the major complaints we get from men regularly is the inability to last longer than two minutes after penetration. So these two products will help a lot.

Next on the list is an aphrodisiac that women can use when they need help with a little arousal. It is called the Passion Aphrodisiac Sex Mints and it is mainly for women who complain of low sexual desire, lack of sexual interest and enjoyment. The Passion Aphrodisiac Sex Mints is fast acting, easy to use and has no side effects.

Women will love it.

Last but not the least are two female novelties that combine very well to ensure premium sexual satisfaction and enjoyment. They are the Emerald G Luxe Rabbit and the Jo Oral Delight Vanilla Arousal Gel. Sexual enjoyment is not a luxury that only a few women or privileged people should have. It is a basic human right.

All sexually active adult women should enjoy the intercourse they are having. We understand that due to circumstances beyond their control, this is not always possible. That is why we are introducing yet a new and improved vibrator and orgasm gel to help make this possible.

The Emerald G Luxe Rabbit is a classy and unique toy for women that has a feature that no other vibrator has. In addition to having the usual rotating shaft and dedicated clitoral stimulator that is the hall mark of your typical rabbit vibrator, it also has a dedicated G Spot stimulator. Many people do not know this but the clitoris is not the G Spot.

The G Spot is a spongy tissue located about an inch deep into the vagina, specifically on the roof of the vaginal void. When properly stimulated, it will lead to squirting orgasms that will have the average woman ejaculating even more than men. Yes women can ejaculate if they know how. The squirting orgasm is the most satisfying and enjoyable of all the orgasms. The Emerald G Luxe Rabbit is capable of that and more. The JO Oral Delight Vanilla Arousal Gel is both edible, lubricating and arousing. So it is perfect for oral sex, clitoral stimulation and lubrication against bruising and pain. Women will benefit from these two novelties and they work hand in hand.

Let us now answer a few questions form our readers.

I use the Sta Hard vibrating Cockring to great effect.

I will like to know if the batteries are replaceable when they grow weak – Ikechukwu Yes they are – Uche Please I need to know this. When one takes any of these arousal supplements you write about, will he remain aroused all day? How does it work? Sola Sola they will give you an erection when you need it.

You will not walk around with an erection that won’t go away. No. you only get erect when you are ready for sex but you will be horny though and feeling like having sex.

That is the job of aphrodisiacs – Uche That’s all for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can now call us now on 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com to place their orders. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

36 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 37

34,512 Adamawa children badly underfed — UNICEF

By Umar Yusuf

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VISIT: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Mr. Waziri Adio (2nd right) presenting some documents to the Regional Editor (North), Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Soni Daniel while NEITI Director, Communications, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji (middle); Vanguard's Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Emmanuel Ujah (left) and the NEITI Head, Technical Unit on Governance & Anti Corruption Reforms, Lillian Ekeanyanwu look on during a familiarity visit to media houses by the new management of NEITI at the Abuja Bureau office of Vanguard, Vanguard House, Dambatta Close, Garki, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

Masari laments herdsmen's carnage ...As Defence chief moves to end Fulani herdsmen, traders' clashes

By Henry Umoru, Peter Duru & MarieTherese Nanlong

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B U J A — GOVERNOR Aminu Bello Masari of Kastina State, yesterday lamented that cattle rustling had been turned into armed robbery and kidnapping across the country, just as he said the military and other security agencies were on top of the situation.

This came as the Chief of Defense Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin set up a committee on the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and famers with a view to finding lasting solution to the crisis before it went out of hand.

Addressing journalists in Abuja ahead of Katsina Economic and Investment Summit, 2016, to be declared open on May 9,

by President Muhammadu Buhari, Masari blamed the crisis of Fulani herdsmen and cattle rustling on the war in North and West Africa, which allowed inflow of arms and ammunition.

The governor explained that prior to the colonization of Nigeria, there were routes designed for herdsmen, from the country through Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and others.

He however said: “There is inflow of guns and ammunition, which I think the military and the security agencies are already working hard to make sure that they address it.

The Defense Chief, who spoke in Makurdi through the Chairman, Defence Headquarters Committee on Persistent Crises between Herders/Farmers, Maj.-Gen Edward Nze

said: “We have decided to set up the committee to go round the troubled areas with a view to resolving it because with the manner the crisis has gone, it is obvious that it is assuming national dimension.

Relatedly, a traditional ruler in Plateau State, the Long Doemak, Cosmos Dakyap, has cautioned against the proposed grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen in states of the country, saying such issue should be handled with utmost care for it not to create a greater problem.

Speaking in Jos, he advised government to meet with traditional rulers in the country to look at the feasibility of the proposed grazing reserves to avoid a confrontation between the herdsmen and unarmed farmers bearing the brunt of violence in the country.

Count me out of double emoluments — NGIGE

By Victor AhiumaYoung

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INISTER of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, has distanced himself from former governors, deputy, senators and other political office holders earning dual salaries from the Federal Government.

In a statement he personally signed, the Minister said “It is my considered opinion that I respond in public interest, to the issue of double emoluments to former state governors, which has C M Y K

drawn sustained media discuss, and no less negative reactions from a cross-section of Nigerians.

I am doing this, being fully aware of the relevant sections of the law, public morality and the prevailing ethos of honest and transparent leadership, which the Federal Government of our great Party led by President Muhammadu Buhari is battling to enthrone. ''It therefore becomes imperative for me to explain my own circumstance as I neither draw from nor have at any time drawn double

emoluments, having been elected or appointed into public service positions at different times.

“I wish to put on record that since I left office in 2006 as Governor of Anambra State; through the four years I spent in the 7th Senate (June 20112015) and currently as the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment with effect from November 11, 2015, I have never drawn a dime even in the intervening period that I was not in public office, as salary, emolument or pension from the Anambra State government coffers.''

OLA—UNITED Nations International Children’s Emergency, UNICEF, has said no fewer than 34,512 children in Adamawa State are suffering from acute malnourishment, noting that it has spent N38 million on “Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food, RUTF, and Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition, CMAM, between 2011 and 2015.

Dr. Abdulahi Kaikai, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, at a briefing in Yola, yesterday said the money had helped about 682,823 children to receive Vitamin A supplement.

According to him, survey indicated that 34,512 children in Adamawa State were severely malnourished, noting that ''UNICEF considered it a high prevalence and if these children were left untreated, their mortality rate would increase by nine fold compared to well-nourished children.

Kaikai said: “There are inadequate trained healthcare workers, especially women, unfortunately those trained are frequently transferred to other health facilities and we call on Adamawa State Government to, as

a matter of necessity take over the ownership and commence the procurement of RUTF. ''UNICEF will continue to partner in providing nutrition services for communities in the state to respond to the identified needs.”

Speaking, Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow represented by Commissioner of Health, Dr Fatima Abubakar Atiku lamented that only 18 percent of children under six months were exclusively breastfed while children from 0 - 6 months not well breastfed had seven times risk of dying from pneumonia and diarrhoea respectively.

According to the Governor, to reduce mortality rate due to malnutrition, the government was partnering UNICEF to improve access to quality child care and maternal services to save and increase the life expectancy.

Earlier, Adamawa State was described as having the highest number of infant’s mortality rate in the North East, in view of the ravaging insecurity as well as in the country.

Bauchi Zonal Nutrition Officer of UNICEF, Mrs. Philomina Irene, disclosed this during a media workshop on nutrition intervention in Adamawa State.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Sponsored terrorists behind Fulani herdsmen attacks —IYC

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—IJAW Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, yesterday described as “suspicious” and a “deliberate plot,” the recent armed attacks and killings in some communities in the South East and North Central by persons alleged to be herdsmen.

It said those involved in the attacks were terrorists sponsored to disguise as Fulani herdsmen to kill and promote tribal clashes across the country.

Spokesman of IYC, Eric Omare, condemned the persistent attacks by terrorists disguised as Fulani herdsmen in several parts of the country.

The Ijaw youth body warned indigenes of Niger Delta communities to be vigilant and set up structures to prevent and respond to any attack if launched in the region.

Omare said: “We are of the view that the attacks are being carried out by terrorists who are disguising themselves as Fulani herdsmen. The traditional Fulani herdsmen have been grazing their cattle for decades in different parts

of the country without such attacks until recently when the attacks became persistent with the emergence of Muhamadu Buhari as President of Nigeria.

“We also frown at the silence by the Federal Government. We are surprised that President Buhari has vowed to deal with suspected vandals of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region like Boko Haram but has remained mute in the midst of consistent massacre of Nigerians by Fulani terrorist.

“We believe that the attacks by the so called Fulani herdsmen are deliberate terrorist acts with religious agenda to wipe out some communities in the middle belt and southern part of the country. We, therefore, call on communities in the Niger Delta region, especially the Ijaw communities to be vigilant and watch out for these terrorists who are disguising as Fulani herdsmen.

“We also call on community

and youth leaders in different Niger Delta communities to set up structures to prevent such attacks and also speedily bring such activities to the knowledge of security agencies.

“IYC clan and community structures all over Ijaw communities in Nigeria have been directed to set up special task forces to monitor and report the activities of these murderers masquerading as Fulani herdsmen.”

Edo 2016: Dep gov position not for me —Peter Esele

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—FORMER President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Mr Peter Esele, has described as an insult, the rumour that he was gunning for the deputy governorship position in Edo State as against his wish to be the next governor.

Esele, who is one of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirants for the

Edo State governorship election slated for September 10, told Vanguard that if he had wanted to be a deputy governor, he would have reached out to any of the leading aspirants in the governorship race to negotiate.

He said: “Do you know how many local governments I have visited and what I am going through right now? Do you know the number of sleepless nights I have had and the number of

people I have met? You think I am doing these things because I want to become a deputy governor?

“That is an insult. If I want to become the deputy governor, I can reach out to whoever is the leading aspirant and negotiate and I will not need to waste the energy and resources that I am deploying now. If I want to become deputy governor, I know what to do."

Delta PDP chair mocks planned merger of opposition parties

By Emma Amaize

A

SABA—DELTA State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Edwin Uzor, yesterday, said that the party would not lose sleep over the planned merger of Labour Party, LP, All Progressives Congress, APC, and other opposition parties in the state against it, describing same as an empty threat.

Uzor, in a statement in Asaba, said: “Opposition parties in the state have no structures, be it in the ward, local government area or senatorial level, and no political party can win elections without existing structures.

“Therefore, the much expected mega merger of the opposition against the PDP in the state is only a threat over which our great party will not lose sleep.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 39

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Opposition between the Moon and Pluto may induce personality clashes you don’t need at lest for now.

What can help you now is love and your being persuasive.

Think of the future.

GEMINI: Positive events that started yesterday will continue today. Rely more on your ability to be as bold as necessary so that you can get things done your own way at work.

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

LEO: If you allow domestic pressure to affect your working pattern, your senior colleagues may not understand and make things a bit more difficult. IF you’re stable, you will have more to gain financially.

VIRGO: After snappy aggressive approach exhibited by you yesterday ,you are back at your being pleasant self to the admiration of others. This is the wrong time to take law and it’s agents for granted. Youngs-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

LIBRA: Some of you will wake up from slumber and realise mistakes about your finances early enough and make amendment but those who are reckless will commit more blunder. Beware of joint venture.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

S

O M E people are just too difficult to relate with.

Some are very difficult to work with.

Some are simply sadist. No matter what you do ,you

will the downfall of another person profit you?Stop being a fault finder. can never satisfy if you work under Show love .With them. If you sweep such an individual love, even the worst for them, it is never in an office. They human can be clean, you wash are just professional transformed to be for them, it is the fault -finders. The the best. same. God help you question is: What

TERROR MUDA

Are you a sadist?

in “Never say goodbye”

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO: Although erratic people from unexpected quarters may oppose you openly, your being self assertive will earn you both victory and financial success. Then tomorrow will prove more successful.

SAGITTARIUS: The more ambitious you are the better for you. Then you will need to ignore those with queer characteristics within your working arena.

CAPRICORN: Mixed trends are indicated. If you take good advice from your cool headed friends, you will benefit more than you imagine, but if you take to unpredictable attitude, you will today start fire that will burn with great intensity tomorrow.

AQUARIUS: If you take the veterans within your base for granted, they will fail you painfully. Yet here is a lucky day for you when your being secretive and self reliant will earn you success. Be more ambitious.

PISCES: Some of the people around you may get on your nerve via careless remarks, you must not allow them to disorganise your plans. The closer you are to the influential people the better for you.

ARIES: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage. And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercely against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

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,

What is my luck ?

Dear Joshua, I am deeply interested in Astrology: and the way you analyse people is great, keep it up.

Kindly tell me whatever you think I should know about my life together with my luck, social life and my lucky number.

Wasiu, Abuja.

Dear Wasiu, Thank you for your words of encouragement. Too many things are important but I think what both your immediate and far future have for you must be revealed to you so that you will be prepared.

Mars in Aquarius together with Uranus are pointers to an active social life. The more influential social circle you belong to, the better for you. You’re the cool-headed type beloved by many but once your anger manages to fly off, it can be very difficult if not dangerous; it’s because of your natal Pluto. Yet they keep coming your way.

Saturn can not help forcing challenges on your way, luckily for you however, you have what it takes to live up to the challenges. And as Saturn will never deny it’s worthy native the deserved success, it also gives recognition.

Saturn or no Saturn, good relationship bet Mars and lucky Jupiter when you were born, are green tumb for WEALTH; you will be wealthier more than having liquid cash; nobody can stop your becoming wealthy.

Best colours for you include YELLOW, golden, black but not coconut white. Your sleeping posture should be on East/West axis with your head to the West.

5 is your destiny number, 9 is your ambition, 8 is your expression, your other numbers are 1, 6, 7 & 11. Thus, they are as superior as listed.

Between now and your 46th year on earth (three and half years) women, money, youngster will greatly feature in your life and a few publicity cum commercial success equally indicated for you.

However come your 47th year (around that period) tough challenges which will border on stiff competition, avoidable accident, treachery and money will come your way.

Although it sounds somehow, it’s the needed tonic for and or pillar for an endless cycle of success that will follow. Therefore whatever can be shaken to the foundation or be uprooted by that time should not be initiated now.

The future is truly brilliant for you.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

BOI ENTREPRENEURSHIP FUND:

From left— Divisional Head, Small and Medium Enterprises, South, Bank of Industry, BoI, Mallam Abdulganiyu Mohammed; Acting Managing Director, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju; beneficiary of BoI's graduate entrepreneurship fund, Mr. Emmanuel Faleti, and Divisional Head, Large Enterprises, Mr. Joseph Babatunde, during the presentation of works produced by a beneficiary in Lagos, yesterday.

AFRICAN FASHION AMBASSADOR: From left— Creative Director, Mr. Sola Oyebade; Founder, Ms. Ronke Ademiluyi, both of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, AFWN; pop superstar, Yemi Alade, and Director General, Nigerian-German Business Association, NGBA, Ms. Jennifer Anoyika, during the unveiling of Alade as the 2016 AFWN Brand Ambassador in Lagos.

From left— Co-Chairman, 2016 World Malaria Day, Dr. Uzodinma Adirije; Dr. Opada Balami, representative of Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole; Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki, and Marketing Manager, Mortein, Mrs. Bamigbaiye Omotola, at a walk in commemoration of the 2016 World Malaria Day in Abuja.

From left— Dr. Chris Uwaje, Mr. John Obaro, Managing Director, SystemSpecs and his wife, Bose, during the award of Software Personality of the Year to SystemSpecs in recognition of the innovative use of Remita for TSA at the Beacon Awards.

BRIDGE CLINIC:

From left— Mrs Chinyere Ibiam; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee and Head of Clinical Services, ABSUTH, Dr. Ijeoma Nduka; Clinic Administrator, The Bridge Clinic, Port Harcourt, Dr. Ifunanya Illodibe, and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, FMC Umuahia, Dr. Enyinnaya Nduka, at the clinic’s children’s party held in Port Harcourt.

PZ's CSR: Governor Sani Bello of Niger State (middle), commissioning the Nasara Shea Butter facility built by the PZ Cussons Foundation to empower women in Tungan Wawa, Kontagora Local Government Area of the state as part of the corporate social responsibilities. He is flanked by trustees of PZ Cussons Foundation, Mr. Tunde Oyelola and Justice Fati Abubakar.

PEACE SUMMIT: From left— Activist, Chief Ayo Opadokun; Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Olu Otunla; former General Secretary of UPN and guest speaker, Professor Adebanji Akintoye, and Odundun Akorowolu, Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti, Oba Olusola Olatunde, at the two-day national summit on peace building in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 43

Police in Ebonyi foil robbery, kill 2

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State police command, yesterday, foiled a robbery operation and killed two of the robbery suspects while they were robbing a phone shop in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The incident, it was gathered, took place on the popular road around 7p.m. of the fateful day.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP George Okafor confirmed the incident.

According to him, "the command received a distress call that the robbers were robbing the popular phone shop, C-Net, and we quickly dispatched our men to intercept the robbers."

He said when his men arrived the scene, one of the robbers engaged one of its officers and stabbed him repeatedly in various parts of the body

and even attempted to take his rifle.

He said: “But our men were up to the task and responded, leading to the shooting of the assailant and one of his colleagues.”

The police Spokesman said the two injured robbers and the police officer were rushed to the hospital, but the suspects died on the way while the officer is currently responding to treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA. “A locally made gun and ammunition and some of the phones robbed from the shop were recovered by the command from the suspects,” he added.

According to the Spokesman, none of the staff of the company was harmed during the operation.

Okafor urged the public to continue providing the police with credible information that will help in checkmating crimes in the state.

'5% of Nigeria's workforce in foods, beverages sector'

By Prince Okafor

M

ANAGING DIRECTOR of Fair-Trade, Mr. Martin Maerz, said the nation’s food and beverage sector generates about 1.5 million jobs which is five per cent of Nigeria’s workforce.

Speaking at the second Inter national Trade Show on Agrofood, Plastics and Packaging in Lagos, Maerz explained that the aim of the event was to support the country’s agrofood industry and to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety and cost efficiency.

He opined that the event would create an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products.

“The Trade Show on Agrofood, Plastics and Packaging is all about technological exchange and cooperation between Nigerian agrofood producers and international technology suppliers.

“It was in response to the growth,

demand and vitality of Nigeria’s agrofood, that the people in FairTrade organized the agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria 2016,” he stated.

Maerz noted that Nigerian imports of food processing and packaging machinery, between 2010 and 2014, had increased from €198million to €381million, an increase of 92 per cent within just four years.

He said: “During the same period, imports of packaging machinery and equipment have gone up from €85 million to €201 million, a plus of 136 per cent. And imports of plastics machinery grew by 61per cent, from €54 million to €87 million.” FairTrade MD, asserted that according to World Trade Organization, WTO, Nigerian imports of food products have increased from US$4.5 billion in 2010 to $8.5 billion in 2014.

Nigerian exports of food products added up to $4.9 billion in 2014 after $2.9 billion in 2010.

Ijaw masquerades storm Lagos for Alamieyeseigha

T

HE IJAW Monitoring Group has concluded plans to honour the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha in Lagos for his contribution towards the resolution of the crisis between the Ijaw and members of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, in Lagos as well as the ljaw/Ilaje war in Ondo State, where over 300 Ijaws were killed.

In a statement by Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group and organizer of the event taking place in Lagos today, the Ijaw leader said: “Ijaws in South-West will further prove to the world that the leader who sacrificed time and energy for our people will never go without us saying, 'thank you' Alamco, our Governor- General."

C M Y K

According to the former publicity secretary of Ijaw National Congress, INC, “the ljaw/Yoruba crisis in Lagos which was an extension of Ijaw/ Yoruba Ilaje crisis in Ondo State riverine area was also resolved by 'Alamco' as he was fondly called. He stood by the Arogbo-Ijaw people throughout the crisis.”

The Ijaw leader further said: “We are honouring the former governor with a display of masquerades to give him supreme honour in Ijawland.

"The supreme honour in Ijawland is the display of our heritage by the masquerades and Alamco deserves the honour.The coming out of the masquerades confirms that Ijaw Nation has spoken,” Evah added.

44 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—45

Buhari orders crackdown on rampaging herdsmen Continues from Page 5 the ugly incident was taking a frightening dimension and demanded an immediate intervention by the Federal Government, adding that there was an urgent need for President Muhammadu Buhari to curb the dangerous incident.

It’s barbaric, says Gov Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has described the recent massacre of innocent citizens in Enugu State, as “very unfortunate, senseless and barbaric”, and demanded that “those behind the killings should be made to face the law”.

The Governor, who made his feelings known while addressing traditional rulers yesterday in Owerri, also appealed passionately to President Muhammadu Buhari to “intervene as a matter of urgency in the repeated killings in the South-East by Fulani herdsmen, to forestall future occurrence”.

He charged the traditional rulers in the state to take absolute control of security in their various autonomous communities and to also ensure peaceful coexistence between their people and settlers.

Enugu CAN calls for self-defence

But the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday expressed outrage over the killing of 46 natives of Nimbo community in Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen.

Addressing journalists , secretary of the religious body in Enugu State, Apostle Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, said the wanton destruction of lives and properties by the herdsmen could no longer be taken for granted.

Expressing shock that security operatives could not nip the attack in the bud despite having prior information, Ajujungwa called on South-East communities to rise up and defend themselves against such attacks.

S’East APC warns

The South East Leadership Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also condemned the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the zone.

Zonal spokesman of the party, Osita Okechukwu in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja said “It is painful that while the Federal Government of Nigeria is doing

everything possible to contain the Boko Haram insurgency; another virus in the name of herdsmen is dislocating the security architecture of our dear country.

“Yesterday it was Agatu in Benue State, today it is Ukpabio Nimbo in Enugu State. It must stop”, he stated.

We won’t retaliate —IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB yesterday said it will neither retaliate nor encourage the retaliation of the of the cold-blooded murder of Nimbo people in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, because it is not in their character to unleash violence on people.

It also said it will not play into the hands of blood thirsty dictators who have unleashed their kinsmen now on rampage against innocent Nigerians who allowed them to destroy their farms, crops, rape their women and subsequently kill them in the name of taking care of the herds.

IPOB in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, said that they have concluded their action on the killing in Nimbo, by informing the world that they will not retaliate the cold blooded murder of innocent people of Enugu State.

“It is not in our character, neither will we play into the hands of blood thirsty dictators who send their kinsmen on rampage as a forerunner to their evil agenda to subjugate our people. We remain a peace loving, focused and well disciplined mass movement totally committed to freedom.”

Ngwu calls for thorough Police investigation

A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs & Social Development, Princess Stella Ngwu, yesterday, called on the InspectorGeneral of Police, Solomon Arase and other security agents to immediately embark on a holistic investigation of the circumstances that led to the massacre of defenceless people of Ukpabi/Nimbo in Enugu state by Fulani herdsmen.

Princess Ngwu, who represents the area in the Federal House said in a statement that the “senseless killing of human beings and wanton destruction of properties were premeditated and

unprovoked and should be totally condemned.

“I am pained by the sad event. I commiserate with the victims of the attack, families and relations of those killed and the entire people of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area. I also urge the people of the affected area to be calm and law-abiding, as every necessary step shall be taken to track the perpetrators and bring them to face the law.

“I am using this opportunity to call on the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant security agents and stake holders to immediately embark on a holistic investigation of the situation with a view to bringing the culprits to book and forestalling future occurrence."

I did not call Buhari on Military — Ugwuanyi

Meanwhile, Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has denied making calls to President Muhammadu Buhari, just as he lauded the President’s order that the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Abayomi Olonisakin and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase should as as matter of urgency go after the suspected herdsmen.

According to him, reports in online media that he made such a call to the President was not only baseless, but unfounded.

In a statement by the Commissioner of Information, Dr. Godwin Udeghele and made available to Vanguard, yesterday, in Abuja, the governor urged the public to disregard such reports which he said cannot be substantiated” The statement read in part: “The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to reports in online media and facebook that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was responsible for a call to President Muhammadu Buhari who refused to draft Military men to the state following killing of unarmed Nigerians in Uzo-Uwani Council of Enugu State, by persons suspected to be armed herdsmen.

“The Government of Enugu wants to put it categorically clear that such a statement was never made and there was no time a call was made to the president or any one in the presidency."

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28 16 28,, 20 2016

marathon discussion, a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, titled “The Urgent imperatives of a United Nigeria Labour Congress State Councils”, was released.

It reads: “The veterans of the trade union movement have tirelessly engaged the national leaders of our trade unions towards ensuring that the outcome of the 2015 NLC National Delegates Conference did not lead to unending trade union disunity. This has led to patriotic compromises among our leaders in the face of ongoing challenges Nigerian workers and their trade unions have to contend with.

•Wabba

Unending trade union disunity

•Ajaero

NLC: One year after, reconciliation close, yet far

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

O

VER a year ago, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, broke into two factions following a disputed election. Since then, one of the factions is led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, while the other is led by Comrade Joe Ajaero.

However, in efforts to resolve the crisis and ensure that the movement is not fragmented, former President of NLC and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, alongside other veterans leaders of Congress, including its pioneer President, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, on August 19, 2015, summoned the factions for a meeting, and after an exhaustive deliberations, it was resolved that a seven-man committee headed

by Sunmonu with three from each faction including the two dramatic personae, be set up to resolve the dispute.

All-inclusive congress Speaking after the meeting, Oshiomhole, said: “A couple of things definitely went wrong; there is no question. We identified a lot of things and we agreed that the way forward is to put a solid movement. That, all these issues have to be addressed one after the other and we have to have an all-inclusive congress in which all shades of opinions are involved in decision making. We agree to have three members from each of side of the divide if you like, to be chaired by our founding president, Comrade Sunmonu and to ensure that he guides them through so that whatever they do they are guided by the core values of organised labour.

“Those rich traditions and ethical issues must be observed C M Y K

and we must ensure that the morality of the labour movement is always reflected because organised labour is always ruled by sentiments about justice, fair play and what is proper more than any other thing. I think everybody agreed that we must find a way to get on with the job. We are now going to see everybody working together in dealing with all the issues that are on the table and other issues that might be raised in the very near future.”

These were very reassuring words and many concerned members of the movement, partners, sympathizers and

It is on record that none of the recommendations of Sunmonu led committee has been implemented others looked forward to amicable resolution of the crisis that shook the Congress like what happened in 1988.

Motion without movement: Not long, the enthusiasm that followed the reconciliation committee began to die down as the leadership of the committee seemed unable to separate his role as an arbiter from its new exalted position and was fast becoming part of the problem,

attending functions and events that questioned its neutrality.

As the reconciliation efforts dragged on with obvious motion without movement, it took a threat to pull out from the roconciliation committee by one of the factions to bring a little life into the activities of the committee.

At a meeting of the committee there after, a seven-man subcommittee, equally headed by Sunmonu, with each faction having three representatives was set up to resolve the crisis in the states, as most states also have two factions of congress. It is believed that once the issue of the factions in the states is resolved, that of the national is as good as being resolved. The subcommittee was supposed to submit its report by February ending.

The committee met after some days and agreed to visit the six geopolitical zones in the country and that in each zone, the committee would invite the states that make up the zone and talk with them. Where they can achieve peaceful harmonization, or where there are no issues, the committee will endorse existing leadership and move on. Where it is not possible, the committee would conduct election. This is because the elections were not conducted together in the first instance. Each of the group or faction had its own election.

February, came and gone, March came and gone without the committee visiting any zone.

It is on record that none of the recommendations of Sunmonu led committee has been implemented.

Memorandum of Understanding: However, on April 18, the main committee alongside other NLC veterans including Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, met and after a

"In pursuant of the above, a meeting of the NLC reconciliation committee with leadership of the trade union veterans held in Abuja today April 18, 2016, resolve that: All extant NLC state councils where there exist parallel leadership should urgently evolve processes for resolving the differences, which has led to the unfortunate disunity in some state councils. "This should be actualized before the 2016 May Day celebration. The 2016 May Day celebration should embrace all affiliates of congress without exception. We ask for the cooperation and compliance of all the state councils.”

However, a closer look at the

MOU indicates that it may not have any effect and may not be implemented.

One does not want to believe that the drafters deliberately wanted the MOU to fail or did not interrogate the MOU. Bad news: First, one wonders how the states that have parallel leaders can evolve processes for resolving their differences by themselves. In other words, who will drive the processes of resolving the differences? It is absolutely impossible for protagonists to resolve their differences without push or drive from an external force generally accepted by the parties.

Again, that the 'processes for resolving the differences in the state councils should be consummated before the May Day and the 2016 May Day celebration should embrace all affiliates of congress without exception' is definitely of the mark. The bad news is that both factions have separate committees working independently on the May Day. Neither faction put each other into confidence in the planning for the May Day. Just about 48 hours to the May Day from today, it is practically impossible to expect either faction to agree to collapse its committee's job and expenses into the other.

It is indeed sad that both factions will once again mark the May Day independent of one another for the second year running.

ILO insists on support to FG on job creation

I

NTERNATIONAL Labour Organisation, ILO, has given boost to the employment creation drive of President Muhammadu Buhari led government.

Country Director of ILO, Mr. Dennis Zulu, gave the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.

A statement by Prince Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director (Press), Ministry of Labour and Employment, quoted Mr. Zulu as saying , “ILO will like to partner Nigeria on the drafting of new employment policy. We as an organisation have attained an advanced stage in the drafting of this policy and we need the contribution of the tripartite partner as well as the Ministry to push it forward.”

According to him, ILO was looking forward to receiving the input of the Ministry towards the completion of the Social Protection Policy, SPP, aimed at providing social protection floor for the vulnerable including pensioners thereby ensuring that they did not fall back to poverty trap after retirement. He noted the need to review Nigeria’s Labour Laws to

reflect the reality of the moment in the sector, saying “we look forward under your leadership to see that the labour laws that have been in the National Assembly since 2005 are clarified to ensure that they reflect changing times and changing demands both in the private and public sectors.”

Responding, Senator Ngige reiterated the commitment of the Buhari lead administration to the provision of jobs for the unemployed youths, while assuring the ILO of his commitment to maintenance of industrial peace and harmony in the labour sector through proactive social dialogue.

“The name of this ministry was changed to Ministry of Labour and Employment to reflect its pivotal role in the job creation efforts of the Federal Government. The activities of the Ministry are also accentuated by this responsibility and we are living up to the task. However the aspect that makes for industrial relations, social protection for the vulnerable and the entire workforce as enshrined in the ILO status and the nation’s constitution will not be abandoned.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 —

47

Ogun State revives fading culture with drums festival

By Japhet Alakam

T

HE drum has always played supporting roles in major festivals as it has never had its own festival,but last week, the cultural instrument took the centre stage in what was tagged, First Nigerian drums festival. And as it turned out to be, for the very first time drummers from over 19 states of the federation and beyond gathered at the ancient city of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital for the maiden edition of the Nigerian drums festival now renamed African drums festival.

The festival which was described as a force that binds Africans together lived up to its bidding as from the first day, 19th of April when the festival was declared open by the Executive governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Right from the time of the unveiling of the tallest drum till 22nd when the festival ended, there was no dull moment as the participants demonstrated some of those things that made Africa great before civilization wiped them away.

It was a rich display of the cultural heritage of Africans and discovery of talents as cultural troupes from various parts of the country dressed in colourful costumes took their turns to perform to the admiration of the audience.

far to show what has gone into the coffers of the people. Apart from the entertainment and cultural aspect, it was a major boost to the economy of the state as many artisans, weavers, busi-

Reviving dying culture

SAFFGLIA books sets leadership agenda for Africa

The drummers really shook the entire city and Africans living and even the dead woke up to the reverberating sounds from the drums.

Organised by Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival which was attended by about 20 countries including 10 from Africa and 19 states across Nigeria was according the Ogun state commissioner for Culture and Tourism, “to revive our dying culture”.

It was a well attended event as dignitaries from far and wide identified with the festival.

Among the audience were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his wife, Oba Adetona Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland, Senator Momora, representative of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, DG, National Council of Art and Culture, Mrs. Dayo Keshi and D G, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo. Others were the Ambassadors of Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Senegal and Ghana.

Those who performed with their various drums included, Ogun C M Y K

State cultural troop, Anu cultural troupe, Unique Fingers, Hubert Ogunde Cultural Troop, Ara – the female talking drummer, and Kano State Cultural Troop, Lisa cultural troupe and others.

It was commendations galore for the good people of Ogun State for taking the bold initiative to revive the fading culture and boost the tourism potentials of the state and country.

One special thing about the festival was that all the drums were locally made and that goes

Our culture and heritage are strong, binding forces for our unity, we should not forget our source and heritage

By Prisca SamDuru & Ann Nwafor

A

T last, the much expected Inaugural Lecture of the Segun Adeleye Foundation For Good Leadership In Africa (SAFFGLIA) tagged Africa: The Tragedy of Wrong History as well as launch of the book ‘So Long Too Long Nigeria’ by Mr Segun Adeleye, held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos.

As expected, the occasion turned out as an opportunity for eminent Nigerians to retrospect on where past leaders have gone wrong, a situation that has brought untold hardship and insecurity upon the people.

Honourable Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who was guest Lecturer said the theme of the lecture was of utmost importance to most Africans, especially the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister who was represented by the Head of Lagos Operations, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Bankole noted that in considering the idea behind the event, the organisers have

Scene captured during the first meeting of drums at Abeokuta nessmen/women and even petty traders smiled to the banks after the four days event.

Another discovery of the festival was the women drummers, ordinarily, in some communities, drumming was an exclusive reserve for men, but the festival proved otherwise considering the way women handled the drums.

They really demonstrated that what a man can do, women can do better.

In his remarks, Minister of Information and Culture who stated that the festival was in line with the Federal Government’s vision to showcase the cultural heritage of the country, described it as unique. In line with that Gov. Amosun assured that the name of the festival, which he said would now be held yearly would be known as ‘African Drums Festival.’

Also, Ooni Enitan who acknowledged the wind of change that is blowing around the coun-

provided a platform for a robust discussion on the subject of African leadership through their mission and vision.

He said with the theme of the lecture, ‘Setting the Agenda for Good Leadership in Africa’, a discussion on “Setting agenda for good leadership in Africa will ultimately link good governance, which has been the bane of underdevelopment in the continent. The story of woes that have become commonplace in Africa in general and our dear country, Nigeria, in particular, especially in view of recent history, calls for sober reflection on the way forward.

This state of affairs has created an image problem for Africa such that the rest of the global com-

The occasion turned out as an opportunity for eminent Nigerians to retrospect on where past leaders have gone wrong

try, harped on the need to rejuvenate the dead culture, heritage and tradition said “our culture and heritage are strong, binding forces for our unity. We should not forget our source and heritage and I strongly believe that what we are doing here today will dovetail into other states and even other African countries.”

Generating income The Alake of Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo said it was regrettable that “since FESTAC ‘77, we have never gone back to our roots; we must never abrogate our culture as we can use culture to generate a lot of income because oil is gone and gone for good.” Everyone was in agreement that the time had come for Nigeria to use its culture to generate income by promoting it through tourism.

An elated DG of NCAC, Mrs

Dayo Keshi who pointed out that festivals are one of the best ways to stimulate economic growth said “there is an increasing recognition of the enormous potentials for festivals such as the Nigerian Drums Festivals holding here in the ancient city of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

What the Drum festival has demonstrated is the fact that every state in Nigeria has cultural products around which cultural industries could be built in such a way that it becomes a win- win situation for everybody especially in terms of income generation for the grassroots. It is also for these reasons that under my leadership of the National Council of Arts and Culture, we are determined to launch between now and next year, specialized national festivals to ensure the preservation and sustainability of our cultural heritage. What was bequeathed to us, we must preserve and pass on to our children.”

Leadership by example, Gov. Amosun the drummer shows them the way. munity feels obliged to stay away from the continent in terms of investment and other collaborative efforts.”

In his review, Gabriel Akinadewo said that the book ‘So Long Too Long Nigeria’, a compilation of Adeleye’s weekly columns when he was the Business Editor of Nigerian Compass, is a lamentation on the state of decay which has brought the country to this pitiable level. Written in simple prose, Adeleye not only criticised policies of government, but also proffered solutions to Nigeria’s challenges. His style

of writing educates, entertains, informs, investigates and moulds opinion.”

Responding, Adeleye noted that, “If we reflect on the major discourse in our country for so long too long now, it’s about corruption- the EFCC arraigning people almost every day for stealing millions or billions of naira.

A lot of people had stolen so much in the name of taking their share of the national cake, such that the young ones coming up can no longer think straight of how to be successful, but waiting for their turn.”

48 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

The great budget tug-of-war

By Awa Kalu , SAN

T

HIS past week, i g e r i a n s were visited with more uncertainty over the passing of the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law. Having passed the bill on the respective floors of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the countdown to the constitutional deadline for presidential assent, set at 30 days, expired at the weekend.

The Appropriation Bill, which is the formal legislative nomenclature for the Budget, has been the inanimate central character in what has turned into a quite animated caper on the national stage in the last few months.

On Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the ‘Budget of Change’ to the National Assembly and Nigerians up and down the country had cause to celebrate the positive event that his early announcement of the budget represented.

Nearly five months later, and the Budget keeps turning up in the murky light of national humour, like the proverbial bad penny. Yet it has not become law, having not received the President’s assent.

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Scandalous accusations The manner in which the Budget has swung back and forth in public debate has forced Nigerians to keep asking whether it will or will not eventually be passed.

Numerous pratfalls have been responsible for the as yet unsigned bill as the dailies and tabloids have told us, including the scurrilous claims of a missing budget, the scandalous accusations of a Padded Budget and now the legal conundrum of a Rewritten Budget.

Before we try to delve a little deeper into some of the skirmishes that have excited the public imagination in this process, it must be said that the Budget brouhaha has put one in mind of that unique game of our childhood, remarkable for its test of endurance and of strength, the Tug-of-War. Many Nigerians can recall this game and some still play it- where a long cord of rope is pulled by two teams until one of them gives up.

The most significant thing about a Tug-of-War is that after it is done with, no matter how much effort one expended in pulling the rope, one looks back and realises that it was, in fact, not a war. It was only a C M Y K

The National Assembly, Abuja. Inset is President Muhammadu Buhari. game. Unfortunately, this game has gone on for too long and the outcome is a prolonged economic logjam caused by the ongoing impasse between the Executive and Legislative arms of the government. Meanwhile, the business of public administration has stagnated in the face of absent funding and the hesitation of the civil service mandarins to undertake any projects without the backing of the federal purse.

As a corollary, the private sector being equally dependent

Senator Saraki’s role as senate president puts him in an important position to direct affairs in the National Assembly and, perhaps, leaves him with considerable authority to mitigate the government standoff

on the decisions of the government has been functioning in flux, their operations frustrated by the administrative dysfunction caused by this Tug-Of-War. History has proven that a stalemate between the decisionmaking executive and the lawmaking legislature is never

good for the country. In 2014, the United States of America was on the verge of a shutdown of government because of the impending ‘fiscal cliff’.

The fiscal cliff referred to the combination of expiring tax measures and spending coming into effect on the 31st December, 2012.

If allowed to happen, the fiscal cliff would seriously affect an economy, already in turmoil and plunge the country into recession as it reduced household incomes, increased unemployment and undermined consumer and investor confidence. The stalemate threw the country into a period of extreme economic insecurity and made the United States of America a figure of derision around the world.

Shadowy backdrop Nigeria is in the grip of a similar situation as a result of the indecision surrounding the budget.The sooner it is resolved, the better.

What makes the situation more complicated is the shadowy backdrop to the unfolding events. The press, always aroused by rumour and conjecture, continues to make titillating revelations about certain frontliners in the pitched battle between the two arms of government. Senator Bukola Saraki, who was elected Senate President last year, is standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over charges of failing to declare assets during his time as Kwara State Governor, in disregard of his constitutional duty.

Senator Saraki’s role as senate president puts him in an important position to direct affairs in the National Assembly and, perhaps, leaves him with considerable authority to mitigate the government standoff. Yet his involvement in the trial has sidelined him somewhat and left his credibility in jeopardy at a crucial point. It does not help that the presiding justice in his trial was facing allegations of misconduct relating to a bribery investigation for which he has been cleared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In the heat of a struggle to resolve economic difficulties and kickstart the new regime’s promise of restoration to the Nigerian people, it appears that the Budget of Change has become the Budget of Despondency.

A little while back, news broke in social media that the copy of the Budget which was delivered to the National Assembly for deliberations had gone missing.

While the public grappled with this information, in the first stages of the tug-of-war, it emerged that the Senate President had accused the Presidency of altering the copy of the budget distributed to members of his chamber with a different version.

Piqued by these reports, a number of civil rights organisations and public affairs analysts- as those who crave the limelight are now called- seized upon the notion that some elements of the Budget were inflated. It has long been in circulation that the annual

budget includes sums that are well beyond what is necessary to provide for the functions for which they are earmarked.

This is a perennial controversy.

However, associating these misgivings with a ‘Budget of Change’ seemed a step too far for interested Nigerians.

There was a hue and cry at this Padded Budget, which died down after parties regrouped and reviewed the contents of the Budget.

Bone of contention It was expected that the Budget would finally process into law. This was not to be as the respective committees on Appropriation in House of Representatives and the Senate led by Honourable Jibrin Abdulmumim and Senator Danjuma Goje respectively disputed claims that the Budget had been rewritten by the Executive.

It appears that the bone of contention was the CalabarLagos rail line which the Executive claims was a part of the Appropriation Bill but removed by the Legislature.

Further, there was the assertion that some appropriations intended for one region of the country were diverted to another, igniting the incendiary complaint of regional bias.

On their part, the Legislature explained that it was well within their power to adjust the Budget while it passed through readings in its two chambers but that the disputed Budget head had not been presented to Continues on Page 41

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016—49

The great budget tug-of-war Continues from Page 48 and forth both between the two chambers of the National Assembly on the one hand, and between members of the National Assembly and the Presidency on the other hand, to worsen what can only be characterised as a storm in a teacup.

Our legislators found the gravitas to put aside the infighting and pass the Appropriation Bill, then pushed it forward to the Presidency to be enacted as statutory law, to bring temporary reprieve to the sweating participants in the Tug-of-War. But the scrambling resumed when the President delayed his assent and insisted that the Budget could not be passed as it stood because the nittygritty of the Appropriation Bill was glossed over and details of its various heads inscrutable. In his view, the Budget sent for his approval lacked key ingredients that would make governance unworkable if passed in its existing form.

Constitutional provisions The constitutional deadline, contained at Section 59 thereof loomed large. It is instructive to revisit the Constitutional provisions for the Budget at this juncture.

Section 59 (4) provides that: “Where the President, within thirty days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by two-thirds majority of members of both houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”

At this point our political theorists and constitutional lawyers trotted out their arguments about the implications of the Rewritten Budget.

EDITORIAL Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) dayobenson@yahoo.com

The primary question was whether the Legislature would refuse to play ball and instead override the Presidency in accordance with Section 59(4) of the Constitutionaforementioned.

Another argument as to whether the Presidency can rejig the document and pass it without National Assembly scrutiny raged on the sidelinesalthough that particular argument is moot considering the specific provisions of the Constitution.

Following the expiry of the deadline for presidential assent last week, the country was again placed on the horns of a dilemma.

Further provisions in the Constitution make it that the government will be unable to draw on funds from the Federation Account at the end of six months of the fiscal year should the Budget remain in abeyance. In light of the fact that the two chambers of the National Assembly remain at odds with each other, this scenario remains possible.

The alternative is an Appropriation Act that will shackle the government spending power and hurt economic growth. On one horn, there is the likelihood of government shutdown, and on the other the potential for an economy far more constricted than the present. Neither option augurs well for the people of Nigeria who have been the suffering grass under the feet of fighting elephants.

Appraising the deadlock Late novelist and statesman, Chinua Achebe, captured the aphorism in his work that the elders see sitting down what the young cannot see from the highest tree.

It is possible that our sitting elders in the two warring arms of government have not bothered to look but it has become of the utmost importance for them to take the time to appraise this deadlock and see it for what it is, a game of Tug-of-War which is of no benefit to a country in transition.

It would be much better, and a lot less tiring, for them to isolate all the issues which have put them at loggerheads and reach a diplomatic and timely settlement for the greater good. The country is on the verge of its own fiscal cliff and a fall would send shockwaves through the land and beyond.

Now is the time to reconcile differences and keep Nigeria on its feet. President Buhari is a very tall man and he has the capacity to make this country quite as tall.

Rule of Law essential for stability, fairness— Justice Oguntade

By Dayo Benson

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ETIRED justice of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade, has said that rule of law is essential for stability and fairness without which individuals and society cannot function.

He spoke at the 2016 founders day lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, titled “The Value of the International Court to Africa: Perspective on the Rule of Law, Peace and Development”, which took place at the Ayo Ajomo Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka campus.

Dignitaries at the event included Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who was represented by Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, represented by Mr Taiwo Adedokun, former NIALS DG Ayo Ajomo, former external affairs minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and Lagos State University Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Lanre Fagbohun.

Justice Oguntade who was the Chairman of the occasion in his opening address said, “There is no doubt that the consistency of the Rule of Law is an indispensable and fundamental

building block for modern democratic society and economic development. Rule of Law is also the foundation for a better quality of life for societies and people around the globe. Rule of Law is our compass, our gravity.

“It ensures predictability, stability and fairness. Without it, we cannot function.

Individuals cannot flourish, businesses cannot thrive and society cannot grow”.

Scourge of terrorism Speaking further, he pointed out that “There is no better time to discuss the theme of this lecture: “The Value of the International Criminal Justice to Africa.

“The International Criminal Court tries cases against people accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, or crimes of aggression. Jurisdiction can be complicated in some situations, but generally, the Court may only assert jurisdiction in states which are signatory to the Rome Statute. The jurisdiction of the ICC covers countries that have signed and ratified the Rome Statute on or after July 1, 2002.

“Back home in Nigeria, the scourge of terrorism has left in its

trail myriad issues of humanitarian concern such as the displacement of communities, reconciliation and the protection of victims of the scourge.”

In his goodwill message, the CJN noted that NIALS is fulfilling the mandate of the founding fathers by engaging in Continued Legal Education, CLE, and other programmes.

Also speaking at the event, the institute Director General Prof.

Adedeji Adekunle stated that “the institute is deeply involved in the Nigerian project through continued legal education, carrying out researches and organising round tables.”

On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation said the theme of the lecture “Is pertinent at this time because in recent times, there have been debates within the justice literature concerning the relationship between peace and justice/ rule of law.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) not only features conspicuously in such debates, it is often raised in support of the contention that justice poses a threat to peace. Some thinkers have argued that the ICC might be seen not just as a challenge to impunity but also as a possible inhibition to peace negotiations and agreements”.`

Former Law School D-G seeks living wage for young lawyers

By Innocent Anaba

F

ORMER Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Tahir Mamman, SAN, has called on senior lawyers in the country to pay living wages to young lawyers in their employment to enable them develop their potentials as the future of the profession.

Dr. Mammman, a senior partner in J-K Gadzama LLP made call as a discussant at the official launching of the Young Lawyers Mentoring scheme of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Lagos branch.

Mamman urged the young lawyers to be creative and innovative at the early stage of their call to Bar. He decried a situation where senior lawyers pay N20, 000 as salary to young lawyers, wondering what such young lawyers will do with such money.

He said: “Your future is the future of the profession b e c a u s e among you are the future Chief Justices of Nigeria, Judges and Justices of Superior Courts and

other members of the bench will definitely be recruited. Therefore, you deserve to be paid living wages to reserve and promote the future of the legal profession.

“It is because of the importance of young lawyers to the profession that the Law firm of J-K. Gadzama LLP embarked on a nationwide robust mentoring programme for young lawyers o f which the first batch w i l l commence i n Abuja n e x t week,”

Mamman said.

In his welcome address, the chairman of NBA Lagos branch, Mr. Martins Ogunleye said, that Young Lawyers were an indispensable part of the Bar, hence the branch decided to support and encourage them to institutionise this mentoring scheme.

50—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Halting radical Islam must be US priority—Trump

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RESIDENTIAL frontrunner Donald Trump has said halting the spread of Islamic extremism would be a priority of his administration if he is elected president.

“Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign policy goal of the United States and indeed, the world,” Trump said in a foreign policy speech in Washington on Wednesday.

The 69-year-old said that if elected president, he would putAmericansecurity“above all else”. “‘America first’ will be the major and overriding theme of my administration,” Trump said.

Trump spoke the day after victories in five Northeastern states that moved him closer to capturing the Republican Partypresidentialnomination for the Nov. 8 election.

He delivered a withering critique of Barack Obama’s foreign policy, saying the Democratic president has let

A

•Trump China take advantage of the United States and has failed

to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

Former US House Speaker bags jail term

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ENNIS Hastert, the Republican who for eight years presided over the House and was second in the line of succession to the presidency, was sentenced Wednesday to more than a year in prison in the hush-money case that included accusations he sexually abused teenagers while coaching

high school wrestling.

Judge Thomas M. Durkin also ordered Hastert to undergo sex-offender treatment, spend two years on supervised release after 15 months behind bars and pay a $250,000 fine to a crime victims’ fund.

In explaining his punishment, the judge called Hastert a “serial child

Paris attacks suspect extradited to France, appears in court

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ARIS attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has appeared before a French judge hours after his extradition from Belgium.

Hislawyersaidthe26-yearold French national had been placed under formal investigation for murder and attempted murder of a terrorist nature.

Salah Abdeslam is thought to have played a key role in planningtheParisattacksand transporting the attackers.

He was arrested in an 18 March raid in Brussels after four months on the run.

The co-ordinated attacks

carried out by so-called Islamic State in Paris on 13 November claimed 130 lives and left dozens more severely wounded.

molester” and described as “unconscionable” his attempt to accuse one of the victims of extortion.

Hastert becomes one of the highest-ranking politicians in American history to be sentenced to prison. He pleaded guilty last fall to violating banking law as he sought to pay $3.5 million to someone referred to in court papers only as Individual A to keep the sex abuse secret.

Earlier in the hearing, a former athlete who said he was molested by Hastert decades ago told the courtroom that he was “devastated” by the abuse.

ABOUR has suspended MP Naz Shah over comments she made about Israel.

The Bradford West MP has been heavily criticised over theFacebookposts,including one suggesting Israel should be moved to the United States.

In a Commons statement

GOVERNMENT based in eastern Libya has shipped its first cargo of crude in defiance of authorities in the capital Tripoli, a bold move that could deepen the divisions that have brought chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

TheTripoliauthoritiesasked the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to blacklist the IndiaflaggedtankerDistyaAmeya, which left the eastern Libyan port of Hariga overnight carrying oil they said could not be lawfully sold.

The eastern government has set up its own National Oil Corporation (NOC) to act in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC that is recognised internationally as the only legitimate seller of Libyan oil.

ThetankerdepartedHariga carrying 650,000 barrels of crude late on Monday bound for Malta, said Mohamed al-

Manfi, a spokesman for the eastern NOC. Maltese national TV said the ship was in international waters near Malta. The island’s Port Directorate said

the tanker was not authorised to dock there and requests would be refused.The ship last reported its position throughthepubliclyavailable AIStrackingsystemearlieron Tuesday as still in Libyan waters.

AU warns of likelihood of another war in Western Sahara

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CONFLICT in the disputed territory of WesternSaharainnorth-west Africa may flare up again if the UN’s peacekeeping mission is not fully restored, an African Union (AU) envoy has warned.

The UN brokered a truce between Morocco and the indigenous Saharawi people in 1991, ending a 16-year insurgency.

Last month, Morocco expelled 84 UN civilian staff after the UN chief used the term “occupation” about the region.

This has hampered the UN

mission, whose mandate is up for renewal this month.

Morocco has threatened to pull out the soldiers it contributes to UN global peacekeeping missions, mainly in Africa, over the row. “The Western Sahara problem may be seen as a small problem, but let us not forget that a spark may put a forest on fire,” the AU’s Western Sahara envoy Joaquim Chissano, a former president of Mozambique, told an informal meeting of the UN Security Council.

UN council set to lift arms embargo on Ivory Coast

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HE United Nations Security Council is set to lift a 12-year-old arms embargo on Ivory Coast on Thursday and renew the U.N. peacekeeping mission for a final year, France’s U.N. envoy said.

The West African state - the world’s top cocoa grower has emerged from a decadelong crisis that culminated in

a brief 2011 war to become a rising economic star. The U.N. arms embargo was imposed in 2004 after an initial 2002-2003 civil war.

AFrench-draftedresolution willremovethearmsembargo and an asset freeze and travel ban on six people, including former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo who is on trial before the International

Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

U.N. peacekeepers have been deployed in Ivory Coast since 2004 and a second draft resolutionwillrenewtheU.N. mission for a final time until April 30, 2017. There are currently some 6,900 U.N. troops and police in Ivory Coast, according to the U.N. website.

MIGRANT CRISIS: Austria passes new controversial asylum law

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USTRIA has passed a controversial new law that restricts the right of asylum and allows most claimants to be rejected directly at the border.

Rights groups say the law undermines the principle of protection from war and persecution.

It comes days after Austria’s far-right came top in the

first round of a presidential election.

Thenewasylumlawletsthe government declare a “state of emergency” over the migrant crisis and reject most asylum-seekers, including those from war-torn countries such as Syria.

It also limits any successful asylum claim to three years.

UK lawmaker suspended for anti-Semitism comments

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Eastern Libya ships first oil cargo in defiance of Tripoli

she offered a “profound apology” for the posts, which

were made before she became an MP..

Redback spider bites Australian man on penis

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N Australian man has takenhimselftohospital after a venomous redback spider bit him on the penis.

The tradesman was using a portable toilet on a Sydney building site on Wednesday morning when he was bitten.

A spokesperson for St George Hospital confirmed that a 21-year-old man was treated for a redback bite.

The redback spider, closely related to the black widow spider, is distinguished by a longredstripeonitsabdomen.

Police arrest the suspected gunman who killed 11 people in a shooting on Tuesday in Praia, Cape Verde, April 27, 2016

Malian national gets 25 years in prison over murder of US diplomat MALIAN national A with ties to militant groups was sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. prison on Tuesday after admitting to having conspired to kill an American diplomat during a 2000 carjacking in Niger, prosecutors said.

Alhassane Ould Mohamed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William Kuntz in Brooklyn, New York, for participating in a conspiracy

to murder William Bultemeier, a defense attache system operations

coordinator working at the U.S. embassy in Niger.

CAPE VERDE: Police arrest suspect over killing of 11 people Wednesday after a 24-hour OLICE in Cape Verde P captured Wednesday a soldier suspected of killing 11

people at a military barracks in the West African island nation, an official at Cape Verde’s Defense Ministry said.

The suspect was arrested

manhunt, spokeswoman Edna Pinto told The Associated Press by telephone. She had no other details.

State broadcaster Radio Cabo Verde said the suspect was captured in the Paiol neighborhood of Praia.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 —51

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52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Maradona: If Koulibaly were white he’d be playing for Barca or Real D

IEGO Maradona has suggested that racism in football is holding back Napoli centre back Kalidou Koulibaly.

The Argentine legend has claimed that if Koulibaly were white the defender would be playing for either Barcelona on Real Madrid.

Koulibaly, 24, has been one of Napoli’s key players this season, playing 39 times across all competitions for the Italian club.

Maradona, who won two league titles with Napoli, believes white players are favoured over black players and that if Koulibaly were white he would by plying his trade at one of the biggest clubs in

•Omeruo

the world.

“If Koulibaly was white he would be playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona. Racism still exists in football,” Maradona told Piuenne TV. “The white players

are always favoured over black player - and that is a disgrace.”

The Senegal international has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, Chelsea and

Manchester United in recent weeks.

Napoli failed to capitalise on a good start to the campaign, as Juventus were crowned league champions for the fifth consecutive season.

im order in respect of a “Motion Exparte” brought by Obinna Ogba and Yahaya Adama for the Giwa group restraining the third defendants who were Aminu Maigari, Musa Ahmadu as well as the Executive Committee of the then board and all the 36 state FAs pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

“You can see that from

that ruling, there is no place in the ruling where the court mentioned Amaju Pinnick,” Udenkwo stressed.

This disclosure is contrary to the stories peddled by the Giwa group that the Jos High Court sacked the Pinnick-led NFF and that they were the authentic NFF and thus were prepared to take over the NFF secretariat.

I’m fit for Eagles friendlies – Omeruo

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HELSEA loanee K e n n e t h Omeruo has dismissed rumours he will not be fit for next month’s Super Eagles friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg.

It was reported by a section of the local press that Omeruo, who is on loan to Turkish club Kasimpasa, is currently nursing a groin injury.

He missed last month’s AFCON qualifiers against Egypt on account of injury, but he has since recovered fully.

“I am happy that I have been called up for

the friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg. I am looking forward to putting on the green and white of Nigeria again and giving my 100% to the team,” he told Super Eagles media officer Toyin Ibitoye.

“I am very fit and hope to stay this way for my club and country.

“There is no truth in the reports that I am currently sidelined by groin injury.”

Omeruo was only advised by his club doctor to rest in the summer and not feature at the Rio Olympics. “I

Yusuf Continues from BP and U20 teams, while relatively unknown Awaziem is now on the firstteam squad of top Portuguese club Porto.

Ideye has revived his career at Greek champions Olympiacos after a difficult time at English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.

He last featured for Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which Nigeria won.

The three –time African champions take on Les Aiglons of Mali in France on 27th May before flying to Luxembourg to take on that country’s team on the

first day of June.

Caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf has also kept faith with skipper Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and England-based youngsters Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi.

Surprisingly, Kenneth Omeruo who has been ruled out of the 2016 Olympics because of groin injury was also invited alongside Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong who are returning to the team after a while. Ogenyi Onazi, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Moses Simon, Victor Moses and Aaron Samuel are back to familiar terrain.

regret my inability to be part of the Olympic team but as a professional player one has to be guided by the recommendations of experts,” he said.

•Koulibaly

Jos High Court Continues from BP of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. In a video message sent to Sports Vanguard, Udenkwo, in explaining the court order brought by the Giwa group said it was in respect of a motion on notice dated January 29, 2016 and filed on February 3, 2016.

He said the motion prayed for three orders namely extension of time to re-list, order to re-list and lastly restoration of all orders made.

The Court, he said, ruled for extension of

time within which to apply to re-list for hearing and determination of the suit together with all the motions pending which were discontinued and struck out by the court on October 30, 2014.

He said the court also restored all orders made by it in 2014 in the suit brought by the Giwa group, stressing that “there is no place in the order where the court removed Amaju Pinnick as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation.”

He added that the only controversy was an inter-

Rio Olympics Continues from BP Games in Rio. The attire will be dyed with mosquito-repellent chemicals and will be worn by athletes during ceremonies, training and at the athletes’ village, the Korean Olympic Committee said.

The committee said it couldn’t make changes to the uniforms worn during competition be-

cause of strict rules and performance concerns, although athletes will be allowed to use spray during competition.

Brazil has been fighting to stem the spread of the Zika virus which is known to cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than normal.

West Ham set to offload Emenike

W

EST Ham United will not extend Emmanuel Emenike’s loan deal at the end of the season following the signing of Toni Martinez.

The Turkish newspaper Milliyet have reported that the Nigeria international has failed to impress after joining the Hammers on loan from Fenerbahce in January.

The daily newspaper goes onto say that West Ham have signed Martinez on a three-year deal for €3 million from Valencia.

Emenike has a total of two-goals in all competitions for West Ham since joining on a tem-

porary move from Fenerbahce.

The Nigerian striker is yet to score a single goal in the Premier League and has lost his place in West Ham’s starting line-up following the return of Andy Carroll.

•Emenike

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 — 53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 —55

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Jos High Court denies Giwa T

HE Registrar of the Federal High

Yusuf invites Mikel, Musa, 24 others for Mali, Luxembourg N

IGERIA have called up uncapped Turkey-based defender Musa Mohammed and Chiedozie Awaziem from Porto, while Olympiacos striker Brown Ideye has been recalled for friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg next month.

Mohammed was captain of the country’s U17 Continues on Page 52

Court, Jos, Chika Udenkwo has poured cold water on the claim by the Chris Giwa group in the crisis threatening the peace of Nigeria’s football that the Court sacked the Amaju-Pinnick-led Board

Continues on Page 52

•Giwa

Rio Olympics: S/Korea unveil kit with mosquito-repellent against Zika virus

S

OUTH Korea’s O l y m p i c committee have unveiled long-sleeved shirts and pants it says will help protect the country ’s Olympic athletes from the mosquito-borne Zika virus at the Olympic

Ready for Zika virus

Continues on Page 52

EPL: New season begins August 13

T

HE 2016/2017 season of the English Premier League, will kick off on August 13, 2016. The league’s official Twitter handle made announcement earlier today “The next Premier League season will begin on 13 August 2016 and end on 21 May 2017,” the post read. On June 15, the fixtures for the new campaign will be released.

Leicester City are on the verge of being crowned champions for the current campaign, needing just three points from their last three games.

NPFL results SKILLFUL: Uncapped Musa Mohammed ready for international duty with the Eagles.

Enyimba Giwa Sunshine

1 0 3

Heartland Enugu Nasarawa

1 1 (Abandoned) 0

The specially designed uniforms have been created to try and guard against Zika virus whilst in Brazil

There’s ‘apartheid’ in football – Maradona Page 52 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Abandon (6) 5 Comply (4) 8 Presage (5) 9 Meadow (3) 11 Cultivate (4) 12 Twenty (5) 13 Appeared (6) 16 Lake (4) 18 Pant (4) 20 Curve (3) 22 Unhappy (3) 23 Moose (3) 24 Singer (4) 25 Detail (4) 28 Guard (6) 30 Fragment (5) 32 Mirth (4) 33 Vessel (4) 34 Crown-up (5) 36 Entrance (4) 37 Modern (6)

DOWN 1 Deceive (6) 2 Sturdy (8) 3 Save (6) 4 Followed (9) 5 Affront (7) 6 Cheese (4) 7 Shout (4) 8 Donkey (3) 15 Enquire (2) 17 Rodent (3) 19 Estrange (8) 20 Beer (3) 21 Surrender (7) 26 Spirit (6) 27 Coming (6) 29 Expectant (4) 30 Chair (4) 31 Tankard (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Paste 9, Placid 10, Enough 11, Towed 12, Omit 15, Side 17, Receded 20, Din 21, Duvet 23, Sash 25, Mode 26, Eider 28, Set 30, Disease 33, Used 35, Rued 36, Taboo 38, Lethal 39, Unsure 40, Genre.

DOWN: 1, Spoor 2, Panic 3, Pit 4, Adored 5, Teer 6, End 7, Cupid 8, Sheen 13, Measles 14, Tense 16, Diverse 18, Duped 19, Gem 22, Tower 24, Hit 27, Rigour 28, Sully 29, Teeth 31, Augur 32, Edged 34, Sale 36, Tag 37, One.

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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